All Over Again…
Hey people, just like to thank you for reading and mostly thank the few people who reviewed. Anyway here's chapter 4...
Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Victorious or any of their characters
Jade's eyes flew open to sounds of two familiar voices yelling at each other. She drew a pillow over her head to try muffling them out. But the ranting and raving increased in volume by the minute. Resigned, she dragged herself out of bed. You'd think after seventeen years of this rollercoaster she called her family, she would get used to it. She reached for her cell phone on her dresser, browsed it over and sighed. There were five messages but none from Tori today. She was probably out or asleep, they were like nineteen hours ahead. Was it really only two months since Tori left? Why did it feel like a year? They kept in contact through texts and email at least every second day. Sometimes she would get lucky and get a phone call. Just the sound of Vega's rich voice eased some of the emptiness. But Tori was sort of enjoying the work and surprisingly to her that was all that mattered. When did she stop being so selfish, Jade thought repentantly? Old Jade would have not thought twice about telling her to stay. Stupid Vega had to go and change her. Worse, make her a better person, she shook her head with a smile.
She regretted that today was not a weekday because there was no school. At least she would have had something to keep her mind preoccupied with. Instead, no it had to be Saturday and she had no real plans. Not that she couldn't have any if she wanted to. Cat had asked her to go shopping with her. Beck had persistently offered to take her to the beach today. Her friends being the considerate people they were but she had rejected them. Why? She didn't know why. Maybe she was starting to be considerate as well. She was in a rotten mood and didn't want bring them down as well. Plus it was the fifteenth of the month. She couldn't believe it was already 8 months. She just felt like being alone today. Not actually, she felt like being with Vega so bad. She would just have to settle for herself. Hell Jade, you sound so pathetic.
The racket didn't seem like it would subside anytime soon. But it was not like she would stay in this hell hole for more than the time it took her to take a shower. She would even skip breakfast today. She strode into the bathroom and turned the shower on. She undressed; naked she stepped under the hot sprays. With her head underwater she drowned out the rest of the world. Her thoughts wandering over to the one person that gave her a little peace.
. . .
Tori stumbled into her hotel room absolutely exhausted. She reached her bed and plopped face down. They had been shooting for like six hours straight. She had given a flawless performance but her co-star Michael Travis, she could only describe him in one way. Idiot, where did they find this guy? Sure, he was super hot. But it should matter that he knows how to act, shouldn't it? He couldn't remember half his lines and something that should have taken them three hours to film, took freaken six hours. Maybe they should have spent more of the budget on decent actors instead of New Zealand. She sighed and grabbed her phone on the small table beside her bed. What time was it back in LA, she thought to herself? She was just too tired to think. So she just went through her phone and then began to type a message. She was about to hit send when there was a knock on the door.
Tori felt too lazy to get up so she yelled from her bed. "Who is it?"
"Tori are you in there? It's Rachel." A silk voice behind the door asked.
"Yes!" Tori mumbled into her pillow. It was Rachel, what was she doing here? She never visited. She was one of the supporting actresses on the cast. But she had an air about herself that one would assume she was the leading actress. She didn't like Tori much from what she gathered. But that was okay because Tori wasn't much of a fan herself.
"Well, would you open the door?"
Okay this wasn't working Tori thought with a frown. The door wasn't going to open itself. She dragged herself up to the door, unlatched it and pulled it open. There was this blonde woman in her early twenties standing in front of her, her beauty seemed flawless. Her eyes were a hypnotizing ocean blue. Tori just watched as the woman strode right past her into her room.
Tori shook her head in annoyance. "Yeah sure why don't you come in, make yourself at home." She mumbled under her breath.
"Oh I will." Tori cringed at the fact that she heard her. Rachel looked over the room admiring it for first time. "My room has a bigger bed." She proclaimed with a hint of smugness in her tone.
Tori rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm in no need of a bigger bed. It's just me." Rachel was always trying to better her at something.
The blonde woman chuckled as she settled on the softness of the bed. "And when you have company?"
"I don't plan to." Tori stated getting thoroughly annoyed.
Rachel's smirk grew gradually. "I see, does that mean you involved with someone back in LA?"
"As a matter of fact, yes."
"Oh, that's too bad because I heard Travis is interested in you." She lingered on her Co-stars name as if to try enticing Tori.
"Really? Too bad he is an idiot." Tori said, sarcasm laced in her tone.
Rachel chuckled, her voice silky. "Even so, he is easy on the eyes and most girls can't resist his charm. You must really love your boyfriend, Tori."
"Girlfriend." Tori corrected and couldn't help but smile. "And yes, I really love her."
Rachel straightened and then gawked at the brunette in front of her. Girlfriend? Hmmm… This could be interesting. She wouldn't have imagined the exotic half Latina to be queer. She set a slow sly smirk on her face. "You're a dyke? I certainly didn't expect it." Rachel saying in her prim and proper tone.
Tori winced at the term. She didn't like it, not one bit. But she retained her composure. "Yes I'm happily gay, if that is not too redundant. So what are doing here Rachel? I doubt it was to gather information on my sexuality, or sex life, or admire my room." Tori said her patience running thin.
"Oh right, some of the cast members are going to the Preston Club, would you consider joining us this time?" Rachel offered her join them at one of the most expensive, most elite clubs in the country. They had offered her before countless times but she was rarely in a party mood.
Tori's eyebrows drew. She wasn't really expecting the offer to come from Rachel. Frankly she was just too tired and miserable anyway. "Thank you for the offer but no thanks."
Rachel rose. "Okay I tried." She said a little too quickly. Tori shook her head realizing the cast probably sent her. The blonde strode to the door but turned back. "Are you sure? I do not want the cast members to assume I never try hard enough."
Tori let out a small chuckle. "I'm sure. I've got an important phone call to make."
Rachel grinned. "To that girlfriend of yours?"
"Goodbye Rachel." Tori rolled her eyes as she shut the door. She returned to her bed and collapsed. Her thoughts wandering over to a certain green eyed girl that seemed to haunt her dreams and thoughts. God, she missed Jade. If Jade were here she would have probably punched Rachel out for just speaking in that silky voice. It was as if everything she said had a seductive notion towards it. She practically purred everything. She would take Trina any day, she thought ruefully. No, enough wasting energy on that blonde. She closed her eyes and changed the channel to the Goth that made her forget all.
. . .
Jade stepped out of the therapeutic shower and froze. She listened. Nothing? She smiled and strode into her bedroom with simply a towel around her. Maybe they finally did it, killed each other. She could only hope. Jade dressed into her skinny black jeans and pulled a simple green and black t-shirt over her head. As she grabbed for her favourite hooded jacket the yelling resumed. She sighed, then picked up her wallet and her cell phone and stuffed both in her pockets. Okay now let's bust out of this hell, she thought to herself. She dashed down the stairs and turned the corner for the door.
"Jade." Jade haltered at the sound of her name and cursed herself for not being faster. She turned to face both her parents at the kitchen counter. Her mother looking at her with a tear stained face and her father with his head in his hands.
She raised her eyebrow and gave them her signature disinterested look. "What?"
Jade's mother spoke again. "We want to talk to you, Jade."
"Can't it wait, I have plans." Jade lied but if push came to shove she'd make plans. Hell, she'd rather clean out the dumpsters than be here right now.
"No, it can't." Her mother said firmly. "Now, come sit down."
Jade strode over to the table taking her own sweet time. Oh goodie, family conversations. What did she do deserve this? She sat down, staring into space waiting to be addressed. Let me guess, you guys are getting a divorce again, she thought to herself.
"Jade, your father and I are getting a divorce." Her mother said with tears in her eyes.
Jade seriously wanted to laugh instead she settle for sarcasm. "Really?" Jade's eyes brightened. "You not just teasing me again, are you?"
Her father looked at her, disapprovingly. "Jade don't be like that, we are serious."
"Just like the other fifty times." Jade countered, thinking her father was such a push over.
Her mother snapped with anger. "We reconciled all those times for your sake, Jade. We just can't take it anymore."
Jade snorted. Like hell, you two are so involved in your own sadistic worlds, when do you ever fucken spare me a thought. I'm just the excuse so you can keep running back to each other and make each other miserable. Jade was not going to give them the satisfaction of sharing her thoughts with them. So she rose and looked at them. "Well I'm glad you came to a reasonable solution. Now may I go?"
Both parents glared at her, blown. Her father then pinched the bridge of his nose. "Jade, I know how this might impact you."
This time, she did chuckle. "No dad, I don't think you do." She wanted them to get a divorce. Then maybe they would stop making her miserable as well.
Her mother radiated with anger. "You think this is a joke, Jade. We are really getting a divorce!"
Jade's patience broke. "Well, then what the hell do you want me to do about it? Throw you a fucken party!" She shouted back. Her mother turned around and backhanded her clear across the face. All of them froze dumbstruck. Jade simply nodded then headed for the door.
"Where are you going? We are not finished." Her mother yelled.
"Well I am." Jade shouted over her shoulder.
"You are going to see that Vega girl." Her mother said with a hint of disgust.
That was the last straw. Jade turned around with fury burning in her eyes. Only she was allowed to call her Vega. "Her name is Tori and if you took any interest in my life, you would know she is in fucken New Zealand." She returned freely, not caring at this point.
"Ah, good well then maybe you could get back together with that Beck, he was a nice boy." Her mother simply stated disregarding Tori completely.
Jade chuckled but it was mostly hysterics, God was she really created by such a bitch? She looked her mother in the eye. "Mom, I'm gay! Get over it!" She yelled as she slammed the front door behind her. She leaned back against the door, trying to regain her breath.
She could hear the fighting starting up again, inside. "You see how your daughter speaks to me."
"Oh so she's my daughter when she acts like that?" She heard her father retort and shook her head. That was enough drama for one day. She pulled her car keys out of her pocket and then stuffed them back in. Nah, she would just take a walk, clear her head.
Jade treaded along the pavement her hands stuffed in her pocket. She looked up the sky thinking what a beautiful day this would have been. No instead its beauty was lost to unfortunate events that her parents bored into her head.
She stopped in front of Riley's the bookstore run by old Mrs. Riley. She may have been old but her content was always up to date. As the Goth stepped inside a small bell rang. The shop was never busy at this time of the day. She went to browse over at the magazine racks. She smiled as she found what she was looking for. There was one magazine with a small picture of Tori and her idiot Co-star, she heard Tori complain about so often. It was a small article on the progress of the movie. She read it and grinned to herself. Damn, Tori would just love them describing her as one of the best talents of their generation. The only thing they said about her Co-star was that he was super hot, she couldn't help but laugh to herself. They conveniently left out airhead. She read the article once more and then went up to the counter to ring it up.
Old Mrs. Riley smiled at Jade, her glasses riding low on her nose. "You again?"
Jade chuckled. "Yes, me again."
"Not that I'm complaining about your business but shouldn't a pretty girl such as yourself, be out with her friends enjoying their Saturday?"
Jade smiled. "Who says I'm not enjoying my Saturday?"
Mrs. Riley gave Jade a sympathetic smile. "You smile down here." The old woman pointed to Jade's mouth, then at her misty green eyes. "But it doesn't reach here."
Jade felt bare to the old woman in front of her. She glanced down, unable to say anything. Then the old lady put her finger under the Goth's chin lifting her head up. "Plus you know old people, if they are good at anything it's figuring out how people really feel. Years of experience and wisdom, I say. Though you know I think Melvin, the postman is the exception. Thick as a brick, he is." Jade couldn't help but laugh. "Ah, see there was a genuine smile." Mrs. Riley grinned.
The Goth simply smiled at Mrs. Riley as the old woman scanned the item. Then she flipped through the pages to the article Jade just read. She smiled and pointed at Tori. "This girl here, goes to that fancy pants art school around the block from here, am I right?"
"We both do." Jade informed her. "She's just in New Zealand shooting a movie at the moment."
"So the article says." The old woman winked. Jade shook her head feeling dumb, of course she can read, she's senile, not uneducated, Jade. Plus she owns a damn bookstore.
The old woman pushed the rims of her glasses up. "You've practically bought everything in this store that featured her over the last two months." Wow, she noticed, Jade thought suddenly feeling a little shy. Then Mrs. Riley arched a brow. "You obsessed with her, aren't you?"
Jade grinned. "Something like that."
Mrs. Riley returned her grin. "You're one of those lesbian type girls, aren't you? You know those types that like other woman." She almost whispered as if she discovered a deep dark secret that intrigued her.
Jade simply chuckled, this old woman was too charming. Jade didn't feel the need to lie. "Yeah, that's my girlfriend there." Jade pointed at the picture with pride in her eyes.
The old woman smiled at the picture then at Jade. "That does explain a lot. She is really beautiful."
Jade smiled and nodded. If only her mother could be as accepting as this stranger. "She is."
Mrs. Riley placed the book in a bag and handed it to Jade. "Well, what are your plans for the rest of the day?"
Jade shrugged. "Um, nothing really."
Then she saw a glint in the old woman's eyes. "Well, then how would you like a job?"
Jade's eyebrows drew. "What?"
"Girl, I'm the only old deaf person here, I know you heard me."
Jade laughed. "No I heard you, but a job?"
"Well you did say you have nothing planned, so I'm guessing nothing better to do. You practically in this shop most days and I could use the help, since Melvin's son ran off. I swear the apple doesn't fall far from that tree." The old woman complained shaking her head. Jade was thoroughly amused.
"But you don't know me and you offering me a job. Aren't there some old people laws against stuff like that?" Jade stared at the woman.
Mrs. Riley just chuckled in a deep voice. "No, I don't know you but I think I like you." Jade smiled, the shyness returning. "So what do you say? You do get paid." She winked at the Goth.
Jade didn't know what to say. A Job? At a bookstore? Well, hell she could be doing worse. Maybe it would keep her preoccupied and she seemed to like the woman. It couldn't be all that bad. "I don't know."
"Well, why don't you try it out for today, see if you comfortable with the idea. Then you can let me know if you want to continue." The old woman patted Jade's cheek.
Jade smiled and nodded. "That seems reasonable."
Mrs. Riley beamed at her. "Great, let me show you around."
. . .
Jade walked out of Riley's with her magazine and her wallet full of the money Mrs. Riley paid her for hard day's work. It wasn't so bad. In fact she actually enjoyed it. She shook her head with a chuckle, imagine that, Jade West enjoyed working in a bookstore. Plus Mrs. Riley was really cool for an old person. Perhaps she would go back. She had nothing better to keep herself occupied with. Jade strode down the street relishing in the cool breeze of the night. It was still pretty early and she wasn't sure she was ready to go home and face the music just yet. She let her legs direct her to the one sanctuary she had. She reached the little creek and smiled. She must remember to bring Vega here at night. If she appreciated it during the day, it would blow her mind at night. The moon seemed to take the sun's place in the water. The crystal like water was surrounded by fireflies and other intriguing creatures. The sounds that filled the area made it seem like a fairytale.
Jade sat down by the oak tree and dug in her pockets. She pulled out her car keys that had one of those utility knives on it. She smiled at the small object in her hand. Tori had given it to her for her birthday, saying it was time to get rid of the safety scissors she used to keep in her back pocket. So she did reluctantly, mostly to humor the half Latina. This utility knife did have scissors on it but it was too minute. Jade selected one of the sharp knife's and started carving into the tree. Then her phone rang. With her free hand she reached into her back pocket and retrieved it. When she glanced at the caller I.D her face practically lit up.
Jade answered the call but continued carving. "Hey I was just thinking about you."
Tori smiled from ear to ear leaning against her soft luscious pillow. " Hey baby, you say that all the time."
"Is it my fault that I think about you all the time?" Jade grinned.
"No, I guess not. That honor belongs solely on my incredible sexy self." Tori grinned anticipating the sarcastic response that would follow.
Jade rolled her eyes but couldn't help the grin that didn't want to disappear. "Watch it Vega, I doubt you would be able to fit through airport security at this rate with that big head of yours."
Ah, there it is, Tori sighed. She missed them. Tori arched a brow. "It's not that big. Plus if it's any consolation, I can never get your unbelievably sexy self out of my mind either. You make my work very difficult, staying in character."
Jade smirked. "I'm glad."
"Yeah I thought you would be. You just love making my life difficult." Tori rolled her eyes.
"Every chance I get." Jade grinned.
Tori laughed. "God, I miss you Jade, so much."
"I miss you too, Tori. So what you did today. " Jade asked.
Tori let out a small chuckle as she ran a hand through her brunette hair. "Well, let's see. I was working today for six hours straight."
Jades eyes widened. "Six hours!"
"Yup." Tori sighed.
"Let me guess, that idiot Travis."
"Again, Yup."
"Man, where do they find these guys?" Jade shook her head.
"That's what I thought. But anyway after that Rachel offered me to join them at the Preston club." Tori added.
"Oh, well how was that?" Jade asked curiously.
"I don't know I never go."
Jade simply rolled her eyes. "What did we say about that?"
"But Jade." Tori whined into the phone.
"No buts' Tori. Didn't we agree that next time they offered, you would go out, make friends?" Jade adopted a motherly tone.
"Yes, we did but I was tired. Six hours." Tori sulked.
"Fine, you're off the hook this time. But next time…"
"Yeah yeah, next time, got it." Tori mumbled then added with a frown. "I don't like Rachel."
Jade let out a chuckle. "I know."
"No, I mean I think I hate her." Tori contemplated.
"Why?"
"Well, firstly when she speaks, she always got this irritating seductive tone in her voice. It's like she is trying to woo you constantly even by offering you a glass of water. It's freaken annoying!" Tori rolled her eyes as Jade laughed.
"Secondly?"
"Secondly, she called me a dyke." Tori pouted. This time Jade laughed harder as Tori glared into the phone. "What's so funny?"
Jade bit her tongue to control her laughter. Boy she wished she could see Tori's face. She was probably wore those sexy pouty lips that the Goth itched to kiss. Just four more months. "Well, Tori you are kind of a dyke."
Tori sighed. "I know but I don't like that word."
"Do you want me to beat her up?" Jade offered.
"Oh would you?" Tori's eyes brightened.
"I'll see what I can do." Jade shrugged.
"Thanks baby you're the best."
"I know, I know." Jade smiled.
"Sorry I phoned so late. I was going to phone earlier but I sort of fell asleep for a few hours." Tori apologized.
"No, it's okay I was kind of working."
Tori's eyebrows drew. "Working on what?"
"Well, I met this lady." Jade started.
"Already! Jade it's only been two months." Tori teased.
Jade shook her head. "Not like that, you nut. She's really old. Like a hundred and ten."
"Really?"
Jade thought about it, then settled. "Okay maybe seventy."
"Sounds a bit more reasonable but I still think the age gap is quite substantial." Tori stuck a tongue in her cheek.
"Shut up, Vega." Jade rolled her eyes.
"Okay, okay continue."
"Anyway she gave me a job in her bookstore." Jade let hang.
Tori sat up in her bed. "You work in a bookstore now?"
Jade nodded. "I do, it's not so bad."
"Well I think it's great. You love books and writing your own plays. Don't think I don't know about the chest in your closet filled with all Shakespeare's work." Tori grinned.
Jade winced then glared at the phone. "You know about that, how?"
"Well, girlfriends tend to snoop." Tori let out a chuckle.
"You're so dead! When you get back, Vega."
"I know, I know… So when did you meet this old lady."
"Well after…" Jade stopped herself, thinking about what went down at home earlier. Her heart felt that familiar stab she always got whenever she thought about her parents. Some dark feeling that she was never able to get over. She sighed.
Tori straightened in her bed knowing something was not right. "Jade, what happened?"
Great, Vega already sensed something was up, Jade thought with regret. She couldn't lie even though she didn't want to cause an alarm for the brunette. "Well, my parents are getting divorced again?"
Tori rolled her eyes. "Just like the other fifty times?"
Jade smiled weakly. "That's what I said. Well anyway they created this big scene this morning."
Tori nodded, still a bit unconvinced. Jade always tended to play down things. "There's more you not telling me, Jade."
Jade leaned her head against the trunk of the tree. Why did Tori have to know her so well? She took in a breath then let go."Well, my mother sort of backhanded me for saying my piece."
Tori shot out of bed, infuriated. "That's it, next time I see that woman I'm kicking her ass!"
Jade grinned slightly amused. "Whoa there tiger, relax, she hits like a girl anyway."
Tori pinched the bridge of her nose to release some of the tension building up. "That's not the point, Jade. They can't keep doing this to you." She grunted.
"I know, let's just hope they get the divorce this time." Jade sighed.
Tori desperately wished she was with Jade right now more than ever. She just wanted to gather her up. It stung that she wasn't able to. "Okay."
Jade smirked at her creation on the trunk that she was subconsciously carving into the tree. "There done." She murmured.
"Done with what?"
"Hold on one minute, Vega."Jade said as she selected the camera application on her phone. Then took a picture of the artwork and sent it to Tori. "Did you get it?"
"Okay let me check, one second." Tori browsed through her messages and selected the one sent by Jade. When it opened, her breath caught, a wide smile spreading across her face. How was it after eight months together that the Goth was still able to make her heart melt? There was this heart carved into a tree that had the initials JW + TV in the center of it. But of course it wasn't a simple heart. No, simple just wasn't Jade's style. There was flames consuming it and chains surrounding it, professionally done.
"Vega are you there?" Jade waited a moment. "Tori!"
Tori snapped out of it. "Jade its beautiful, which tree did you carve it on?"
Jade grinned. "The one at the creek."
"Your creek?"
"Our creek." Jade simply stated and Tori's heart melted yet again. "But I just want you to know that I'm not saying that to try be romantic or anything, but because you are the only other person who knows about its existence. So I might as well share its title deed. " She shrugged.
Tori couldn't help the smirk crawling its way onto her face. "Of course baby," she said in a humoring tone. "I love you, Jade."
"I love you too, Tori." Jade smiled. "Okay, now since we got all the I LOVE YOU's out of the way. Onto the more important stuff."
"Such as?"
Jade tucked her tongue in her cheek, twirling a loose strand of her hair between her fingers. "So…" She paused briefly. "What are you wearing?"
She could hear the sweet sound of Tori laughing on the other end and grinned, her heart feeling somewhat pacified.
Okay so that was chapter 4... Thank you guys for reading.
Please review, I sort of need the feedback.
I'm fairly new to this site, so any suggestions or criticisms are desperately needed.
Like really badly! lol