Another chapter coming atcha! Enjoy!
Tori's P.O.V
"Just got home…where were you today?"
I sigh as Alex peeks over my shoulder.
"My, my, looks like she does care" He chuckles lightly as he reads the text.
"But, what if it's not like that at all?" I question. "What if we just got assigned as partners again?" I flashback to Walter and Nancy, and shiver at the feelings they bring back.
I can see Alex looking perplexed out of the corner of my eye. I wonder what he is thinking, and I must have wondered aloud because he is looking at me now. I sigh and begin to type, might as well gather more evidence.
"Places, why do you care?" I hit send.
"Ooo, good one" Alex laughs, as I playfully punch his arm.
"Shut up, I'm trying to dig for evidence" I mumble, putting on a pout that slowly melts to a smile.
My phone buzzes again, add quick responses to the evidence pile.
"Sikowitz assigned us to another play, we're partners again."
Of course, I was right. I sigh and Alex starts to laugh again as he reads it.
"What?" I ask, confused.
"My god, she's really using that one? I used that on Kristoff to get him over here the first time" He states, while laughing.
"Wait, so what does it mean? I mean it's probable that we actually have a project, ya know?" I say matter-o-factly.
"Tori, really? You're really going to just buy into that? It's obviously an excuse" He mutters.
"Good point, I guess….but at the same time, it's Jade, Alex. She hates me." I murmur, my voice catching a slight sad tinge.
"Tori, if that girl hated you, she wouldn't be messaging you right now, partners or not" He sighed as he glanced at his own phone.
I guess he's right though, if she really didn't care like she let on, the conversation we've been having wouldn't have been happening. I keep this in mind as I think of what to type next.
"Tori, do you have any other evidence that Jade might not hate you, maybe even feel the same for you?" Alex asks me gently.
I think back to the times I've told Jade to do something, and she listens, while she ignores everyone else. I think back to all the times she came to me after she and Beck fought, or broke up. I think back to the looks she's given me, or the times she let me hug her. Dang, maybe she does like me….but what if I'm wrong, what if that's just friendliness. I guess I was thinking out loud again, because I hear Alex start to say:
"That is definitely not just friendliness, Tori." My cheeks go red after I realize that I had spoken all the thoughts I just went over.
"W-what makes you say that?" I stutter, trying to get my bearings straight.
Alex throws his arm around my shoulders. "Tori, did I ever tell you that Kristoff and I had almost the same relationship as you and Jade?" I shake my head, eyes wide in disbelief.
"What? Holy shit you never told me that? So who was who then?" I ask, curious.
"This will really surprise you, but I was like Jade. I was very snappy, kinda mean, walls up, ya know?" I nod silently, waiting for him to go on.
"Well, I did some of the same things Jade has done for you, or to you, but to Kristoff. What's funny is that he was like you, he helped me all the time, and was just an overall wonderful friend. Well one day, he confronted me on my behavior. Do you wanna know what he said?" Alex asks, already knowing the answer. I nod anyways.
"He flat out asked: Do you have something against me, or is it something more. Like a crush? I went beet red from that, he had figured it out. I mean sure, he was always really good at reading people, but I thought I had always been so low-key." Alex chuckles, while I stare at him, eyes wide.
"What, how the hell would he know though? That doesn't make sense….." I stop to really give it some thought. Maybe it does, maybe all of Jade's cold-heartedness was just a reaction to the fear she feels. Or the crush she feels for me. I mean it would make sense, she's never dated anyone other than Beck in high school, and a girl is a huge leap.
"Huh, I guess maybe it does. Tell me though, why did you treat him like that?" I ask, wondering if he will state what I have just thought about.
"I guess I was just afraid of rejection, or afraid of how head-over-heels I had become over him" I nod because it makes sense to me now. I'm glad I have Alex in all of this, otherwise I'd be too confused to even attempt to figure it all out.
"Well? What are you going to say to her?" He asks, cocking his head at me.
"I don't know, what should I say? " I ask because I really have no clue.
"Hmm, try asking if that's really why she messaged you" Again, I'm so thankful for this boy.
"Good idea, thanks Alex" I murmur, giving him a hug.
"Jade, is that really why you texted me? I mean why not just wait until I get back to let me know?"
I hit send, smiling a little about how brave I've been about this whole thing. I wonder if Jade is going to give me a straight answer. Hell, I wonder if she is even telling the truth about this whole assignment thing. I'm so absorbed in my thoughts I barely notice that Alex isn't by my side anymore. I shrug it off, however, because I have to think to really make sure I don't muck up. I wonder if Jade is thinking about me, if she misses me like I miss her. Yeah, sure she can be pretty mean to me, but underneath it all, she's a completely different person. My phone buzzing pulls me out of my thoughts.
New message from Jade
"Okay Vega, you got me. I'm actually pretty worried okay? I know you ran away, but I have no clue where. I don't like it; it doesn't feel right with you gone. God that's cheesy, but Its' true okay?"
My hand flies to my mouth as tears jump into my eyes. I was expecting a straight forward answer, sure, but nothing that sweet. Wow, Jade is worried about me? Wait….how does she know I ran away? I was sure nobody really knew that, so how does she?