July 22nd, 2018
Hope you enjoy!
:)
No One's Perspective-
Everything seemed to hammer against her head. She opened her eyes - boom - a nightmare. She reached her heavy arm - boom - another nuclear explosion. She swallowed the Advil with the water - boom - a quaking ache. She relived the last week - boom - game over. Tori groaned weakly, pulling the covers to her shoulders. As promised, Trina had tucked her in the bed at Jade's house, and even left some remedies. And while they did help with the splitting headache she had, Tori still felt horrible.
Her eyes began to burn once the night prior came to mind; Jade as distraught as she was had always been a strange and miserable sight.
But she was still at home, and that had to count for something. Tori looked at Rat, who wiggled his butt with his tail. He padded across the sheets, coal eyes blinking at her curiously. Even though his thoughts were surely on food, Tori couldn't help but think otherwise. "I know buddy..." she whined softly, patting his head. The half-Latina slowly brought herself from her bed. The ground was as cold as it was on Tuesday - maybe even colder - though Tori found herself not minding. She only shuffled down the stairs slowly, and made her way into the kitchen.
After she fed Rat his dry food, she found herself oddly welcomed into the kitchen for the first time; at least, it was the first time she had gotten the drawer for the cups correct first try. Tori was too low in spirits to actually make her cup of water. Instead, she searched through the bottom level, finding Jade easily in the front room.
Jade jerked from her stare out of the window, looking up towards the sheepish teen standing before her. Tori shuffled at the spot, still configuring her sentences and battling her hangover. Neither spoke for a few moments, only listening to the distant shuffle of food against metal. Jade barely tore her gaze away from the floor when there was a grumble: "I didn't...mean it." Her voice was hoarse and rough, and the cough to clear it didn't help. Jade watched her as she shifted again, hand at the back of her neck. "I didn't mean any of it." Jade only nodded slowly. "I'm- I'm sorry," Tori finished with a dry whisper.
"I'm sure you are."
The half-Latina bobbed her head. "Yeah, I am." Jade got up from her chair, and its only then that Tori realized that she still wore the shirt form the night prior - just the shirt with pajama pants. The punch surely stained the white cotton. Pale eyes searched through brown, her brows concentrated.
Jade swallowed, murmuring, "Do you... Do you hate me?"
There was a punch to Tori's stomach at the strained words. So much so that she had to wheel back in time, recalling the same distinct, wretched words. She felt Jade pass her before she swiped through the air, meaning to catch her wrist. Tori didn't, though replied, "No. No, I don't. But I hate that I don't..." The thespian halted at the doorway, turning back around cautiously.
"Really?" Jade mentally slapped herself for sounding too hopeful.
"Yes...really."
. . .
He licked the rest of the crumbs off the tip of his wet nose, eyes blinking towards the bowl. There was none left. Even so, his stomach was filled, and the house was deathly quiet. Curiously, he trotted around the corner, finding nobody around. Rat's wagging tail dipped to the ground. Was he alone? No. He was sure of it. Up the stairs his feet went, pink tail out in between his jaws in determination. Nope. The girl with the second-eyes sometimes - Tori - was not in her sanctum. He ducked his head underneath the bed. Nope, no Tori there.
The blond pooch snorted before carrying himself to the water-racket room. It was quiet with no water running; no Tori there.
He found himself whining softly before he jogged down the stairs, ignoring the other, less explored rooms. There was the dark doorway feet from the stairs. Rat pawed at the door before it creaked opened. With his head cocked to one side, he blinked down the wooden stairs. Quickly, his small feet pattered down, leading him to the shadowed room. Many interesting smells filled his nose. He looked up towards the large cage-box up on a flat box with sticks for legs. He stood on his hind legs, ears perking once he caught sight of the black-and-white maybe-friend.
But no Jade.
He abandoned his search down the room, exhaling a lengthy huff. As Rat reached the height of the stairs, his breath hitched. His small body hobbled, nearly flipping itself down the stairs. Rat wouldn't let that happen. He had to search for the tall girl hoo-mans. The blond hick-ed his way throughout the house before eventually coming upon the first room. He shook his tail, his small yip interrupted by a hick.
The two stood, as one shadow, arms tangled with one another. He trotted over, reaching his front paws on Jade's leg. Tori was the one to pick him up. "Come on buddy," she hummed against his chest. Rat wagged his tail excitedly, giving a quiet bark before another hiccup. He watched as the two brought their gazes to one another, both giving small smiles; perhaps they were done defending their territory, as the dog hoped.
He needed more pets and treats.
. . .
Rat was nestled in a small dog bed, eyes dreamily closed and tail curled close to his nose. He sneezed, not even blinking awake. Tori gave a soft smile, stroking his small head with her knuckles. She turned back towards the television, a new episode of Celebrities Underwater: Sharked playing. Jade flicked her gaze up - hopefully - at the sound of a scream. It was one of delight, bringing her disgruntled scowl back to her laptop.
As she jabbed the 'delete' button, the doorbell rang. Tori and Jade watched one another carefully, the half-Latina groaning a second later. "Coming," she grumbled, shuffling towards the door. Jade frowned once greetings streaked through the air, turning her head over the couch. Beck smiled, holding up a small bag of pet treats.
"Hey," he said, adding, "my dad's working out back again... So I brought some stuff. What are you two watching?"
"A shit show," Jade growled as he shuffled beside her. Rat poked his head from the fluffy, red bed, tail wagging at the visitor. The girls watched as he threw a small toy bear at the pooch, the dog immediately sniffing it curiously. "Beck, you act like he's your dog."
"Might as well be the cool dude," he chuckled.
Tori rolled her eyes, a small smile spread across her lips. "I think he needs that. Anyway, did you bring any water or something?"
He nodded, handing her a Powerade. "Heard you got wasted last night," Beck commented, earning a dreary nod.
"You can say you saw me. I'm not going to bite anybody's head off," she replied.
"That's nice," Beck nodded, leaning back into the couch. The television became the center of the room's attention, Rat the only one not paying attention; he was too fixed on the bear. Jade began to move - inch by inch - to the arm of the couch, Beck hugging the other side. Tori glanced momentarily at the wide gap between them, which was filled only by Pancakes. She shifted her stare away, back to her phone. With her attention at her device, Jade grumbled under her breath, stalking to the kitchen.
Beck followed.
They pulled themselves to the side of the kitchen, Jade whipping around, brows stern. "What the hell are you doing?" she hissed, quietly.
He looked sheepish. "I promise you, I'm not trying to do anything. No touching, okay?" He raised his arms with the point. "My dad really is working out back with his jackhammer again, and I wanted to check up - on both of you."
She pursed her lips at his morally-sound explanation; there was no reason to think anything else. "Still, you could've texted," Jade growled.
"I- Y-yeah, I should've... Force of habit, I guess." He paused, taking an opportunity. "So, are you two alright? You and Tori... You two don't seem to be strangling each other or dumping punch-"
Jade's eyes went wild for a moment, backing Beck away a step. "How do you know about that?" she snapped. Of course, he was with her, though Jade doubted he took any notice of the half-Latina.
"Andre told me," he answered. "After Trina dragged Tori from the party, I think he assumed she was right. So...are you?" She clenched her jaw, though nodded all the same. "So you two are friends?" Beck asked, hopefully. She opened her mouth to answer, but only managed a shrug with a small nod. "What does that mean?"
"It's complicated Beck," she muttered. "We just- I... It's complicated. Now why are you so invested in our relationship?" Beck nearly panicked for a moment, Sikowitz's name at the tip of his tongue, corner of his lips.
"Just wondering. You know, you two make a third of our whole group." Jade would've responded if she didn't hear Tori shuffle towards the kitchen. Pale eyes snapped towards her as she rounded the corner, hand against the wall with her phone in the other.
"My...uh... Trina's picking me up in an hour," she mumbled, Beck furrowing his brows before glancing towards the microwave - 12:04.
"So soon?" he asked. Jade's gaze was reserved and blank as she watched Tori shift uncomfortably.
Tori nodded. "Y-yeah. My dad's back from the hospital... Well, he's been back for a couple of days now. But it would be nice to see him, so." It was a blatant lie. Well, David was back from the hospital, though Jade and Beck knew it as a cover. Then again, arguing with family matters would be unjustified as well - as they mutually, silently agreed.
"I'm making coffee," Jade grunted, sliding passed Beck before snatching a mug from the side.
"Alright. So, do you wanna watch a movie or something to pass the time?" Beck asked, turning towards Tori. She nodded, leaving Jade alone with the grumblings of a machine, and then a scalding beverage minutes later. Jade left her two sugars out, only taking the bitter coffee as it was: raw. It was a rather humbling and humiliating experience.
. . .
As formidable as her father was generally - officer and all - Tori couldn't help chuckle at the pink cast around his bent arm, his feet propped up onto the coffee stand. David had been released from the hospital (obviously) and requested to watch television shows on the ER; this was only to rant about the nurses and his time there. Again, he was a formidable figure usually, though Tori couldn't help chuckle softly. That, and she still had a small ache at her temple, which really didn't help much.
"- God, that woman. I know she's being paid to help me, but I'm also paid to have less people get into trouble. You know?" David turned towards his daughter.
She only nodded, mumbling under her breath, "Yeah, I bet you drove her through hell."
"What?"
"Nothing," Tori said quickly behind her Gatorade bottle. As she set it down on the coffee table, she asked, "So how did the thief knock you over again?" Officer Vega glanced at her, arching a brow. "What? I couldn't hear the last time."
He sighed, answering, "He knocked me over with a plastic cane, which I then ran into my car. I'm telling you, though, I kicked his ass and handcuffed him with one hand! Under a minute!" She chortled to herself, voice still rough. He shifted with his pillow, watching his daughter curiously. Clearing his throat, David asked nonchalantly, "So how was Jade this week?"
"She was fine..."
David looked mournful for a moment, scratching his hair. "So fine that you acted shitty all week and dumped punch on her yesterday?" Tori gawked, eyes wide at him as he shrugged. "Look. When I see my daughter coming home early with my other daughter -a bit hungover, I might add - I'm going to interrogate. Don't go blaming your sister, she didn't want to talk."
Tori wrung her wrist. "What did she say?"
"That's it, almost word for word." She let out a breath before David continued. "Now, just because she didn't, doesn't mean I still won't ask. I know how you bottle things up, kiddo, so -" he stretched, wincing with his arm "- what's really going on?"
"Nothing... I just- We just made up this morning."
He tilted his head to the side. "How so?"
"I apologized...for everything."
"Did she?"
Tori shook her head. "She wasn't the one at fault here - I was."
David nodded. "Okay, alright. But I will say this: When your mom and I met, we hated each other." The half-Latina frowned as David continued to watch the television. "Don't listen to your mom when she says that we fell in love at first sight, blah, blah, blah, whatever. Now, by the time we had our first date, yeah, we really liked each other. But I knew her a year or two before that. Now I remember the day I started changing that, and it was when she had a bad day, and I literally was the only one around. And let me tell you, Trina get's her serve-me thing from your mom." Tori gave a soft laugh, easing back into the pillows. "Relationships of any kind are really tough, but that's all right. Nothing's like how T.V puts it out to be. Long, long marriages are becoming rare, but it's doable, with a lot of effort," he said. "Look, the point I'm trying to make is that Jade is tough, I get it. But there's a reason why you like her, right?"
"I don't...I don't know if I do though," Tori mumbled slowly. "I just-" She couldn't add anything more to it.
"Yeah. And I can understand that," he chuckled to himself, "being a teenager doesn't help. After all, I was twenty-four."
"Dad!" Tori whined. He only continued to chuckle, a smile spread across his face.
David then shrugged, saying, "Look, you don't have to tell me what's going on between you two, but you can take this time to make amends. Find that maybe-"
"Dad, I can't talk about this right now," she cut across. He blinked at her, somewhat confused before nodding.
"Alright, alright. It's up to you. All I'm saying is that I'm here, whenever you're ready to not bottle things up." He patted his pillow as she looked towards the screen in thought before pushing it away. David meandered towards the kitchen, opening the refrigerator. He sighed miserably. "Does Trina not know how to shop at a grocery store?" he asked aloud, finding only a few odd ingredients and leftovers. Tori only shrugged, though didn't answer.
Not when Trina made her way down the stairs, stretching with her phone to her ear. "Yes, hi! Hello, so can I have that jumbo sandwich? Yes, okay, but before I give the address, can I ask something." She nodded, playing with the keys of the piano; Trina remained oblivious to the wild stares from Tori and David. "Yeah, uh, could you have...Tim drop it off? He's on his shift? Perfect!" Tori arched her brow as the older sister glanced over. "What?" she hissed, palm over her phone. "He's really cute!"
"Alright Trina..." she mumbled, snatching the remote to change the channel. Tori didn't feel in the mood to watch some man get a wart removed.
. . .
Pancakes remained still as she stroked his fur, eyes closed. With her other hand, Jade flipped through the channels, blandly watching anything that looked remotely interesting. The television screen was the only light in the room, the windows then blacked out by the night sky. Just minutes before, headlights had blinded the front room before they sunk away, Beck driving off. After some time, she settled on an older film, The Magnificent Seven. It had been a while since she'd last seen any western movies - even books. Jade set down the remote and settled back into her seat, Pancakes still comfortable on her lap.
Then there was a soft whine.
She arched a brow before looking to her side, finding a small pooch watching her with teary eyes. He panted happily as Jade blinked, his lop-sided ears perking. She rolled her eyes; it had been the third time for the past few minutes that he'd stripped her attention from the screen. And so, she continued to watch, ignoring the small whines coming from the small dog. He eventually grew silent, receiving a sigh from Jade. Until there was a strange slickness rubbing against her calf.
"Hey!" Jade stared down at the dog, nostrils flaring. He only held out his guilty tongue happily, hind flowing with his tail. She gritted her teeth. "Fine. Only once dog," she growled, patting the spot beside her. Rat launched himself to the couch beside her, only to be met with a pillow-wall. It slumped to the ground, though Rat remained on the cushion away from the rabbit and thespian. He turned towards the television at the sound of revolver shots, tilting his head curiously.
Jade gave another sigh, stroking Pancakes as she watched the screen. And for long hours, all the dog, rabbit and thespian did was watch, mind blurred with the commercials and older films.
Kinda weird week... Firstly, the rest of the chapters are planned out. 44+, so there's that. And then I'm going to camp for my horse team (during the mornings, which is still hot); now, another thing too with that, is I fell off a horse. I'm fine, really, gonna ride again tomorrow, but my neck hurts (whiplash). Glad the arena was plowed and prepared well last night, otherwise a lot more stuff would be hurting right now. XD
Hope you enjoyed!
:)