Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.
The Bet
Chapter 38 – Out and about.
No One's POV
As Jade turned her car into the mall parking lot, Tori suddenly blurted out "Jade I'm nervous."
"For the 10th Time, Stop worrying Vega. Everything will be fine." Jade said quickly, as she began to look for a parking spot.
"What if they don't accept us as a couple or are mad at us?"
Jade ignored the question and merely growled in frustration.
Today was the day that Jade and Tori were going to officially come out to Cat, Robbie and Andre. Tori and Jade had not had much if any communication with them as pretty much all their time was spent with each other. In some ways it was like they were in their own world and they very much liked it like that.
Since the rainy day 2 and a half weeks ago where Tori discovered Jade was still having nightmares, they had been sleeping together. It had a twofold purpose in Tori's mind, the first of which was to help Jade through her nightmares. The second of which was to strengthen the bond between them. The thing was that no sex had been involved. They hadn't done it yet as they just didn't sense the time was right.
Nearly each night, at some point Tori would hear the window of her room slowly slide open and in Jade would come. Then the Goth would quietly strip down to her panties and a t-shirt, then slide under the covers where Tori was waiting.
Tori ritualistically welcomed Jade each night with a smile, a kiss and the words "Hello Beautiful." Jade would let her defenses drop smile herself, say "Hello gorgeous" and slip herself into Tori's open arms. They didn't usually talk much past that. Normally Tori would say "Sweet dreams my love." in a sweet tender voice as she gently stroked Jade's hair. Jade would normally say "I love you too Vega." Then quickly drift off into sleep.
Tori did have to contend with Jade's nightmares for a while. Jade would start to thrash and moan waking Tori, who would then gently wake her love.
Tori would hold Jade and in a soothing voice would tell the frightened Goth that she was safe and loved. The nightmares gradually became infrequent and after a week and half ceased as their love deepened. Jade of course didn't want to give up the nightly ritual that she had come to love so much and kept doing it as if the nightmares still plagued her. Tori of course was not fooled and was rather happy that Jade continued to share her bed. She let Jade think she was fooled.
Yesterday they pair decided to come out to their friends and apologize for largely ignoring them. Tori found herself more apprehensive telling her friends than her parents. They called their friends and said they had some new. Arrangements were made to meet at the food court of the local mall noon.
At 11:50 Tori and Jade emerged from Jade's car and began to slowly walk across the parking lot to the multi-level glass temple of American consumerism.
Though annoyed by the fact that Tori still was visibly nervous, Jade still wanted the Latina to calm down. She gently slipped her fingers in Tori's and squeezed her hand.
"Pretty." Jade said with a smile. It was a simple one word compliment but the smile it brought to Tori's face was gratifying.
They walked into the mall and slowly worked their way to the food court.
"Let's not let on until we are at the table." Tori said as they got on the escalator to the food court.
Jade let go of Tori's hand with a slight frown. "Fine."
Within seconds Jade and Tori spotted, Andre, Cat, Robbie and unfortunately Rex sitting at a table near the Steak Escape.
"Hi Guys." Tori said with a bright smile as they approached the table.
"Hey" Said Jade in a more subdued tone.
The pair spent a minute or two greeting each other and sat down.
Andre decided to get right to the point of them being there. "OK Tori, What's this news you wanted us to meet? I know we haven't seen you or Jade much so what's the deal."
Tori bit her lip and for a second gave Jade a nervous glance. A subtle nod from Jade told her she should proceed.
Ignoring the butterflies in her stomach, Tori stood and began to speak. "Well. You know I've been working a lot recently and Jade's been busy as well. We are sorry we've been out of touch and we mean to change that. Well….Um….Jade and I have been spending some time together and were in love."
"HA HA HA HA" Andre, Cat, Robbie and Rex all suddenly burst into hysterica fit's of l laughter.
"Oh..God that's rich Tori." Andre said.
"My god I'm laughing so hard I think I peed myself a little." Cat suddenly announced.
Seeing them laugh caused the hopeful look on Tori's face to gradually droop. Jade, now angry stood up. "STOP LAUGHING!"
There was immediate silence at the table as Jade gave all four a withering stare.
"What's wrong Jade, that was a funny Joke? You can't be all that mad about it." Robbie said with a confused look.
"THAT'S NOT A JOKE!" Jade barked as she swiftly bent over and kissed Tori on the lips.
A sudden dead silence suddenly gripped the table as looks of shock and disbelief formed on the faces of Robbie, Andre, Cat and even Rex.
"Holy Cow, their serious?" Remarked Andre.
Cat scratched her head. "Jade I don't get it, You hate Tori?
Jade's jaw hardened. "I never said I hate Tori."
"Yeah you did, all the time." Cat said as Andre, Robbie and Rex all nodded in agreement. "I even have this video on my phone of you saying it." Cat then pulled out her phone, pressed a button and Jade's voice came from it.
"Cat why do you always have to invite Vega? "
Now they heard Cat. "I like Tori, she's my friend."
"Well I hate her! She's stupid and…"
They didn't hear the rest of the recording as Jade had snatched the phone out of Cat's hands and sent it flying across the food court.
"NEVER REMIND ME OF WHAT I SAID!" Jade barked at the group, before she turned to Tori and in a low sensual voice said. "Your my one and only. I love you baby."
At this point Rex started to chime in. "Holy Cow Jade's a D…."
He was interrupted by Tori, who glared both at him and his owner. "Finish that word Rex, and I'll go to the pizza place I work at behind me and I'll shove you in one of the pizza ovens. See how you look after 425 degrees for 15 minutes."
Robbie's eyes briefly opened wide as he gave a fearful look to Rex. The puppet remained silent for a moment then said.
"Congratulations ladies. I wish you the best."
Tori starred at Rex for another second. "Good answer."
Cat raised her hand. "Can I get my phone?"
Jade huffed. "Only if that video gets erased. NOW!"
Cat nodded quickly and ran go retrieve her phone.
"Ok, I believe you two are a couple now. I'd like to hear the story, if you don't mind." Andre asked cautiously.
So Tori and Jade took turns telling the entire story. From the beginnings of the bet, to Morgan Tate up to the present day. The whole story sounded like it was a bit much for the assembled group. It was several seconds before any of them said a word.
Tori broke the silence. "I'm sorry for being distant and I'm sorry Cat that I told you Santa wasn't real. He sent me a email saying that unless I apologized I wasn't getting anything for Christmas."
Jade resisted the urge to roll her eyes as Cat jumped for Joy. "Thank you. Do you have his email, I don't have it and want to email my list to him." The red haired girl said in an excited fashion.
"Ahh…..Sorry I think I erased it by mistake." Tori replied quickly.
"Darn." Cat said as her face seemed to fall.
Jade nudged Tori. "Come on Vega, let's get some food. I want to try some of that pizza at your place."
Tori frowned. "Can we go somewhere else. They hate me there."
"Why?"
"Cause when I started there, I was emotionally dead. I wasn't really nice to anyone and as a result they call me Tori the bitch. Not to my face at least."
Jade grumbled, took Tori's hand and headed towards the pizza place. As they neared the counter Jade could see the sneer form on the red haired teenager girl's face who was manning the counter.
"Oh…It's you. What do you want.?" The red haired girl who's name tag said Jamie, uttered in a unfriendly tone. Seeing the unhappy look on Tori's face, only made Jade more angry.
Stepping forward she leaned over the counter and got in Jamie's face. "You know Jamie. I'll bet that's not the proper way to greet a customer according to the rule book."
Jamie shot Jade a nasty look. "So what of it?"
For the next 30 seconds Jade gave the girl what could only be considered a bone chilling, hate filled glare. Jamie, stood there almost paralyzed and Tori could see her begin to turn white.
Then abruptly she stopped. "Two slices of cheese and two medium diet cokes." Jade barked quickly.
Jamie suddenly set about filling the order as if her life depended on it. Jade handed Jamie a 20 and got the change back.
"Thank you, Please come again to Sal's Pizza." Jamie said in a proper courteous fashion.
"I have to work with these people you know. But thanks anyway. Jamie's a stuck up snob." Tori said as they returned to the table.
Jade glanced back catching a nasty glare directed at Tori from a different counter person. "I'll help you find a new Job. I don't want you working there. In fact I remember seeing the bookstore at the other end of the mall is looking for people. We'll hit that after lunch."
The rest of lunch went well and the group though surprised at first, were happy to see Tori and Jade together. They did explain that they both owed Beck an apology and would do so when he returned from Canada in a few weeks.
With lunch ended, Jade and Tori walked to the bookstore where Tori applied. As the exited the bookstore Jade looked at the sky.
"Looks like it's going tp rain. You want to go to the movies tonight? No horror. I promise."
A look of disappointment flashed across Tori's face. "Sorry Jade. Trina wanted to take me out for dinner tonight. My parents are out of town trying to repair their marriage so with it just us, she decided to take me out. Are you coming over tonight to sleep?"
Jade appeared to think for a moment. "Not tonight then., I'm going to work on a horror story I've been trying to finish. We can do something tomorrow."
The look of dissappointmen in Tori's face was noticeable, but Jade pretened not to. "OK. Let's go home then. I've got some laundry to do before I got out."
A half an hour later Jade dropped off Tori at home.
"Have a good time with Trina. I'll see you later Vega. Love you." Jade said with a kiss, as Tori got out of the car.
"Later Jade. Love you." Tori said in reply with a smile.
But before Jade pulled away, Jade looked at the Vega home and smirked.
"So much to do, so little time. Surprises are so fun." Jade said as she pulled away to run the first of the errands she had to run before tonight.
Trina took Tori out to dinner that evening at nice restaurant and the sisters had a good time. They mostly talked about their parents and their recent attempt to patch up their marriage. Tori of course worried about her and Jade. Trina said don't worry, I have a feeling everything will be fine.
It was about 9 oclock when Trina pulled her car in front of the Vega home.
"Well out you go, Sis. Thanks for coming out with me." Trina said.
Tori looked confused. "Where are you going?"
"I'm spending the night at Molly's."
"First Jade, then you. I'm all alone tonight. I hate being alone in the house." Tori said with a whine.
Trina flashed a strange smile. "I'm sure you'll find something to occupy your time, now scoot."
Feeling a bit let down, Tori exited the car and went inside the home. There was a silence in the house which Tori didn't like. Instead of going down up to her room as she normally would, Tori turned on the TV, sad down and started to watch an episode of Full House that was on Nick at Night.
About 2 minutes later Jade texted.
From Jade:"What are you doing?"
From Tori "Watching Full house."
From Jade "Uggh..Watch that, I'd rather be boiled in oil, why would you watch that?"
From Tori: "Because I'm all alone and John Stamos is really Hot. He's one of the few people around that I think that's even hotter than you." Tori knew that would annoy Jade intensely. Tori was annoyed that Jade chose to write this evening, instead of being with her.
From Jade: "Ouch! That's going to cost you Vega."
Tori couldn't help but laugh. "That'll show you to leave me alone Jade. Give me your best shot" The Latina said with a boast.
From Tori: "Exactly, how do you plan to do that?"
Abruptly, the power went out and the house was plunged into darkness. Startled , Tori let out a scream. The curtains to the windows had all been drawn so the room was now almost totally pitch black.
What on earth could Jade be up to? Find out next chapter.
FYI, only 2 chapters left.