All Over Again…

Hey guys, thank you for all the reviews, alerts and Favz. So last time we were left at a very speculative position, what could have possibly caused Jade to freeze, I'm sure you're curious, so let's take a peek.

Chapter 6

Disclaimer: I do not own Victorious, yeah yeah yeah, but i also don't own a submarine since you so interested in what i don't own and are actually reading this.

The previous night: New Zealand

With an annoyed expression on her face, Tori looked in the mirror one final time. She raised her brow as she scrutinized her appearance in one swift glance. She looked amazing in her raven evening dress that accentuated her body curves perfectly. Her luscious brunette hair falling freely down her shoulders. Her frowning brown eyes highlighted by a hint of mascara. As she grabbed for her evening bag there was a knock on the door. She groaned. "Here we go."

She opened the door to her six foot date with his onyx tailored suit. Michael Travis stood there, feet apart with an arrogant look in his crystal clear blue eyes. His medium length bleached hair was perfectly styled, probably by his personal stylist, she thought with a mental eye roll. There was nothing truly genuine about the man in front of her. She watched as his eyes slowly, deliberately trailed its way down her body then back up, settling on her the slight cleavage the number had revealed. She clicked her fingers in front of him and he snapped out of it. "Eyes up here pal." She pointed to her face.

He gave her a toothy grin, a glint in his eyes. "Whoa, you look so hot."

Her eyes narrowed. This was probably only line he ever said to her that didn't involve himself, or a script and take a minimum of fifteen minutes to execute. She didn't know how to respond so politeness took over. "Um, thanks."

"Yeah, you're almost as hot as me. Which is of the highest compliment, I mean have you looked at me?" He grinned as he did a slow spin so she would get a glance at his so called perfection. Okay maybe she takes it back. "You know, I knew you'd change your mind eventually, after all no one can resist the Travis charm." He winked all too smugly. Ah, there was the Travis she knew and hated.

Tori closed her eyes dramatically picturing a bus hitting her. When she opened it again she sighed, okay so she couldn't will herself dead. He stood there with a bemused look on his face obviously waiting for her to respond. "Travis, this is a fake date." She reminded him with an eye roll.

"Right fake, but we both know you secretly want me babe." He chuckled and took her petit soft hand in his own manicured one as they walked towards the elevator. Even Jade's hands were rougher than his, she mentally noted. She missed those hands. She missed the whole person. And to think she acted childish earlier on the phone but the Goth had just brushed it off pacifying her. Sigh, she would have to remember to apologize when she returned from this nightmare. If she returned, she thought as the elevator closed behind them. "Hey want to make out?" He asked completely serious leaning towards her.

"No thanks, I'm good." Her eyes widened as she side stepped towards the other wall of the elevator, keeping a huge distance between them. God please help her.

The night went on as she expected it would. As dreadful as ever. She sat at the table, her head in her hands, listening to him go on either about his hair or the little red Ferrari his dad bought him. What the hell was horse power? And when would she ever need to use it? God! She switched off about ten minutes into his ramblings. As far as she was concerned, she pitched up, photos were snapped so she did what was required of her. She didn't have to actually listen to him or watch him try and flirt with the waitress. Even the pretty redhead waitress didn't seem to enjoy his obnoxious charisma as she dropped a little water on his trousers. Tori and the waitress had shared a smirk when Travis had gone ballistic wanting the poor woman to be fired. But Tori had claimed it was an accident and the manager's wrath had subsided. Finally an appropriate amount of time had passed and she wanted nothing but her bed. Oh and Jade. Maybe both at the same time she grinned at the sinful thought. She took in a deep breath and let it out. Only two more months.

They arrived back at the hotel, outside her room. She turned towards him, smiling mostly because the night was finally over. Obviously he was waiting for her to say something. But what was she supposed to say? It was fun, interesting? It was neither. "Um, thank you for the evening."

"It was great, right? Well, that's what you get when you travel in Travis class." He said trying to sound clever.

"Sure…" Tori let out an awkward smile. She slid her key card in the slot and opened her door. "Goodnight."

"Wait, aren't you forgetting something."

Tori frowned at her handbag then at him. "No, don't think I am."

"But we are supposed to kiss." He stated.

Tori laughed at the hilarity of the statement. His brows drew. "No, I don't think we do." She turned refusing to humor him anymore.

"But that's what she said." That stopped Tori.

"Who?"

"Rachel." He shrugged.

"Rachel." Tori repeated low and hard with venom. She should have known. "Travis, look we not SUPPOSED to kiss and frankly unless it's under the directors commands you can forget the whole notion, so if you'd excuse me, I'm beat and heading to bed."

He frowned as he watched her shut the door in his face. He shrugged and headed towards the elevator. There were other woman who wanted to kiss him, he thought boosting his ego.

"Where the hell are you going?"

Travis turned and raised a brow at Rachel. "To the bar."

"You were supposed to kiss her." Rachel yelled at him.

"But she said we not supposed to." He looked at the blonde with puzzlement.

Rachel rolled my eyes. "Oh my god, you are an idiot. You were just supposed to plant one on her, moron. Damn, people can be so incompetent."

Travis raised his brow feeling somewhat insulted. "I don't know what's your game Rach, but I do know I don't have stand here and listen to this, I'm Michael Travis, I got plenty other woman to bed, later bitch." Travis entered the elevator.

"No wait…" Rachel tried to stop him but the doors closed. "Shit."

"Listen lady, you promised me the first picture of Tori and Michael kissing." An impatient photographer tapped his feet.

Rachel turned back. "I know, I know, give me a moment, you'll get your kiss." All she had to do was get Tori to meet Travis downstairs then work her conniving magic. Rachel walked up to Tori's door. She banged on it. Forget it, plan B.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Tori shouted from behind the door. The door opened. "Listen Travis, I'm not going to ki-" Tori was cut off by Rachel's lips forced down on hers. The blonde pulled the half Latina's face into her harder deepening the kiss, forcing her tongue swiftly into Tori's mouth. Tori finally grasped what was happening and pushed the blonde off her. "What the fuck!" Tori said wiping her mouth.

"Did you get that?" Rachel looked back at the astonished photographer who nodded slowly.

Tori's eyes narrowed as she glanced at the photographer, then her heated glare turned onto the bitch. As Rachel turned back to look at Tori, her face was met with a fist straight into her nose. All that could be heard was a cracking noise and the slamming of Tori's door.

Tori leaned back against the door, her eyes closed, feeling sort of dirty. She played right into the bitch. Now the tabloids would be filled with her picture, she was sure of it. She could hear Rachel whining through door and walked away from it not trusting herself from going out there for round two.

. . .Present . . .

The bell had rung to signal the end of the crazy, coconut drinking, Sikowitz class. The students had dispersed in an ordinary fashion. Beck was the last to leave as Sikowitz had requested some of his time. He reached Cat and Andre who gathered around his locker.

He stuffed his books in his transparent locker. "Have you guys seen, Jade?"

Cat looked at him with concerned brown eyes. "No, we were kind of hoping you would know. She never misses Sikowitz class."

"Yeah, I'm kind of worried. She call any of you?" He reached into his own pocket to check his phone. He tried calling her like five times this morning but it went onto voicemail. Nothing. Damn it, where are you Jade?

"If she didn't call you, what makes you think she'd call us, man?" Andre simply stated.

"Just check man."

"Alright, alright." Andre frowned at his phone. "Nothing."

Cat looked up solemnly. "Nothing."

"Okay well, I think I know where she might be. I'll keep you guys posted." Beck told them as he strode towards the janitors closet. If she wasn't there then she had to be at Riley's. She wouldn't be at home that much he knew. He held in a breath as he opened the door and stepped into the tiny cluster phobic room. He released his breath in relief. "You idiot."

Jade was seated on the floor with a pair of scissors in her hand and a black bin being shredded in front of her. She didn't even spare him a glance. "Yeah, you too."

He sighed and leaned against the door. They remained silent for a moment. "You going to tell me what happened?"

"Nope."

"Well, does that really help?" He pointed at the bin or at least what used to be bin.

"It used to. Now it just seems pointless." She let out her voice barely audible. She stared at the sharp object in her hands. You can't go back, Jade. Her heart still burned and for what, she was uncertain. She shouldn't feel like this. It was meaningless to be angry. She actually wished she was angry. Anger she could deal with, she could vent. But this sort of unknown hurt over something so minor. It was just a stupid kiss. Stop being childish about it. She didn't even know what happened. She just needed to get out of her own head, the dark mind that plagued her with sadistic thoughts. She grabbed her bag next to her, stood up and tried to walk past her best friend.

But Beck blocked the exit. "Don't even think about it."

"You do know I have a sharp object in my hand." She gave him a warning glance.

"Do your best, sweetheart." He winked at her not flinching in the least.

They had a standoff and when she realized he wasn't going to budge, she groaned. "Why do you have to be so unreasonable?"

"Because I love you. And I hate to see that look in your eyes." He lifted her chin so that his concerned eyes met hers which seemed darker than the pure magnificent green they usually were. "What happened, Jade?"

Defeated she let out a sigh, reached into her bag and shoved the magazine into his chest. "There can I go?"

He glared at the magazine cover seeing Tori locking lips with some blonde woman that was foreign to him. "What the fuck is this?" He asked still barricading the exit. "Who's the blonde slut?"

"That, I'm assuming is Rachel." She said in a nonchalant tone. But he knew better than that. Beneath that her words were soaked in acid. "Now may I go?"

"No, we are talking about this."

"Why?"

"Because you're upset. And you tend to do stupid things when that happens. I say, we avoid that phase of the situation." He shrugged still staring at the magazine then he rolled it up and tucked it into his back pocket. "What did Tori say when she called to explain?"

He caught the swift change in her eyes. She crossed her arms as he held out his hand. "Jade, hand over your phone?"

"No." She shook her head defiantly.

"Now, I'm not joking." He said firmly. Jade reached into her back pocket and hesitantly let it go into his palm.

He browsed through her phone, his eyes widened. "Mother of god, fifty-four missed calls! And you never answer one of them?" She glanced at his feet and shook her head. He lifted her chin once more and could see the hurt seeped into her. He sighed and pulled her into a hug. She held on and he whispered against her hair. "Fifty-four missed calls Jade, clearly there's an explanation."

She leaned back and shook her head. "I know but maybe I don't want to hear one, yet."

"It's the tabloids, Jade. You knew something like this could happen. Almost ninety-five percent of the time it is never true. It was just a stupid kiss."

"It isn't about the kiss, Beck. It's about who it's with. I doubt I would have any problem if it was that idiot Travis. But this snake, it just makes me sick." Jade let out in a huff before she even knew what she was saying, revealing to him something she was afraid to reveal to herself.

Beck sympathized knowing that she needed some logical response. "I understand but Jade this is Tori. She loves you more than anything. You have to know that she wouldn't do anything to hurt you deliberately."

"I know, I know, fuck I know. God!" Jade ran a hand through her raven hair. "It's just I'm afraid! I've never been so scared in my fucken life." She looked at Beck. "I'm afraid there is something to explain for. I'm afraid she will tell me more than I am willing to hear. That makes me cowardly, I know. But I can't answer the phone and maybe that makes me unreasonable and idiotic but…" Her eyes started to fill. "I just can't."

Beck nodded in understanding. "It's okay, Jade. You are hurt and-"

She cut him off. "It's not about being hurt. I keep fabricating scenarios in my head that have no business being there. You know, it's that insecurity I tend to bury because she never lets me feel it when she's around. But it's there lurking, taunting me. You are not worth it, Jade. I've been fucking up since day one of my life, just ask my parents." She spat out bitterly. Beck was about to interrupt but she continued. "The only thing I did right for myself was accepting her, accepting love. God that sounded so gay!" She let out a weak laugh. "See that's what she does to me. I'm just not emotionally stable enough to listen to her voice right now, you know."

He simply smiled at her knowingly and pulled her into another embrace. "But you know Jade, I don't agree with you on one point." He pulled back so he looked into her green liquid emerald eyes. "Your parents have been fucking up since day one. Not you. You hear me Jadelyn West. And you are so worth it. Tori knows that, how else do you explain Fifty-four missed calls. That's desperate if you ask me." Jade let out a small chuckle. He grinned at her. "As for the second line, it totally sounded gay." She smiled and smacked him on the arm. "OW!" He squeezed her one more time. "Just give yourself the time to think about it, Jade. You know how you tend to over think things but you'll feel better for it. Oh and answer the phone next time, will you, you know you want to." He smiled and opened the door behind them. "So are you ready to get out of this crawl space?"

"Yeah, how do you always make me feel better about being an idiot?"

He stuck his tongue in his cheek. "It's a gift because I must say idiocrasy has many levels in your case and to break down to the core-"

"If you want me to hit you again, finish that sentence, I dare you." She interrupted with a dangerous glare.

He chuckled. "Up for some ice-cream?" He suggested hoping he could take her mind off it for a couple hours.

"I'm game." She shrugged and sighed. Sure she was being stupid but love makes you stupid, right? Maybe she would answer her phone next time. She did miss the brunette and maybe by then she would trust herself enough not to say and do anything stupid. She only hoped.

. . .

Jade turned the volume of her iPod to the maximum while she lay in her bed. But it was no use, her parents' voice still emitted through. It was just one of those nights. Where hurtful notions and glass vases were thrown around the house. Those nights where she was guaranteed no sleep or peace. Of course their divorce prospect was torn again when the heat of the moment died down. They reconciled within a day the last time. And now they were at it again. Could she survive in this broken home for yet another year before she went off to college? Could she even call it a home if she felt like she didn't belong? She was unsure. The only thing she was sure absolutely certain about was that she needed to get out of this house right this minute. She refused to listen to the same shit fly around all the time. She got out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans over her boxers. Once she was done tying her laces she grabbed her hooded jacket and headed for her window. She used the tree as an aid to get her safely on the ground.

Then with her hood covering her face, her shoulders slumped she stuffed her hands in her pockets as she strolled down the street. Her feet directing her aimlessly. The racket from her house fading as she got further and further away. She took in the fresh chill of the air letting her mind wander. Tori hadn't called again, maybe that's what was eating her the most. But did she blame her? Fifty-four missed calls, surely Tori must have been hurt that she couldn't at least answer one. You fucked up, Jade. The least you could have done was allow her to explain. But she had also tried contacting Tori when she built up the courage but it went directly to voicemail. Yeah, the fates are definitely against you, she let out a weak laugh.

When she looked up she halted dead. It must have been habit or something but she ended up at the Vega property. All the lights were out. Usually on these types of nights she would sneak into the Vega's home, into Tori's bed. Then get the most peaceful night's sleep, when they did finally fall asleep, she thought with a hollow grin. She slowly walked towards the door and stood there for a minute. She didn't know why but she rang the doorbell once. Then turned around back towards the path. Are you crazy, Jade, they are sleeping. Why did she even do that? Stupid!

"Jade?" The Goth stopped in her tracks at the sound of her name.

Jade turned around to see a sleep messed Mrs. Vega at the door wearing a robe. Shit. "Yeah, I'm sorry I should go." Jade said as she turned again.

"Wait!" Jade halted again but didn't turn back. Mrs. Vega spoke again, softly. "I was just about to make myself some hot cocoa, would you like to come in and join me?"

Jade considered her options. Then turned around and shrugged. "Sure."

Mrs. Vega smiled and led her daughter's girlfriend inside. Jade's eyes wandered the house that she knew like the back of hand. She missed it over the last four months. This was as close to a home as she was going to get. They always made her feel welcome even when she felt undeserving of it. Mrs. Vega got to work on the hot cocoa as Jade joined her at the counter feeling slightly awkward. She should have just declined but that would mean going home sooner. She kept her gaze at her palms.

Then Mrs. Vega spoke again in a sort of comforting tone. "How are you, Jade?"

Jade looked up at Mrs. Vega as if she spoke in a foreign tongue. Then composed herself. "Okay."

Mrs. Vega let out a small chuckle. "I forgot, you are of few words. Or maybe that's just towards me."

The Goth turned her gaze back to hands feeling sort of embarrassed. "I'm sorry, how are you?"

Mrs. Vega grinned as she set the hot drink in front of Jade. "I'm fine." They both sat at the counter sipping on their hot cocoa in silence for awhile. Then Mrs. Vega spoke while blowing on hers. "You know, sometimes it helps to talk about what's bothering you instead of letting it tinker away in your head, would you like to try it?" Jade looked at her and then shook her head. "Well, that's okay too." Mrs. Vega smiled and continued to enjoy her beverage.

"I'm sure you saw the magazine." Jade finally spoke up.

Mrs. Vega didn't look at Jade yet. "No, I heard of it from the source. I got a distress call you could say. But it had nothing to do about the picture and everything to do with you."

Jade nodded knowingly. "I'm sorry."

This time Mrs. Vega turned to face the Goth with a baffled look. "Why?"

Jade returned her baffled look with one of her own. "Why what?"

"Why are you sorry?"

Jade stared at the older woman in front of her unknowing how to respond. "Well, it was childish of me not to answer her calls. I don't know, I wasn't thinking. I never even give her a chance to explain."

Mrs. Vega smiled slowly. "Ah, well you don't have to be sorry Jade. It hurt you. You are allowed to act a little human from time to time. Even if it is over stupid things and when you speak to her you will realize how stupid it is."

"Great…" Jade said with irony laced in her tone. Then she turned to the older woman. "Why are you so nice to me?"

Mrs. Vega laughed at the blunt question. "You say that as if you don't feel you deserve it." Jade shrugged. "Hmmm, well let's just say that I like you. You make Tori happy even though you do fight sometimes. But you fight because you love each other not because it's lacking." She deliberately differentiated thinking about the Goth's parents. "So I approve if it matters."

Jade turned her gaze away. "Well, my mother doesn't."

"Then that's her loss isn't it?" Mrs. Vega retorted as she got up and put the empty mugs in the sink. Jade got up taking that as her cue.

"I should go, thank you for well, everything." Jade let out a small smile.

Mrs. Vega shook her head. "No, you not going anywhere, it is already past midnight. Tori's bed is vacant I'm sure you will be comfortable." She winked.

"But…but." Jade felt uneasy about the generous offer.

"No buts, I won't have to worry about you getting home safely. Plus I'm pretty sure Tori would kill me if I let anything happen to you."

Jade just stared at her. "Um, thank you."

"No problem, do you want to call your parents?" Mrs. Vega offered. Jade shook her head. "Well, I'm sure you know where the bedroom is. I'll be up after I wash these dishes." Jade nodded and headed up.

She reached the familiar door. She put her hand on the knob knowing if she turned it this time, the half Latina wouldn't be behind it. Her face wouldn't posses that instant welcoming smile or the sexy pout when she was upset. Jade's heart ached as she turned the knob to an empty room. She never thought herself capable of missing someone so much that every breath felt like she was spitting up blood. Trust her to come up with such a gruesome notion, Jade thought ruefully. She walked into the room noticing everything was just as Tori had left it before she left. She trailed her hand slowly over the books on the shelf before stripping off her jacket. Then her jeans revealing her boxers. She folded both of them neatly and placed them on the chair before turning down the sheets. She slipped in and gently laid her head against the pillow. Her senses going insane as they picked up Tori's scent on the pillow. She took it in the vanilla scent as she closed her eyes. Then fell instantly asleep.

. . .

Mrs. Vega had just finished washing the two mugs. She thought about the Goth girl and how morbid she perceived to be. Her parents were probably fighting again, she thought with a hint of sympathy. Just as she was about to climb the stairs, the doorbell rang again. She frowned at the door wondering who it could be at this time. Perhaps it was Jade's parents looking for her. She reached the door peeked behind curtain to see a familiar face. She opened the door in jiffy. "Tori!"

Tori jumped into her mother's arms. "Mom!" They held each other for a moment. Then her mother leaned back, smiled.

"What are you doing here? How did you get here?" Her mother asked as she led Tori inside and locked the door behind her.

"Well, they gave me two days off after the whole scandal thing so I can sort it out. Secondly, Phil lent me his private jet. I swear it's a mission to park that thing." Tori grinned at her mother.

"Har-har very funny. Well I'm glad you are home. Your father and sister are going to be so excited." Her mother beamed.

"Don't wake them, its late you can tell them in the morning."

"Alright, well do you want some hot cocoa?" Her mother offered.

"Please!" Tori gave her a puppy dog look. Her mother laughed as she went to work on the second set of hot beverages of the night. She set them on the counter knowing Tori liked extra marshmallows in hers.

Then she turned towards her daughter, smiled knowingly. "How you holding up?"

Tori let out a weak smile as she sipped on hers. "I don't know."

"Ah, I see…" Her mother cradled her mug between her palms.

"Jade called…" Tori let out with a heavy breath.

"Oh?"

"Yeah but I missed it because I was on the plane." She sighed as her mother nodded. Then drank the last sip of her cocoa. She placed both empty mugs in the sink.

"Don't worry about that lets just get to bed, you seem tired" Her mother told her. She nodded and they both headed for the stairs.

Then Tori spoke her voice low as they were threading up the stairs. "Does it make it wrong for me to be a little hurt that she wouldn't let me explain?"

Mrs. Vega stopped her daughter and turned her to face her outside Tori's bedroom door. "Of course not honey, it's perfectly alright that you feel hurt. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Yeah, but she doesn't know that."

"Oh, but I think she does." Her mother smiled at her when she opened her door to reveal the Goth girl deep in slumber. Tori's breath caught in her chest.

She turned to face her mother her intense brown eyes full of worry. "What is she doing here? Did something happen?" She whispered.

"I just think her parents were fighting again. But I think you should ask her in the morning. Goodnight." Tori nodded. Her mother pecked her on the forehead and left towards her own bedroom.

Tori stepped into her room, everything feeling new yet familiar. She locked the door behind her and stepped towards her wardrobe. She couldn't keep her eyes off Jade who looked so peaceful. So beautiful. She stripped down and pulled on huge t shirt. Then she gently slipped in behind the Goth. Her senses heightening to the familiar person beside her. She couldn't help herself as she slipped her arm around Jade's waist and molded their bodies. She smiled as she placed a tiny kiss against Jade's neck. Jade stirred slightly as she unconsciously linked their fingers together at her waist and pulled Tori closer. Then she mumbled something in her sleep. "Vega, your feet are cold."

Tori had to stifle her laugh against the pillow. "I'm sorry baby, shshsh get some sleep." Jade was out like a light. Tori buried her face into the Goths hair and was soon out too.

Anyone else interested to how Jade's going to react when she figures out whose in bed next to her? lol

Could be interesting...

So you guys know what to do... Review!

And i'll give you more sooner...

P.S just remeber the rating will be bumped up very soon...