June 13th, 2018
Hope you enjoy!
:)
No One's Perspective-
Her room was as cold as ever, dark as ever and still as ever. Jade sluggishly got around, feeding Pancakes who still rested in his cage. With a jacket over her shoulders and some jeans, Jade began to stride up the stairs. With each step, however, she desperately wished she'd taken longer in her room. Instead of five minutes, she should've taken ten. Though, Jade figured if she'd taken ten, it would've been twenty that was preferred. Sighing, she still shuffled through the house, more eager to get her coffee.
Jade halted at the edge of the dining room, finding Tori at the table, eating her cereal.
She crept around the corner, the cupboard open before the coffee maker began to grumble. Jade glanced behind her, anxiety sheepishly gnawing at her gut. Tori lifted her gaze from the table, briefly giving Jade a look. She stood from her seat only seconds thereafter, her bowl almost jammed into the dishwasher. It wasn't until she started stalking away when Jade barked - urgently - "Wait!"
Tori halted before spinning around. "What?"
As Jade blinked at the tired, hard stare, she felt herself shrink. "I fucking hate you."
"I...left my car at school."
"So? You have Beck," she snapped, stepping towards the corner.
Jade rolled her eyes. "I'm asking you, okay?" She stepped forward with a hasty stride.
Tori sighed, turning around once a firm hand clutched her wrist. "Why?" She jerked her wrist from Jade's grip.
"Because you're right here!"
"Or because Beck wouldn't be able to?" There was no answer as she folded her arms. "Thought so."
As she stormed up the stairs, Jade barked, "So are you or not?"
"I don't care!" Tori retorted.
As her steps grew more distant down the hall, Jade gave a weary breath. Even asking for a simple ride was difficult - not that she had expected otherwise. Though, her answer wasn't exactly a no. Apparently it had been a yes instead, setting Jade in the passenger seat minutes later, Tori's glare hard on the road. She shifted uncomfortably, the weight of her bag on her lap heavier than it should. Perhaps the air was too dense in the car. It would explain the lack of breathing - and the tightness of her chest.
Rat quietly yipped from the back of the car, panting towards the window and passing pedestrians.
A couple of turns down, the car rolled to a halt at a red light. Both watched as cars halted to their sides, waiting for the moment of green. Tori's fingers tapped against the wheel and Jade leaned into her palm. It turned green. They weren't going anywhere. Tori snarled to herself before snapping, "Fucking move!" There was an angry horn, the car in front scurrying away.
Jade frowned at the pulsing vein at the half-Latina's temple. "Are you alright?" She didn't even have to think about it. Though at Tori's turned sour expression, she wished she did.
"Out of all the people in the world," she spat, "why the hell do you care?"
"Maybe because I don't want to get hit by a car today!"
"So?"
Jade groaned, gritting her teeth. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she asked, near hysterically; Jade didn't realize just how much tension was in the car before it latched onto their words. The car turned into the school's parking lot. "Vega, answer me!"
The car hurled to a halt within a parking space. The engine was cut off before dark eyes slid to pale. "What's wrong with me?" Tori scoffed, "How about you look in the mirror?"
Sputtering in agitation, Jade stormed out of the car after Tori left with a harsh slam. Another loud close of a door was heard before she retorted, "You're the one who's acting like a royal bitch!" Those in the parking lot around them slowed, cautiously darting their gazes between the two feuding girls. Tori stopped in her tracks, whipping around with a wild look in her eyes. It clashed horribly with the dark rings underneath them.
"Learned from the best, hmm?" Her false smile dropped before she snaked off, leaving Jade dumfounded at the spot. Once again, she felt a horrible sting. Her eyes began to burn and throat clotted. She coughed, resuming her strides towards the double doors. Once inside, the commotion in the room was too close to be ignored. Tori stood with a slated expression across her features, Sikowitz before her.
"Look, it's a light punishment when taking into account you skipped two days! And cussing out another student, with that. Today, for lunch you meet me after my class, alright?"
She worked her jaw, murmuring a quiet, "Okay." As the man left, jogging across the hall, Tori locked her stare with Jade. For a brief moment, all tension from the car surfaced, leaving their eyes to harden. Jade was the first to turn away, circling around towards her locker. She didn't mind it when she closed her scissor-stabbed door, the half-Latina was nowhere to be seen. Jade slumped, relaxing her shoulders before allowing the weary, down-casted expression to take hold.
"Whoa, you okay there?"
Jade turned around, unable to give any sort of smile. She forgot - actually forgot - about him.
"Not right now," she muttered, brushing passed him. Beck was left confused, only to scratch his head and sigh.
"Well...okay then."
. . .
Tiny paws continued to pad over Cat's lap, the girl giggling. Her hands stroked his neck once he settled down, allowing her to write more on her paper; Cat did, however, make an effort to avoid one of his ears. Tori remained sullen, scrawling across her page to complete the assignment before lunch came. Then again, she figured that detention would allow time to do homework. Cat, beside her, furrowed her brows as she dotted her last period. She glanced towards Jade - who'd finished minutes earlier - with a curious gaze.
"Tori?" she asked with a cheery voice. The half-Latina only grunted. Cat scowled, tapping her fingers against the desk. There had to be a question that would bring her out of her work. "What would happen if the moon made itself a cheese factory? Would that be cannibalism?"
Tori paused, arching a brow before grumbling, "Uh...I doubt that the moon is made of cheese." She was quick to dive back to her paper.
"What makes Mars Bars? Do the people from NASA make Snickers on Mars and then come back with different candy?"
"No Cat -" Tori didn't even hesitate "- Hershey makes them and they are two different candies. NASA also doesn't have time to make little chocolates."
After asking Tori many ridiculous questions (though Cat had always wanted the answers to them), she huffed, blowing a lock of red hair from her face. "What would happen if gummy bears were put out into space with gummy worms? Would they have a war? Or would they be great friends?"
"What?" Tori pulled away from her work, only needing a few more sentences left. "What are you-"
"What's going on with you and Jade?" came out in one breath. The half-Latina was stunned, only able to blink at Cat. The redhead's expression wasn't the usually smiley happy-go-lucky one, but of great curiosity. She shook her head. "Tori, please. You've not been yourself these past couple of days, and last week."
"I'm not telling- Hey!" Tori rubbed the back of her hand where Cat had just smacked her. "What was that for?"
Cat arched a brow. "I've known Jade longer than Beck has. I can see when there's something wrong. And, you two are really similar."
"No we're-"
"Yes you are," she insisted. "Please, I can help. You guys have been off for months now. That, and you've been really confusing me since yesterday!" Tori gnawed the inside of her cheek, giving a long breath. She went back to writing after a hesitant moment, Cat sighing. "Come on, I promise I won't tell. Pinky promise with both my hands and feet - I swear." Tori dropped her pencil, glad that she was able to finish. "Tori," Cat continued, "what did she do?"
Immediately she got Tori's attention. "Like I said, I know Jade and you two are similar...I know when she's made somebody mad." Cat leaned forward, eager to know what was just passed the barrier of her teeth. "I won't tell...I promise."
Tori breathed in slowly, glancing over towards Jade. It was an irrational fear of having Jade overhear the conversation, given that she was on the other side of the room. She turned back to Cat. "You swear?" The redhead nodded enthusiastically. Tori leaned in, gesturing gently. Rat perked from underneath, watching as she cupped her hands around Cat's ear. He cocked his head to the side as whispers were slurred from Tori, the gentle hand on his back halting. The redhead frowned, eyes moving around as the story had been told.
"What?"
"Cat," Tori whined.
The redhead nodded, mumbling, "Sorry, sorry." Rat sniffed the still hand as Tori continued to whisper in Cat's ear, eager to be stroked once again. However, the changing expressions on her face said otherwise. Once she pulled away, Cat still found herself struggling to understand. "Wha...and she never- Then she got back together with... Why?"
"I don't know," Tori growled, struggling to keep her voice even, "and I gave up asking a while ago." Cat pursed her lips, her eyes lingering over Jade. "You said you wouldn't tell."
"I'm not going to," she promised, resuming her pets along the pooch's back. He settled himself more comfortably on her lap, closing his eyes. As unease stirred within Cat, he sighed, feeling another nap begin to work his way through his body. That is, until the bell jerked him awake, reminding Cat and Tori that classes were scheduled.
. . .
She stood at by Sikowitz as he remained engrossed in a conversation with Andre, debating the musician's chances of applying for the play. "But I can't audition next Tuesday! My grandma's wanting me to take her to the doctor, and Dr. Alan said that I shouldn't be away from her other than school during her visit."
"I thought she hates doctors," Sikowitz mumbled, furrowing his brows.
Andre nodded. "Well...okay, she needs her check-up. She wrote it on the board a few months ago so... I can't Tuesday!"
"Calm down, I'll see if Mr. Mason will allow an extra the following morning. He's good with accommodations, right Tori?"
The two turned towards her, Tori ripping her gaze from the floor. "Yeah...right."
"See?"
The student shook his head slowly, unconvinced. "Tori didn't sound that...great."
Sikowitz only shrugged. "Well, Mr. Mason will probably allow you. Tori here's just grumpy." The half-Latina glared at the floor, grumbling lightly. Andre arched a brow. "Detention," the teacher said simply. She only rolled her eyes as Andre gawked.
"What? How? Tori never gets detention!" Once again, Sikowitz shrugged, striding across the room with a coconut at hand. "T-Tori, wait," Andre tapped her shoulder, "how'd you land yourself in detention?"
"I don't want to talk about it," she warned.
He frowned. "Oh, okay... Tomorrow then?" Tori only nodded slowly. "At the party?"
"Sure, whatever! Just tell everybody at lunch if they ask that I'm doing homework," she growled. Andre sighed, though agreed nonetheless. She stalked off after the man once his comforting hand left her shoulder. It was only when she made her way through the main hall when she felt her stomach drop. "Sikowitz?"
"Hmm?" he hummed.
"Where are you taking me - for detention?" There was a small glint in his eyes as he looked over his shoulder. Tori doubted it was gentle and kind, but more mischievous and knowing. They halted abruptly at the end of a long hallway, the door opening.
"Hello Lane! Good to see you again!" Sikowitz allowed a wide smile as he practically shoved the girl in, leaving her to groan, rubbing her shoulder. The guidance counselor waved softly from his desk, nodding appreciatively. Sikowitz gave Tori a quick smile before closing the door behind him. Of course he'd just drop her off at the last place she wanted to be. Tori's eyes grazed along the walls, the musk of lotion filling every scent she had.
As she slumped on the couch, Lane's questioning eyes remained on her. "Good afternoon Miss Vega," he greeted.
"Afternoon..."
"I hear you've been in quite the trouble lately," he continued, massaging his hands with a fresh squirt of lotion. Lane glanced up. "Skipping a session for a real important event...lashing out at Jade...being mean..." She glared at him, folding her arms; it only proved his point more. "See, I'm here to help you. Talk it all out, go ahead. We can reach an-"
Tori shook her head. "I don't want to." Lane pursed his lips.
"I know when people - younger ones especially -" he nodded towards his diploma hidden behind a potted plant "- are hurt. I can see that you've bottled some stuff up and it's now getting in the way." She stared at him, scowling quietly.
He was right.
She didn't care - or want to, anyway.
"I don't want to talk. There's nothing wrong." Lane leaned back, looking defeated. It wasn't as if he'd be allowed to force her.
"Are you sure?"
Tori remained silent, watching the clock that hung on the wall for a few moments. Why couldn't Sikowitz just be a normal teacher and just made her sit, scribbling lines. In fact, why couldn't Sikowitz be a normal teacher and just gave Jade and her another baby, just so they'd get an A for their efforts.
Rat, as lovable as he was - especially with the days she had - wouldn't be enough to bring them back to how they were.
Nothing. Ever. Will.
. . .
As Tori had said, countless times in passing - or when they had actually spoken - her half of the project was completed. Jade sat in the living room, the television only on to drown out the utter silence of the house. Sure, there was the company of Pancakes beside her, but he was quiet. Of course. She typed away on her laptop, sighing to herself. It had already been an hour, yet she already felt lost. How did Tori manage to do all of her part on her own?
No, you'll be able to figure it out, she internally forced, no need bothering her.
The door opened, the jangle of a collar filling the air. Jade didn't want to look over her shoulder, though her body instinctively did so anyway. Tori's back was to her, Rat scuttling across the floor, racing towards his water bowl. Jade's jaw tightened as the half-Latina turned around, heading straight towards the stairs without so much of a glance. Though, when she did, Jade's gaze flung back to her keyboard.
"I fucking hate you."
Jade slunk into the couch, shutting her laptop irritably. Nothing was to be written when her brain was fogged with everything at once. If only she'd just get away from it all. She shivered, however; there was a creeping feeling running down her spine as if that was the opposite of what would come. Perhaps there would be a volcano, or an explosion.
"I fucking hate you."
She wished it would take her with it.
Hey... I don't know how the hell I got into this writing slump, but I'm tryin' to get myself out. As you can see, this chapter's been half-done for a month now...so...yeah. Pretty bad shit over here. If you're worried that this story won't be finished in time, don't; I'll make dead sure that the story's complete before school starts up again. I've planned the next chapters too, if you were wondering.
Hope you enjoyed!
:)