After The Curtains Closed
The second the curtains closed, Tori ran.
She ran and ran, sprinting through the empty hallways, thankful no one was there to witness her red face and panicked expression.
She ran until she burst through the front doors of Hollywood Arts, the night air cooling her off a bit.
She put her hands on her knees, panting, until she leaned her back against the outside wall and slid down slowly until she was sitting.
"Oh my god." She put her hand to her thumping heart as she caught her breath. "I kissed Jade."
It wasn't just that she had kissed Jade West. It was that she kissed Jade West and she liked it. A lot. That kiss felt better than any kiss she had shared before. It was warm, it was intimate, it was- completely reciprocated.
And Tori had no idea what to do with the information that Jade had kissed her back.
————
Andre and Beck stared at Jade as the curtains closed. Jade just stood there, motionless.
"So, that wasn't a scripted kiss." Andre pointed out. "That was a nice addition. Made the play seem more heartfelt. Good job."
Jade for once did not have a scathing reply. She simply nodded, not making eye contact with either boy.
Tori had just kissed her - unscripted. And worse, Jade had kissed her back.
It just seemed natural to kiss her back, and when she did, it felt - Jade hated to admit this - but it felt good. She did not know what to do with the fact that she enjoyed kissing Tori Vega.
Sikowitz broke her train of thought. "Well! I am so glad to see my little scheme worked out as planned. You and Tori played husband and wife very believably! The audience ate you two right up!" He clapped his hands together. "Where's Tori?"
Jade snapped back to reality. Where was Tori? She had been here when the curtains closed.
"Probably off to get her wig off, she said it was uncomfortable earlier." Beck offered.
"Well, when you see her again, give her my praise." Sikowitz smiled, turning to Jade. "Your date must have gone very well last night." He winked.
Jade looked at him for a second, and then trudged away backstage not bothering with a response.
Sikowitz turned to Beck. "I don't think I have ever seen her at a loss for a scathing retort."
"Yeah, neither have I." Beck looked at his ex-girlfriend, slightly bewildered.
—————
Tori had finally begun to catch her breath outside. She reached up to remove her wig and wig cap from her head, releasing her brown curls from their polyester prison.
"Tori?"
Tori jumped, hitting her head against the wall. "Ouch." She groaned, rubbing the back of her head.
"Sorry." Andre came to sit beside her. "You alright?"
"Yeah, fine." Tori lied.
"Uh huh. Don't try to lie to me. I know you too well. Come on, what's up?" Andre prodded, bumping his shoulder against hers.
Tori chuckled. "You're going to laugh."
"When have I ever laughed at you?"
Tori shrugged. "There's a first time for everything."
"Cross my heart I won't laugh at you. Unless you laugh first." Andre smiled.
Tori huffed, deflating. "Alright." Tori began. "I wasn't supposed to kiss Jade in there, at the end of the play."
"Didn't you two come up with that together?" Andre looked at her, confused.
"No, I just did it. And now, Jade is going to kill me." Tori cried, bringing her knees up to her chest and putting her head down.
"Jade's not going to kill you." Andre comforted her. "You two stole the show! She'll love all the praise she'll get from Sikowitz in class tomorrow."
Tori brought her head up from her knees and instead leaned it back against the brick wall behind them.
"Trust me Tori, Jade will not be mad at-"
"I liked it." Tori blurted out.
"Huh?" Andre tried to figure out what Tori was referring to.
"The kiss. I enjoyed it." Tori admitted.
"Oh." Andre looked out at the night sky. "Oh!" The realization of what Tori was admitting to him finally hitting him.
"Yeah." Tori sighed, closing her eyes.
"So, are you having like, a gay panic right now?" Andre prodded.
Tori raised an eyebrow at him.
"I mean, are you like questioning your sexuality or-"
"No. I already knew I'm bi." Tori explained.
"Oh. Good to know." Andre nodded.
"Sorry, It's not that I purposely didn't tell you- it never exactly came up and, well now I feel like I'm springing this all on you." Tori rambled.
"No, no, I'm just- absorbing the information." He looked thoughtful.
The two sat in silence for a few minutes as Andre collected his thoughts.
"So-" Andre finally began. "You're bisexual, and you have a crush on Jade."
Tori held her breath, then answered. "Yes."
Andre nodded. "Does this mean I am going to have to use your Jade costume on you?"
Tori burst out laughing, Andre joining in with her.
"I'm screwed. Royally screwed." Tori sighed.
"Not necessarily." Andre shrugged.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean- this isn't the same situation I was in, where Jade and Beck were still together. I mean Jade is free to date whoever she wants, including you. Although I don't know if she's interested in girls or-"
"She's bi too." Tori cut in.
"Oh." Andre looked a bit surprised. "How do you know-"
"I found out just last night. But, it doesn't even matter because Jade would never date me. She doesn't even like me. She may actually hate me more than anyone." Tori reasoned.
"Well, you know what they say." Andre offered. "There's a thin line between love and hate."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that hate and love are both very intense feelings, and they can easily be confused in people's minds. So maybe Jade has very strong feelings towards you, but can't distinguish between love and hate, and so she chooses to express hate because it's easier."
"That sounds- like a bunch of chiz." Tori frowned.
Andre shrugged. "I don't know, I read it somewhere. But I guess what I am trying to say is, maybe you should ask Jade how she feels before assuming."
"But what about Beck?" Tori argued.
"They've been broken up now for months. And actually, I think you dating Jade would help Beck be able to date other girls too, since Jade would be too involved with you to care about who Beck is seeing."
Tori thought about that for a minute. Then shook her head violently. "Ugh! No, I can't just- I can't!" She stood up quickly. "I'm just- I'm going home."
"You can't drive, and your parents aren't here." Andre argued.
"I need the walk." Tori shot back, briskly walking away as Andre shook his head behind her.
—————
"Hey." Beck called as he came up behind Jade.
Jade looked up from her makeup table, where she was removing the pins from her wig. "Hey."
Beck pulled up a chair beside her. "So. That was some kiss."
Beck could have sworn he saw Jade's cheeks turn just a shade pinker. She didn't respond.
"Wasn't scripted." Beck continued.
"Nope." Jade affirmed.
"So, did you two discuss it before hand, or did you just get swept up in playing husband and wife."
"We didn't discuss it. It just- happened." Jade explained.
"Hmm." Beck nodded. "Seemed pretty natural-"
"Would you shut up about the stupid kiss!" Jade huffed.
"Defensive! Sorry." Beck smiled. "I was just making observations. You two would make a cute couple, you know, without the wigs."
Beck definitely saw Jade blush this time.
"What's it to you? We are broken up, it's none of your concern who I date." Jade scoffed.
"So you two are dating?"
"No!" Jade shot out quickly. "We just went out last night because Sikowitz forced us to."
"So you didn't have any fun?" Beck smiled devilishly.
"Not an ounce."
"Hmm. Because Sinjin said-"
"Sinjin is a filthy liar!" Jade shouted.
Beck raised his hands in defeat.
"You know, I'd be okay if you went out with Tori."
"Like I care what you're okay with."
"I just want you to be happy, Jade. You're still one of my best friends, even if you're not my girlfriend anymore."
Jade remained silent.
"I think Tori would be good for you." Beck continued.
"Will you please shut up about it." Jade groaned.
"I mean it. She's kind-hearted, sweet, intelligent, and not to mention she's really pretty."
"Why don't you just date her then, if she's so great?" Jade grumbled.
"Because I can tell you like her." Beck answered smoothly. "And I can tell she likes you."
Jade paused a moment in taking out her pins, but quickly resumed.
"Plus, I think she makes you nicer." Beck laughed.
"Oh shut up." Jade punched his shoulder.
"Just telling the truth." Beck smiled. "You should talk to her." Beck stood up and began walking away, but before he did, he turned and smirked at Jade. "You should tell her how much you enjoyed that kiss."
Before a blonde wig hit his head, Beck ran out the stage door.
