No One's Perspective-

She groaned angrily, dark eyes flicking towards her phone's screeching alarm. Pressing down on the screen, she flicked her gaze around, furrowing her brows. 'Not my room...' her thoughts managed before she growled once again. The day's events prior had dawned on her. 'Had it really been just yesterday?' thoughts hammered again as she rose from the bed. While the sheets were quite nice - more comfortable than her cheaper ones - Tori had crashed just as she hit the bed, vaguely recalling neon numbers blinking '11:57' once the argument had ceased.

Picking up her pear-phone, the Vega glanced down. At the very least - as she concluded - it wasn't all that late, she only slept through her alarm for roughly five minutes. Heaving a sigh she trudged through the room, making her way out before little feet bounded towards her excitedly from the hall. His small tongue hung out of his mouth, tail wagging excessively. "Hey little guy!" she chuckled, scratching between his ears, "I'll feed you once I take a quick shower, how 'bout that?"

The small rat-dog - since Tori still refused to call him 'Rat' - almost tripped over himself, following the half-Latina as she pulled a towel from the small closet just in front of the bathroom. Once bare feet met the cool tile, her right hand clutched her stomach, a long growl emitting from it. "I am hungry aren't I?" she whined softly, setting the towel down.

"Let's see here," she turned around, shutting the door as the blonde dog leapt inside, "Wait, no, dude," she growled tersely, "You're not watching me bathe... Did Jade take you out to-" Her words halted as the dog danced around anxiously, tail wagging. "Is she even here?" With her gut telling her so, she grumbled tiredly, shuffling back out the door. "Come on buddy, let's take you out.." She clambered down the stairs and through the kitchen, eventually getting towards the backyard. with the small dog at her heel, she glanced down, biting her lip.

In one swoop she picked up the small animal with a hand, holding him to her chest as she strode out. Tori ventured out to the yard, eyes roaming about. Alike the front it was severely overgrown, especially around the back. When the manor was gardened well, she imagined different types of plants and flowers to bloom with the different sections. "Alright, so we haven't gotten you a collar or anything to have you under our- my or Jade's name so...you'll go to the bathroom in here," the half-Latina grimaced, setting him down in a large, round pot - perhaps used for a tree sapling at one point - as his restroom. The small dog sniffed about, dark eyes gliding towards her. She merely shrugged, turning away briefly as he did his thing.

Once done, the rat-dog let out a short 'yip,' announcing his accomplishment. Tori smiled in response, lifting the small dog from the plant pot before heading back inside, shutting the door behind her. "Wait," she halted in her steps, glancing back down wearily, "You're going to need to go with me...God Sikowitz." Glancing at the microwave, she growled at the time. '6:21' wasn't a bad time by a long shot, however the activities she figured was needed to be done would take a good chunk of time.

"You stay here," she ordered softly, her body shuffling through the different cupboards and fridge. Nothing was found to be edible for the dog, only condiments and a few different drinks scattered about. "Does she even buy food?" Tori sighed, furrowing her brows. Marching towards the stairs a few minutes later - the rat-dog following closely behind - steps stopped as dark eyes went towards the window. Giving a short breath, she swore loudly, "God damn it Jade!" her foot stomped on the ground, "The hell did you already leave fo- fuck."

Sucking on her thumb, the singer glared at the jagged end of the coffee table right beside her, some of the wood splinters sticking out. She shook her head irritably, rubbing her eyes before darting up the stairs. Within seconds she found herself in the bathroom, the small dog sitting comfortably on the toilet as it flushed, the half-Latina staring in the mirror. In her eyes, she looked absolutely dreadful. Fitting with the scowl was her messy locks and baggy eyes.

She merely grunted, shuffling towards the shower. With a small grimace, Tori glanced down at the dog whose coal eyes blinked at her curiously. "Uh...turn around," she whispered. As expected, he didn't. "Rat- God no," she pressed her fingers on her forehead, "Buddy, turn around..." With events repeating themselves, she grudgingly gave in, stripping down as the shower rained over the bottom of the tub.

Once stepping in, most of the stress left, leaving her with pure, dull tiredness. Her body went through the usual habits, even with the sudden pauses to make observations on what was available to her. She lathered her hair in what seemed to smell best - some random beach, exotic scent which she didn't care to know - letting everything just flow off her shoulders. She could make this a good day, as she had concluded with a firm nod.

Her steps clicked further than hers, pale eyes lingering behind with interest. "Vega... What are you doing?" she drawled quietly, folding her arms as she leaned against her car. A grin spread across the singer's face as a studded brow went up, a small quirk with her own lips. "Hey, come on...we need to get home. It's passed midnight."

"Like Sikowitz promised," Tori growled, glancing across the orange-lit parking lot to find Sinjin and Burt striding towards their car. "Will you drop me off?"

"Or have you walk all that way? No. Not happening, just get in," Jade shook her head, slipping in. Nodding in appreciation, the half-Latina followed suit, finding herself buckled in moments later. Silence stretched amongst them, a firm grip on the steering wheel. Pale eyes flashed towards the mirror, the Vega immediately tearing her gaze away from it, cheeks warming. "Okay, I know when people are staring," came a smooth rasp, "Tell me, why are you doing just that?"

"Just what?"

"Staring," the thespian rolled her eyes.

With a curve of her lips, gaze falling along the road, Tori chuckled with her game. "Me? When?"

"Yes you," the other snapped tersely, "Just now."

"What?"

"Now, Vega. Tell me why you were staring otherwise..." The threat dissipated in the air, Tori looking over with curiosity. As a red light bathed the two, Jade turned her head, eyes unblinking. "Tell me."

"What?"

"Oh-my-God," pale hands tightened around the wheel, a quick laugh wheezing from between her lips. "Tell me!"

"Okay, okay," Tori swatted the other's shoulder as the light blinked green; she honestly didn't know why the hell the lights were changing, it was strange seeing as it was in the middle of the night. "I was wondering what conditioner you use..."

Jade hummed quietly, her expression unamused. "So you were staring because you wanted to know what I use for my hair," she groaned, "Why?"

"Dunno," Tori shrugged, "It looks nice."

"Fishing for compliments?" the goth snorted menacingly, turning the corner.

"No," the Vega muttered truthfully, "Just giving them." The other flicked a quick gaze, shaking her head softly.

She sighed pitifully, grumbling with, "Are you that deprived of a date that you took this one seriously? We didn't even know it was one until Sikowitz dumped us."

"I can give compliments!" the half-Latina scowled hotly, a few chuckles ringing through the car. He lips softened as Jade glanced over, white flashing while pale eyes glimmered for a mere second, pulling away to go back to the road.

Dark eyes blinked, furrowed brows slanted along her forehead as her gaze rested on the conditioner bottle in the corner. Dove rang through her thoughts, bringing a dull chill down her spine. With most of the soap from her hair, Tori shook her head, shutting off the water. Without the water pounding against her, her ears throbbed with her heart thumping quickly. She rolled her eyes, growling quietly before stepping out, the rat-dog curled in a little ball by the door.

Out one door and in the next, she found herself sitting on the bed in dry clothes, somewhat-dry hair resting on one shoulder. The singer glared at the opposite wall, grimacing quickly. 'It wouldn't do any good to dwell or remind you of it,' her thoughts hammered, eyes shifting towards the small dog bag. "I'll have to get you a collar and a leash, alright?" she mumbled at the coal eyes, "Come on...we have about an hour 'till school so we should have time."

He strides were sluggish all the way down, the small dog in the bag which hung from her arm. The youngest Vega glowered down the hall leading to the opposite side of the house where - surely - Jade's room was. With her reasoning, it had to have been, after all, how could anybody piss off Jade on the other side? To answer her own question, Tori scoffed, her mind still lagging from the restless sleep. "Come on budders," she yawns slowly, "Let's go to the store and get food..."

The only answer that came was a small 'yip.'

. . .

Her hands were finally free from any sort of restraint of the small companion. It wasn't that she hated it - because she has grown to adore it - though time was needed to not have some cheap fabric scratching against her palms. With a quick swing the blinking locker was thrown open, the half-Latina not even batting an eye as it rattled, dizzy from hitting the wall so hard. "Whoa muchacha," came a friendly voice behind her, "You alright? You've been in a funk all day."

The teen turned, giving a gentle smile at the musician who glanced back curiously. "Yeah, I'm- I'm fine...it's just this whole thing with Jade," Tori brushed off, slipping another book into her locker.

"Well...you've still been in a funk. I mean, living in the same house for a while and sharing a dog will do somethin'," he started stepping forward cautiously, "But you look kinda...dead."

"Oh thanks for that," she grinned falsely.

Andre rolled his eyes, folding his arms. "Alright, sure. You look like you didn't sleep. Is Jade's house that bad?"

"No, it's actually a really nice house," she nodded, closing her locker once all books needed for the next set of classes were in, "But we stayed up for a long time and I couldn't go to sleep."

"Up for how long doing what?"

"I don't know, midnight?" she shrugged, "And, uh...arguing actually." The dark boy gawked, jaw unhinged while the half-Latina sighed. "Don't start," she warned wearily, "It won't change anything...I swear she's like a damn brick wall."

Pursing his lips, Andre followed his best friend as she ducked into the crowd for lunch, fingers along his chin in thought. "Maybe it'll be good," he mumbled, "I mean, some things just, kinda, go bad before they go good, you know?"

"Well with Jade and I-" she swerved to the left of a trombone "-we started off bad, then kind of good-" her footsteps whirled about a group of incoherent girls, all glancing down at their phones "-and then worse, and then good, and then fine, and then really good-" Andre skipped passed an opening door, cursing as Tori continued to mark down all the rolling hills and bumps in their 'friendship' or whatever it was. "And then it was really bad and-"

"Okay, I get it... So you had to take off a bunch of Band-Aids," he groaned, the wind nearly knocked out of him for just walking through the busiest hall in school in under a minute, "So what? This may be good."

Dark eyes blinked at him, her brows stitched together. "I didn't even get to when she died her hair black!"

"Please don't," he whined quickly. After exhaling briefly, their steps still going through the school randomly, the musician said, "Look, that's just how you two are right? And besides, I was asking more about you staring at her all of history than anything...you did say you were tired right?"

"I wasn't staring," Tori murmured grudgingly.

He rolled his eyes with a small shake of his head. "Right," he drew out, "Tori, honestly, you were giving Jade a run for her money."

"What?" the singer snapped around, eyes wide, "What do you mean?"

"Uh...she stares at you. A lot."

"No she doesn't," Tori mumbled; she's never seen her anyways.

The boy shrugged, breathing in the fresh air - as fresh as Los Angeles' air supply can be - of the Asphalt Café. "She doesn't do it when everybody's looking. I only notice because I sit behind her in history."

"Was she today?"

"No," he shook his head, "More like sleeping." When the half-Latina scoffed sourly, Andre frowned. "What?"

Tori shook her head, raising a hand before answering, "Well, if she was so tired, she shouldn't have left so early. I woke up and she wasn't there and I had to take care of the dog myself."

"So she left you with Rat-"

"Not his name."

"-and she's still not helping? Jeez, you are in a little pickle then..." She merely nodded in agreement, stepping up towards the line bustling with hungry souls waiting to have their fill. Within a few minutes, both Andre and Tori joined the table with hot plastic containers in their hands, a burrito and pizza respectively. Jade tossed her head with a groan, Beck rolling his eyes as the half-Latina raised a brow, settling down with her bag. "Anyway," Andre murmured, giving a quick nod towards the Canadian, "I'll be right back with my food."

Without so much of a word, the musician then tore towards the truck, his mind on the last sub sandwich available. "Wait!" Beck furrowed his brows, glancing at Tori who'd already wolfed down half of her pizza, "That's all yours?"

"I'm hungry," Jade grunted sourly, pale eyes on the burrito.

"Do you want some?" the Vega snapped, earning a firm nod as Beck blinked, his question going unanswered. A quick toss later, the goth jerked back having bits of the bean sauce in the burrito in her hair. Canines flashed as she snarled, Tori spitting, "Should have thought of that before leaving me alone to take care of the dog!"

"The little rat was fine, right?" she groaned, rolling her eyes, "Not too hard to take care of!"

"Uh...girls?"

"But I didn't have any damn food to feed him with! This is my dinner, lunch and breakfast Jade!" the singer scoffed, "And you just took half of my burrito and I know you went down to I-Hop and scarfed down a pleasant pancake!"

The actor flicked his gaze between the two seething teens, both shooting daggers at each other. "Hey...girls, come on...you're gonna make Cat cry," he mumbled, halting the debate with "French toast" and "gank" hanging in the air. Two pairs of narrow eyes landed on the shaking ventriloquist and redhead with their foods in their hands, looming hesitantly over the table.

The thespian sighed, gripping the half of the burrito in her firm grasp, a hot bean trailing down her thumb. With pale eyes resting murderously on searing dark ones, she growled, "Beck. Get another coffee."

"But that's your third one toda-"

"Give me another coffee. Twice the size as I normally do. Four sugars," Jade barked, Beck pursing his lips. Deciding to not go against her, he briefly nodded, standing from the table before heading for the hot drink. Cautiously, the other three - Andre joining slowly - sat down, feeling as if waters leveled to their necks, about to thrash about at any moment. Though, after a silence settled down, they soon came to realize - as both girls yawned - no fight was left in them. Each took a generous bite from their individual meals, eyes surveying while the other two practically swallowed theirs' whole.

And as their so-called plates were emptied, both stood toe to toe, eyeing each other competitively. Andre narrowed his eyes as their expressions changed, Tori's growing more fierce while Jade's more defensive. 'Please don't tell me their freaking reading each other's minds...' his thoughts hammered.

"Get the dog from Sikowitz, it's your turn to take care of it," the half-Latina seethed.

"No, I'm not taking care of the little rat," Jade scowled.

"Get-the-dog-from-Sikowitz," Tori snarled, even Andre shivering from the amount of temporary loath laced into it. "I swear Jade, you'll wish you'll have more than a couple of scissors on you," eyes wondered along Jade's boots and sides, lingering over her chest before switching to widening, pale eyes, "once I'm done. Get the dog. Not saying it again."

Pursing her lips, Jade snapped, "I'm only getting the dog because I want to." With a smug smirk the singer turned around, hand snatching the large cup of coffee from the unsuspecting Beck's hands, strolling away, head back as the scorching liquid ran down her throat. Air had barely managed to pass the thespians lips as she gawked, the truth of how, unbelievably furious - or as she would put it, fucking pissed - Tori was. "Get me another coffee," she pleaded through a rasp, Beck nodding slowly before walking back towards the line.

. . .

"And..." dark eyes blinked groggily, her body swaying with the imbalance of her feet. "And now what do you want to do with your-" The line was interrupted with a yawn, the papers in her hand gliding up to cover her mouth.

"Why can't you just get the damn line right?" came a growl which earned a quick glare. "What?" Jade spat hotly.

Tori bitterly snickered, crossing her arms coolly. "I don't run on coffee like you do, Jade; I'm tired, that's what," she replied firmly.

"You took my fucking coffee!" Jade snarled, a loose strand of hair falling over her forehead, eyes blazing. Tori chewed on her lip asbesntmindedly, watching as Jade brushed it away, glaring at the director.

He strode onto the stage, running his hand through his natural red hair, fedora in his hands. "Girls, no cursing Jade, I told you nearly ten minutes ago, and Tori...come on, you got the line before," he sighed wearily. "Sikowitz! We need a talk," he growled, twisting around to find the hippie teacher giggling, the small dog at his lap. "Sikowitz!"

Blue eyes widened towards the three, the man nodding. "Yep, yep!" he chuckled, setting the dog down, "Be free my little elf!" The girls blinked, thoroughly confused as the rat-elf-dog skittered around the chairs, running through its small obstacle course with a pink tongue hanging out. The goth glanced at the half-Latina who shrugged, mouthing 'I don't know.' Hopping up on the stage, Sikowitz folded his arms, leaning over towards Clark as he situated his hat back on his head. "So what?"

"They aren't bonding!"

"Did you really think they would?" the teacher shook his head. "Why would they? I told them to move in with each other on a day they thought they would have a night to themselves! And a dog!" he reasoned, the girls gazing at him with wide eyes, unable to actually believe he didn't drink as much coconut milk that day. "It will take time. You need to calm down for your blood pressure."

"I-do-not-have-high-blood-pressure!" Mr. Mason suddenly fumed, stomping erratically. Shaking his head, he rested his ceasing glower at the girls. "You two get out of here," he jerked his head towards the double doors, "There's no use if there isn't any effort put into it." Hesitantly the two jumped off the stage, picking up their bags before glancing around for the small, forced companion.

"Little doggo!" Tori sang, the little feet still racing around, "Come on bud, we can go home."

Rolling her eyes, Jade stepped forward, barking, "Rat! Get your tiny ass over here!" A small head popped from behind a chair, dark eyes gleaming happily. With a short, little bark it jogged towards the two girls, rubbing against Tori while licking Jade's boots. "Okay, " she moved towards the side, "Stay away..." Instead, the small rat-dog pressed its paws against her leg, standing on its hinds. "No...not going to pet you," the goth crossed her arms, the half-Latina glancing down at it.

"Where's his collar?" she furrowed her brows, distinctly recalling purchasing one that very morning.

"Oh!" Sikowitz jumped, staggering about, "Here it is. I took it off to scratch his 'ittle neck." With the small, blue collar in her grasp, Tori slipped it around the dog's head, settling it on his neck. Soon after, the small dog was put back into his little bag, his little head poking out excitedly, waiting for the next adventure of the day. The singer merely growled quietly as the goth made her way out of the door, abruptly leaving the two to themselves.

'Again,' she reminded herself.

. . .

A still silence in a room is something that Tori had always wanted to avoid. Though, with everything about that day, she knew she couldn't. Dark eyes glared towards the other side of the wall, thoughts hammering back and forth between going home - which wasn't an option - and the last time Sikowitz had attempted to band them together. In her opinion, it had gone great, really. They pulled off the performance afterwards with ease and then...

She furrowed her brows, vaguely recalling how they had argued for five minutes straight the Monday after. Folding her arms, the Vega scowled, glancing down at the small dog who was curled along the pillow, his stomach full of his "doggie-dinner." With a slow buzz flowing through her body, the half-Latina stood from the bed, striding rather groggily - despite her long nap - towards the door. It was then she realized just how dark the house was, the pale light outside barely looming through the curtains about.

"God," she hissed, hopping with a foot in her hands, glaring at the edge of the wall. Shaking her head, the singer strode down the stairs, shutting her eyes once she recalled the first thing said to her once she opened the door. "'Beck's going to be here,'" she mimicked, scoffing as she stepped down the stairs, "'Okay Jade, that's fine.' I'll fucking love that while you do whatever with your boyfriend and I have to take care of the dam- no..." A long exhale drew from her lips, eyes shifting towards the family room.

In her mind, at least they weren't in there. Though, with a quick glare, she sneered towards the living room on the other side of the front door, both in the same chair, lips locking together. Rolling her eyes, Tori padded her way towards the kitchen, brows furrowed at the thought of his hands clawing at her back. 'Quit thinking about it...they're dating,' she thought quietly, searching through the fridge. A small victory exploded in her skull once she found that there was actual food stocked in two of the shelves. Food which wasn't a product of her own money.

With a poor excuse of a box of potato salad in her hands - the contents appearing to be something manufactured - she walked towards the stairs, a fork between her teeth. Steps halted hers, dark eyes narrowing as Beck disappeared through a door she had assumed to lead to Jade's room, the other following. The thespian, however, did linger, hand on the door and pale eyes meeting Tori's. Jade nearly shrunk from underneath the half-Latina's gaze, eyes darting towards the ground immediately, not able to look at the tired, fuming and hurt gaze.

Quickly, she swept towards her room, the singer darting up the stairs angrily. The nap - despite her hopes - hadn't shaken any of the tension from that day.

Even so, she couldn't help but not slam the bedroom door behind her, her worries of a loose hinge getting the better of her. Settling down on the bed, she continuously shoveled the salad in her mouth, the taste not registering. Abruptly she grunted, standing up before slamming the half-eaten box on the bedside table, the dog jerking from its nap. "Sorry," she apologized sincerely, watching the small animal go back to its curled position. Glancing out the window, she grumbled, sliding herself underneath the covers. "Stop thinking about her...she won't ever-" her words halted right at the tip of her tongue, her mouth practically gagging. Though she couldn't say it, she wouldn't.

Rubbing the soft ear of the dog, she gave a soft smile. "Goodnight Rat," she mumbled closing her eyes before wrenching them open. She groaned, closing her eyes before cursing, "Damn it Jade..."

Okay, just a little thing... The picture for this story is the dog that I walked around while volunteering... I called it 'Rat' because it was so small. I swear my cat could eat it.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed!

:)