Hehe.

I'm over my angsty phase, by the way.

And your reviews are just beautiful. Can't express how awesome I felt reading those. You put a humongous smile on my face, just so you know. Can all of you be my Valentines please? Okay? Thank you.

Enjoy your read, and please review!

Did you know that it's nearly impossible to drive while there are tears clouding your vision?

Well, here's a testimonial from me. It's nearly fucking impossible to drive while you're crying your heart out.

I have no idea how I managed to get to school in one piece. On the bright side, I made it just in time.

Not so bright side – I don't even remember what I wrote on that goddamn paper. So much fuss for nothing.

I feel too numb to care anyway.

As soon as the bell rang, I hightailed it out of the building, going straight home. Another confrontation with Jade isn't something I particularly desired, and that was bound to happen if I stayed and met her at lunch.

I guess while I was getting all lovey-dovey with Jade, I overlooked the fact that she was an incredibly selfish manipulative human being who didn't care for anyone but herself.

Yeah, right,

Of course I knew she was all those things. I just hoped that she wouldn't be like that with me.

I thought I was special. Never have I had my dreams crushed so brutally.

Turns out I'm just like Beck to her. No, not even like Beck – with him, she at least made an effort. Me? Nope, why bother, I'm just dumb little Tori, another one of her sluts lining up to get in her bed.

I know, I know. I'm being harsh. In all fairness, the disaster happened because she cared a bit too much. About herself, that is.

Well, it's not like I can demand something from her, is it? We're not dating, I'm not her girlfriend, and she doesn't owe me anything.

I sighed and forcefully pushed the door open, strolling inside the house and then jumping a foot in the air, letting out a horrified scream.

"I hope you like Italian food," Jade smirked at me from behind the counter as she stirred something on the stove.

"Jade, what the hell!" I grasped at my chest to try and calm my racing heart. "What are you- where did that- How did you even get in?!"

"For a cop, your father sure has the weakest locks installed," she shrugged as if breaking and entering was the most natural thing in the world. Well, apparently it was for her. "So. I hope you like Italian food."

I took a deep breath, still in shock at seeing her so suddenly. Is she for real? First she ruins my day, then breaks into my house and then makes herself completely at home, casually asking me if I liked Italian?

"Oh, yeah, yeah, I do, especially pasta with cheese and stuff – what the hell do you think you're doing here?!" I screeched, fuming with anger.

"Whoa there," she blinked at my outburst, looking far too amused for someone who was about to get her face slapped. "Chill, Tori."

"You're telling me to chill after what you did today?!" I exclaimed, gesturing wildly. "Do you know I drove to school half-fucking-blind – I made it on time, by the way, thanks for asking – I drove almost blindingly because I cried so hard?! Do you know how selfish you were being this morning?! Do you ever stop and think about the consequences before you act on your own needs, or is it just like the time you fucked me right here, just because you decided I wanted it?!"

You know, I really need to learn to observe my surroundings before I rant. Jade tried to interject several times, but once I was on a roll, nothing could really stop me.

Judging by the way her face grew freakishly white in a matter of seconds, I should've shut up, like, yesterday.

"…W-What did you just say?"

Ah, fuck.

I slowly turned around to face Dad who stood there with wide eyes, alternating between looking at me and at Jade.

I have got to chill.

"H-hi Papi. How long have you been standing here?" I asked weakly, all anger leaving my body instantly as I watched his face change colors, finally settling on crimson red.

"Long enough," he growled, suddenly rushing to get to Jade. "You- you violated my daughter, voy a matarte, tu escoria!"

"Papi, no!" I jumped between him and Jade who looked positively terrified.

Shit. He thinks she raped me. Oh, God, why, why did I have to choose my words so poorly today out of all days?

"Let me go, Tori," he wheezed in anger.

"Papi, she didn't do anything, I swear! Please, Dad!"

"Mr. Vega, I can explain…"

"Shut up, Jade, you're not helping," I threw at her through my teeth. She got the hint and grew quiet, keeping a wary eye on my father who stopped struggling long enough for me to fix this mess.

"So you didn't have… s-sex?" he questioned, still furious but embarrassed to ask his teenage daughter about it.

I winced.

"Um, well, I uh…"

"Mr. Vega, I assure you that every time it was absolutely consensual and I never, ever hurt Tori in any way."

"Jade!" I squealed in horror as my father's skin tone dropped about ten shades paler.

"Every… Every time?! Every time?!" he exclaimed, shocked. "How many times were there- you know what, I don't think I want to know that," he mumbled, heavily sitting down on the couch.

The place fell silent for a beat.

"You probably wouldn't want to sit there, either."

Dad's confused frown was quickly replaced by a horrified expression as he jumped as far away from the couch as possible.

"Jade!" I stormed over her, grabbing her arm. "I think it's best if you leave now," I hissed, dragging her to the door.

"Okay, I'm going, I'm going- Vega, no need to manhandle me."

"Oh, I have every need to manhandle you."

She stopped once I pushed her outside, holding the door so I wouldn't slam it in her face.

"Look, Tori, I'm really sorry for what happened this morning. And, well, for this, obviously," she gestured at my traumatized father who still gazed at the cushions with a mixture of horror and sorrow on his face. "I know that you need to deal with your Dad right now, but if you need me to be there or, I don't know, if you need anything, just… call me. Alright? Please?"

I sighed at the irresistible puppy look she was sporting.

"Or, you know what, just call me anyway. Or I could call you, since, well, you don't really have my number, do you? Yeah, I guess I, uh-"

"Jade. You're rambling," I interrupted her, smiling against my will. "I'll call you, but you really gotta go now."

"Sure. I get it. I'll be waiting, then," she smiled, almost hesitatingly, and I nearly melted inside.

Unfortunately, I had quite a situation to deal with, and absolutely no time to swoon under her gaze.

"'Kay then," I rushed out quickly, flashing another tense smile at her and throwing the door closed as I turned around to Dad.

Oh my God. That's gotta be the worst coming out in the history of coming outs.

Okay, yeah, I know, there are far more severe cases where kids get thrown out with nowhere to go, so I doubt this could be classified as the worst one.

It could, however, go for the most humiliating one.

I tentatively approached Dad who was perched at the edge of the couch, trying his best not to look at me directly.

This is so embarrassing.

I sat two cushions away from him, staring into space as I prepared myself to answer his questions.

"So," he cleared his throat. "You and Jade?..."

"Uh-huh."

"H-here?"

"Oh God, Dad, please don't start asking about locations."

"Locations? There were multiple locations?"

"Wait, what? No! No no no, what I meant was, that, uh… Dad, can you please stop asking about… specifics?"

"How long have you been dating?"

Oh crap.

I can't tell my Dad we're not even dating, now can I? If I do, he'll hunt Jade down and tear her throat out.

Or something less gross but just as severe.

"Oh, dating, as in… going out, you mean?" I tried hopelessly to stall him while my brain frantically searched for an answer.

"Yeah, that's what I mean. You two are dating, aren't you?" His voice took on a dangerous tilt as he narrowed his eyes at me.

What is the appropriate time to start having sex in a relationship? A month? No, too soon. Three? Maybe six?

That's right!

"We've been together for half a year," I blurted out the blatant lie, almost passing out from relief as his face relaxed.

"Oh, wow, well, that's quite… stable, I'd say," he cleared his throat once again. "And, uh, is she… Is she treating you right? What was all the yelling about?"

"Um, you know, just relationship stuff," I answered lamely. "She actually came over to apologize. Even cooked me dinner, she knows how much I love Italian food, which, duh, makes sense because, I mean, we've been together for whole six months, so that's something," oh God, shut up, stop talking. Stop. Fucking. Talking.

Somebody shoot me.

"…Okay," he said slowly. "So… does she make you happy?"

Does she?

Dad probably expects me to say yes. What I should say is 'I don't know'.

We were frenemies at best not even a week ago.

Does she make me happy? Obviously, she makes me more than happy in the sexual sense. But am I happy with her as a person?

"…Yes," the word rolls off my tongue before I even have the time to process it. "She does."

Because I am happy with her. I'm happy as I wake up with her scent surrounding me, I'm happy when I open my eyes to her sleeping form, I'm happy when she gently presses a kiss to my temple after we make love, and I'm happy when I daydream about everything that is Jade West.

"She's it for you, isn't she," I jerk back to the present with my Dad smiling at me gently. "This light in your eyes," he elaborated, pointing at me. "I've never seen you look so radiant before."

"I don't know what else to say," I whisper, returning his smile.

"You don't have to. I like Jade, by the way. She's honest. Sometimes too honest," he cringed, glancing at the other end of the couch. "But if she's good for you and she makes you happy, I have no objections."

I couldn't help it. I got all choked up and flung myself around Dad's neck, hugging him tightly.

"Easy there, tiger," he chuckled. "You haven't heard the bad news yet."

"Wait, what?"

He smirked.

"Victoria Vega, you've been hiding the fact that you had a girlfriend for six months now, and I'm not even getting into the whole 'couch' incident," he coughed, obviously still embarrassed.

"Dad, I'm sorry, I just didn't know" all these months ago that I'd end up with Jade "how you would react."

"I understand, just like I understand that nowadays most teenagers are, uh, sexually active. I've been a teenager myself, and I remember all those hormones bursting and exploding."

"Um, Dad? Oversharing?"

"However, a fact is still a fact," he rose up to his feet. "You lied and I'm very disappointed, Tori. That's why I have to take measures to get you back in line, young lady."

"Please don't tell me I'm grounded-"

"You're grounded," he interrupted me with a stern look. However, his tiny smirk betrayed his good humor. "For two weeks. No going out and no friends over, is that clear?"

"But Dad…"

"Is that clear?" He repeated louder, tapping his foot. I sighed.

"Yes, that's clear," I said, defeated.

"Oka. Now go up in your room while I check the meal your girlfriend left you and see if I can finish cooking it."

Just as I reached the top stair, Dad called out for me again:

"Oh, and Tori?"

"Yeah?"

"Absolutely no sex under this roof."

"Oh my God, Dad!" I was left mortified as I quickly ran to hide in my room, Dad's roaring laughter following me all the way.

Well. That went… okay, I guess.

At least I didn't get my cell phone privileges taken away.

I took the device out of the pocket, unlocking it. 'Jade West' was quickly found among my other contacts, and I just stood still, unsure, as my finger hovered over the call button.

Should I call her now? And what do I tell her?

Hey, baby – yeah, I call you 'baby' from now on, because people who've been together for six months do that, and apparently, we're those people now.

Yeah, somehow I doubt that'll work.