Changes

by StakeTheHeart

An old friendship blossoms into a new relationship filled with unexpected outcomes that did nothing but bring them closer together. One Shot

All right, guys. I've gotten a few requests for something like this and I finally finished it. It took me a long time, and a lot of effort, but I did it. Enjoy and tell me what you think.

---

The last day of high school. The last day she would walk the halls of Hollywood Arts. She knew it was coming, but it was still unexpected when it did. She stepped back from her locker, staring at the emptiness within. She slammed it shut one last time and began removing the scissors. Some slid free easily while others squealed through the metal. She worked slowly, dropping each pair in her bag which hung lightly on her shoulder without the weight of a stack of notebooks and textbooks. When she was done, she turned to looked down each side of the hall. She scanned over the other bare lockers and stopped on the one across from hers. The one that was no longer shining as brightly as its owner. There were so many memories, and the majority of the more interesting ones happened because of the owner of that locker. She smiled to herself, remembering a time she hated the former new girl. She hated her sincerity and eagerness to please. She thought it made her a pushover.

But she quickly learned that she wasn't. Not when it mattered most. Like when she was threatened or picked on or challenged. No. Then she was a fierce fighter, righteous and just. She had hated that too, but also admired it. And now, after all these years, she could finally admit that they were friends. Close friends that relied on one another when things got hard. She turned to the door, a hand coming up to grip at the strap of her bag. The world sat waiting outside those double doors. A world where she would have to grow up and move on with or without the friends she had made. She frowned, suddenly nervous to attend the inevitable graduation ceremony that would take place tomorrow night. Whether she went or not, she would still be a graduate and finish high school. Besides, who was she to run away when things got hard? She straightened up and took a step toward the door, ready to leave, ready to conquer the world just as she had done so far. But she was brought to a halt by a voice.

"Jade, wait up!" Tori called after her. Jade glanced at her with a raised brow, feigning impatience.

"What took you so long to catch up? When I agreed to give you a ride, I figured you would be on time," Jade responded. Tori laughed and slapped a hand on her shoulder, leaning against her while she caught her breath. Jade waited for her to quit faking fatigue. She knew the girl could run marathons if she wanted to. She chased her enough to know that there was no catching up to her once she got going.

"I know. I was just saying bye to Sikowitz when he started to congratulate me and then went on this long rant about a trip he took to-" she began to say. Jade's groan was full of pained exasperation.

"Can we just get going?" she inquired, gesturing to the door. Tori smiled and nodded. They moved to exit but Jade reached the door first. She pushed it open and waited for Tori to step through. She stopped in place with her head canted slightly.

"What now?" Jade asked, keenly aware of Tori's behavior.

"Could you make an exception this one time about who's allowed in your car?" she suddenly asked.

"What? Why?" Jade replied, stepping outside but looking back at Tori who scurried to follow her out. Before she could give a reason, a car backfired, billowed smoke, and then was cursed at angrily. They looked across the lot to see Andre banging on the steering wheel of his car. His newly broken-down car. Jade's eyes narrowed, trying to see through the smoke.

"Is he crying?" she guessed.

"Not yet," Tori observed with no trouble. Jade wondered how she could make out anything in the smoke. Suddenly, her eyes widened in realization.

"Wait, no. You were going to ask me to offer him a ride," she said, incredulous. Tori shrugged, candid.

"Yes?" she responded hopefully.

"No," Jade declined.

"Jade! He's helped me out so many times. It's only fair to repay the favor," she persuaded.

"He didn't do anything for me, and it's my car, so it's my rules," Jade stated, striding toward said car. Tori jogged after her. She caught up and gripped her upper arm firmly, bringing her to a stop. It never failed to ground her. Jade wanted to pull away, but the youngest Vega's infamous puppy eyes were already working their magic.

"Oh chiz," she whispered under her voice with a scowl.

"Please?" Tori added, giving her arm a squeeze before letting her hand run down, fingers playing with Jade's own. She allowed the contact but remained unmoved, processing the request. She never admitted to how effective Tori's tactics were, but Jade was sure she already knew. Jade sighed and closed her eyes against the soft browns still pleading with her.

"Fine. Tell him to hurry up," she finally decided after making Tori wait two whole minutes. She cheered and ran to get Andre while Jade started up her car. She was all buckled in and waiting with the engine running when the two tumbled in. Tori took the passenger seat and Andre sat in the back.

"Thanks, Jade. I appreciate the ride," Andre greeted, leaning forward with a hand on the seat.

"Don't mention it. I only did it to stop Vega from whining. If it were up to me, I would have left you there," Jade answered, playing at indifferent. She even kept her expression neutral. An intense gaze found his in the rearview mirror. She made sure it shot right through him. Andre shifted uncomfortably in response to the glare as well as the disaffected tone. However, Tori chuckled and playfully punched Jade's arm.

"Don't listen to her," she appeased with a shake of her head.

"Your funeral," Jade commented, smirking when panic set in on Andre's face. That time Tori slapped her shoulder and Jade winced.

"Hey! I'm driving!" Jade snapped, briefly releasing the wheel to fend off Tori. Andre sat in the back, looking from one to the other the whole way there. Jade's smile was small but soft and fond of Tori's ridiculous storytelling. He almost couldn't believe they used to hated each other. They had come so far. Jade pulled up outside Andre's house and turned to scowl at him.

"Out," she commanded. He quickly complied.

"See you two tomorrow," he said with a wave. At the mention of the event happening tomorrow, Jade's mood soured. Tori saw it coming and rested her hand on Jade's arm.

"Nervous?" she asked. Jade scoffed and started driving.

"No. Well, maybe," she allowed. Tori nodded her agreement.

"Yeah. Me too. We're going to be done with high school. We're going to have to find jobs, pay bills, and start college. Geez, and I never thought about how I would do that. It isn't like I can move out on my own," Tori mentioned.

"Why move out at all? I'm sure your parents could accommodate you until you're financially stable," Jade pointed out.

"Yeah, but they're already helping Trina, so I don't know if she'll ever leave. If I have a good reason to avoid her, I will," Tori joked. Jade smiled in amusement. Tori was happy to see it. She was proud every time she was able to succeed at such a feat. Jade pulled up outside Tori's house next and turned to her.

"Well, see you tomorrow, Vega. Now get out of here before I get tired of you," Jade teased. Tori grinned and climbed out. She jogged up to the door and paused to wave before going in. Jade lifted a hand in return then drove away, shaking her head.

---

Despite wearing the robe and cap, hearing the music, and being handed her diploma, Jade still couldn't believe that it was all over. The gang cheered around her and exchanged hugs. She could hear them already making plans. Some would leave and others would stay. She tuned it out, standing off to the side. Tori eventually found her, as she was prone to do. Ever since they reconciled their differences and Jade allowed her past her walls they were like magnets. Always finding each other. Especially when Jade's negativity was worsened in some way. Then Tori would be there to make it better, always positive.

"You okay?" she asked, concerned. Jade nodded and fiddled with her cap, running the tassel through her fingers. She glanced at their friends behind Tori before looking at her. Tori understood and gestured to move away. Jade followed her from the Asphalt Café where the ceremony had taken place. They stopped to stand outside the doors to the main hall. Only then was Jade willing to talk.

"What's wrong?" Tori inquired softly. Jade sighed.

"It's stupid, but I feel…lost. You guys seem to already know what you're going to do. I mean, I was good at a lot of things, but that means I didn't excel at one thing. I thought I would have figured out what I wanted to do by the end of my senior year, but I haven't. I don't know where to go from here and it doesn't help that my dad isn't willing to let me hang around too long. He's been waiting for this day for a long time," Jade explained, words a little bitter but mostly sad. Tori acted on instinct, pulling Jade into a hug.

"You'll figure it out. I'll help you," she promised, words muffled against Jade's shoulder. Jade held her tightly, grateful for the support.

"Thanks," she mumbled, releasing Tori. They stepped back, staring at each other. Tori was smiling, bright and supportive. Jade's own smile was weak, but she was grateful, so she tried for Tori. The moment was broken when the gang found them. Cat jumped at Jade for a strangling hug and Andre pulled Tori into his side. Robbie joined Andre and Beck chuckled at Jade's scowl.

"Hey, so are we still partying at your place tonight?" Andre asked Tori, letting her go. She nodded.

"Of course! My parents agreed to a date night so we can have the house to ourselves. I even managed to get Trina out of the house. I promised my mom nothing would get broken though, so no rough housing," she replied, pointing an accusing finger at the boys who acted innocent. It wasn't like they ever broke a vase, or the TV, or the leg of the piano. Jade glared at them and crossed her arms now that Cat had let go. She would make sure they behaved.

"All right. I gotta get going then. I have to prepare and I'm sure you guys have some plans with your families," Tori said. They agreed and said their goodbyes so that they could part ways for now. Jade was the only one left standing at Tori's side.

"Aren't you going to head home?" Tori inquired. Jade shrugged.

"Ever since the divorce, my mom has been a little more supportive, so I wasn't surprised to see her. And as much as I don't get along with my dad, the fact that he showed up too is enough for me. I'm glad he did. I don't plan on a nice dinner with either of them though. It's better if I spend the day with people worth my time," she explained.

"I'm worth your time?" Tori asked, a bit teasing but mostly touched to hear Jade say it aloud. Tori poked at her side and Jade slapped at her hand, rolling her eyes but smiling.

"Don't get sappy on me," Jade lightly scolded, pushing her away. Tori laughed and stepped away, holding up her hands placatingly.

"I'm just really happy to be your friend, Jade," she admitted. Jade nodded.

"Me too. I don't know where I would be if I decided to keep hating you," she replied, falling into step with Tori as they walked to her car.

"What made you change your mind?" Tori wondered. Jade kept her gaze ahead.

"Ask me again when I've had a few drinks at your place," Jade answered, stopping at her car. Tori hesitated.

"You are having drinks available, right?" Jade checked.

"Oh, no, yeah. I have drinks. I just, I assumed I would get a ride from you so I told my parents to go without me, and now that I think about it, I shouldn't have just assumed you would-" Tori began to ramble. Jade chuckled and stopped her with a hand on her mouth.

"Shut up and get in the car, Vega," she said, turning away to get in the driver's side. Tori stared, stunned, then rushed to comply. As much as Jade would like to complain about how clingy Tori could be, it felt nice. She felt needed. But that didn't mean she wasn't going to make a big deal of it.

"Ugh, you're so needy. What the hell do you do when you're on your own?" Jade asked her, backing out from the parking space.

"Ummm…uh, well, I'm usually hanging out with one of you guys. If not, I'm reading, watching TV or a movie, or surfing the net," she listed.

"Stalking celebrity profiles?" Jade guessed playfully. Tori scowled at her.

"No," she grumbled.

"Sure," Jade said, not believing her one bit.

"I don't stalk profiles," Tori denied.

"Funny that you broaden who you stalk. So, not only do you deny stalking celebrities, but you're also denying stalking other people. Like, maybe, people from school?" Jade continued to tease.

"Jade!" Tori exclaimed in a whine, turning away to hide her face. She was no doubt blushing. Jade's laugh was genuine.

"Okay, okay. I won't tease you about your crush," Jade said, focusing on the route she was taking. Soon, they were in front of Tori's house again. It was funny how often Jade found herself there. Tori was quick to get out. Jade lazily followed her.

"Break out the horror movies and popcorn," she commanded gleefully. Tori shivered as she unlocked the door.

"Does it have to be horror movies?" she inquired.

"Yes," Jade answered. Tori groaned and stepped inside. Jade brushed past her and went right for the entertainment center under the TV.

"I think I left a few here the last time I came over. Are they still here or in your room?" Jade asked. Tori could see that there was no avoiding the inevitable. Sometimes she could turn Jade away from the idea, but it looked like that wouldn't happen today.

"They're in my room. Hold on," Tori responded, climbing the stairs. And so, they had a horror movie marathon until the gang showed up. Just in time. It was getting dark out and Tori was starting to get a bit paranoid. She felt better when things were lively and not so quiet. Well, it wasn't always quiet. Jade's laughter was a good break in the suspense.

"Who's ready to par-tay?!" Andre shouted from the kitchen, having found the alcohol. Beck was the first one to reach the kitchen. He helped moderate Cat and Robbie's intake while Andre debated how much he could drink before falling asleep. Alcohol always made him tired. Especially if he spent the night competing with Beck who also felt sleepy after a few drinks. Robbie usually got just as hyper as Cat, but then he would randomly pass out while Cat tended to slow down until she was curled up somewhere, falling asleep in odd places. Jade left Tori's side to get them each a drink, knowing how Tori preferred it. She passed it to her, and Tori thanked her. She took her first of many sips. The group celebrated late into the night, each falling victim to sleep as it wore on.

Tori and Jade took it slow, careful not to overdo it. Both knew without saying it that they wanted more time to talk, and they couldn't if their friends were present. Tori went around arranging everyone, tucking Cat in on one sofa. Robbie was passed out on the other, hugging a throw pillow. Tori draped a blanket over him. Beck and Andre took the floor with a blanket and pillow each. Once they were settled, she made her way to the backyard where Jade sat by the edge of the pool. Her boots and socks were off to the side and her jeans were rolled up. She gently kicked her feet in the water, watching the water ripple with the greenish light of the pool as a backdrop. Tori sat with her legs crossed next to her.

"Can I ask now?" she whispered, tentative. Jade knew what she meant but stayed quiet, unable to say anything.

"When we met, you didn't like me. What changed that?" Tori finally asked. Jade sighed and ran a hand through her hair, further mussing it. Tori tried not to notice how it caught her attention. She didn't want to be distracted.

"You were a pain in the ass. You were helpful and generous. And you had natural talent. Attractive and popular right out of the gates," Jade began, eyes still on the water. Which was good because Tori was blushing again.

"I felt threatened, and I admit, I was insecure. I thought you would take everything from me. You fit in with my friends, held Beck's attention, and did just as good as me in our shared classes. Sometimes better than I did. Not to mention you kept getting the lead in almost all the plays," Jade confessed.

"I can see how you wouldn't want me around," Tori agreed. Jade shrugged.

"Yeah, but that doesn't give me the right to make your life hell. I shouldn't have let any of that bother me. I knew you weren't actually a threat. You even tried to befriend me. It was clear you weren't after anything I had. It just took me a while to figure that out. And it hit me during the Platinum Music Awards. I knew at that point that we could be good friends," she continued, voice soft and vulnerable. She looked at Tori who stared back with a touched smile. She reached out and carefully rested her hand on top of Jade's between them.

"I'm still sorry I made it hard on you, whether I realized it or not," she apologized. Jade grumbled and looked away.

"Just so you know, you make it hard to hate you. You always have," Jade told her, honest. Tori's hand squeezed hers. Silence fell between them, and they sat comfortably together, not needing to say anything. It left Tori to reflect while stealing glances at Jade's serene features. She thought it was funny how life unfolded. Things that had been in the world longer than anyone could comprehend and things that were brand new. The old and the new. It was a thought that often was only applied to age, but there were customs and cultures tied to it too. Traditions, media, technology, and so much more. In that way, Tori often thought of her relationship with Jade. They had known each other for four years now. They weathered high school drama and crappy summer jobs, trying to prove to their parents that they could handle responsibility. And now she was thinking of moving out. Of truly being on her own. She thought she wouldn't mind living alone, but deep down she knew that it didn't suit her. She craved companionship, friendship, and someone to share her day with. So, if she was truly going to move, who else would she rather live with than Jade? She bit her lip, unsure. She had to ask, but she didn't want to hear a rejection. Then what would she do? She took a deep breath and decided to go for it.

"Jade, you know how your dad is basically kicking you out?" she began.

"Gee, thanks for the reminder," Jade responded sarcastically.

"No, I didn't mean it like that. I just meant, well, since I want to strike out on my own and you have no choice but to do the same, that we could, um…" Tori stammered. Jade watched her struggle a moment longer before taking pity on her.

"Sure," she accepted. Tori fell silent, shocked but excited.

"Yeah?" she made sure.

"Yeah. We practically see each other all day every day. What difference would it be to live together?" Jade reasoned. Tori grabbed Jade in a big hug and Jade returned it. She never thought that the one person in their group willing to sacrifice their space for her would be Jade. The only one who always complained about everything she did. The one who ragged on everything she liked. The one who seemingly hated her since the day they met. But that wasn't true, was it? Because by the time they graduated, Jade had started warming up to her. Slowly, but noticeably. They hung out with the group sometimes and other times they hung out alone. Of course, it was usually Jade dragging her to some weird place, but at least it never failed to be interesting. And those days where they grabbed coffee or made some at home before lazing around watching movies were the best. No matter how rude, how abrasive Jade could be, it could never detract from that soft side of her that would help Tori when she was sick or give her a ride when she needed it. Not without some teasing, but she still helped.

She didn't hate her. Not anymore. Jade appreciated a true friend that accepted everything about her. Someone who didn't try to change her. Which was why she easily agreed to moving in with Tori. Because as annoying as she was sometimes, in the end, Jade would have a friend she could talk to. Someone genuine and caring. Tori would be the kind of person she hadn't really had. At least, no one reliable. Beck was emotionally unavailable, a little too laid back. Nothing really fazed him, which was why Jade often pushed him just to get a reaction. Sometimes even that didn't work. In the end, it didn't work out. They split before they even reached their junior year. And from then on, if Jade wasn't roped into some crazy Cat scheme, then she was with Tori. So, it felt right to move in together. Jade pulled away and laughed with relief.

"I'm glad you think living with me will be great. Just wait and see, Vega," Jade said, playful.

"I already see. I just have to wait," Tori replied, undaunted. Which was only another reason Jade appreciated Tori's friendship.

"Jobs first. We need a steady income. We also have to decide whether we want to jump right into college or not and what school we want to attend if we do," Jade reminded her. School was important to both of them. It wouldn't be easy, but they felt they could do it together.

"Of course. I can't wait to tell my parents," Tori said, eyes alight with excitement.

"Strangely, me too," Jade agreed, reserved but no less happy. They spent the rest of the night holding light conversation, joking, and making absurd plans for fun. Tori's family came home shortly after that. Her parents greeted them on their way to bed. Trina said nothing, which was fine by Jade. When they were tired, Tori offered Jade a place to sleep in her room. Jade was ready to take the floor, but Tori pulled her to the bed. Jade didn't refuse, and she fell asleep curled up with her back pressed to Tori's own, relaxed by her warmth.

---

They took it a day at a time, trying to find a balance between the different ways they lived. Tori liked to clean and listen to music. Jade liked to cook. Tori was a bit of a klutz and Jade often had to patch her up. Jade liked to be organized while Tori didn't really care where things ended up. On the other hand, Jade had a habit of leaving her socks everywhere and that was the only thing that seemed to bug Tori despite her lack of needing organization. It was probably because they would end up in the vacuum when she was cleaning. Taking apart the clogged machine happened more often than she would like, causing Jade to laugh at her dusty scowl. She was always a mess by the end of it.

The biggest thing Jade didn't like about Tori was her open-door policy when it came to their friends. Granted, it was most likely left over from when she lived with her parents, but it was now their space that they shared. In that regard, Jade had a say in who could come and go too. Not that she didn't want their friends to visit, but she would like to have a heads up. So, despite their completely different personalities and their own way of going about daily life, they worked it out. A feat they were both surprised they could achieve.

It started as an idea no one could believe and turned into an idea everyone agreed worked out better than they ever hoped. The gang never got tired of pointing out how different Jade had become from spending so much time with Tori. Nicer, helpful, and capable of socializing without threatening bodily harm. She grudgingly had to admit that she learned a thing or two about herself, but so had Tori. She had learned a few hard life lessons of her own, and with Jade's help, she navigated through them.

They were the closest they had ever been before, and while Jade waited for the other shoe to drop, Tori was far more optimistic that they could continue to cohabitate. She never wavered in her belief no matter how uncertain Jade was. But she also never stopped to think why Jade held those views. Looking back, she should have. Because life wasn't perfect. Maybe if she had been more careful, she wouldn't have walked so blindly into the danger hidden in plain sight.

"Oh my god. I'm so tired," Tori groaned, stumbling from the lively club and out into the cool night air. She wasn't completely wasted, but she knew Andre was. He chuckled and briefly leaned against her, trying to regain his balance.

"But it was fun," he pointed out, a goofy smile on his face. Tori rolled her eyes, thinking about all the girls Andre entertained. She shook her head and sighed. She was really looking forward to getting home and knocking out. Maybe she could get Jade to take care of her.

"Hey, do you want to catch a ride with me? I'll call us one," Andre suggested. Tori was about to agree when her phone chirped. She took it out to see a text from Jade.

It's getting late. Let me know if you need a ride.

Tori couldn't keep the smile off her face.

"Aww, look at that," Andre commented, having read the message over her shoulder. Tori jerked the phone away.

"You can't say anything to her! I'm not supposed to let anyone see those kinds of texts!" Tori whined.

"Chill, Tori. You know I would never say anything," he reassured. Tori took a breath and tried to relax. Her heart was racing, and not just because of the text. She promised Jade that texts like that would be for her eyes only. Jade hated it when any of their friends found out just how soft she had become. She would never hear the end of it, and then she would be in a difficult mood for a few days. Tori liked to see that open and carefree side of Jade. It made her feel special that she was the only one Jade showed that to. It made it easy to accommodate her so that she was comfortable enough to continue.

"Besides, I think it's great that Jade cares about someone like that. You guys got really close and Jade's still a bit insecure about trusting people. I wouldn't ruin that just to tease her," Andre continued, patting her back. Tori smiled and nodded.

"Thanks, Andre," she replied, a hand going to her head seconds later. She sighed heavily.

"I should really get home. This is going to be a killer hangover. I can already tell," she complained.

"At least you're practically sober. I'm still buzzin'," he replied.

"And whose fault is that? I know when to stop," Tori lightly accused.

"Hey, I know my limit, okay? I just couldn't turn down a drink from a hot lady," Andre explained factually. Tori shook her head but laughed. She looked down at her phone and sent Jade a reply.

Ready to go.

On my way. You better not hurl in my car, Vega. I swear, I will make you clean it.

No, I'm good. I didn't overdo it. I think Andre drank more than me.

…Does he need a ride too?

I'll ask.

The hesitation in the message was clear, but Jade was still trying. Tori was proud of her for it and made it a point not to draw attention to it.

"Jade wants to know if you need a ride," she relayed. Andre's brow rose, curious.

"She did?" he asked, mildly surprised. Tori nodded, thumbs hovering over the screen to type once she got an answer.

"Well, that would save me some money, so-" he began to say when he was interrupted by the club door opening. The pretty brunette Andre had been talking to the most came striding out with her two friends. Their eyes met and then the redhead was pushing her forward. A chorus of giggles followed her as she walked over.

"Hey, uh, do you need a ride? I'm the DD in the group," she said. Andre's eyes widened like he just won the lottery. He still hadn't answered after several seconds so Tori poked him in the ribs.

"Uh, oh, yeah. Sure. Thanks," he stammered. She nodded and gestured for him to follow. He glanced back at Tori, hesitating. She waved him away.

"I'll be fine. Jade knows our drinking spot. She's on her way," she encouraged. He saluted her in farewell and was close on the heels of the three women. He easily fell into conversation with them as they walked away. Tori began to walk toward the lamp post by the parking lot.

Andre caught a ride with a bunch of women.

Don't tell me anymore.

Tori laughed.

You better be using the talk-to-text feature on your car.

Relax, mom. I am.

Tori could practically hear the sarcasm in her voice and see her eye roll.

Just making sure.

I know. Almost there.

Awesome. It's getting kind of colhwafuib

Tori yelped in shock when cold, rough hands grabbed at her from behind. She tried to kick but she was quickly held in a headlock and dragged back into a nearby alley. Her feet scraped on the hard ground, a shoe coming loose. She screamed and a hand came up to silence her. She bit it hard. The deep grunt of pain was followed by a shove, throwing her against the wall. She bounced off and fell to the dirty ground. Looking up, she saw a man with his face shadowed in a hood. He kicked her on her back, winding her. Then he was on top of her, holding her down by the neck.

She tried to scream again but it was strangled. She punched him and then kicked out when he flinched. He recovered quickly, returning the blow to her face. She instantly saw stars. But even with a blurry vision, she couldn't ignore the way her body tensed. It started to heat up until she couldn't stand the pain and whimpered. The man chuckled at the sound and reached out for her, but heavy footfalls pounded into the alley. He looked up and Tori turned toward the sound. Jade was there, skidding to a stop. She took in the scene before her, eyes livid, and then she was charging right at them.

"You bastard! Get off her!" she yelled, catching him in an uppercut to the jaw while he was trying to stand. As soon as Tori was free, she scrambled out of the way. She fell against the wall and watched as Jade kept throwing punches. She dodged a few until he used his size against her. He lunged, catching her in his iron grip. He forced her to the floor and kicked her twice while she was down. She rolled away and pushed to her feet to run at him again. He blocked her blows and managed to land a hit to her stomach. She choked and stumbled back. He advanced, grabbing her by the neck and slamming her against the opposite wall from Tori. Jade struggled in his grip, but she was trapped. Tori watched helplessly, her body still wracked with molten pain, and then something within her snapped.

She clenched her teeth and squeezed her eyes closed. She gasped then cried out so suddenly it shocked their attacker. His grip loosened enough for Jade to take in a ragged breath. She was barely able to stand. Tori's eyes snapped open, focusing on the man's face. He cringed under the feral gaze, watching as soft brown irises became lighter and settled on a blazing gold. She pushed herself to her feet and yanked the man away from Jade. She stumbled to the ground but managed to glance up at what was happening. Tori's grip on the man's arms tightened and then a snap pierced the air as his bones gave in under the force of her fingers. He panicked and fell back with a scream. Tori advanced on him, hands flexing like she wanted to punch him.

Hands that became claws with each crack of bone. A snarl fell from a fanged mouth that pulled back as a muzzle took shape. Her back bowed, body growing bigger and tearing through her clothes to expose brown fur to the moonlight above. Jade watched the beast uncurl slowly, her head tilting up at its tall form. Her eyes flicked to the moon, and somewhere in her chaotic thoughts, she realized that it wasn't full. A fierce snarl brought her attention back to the wolf creature that had been Tori. The man was pressed up against the wall next to Jade, shaking in fear. Quicker than either of them could comprehend, the beast darted forward. Its strike was swift and sent him sprawling to the ground like a ragdoll, claws tearing through flesh easily. It lunged again, jaws at his throat.

"S-stop!" Jade wildly called out. It paused with its teeth still bared.

"Don't kill him. That isn't you…Tori," she gasped weakly. At the sound of her name, Tori stepped away from the unconscious man and turned to Jade. She padded over slowly, bent on all fours, to cross the space between them. A rumble of thunder vibrated through the air just as Tori stopped in front of her. She towered over her, yet Jade was more amazed than frightened. She sat up slowly, eyes locked on the golden ones glowing above her.

"I'm safe. It's okay," she continued to coax. Her shaking hand reached out to rest on the beast's arm. The stony gaze and still body seemed to relax at her touch. Tori sat down and her head moved to sniff at Jade's hand. She carefully brushed over Tori's face, cupping a flicking ear. The fur felt just like Tori's hair. It was the exact same shade of brown. Tori let out a deep sigh and opened her eyes. Jade hadn't even noticed they had closed. She smiled when she saw that they were Tori's eyes. They stared at each other a second more and then Tori was pulling back.

She whimpered and gripped at the ground. Jade moved to comfort her but jumped back when her body began to shift once more, a reversal of the transformation she witnessed several minutes ago. When it was over, Tori was left kneeling on the ground. Thunder boomed overhead and then it was raining. It washed over Tori, her overheated body a contrast to the cold water. It steamed around her, but she seemed unaffected by it. Jade shivered, immediately freezing. She stayed where she was a moment longer before going to Tori. She fell to her knees next to her and brushed back her hair.

"Are you okay?" Tori rasped, eyes lifting to meet hers. They were intense, a feral quality lingering in their depths, but Jade could also see fear and worry.

"I'm fine. Are you…?" she replied, but she was unable to finish. Tori shook her head.

"Jade…I…I'm sorry. I couldn't tell you…" she forced out, tears in her eyes washed away by the rain. Jade didn't have to see them. She could hear everything in Tori's voice. She shook her head and swiped a thumb over Tori's cheek.

"It's okay. We're both fine. Let me help you to the car and we'll go home," Jade whispered. She stood and brought Tori up with her. Her clothes were in tatters, hanging off her body. Her boots were shredded. She barely had anything covering her lower half. Jade pulled off her jacket and draped it over Tori.

"Let's go," she urged, pulling Tori forward. They made it to the car and Jade thanked their luck that no one happened upon it with the keys still in the ignition. Jade glanced at Tori once the car was turned on. She sat curled up in the passenger seat, hands gripping at the jacket around her, eyes staring blankly at the floor. Jade frowned, concerned, but turned to the task at hand. She had to get them home. Fast.

---

It was tricky getting Tori inside while in the state she was. Jade wrapped her in the blanket she kept in the back seat. Tori didn't react much as Jade steered her from the car to their apartment. She was glad the rain had let up and only fell in a drizzle. They reached their home and entered, standing in the threshold. Jade turned to Tori who held back a sudden sob. Jade quickly shut the door and reached out to console her, but Tori pulled away sharply and Jade retreated, concerned by her reaction.

"Tori, please," she whispered softly. She saw the determined set of Tori's jaw and sighed, sagging. She was beyond tired and uncomfortably soaked. Little shivers raced down her spine. She just wanted to warm up in the shower and then go to sleep.

"Look, I can't say that I'm not having a hard time with this. Because I am. It's sudden and a little scary. But it doesn't change the fact that I still care about you. We'll have to talk about this eventually, but right now, I think we should take a warm shower and go to sleep. What do you think?" Jade said quietly, breaking the silence between them. Tori's grip on the blanket around her tightened. She kept her eyes averted, gaze still conveying worry and sadness.

"Okay," she finally whispered after a few minutes passed.

"Okay then. Go first," Jade told her. Tori took a step and stopped. She looked up, eyes finding Jade's own. The fear and guilt caught Jade off guard.

"Thank you," she mumbled.

"For what?" Jade asked, shocked.

"For not abandoning me," Tori responded simply, turning away. She disappeared down the hall and the bathroom door closed behind her. Jade took a seat at the table after grabbing a towel to dry herself off. She sat hunched over, resting on the table with the towel bunched under her head like a makeshift pillow. She didn't know how much time passed. She would have fallen asleep if she hadn't heard the bathroom door open.

She jumped to her feet clumsily, wiping sleep from her face. The towel fell, forgotten, to the floor. She listened to Tori moving around her room and then headed for the hall. She stopped in her tracks at the sight of a freshly cleaned Tori in a tank top and pajama pants. Her hair was damp, strands framing her face. Her stance was uncertain, sad, lacking her usual excitement. She was so quiet. Painfully so.

"Hi," Jade greeted simply, unable to stand the silence. There was a time she wanted Tori to just sit quietly, but now that she was, Jade didn't like it. It was unsettling. Tori was always so bright and full of energy. That was how she should always be.

"Hey," Tori grunted, looking away again. Jade let out a sound of agitation and suddenly moved forward. She reached up and carefully held Tori's face in her hands, forcing her to look at her.

"There. Finally," Jade whispered, offering a soft smile. Tori's eyes remained sad, but she returned the smile. A hand came up to rest on one of hers.

"Take your shower. I'll be in my room," she muttered, pulling away. Jade watched her go and sighed. She had no choice but to comply. She went to her room for clean clothes then took her turn in the shower. She made it fast, quickly getting dressed and running a brush through her hair before sprinting to Tori's room. She barged in as if she were on a timer, expecting Tori to be gone. Tori glanced up from her book with a small frown. It was so familiar a setting that it relaxed Jade.

"I'm glad things haven't changed," Tori commented, marking her place, and setting aside the book.

"Of course not," Jade said with a grin, moving to take a seat across from Tori on the bed. Tori tucked her legs against her chest and rested her chin on her knees.

"So…what now?" she asked timidly. Jade quirked a brow.

"You're usually more forthcoming about personal stuff," Jade remarked. Tori shrugged.

"It's hard to when it comes to this. If I had it my way you would never have known about it. But now that you do, there's no point in keeping it a secret," she replied. Jade had to agree. Now that she knew this newly uncovered part of Tori, she was eager to learn more. It was a strange concept, but it was still Tori. She wouldn't hurt a fly. Heck, she couldn't even fight off a twelve-year-old. She wasn't a monster and Jade wasn't going to abandon her. They had grown close since then. She was her friend. She was, maybe, something more. Jade blushed lightly at the thought. Tori watched her silently, questioning her with furrowed brows.

"Thank you for being there for me," Jade spoke softly.

"You were there for me first. I didn't think. I just acted. All I knew was that you were in danger, and I had to do something. I had to protect you," Tori muttered, conflicted. Jade leaned in to rest her forehead against Tori's, showing affection in a way that Tori had never seen from her, but she embraced it wholeheartedly.

"You stopped him. That's all that matters," she reminded her. Tori bared her teeth in a scowl and closed her eyes.

"Yeah, I stopped him, and I couldn't control it. All I could think about was you. Protecting you from…I could smell his fear and all I wanted to do was tear him apart for putting his hands on you," Tori confessed, eyes hardening at the memory. She saw Jade on the ground, the man hitting her, sensing Jade's desperate panic, and it happened. The shift began. The need to defend and protect, not just herself, but the one she cared about so strongly it was ingrained in her instincts. And then she lunged. She lost all sense of right and wrong. The beast had taken over, and she wanted to kill him. But Jade stopped her, brought her back from the edge. Her voice and scent were like a beacon in the darkness, calling her back.

"But you didn't," Jade reminded her.

"Because you stepped in, and luckily, I listened," Tori responded. Her feelings for Jade far outweighed the instinct to kill. She was at Jade's mercy whether she was human or beast. Jade huffed out a sigh and pushed back her half dry hair.

"It doesn't matter how you kept me safe. You just did, and I'm grateful," Jade stated with finality.

"I guess. I just hate the idea of losing control. I don't want to kill anyone," Tori explained in a small voice. Jade could understand that. She pulled Tori closer and held her.

"Why didn't you say anything?" she questioned. The concern on Tori's face turned into a frown.

"I was nervous and afraid you would think I was a freak if you ever found out," Tori answered.

"You have this hidden ability and yet you were scared of me?" Jade lightly teased.

"Confidence isn't automatic because of what I am. Besides, not everyone thinks it's cool. Some think it's a curse," Tori replied.

"Well, it should be," Jade said. Tori tilted her head.

"Cool, not a curse. You're amazing," Jade clarified, sincere. Tori blushed and looked away. She wasn't used to such praise from Jade.

"At least no one else knows. Well, besides my family," she said, quick to move away from any form of compliment from Jade. It made her heart flutter, and she couldn't handle more emotions on top of the ones already warring within.

"It would have been the perfect time to tell me when I kept getting out of working at that café by pretending to be a werewolf," Jade mentioned casually. Tori's eyebrows flew to her hairline.

"Why would you come up with something like that?" she questioned.

"Seemed funny at the time. I hated that job. Not surprised they fired me. It was kind of the reason why I did it. Go out with a bang, you know?" Jade replied with a shrug.

"When did you-wait, is that how you got fired? I thought your days off seemed scheduled!" Tori exclaimed. Jade smirked.

"If I knew that was the reason then maybe I would have said something," Tori remarked.

"Would you?" Jade asked. It was Tori's turn to shrug.

"Maybe not," she admitted.

"Yeah, 'cause if you did, I'm pretty sure you would no doubt tell me how speciesist I am, and how 'it doesn't work like that' in that scolding tone of yours," Jade taunted, smiling when Tori mouthed 'speciesist' in a questioning way, her nose scrunched endearingly. Tori shook her head.

"Because it doesn't work like that. Turning during the full moon and infection from a bite doesn't do anything either," Tori explained.

"Clearly. I would have found out sooner or I would have turned a long time ago," Jade pointed out, referring to the small and entirely impromptu wrestling match over the remote one night.

"That was one time! You wouldn't stop tickling me when I told you to!" Tori defended.

"I get it, it's just your instinct," Jade placated, a bit patronizing on purpose just to rile her.

"It doesn't work like that either," Tori denied.

"Sure," Jade dismissed, unconvinced.

"You know, you're taking all this really well," Tori mentioned, feeling a bit better about the situation.

"How else am I supposed to take it?" Jade responded, quirking a brow.

"Running scared," Tori responded.

"When have I ever done that?" Jade scoffed.

"True," Tori agreed with a nod.

"In my eyes, you're still Miss Sweet Sally Peaches and you always will be. This is just a part of you. Besides, it would be cool to have a werewolf girlfriend," Jade stated.

"Girlfriend?" Tori questioned, a note of confused hope in her tone.

"Yeah, a girl that's a friend. What did you think I meant?" Jade said, acting oblivious but knowing how Tori took it.

"Nothing," Tori said, quick to deny.

"Hey Tor, all joking aside, I care about you very much. And I'm not just saying that because you're officially cooler in my book," Jade told her. Her voice lost the teasing quality to be replaced with honesty. It softened Tori almost instantly.

"Really?" she replied, seeking further affirmation.

"Yeah. But just to be clear, you really can't change at will?" Jade checked, curious now that Tori was assured.

"No, just when I'm feeling threatened," she elucidated.

"So, I don't have to worry about getting eaten if I piss you off?" Jade joked. Tori looked away suddenly, biting her lip.

"No," she said quietly. Jade poked at her cheek.

"Are you blushing?" she asked with a chuckle.

"No," Tori answered again, pushing Jade's hand away.

"Tori, what-oh, wow. I can't believe you went there," Jade said through a laugh that only got worse when Tori's face slowly resembled a tomato.

"Went where?" she forced herself to ask, trying to avoid the inevitable.

"You know where," Jade pressed.

"Look, I was still stuck on girlfriend and then heard me eating you. My mind wandered a bit, okay!" she confessed. Jade laughed.

"It sure did," she commented, fixing Tori with an amused smirk.

"Please stop," Tori whined, turning away, and covering her face.

"Honestly, you should have just asked me out the night we graduated," Jade remarked casually. Tori dropped her hands, blush dissipating to be replaced with interest. She turned back to look at Jade. She wasn't joking.

"How did you-" Tori began, but couldn't finish, still skirting around the truth of their bond.

"I had a feeling. Plus, I liked you too. Still do. But I wasn't going to risk what we had on a hunch. You're my best friend, Tor. Fur and all," Jade shared, her smile contagious.

"Aww, Jade," Tori said, throwing her arms around Jade in a big hug.

"Yeah, yeah. So, thanks for saving my life or whatever. Can I thank you properly?" Jade replied in that blunt but charming way she was known for.

"Sure," Tori accepted with a fond smile, wondering what Jade meant by that.

"Then get over here," Jade commanded, voice dropping in tone. Her hand came up to pull Tori in, and seconds before their lips met, Tori gasped. They both froze for a second, amazed at the feeling, and then Tori had a handful of Jade's shirt and Jade's hand tangled in Tori's hair. The kiss quickly went from soft and exploratory to confident and passionate. Neither one of them thought they would be where they were now, but they clearly yearned for it if the intensity of their kissing was any indication. Tori happily bent to Jade's command, falling back to allow Jade to take the lead. Her weight against her body was warm and welcoming. Jade stole a few lasting kisses before pulling back to gaze into Tori's eyes. She stroked Tori's cheek and left her hand to rest at her jaw, her thumb idly running under her bottom lip. Jade had just kissed Tori, and somehow, she still couldn't believe it. Tori grinned and Jade smirked in return, rolling off Tori to lay next to her. Their hands found each other between them.

"When did this start? I mean, all through high school and I had never known. I guess, looking back, I did think you were odd, but I would have never figured it out. Are you considered a…werewolf?" Jade began, pausing in her attempt to find the right word.

"We call it shapeshifting. Some of us prefer a wolf, some prefer half forms, and others both with enough practice. I let the shift happen naturally and usually always use a half form, but I can shift into a wolf too," Tori explained.

"Is it something you become or are you born that way?" Jade inquired next.

"It's a rare genetic trait. Only a few families descended from their ancestors still acquire the gene. Not everyone in the lineage is born with it, and some will never know they have it if they never have a reason to use it," she answered. Jade was baffled by the information.

"Simply put, it's a defense mechanism. I can't shift at will and it definitely doesn't happen on a full moon. Once I feel legitimately threatened, it triggers," Tori clarified.

"But it happened when I was threatened," Jade corrected, pointing to herself. Tori smiled softly. Her brown eyes as warm as a perfect cup of coffee.

"Yes, you were, and that was perceived as a threat to me because I care about you. The only other time it responds is if a loved one is in danger," she explained, eyes flicking up to lock with Jade's clear gaze. Her own eyes widened in realization. It wasn't said directly, but Jade didn't need it to be. She knew how Tori felt because she felt the same way.

"I'm sorry I kept it from you. I saw no reason to say anything when we were younger. Especially since it was never a problem then. I'm also sorry I never told you how I felt. I was afraid we would start something and then you would leave if you found out," Tori confessed.

"You know I would never do that, Tori," Jade assured her, squeezing her hand.

"I know, but it didn't stop me from fearing it," Tori said, looking away. Jade stared at her, trying to imagine the beast she had become. It seemed so unreal that her friend, someone she thought she knew, had the ability to become something else. Something so unlike her.

"You know I love making friends, but I was always careful not to care too much. I didn't want to form deep attachments. I care for the gang, and dating was nice until I got bored of the empty relationship. That's why I was okay with the imposed distance between us, but then we decided to move in together. Being close to you for so long changed things. I thought I could manage my feelings for you. I guess spending enough time with someone is bound to make that an impossible task," Tori mused. Jade stared at her, unable to believe what she was saying.

"You like me," she said aloud, needing to voice the emotion in its simplest form.

"It's fair to say I like you a lot. I honestly don't know how you thought I could put up with you if that wasn't the case," Tori teased.

"Well," Jade gasped in mock offense. Tori laughed and Jade pulled away to cross her arms.

"I'm only kidding. Anyone would be happy to have you as a friend," Tori amended truthfully, reaching out to rest her hand on Jade's arm. Jade returned her gaze at the warm touch, smiling. She cleared her throat and put a little space between them.

"You know, now I feel stupid for watching all those werewolf movies with you," she recalled, ready to move away from the serious subject. Tori tilted her head in confusion, allowing the change of pace.

"Why?" she asked.

"They had to have irritated you with how much they got wrong and how they're portrayed," Jade explained. Tori shook her head.

"I never thought about or applied it to myself. I just watched the movie and enjoyed the entertainment as it is," Tori replied.

"Really? Huh, I would have had so much to say about it," Jade mumbled, brows furrowed. Tori laughed but nodded.

"I can see that happening," she agreed.

"Although, if I had to choose, I think vampires are better," Jade decided.

"What? Jade, you have a literal shapeshifter as a friend, and you say that? Hurtful," Tori whined. Jade ignored the playful whining and instead focused on what Tori said.

"You say that like there's a possibility of meeting a vampire," Jade commented.

"I don't doubt it," Tori responded.

"Is there?" Jade inquired, strangely intrigued.

"I'm not sure," Tori said.

"You're not-Tori! You can't just say these things and take it back!" Jade exclaimed.

"I didn't say anything! You assumed that's what I meant! I really don't know if they exist, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did," Tori clarified. Jade looked up at the ceiling with a grumble.

"Can you imagine if they did? Then I could be one. How cool would that be? I mean, not that you aren't cool, but your inheritance thing kinda makes it hard for anyone else outside the family to be a shapeshifter," Jade said, moving to lay perpendicular to Tori, her head on her stomach and her feet hanging off the bed. Tori accommodated Jade without a second thought, settling a hand on her shoulder.

"Hmm, maybe not," Tori disagreed.

"What do you mean by that?" Jade asked.

"What if the movies are true and vampires hate shapeshifters? Or they have a natural instinct to kill each other?" Tori explained.

"I'd get over it because I would turn out to be the strongest vampire, able to ignore instincts and make the others fear me," Jade dismissed with confidence, smiling playfully when she got Tori to smile.

"I bet you would," she said with a chuckle.

"I'd probably be stronger than you too," Jade added. Tori rolled her eyes.

"No, you wouldn't," she replied with certainty.

"How would you know? I could," Jade pressed, challenging. Tori sat up, forcing Jade to do the same.. She then climbed over Jade's legs and pushed her back into the pillows, straddling her. She growled low and leaned close enough for their noses to touch.

"How about a tie?" she proposed. Jade opened her mouth to protest, but Tori saw it coming and kissed her before she could say anything. Jade pulled her closer with a hand in her hair and the other at her hip, letting herself get lost in Tori. Later, she would agree to the tie, the hypothetical as well as the literal.

---

Life waited for no one. Not even when a life changing revelation occurred. Tori and Jade fell back into routine, but with more kisses. Their banter turned flirtatious and often times they would have to remind each other to tone it down when they were around their friends who were happy for them, but they didn't want to witness a full scale make out. It was a battle of wills for Tori to get through the day in order to return home and see Jade while Jade pretended not to be affected by the temporary distance between them.

Tori knew better. Especially when Jade had her pinned to the door, kissing her senseless, her hands under Tori's shirt. But of course, it couldn't last forever. One evening while they were binge watching a show, Jade got a call from her mom. She lost touch with her father, and by extension her half-brother, years ago. Her mother was the only one she hadn't pushed away. She wanted Jade to visit her for Christmas since she let Jade celebrate Thanksgiving with the gang. Tori had no plans to visit her own parents this year, so Jade suggested that they visit her mom together. But surprisingly, Tori declined.

"Um, maybe you should go alone," she suggested, hesitant. Jade leaned away from Tori, eyeing her suspiciously.

"Why not? You don't think things would be different now that we're together, do you?" she guessed. Tori shook her head.

"No, it's not that," Tori denied.

"Last year I dealt with Trina when I went with you and the gang to your house," Jade reminded her.

"I know," Tori acknowledged.

"So, I'm not worth some possible embarrassment when my mom starts to question us?" Jade asked, brow raised and tone stern. Tori bit her lip then let out a heavy sigh.

"Okay, look. Your mom makes me nervous. You happy?" Tori admitted. Jade's eyebrows rose in surprise. She wasn't expecting that.

"Why?" Jade inquired, truly puzzled. It was just her mom. Tori had nothing to worry about.

"Jade, your mom is almost an exact replica of you. If a bit more reserved in judgement and a lot nicer. It'll be like trying to impress you all over again," Tori explained. Jade didn't know whether she should take offense to the comparison or not.

"You don't have to impress her. You didn't have to impress me either. I thought you were amazing from the start. It was one of the reasons why I couldn't stand you, remember?" Jade answered.

"Well, I still want to make a good impression!" Tori argued. Jade sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Tor, just be you. Yes, it'll be the first time you meet her, but I doubt she'll be immune to your charms. If it worked on me, it'll work on her. You don't have anything to worry about," Jade assured her. Tori felt her cheeks warm at the compliment and allowed a small smile, but she still felt nervous.

"Okay, how about I meet her for Thanksgiving next year?" Tori bargained. Jade gave her an agitated glare.

"Please. I need some time to prepare," Tori pleaded.

"You need a whole year?" Jade asked. Tori nodded. Jade huffed out a sigh but eventually allowed it.

"All right. She'll probably be more amenable then anyway. She loves to cook, and she missed me this year, so having you there too will make it feel more like a family event," Jade reasoned. Tori brightened at the word 'family'. She would be a part of Jade's family. Because she was with Jade. The thought of Jade already seeing her as a fixture in her future made her heart swell with happiness. She stared at Jade with love in her eyes. Jade glanced at her, and instantly, her frown became a soft smile.

"Feeling fuzzy?" she teased. Tori only nodded.

"Come here," Jade said with open arms. Tori happily pressed up against her, hugging her close.

"Thank you," Tori mumbled into her shirt.

"No problem, Vega," Jade replied, dropping a kiss to her forehead. Tori's smile grew.

"She won't find out, if that's what you're really worried about," Jade muttered idly, resting her chin on Tori's head. Her hand ran up her arm slowly then traced the same path back down.

"You don't know that," Tori countered softly.

"I'll be safe, and you'll never have a reason to shift," Jade responded.

"It's unpredictable," Tori reminded her. Jade fell quiet a moment before pulling back.

"There's absolutely no way I can persuade you?" Jade asked, voice low in a last attempt to change her mind. Their eyes locked and Tori was highly aware of the way Jade was staring at her. However, she managed to break eye contact. Jade frowned, disappointed.

"Don't do that," she whined, untangling herself from Jade's arms. Jade laughed and let her go but took her by the hand once she was settled.

"I really thought that would work," she said.

"It almost did. Geez, maybe you could be a vampire," Tori replied. Jade smirked, amused at the thought.

"Go have fun with your mom. I'll be here, avoiding Trina. Just…keep in touch, okay? I worry when you aren't with me," Tori said, voice going from playful to somber. Jade leaned over and brushed back her hair, resting her hand on Tori's cheek.

"Then come with me," she tried one last time.

"Like you said, you'll be safe. Maybe have your mom meet up with you so that you go home together," Tori suggested, slipping out from under her hand. She kissed Jade's cheek then stood from the couch.

"I'm getting tired. Want to join me?" Tori offered, holding out a hand. Jade looked up at it and then took it with a defeated sigh. Tori pulled her to her feet. She let her hand go to turn everything off then headed for the hall. Ever since they shared a bed that first night it became habit since then. They took turns sleeping in each other's room, depending on where they ended up at the end of the day. The few times they happened to fall asleep separately one of them would move to the other's bed in the middle of the night, needing to be close to the other. Tori led the way into her room and climbed in bed. It had been a lazy day, so they were already dressed to sleep. Jade climbed in next to her and plopped on her side, her back to Tori. She heard prolonged rustling of cloth and then silence.

"Hey, Jade," Tori called gently, turning her around. Jade reluctantly let herself be rolled over. She waited in the dark for Tori to say something more, but instead, a warm hand snaked up her shirt, smoothing over her side. She was pulled closer to Tori, a strong thigh sliding between her legs. She gasped and Tori caught it with her mouth on hers. Her hands reached out for purchase and found bare skin. She froze, pulling away from the kiss.

"Tori," Jade breathed, her hand trailing up smooth skin. Tori sighed when Jade skirted her breast.

"Yes, Jade?" Tori husked in her ear, nipping it a moment later. Arousal shot straight down, and Tori seemed to know it because she pressed into Jade with urgency. Jade moaned at the feel of Tori against her own leg. She gave back and was rewarded with a guttural groan in her ear.

"I'm sorry I won't go with you to your mom's house. Can I make it up to you?" Tori whispered against her neck. Her tone was heavily laced with desire. Jade shivered at the hand trailing fingers down her stomach to brush under the waistband of her pants.

"Yes," she finally got out after a few deep breaths. Tori smirked, her hand coming back up to push at her shirt.

"Take this off," she ordered. She pulled away and Jade quickly removed it. Tori snatched it from her and tossed it, already pressing kisses down the valley of her chest, her hands on either breast. Jade bit her lip, back arching slightly. Their relationship had been steadily progressing, and physically, they started to touch each other more often. But their clothes usually stayed on. There was even a time when they got ahead of themselves and ended up dry humping. Tori had left wicked hickies down Jade's neck and chest that time. Despite that, they hadn't gone all the way yet.

So, they took their time with each other. They weren't in a rush. But this time, the moment felt different than it had before. The energy between them was hot and insistent. Charged and purposeful. They knew what they wanted. Tori dragged her hands down Jade's sides, pulling at her pants and panties when they got to her hips. Jade helped Tori remove them and then they were tossed off the bed too. Tori pulled Jade close, bare upper halves meeting and lips reconnecting. Tori deepened the kiss, her hands back at Jade's chest. She stopped when Jade grabbed at her shorts.

"This is supposed to be for you," Tori reminded her, nipping at her lip. Jade licked it, smiling.

"Yeah, and having you fully naked against me is as much for me as it is for you," she argued. Tori allowed a chuckle.

"All right," she conceded, letting Jade pull her shorts down over her hips. Tori took them the rest of the way off. This time, when their bodies met, they both sighed.

"Oh god, Tori," Jade panted, pulling at her hips. Tori knew what she wanted and rocked against her. Jade whimpered, burying her hand in Tori's hair to bring her into a kiss. Tori indulged her a few seconds then pulled back to explore her way down Jade's body with her mouth, teeth, and tongue. She enjoyed every flex of muscle and sharp intake of breath, every moan and whimper. When Jade was satisfied, Tori rolled off her and fell on her back panting. She was painfully turned on, her gut tight and center throbbing. Her legs slid against each other, and she groaned. Jade recovered quickly and shakily straddled Tori.

"You more than made it up to me," Jade husked. She kissed Tori hard and dragged her hand down her stomach.

"I won't last long," Tori warned her. Jade could already tell. She squirmed at every touch. Jade gave her what she wanted, and it didn't take long for Tori to find release. When she came down from her high, Jade leaned over her and kissed her chin softly then curled up next to her.

"I'll miss you, Tori," she told her. Tori only rubbed her back in response, having nothing to say that Jade didn't already know. They laid together, enjoying the afterglow until they fell into a restful sleep.

---

Tori was lonely without Jade. It was only a few days, but it felt like two weeks. There were times she almost thought her choice had been a mistake, but then she would find something to take her mind off missing Jade and she was fine. Yet the cycle kept repeating itself without an end in sight. She sighed and decided to get out of the house. She went grocery shopping and picked up any household supplies they needed. By the time she got home and put everything away, she felt a bit better. She continued to keep herself busy and spent the last night alone watching the sappiest romance movies she could find, knowing she couldn't watch them with Jade.

It was late by the time she went to bed. She let herself move on autopilot. She made sure everything was picked up and put away, checked that the door was locked, and turned the lights off. With a sigh she walked to her room, pausing in the hall to look back at Jade's room. She turned and pushed open the door. It moved with a small squeak. Tori stood in the doorway, staring into the dark space. It smelled like Jade, soft and comforting. She stepped inside and fell into the plush bed, hugging a pillow to her face. It was the next best thing if she couldn't have Jade there with her. In seconds, she was asleep.

It was the unusual sound of the door unlocking that woke her up. She jumped into consciousness on high alert, listening as the front door creaked open and shut slowly. As if someone didn't want to be heard. Jade didn't mention anything about coming home early, and if she did, she wouldn't be as careful and quiet. She would barge in, uncaring of how much noise she was making. Straight to the point without hesitation, as always. Then it wouldn't matter if she woke Tori up because she would always be there with a kiss and a story to tell. It was usually about someone who pissed her off. So, whoever just entered her home, it wasn't Jade.

Tori sat up and crouched at the end of the bed, noticing heavy footsteps traveling through the living room. She inhaled, breathing in a scent that definitely belonged to a stranger. Her eyes cut through the dark, clearing away any shadowy corner that could hide danger. Something fell, the sound sharp on the hardwood floor, and she growled low when a deep voice whispered a curse. An intruder. A threat. She could feel her body tense, metaphorical hackles raised. It wouldn't remain a phrase for long if she encountered the trespasser. She silently left the bed and reached the door, peeking out the narrow crack. He hadn't made it to the hall yet. She slipped out of the room and snuck forward on light feet.

"Oh, wow," a voice whispered. She leaned around the corner to see a man dressed in black lifting up Jade's laptop. The latest edition she saved up a long time for. He then spotted her beloved digital camera and picked that up too. Tori began to move from her hiding spot, determined to remain quiet until she apprehended the thief. He wouldn't even see her coming. She stalked closer as he moved toward the opposite side of the room, and then she pounced. Her arm came around to lock on his neck. He let out a surprised cry, but she cut it off when she began to squeeze. He dropped his loot to flail, trying to break free, but he was quickly running out of air.

"You picked the wrong house to steal from," Tori growled, tightening her hold. He gasped, gripping at her arm, and then a sharp pain blossomed in her side when his arm swung back. She reflexively let go and he jerked out of reach, leaving her to stumble back. He held a knife in his gloved hand, the blade glistening with blood. She held a hand to the wound at her side, trying hard to hold back the inevitable.

"Back off and I won't kill you," he threatened, raising the knife. Tori shuddered, every muscle in her body wired and ready.

"Leave now and I won't hurt you," she retorted, speaking around sharp teeth. Her voice wavered with the effort to hold back a deep growl from tainting her words and her posture started to bend under the whims of the shift. He scoffed, interpreting her response as weakness and fear. He scooped up the dropped camera and started backing away toward the door.

"I'm not leaving empty handed," he protested, knife still raised. He was at the door now and Tori had followed, still tense and on high alert.

"Yes, you are," she countered, finally advancing on him. The look in her eyes froze him in place, catching the light from the outside to highlight the golden gaze of a predator. He chucked the camera at her, and she dodged, flinching at the shattering crash behind her. She shoved him back hard against the door, sharp nails tearing at his clothes when she grabbed at his jacket. He panicked and struck three times to her stomach and side. He stared in terrified shock when there was no reaction. Instead, she grabbed his wrist and broke it, forcing him to drop the weapon. Her hand shook and then began to grow, fur splitting skin to race up her arm. His scream caught in his throat at the sight. She threw him aside and he hit the wall hard, creating a crack along the contact point. He was dazed but lucid enough to see the transformation. When it was over, death stared back at him. Tori lunged, and he scrambled to escape, but her fangs easily pierced his leg and tore. He choked on a scream and started kicking.

His boot caught her in the nose, and she let go, snarling. Tori shook her head and tried again, missing when he threw himself under her next lunge. He slid across the floor and struggled to stand. He sobbed as he fumbled with the door, finally getting it open just as Tori came back around. She roared and swiped, catching him on the arm. He almost fell again but managed to get the door shut between them. Tori collided with it, claws streaking the wood. She snarled angrily, her snout falling to the crack of the door to inhale the trespasser's scent. It was receding. He was already gone. She backed from the door, sniffing at the smears of blood on the ground. She stopped by the laptop and broken camera then stalked through the hall to her room where she paused. The haze of defensive rage started to clear, leaving her hunched over and whining.

The taste of blood sat heavy on her tongue. She licked it from her nose and sat down heavily. She whimpered, her ears flicking back. She pushed herself to her feet and wandered into the bathroom, climbing awkwardly into the tub. Her clawed hands scraped at the handle until water fell from the showerhead, and then she sat down. She tried to make herself change back, but her heart was still racing, and the adrenaline kept her from relaxing. She almost killed someone. What was worse, that she could have killed him or that he escaped? She was scared someone would somehow find out about her before Jade got home. What if they called the cops? What if she attacked them in fear of being caught? She whined again and rested her head on the edge of the tub. There was nothing she could do but wait out the rest of the night and hope Jade came home early the next morning.

---

Jade woke up bright and early, accepting a hearty breakfast from her mother before saying her goodbyes and heading home. She was excited that the time to return home had come. She missed her mother, and it was nice spending time with her again, but she couldn't wait to return to Tori. She was probably bored out of her mind and looking forward to her return too. She wondered what Tori had gotten up to in her absence during the long drive back. She was most likely up and actively looking for something to do. Her days off were rarely lazy, unlike Jade's days off. All she wanted to do was sit around and rest while Tori seemed to have never ending energy. She often made Jade get up and go on some adventure or other. Jade was rarely upset by it because as annoying as Tori could be about not settling, she was good about making it up to Jade afterward. A reward for complying that Jade could never resist. She wondered what Tori was up to now and whether or not she was even home. Most importantly, was she about to be dragged off somewhere as soon as she entered, or would Tori let her relax first?

Jade parked and left all her bags in the car, planning to get them later. She made her way to the door, expecting Tori's bright smile and welcoming hug. Her own smile started to wane at the stillness she encountered. Normally, she could hear Tori moving around, staying busy, but this time it was too quiet. Something was wrong. Jade hesitantly moved to unlock the door, but it was already unlocked. She frowned, worry knotting her stomach. Tori would have called if something was wrong. Unless she couldn't. But she was a shapeshifter. She couldn't have gotten hurt. Yet Jade's worry grew. She pushed open the door and watched it swing slowly. The first thing her eyes took in was the blood smeared across the living room. Her laptop was on the floor and Tori's camera was broken not too far from it. She shakily stepped inside and shut the door, the silence deafening. She stood in place a moment longer to steady herself then cleared her throat.

"Tori?" she called, her voice cracking. The sound of movement coming from the bathroom got her to start forward. She moved cautiously, reaching the ajar door. She pushed it open to reveal her wolf laying in the tub, the shower turned on and drenching her dark coat. Tori's eyes opened to rest on Jade, ears back. Her sad gaze quickly averted to the floor, and she grumbled a sigh. Jade rushed to turn off the water then knelt to run a hand over Tori's head.

"Are you hurt?" she asked. Tori huffed out a breath then moved to sit up. Jade caught sight of the stab wounds and jumped to her feet. Tori stopped her with a sharp bark. Jade halted in place and looked her in the eyes. Sadness and guilt stared back. Jade understood.

"You defended yourself," she reasoned, reaching out to hold under her jaw. Tori closed her eyes at her touch and rested her clawed hand on Jade's forearm. Jade remained there a moment, thoughts racing. Tori had to have caught a robber, but they got away. They had to have attacked her first to trigger the shift. Jade's gaze fell on the claw resting against her skin. She then looked up at the sad wolf. It was strange how something with such power could be so gentle, but that was exactly how Tori treated her when she pulled her closer. Jade returned to kneel at the tub, caught by surprise when Tori moved to lick her cheek. The action made her blush, causing her to pull back just as Tori started shifting. In seconds she was left tired and spent, fingers gripping at the edge of the tub.

"I didn't mean to lose control. I was going to knock him out, but when that didn't work, I tried to intimidate him. Scare him into leaving. I didn't want to hurt him if I didn't have to," Tori whispered hoarsely, gaze still averted.

"But he attacked you," Jade concluded. Tori nodded.

"There was only one outcome when he decided to fight," she muttered, her eyes flicking up to finally meet Jade's clear gaze.

"We'll get through this, okay? We'll figure something out," Jade promised, holding Tori's face in her hands, and touching their foreheads together. Tori took in a shaky breath and let it out slowly.

"Okay," she agreed, pulling back to nod. Jade offered a smile then helped her out of the tub. Together, they patched up her wounds then Jade made her lay down. They agreed not to call the police. They didn't want any attention and hoped the robber would be too afraid to say anything. And if he did, with some luck, he wouldn't be taken seriously. They might believe he was attacked by a dog, but nothing too out of the ordinary. They wouldn't find evidence to link Tori to the attack as any DNA gathered would come back canine. Tori wasn't entirely sure what the forensics team would find concerning any recovered hairs or saliva, but she was mostly certain that they wouldn't match her own.

She never had the theory tested before so that was their only worry. Jade took it upon herself to keep Tori from worrying too much. She couldn't relax for a few weeks after the incident. She stuck close to Jade's side and was always on guard. For attackers or for her own good, Jade wasn't sure. She tried to calm her, but it was impossible while they were out of the house. Only when they were safe at home, alone, was Jade able to properly focus on Tori's inconsolable mood. She held her close while the TV played in the background. Neither of them were watching it. Tori was lying on Jade's lap while Jade ran her fingers through Tori's hair. She let out a soft sigh and closed her eyes, trying to ignore the twist in her gut.

"I almost killed someone," Tori finally whispered, needing to say it aloud.

"It was defensive," Jade countered.

"Was it? I mean, I was scared at first, but then something came over me. I felt too calm, almost numb. I knew what I had to do, and I didn't question it. I caught him easily enough, and I'm sure I would have done nothing but knock him out, but then he attacked. The calm warped into something else I couldn't stop, and I retaliated. I wanted to kill him when I could have easily beat him up until he passed out, or stuck with the first plan, or anything other than tearing into him like a hunk of meat!" Tori ranted, suddenly sitting up and pushing away Jade's hands. She scooted to the end of the couch, hugging her legs to her chest. Jade frowned sadly and allowed Tori her space.

"The worst part is, I liked it. Knowing that I would win even if it meant he would die," Tori forced out, covering her face. Jade gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm afraid to be alone with it, Jade. What if it gets worse? What if it takes over? I could get in a stupid fight with someone on the street and tear him to shreds the next second. I can't trust myself," Tori confessed, holding back tears. Jade slowly moved closer, her hand running along Tori's back to pull her into a hug. Tori rested her head on Jade's shoulder, the tears winning.

"You won't hurt anyone, Tori. You aren't like that. This was our home. Of course you would feel threatened. But I don't think you would feel the same anywhere else. You won't attack someone randomly," Jade assured her.

"And if someone tries to hurt you?" Tori inquired, looking up at her. Jade brushed her cheek and tucked her brown locks behind her ear.

"I'm confident that we'll get through it," she replied. Tori knew that, but she wasn't so sure they would get through it without bloodshed.

"Besides, how often do you think we'll be mugged or held at gun point?" Jade continued, her voice lightening with levity.

"Don't jinx us. The last thing I need is for you to get into any more trouble than you have already," Tori grumbled, tucking her face in Jade's neck. She felt her chuckle and let out a tired sigh when Jade held her tighter.

---

Jade grumbled and rolled her eyes. All she wanted to do was go home, cuddle Tori, and watch whatever crappy reality TV show she had on. Instead, Andre wanted her to help him with a song he was working on. Out of everyone, Jade was the best choice to run lyrics with, since she was the writer of the group.

"Come on, Jade. Please? For old times' sake?"

Jade sat back in the seat of her car, vaguely listening to him beg through the speakers while she waited for the light to turn green.

"If I say yes, you have to promise it won't take any longer than an hour and you can't ask me for anything again for a week," she bargained, grudgingly accepting. He cheered.

"I promise."

"I'm serious, Dre. I don't want to have to spend all day on this like last time," she warned him.

"Of course, of course. Because you would rather be spending that time with Tori."

He was teasing her, but Jade didn't care. She did want that time spent with Tori and she didn't care what she had to do to get it.

"Hell yeah. So don't get in my way and we have a deal," she told him. He laughed.

"All right then. I'll head over now."

"I might be a little late. The traffic is terrible," she replied, finally rolling forward a few feet.

"No problem. I'll chill with Tori until you get there."

She was supposed to 'chill with Tori'. Instead, she was stuck in traffic and roped into helping Andre with his latest lyric trouble. She grunted an affirmative and he took it as farewell, saying his own before hanging up. She shook her head and gripped the steering wheel harder. All she could do was patiently wait until the road cleared. She put on music and tried not to think about it. As soon as she was free to escape down an alternate street, she took it, racing home. She sighed with relief when she reached the front door. Home sweet home.

With just a mild inconvenience. She moved to unlock the door and froze, déjà vu striking her. A second later, she heard a cry and the crash of something breaking. She grabbed the doorknob and turned, unsurprised that it was unlocked. Again. Jade burst in to see Andre taking shelter under their overturned couch. Tori stood over him, shifted and enraged. She growled low and crouched to stare at him. He whined and backed up, flinching when she swiped with her claws and tore apart the couch in an attempt to reach him. Jade threw the door shut behind her and ran forward.

"Stop!" she shouted. Tori instantly turned to her, ears drooping. Jade approached, unafraid. Andre tried to warn her, but she ignored him. She reached out to run her hand over Tori's head.

"You've got to stop greeting me this way," she mumbled quietly, scolding but affectionate. Tori's ear flicked. She whined and pushed against Jade's hand, a claw lifting to pull her closer by the waist. She chuckled and leaned in to touch her nose to Tori's, brushing back her ears.

"Relax," she soothed, pulling away. Tori reacted to the request by shifting into an actual wolf, shaking out her coat and circling Jade. She leaned against her and looked back at Andre, scrutinizing him.

"You can come out now," Jade told him.

"Nuh uh. Not happening," he refused.

"Andre, you caught her off guard. She didn't know it was you. Just get your ass out here and let me explain," Jade demanded. He sighed but eventually climbed out from his hiding place. Jade frowned when she spotted the cuts on his arm.

"I'll get you something for that," she said, turning to leave.

"No, I'm fine! It's just a scratch. Don't leave me alone," he pleaded, eyeing the calm wolf.

"You do know this is Tori, right?" Jade questioned. Andre stood shocked and unable to respond, his mouth hanging open.

"Like I said, let me explain," she repeated. He only nodded. Jade gestured for Tori to follow her into the bathroom where she gathered the first aid kit and Tori was able to fully calm down. Jade wordlessly brought her clothes and cleaned her hands of blood.

"You don't have to do that," Tori protested quietly, shame in her voice. Jade set aside the damp hand towel and gripped Tori's hands in her own. Soft, gentle, hands that had the capacity to become deadly claws. She looked up at Tori, seeing the wolf within her eyes which were slowly returning to their normal warm brown. Jade smiled and pulled Tori into her arms.

"I do and I always will. I love you, Tori. All of you. Never be ashamed to be yourself around me. I'll never stop being there for you no matter what happens," Jade whispered sincerely in her ear. She pressed a kiss to Tori's cheek and wiped away the tear that fell a second later.

"I love you too, Jade. Thank you," Tori rasped past the lump in her throat. She couldn't love Jade more than she did right then. Jade held her face in her hands and kissed her, leaving her feeling warm and secure.

"Take your time. Come out whenever you're ready. There's no rush," Jade said, stepping back. Tori caught her by the wrist and held on, clearly nervous.

"But what if he hates me? I can't face him after that," Tori replied, voice unsteady.

"He won't hate you. I'll explain. He'll understand. It's Andre," Jade comforted her. Tori was still worried, but she nodded.

Okay," she muttered, letting Jade go.

"All right. Take your time," Jade reminded her, grabbing the first aid kit, and turning to leave. She made her way to the living room and stopped to watch Andre trying to fix the couch. She smirked and crossed her arms.

"What are you doing, Harris?" she inquired. He jumped at the sudden sound of her voice but settled when he saw her.

"Sorry for the mess. I was just trying to fix it," he apologized.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. You came into this not knowing what to expect. You shouldn't have to clean up too," Jade said, walking over to help him turn over the furniture. Once it was the right way up, they fell onto it. It groaned pitifully under their weight and the torn side lost some cushion. Jade chuckled.

"You know, I hated this couch. My dad insisted on giving it to me, thinking he could help last minute, and I would forget about my terrible childhood," she remarked. Andre raised a brow.

"Yeah? Well, he clearly doesn't have good taste in color and style, but I have to admit it's pretty comfortable," he shared.

"That's the only reason I kept it. But now I can get rid of it, so thanks for that," Jade joked with a smile. It pulled one on Andre's face too before it faltered, and he shook his head.

"How are you so calm?" he questioned, turning to her.

"We had a problem with a mugger and a burglar. This isn't new to me," she responded evenly. He wanted to ask what happened, but he held his tongue.

"How long since it was?" he asked instead, curious.

"A few months ago," she answered. His eyes widened.

"And neither of you said anything?" he accused.

"It wasn't mine to tell and Tori was free to share it when she wanted to," Jade defended, a scowl creasing her brows. He raised his hands, placating, and Jade grabbed his wrist to pull him closer. She began cleaning and bandaging the cuts on his forearm.

"But how long has she…? I mean, has she always…?" he stammered. Jade only nodded.

"It's inherited," she replied simply, packing away the supplies. Andre admired the quality and efficiency of her work and wondered how often an injury occurred for her to be so good at it.

"How does that wor-" he began to ask, but Jade cut him off.

"You'll have to ask her for the details. It isn't my place," she reminded him, standing to return to the bathroom. Tori wasn't there. She was most likely in her room. Jade put away the kit then went to look for her. She found her curled up in Jade's bed instead of her own, newly dressed. Jade leaned on the doorway.

"He wants to know. He seems open to it," Tori observed, having heard the conversation. Jade nodded.

"I can get him off the topic and start working on the song if you aren't ready," she offered. Tori closed her eyes and swallowed nervously then stood up.

"No. I'll talk to him," she said, heading for the door. She stopped to hold Jade's hand, and together, they returned to the living room. Andre looked up from the floor when they entered. His eyes went to Tori who seemed to hunch under his gaze as if he was angry. He offered a smile of assurance and waved meekly.

"Hey. Sorry for startling you. I shouldn't have bust in like that," he apologized. Tori was caught between her guilt and feeling grateful that her friend understood the situation. It was clear that he didn't blame her for anything. But Tori could see that he was full of questions. Respect for her feelings was the only thing keeping him from bombarding her. Tori let go of Jade's hand to take a seat on the ruined couch at the opposite end from him while Jade left to make hot chocolate. It was a staple of Tori and Andre's conversations. She hoped it would help ease the tension. Tori eyed Andre's injury with a sad frown. He noticed and waved a hand.

"Don't worry about it, chica. You had every right to defend your home. It isn't like you haven't had someone break in before," he pointed out.

"I know, but I'm still sorry for hurting you," she replied, unable to accept his reasoning. He moved closer and pulled her into a side hug.

"You're my best friend. I know you'd never hurt me on purpose. This was my bad, okay?" he assured her again. She nodded reluctantly and he released her.

"Good. Now, I have a few questions 'cause I am really curious about a lot of stuff," he teased playfully, poking at her side. She lightly slapped away his hands, laughing. Just then, Jade returned carrying two mugs.

"Careful, Harris. She bites," she warned, smirking at Tori's inevitable blush.

"Jade," she growled under her breath.

"What?" Jade responded with an innocent smile. Tori glared and took the mug Jade offered. Andre quirked an amused brow but didn't ask. He only took his own mug.

"This smells like that Belgian cocoa your mom always had," he commented. Tori nodded after taking a sip.

"That's 'cause it is," she confirmed. Andre hummed happily and took a drink, sighing. Jade took a seat next to Tori and crossed her legs.

"You guys have an unhealthy relationship with that stuff," she commented.

"So do you and coffee," Andre spoke up.

"I'm not denying it," she countered easily.

"Me neither. This stuff is the best," Tori added, taking a long drink. Jade chuckled and leaned against her. Tori grinned. Andre watched their affectionate exchange with a smile of his own.

"You guys are too cute," he remarked. Jade shot him a glare for the comment, but Tori happily accepted it.

"I know," she replied, kissing away Jade's frown. Instantly, Jade was appeased.

"Anyway," she began, trying to steer the conversation back on track. She looked to Andre with a purposeful raise of her brow.

"Oh, right," he said with a nod, catching Tori's eye. She smiled to show that she was ready to answer any questions he had.

"So, you're…" he began hesitantly, fingers drumming on the mug between his hands.

"Not a werewolf. A shapeshifter," she was quick to respond.

"What's the difference?" he asked.

"One is made up and one is real," Tori replied, like it was obvious. Jade rolled her eyes.

"Werewolves are fictional monsters made for entertainment while a shapeshifter is a person born with the ability to take another form for defensive purposes only," Jade further explained.

"How so?" he inquired.

"It's a defense mechanism so it only really happens when I feel threatened. Or if someone I care about is threatened," Tori answered. Suddenly, Andre's eyes lit up.

"So, if Jade was in danger…" he started to say.

"Yeah," Jade said with a nod, cutting him off before he could get going. She really didn't want to be called cute again.

"Tori, how in the world have you avoided shifting in the past? Jade is always getting into trouble. Especially in high school. Remember when you would worry when she kept getting into fights," he rambled, heedless of Tori scrambling to stop him, waving her hands, and shaking her head. Jade smirked at her, and she smiled back sheepishly.

"Oh? Is that right?" Jade teased.

"Tori had a giant crush on you since day one," Andre shared, laughing.

"Yeah, but hearing that she was getting into trouble and worrying is different than being there and seeing it happen," Tori explained, fighting another blush.

"Besides, there wasn't a single person who didn't take me seriously when I threatened them, so I didn't really need the help," Jade amended.

"What about those thugs you ran into when we got stranded in that giant stupid cupcake?" Andre inquired.

"That was a close call. Luckily, I ran away before anything happened," Tori responded, sounding relieved.

"Hey, what about that creepy clown that tried to catch a ride with us?" Jade wondered next. Tori shuddered.

"Oh, that was a really close call. I think if he even touched me, I would have shifted right then and there," Tori recalled, thinking about the way her body tensed with adrenaline. They were lucky to have gotten away in time then too.

"Does that explain how you get along with dogs so well? Do you think they know what you are?" Andre asked.

"Excuse me, but that dog that dragged me all over the place when I was supposed to be singing the National Anthem was not getting along with me," Tori corrected. Clearly still sore about the subject.

"No? Are you sure he didn't think you guys were just playing?" Jade joked lightly.

"Ha, ha," Tori replied sarcastically. Jade and Andre laughed at her sour expression.

"All right. Enough about me. I'm going to get out of your hair now. You guys have work to do and I'm done being teased," Tori announced, standing up to collect Andre's mug to take it with her to the kitchen. Andre let her go, moving to find his bag and unpack what they would need. Jade got up to follow Tori. She caught her at the sink and wrapped her arms around her waist from behind, dropping a kiss on her jaw.

"You okay?" she checked, mumbling the words in her ear. Tori fought a shiver at the simple display of affection, knowing Jade meant well and was sincere.

"I'm fine. I actually feel better now that Andre knows. One less person to hide it from," Tori answered, starting to wash the mugs. Jade's grip on her tightened and she rested her chin on Tori's shoulder to watch her work.

"And the others?" she inquired curiously.

"I'll let them find out whenever the time comes. There's no need to tell them unless I really have to," she decided. Jade understood her hesitancy. It wasn't an easy subject to bring up and it was hard to provide proof that didn't involve danger. Not to mention the uncertainty of how they might take it. There was a possibility that they could be scared of her. Knowing Tori, she wouldn't blame them if they were, but it would break her heart if she lost a friend because of it.

"Tell you what. I'm going to give Andre an hour of my time and then I'm kicking him out. Then it'll just be me, you, and anything you wanna do," Jade offered, kissing her cheek, neck, and shoulder with every addition to the sentence. Tori set the mugs in the rack and dried her hands before turning in Jade's arms.

"Yeah?" she replied, smiling. Jade nodded, leaning close to brush noses with Tori who closed her eyes and pulled Jade closer. Their lips met, slow and sweet. Tori ran her hands through Jade's hair and Jade's hand gripped at her hip. The kiss lasted until Andre cleared his throat. Jade pulled away with a sigh and looked back at him.

"Is this part of the hour time limit? If so, I would like to spend it working," he asked, smiling at the couple.

"Yes, this is part of the time limit, and no, you can't get those minutes back," Jade answered, sliding out of Tori's hands to follow him back into the living room. Tori watched her go with an amused smile then left to relax in her room so that Jade wouldn't be distracted. As Jade said, she returned around an hour later. Andre went home happily, having made big progress on the song, and was satisfied enough to finish it on his own. Jade fell into bed next to Tori and sighed.

"He invited us to hang out with the gang this weekend," she mentioned, rolling on her side to face Tori who set aside her book to give Jade her attention.

"Awesome. Where?" she replied.

"Nozu of all places. It's supposed to be like a reunion of sorts since we haven't seen each other in a while," Jade complained.

"Yeah. It'll be just like old times. Do you think Mrs. Lee still owns it?" Tori wondered.

"I hope not," Jade commented, not looking forward to dealing with the rude woman.

"Did you tell him we would be there?" Tori questioned.

"No," Jade deadpanned.

"Jade," Tori disapproved with a frown.

"I'm just joking. I said we would," Jade amended, laughing when Tori huffed out a sigh and shook her head.

"You're such a gank," she told her with a playful shove. Jade caught her hands and held her down, leaning over her.

"But you love me," she pointed out, staring into Tori's eyes.

"I do," Tori admitted, leaning up to press a chaste kiss to Jade's lips. A smile pulled at them a moment later.

"Tori?" Jade began.

"Yeah?" Tori replied.

"When you do finally tell them you're a shapeshifter, can we convince them that I'm a vampire?" Jade requested. Tori burst out laughing and Jade joined her.

"That would be fun, wouldn't it?" she agreed.

"And easy," Jade remarked.

"For sure," Tori agreed. Their friends could be gullible at times, and Jade wasn't far off from being a vampire. It really wouldn't be a hard thing to convince them.

"So, yes?" Jade checked, excited at the prospect of a prank.

"Yes. And we'll try to keep it going as long as possible," Tori added. Jade chuckled and kissed her in gratitude.

"I love when you agree to be my partner in crime," she whispered against her lips.

"You'll always have me," Tori promised, kissing Jade in return. That was always what Tori appreciated about Jade. Since they met, she was treated like any other person. She competed with Jade and sometimes won. She acted weird when her senses got the better of her and Jade accepted it. She shifted and Jade still cared for her. And now, here they were in a relationship. They were pulling pranks together just like they always did and the fact that Tori wasn't the person Jade thought she was at first wasn't a detriment to their relationship at all. It was just another layer of unexpected complexity that Jade admired. For Jade it was easy to accept Tori for what she was because Tori had already done that for her. She was strange and Tori embraced it. Finally, she could see herself with someone for the long run, and it would only get more interesting from there.