Yoooo. Ch. 3 as promised. Enjoy.

Tori's P.O.V.

A few days after I arrived here, Alex had to go back to work. Gotta pay the bills somehow, ya know. God, I really messed up this time. After all was said and done in a spur of the moment fashion, I sat down and really gave some thought to what I've done. I realized that it was a stupid decision, and now I'm stuck in Seattle with a new number, and a look I didn't really want.

I fucked up, there I said it, and it doesn't feel any better. I've contemplated running away before, but never this far, never like this. Sure, I guess I thought that if I was gone it would be better….for everyone else. How could I be so naive? I should've thought about myself as well as them, I probably could've worked something out, that wasn't this. Don't get me wrong, I love Alex, but I only thought so far ahead, what the hell was I even thinking? How long am I going to be staying with him, how am I going to pursue my goals of being an actress now? What the hell was going through my mind?

I had to take a break from my inner dialogue after I realized that I was having a panic attack. This really isn't good at all. Dang it Tori, you really messed up big this time. I know my parents' fights were getting too overwhelming to stick around, and sure my friends weren't really helping, but I could've thought of something better than this. This is bad only because I threw away a lot, but there is still time to fix this!

Okay Tori, new plan. I'm going to just lay low here for a little while, and then go back. I'll just say I took a trip to clear my head, yeah that works.

I wonder if anyone even notices that I'm gone. I'm sure Jade is ecstatic, er…as ecstatic as Jade can get. Wait….why am I thinking about what Jade thinks about all this? Ugh, there is no use in even trying to trick myself. I've had feelings for Jade for a long time now, ever since I accidentally split coffee on Beck, to be exact.

I just wish she was friendlier towards me; maybe it would make me feel less hopeless about the whole thing. I know she has a soft side though, I've seen it once or twice. She cares somewhere deep down….I think. With a shake of my head, I try to direct my thoughts back onto the real problem here. What am I going to do while I'm "clearing my head"?

I sigh and try to figure something out. I really should have stayed where I was and just stuck it out, that would've been the right thing to do. I really don't know what came over me, maybe it was the urge for adventure, or maybe it was just the urge for change. I needed a break from the constant flow that is my life, but this was a little too much. I take out a sketch book and start to doodle aimlessly, if only I had just thought this all through. Sure, I'd be pretty miserable for a while, but at least I wouldn't be sitting in Seattle realizing all the things I screwed up.

As I continue to doodle, Alex walks through the door.

"Hey there Tor!" He says enthusiastically. My feelings, however, don't match his one bit.

"Hey Alex" I murmur, as I sketch him. He notices there is something off right away, I can tell.

"What's up Tori" He says softly. He is my best friend after all.

I sigh "Alex, I think I fucked up…" I mutter.

"I was waiting for you to say that" He chuckled, as I stare at him wide eyed.

"What? What the hell Alex….how?" I say in disbelief.

"Look Tori, I know you, and you know that I know you. All of this really isn't like you, sure running a few houses down, but skipping town to a new state. That's a different story" I stare at him as he continues.

"I know that you're having a hard time okay, it's not hard to see right now. But this won't solve your problems at all, you know that right?" I sigh, he is right. I guess that's what my brain has been saying all along.

"I know Alex….but everything back home is so hectic and it's hard to even get up in the morning sometimes. On top of that my parents are always fighting and they barely even notice me and Trin anymore."

"Everything is so screwed up…and then there is this stupid crush I just can't get rid of…." Shit. I was babbling. Well better now than never I guess.

"Oooo what's this? A crush? Do tell!" Alex grins as I jokingly face-palm.

"Okay, so there's this girl…..she's uh…she's really amazing when it comes down to it. But she's straight….or I think she is at least" I mumble. There is no denying the moments between us that have made me doubt her sexuality.

"Tori, spit it out, I know there is a lot you're not telling me" Alex laughs. I make a face at him.

"Ugh fine, okay her name is Jade. She has this bad girl reputation going on, but underneath she is vulnerable, and sweet, and kind….she just doesn't show it very often…at all. Anyway, she's amazing like I said, she can sing, she can act, she can write, anything, seriously you name it. It drives me crazy though, there have been times where I've seen what's underneath….and maybe a flash of something else, and then it's all gone again. Packed back away, she drives me mad Alex." I say frustrated.

"Look Tori, if you feel like there is a mutual attraction there….I'm going to say that in this case, there probably is. She will come around eventually, and if she cares enough to show you the other face, then you obviously mean something to her." He murmurs softly. I guess he's right though, after all he took a lot of psychology classes, and he is my best friend. So I trust his judgment.

"But, we need to discuss how long you will be staying here. I'm not trying to push you out, but I think it would be for the best." He's right. See what I meant when I said he was like my brother?

"No, No, you're right. I was thinking a week or two? I just need some time to relax and not have to worry about all the shit back home…" I mutter, and he nods.

"That is completely fine Tori, I'm just glad you realized before it was too late. This isn't the way to live, as fun as it may seem" He chuckles sadly, and I nod.

"Thank you Alex, I appreciate this" I say as I pull him into a hug. Just then, my phone goes off.

"What the…." I stop when I read the text on the screen.

New message from Jade

I stare at my phone for what seems like forever, when Alex pipes up. He's suddenly over my shoulder.

"Well? Don't leave the girl hanging" He chuckles as I swat at him.

I do as he says and open the Message.

"Hey Vega"

My hands are shaking and there are almost tears in my eyes. Someone cares that I'm gone, and that someone just happens to be her. Jade. Jade cares.

My voice is shaky and uneven "What…..she….she cares" I get out with a shaky breath, I can barely register Alex laughing as he says:

"Well, aren't you going to answer it? It's not a very hard thing to do….is it?" He laughs again and I grin and smack him.

"Shut up" I mutter as I type.

"Hey Jade…." I leave the text hanging as I try to gather what to say. Alex seems to pick up on this and attempts to nudge me in the right direction.

"Okay, good start. Now, try…" He trails off as he can see that I am typing again.

I decide to go with the nonchalant approach to see what she says.

"Hey Jade...what's up?" I slowly hit send.