ToriVega: Hey. Let me know when the bomb has dropped.
ScissorLuv: Oh, it dropped already.
ToriVega: How bad was it? Did you get grounded?
ScissorLuv: Let's just say I didn't.
ToriVega: Let's say more.
ScissorLuv: Leave it, Vega. I'm pissed enough as it is.
Which was only partially true. As Jade paced around her bedroom in search of something to do, anything to focus on besides the dull ache in her chest, anger was just one of the many emotions swirling in her head.
ToriVega: Do I need to go over there and kick someone's ass? Or rescue you like Sleeping Beauty or some other generic princess?
ScissorLuv: As much as I appreciate the intention, sit your ass down and stay home. I mean that.
ToriVega: Aye aye, captain. But do you need anything?
ScissorLuv: Remember why Beck was constantly frustrated with me?
ToriVega: … Why?
ScissorLuv: Because I'm a jerk. For example, right now, I don't want to talk to you at all. I'll see you at school.
ToriVega: … Uh… Okay?
When the two girls met at school the next day, it was a brief meeting to say the least. Jade's eyes avoided Tori's to the point where it was almost ridiculous, but their gazes didn't meet once, and the more the Latina tried to analyze the situation, the more confused and honestly heartbroken she became.
It started early in the morning, after a frustrated attempt at a conversation by the lockers. While Jade hung around, silent and almost unmoving, Tori made her way to the still mostly empty classroom. More out of habit than anything else, she saved the girl a seat by her side… And after a moment of consideration, took two notebooks and used them to save two more chairs, one in the same row as Tori's, the other on the opposite side of the classroom. It might have been overkill, but mostly, it was an experiment – a strange but effective way to find out how big she had screwed up.
But as Jade entered the classroom a few minutes later, with Cat walking behind her like a puppy, she didn't even seem to notice the saved seats. Instead, she claimed a chair in the row behind Tori's and stared blankly at the wall, the redhead nestling by her side with a panicked expression. It was only seconds before a new text appeared in Tori's phone.
Please please please tell me you know what happened to her.
So it wasn't just about the episode in the what was it?
Not a clue. Do you at least know something? Anything?
I have a guess, but… It only happened once before, when we were about twelve and her dad caught us kissing. I mean- sorry.
Dude, I don't care about *that* right now. I wanna know what's wrong.
Don't yell at me!
I'm not even yelling! Just… What happened that time?
Tori heard a very audible sigh from behind her and glanced at the short girl, who was typing furiously on her phone, while Jade kept an absent gaze fixated on the board.
It happens often. It's been going on since I can remember, with both of us. That time, though, something was different. Something inside of her kind of changed, in a bad way. I'm getting worried this is the same thing.
It sounded serious. A bit too serious.
Anything we can do about it?
Just be patient. She'll be different for a few days. Let me do the work, okay? No offense, but you're not practically her sister. I am.
Understood. Just keep me posted.
Will do. And Tori?
Hm?
How are you? I mean… Did your dad punish you too bad for the thing in the park? Do you need something?
Tori had been so caught up in wondering how Jade was doing, she didn't even know how to answer the question. Did she need something? Sure, there was a little something making her chest hurt, and it sure as hell wasn't angina. But then again, what could Cat do about it?
Well, there was one thing…
A hug would be pretty nice.
And the next thing she knew was that a pair of skinny arms was wrapping around her from behind, and a tan chin was resting on her shoulder with a soft giggle.
"You didn't have to wait for me to ask, okay?"
Tori had to admit, the hug idea was quite effective to take some of that weight off her chest. Granted, it wasn't the hug she wanted, but it was warm and comforting, and she didn't feel like complaining about it at all.
It was only a minute before Robbie's voice came in through the door, oblivious to the heavy air in that corner of the room.
"Tori, why are your notebooks scattered around the class?" He chuckled, retrieving the two notebooks from the chairs they were on. Tori just received them with a dry chuckle, stuffing them into her bag before slumping back in her chair.
"What's goin' on here, kids? You're all tense." Andre's voice followed, and he took his seat beside the Latina, arching a brow at the two girls behind them. "Still mad about the stuff that happened at the park, Jade?"
And the reply came not in a glare or an inappropriately rude scream, but in an expressionless shrug and whisper.
"I'm fine. Just a headache."
It was as convincing as the time she'd tried to convince them she hadn't stolen Andre's grandmother's brand new scissors just because they were "huge and heavy".
Cat's fingers laced with the girl's instantly, which didn't bother Tori for the reason you'd think. She had no problem with her girlfriend's best friend touching her – obviously, to an extent – and the gesture was innocent and sweet. What she did have a problem with was being unable to help at all.
… Or was she?
As Beck entered the room, the Jewish boy waved to his friends and shot them an apologetic smile before moving with Beck to the other side of the classroom, far away from Jade. Granted, Beck had screwed up, but Robbie felt a little bad for leaving him all alone in the corner. This was all an observation in the corner of Tori's mind; her thoughts were mostly of what she could do to cheer up her girlfriend even a little bit.
In a way, this was Tori's escape. Instead of focusing on her own mess – granted, many times smaller than Jade's, but still unsettling – she would move it to the back of her head and instead think about Jade. And Cat. And Andre. And Robbie. And Beck. And Trina. And whoever else she had to think of to distract from the very obvious fear of what her parents would say when she got home.
From the time she and her friends got home from the failed picnic to the moment she entered Trina's car to go to school that morning, not a word had been spoken about the revelation. It was clear that her father had heard it loud and clear; his younger daughter and the girl he'd helped get closure on her assault were together. And there was nothing to say on the matter? Not a word? Not a "hey, it's cool", or a "you're sick", or anything in between? What about Trina? Did she know? Why hadn't she at the very least made fun of her sister – if not for her sexuality, then for her choice?
Yes, it was definitely easier to think about Jade and whatever could be going on in her strange mind. What could she do to make it better? And how to even begin to think about this if she had no idea what "it" was?
And as the class began, her mind was full speed ahead. When it ended, the first thing she did was grab Cat by the arm and run with her to the janitor's closet, not stopping until they were both inside and the door was closed.
"TORI! This is kidnapping!" She squealed, freeing herself from the latina's grasp with a harsh yank. "You don't do this to people!"
"Well, I wanna know what's going on! I mean, you don't have to tell me the details. Just tell me why my girlfriend is acting that way!"
Cat sighed and grabbed a nearby stool to sit on, her arms and legs crossed in visible frustration.
"You're not letting me out of here until I do, are you?"
Tori smirked.
"Nope."
"Then fine. But if you tell her, I'm toast. Toast!"
"Did anybody say toast?" Sikowitz's voice made the two girls jump up as he opened the door to the closet, laughing. "What are you girls doing in here? Nothing… Shady, I hope?"
Cat started to mumble something, but Tori cut her off.
"Nothing, nothing, we were just…"
"I was about to make a mistake, that's all."
And then Cat stormed off, leaving Sikowitz puzzled and Tori as frustrated as she was helpless.
HappyCat: And that's how I almost told her everything. I'm sorry…
ScissorLuv: It's okay. You didn't.
HappyCat: Are you mad at me?
ScissorLuv: Nah.
HappyCat: Sad?
ScissorLuv: Something like it.
HappyCat: What can I do? Want me to go over there and sleep over?
ScissorLuv: Do what you want.
HappyCat: I love you, okay?
ScissorLuv: No idea why.
HappyCat: Don't start with that again! You're scaring me!
ScissorLuv: You say "again" like it happens always. The last time I was in this state was five years ago.
HappyCat: Everyone is worried. Everyone. Andre has asked me like fourteen times today what happened to you. Tori, well, you know what she did. Robbie was circling you like a puppy. And Beck sucks peepee.
ScissorLuv: Still can't say dick, can you, kiddo?
HappyCat: Shut up and don't distract me!
ScissorLuv: I'm fine. Well no. But I will be.
HappyCat: You weren't this sad when Sinjin hurt you.
ScissorLuv: Well, it's different.
HappyCat: I'm going over there. I'm going over there and you and I are going to talk this over. If he's in a bad mood, he'll get me before he gets you.
ScissorLuv: You're insane! You already have your brother to worry about.
HappyCat: I'm not the one who needs protecting right now.
ScissorLuv: I won't open the door.
HappyCat: Then I'm gonna stand all night outside your door with a bag of candy and a bottle to pee in.
ScissorLuv: Stubborn bitch.
HappyCat: Same to you.
ScissorLuv: Fine, come over. Whatever. But you know how I get. We'll have to share the bed and you'll have to do that thing you do to get me to calm down if I even start to talk about this shit. You brought this on yourself, Valentine.
HappyCat has signed off
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. My apologies for the delay. School and stuff. I'm in a sour mood, but I'm happy about this chapter, and once again thank you all so much for the reviews and love. Please keep them up! It keeps the story up too!