Jade snorts and crosses her arms over her chest. She's irritated, really irritated. "If this is your attempt to win me back, you'll have to do better than this."
"I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression" Beck speaks quietly. He tries to reach out and touch Jade to comfort her but it doesn't go well. Jade isn't in the mood to be touched.
"Don't touch me" she exclaims with force. At the crestfallen look on Beck's face, she rolls her eyes. "Don't look at me like that. You lost your chance to comfort me."
Beck sighs and runs his hands through his hair. "Our relationship has been over for months but neither of us could admit it. It isn't anyone's fault. Sometimes love just changes."
"Is it so wrong for me to want you?" Jade questions in the voice that Beck knows means she's trying hard not to cry. Especially not in front of him.
Beck tries to be sympathetic. "No. Of course, it's not but we fight so much and I don't want to be your boyfriend if all we're going to do is fight all the time."
Jade wipes a tear from her cheek quickly. She hopes Beck doesn't see it. He doesn't deserve her tears. She uses all of the strength she has left to stop the tears from welling in her eyes and she uses her acting techniques to tap into her 'I don't care about anything' facade. "Whatever. I don't care. You're breaking up with me and that's fine. That just gives me the freedom to replace you and find someone much better."
Jade storms off and ignores Beck calling her name. She thought this time they were doing better. She thought they were moving forward and tackling their problems. Based on the conversation that led to her getting dumped, she knows Beck didn't think so.
She can't believe she gave four years to him and that's how he wants to end things. They said they would try to make time to talk about things if they weren't working for either party. It makes her feel like Beck didn't try his best and he's just giving up because he's finally gotten tired of her. She admits to some of her faults in their relationship but her actions weren't the only reason to blame for their relationship not surviving.
Jade gets very drunk that night. She gets so drunk she can't drive herself back home and she needs to call someone to pick her up. She calls Cat the only person she can ever really depend on for anything.
Cat doesn't ask any questions besides if Jade wants to stay at her house for the night to sober up and avoid getting in trouble at home. She agrees and the rest of the car ride is silent until they get to Cat's room. Cat tries hard to keep her questions to herself but Jade can feel her nervous energy. She grants Cat permission to ask her questions and once Jade has told her everything about the fight that led to Beck deciding to end their relationship Cat does something Jade normally wouldn't allow.
Cat holds Jade in her arms and Jade finally lets the dam break. She cries hard and it's ugly and Jade doesn't feel any better after it. The lack of water in her system makes me feel exhausted and she knows she'll have a nasty hangover in the morning if she doesn't rehydrate before falling asleep.
Cat grabs the clothes Jade leaves at her house from her clothes and lays them out on the bed. Cat kisses Jade on the forehead and goes downstairs to grab Jade two bottles of water from the fridge downstairs and some Advil. When Cat comes back with everything, Jade drinks about half the first water bottle and takes some Tylenol. Cat watches Jade and makes sure she's fallen asleep before going to sleep herself.
Two months later:
Tori doesn't mean to see it. In fact, she really wishes she hadn't seen it but alas, her wish falls upon deaf ears. Tori is walking the halls of Hollywood Arts looking for Andre when she hears sounds.
Naturally, Tori is curious as to where they're coming from and she follows the sound. The cause of the noises doesn't click in her mind until she opens the doors to the janitor's closet and she sees two girls making out. One is completely shirtless and the other is pretty close to joining her in that state.
She's about to leave as quickly as she entered but something breaks the girls apart and they look over toward the interruption. Tori looks at the shirtless girl, she makes a note that she's never seen her before. When she brings her eyes over to the second girl and sees the familiar face of Jade West, she can't believe her eyes.
She panics and bolts out the door as fast as her feet can carry her. When Tori reaches the part of the school she knows is always empty, she takes a deep breath. When Tori has finally calmed her racing heart, she heads back to the lunch table.
When she gets back, however, Jade and Andre are both there making her question how long Jade has been at the table for and where the heck Andre was. He was the whole reason she got up and left the table in the first place.
When she sits down, she notices she's sitting directly across from Jade. It's not really a big deal to anyone other than her. Mostly because until before today she hadn't seen Jade half without a shirt. The thought makes her blush. Jade is attractive and she's known that since she met her. The thought of Jade making out with a girl in a closet does something to her that she'd rather not acknowledge right now.
After escaping her wild thoughts, she looks up and she finds that Jade is staring at her. Tori blushes and Jade smirks. Quickly, Tori breaks eye contact with Jade and eyes her salad like it's the most interesting thing in the world.
While Tori is looking into her salad and moving her fork around Cat voices a question that makes Tori nervous. "Tori, where did you run off to? You were gone an awfully long time."
Tori chuckles nervously. "I went to look for Andre," she replies while she fiddles with her fingers under the table.
Robbie chimes in, "we know that part but Andre came back like, five minutes after you left. So where were you for the rest of the time you were gone?"
Tori looks directly at Jade once the question has been asked and immediately regrets it. Jade has the biggest smirk on her face and Tori finds herself rubbing her slightly sweaty hands on her jeans.
"I uh," she stutters before Jade chimes in. "We were watching a tv show."
That seems to grab Beck's attention. "What kind of show?" He questions while popping a fry into his mouth and staring back and forth between the two girls.
Jade looks at Beck then back at Tori. "Oh, you know. The kind with romance and secrets. Twists and turns nobody saw coming. A little bit of nudity too."
If Tori was blushing before she imagines she's as red as a tomato now. In a way, that's exactly the show that Tori saw. Except her and Jade weren't watching it together and it wasn't a tv show. It was real life.
Andre nods his head and looks around at everyone at the table. "That's pretty cool. Who would have thought that you two could be in a room together without anyone being injured?" Everyone laughs and agrees with the statement.
Cat smiles and inquires again, "did you enjoy the show Tori?" Blissfully unaware, just like everyone else at the table, about what happened between Tori and Jade not too long ago.
Tori, who has finally stopped messing around with her salad, is in the middle of taking a drink of her water. Which she nearly chokes on after she hears said question. She knows Cat has no idea of the implication she's just made but it still takes Tori a minute to resume functioning properly.
Jade is clearly having too much fun with this because she repeats the same question Cat just asked in what Tori would swear is a sultry tone. "Yeah, did you enjoy the show Tori?"
The use of her first name makes Tori gasp at Jade. Cat might not understand the effect her question had on her when she asked it but Jade certainly does. Tori can see it in the way Jade smiles and her blue eyes glisten with mischief.
Tori is about to reply to her friends when the bell to signal lunch is over rings and frees her of having to embarrass herself even more. She's had enough of that for today. She thought Jade would be the one embarrassed because Jade was the one who had been walked in on and interrupted while in an unusual position.
Tori doesn't know why it happens but she spends the next two classes thinking about Jade and that girl she caught in the janitor's closet. Tori isn't a prude; she's had sex before but something about Jade in that position makes her want to try it out.
She's never really had these kinds of thoughts about a girl before, none that she's noticed at least. She wonders if it's because of Jade's involvement that makes it hard to stop thinking about. She's always thought that Jade had pretty lips. Occasionally, she's wondered how soft they might be. They look really soft and that unknown girl knows if they're as soft as they look.
It's crazy, the whole situation. Jade isn't even very fond of her most of the time but she kind of wants to ask this girl what kissing Jade feels like. She knows she can't do that but she still toys with the idea of doing it because she's such a curious person and she can't help that she finds Jade so intriguing.
Jade is the exact opposite of her. She's tough on the outside but she has a softer, more vulnerable side that Tori can't help but melt for when it comes out. Tori wouldn't admit it to anyone other than herself but she kind of likes the bad girl energy that Jade seems to exude.
Jade's a badass and Tori admires that Jade's never afraid to say what she thinks. Tori isn't like that. She doesn't like to hurt anyone's feelings even if it's at her own expense. Sometimes she wishes she could be braver. She wishes she could speak her mind without fear of what anyone else would say or think of her. She wishes she could be like Jade in that way.
On her way to her last class, she's lost in her head and accidentally crashes right into someone else. She groans when she falls to the floor from the impact of colliding into another human being. When she grabs her bag and stands up, she's met with none other than Jade.
Jade's eyebrows are furrowed in mild concern until recognition dawns on her and her concern fades away. It's replaced with a smirk and Tori groans again. She knows what that face means and she knows that it won't be good for her.
Jade crosses her arms over her chest and Tori wishes this day was over already. Her wish never comes true. "Gosh Vega. If I didn't know any better, I'd think walking in on me at lunch wasn't enough of a show. You got a look and you just had to get a feel too, huh?"
Tori rolls her eyes at Jade. "You're so insufferable," Tori exclaims as she makes her way to their shared class. Jade laughs and follows closely behind Tori. Sikowitz's class is going to be hell, Tori just knows it will be.
Tori and Jade walk in silence the rest of the way to class. Once Tori gets to Sikowitz's class they walk in and instantly her and Jade both head to their normal seats and wait the few minutes it takes for their teacher to get there and get the class started.
Sikowitz's class starts off good and after about 15 minutes into the class Tori starts to relax and forget about her worries.
It's a mistake though because once the lesson is done, Sikowitz calls her and Jade up to the stage to perform a 5-minute scene based on what he just taught them. The worst part is the characters the two of them are supposed to play.
Sikowitz tells them their characters are two females who recently got married after being denied that right for a very long time. The couple is very in love and kept trying despite the obstacles in their way and now they're married looking forward to the next chapter in their lives.
Tori really shouldn't be surprised that Jade and her are yet again playing a married couple but this time neither of them has to play the man while the other one plays the woman. This time each of them is playing a character that shares the same gender as them.
Which in itself is new for both Jade and Tori since the last two previous times they've played a married couple it was a straight couple and not a same sex couple. Tori is glad not to be playing a guy because the fake moustache she wore for the last play they did was a little bit itchy.
However, now that they're playing a newlywed gay couple whose very in love, it puts Tori even further out of her comfort zone then playing a man did for some reason. Tori knows that this is just an acting exercise and she's playing a character that's married to the character Jade is playing but, in her mind, it's still very much her and Jade. As a married couple.
Tori tries her best not to freak out because she knows if she starts to freak out, she won't be able to focus on the scene at all. She wants to do her best in this acting exercise. She wants to do her best in every acting exercise actually but that's beside the point.
She wants to do well in this one even more because Jade has been messing with her today and she wants to show her that she won't let it get to her anymore. She knows it's just for fun but it would be even more fun if Tori did it right back to Jade.
Jade and Tori get up onto the stage and wait for Sikowitz's cue to start. When they get the signal to start Tori wastes no time in getting the scene going.
Tori puts a big smile on her face and tries to look at Jade as loving as she can. She hasn't really had too much practice with giving looks of passion or anything yet so she hopes she's showing the audience and Jade the right emotions on her face. "I'm so happy the government finally let us get married. I never thought we'd be able to get married but now that we are, I can't believe it."
Jade's face transforms immediately right in front of Tori's eyes. Jade goes from hands crossed over her chest to open and the slight frown she was wearing is now replaced with a very large and infectious smile. She's beautiful when she smiles if Tori does say so herself.
Jade's voice is clear and full of happiness when she replies to Tori. "It's taken so long to get here and now we've overcome that obstacle we can enjoy what the rest of our lives will look like. Nobody can decide our future for us anymore. We can do anything we want."
"Speaking of the future and doing anything we want," Tori speaks as her character. Jade raises a pierced eyebrow at her in question so Tori elaborates. "We're free to do anything we want and I know we never talked about when it would happen but I was thinking maybe now is a good time."
Jade looks at her weirdly. It sort of gives Tori the impression that Jade is trying to figure out what she means without actually asking her what she's talking about.
Jade must decide she has no idea what Tori is talking about and can't waste any time if she doesn't want to stall the scene. "What do you mean baby?" Jade coos sweetly.
Hearing Jade call her baby nearly throws Tori off her game. It feels weird to hear a pet name like that directed at her but she has to admit she kind of likes it. Tori takes a few seconds and finds the words she needs to reply to Jade's inquiry. "Well, I was thinking maybe we could start branching out. Start our family tree."
Jade's eyes widen in the slightest. You wouldn't be able to tell from far away but Tori is within two feet of Jade and she noticed the reaction. Jade uses her surprise at Tori's request to her advantage. Jade projects her shock into the character she's playing. "You want a baby? Right now?"
Tori pouts slightly and looks about ready to plead. "I know it's really soon considering we got married only a few months ago but this is something we've always wanted. Please Amanda, will you do this with me?"
Jade looks like she's about ready to give in. "Is this something you really want?" Jade exclaims softly. "Is this something you've thought all the way through?"
Tori answers quickly. "Yes. I've thought about this for so long over the years. I've wanted to have kids with you since high school. Getting married has made the… urge stronger. I really want this with you. I know it sounds crazy, but just dream with me here for a minute."
Jade takes it as a challenge. "Alright. I say, if we have a girl, we name her Jade. It's a beautiful name, don't you think?"
Tori resists the urge to roll her eyes. "It is a beautiful name Amanda, but what about Ashley or Taylor? Oh! What about Ella?"
Jade makes a face of disgust at Tori's suggestions of baby names. "I like Jade."
"What if I want something else?" Tori questions with a frown.
Jade puts her hand to her chin and strokes it. She thinks about it for a moment. "If you don't like Jade then you can choose a name for a boy."
Tori sighs heavily. "Baby, sometimes you need to compromise."
Jade smiles. "Oh, but I am. I'll name the girl and you can name the boy."
Tori crosses her arms over her chest but quickly drops them. She's slightly irritated with Jade but tries to hide most of it for the sake of the characters they're supposed to be playing. "Are you serious?"
"Yes" Jade answers simply.
Tori thinks about it for a few beats. "If it means we can have a baby, then fine. You can name our daughter and I'll name our son."
"Okay," Jade agrees. "We can start figuring out all the steps it takes for having a baby."
Tori squeals in excitement. "Oh my gosh, I'm so happy you said yes. For a second there, I wasn't sure if you were going to say yes or not."
Jade frowns, "I know I don't really show it the way you do but this is something I want too. Maybe I didn't want it so soon but I can be ready if you are."
Tori grabs Jade's hand and Jade tries hard not to pull away from the contact. Tori rubs her thumb back and forth over Jade's hand and looks into her eyes. "You're so sweet. That's why I married you."
Jade smirks, "you married me because I'm sweet? And not for my good looks?" Jade laughs gently. "Doubtful," she adds.
Tori shakes her head. "You're beautiful, that's true. Anyone with eyes could see that. Your looks, especially your eyes drew me in all those years ago but what keeps me is the way you hold yourself. The way you challenge and push me. With you, I'm always on my game. That's why I want to carry your baby."
Jade almost chokes on her spit. "You want to do what?"
Tori looks down shyly then looks up and meets Jade's now very confused eyes with a newfound confidence. "I want the baby to be yours and I want to be the one carrying it. I want the baby to have your courage, your strength, your wit, your determination, your beauty. I want our baby to have your eyes. I want our baby to have the same eyes that I fell in love with when I first met you. Eyes that were full of both fire and ice. Every time I see them, I'm reminded of how much I love you."
Jade softens at the strangely personal description. Jade knows somewhere in the back of her mind that this isn't Tori talking about some character Jade is playing. Jade knows deep down that Tori is talking about her but she can't even begin to process that because she's in front of the whole class right now. For once Tori has left Jade speechless. It's weird that she can't find anything to say in response. She just looks at Tori for a while.
"Wow" Jade exclaims quietly. "I didn't know you saw me that way."
As Tori looks into Jade's ocean blue eyes, she feels the words spilling easily from her lips. "Of course, I do. I always have."
Tori can't help but remember the first time she met Jade. Their relationship is so different than when they first met. Tori remembers all the times she spent with Jade. She gets caught up on the times Jade came to her when she was hurt. She showed Tori of all people her vulnerable side. Tori remembers all the good memories with Jade and she steps closer into Jade's space.
"Okay," Jade answers with a small smile. "Let's do it then."
Tori is caught up in her thoughts and Jade is still reeling from what Tori said before that neither of them really notices when Tori puts her hand on Jade's cheek and starts to bring her lips within centimeters of Jade's lips. Just when it looks like Tori is about to close the gap between them, Sikowitz yells "end scene."
The class starts to clap for Jade and Tori and the sound breaks both girls out of their own world. Tori pulls her hand back and Jade takes a step away and looks at the class. The bell ends less than a minute later and Sikowitz dismisses the class for the day.
Jade stands on the stage with Tori and when Tori doesn't make a move to her seat to grab her things, Jade uses that as her chance. She stays back with Tori until everyone else has left the classroom for the day. Jade turns toward Tori and touches her upper arm just slightly above her elbow to get her attention.
When Tori is looking back at her, Jade says what she stayed back to say to Tori in private. "After a performance like that I have to say, you're not as bad of an actress as I thought you were. Good job Vega. You almost had me convinced that we were those characters."
Jade doesn't wait for a reply before pulling her arm away and walking off stage to her seat. "Gee, thanks" Tori replies meekly as Jade grabs her bag from off the floor. Jade turns back around to face Tori and sends a smirk in her direction then walks out the door.
Tori is thankful that Jade didn't seem to realize that her usual tone was absent. Tori is feeling a lot of things right now and she doesn't even know where to begin when it comes to processing them.