July 21st, 2018

Hope you enjoy!

:)

No One's Perspective-

The anticipation of the night hung in the air, leaving the two to grin in the dimming sunlight - or, at least, Beck grin while Jade meekly so. See, she had this strange feeling bubbling in her stomach; not quite butterflies, but something more ominous. She shoved it out of the way. And, as per usual of a Northridge house, it was one thing: big. Though, Jade found herself oddly - and pleasantly - surprised that it was one that she could find herself living in, aside from all the party details.

"So, what do you think she'll be like?" Jade only shrugged, crossing the street. "Hope she's not a bitch... I'd hate for Andre to go through that again."

"I feel like it's the only type he knows," she mumbled, earning a chortled.

"I feel bad 'cause it's kinda true." He turned once there was a holler, the devil himself jogging with a pixie cup in his hands.

Andre grinned before casually greeting them both: "Hey! See you stragglers made it."

"Well," Beck chuckled, shrugging, "we had to get ready."

Jade pursed her lips. "He had to fluff his hair." She smirked at the glare shot towards her.

"Well...yeah, okay." He shook his head, a smile slowly coming to his lips. "Anyway, girlfriend?" Andre bobbed his head, waving for them to follow. They made a jagged path through the bundles of people within the house, all eager to eat, dance and...eat and dance. (And maybe some more stuff later, but nobody filled their guts with liquor to have the guts.) When they came to the back game room, they found that there were significantly less people.

In fact, there weren't so many people that Andre's girlfriend was finishing with decorations. And when she turned to grin at the incoming guests, Beck gathered that she wasn't - in fact - a bitch. "So this is Stacy -" Beck gave Jade a quick, victorious glance "- and Stacy, this is the power couple, Beck and Jade." With Jade's tight smile and the actor's weak chuckle, Stacy remain hesitant.

"Well, nice to meet you two, then," she said anyhow.

"So, you go to Northridge?" Beck asked curiously.

"Went, actually," she mumbled, further explaining, "I'm starting my first year in college. Let me tell you now...it gets better." Andre chuckled, putting some extra DVD cases away into a box that was further tucked in a corner. "Especially with a guy like him," she added kindly.

"Week end and he makes life better already!" Beck announced, earning another laugh from Stacy.

She ran a hand through her blonde hair, casting a quick glance towards Andre. "You seem a bit more chill than some of my friends." The musician shrugged, mumbling about something like he's the only one. "Anyway, you can meet them later. Go on and get some drinks! Andre? Can you lead them? I have to make sure everything's set up here."

"No problemo." As the three left the game room, Andre held a nice, proud grin. "So, what do you think?"

"Seems nice," Beck mumbled.

"Being a week in? Of course she's going to be," Jade snorted. Andre sighed, though didn't say anything against it; she wasn't necessarily wrong, after all. They made their way into the kitchen, a large array of drinks - somebody already having brought some liquor - set up. As Jade reached for a simple can of Dr. Pepper, she found herself drawn to whatever was at the corner of her eye.

Tori.

She frowned, watching as the half-Latina downed the rest of her can; it wasn't soda.

Andre watched Jade's stare, mumbling, "Yeah...she's gonna be shitfaced by the end of the night. Anyway, I'll see if Cat's around. I know she brought Tori here...haven't seen her though."

"Alright," Jade drawled, sipping on her own can. Beck is by her side, glancing towards Tori pitifully as she stalked into another room. He leaned over, giving a peck against her cheek. As he parted, Jade realized a pattern that had rapidly matured over the past week compared to the several months at that point: her cheek didn't warm when he left. Not anymore. Not for a long time.

Even so, she gave a weak smile, sipping on her soda. There was still that pesky feeling at her gut.

. . .

She drained the rest of her third drink, feeling the warm buzz tingle through her system - and, of course, with the additional cough. Jade threw the cup to the trash beside her, and then twisted around towards the game room. None of the group was anywhere to be seen, not that she was particularly searching. Though, then again, she kept an eye out. Jade ignored the holler shouted at her - and the whistle - as she made her way to the backyard. Jade took a moment to peer across the pool and grass, finding that in the night it was hard to see. The lanterns used were dim, creating a nice, gentle environment for the nulled talk throughout.

Jade turned towards her side, brows furrowed. She titled her head to the side at giggling amongst the bushes. "Cat? Is that..." She strode forward, her assumptions confirmed. The redhead turned towards her with a wide smile, swinging her arms around Jade. "Okay," she mumbled, awkwardly pushing the girl from her, "okay, Cat, space."

Cat only continued to giggle, though stepped away. "Hello! I haven't seen you since lunch!"

Jade rolled her eyes. "Cat, we need to talk."

The girl slurped on her drink, stumbling over a strange, broken pot. Cat glared at it for a moment. "Alright, what?"

"What's with the looks you've been giving me lately?" she deadpanned. The redhead stopped at her tracks, turning around slowly. Her bemused smile was dropped, and so was her voice.

"What do you mean?"

Jade clenched her hands; "That!" Cat only shrugged, sipping her drink. The thespian shook her head, growling, "Come on, cough up. Now I know you're hiding something!"

The redhead blinked, flinging her can across the lawn. As an audible gasp came from feet away, she asked, "What? I'm not hiding anything." Jade stared at her, brow arched and jaw slacking. She momentarily glanced at the confused huddle of girls, analyzing the silver, Diet Coke can.

"I wasn't talking about the can," Jade said slowly.

"Oh, well," Cat shrugged through a mumble, "gotta get it back then."

"Cat," Jade growled, snatching her arm. There was a quick yelp before she was tugged to the side of the house. "I'll get you another one, so-"

Cat jerked, grumbling, "Okay, so let's go and get it!"

"Cat!"

"Jade!"

The thespian appeared to be momentarily run dry. She groaned angrily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Cat, quit avoiding me. What are you hiding?"

"N-nothing," was the answer. There was a staring match between the two before the crunching of gravel interrupted them. Their eyes whipped towards the steps, Cat grumbling to herself. Tori stood, blinking towards the two with a stony expression.

"Cat, did you drink out of my Coke?"

The redhead shot a glare towards Jade. "I'll get you another one..." she scowled, stalking away from Jade's interrogation. Tori remained there, unmoving from her spot. Jade leaned against the wall, her eyes not trailing from Tori.

Jade decided to break the silence. Once her throat was cleared, she asked, "What's up with Cat?"

"I don't know." Even through her husked tone, Jade could still hear the spite in her words. She shifted awkwardly.

"You should know. She is your friend," she retorted. "And in any case, what's up with you? Never answered the last ten fucking times I asked."

"Why would you care?" Tori gasped, exasperated. "All you do is keep at it, reminding me that you don't care. Do you really expect me to tell you after you suddenly do?" Jade opened her mouth to snap back, though was immediately cut across. "That's what you do, isn't it? Ping-pong your way through everybody?" Jade tensed as Tori stepped closer, the alcohol in her system flashing through her eyes. "You want people to desperately get that you're alone in the world, and then you shove them out of the way once you believe that you can support yourself."

"Tori, you're drunk," Jade murmured, the girls toe-to-toe to one another.

The half-Latina cocked her head to one side. "That's why I'm telling you this like how it is," she hissed. Jade furrowed her brows. "One moment -" Tori planted her hands beside Jade's shoulders, further containing her "- you tell me to fuck off, and then the next, you tell me to be there?" The thespian shivered once Tori leaned forward, her breath crawling against her neck. "What does it take for you to understand the shit you've put me through?"

"T-Tori," Jade breathed. "God, you're drunk! We can't talk about this now!"

"We're only talking because I'm drunk!" Tori shot back, eyes level with Jade's. As the half-Latina scowled, Jade swallowed, overwhelmingly conscious of how close Tori was - her lips, hands, hips, body. "You just drag people through everything, and when your knight in shining armor comes, you leave them in the dust."

"Tori, no, it isn't like that, I swear!" Jade growled, her voice notably less hostile. It became more of a whine, more of a weak plead.

There was an arch of a brow. "Really?" Tori immediately whisked herself away, Jade almost leaning to the ground; she hadn't realized how warm the half-Latina's intoxicated body was compared to the air until a chill nipped her cheeks. Tori glared off to the side before stalking off, disappearing around the corner.

Beck came jogging moments later. "Jade! I've been calling you! Cat said you were out here with Tori..." He took a look around as Robbie came from behind, his breathing lagged. "Where is she?"

"Don't worry," Robbie gasped, "I'll find her for you."

The actor nodded. "Alright, thanks." As the ventriloquist left, Jade and Beck remained alone at the side of the house. "So - is everything alright?" Jade nodded, rubbing her eyes quickly.

"Fine. Just...give me a drink." Beck nodded going back around the corner with hastened steps. Jade gave a soft groan, sinking down the wall until she couldn't any longer, the gravel underneath her uncomfortably. Perhaps she deserved it. Jade continued to stare out into the darkness, clenching her jaw. Her cheeks were warm. Her heart was hammering. And her groin... "Fuck..." she grunted, hugging her arms around her knees. She doesn't like you, remember? That was the entire point.

Jade burrowed her head into her arms. Of course, it wasn't like there was a terrible reason for it. Her head was spinning. Jade knew she needed a break, just some time to catch some air. But, of course, that wouldn't come.

But her root beer did. "Thanks," she mumbled, taking the can from Beck's hand. Neither talked as she drank the soda, only moving once the can is finished. Beck shifted to his side, carefully watching Jade. Hesitantly, he leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers. For a few moments, the moved with one another, though Jade was the first to break away before anything got too heated. "I can't," she mumbled, leaving him confused.

"How'd you mean?"

"I- I can't do this right now. Can we just...just pause on the kissing and the hand holding and- Just pause on everything like that?" Beck frowned, though nodded slowly after a few moments.

"I- I mean, we can but..." He took a careful moment to sort through his wording. "I just want to know what happened. Like, what's wrong with me for you-"

Jade shook her head. "No, God, no, nothing's wrong with you. It's me, okay? I just...I can't be doing this right now." He remained quiet, looking out in front of them numbly. Jade wrung her wrist nervously, eyes to the ground.

"A-are we...splitting?"

"No." It was a quick, sharp answer that was uttered before any thought.

Beck eyed her carefully, giving a slow nod. "Just...taking a break but still together?"

"Y-yes."

He gave a soft sigh, playing with a pebble between his fingers. "Well, alright." The boy huffed, his mind pushing everything out besides, "Are you sure you're alright?"

She leaned her head against the house. "I just need the world to stop spinning and give me a damn moment."

Beck chortled despite himself. "That's not going to happen. But...I'll take a pause for you. I'll still be here, but I'll pause."

Jade grinned sheepishly. "Thank-you."

"No problem," he said, giving a firm bob of his head, "that's what boyfriends do, right?" Jade's grin almost faltered - dangerously close, but almost all the same. "Anyway, you want to grab some punch? Cat said it was good."

"Sure," Jade grumbled, getting to her feet. It wasn't long until they made their way through the people scattered about everywhere, each at their own various level of drunk. Once they made their way inside, it was considerably louder with the intense base and babbling than the dull, gentle conversations outside. They squeezed across several groups of people, each looking hyper in their own right. Jade grimaced, darting away from an excited-looking freshman with eyes wild with alcohol.

She shook her head before Beck rubbed his hands, eyes forward on the large bowl of punch. The room was practically bouncing, the dance floor covered in a hoard of students. All was bubbly and ecstatic, the excitement even soaking through Jade's skin.

That is, until there was a terrible groan of a table leg, the punch bowl sloshing violently. Jade didn't know if the frantic yelp came from her mouth or Beck. She didn't know how the world spun like she did, the wooden floor hard under her body. She didn't know how many people scattered away from the rolling bowl, it cutting across the crowd as a knife would through a warm stick of butter.

All she knew was that she was on the floor, punch oozing into her clothes as the fabrics began to stick to her skin. Jade looked all around, only to find the peering, curious looks from everybody, the music being shut off and heads leaning over the stair railing. She swallowed the lump nestled at the base of her throat, and it wouldn't go away. Her eyes travelled wildly across the room, finding nobody looking guilty enough to have shoved the table. As murmurs began to surface, she felt her eyes sting.

Jade got up, rather clumsily, before Beck snapped from his strained trance. "Do you want to go home?" he whispered in a rush, grasping her arms. She nodded as tears began to well. Shock had numbed her system, allowing him to lead her away from the large puddle on the floor, the bowl feet away. Beck grunted to a sophomore who shuffled aside, opening the door wide for Jade.

However, her feet were locked in place, eyes straight towards the figure huddled at the jacket rack. Tori only stared, though Jade knew enough from the impassive expression. The welled tears dripped to her cheeks, and she didn't have the courage to wipe them away. She only let Beck pull her away, back to his truck only a street down.

. . .

Nobody could stop hammering about what had just taken place. Nobody could stop giggling, or gossiping, or just flat out talking. And nobody was as livid as Trina was at that point. She stormed down the stairs as best she could in her heels, rocketing across the room. The first face she recognized as Andre. "Hey -" she grabbed him by the shoulder "- where's my sister?"

He ogled at her, rubbing and turning his arm. "I- I don't know... Didn't you just see what happened? The punch bowl-"

"I know. Tell me were fucking Tori is!"

He frowned, turning to his side when Stacy appeared. "She went that way," the blonde answered, pointing towards a hall by the door. "Do you think she was the one who knocked over the punch?"

Andre shook his head. "No, there's no way she did that!"

Trina ignored him. "I don't think, I know!" With no thanks given - she was too ticked to do so - Trina darted off. "Tori?" she called down the lengthy hall, pushing every door. "Tori? We need to talk now!" As she stormed down passed every opened door - some bewildered couples within them - her heels slowed. "Tori?" Her voice became softer with each call. "Tori? Is...is that you?" The only answer was violent hurling.

She opened the bathroom cautiously, only to find Tori leaning over the toilet bowl miserably. Trina gagged at the sink, which had been visited by Tori's bile previously. She quickly flicked the faucet on to clean some of it. Her sister groaned, leaning against the bathtub. She sniffed, cleaning her face - tears and whatever poured out of her mouth - with her sleeve. "Tori...what did you do?" Trina whined. There, the eldest looked at her sister, finding a familiar, guilt-flooded gaze across her drunken eyes; it reminded her of a pile of dog shit, a lemonade pitcher and a cheese fountain. Tori huddled to her knees, tears leaking from her eyes. "Tori..." Trina mumbled, easing her way beside her sister.

"I- I... I just wante-wanted to- to..." she tried to choke out. "I- I do l-like her...I- I re-really do..." Trina paused, her hand on Tori's back halting in its comforting motions - only for a moment. "She- we- After w- Sikowitz made us go t- Nozu, an-d we- I- in the car... An- And then she asked to- but le-left me alone. Then s-she came to me an- we went in my ro... She- she asked me again and then le-left me an- and then again, again, again... And then Beck, an- and then we say yes all- all day and she- she... I- We, we went to chase mouse as- as cheese an-and then we- I- she...we in h-her car, a-again but-but I- I pushed and c-came with you..."

Trina sat, dumbfounded, with her hand on auto-pilot. There was half the story said, and then half of the half conveyed. Even so, Trina had a hunch. She recalled Jade coming over once she started her God-have-mercy-don't-ever-name-it-show, on the agreement of saying yes; instantly Trina had known Sikowitz was involved. But she also remembered how Tori joined her as she began to roll out of the car, unwilling to speak. She and Jade didn't talk to one another for a week - if she remembered correctly - and then remained on the same terms until...

Until the damn dog.

There was something that clicked in the back of her mind, and Trina immediately felt worse than she had before.

"Tori," she whispered, "did...did you bottle this up for that long?" Her sister only sniffed into her arms. "God Tori. Do you never learn?" She shook her head, easing herself up. "Come on...I'll drive you back, okay? And I can pick you up tomorrow at one, alright?"

"O-okay..."

"Tori...just promise me you'll actually think tomorrow?" There came a weary nod, though Trina knew that she'd do some thinking the next day anyhow.

She only hoped Tori remembered enough to do so.

That was fun.

Hope you enjoyed!

:)