If anyone is still with me I'm back! I know it's been way too long and I've decided to upload two chapters since I think I practically took two months to write this all out. I apologize guys I had a major case of writers block, then family/friend issues, not to mention college...so yeah.

Anyways I'll leave you to it. Most of this chapter is in Tori's POV first then the last bit is Jade's.

I don't own Victorious.

Chapter 20

Tori's POV

I repeatedly stab my salad looking over in the direction of where Beck and Jade are sitting. They are sitting alone today trying another attempt to work out their issues. From the looks of it, today must be one of those days where they just can't seem to get along. The two of them are arguing again seeming to keep their voices low, but all together anyone can tell they're going to head to head by their body posture.

Truth be told, Beck and Jade have been like this for weeks now. One day Jade and Beck will sit with the rest of us things appearing alright, but then on other days Jade and Beck will sit by themselves when things get more heated between them. Jade even sometimes sits only with that senior Kate Connors she's grown an interest in. It strikes me as odd really Jade never lets herself get too close to people, but by the looks of it I would say Kate's the closest one to her these days.

She and Kate are practically together all the time leaving Beck off with the rest of the gang. So I guess them sitting alone some days is their way of trying to get back to how things were before any of this happened, and by any of this I mean me.

Sure Jade has been sitting more recently with us and actually tolerating me, but if I had never showed up at Hollywood Arts, I can't help to think that maybe Beck and Jade would be okay. That their relationship wouldn't be collapsing. I can't help but to feel guilty sometimes like maybe it's my entire fault.

That's why I'm hoping she won't take it out on me during class tomorrow. I narrow my eyes and watch her closely, my nerves growing at the thought of having to work with her on our stage fighting scene.

"Look at her," I say apprehensively around the table where Andre, Cat and I are sitting together.

"Who," Andre asks.

"Jade! I guarantee you she's telling Beck all about how she's going to punch me when we do our scene," I say to Andre overly paranoid as I pick at my salad less aggressively now.

"I wonder if mirrors work in outer space," Cat randomly blurts out staring into her small compact makeup mirror completely fascinated.

Andre and I shoot her a quizzical look, but the small red head doesn't seem to notice.

I focus my attention back onto Andre, "I mean what am I going to do if she really hits me?"

"Bleed; burst into tears," he replies sarcastically as if it's no big deal.

I frown and roll my eyes a little. "I'm serious."

Andre smiles slightly as he tries to smooth over my anxious mind."Its stage fighting no one really hits anybody."

"Yeah but accidents happen. And, what if she makes an accident happen on purpose?" I state to him letting him know that Jade is way more devious than anyone here at Hollywood Arts. She can be crowned the queen of deception and he knows it. I raise my fork up to take a bite of my salad when I freeze staring at some crazy looking big lettuce, I shake it off my fork vigorously feeling all my nerves still building.

"Did you know the word mirror has only six letters and half of them are r's," Cat responds like if this were the subject we are currently talking about.

We stare at Cat and I wonder if Andre has gotten used to the odd behavior of Cat Valentine. I'm still trying to get used to how random and bubbly she can be.

Andre switches his focus back onto me."Haven't you and Jade been rehearsing?"

"Yeah, yesterday after school and this morning during study hall," I answer him. Actually it surprises me Jade didn't try anything during rehearsals. Not to mention she wasn't as mean to me like she regularly is. Most of the time now Jade has put with me, but in a way it's like we've developed this sort of heckling game where both of us tries to provoke the other; said person usually being Jade to start off the trouble.

"And did she hit you for real?"

"No- cause she probably wants to wait and do it in front of the whole class to humiliate me."

"Well if she does she loses half a letter grade."

"Oh great. So she gets an A minus and I get a broken eye and a black nose."

Andre's eyebrows draw downwards in confusion. "I think you meant-."

"I know what I meant," I cut him off curtly feeling my frustration elevating.

Cat cuts the quick silence and excitedly blabbers, "My dog has a black nose it's so cute it's like a baby meatball!"

We shoot her over another set of incredulous looks. "Meatballs are brown," Andre remarks.

"You're so mean to me!" Cat's bubbly personality turns sour as she grabs her belongings and abruptly stands up storming away from the table.

We watch her leave the table and look at her left over food. "You want half her sandwich," I ask Andre.

"Mmh," he grumbles.

"Hey baby sister," Trina strolls by in a rather good mood.

"Hey," I reply a bit surprised. Well it is Trina- she's always cheery. I guess her and I have that in common.

"Andy," she directs to Andre in passing.

"Andre," he states pointlessly knowing Trina will never get his name right not ever since the showcase incident.

I invite Trina over."Want to sit with us?"

"No," she quickly replies not even considering her actions to be rude.

Well fine I guess. I take a bite out of Cat's sandwich hoping that tomorrow won't lead to public humiliation from Jade.

The Next Day at Hollywood Arts

I am sitting on the edge of my seat currently watching Andre and his partner act out their stage fighting scene. I have to say it's rather good! I mean Gwen just threw him onto a table with amazing force and it smashed into pieces! Well of course it's a breakaway table, but man they really nailed it! Everyone agrees as they all applaud loudly.

Mr. Harper walks up to the front of the class and I can feel my stomach turning into knots as he looks down at his clipboard ready to call the next duo. Gosh I hope it's not me and Jade. Ever since yesterday I can't seem to calm myself I'm literally flustered to the point of exhaustion. I couldn't even get a good night's rest cause thoughts of Jade physically hurting me kept my mind up all night as I tossed and turned in my bed.

"Alright next up we have...Tori and Jade," he announces. Great just what I wasn't hoping for!

Jade straightens up from her comfortable slouched position and immediately stands up. She turns her head in my direction sending me an oh so fake sweet smile. I hesitate to stand up from my seat, but manage to while giving her a waning smile in return.

As we begin to make our way up to the front of Black Box Theater my eyes catch onto Andre's. I mouth no to him and shake my head letting him know I don't want to go through with this. He mouths back its okay and gestures with his hands for me to relax as we pass each other, him taking his seat and me going up against the now very cold hearted Jade West. Don't get me wrong I still think the Jade I knew is somewhere buried deep down behind all those countless walls she's built over the years, but I remember what she did to Ivy. She really pulled a number on her and it scares me to think that Jade would actually physically hurt me in front of everyone to get some sort of revenge against me.

Calm down Tori get it together I say to myself as I finally face the class. I nervously pause and tuck some of my hair behind my ear. "Um- okay ah for our scene I'm going to be playing an old lady who's walking home from a bingo game," I say with a nod of my head and a very insecure smile.

"And I play a brutal mugger," Jade emphasis a little too happily for my taste. Man this is so going in the wrong direction already! The class closely observes her all picking up on Jade's satisfied smirk.

I nod in agreement trying to appear calm, cool, and collected, but let's face it I'm anything but all that! "Yes, a brutal mugger. Who mugs me without actually hurting me," I say to the class and look over to her my voice shaking towards the end. Jade glares at me as I stare into those green eyes that appear a bit blue today for only a matter of seconds before she walks off positioning herself for our scene.

"Okay as always be careful and if anything goes wrong just yell the safe word which is butternut," Russ the stunt coordinator informs us.

I place the gray old lady wig on top of my head and crouch downwards like an old woman as Mr. Harper begins to signal us. "Okay guys. Ready?"

My eyes draw away from our teacher and shift onto Jade. She crouches too, but in an entirely different way. She almost looks lethal like she's getting ready to pounce on me as if she were a lioness. Jade out stretches her arms preparing for the assault. I literally want to run out the class, but find myself frozen in her predatory stare and prowler smirk.

"Aaand."

"Butternut!" I yell out before Mr. Harper calls out action.

Jade throws her arms in the air annoyed. "What!"

Everyone in the class looks confused at my random outburst. Mr. Harper looks at me concerned, "Tori what's the problem?"

"I was testing the safe word. It works!" I say with a little smile and bounce on my feet cheerfully.

Jade rolls her eyes and sighs clearly tired of my paranoia. That's it I have to stop and just get this over with."Okay I'm ready," I say swiftly. We get into position again this time there is no going back I'm afraid.

"And action."

"Oh I certainly did enjoy the bingo. Although I do miss Bob Hope," I say in my best elderly voice. The class laughs lightly.

"Gimmie your money," Jade says behind me in a deep voice sounding very much like an actual mugger as she roughly grabs my shoulder her fingers cold on my exposed warm skin.

A tingle courses through my body from the simple touch, but I ignore it focusing on my line."What!"

I look around the room appearing frightened totally in character now. "I ain't playing gimmie your money and your watch," Jade seethes threateningly.

"Oh wouldn't you rather have this," I mockingly retort as I quickly spin around to pretend hit Jade in the face with my cane.

"Ow!" She falls down on her knees everyone on the edge of their seats. Wait what? What just happened?

"Butternut!" Jade shouts as she stands up tossing her black beanie onto the floor. Her hands go to her face red blood appearing on her eye; her usual stoic expression contorting into pain. "Butternut!"

Oh my god- did I just hit Jade West! No wait- how could I've? We've been rehearsing this scene together close to a week! No I didn't hit her! I'm sure of it! I couldn't have actually hit her with the stupid cane! Everyone begins to rush over to her, Kate and Beck the first ones out of their seats.

"She's bleeding," Cat yelps worriedly.

What if- what if I did hit her?

Mr. Harper- "Cut!"

Russ- "Let me see! Let me see!"

Beck and Kate both reach Jade first, but she leans into the security of Kate's arms rather than her boyfriend's. "Are you okay?" Beck asks standing next to Jade looking rather thrown off by her choice of support.

"No! Tori hit me in the face for real!" Jade answers him as he gazes on unsure if he should cut in and take hold of his injured girlfriend or let her be in the arms of another.

"No I didn't!" I protest back at her in disbelief. I wouldn't do that to her!

She stares at me unconvinced and counters back. "Tell that to my bloody eye! Ow!"

Russ-"Alright you better sit down."

Mr. Harper- "Somebody grab a chair."

Russ- "Yeah quickly get a chair."

I spot a chair near behind her and think to myself maybe I can fix this."Here, here, here!" I grab the chair and pull it close to her so she can sit down.

Russ- "Here you go sit down."

Jade steps out of Kate's arms and begins to sit herself down until the chair collapses underneath her. She screeches. My mouth hangs open as I look down at Jade on the floor now. Oh my god she is going to kill me!

Russ- "That was a breakaway chair!"

Jade glares up at me clearly displeased that I've made things worse."Ah butternut!"

Ten minutes later

Russ- "Put that on your eye. Here you go." The whole class is basically gathered around Jade all attentively looking on at her injury as she places an ice pack on her eye.

Cat separates herself from the small group and walks over to Andre and I. "Why did you hit Jade in the face with a cane," she asks me completely convinced I actually hit her.

"I didn't!"

"Okay I believe you! Don't hit me!" Cat takes a step back frightened by my yelling.

I roll my eyes and look over to Andre for support. "Will you back me up here?"

"Okay look I'm sure Tori didn't mean to whack Jade in the face with a cane," he says to Cat.

Really Andre! Come on he's my best friend why doesn't he believe me!"Ugh why does everyone think I hit her!?"

"Well we were watching you guys do the scene, you hit her across the face with your cane, she fell down and now her eye's all bloody."

"Well that doesn't mean I hit her."

Cat and him exchange strange glances. "I kinda think it does."

I groan and make my way over to a now standing Jade. "Jade you know I didn't hit you. I swung but I missed."

"Look Tori-." She stumbles about to faint, but Kate immediately grabs hold around her waist making sure to keep her up right.

Kate speaks up, "I think it's best if I take her to the nurse Mr. Harper."

Mr. Harper nods his head in agreement, "Yes Kate you're right go on and go quickly now we need to get her checked out right away."

"But I didn't hit her!"

"Can someone call my mom?" Jade asks holding on to Kate as they begin to make their way to the front doors of The Black Box Theater.

Beck- "I'll call your mom."

"She doesn't need her mom! Don't bother her mom," I warn Beck agitated that no one believes me.

Beck- "I got to call her mom."

I exhale weakly wondering how this all went so wrong. Jade stops walking with Kate and looks back at me a pained look on her face."And I thought we were just starting to be friends."

I'm taken back by surprise from her words and disappointed expression. My mouth curves into a frown, "But I- I didn't."

Kate slips one of Jade's arms over her shoulder and leads her out the double doors. Once they disappear and those metal doors shut everyone begins to stare at me. Their expressions saying it all...they all think I purposely hit Jade West.

Tori's POV

In her room (1:45 am)

I can't sleep again. Just fantastic another sleepless night and it's all because of her. Once Mr. Harper's class was over the rest of the day went by in such a blur. I didn't know what to think really after the whole stage fighting incident. Word had spread fast around Hollywood Arts that Tori Vega intentionally whacked Jade West in the face with a cane. Though no one really knows for sure how Jade is taking it because she was sent straight home after Kate took her to the nurse.

All I can say is today felt a lot like my days back at Sherwood, the whispering of rumors in the hall, the dirty glances. I didn't like it one bit. I mean who likes to be gossiped about? People have kept seeing me as the like able new girl, but now this little matter between Jade and I is sure to raise heads. The talk is already starting and depending on how tomorrow goes things could get worse. If things don't get better I might not be considered that nice girl from the big showcase, but instead the overbearing two face girl who uses violence to get her way.

I'm not sure what tomorrow holds for me back at Hollywood Arts...but I'm certain that I didn't hurt Jade. I would never hit her. I don't get where all this went wrong? Jade and I had been rehearsing for several days and all those times the scene played out smoothly. Why would this time be any different? How could this time be any different?

(Hollywood Arts Early Morning)

I just had to get called to the guidance counselor's office for an early morning session apparently to discuss my violence issues. At least that's how Lane, our guidance counselor put it. He's a bit different from the past guidance counselors I have encountered over the years at my other schools. The man is seriously obsessed with lotion, but come to think of it shouldn't surprise me almost all the teachers and staff at Hollywood Arts are odd in their own right just take Sikowtiz for example.

Anyways looks like Lane apparently thinks the whole stage fighting incident with me and Jade turned out to be a heat of the moment kind of thing. He thinks I hit Jade without intentionally meaning to. He says I was so stressed out that Jade was going to hurt me that I instinctively swung on her to protect myself. So he chalks it up to just that and I'm perfectly fine with it because he isn't making me take any sort of anger management classes. The only thing that sucks is I have two weeks of detention and I have to clean the Black Box on Friday night after some middle school kids have this giant food fight scene. So yeah my Friday night is going to be really exciting.

By the time I'm out of Lane's office the halls are crowded with students and I'm turning the corner coming back into the main hall of Hollywood Arts to stop at my locker. I keep my head bowed most of the way there avoiding the stares of few students, but you can't always keep your head down and when I look up I spot Beck and Jade at her locker. My legs tell me to run in the opposite direction, yet my feet won't budge an inch when I catch the purple dark bruise on her face.

Did I really do that? I take a sharp intake of breath when Jade turns in my direction and scramble over to my locker. She must have noticed me staring at her from across the hall. I swiftly put in my locker combination and start to gather my things for the day when I hear someone behind me clear their throat. I shut my eyes tightly preparing myself for the worst Jade is going to publicly humiliate me back now probably in front of the whole entire school to get even!

I feel a strong hand placed on my shoulder but the grip is loose and a familiar voice brings me out of my hazy anxiety. "You alright there muchacha?"

I spin around quickly at his voice so thankful that my life is not currently ending. "Andre," I voice loudly surprised and throw my arms around his neck. Soon I feel his arms wrap around my waist to return the favor.

"Whoa, whoa there Tori calm down with the squeezing girl it's me. What were you expecting someone else?"

I loosen my grip on him and pull back slightly to look at his face. I smile sheepishly, "Yeah I thought you were Jade and that you were going to send me to the nurse's office this time. I just thought after yesterday you or anyone else for that matter wasn't going to speak to me again."

Andre chuckles lightly, "Oh come on Tori I'm your best friend and what happened yesterday between you and Jade isn't going to make me turn my back on you. I know you didn't mean to hit Jade...it was an accident that's all."

I nod my head sighing a little, my hands remain around his neck and I feel his arms still placed on my waist. "Do you think Jade will get over it," I ask him my worry growing.

Andre's easy smile turns downward a bit as he contemplates my question. He doesn't really even have to answer me back I know for sure that Jade will hold this against me. "Well she is Jade...and I think you know by now she holds grudges. Hate to say it Tori but I don't see her exactly all hugs and smiles any time soon. Not that she was before all this anyway," he adds at the end making me smile a little.

His smile returns as soon as he senses that I'm getting overly stressed about the situation again."You know Beck is going to try and talk to her right? He also agrees with me about the stage fighting thing he knows you didn't mean it on purpose. As for Cat and Robbie well...what can I say they're Cat and Robbie."

I laugh at that understanding what he is implying about Cat and Robbie them being the strangest ones from our little group. My laughter doesn't last long though because someone slams my locker door shut making my grip on Andre's neck tighten. I feel my body tense up from the most familiar voice I never fail to forget. "A little too close don't you think Harris? You and Vega have been glued to each other for over the past six minutes."

Andre turns his head to his left and I turn my head to my right the both of us taking in Jade's bruised appearance. We pull apart from each other as soon as Jade's words sink in. Andre turns his body to face her directly as I do the same. There is a tense silence between the three of us as Jade stares at Andre and I her eyes unreadable, but something in them almost alarming. "Don't think I didn't fail to notice. Now how about you leave us alone so I can talk to Vega by myself for a second," she states in her usual monotone voice.

Andre's eyes meet mine searching for a response. He wants to know if I'm okay being left alone with Jade. I hesitate for only a few seconds until my eyes switch over to Jade, her perfectly arched pierced brow rising up in that intimidating way she gives to everyone if they don't comply by her wishes.

I nervously stutter. "Um- ah I- as long as she doesn't kill me I'm perfectly fine with being left alone with Jade."

She rolls her eyes at me. "I'm not going to kill her. So ease up Vega will yea."

Andre looks at her suspiciously his arms now crossed. "It's Tori's call if she wants me around I'll stay."

Jade's lips turn into a scowl. "Oh you will won't you. Okay fine. Then I guess you can wait out here in the hall while I drag Vega into the damn closet for some privacy."

Andre and I share looks of equal confusion. What does she mean by dragging me into the closet? Before we both can react Jade is behind me encircling her arms around my waist in a bear hug manner and literally dragging me away from Andre's side. "Hey! Let me go," I scream at her.

She laughs, "Sure Vega when we have some alone time I'll let you go."

I try prying her arms off my waist, but it's a pointless fight she's got me good. "Andre," I scream out at him asking for some assistance.

He takes two steps then halts when I realize Jade must have shot him one of her many menacing looks. "Ah- yeah Tori I'll be out here waiting for ya if you need me." He claps his hands together one time in a nervous gesture and walks off to his locker. Are you kidding me! I need you now Andre! Gosh is everyone really that afraid to stand up to Jade around here!

"Almost there Vega and don't even think about yelling for anymore help," Jade mutters near my ear as I keep trying to escape. I hear people snickering as Jade pulls me further away. I guess they assume Jade West is about to get even.

Soon enough I'm in a dark closet the smell of bleach assaulting my nose along with other cleaning product odors. Even if I can't see everything well around me I have to try to escape from her. I raise my arms which thankfully are free and tangle my hands into her hair pulling on it roughly. She grunts in discomfort and quickly removes my hands from her hair. Jade twists both of my arms painfully behind my back and resorts to pushing me into the wall. My body unable to move from her applied weight.

"What the hell Vega!" I yelp in fear as I feel the side of my face collide with the wall. "Did you think this would make things better!" Jade's body presses further into me her breast pushing against my back. I bite down on my lip hard my body unable to distinguish the pleasure from the pain.

"Ah Jade please don't hurt- don't hurt me," I let out between ragged breathes.

She loosens her jerking grip from my arms and places them against the cold wall with her own hands covering mine. "Are you going to try and runaway Vega," she whispers calmly into my ear.

I take a second to answer reveling in the feel of her chest rising and falling against my back. "No."

"Alright then." She lets go of me and just like that the contact between us ends leaving me cold.

As I remove myself off the wall lights come on illuminating my surroundings. I turn around to look at Jade wondering what her true intentions are if she says she isn't going to hurt me.

"Sooo- why did you drag me into the janitor's closet?"

She shrugs her shoulders and answers me disinterested. "I don't know I just wanted to mess with you thought it would be fun."

"Jade!"

She smirks at my displeasure. "And I was right."

I run a hand through my hair."Well you shouldn't have done that! I'm not some kind of rag doll you can drag around whenever you want."

Jade crosses her arms and quirks her pierced brow at me. "Oh I shouldn't have? I don't know Vega I think you owe me something after giving me a black eye. Don't you think?"

At her words I am reminded of yesterday and I focus on the violet bruise on her eye. I take a step closer to her my hand reaching up to her face slowly. She doesn't say anything until my fingers start to hover near her cheek. "Don't."

Jade retreats from me by taking two steps back putting distance in between us. My hand falls to my side as I stare at her feeling a pain of guilt hit my stomach. "Jade- I didn't mean it you know. I didn't mean to hit you with that cane." I sigh, "It's just...I was so afraid that you were going to be the one to hurt me. So I panicked and in the heat of the moment I guess I swung for real."

She stays quiet observing me her lips pressed tight together. "I'm sorry Jade. I know it doesn't fix anything, but I just want you to understand that I would never hurt you."

I wait for her to say something the silence killing me as I nervously wring my hands together. "You're right...this doesn't fix anything. And, why should I believe your sorry attempt of an apology anyway? "

"Because- because we used to be friends once. And, I think that counts enough for you to know that I wouldn't ever intentionally hurt you," I say sincerely hoping that she comes around.

"Don't bring the past into this Vega."

Why does she have to be so stubborn? "Jade we can't run from our past. Don't you get it? We knew each other way before anyone else knew us. We have history together Jade...and that's not going to disappear like you want it to."

She rolls her eyes annoyed and uncrosses her arms still defensive even without her stance. "It's history for a reason Vega. Meaning it's in the past, it's over and done with. So for once why don't you focus on the present?"

"What's the present I should be focusing on Jade?"

She counts off two of her fingers."Well for starters take in the fact that I don't like you. The fact that you can try all you want to get into my good graces, but I won't give you a second chance. Don't you get it Tori? I know you've been trying to get on my good side thinking that the old me is still somewhere buried inside. But, you wanna know something Vega- the Jade West you knew is just as buried as those memories that you love to cling to.

"Buried in what sense Jade?"

"What?"

"You said buried as those memories so do you mean buried deep within or-"

"Yeah I get it Vega. Don't try to make it sound like there is a double meaning behind my words. I mean buried as in it's over, I'm not coming back. There is no hope left to finding the old me."

"I don't believe that."

"I don't care what you believe...it's the truth. The proof is in this." Jade points to the bruise on her face. "The whole stage fighting didn't work because we don't work. That's why our friendship failed and that's why we can't get along."

I don't say anything to her when she finishes speaking. I simply stare into those clear green blue eyes of hers that closely resemble a storm trying to find something, anything that shows me she doesn't really believe that. She stays silent too staring back at me with flat out no warmth. The morning bell rings signaling that everyone is already in class and we're late.

I nod my head finally giving her the response she wants to hear. My voice coming out neutral after all that is what she wants no emotion from me. "Okay fine I get it...there is no chance of us being friends again. I have to get to class you made me late." I turn around and walk out the door leaving her behind. If Jade doesn't want to be friends anymore what can I do? Nothing, I can't do anything because she's made her choice about me and I should just respect her wishes. If she wants to be left alone then I should leave her alone.

Jade's POV

I'm almost about to stop Vega from walking out the janitor's closet, but I let her go anyway. This is what I want. This has to be what's best for the both of us. Driving her away keeps her safe from the bullshit I would cause in her life. Tori doesn't need me, she just thinks she does. Truth be told I'm probably the one who needs her more than anyone...but what kind of person would I be if I take away her happiness; that little spark that makes her who she is. She doesn't get it she never has even since we were kids. Being around me isn't healthy for her, all I'll do is drain the light from her smile, cause her tears, and heartache. I'm not good enough for Tori Vega.

And, everyone who saw that from the beginning was right from the start.

Lunch in the Asphalt Cafe

I'm having lunch with Beck today, just me and him. It's something we've started to do for the sake of our relationship which is still crumbling. Trust me it's shitty, but I want to make things work with Beck see if maybe we can save us. It's just- no matter how hard we have both been trying to make things work it seems there are always other things (people) that get in the way of our progress.

I pick at my salad aimlessly not really wanting to eat anything as I gaze off thinking about two people who sure are making the choice to stay with Beck that much harder. It's not that I don't care about Beck; I still do as a friend anyway. I just feel I owe him a fair try. I owe him the chance to show me we can still be something more than just friends.

And, so far he has been doing just fine...it's just not enough anymore. My feelings for Kate haven't died down any and I can't believe I'm saying this, but Vega's been making me feel- jealous!I mean come on the way she was all on Andre pissed me off! I couldn't take seeing her all over him, close to him like as if he were her boyfriend! I thought I was going to be sick from the sight and I've never felt that repulsed in my life. I don't get why it even bothered me that much she can date who ever the hell she wants, Andre is a good guy. It's just when I saw her with him it felt...wrong? I wanted to be the one in her arms receiving that sort of affection from her. So I panicked and dragged her off to the closet to get her away from him!

Which really makes no sense what so ever because on one hand I did it to get Tori away from Andre and close to me. Yet the second I was alone with her I pushed her away so that I wouldn't get attached again? I'm just...beyond confused with myself.

Beck interrupts my thoughts as he walks over to the table. "Hey. How ya' felling?"

"My eye hurts," I complain as he takes a seat. I have to keep up the charade after all. I didn't fake this black eye for nothing.

"Oh yeah which one?" He remarks with a little smile.

I narrow my eyes at him understanding that he's trying to be playful with me like old times. "Cute," I respond sarcastically. "I want coffee."

"What's the magic word?"

"Get me some coffee," I snap at him. Beck stares at me serious his eyes blinking a few times. Fiiine Beck I'll play along! Anything to get me my damn coffee! I fake small pout and force myself to say, "Please."

He grins, "Actually the magic word was lotion, but I'll accept your please because you got a boo boo eye."

As he starts to walk off I remind him about the way I like my coffee made. "Two sugars."

"I know what to do," he responds back at me while continuing to walk off leaving me alone with my thoughts again.

So yeah I faked the whole black eye thing. I faked it because it was the only way to get it through to Vega that she should give up on me and move on. That way she won't get hurt and I won't be the cause of her pain. I mean yeah right now she probably feels a bit like crap, but she'll get over it and then I won't mean anything to her.

My ears pick on some chick gasping behind me and I'm a total idiot for turning around to check because-. "You guys are so dead!" The prissy random chick just fucking threw water in my face! "Oh my god Jade!" I shut my eyes on impact and start to rise up feeling my anger about to be unleashed on this dumb ass I open my eyes and glare at her when I feel my makeup beginning to melt. "I'm so sorry! Please don't destroy me socially! I didn't mean to-."

"Just forget it!" I grab my things quickly and flee the Asphalt Cafe. Shit! If I don't hurry up this makeup is going to come off my entire eye! I speed up my pace walking into the main hall of Hollywood Arts when I hear Andre off in the distance.

"Oh hey Jade, Jade, Jade, Jade! Wait up!"

Crap he can't see me like this either! "I can't talk. No." I try to casually walk away from him, but the boy won't take no for answer and runs up stopping me dead in my tracks.

"What!"

He knits his brows close together, "Ugh- what's wrong with your eye?"

I avoid his gaze and keep my hand on my face trying to hide what's left of the makeup. "Tori hit me with a cane remember?"

"Yeah but-." Andre reaches out to touch part of my exposed eye. "I've never seen a black eye drip before?" He retracts his hand and observes the purple liquid on his fingertip."This is makeup. Tori never hit you. Did she?"

I'm at a loss for words from his accusing glare. "Ah- I." He's right and I can't explain to him why I faked this whole thing! I had planned out the whole stage fighting incident since Vega and I got partnered together. It was supposed to be the perfect plan to finally get her to stop trying to be my friend!

"Fake black eye, fake blood."

I remove my hand from my eye knowing the jig is up and there is no way for me to pull one on Andre. I lock my eyes with his. "Look you cannot tell anyone about this especially Tori," I attempt to reason with him. He doesn't know about our history together, no one does. But, he can't rat me out it'll ruin everything!

"I won't," he assures as I take a step back about to leave to clean up my face.

He is calm, but soon begins to yell on the top of his lungs."Tori!"

Are you kidding me! He runs off as I yell loudly, "Shut up!" I run after him as he takes off up the stairs in the main hall in search for Tori.

"Yo Tori! Tori! Where are you!"

"Andre! Be quiet! Please stop!" God why won't he shut up! He is going to destroy what I did today! I just know it! Vega was good and done with! She was going to finally give up on me; I could see it in her eyes after what I had said to her in the janitor's closet.

"Anybody seen Tori!"

"Nobody bother Tori! False alarm! He ate a bad taco!" I yell out to others in the hall making sure they think nothing is wrong.

Jade's POV

(Friday at the Black Box Theater after the Play)

My plan officially was foiled when Andre found out about my fake black eye. He told Tori, I just know he did. And, that's why I'm here at the Black Box about to go see her. Vega didn't say anything to Lane or Mr. Harper and I need to know why she didn't.

As I quietly walk into the Black Box I see Derek our school security guard take a seat and Vega currently scraping some yellow chunky stuff off the edge of the wall. I don't say anything at first watching her work while I try to find my voice. She turns her head feeling my stare on her. Tori's eyes meet mine and for a second passing guilt sweeps my features as I look down at her. Her eyes full of wonderment as she waits for me to say something.

My throat feels a bit dry for some reason, but I manage to speak clearly anyway. "I don't get it."

"What," she asks with those innocent brown eyes that seem to always get to me no matter how hard I've tried to resist them.

"I know Andre told you that I faked everything." She avoids my eyes and looks down to the ground briefly before reaching out towards the edge of the wall to begin scraping again. "The blood- the black eye." My curiosity wonders off unintentionally. "What is that mac and cheese?"

"Looks like it right," Derek chimes in as Vega shoots him a glance of annoyance.

She stands up from her crouched position."Why are you here?"

Why am I here? No Tori the better question is, "Why are you here? Why didn't you tell on me?"

She sighs a little as she answers me, "Because we both go to school here and it's not gonna be much fun for either one of us if we're fighting all the time." I can tell she is upset as she walks away from me over to another side of the food splattered walls.

I somehow doubt that's the only reason why Vega did this. She has a habit of trying to protect me even from my own undoing. I turn and walk over to the side she is working on now."So...you're just going to let me get away with it?" Tori looks at me her eyes serious and for the first time I can see she really is mad at me. "You took detention and a lower grade, and you're scraping crusty pudding off the wall on a Friday night just so I won't get in trouble," I question her confounded that after all this time Vega still won't give up on me.

She nods her head firmness laced in her words, "Pretty much."

Doesn't she understand why I did all this in the first place? Why can't Tori just see that getting involved with me will only cause her problems? "Well you can't be nice to me when I've been mean to you. That's not how it works."

She scrapes a bit of the wall and looks back at me contemplative about my words."Well then try being nice to me sometime. Maybe that'll work. Now go play I gotta scrape this onion dip off the wall." She leans in to sniff it. "Or onion puss."

Vega starts back up on her punishment, the punishment I should be serving for lying. Yet here she is basically telling me I can dish out anything her way, but she'll always refuse to submit to the constraints I put on her. I was for sure this time would be the last straw. That she'd finally stop trying to be a friend to me. I remain silent watching Tori only for few seconds longer as I begin to walk away about to leave her here cleaning up this whole mess. But I look back, and looking back- well that gets you nowhere except stuck on the past.

I drop my bag and grab the bucket, tossing the towel onto my plaid covered shoulder knowing what I have to do now. What the right thing to do is. I pull out the wall scraper, walk over to nearest red pole close to Vega and scrape some gunk off it.

She turns from the sound and looks me over her eyebrows raised from surprise. I give her a painful fake smile letting her know this is me trying to be nice. When Vega turns away from me I stop scraping a plan forming in my mind."This might be more fun with some tunes," I announce loudly making my way to the wall where the music controls are. My boot slides on some damn muck from the floor and I end up almost hitting the wall with my face. Although it's a good thing I put my hand out to break the fall. And, if I do say so myself I pull it together rather quickly and make my little slip up come off seductively by flipping my long autumn brown hair to music starting up.

Vega wants to laugh I know, but instead she just opens her mouth in amusement finding my clumsiness funny. I remember out of the two of us back when we were younger she was the one who was a complete klutz and I was the one always catching her when she lost her footing.

I smirk at her and begin to sway my hips to the rhythm of the music, flirtatiously swinging my small white towel showing Vega that Jade West can even make an awkward moment like that come off sensual. She watches me closely and we both share a genuine smile feeling the mood lift.

I'm back where I was at the red pole scraping away but dancing along to the music just like Vega. For some reason this feels like old times. Tori turns around changing the spot she was working on the wall to the red pole I'm cleaning. Like those days when we were on talking terms and we'd just be together not a care in the world of the oddity the two of us made up.

She interrupts my thoughts as she calls over Derek with a big smile on her face. "Hey D come scrape with us this is fun."

"Alright," Derek agrees and stands up from his seat to join us.

Well done Vega now all I have to do is get us both out of here and we're home free. I move over to the table and begin to clean it as Tori playfully bumps Derek following me. We are all cleaning and dancing now getting into the groove of things. Derek is scraping the poles Vega and I were previously working on really feeling it. Well I'm sure glad he is enjoying himself it will make it easier for me to bust Vega out of here.

I smile and hand him over my wall scraper hoping he is gullible enough to accept my little scheme. "Here try it with two."

And sure enough he does! Yes! Almost there! I dance back to Vega the both of us moving to the music. Once I see that Derek is distracted enough I tap Tori's shoulder making her glance over to him. We exchange looks of passing agreement and grab our bags literally dancing our way out of detention.

Did you all like this chapter? I wasn't too sure, but it ties in to the next one so I felt it was needed. I just want to be honest with you guys I felt for sometime like I wasn't go to continue this story, but I kept thinking of the people who really enjoy my story and decided not to give up.

I just want to know if anyone still wants me to continue? Thanks for reading :)