This chapter isn't super necessary for exposition, I just put it in for personal reasons.

Tori and Jade woke up early the next morning. Thanks to a second-floor bathroom, both were able to shower. They took one shower so it didn't seem odd to Tori's parents, though of course neither one minded. Washed and dressed, the goth girl bade her girlfriend farewell and left through the window.

Tori smiled to herself.

I am the luckiest girl in the world.

Tori went downstairs about 15 minutes later.

/

"Hey, Tori." David said from the kitchen.

"Hi Dad." She looked around. "Are Mom and Trina here?"

"No, your mother took Trina to some store in San Diego. I wasn't really paying attention."

"Oh. Okay."

"So, did you enjoy yourself last night?"

"Yeah, the dance was okay."

"Tori, we both know that that's not what I meant."

"What did you…" Tori realized what her father was referencing, promptly making her turn a brilliant red. "Oh… um…"

David laughed. "Victoria Sonya Vega, if I didn't approve, do you think I wouldn't have stopped you last night?"

"I… um…"

"Look, it's fine. But for the record, the soundproofing we installed up there isn't perfect. You should know that, you can still hear Trina sing sometimes. So, if you choose to… you know… with Jade up there again, I strongly recommend you keep the volume down."

"O… Okay." Tori was extremely embarrassed by this turn of events.

"Have a seat." Said David, sitting down on one of the red couches.

Tori sat down next to him.

"Tori, do you love Jade?"

"W-what?"

"Do you love Jade?"

"Y-Yeah. Yeah, I love her."

"I suspected as much. The way you act around her strikes me as love. That's why I didn't do anything last night."

Tori was blushing a deep red.

"So," David continued, "Does Jade know how you feel?"

"Yeah. I, uh, told her last night."

"And how does she feel?"

"The same way I do."

"That's good. That's actually what I was worried about."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's a long story."

"Tell it. I don't have to be anywhere for a while."

"Okay. Well, it goes back about 25 years or so. I was 19 years old. I didn't have a whole lot tying me to anything or anyone. Now, you know I'm from Florida, so me and your Uncle Brian spent a weekend in Miami partying. We were at a nightclub, and that's where I saw her."

"Who?"

"I'll tell you, just don't interrupt. She was the first love of my life, or so I thought. Her name was Lizzie. She was half Russian, half Irish. She had fair skin and flowing red hair. And her eyes, well, they were the most vivid blue I've ever seen."

Tori nodded at her father's description of this woman.

"I had a few drinks in me, so I decided to walk over to her and try to hold a conversation. To my surprise, it worked, and so I spent the next few months getting to know her better."

"Did you like what you heard?"

"I did, but I shouldn't have. She was a mess. She had no life goals, no aspirations, no job. Her most recent ex-boyfriend was busted for selling ecstasy. Friggin' jerkoff. But I liked her a lot. I put on hold my dream of becoming a police officer, since I knew she didn't like cops."

Tori nodded.

"I asked her out two months after we met. Six months later I proposed. She said yes, but I should've been able to tell by the way she said it that she only said yes because she felt obligated to."

Tori gasped.

"We were engaged for about six more months. In that time, she grew more and more distant. Whenever I told her I loved her, she would only half-heartedly respond. I should have known something was up. But I refused to believe it."

"What ended it?"

"Well, it turns out she was fucking some guy on the side, a dealer. His name was Randy. The really funny thing about Randy is that he was the guy your Uncle Brian went to to buy weed. When I found out about that, I was heartbroken."

"What did you do about Randy?"

"Well, I told Brian what had happened. He drove over to Randy's place and beat the shit out of him. That was nice."

"So what did you do after that?"

"I ditched Lizzie. I think she wanted me to be the one to do it. Couldn't bring herself to do it to me, for some reason. I drove out to here and pursued my dream of copping. A couple years later, I met your mom, and here we are."

"So… how does that tie into me and Jade."

"Tori, my point is, you have to be careful about "The L-Word". If you think Jade really meant what she said, good. But be wary. I know from experience that not everything your partner says is necessarily true."

"I guess I'll take that warning." Said Tori.

"Good." David replied.

David leaned in to give Tori a hug.

"Tori, I just don't want you to get hurt. That's what that story is supposed to tell you. Don't get hurt. I gave up my entire life for a year for some girl that didn't even really like me."

"I got it, Dad."

They separated.

"I wonder if Jade wishes she had moments like these?" Tori wondered aloud.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, did I say that out loud?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, well, Jade's dad kind of… distanced himself from Jade about nine years ago. He didn't want to, it was just to get away from Jade's mom, who was cheating on him. They were very close before that."

"I see. Has he made any attempt to reconnect with her?"

"Very recently. I hope all goes well."

"Here's to hoping."

"Dad, I'm glad I can talk to you like this."

"Yeah," David replied, "Dads are pretty important."

I don't know if anyone has picked up on one of this story's themes "Dads are important". Well, I put this chapter in for that very reason. I felt like a lot of Jade's issues could have stemmed from her dad, or more to the point, his absence.

I also put this chapter in in honor of my own dad. My dad is the greatest person I've ever met, and he really means a lot to me. I hope to one day name my son after him. He recently had a heart attack (he's okay), and so this chapter really means a lot.

Now that that sappy bullshit's out of the way, I can leave an author's note like I always do: By reminding you to follow, favorite, and review. Following and Favoriting are great for my story's numbers (and a great way to show support), and reviewing is always nice because it lets me know what I can do to improve your reading of my story.

Until next time,

/Yonz