Disclaimer:

This chapter contains possible violence, gore, and mentions of rape. If any of these things disturb you, there will be a marker that will give you a chance to skip past those sections. You will be informed before and after the specific scenes so that you can avoid any triggering themes or acts that are written out. Keep in mind that this disclaimer is a 'precaution' and will be followed up with direct warnings when necessary.
Thank you in advance and enjoy the chapter.


Previously:

"Okay, you can come in," she called to her.

Hearing a deep breath, Liam watched the lone entrance/exit and was rewarded for his patience with the appearance of a familiar blue-eyed girl from his past. His lips parted at the sudden sight of Jade West in his dorm room.

"Jade?" his face, outside of a shocked expression, was a mystery to the goth who did her best to form a smile.

"Hey, Liam," she wiggled her fingers as a weak form of a wave.

Seeing their matching expressions, Lola realized that there was some form of history between Jade and Liam, a history that she would've inquired more about herself but, that idea would have to be put on hold when her phone went on. Checking it, she found that it was her roommate, Zoey calling.

"I have to check on my room with Zoey." she batted her eyelashes, almost in a romantic way. "I'll catch you later on tonight at Sushi Rox?"

"It's a date," he chuckled at her mock attempt at pouting before receiving a soft kiss on his cheek as gratitude.

"Until then, Wolfy..." Lola winked. As Jade looked on, she blinked several times at the scene playing out in front of her when she noticed Lola passing her by. "See ya later, Jade."

"Y-yeah, see you around, Lola." she put on a smile for the girl until she disappeared from view. That was when everything settled in her mind as she felt a gaze locked onto her. Turning her head, she searched for a way to shatter this unnerving feeling that gripped her. "Wolfy?"

"It's her nickname for me..." his voice grew calm and unreadable.

"I'm just saying, tiger," she noticed a slight shudder from his solid build after reciting her nickname for him. "Of all the names to give, who on earth would give out such a corny nickname?"

She watched as he crossed his arms, not entertained in the slightest at her wise-crack.

"My girlfriend..."


Demons Within

Chapter 48: Lost & Found

Jade plainly stood there, pools of sapphire flashing with a spark that, if left unchecked, threatened to burn down anything in her path. In this instance, that meant the guy standing a few feet apart from her would be the receiver of her impassioned time bomb. Their joint silence only made the ambiance around them so much more plain.

"Your girlfriend?"

It wasn't the best way to restart a broken conversation, but, she didn't care at the moment; all that mattered now was her ability to understand the situation. Sure, she would be a fool to believe that he couldn't have found someone, yet, she never expected him to wind up with someone that looked so much like the Latina back in L.A. It was safe to say that this was going to make for an interesting story, if they make it far enough.

On his end, Liam was just trying to process the image of his (dare he use the word former) friend in his dorm room. After a year or so, things had taken a rather confusing turn and now, it seemed that complication had resurfaced.

"Yes, my girlfriend..." he crossed his arms, his eyes glimmering with something that only made Jade grow more nervous as the seconds ticked by.

She fought through the swamp inside of her stomach and clenched her fists tightly. "It's good to see you again."

"Jade," he cut her off, his tone reminding the girl of their pre-established status. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

If she didn't know any better, Jade could've sworn she'd heard a small amount of wonder in his voice combined with the seriousness that he noticeably portrayed.

"Straight to the point," she grinned for a split second but dropped the act once she caught a glimpse of his wolf-like gaze firmly tracking her every move. It was like those emerald spheres were penetrating deep into her soul, reading the story that was her life. "I umm... I came here looking for you, alright?"

"That goes without saying..." he smirked confidently. "But, that still doesn't answer my question, Jade."

He watched as she bit her lip, almost contemplating whether she should just blow off the question entirely. It wouldn't shock him if she did, given her personality. What did catch him off guard was what came next.

"Tori..."

"What about Tori?" he asked in confusion. "You're not making sense..."

"She misses you... We all do," she admitted amidst the apparent defeat on her profile. "Things haven't been the same since you left. I er- I mean, we haven't heard from you and I was nominated to come to find you."

"You're lying..." he said quietly as he plopped in a nearby chair.

"Wha? What do you know?!" despite her best effort, her voice came off with desperation than offense.

"It's written in your eyes Jade..." his own voice, now somber and tranquil, became the perfect foil to her exasperated tone. "If I had to take a guess, I'd wager that nobody knows you're here, do they?"

Silence.

Jade West found herself leaning against the wooden door frame as her heart felt like it was beating in her throat. This wasn't a reunion, it was an interrogation. This was something that, while she might desperately need, she very well knew this wasn't what she wanted. Like a wicked serpent, she felt her own sense of pride begin to slither around her, seducing her back to the ways of old, when she ruled the halls of Hollywood Arts.

She was no child and she refused to be treated as such; not by him or anyone else for that matter.

"I don't have to answer that..." she turned up her nose before turning to leave. "I'm out of here. See ya never..."

"Fine," he shrugged casually. "If you really expect me to believe that you chose to drive 40+ miles just to insult someone you haven't seen in over a year, then you've reached a new level of pathetic."

There it was, the trigger had been pulled and the shot fired.

Turning around, Jade took in the collected boy on the other side of the room, his down to earth reaction now proving to be a major thorn in her side.

"What did you just call me?"


Lola rushed through the building, narrowly dodging the other students with masterful precision until she arrived at her address. Arriving on the third floor, she managed to bump into someone just as she turned the corner.

"Ow!" she groaned once her lower half met with the floor.

"Oops, sorry Lola!" a blond haired girl cupped her mouth with wide-eyed terror.

The Hispanic girl massaged her sore rear before getting to her feet. "That's alright, Zoey. I should've been watching where I was going."

Soon, the two were snickering about the event that just ensued, though something had Zoey Brooks attention.

"Why were you in such a rush anyway?" she crossed her arm over her chest. "I simply wanted to ask which of the full beds you wanted to take. You didn't have to run all the way over here."

"I know, but," Lola rubbed the back of her neck, clearly occupied with something else a little more pressing in her head. "I just came from Liam's room and..."

"Seriously? Sometimes, I think you're more obsessed with boys than Nicole!" she joked, though it seemed that her friend wasn't amused with her humor. "Alright, what's wrong?"

"Well, for starters, I haven't seen him since vacation started since he chose to stay on campus while we all went home." she rolled her eyes, the faintest hint of a smirk answering the first question before her lips fell once again. "And... well, I ran into someone today..."

"Another guy?" Zoey gasped. She then seized the brunette's wrist and led her to their quarters, shutting the door to give themselves some solitude. "Lola, tell me you're not thinking of-?"

"No, it was a girl," she shook her head.

"Wait, you like chicks now?"

"ZOEY!" she squealed. "Listen, on my way here, I ran into a girl who said she knew Liam and I think I know where she might be from his old school. She seemed like a cool person but, after seeing them come face to face, I think something might be up."

"So, you think they used to date?" Zoey made sure to use caution with her question.

"I don't think so, she only mentioned that they used to be friends and there didn't seem to be any tension romantically, at least from what I could pick up." she began digging in her brown locks, clearly upset by the situation at hand. "He never mentioned dating anyone other than that one girl that broke his heart some years ago. Outside of that, he never spoke about his past in L.A. unless it was vague."

Thinking to herself, Zoey began to pace which only made Lola more anxious as she surveyed the blond girl's movements.

"Okay, so, this random girl pops up at PCA and she says she knows Liam, correct?" A nod of confirmation. "Liam's never spoken about her directly but, it seems that they know each other personally, based on their interactions, right?" Another nod. "Lastly, while you can't confirm it, you think that there might be some history between them to warrant suspicion of her now?"

"Yeah, but, where are you going with this, Zo?"

"Well, I think first and foremost, you leaving them alone was a bad move. I mean, if they did have a thing or some kind of romantic connection, you might have given them the green light to do just that."

Hearing this, Zoey Brooks noticed the fierce glare from her normally upbeat best friend. "Liam wouldn't do that! I can't speak for that girl, but I know for certain that he is loyal!"

Hands up, she withstood the initial burst of anger and backed away slowly.

"Look, all I'm saying is that in any regard, we should probably get back to the dorm immediately," she suggested in hopes of drawing the girl's wrath onto someone else. A furious Lola Martinez was not something she enjoyed seeing, even less if said fury was directed at her.

To Zoey's relief, her roommate agreed and, without another word stomped passed her with determination flashing in her now dark brown eyes.


"Do you care to repeat that?" Jade's voice pierced the thickness of the atmosphere surrounding the estranged friends.

"You heard me quite clearly," he leaned in his seat, not a care in the world to be found on his face. "Unless you've suddenly gone deaf now too."

A bitter laugh passes her lips, her optics registering every detail of the boy. "That's big noise coming from a guy who fled to another school after having his heart crushed."

"Better than staying in a relationship with an emotionless tool, right?"

"At least I have someone..."

"So do I...!"

"Do you really think that girl is anything worth boasting about?"

"Watch your mouth, Jade."

"Or else what?"

At this point, both of them had felt something that neither had felt since the day they met, intimacy. It wasn't the intimacy that one would associate with romance, but, it was one that sparked their friendship. Neither knew it per se, but both were reimagining the day they first met; from their verbal war to them both expertly drawing their weapons, a hunter's knife and scissors respectively.

It was a bittersweet moment, but a crucial one that planted the seeds that would blossom into a true friendship. The weirdest thing was that neither Jade nor Liam had any idea that the blossom would sprout on this very day.

The room filled with laughter that forced them to sit down on the plush floor beneath them. For Jade, it was a much-needed antidote for what she'd been through. Liam, on the other hand, had to admit that it was nice to see someone from his past and that it turns out to be a delightful occasion.

"Just like old times, huh?" he heard her force out through her attempts to regain her breath.

"Except, there's no Lane to send us to the office." he sighed just long enough to acquire enough air to fuel his second round of hilarity.

For the next few minutes, the two would continue to let out their expression of amusement until both could feel the time catching up with them. Now reduced to low chortles, Liam sat up, still clutching his stomach, and sighed softly.

"It really is good to see you, Jade," he wiped a single tear, the last visible remnant of his humorous endeavor. "Whether you believe me or not, I mean that."

Due to her complexion, Jade could do little to hide the sudden flush of her cheeks. "W-well, I'm content to hear that."

"I could tell by the way you were laughing hysterically..." he muttered emotionlessly.

"Okay, so, I'm happy I got to see you as well." she huffed playfully. "Better?"

Looking at the ceiling, Liam's smirk returned in full effect.

"A little," he admitted. "But, I have something's I really need to ask you but, I need you to be honest with me."

Not sure where he was going with that, Jade gave him an uneven smile. "Sure, whatever."

"No, Jade," for the first time, his gaze grew dark, giving the goth a reason to visibly gulp. "I need you to be completely honest with me. That means, no lies, no double meanings, and no changing the subject."

She considered these terms for a few seconds, trying to figure out where he was going with all of this. It was possible that he might want to get something out of her about the gang or maybe, just maybe, Liam wanted to gather some intel about her that she'd otherwise be opposed to revealing? Her mind settled on making the latter idea an amusing thought at best.

"What's in it for me?" if he didn't know any better, her eyes had grown more feline-like, seducing azure crystals subtly entrancing him while challenging his position on the high ground. "What do I get for my unadulterated honesty?"

His eyes bulged so much they looked like billiard balls. "We both know I'm not jumping in that rabbit hole." Liam then discerned what he could tell to be the distant sign of a grin tugging at the right corner of her lips, urging him to realize that she was messing with him. "Very funny," he droned, not happy that he'd fallen for such an elementary prank.

"You have to admit, I still got the stuff," she blew her nails with a level of superiority that only Liam, and a small group of others, would understand. "But, I really need some collateral if I'm to just pour out my soul without question."

"Then I promise to give you the same thing, you can ask me anything and I'll answer truthfully. Deal?"

He extended his hand to her, the first attempt at physical interaction, to which she accepted without hesitation. Sure, they both knew the other could be hiding plenty, but they also accepted that, with the right phrasing, they could get a lot of information with minimum effort.

"Deal."


Zoey and Lola made their way from Cambridge to Bartholomew Hall, the latter leading the charge. In the midst of their journey, they would run into both Quinn & Michael who was carrying (actually struggling to carry) one of the girl's many computers.

"Hey girls! What's the hurry?" the intellectual waved at the two.

While Lola passed by without a word, Zoey briefly explained the situation to them, all while the African-American boy's legs were buckling under the weight of the unusually large monitor. After giving the abridged version, Zoey told the two to hurry and meet them at the dorm asap just as she raced off, hoping to catch up with her friend.


"Alright, I'll start. Honestly, how did you find me?" For Liam, this was probably the most immediate question for him to ask. Sure, there were other questions for him to bring up but he'd settle on getting the simplest one out of the way first.

"I got a tip from a post on TheSlap back home where someone had posted a picture of themselves at a jazz club." he remained silent, but never dropped his eye contact. "At first, I didn't think anything of it, that is until I noticed the guy singing on stage. While I wasn't sure, I had to admit that the resemblance was uncanny and so, I messaged the guy and convinced him to put the location of where he took that picture..." she then saw that he had an eyebrow raised, showing his unconvinced expression. "...okay, so I threatened him to tag the location. After seeing it was Malibu, I checked out every school there and found that this place had a long-standing and competitive relationship with Hollywood Arts. I did a bit more digging, and later found that there were a few Liams on the student roster and then I decided to take a chance to see if you were here."

To say that he was amazed at her efforts would have been an understatement as he just sat there slackjawed.

"You came all this way, just on a hunch that I'd be here..." he rubbed his scruffy chin. "But, why?"

"I believe it's my turn to ask you a question?" she teased. Resisting the urge to face-palm himself, Liam complied with the rules established. "Good, now since you asked me an easy question, I guess it's fair I do the same. How did you end up with Vega 2.0?"

This time, there was no reserve as he smashed his palm into his forehead with an audible pop that made even Jade West cringe a bit. It was at that exact instant when she began to take in the features of her friend.

"Not funny..." he crossed his arms. "To be honest, it wasn't so grand at first," he managed to slip his arms behind his head recounting the memories. "When we first met, I swore she was Tori for nearly a week before she hauled off and slapped me. Then, as luck would have it, we ended up being partnered up in a biology class where we began to bond over science projects and by mid-terms that year, we became good friends." Jade didn't miss the goofy grin that began to split his face but said nothing. "For the next year or so, we spent some time together and she even introduced me to some of her friends who welcomed me to the school and made me feel at home..."

"Okay, but that doesn't explain how you and that Lola girl wound up as a couple."

"Right..." he chuckled nervously. "Well, it happened at the end of last school year, at the schools Sadie Hawkins Dance. Without going into too much detail, we shared a dance or two when she got stood up by some jackass... During the second dance, I started looking at Lola in a way that, I don't think I had with anyone else since Trina." his smile grew a bit more as he visualized the moment as if it were yesterday. "Contrary to what you might think, I didn't see her as someone resembling Tori, but, as her own person. Lola had, in my opinion, this gorgeous smile and dazzling eyes that shined brighter than any star over us that night. I can't tell you how many times, I felt myself getting lost in them."

Feeling a bit sick from the mushy talk, Jade pushed his shoulder, thankful that he came back from the cloud he'd been sitting on in his mind. "Earth to Liam, reel it back in..." she smirked.

"Hehe, Sorry..." he rubbed his sweaty palms together to shake off the effects of his past encounter. "After that, I gathered the courage to ask her out and, soon we went on our first date."

"Great story man," Jade then slowly applauded. "I think you've earned an Oscar."

"S-shut up!" he erupted into another laugh. "Like it or not, that's what happened. But I believe it's my turn again."

"Yeah?" she tucked some of her raven colored hair behind her left ear. "What about it?"

"It's really a two-part question but it could be the last one I need to ask." This intrigued Jade enough to lean forward. "Part one: Does anyone know you're here or, more specifically, does Beck know you're here?"

"I don't know what you're driving at, but no, neither Beck nor the other's know I'm here. They're all on some trip to the beach while Beck's in Canada with his family for the next few weeks before school starts."

Jade could see that her answer was satisfactory as Liam made no further inquiries about that half of his inquest.

"Alright, part two: What's been going on with you two?"

For the first time since their reconciliation, Jade felt a sense of dread creep up from her core. "I don't know what you're talking about, Liam. Beck and I are still together if that's what you're getting at." Her defensiveness was all the proof he needed to confirm an itch that had been bothering him since seeing her arrive with his girlfriend earlier.

From her sudden change in tone to the nature in which she tried to dodge the true direction of his inquiry, he needed no final piece of evidence to justify his reasons.

"Jade, we both know what I meant. Stop trying to duck the real subject and tell me."

Feeling her pride resurface anew, she narrowed her eyes, blue flames dancing behind those orbs that dared him to push further. "Why should I tell you about something about my relationship with Beck?"

"You asked me, right?"

"Because it was part of the game!"

"...And it's still my turn..."

"Why are you so fixated on me and Beck?"

"Because, I know what he is!" he roared, ignoring the random stares from the few boys that traveled the halls.

Seeing Jade fight him tooth and nail over this had dragged him to a place he hadn't been to since the day after Trina Vega disappeared. He hated this feeling, his insides boiling with rage due to someone he cares about.

"I'm not her, Liam..." she whispered, all of her bravado disappearing in an instant. "I'm not Trina; I can handle myself."

She looked down at the carpet, refusing to meet his gaze; oh how she loved and hated that look in his eyes when he got like this. His green eyes would flash with understanding and determination, while at the same time, helplessness. She didn't need that though; she was Jade Fucking West after all.

"Jade..."

"It's my turn..." she couldn't let him get anything more momentum against her. There was something about him that reminded her of her childhood, back when things were simple and she was full of innocence. Unfortunately, she had no use for thoughts like that, nor anything that plagued her with sentiments of that nature. "Did you really leave because of Trina, or was there something else; Something that you didn't tell us?"

For what felt like an eternity, Liam remained quiet. His lips twisted in several directions. tasting and judging the quality of the question like fine wine. Still, he couldn't give a simple answer to that, she wouldn't believe him anyway, so he stood to his feet, heading to his laptop.

After a series of clacking keys, and clicking the mouse attached to the device, he motioned for Jade to accompany him. While hesitant, she silently obliged seeing him logging into his old account on. Her eyebrows knitted close together, she watched as he headed into private inbox only to settle on the most recent message thread.

One that was sent by Beck the night before he decided to transfer.

It was then that he allowed her the full freedom to read everything that was sent between the two. From Beck's early threats during his arrival to Hollywood Arts all the way to that night and from what Jade read, she couldn't deny the truth any longer.

"You're joking..." her voice, a ghost of its former glory. "You can't be serious."

"It seems our questions, have the exact same answer, Jade." He didn't look at her but, he could tell that she was shaking her head, still finding it hard to believe the revelation before her. "Beck blackmailed me into leaving Hollywood Arts. He claimed that Trina leaving was my fault and that he refused to let me take you away from him. After some back and forth, he threatened to hurt you if I didn't leave school."

Soon, droplets began to form in Jade's eyes, a sight most would find foreign to them. Her perception expressing what her heart was currently enduring, they two understood where things would lead. To avoid making another scene, Liam approached her and, with a gaze of understanding, he put on the best smile he could.

"Jade, I can see the bruise under your eye," his voice trembled at the horror on one of his dearest friend's face. "Did he do this to you?"

A nod; that's all she could muster before finally breaking down completely in his arms. Her body convulsed softly while he wrapped her in his arms, showing Jade that he was here for her. He wouldn't ask anymore, she didn't need that right now. All that mattered was that the two had, somehow begun rebuilding the bridge of their friendship and he was going to ensure that nobody would tear that down again.

He took a moment to look down at her, more specifically the mark of pain that had been inflicted by Beck Oliver, who was fortunate to be as far as he was at the time. His heart sank as the flowing drops revealed more of the dark ring of abuse. Admittedly, she did well in hiding it with make-up, but he couldn't be fooled. He noticed it the second he saw her. The slight increase in size just under her eye was something he spotted with ease due to his own past dealings with being abused.

For now, he swore that he'd make things right, not just with Jade, but with the others as well.


Meanwhile, just outside his dorm, Lola & Zoey had been listening to the heartfelt encounter between her boyfriend and Jade. They both felt bad for eavesdropping, but, thought it was necessary to find out both party's intentions. Eventually, they'd heard enough but, chose to remain in hopes of gathering a bit more information on the two.

While it was seen as normal for them to have limited knowledge about this gothic girl, Liam could be seen as a form of an enigma. Throughout his time with them, and the others in their inner circle, they managed to get him to open up about practically anything other than his personal life at his former high school.

Now, they find out that his leaving was really a misguided act of chivalry? Zoey could feel a new level of admiration and understanding while Lola was rather conflicted by this newly collected information. To her, she felt like her connection to Liam was nothing more than an accident.

'Was Liam and I actually meant to be?' she thought to herself. "Or was I really a consolation for this girl?' Considering those two prospects, she nearly missed the remains of the conversation. From hearing the broken sounds of Jade to the comforting words of Liam, she knew that there was nothing to fear involving the pair.

"Jade, I'm not leaving PCA, nor will I jeopardize my relationship with Lola, but, I will try and help you through this thing." they overheard him say, somehow feeling the warmth of his words cover them as well. "I'll talk to the front desk tomorrow about getting you here as a guest and you'll be able to visit anytime you're able, that is, if you give me a heads up." he chuckled.

The two then decided to make their appearance known to the duo, no longer feeling comfortable with listening in on an intimate conversation.


Liam looked up from his embrace with Jade to see a smiling Zoey, and an obscure looking Lola entering his room. Given the looks of things, he figured that she'd be suspicious of his actions and did his best to tell her that it wasn't what it looked like only to notice her lips curling upward steadily; This was her way of letting him know she understood.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Zoey was the one to break the peaceful silence, forcing Jade to pull away from Liam as if touching him had burned her. Instinctively, she turned away, facing the window in hopes of covering up the fact that she'd been crying.

"Yeah, we're alright," he smiled stiffly. "Just having a heart-to-heart is all."

"Are you sure that's all, Wolfy?" Lola frowned softly, though there was a gleam in her eye that didn't go unnoticed by Jade who peered over her shoulder. "Or is there something you're not telling me?

Given what just transpired, Liam was in no position to decipher whether she was joking or serious. He held his hands up as his brain went into shutdown mode. Amidst his muttering, he would get his response in the form of both blond and brunette laughing hysterically at his plight. Soon, Jade would find herself joining in the comical-fest as she giggled softly herself.

"Oh, ha-ha..." he deadpanned. "Very funny..."

"It is," Jade pointed at his bothered face. "It's beyond hilarious!" Suddenly, all of the laughter aside from her own ceased. Looking confused, Jade could see the dumbfounded looks on both girl's faces. "What?"

"What happened to your face?" Zoey gasped.

Jade simply stared at them both until she realized something rather important. She'd been crying (that was obvious) which meant that her eyes would probably be red from doing so. What didn't catch her thinking until this exact moment, was that she'd been wearing makeup to cover up the mark left by her 'beloved' boyfriend.

While Liam simply sighed in resignation, she immediately turned around to hide the grotesque bruise.

"I should go..." she muttered.

"NO!" the three yelled simultaneously, causing the goth to jump slightly at their unified outcry.

"That wouldn't be a good idea," Lola exclaimed. "If anyone sees you like that, they're bound to ask questions and what do you think will happen after that?"

"They'll assume I caused trouble and kick me out..." Jade surmised. "Either that, or they'll blame Liam since they know I came to see him. Neither of us wants that, I'm sure."

Liam simply sat on his bed, pondering their options. "Do either you two have anything that can cover that up without looking suspicious?" Unfortunately, they both shook their heads. "Damn, so what can we do? I have to finish setting up the room and I don't think the RA will be pleased to find a girl in here overnight."

The room fell silent once more, a recurring theme for them as it seemed. Jade had no idea what to do since her makeup kit was in her car, outside of the school campus. Lola began pacing the floor, growing more anxious with each step she took. An exhausted Liam did his best to come up with an idea, but nothing he came up with would be viable without someone seeing his friend's injured eye.

This left Zoey, who'd been relatively calm, all things considered.

"I think I have an idea, but..." everyone turned their attention to her. "Jade, you may not be receptive to it."

The ivory skinned girl gazed, puzzled at Zoey while Liam and Lola would turn to one another, each exchanging unsure glances.

"Look, whatever idea you have, it's better than waiting around and possibly getting you all in trouble. Whatever the risk, I'm willing to take."

Pulling out her phone, she dialed a number and flashed one more look, as if to ask: Are you sure? Expectedly, Jade nodded and soon, the call was placed. Several rings later, they all heard a voice that was familiar to the trio but, clearly unknown to the dark-haired girl.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Quinn..." Zoey responded nervously. "Can you meet me in Liam's dorm? We need you to bring something that can cover up a bruise."


Main Characters (thus far)

Liam Patterson:

After finding out that Trina ran away, after sharing their first time with each other, a betrayed Liam decided that he no longer wanted to stay in a city that continued to destroy his outlook on the world. He chooses to transfer, winding up in PCA where it is learned that he encountered Zoey and the gang at some point. This is definitely true with Lola Martinez, whom he initially mistakes for Tori at first. After that awkward encounter, it is revealed that the two have become an item at some point. With a new semester looming in a month, he finds himself thrust back into the uncertainty of his past: the return of Jade West.

After an initial argument, they both seem to settle things enough after, unintentionally, recreating the day they nearly killed each other. After a fit of laughter, they engage in an emotional back and forth that finally explained a little bit of why she came to PCA looking for him. As the conversation progressed, Liam & Jade seem to have rekindled their friendship, all while managing to avoid any misunderstandings with Lola and Zoey.

Lola Martinez:

Shortly after he transferred to PCA, Lola meets Liam at some point where the two share an awkward encounter with one another. Eventually, they form a strong friendship that, sometime later, form a romantic relationship. She happened to run into Jade West after overhearing her mentioning Liam and helped her get onto the campus grounds. After getting to know her, but, also seeing her boyfriend's reaction to her, it's safe to say that Lola will be keeping a close eye on the goth.

It is later discovered that she and Liam became a couple after a school dance (more will be elaborated on in due time). Despite her reservations, she would find that Jade posed no threat to her and settled on her first impression of the girl. Now, with Zoey, she's looking to help out her new friend with the help of Quinn Pensky.

Jade West:

After finding out that her friend, Liam was leaving Hollywood, Jade, at some point, fell out with the young boy. After over a year of no communication, Jade went looking for him, while keeping her mission a secret from Beck, Tori, and the others. She tried to get in once she found a lead on his location but struggled to get inside until she met Lola, whom she also mistook for Tori Vega. The two eventually worked out the 'kinks' with that and soon, Jade was given access to PCA as a registered guest. Conflicted with her actions, she finds that her lead was true as she prepares the fateful encounter.

She would explain her actions to Liam, after some verbal warfare that resulted in an emotional breakdown and revelation of their shared connection with Jade's boyfriend, Beck Oliver. While Liam had always known the truth since his departure, Jade was stunned to find out that his leaving had little to do with Trina Vega but her significant other. After a tearful embrace, she can rest easy (to some degree) knowing that her bond with Liam is still intact after not speaking for years.

Zoey Brooks

While having the least to do personally so far, Zoey is responsible for Liam and Lola formally meeting after his arrival at PCA. She even introduced him to the other members of her friendship circle which opened the door for him to start a new life. Throughout his time there, she tried to get him to open up about his past but only succeeded in getting tidbits and general information about his life before PCA. Now, she has a better understanding after eavesdropping on his and Jade's discussion about their past connection.

She now seems to handle the role of "Voice of Reason" very well as she had the most level-headed resolve out of the four so far, even coming up with the idea of bringing in their good friend, albeit reluctantly, Quinn Pensky.