All week long, Tori had been looking forward to the moment when she would arrive home from school on Friday, able to finally escape from the stress of a busy school week and just chill. But she found that when she got home late that afternoon, she felt anything but relaxed. She was still trying to figure out what Jade had said to her at school, and what it meant.

"You alright, little sister?" Trina asked from across the kitchen as she pulled a muffin out of the pantry for snack.

"I'm not sure," Tori responded truthfully. "I feel like I messed up in some big way, but I don't really know how, why, or what I'm supposed to do about it."

Trina peeled the paper liner away from one side of the muffin and took a large bite. "Messed up what?" she asked through a mouthful.

"Ew, Trina, I don't want to see that!" Tori exclaimed, holding her hand up to block her sister out of her vision.

"You're just jealous you don't get to have this amazing muffin," Trina responded.

Tori rolled her eyes, then got more serious. "Really though, what do you do when you think you might have messed up?"

"I don't mess up," Trina said with a shrug and smile. "That's why I'm so good at everything."

Tori rolled her eyes again. Why did I think Trina would have anything useful to say about this? She's too caught up in herself to give me any helpful advice.

"But what is it, Tori? I'm always here to help my little sister with her problems," Trina said in the tone of voice that was reserved for talking to puppies, babies, and little-sister-Tori.

"Never mind," Tori mumbled, grabbing an apple off the kitchen counter and making her way to her room. Thinking about this alone will definitely be way more useful than talking to Trina.

Once in her room, Tori shut the door and plopped down onto her pile of pillows and large stuffed animals, leaving her backpack lying in the middle of the floor. She stared up at her ceiling, where her ceiling fan spun lazily, and she followed one of five arms as it went around and around and around.

I got so caught up in trying to figure out if what Trina told me was true that I guess I forgot to think about it from the other side of things. I thought it would make sense to ask Jade about it before judging her based on the story, but clearly that was a stupid thing to do. I've never seen Jade that… honest before. Well, maybe honest isn't the right word. Genuine. She never talks about herself at all, and all the times before when I tried to get close to her, she wouldn't let me in. But then today, she just… kind of snapped, and it seemed like she actually showed me her true feelings. Even if just a little.

Tori furrowed her brow, trying to remember what Jade had said specifically. Something about thinking I was different, and that I didn't judge her. Tori felt a wave of regret rising up in her. She thought that I actually might be good. All those times when I tried to talk to her, she was beginning to trust me and believe I was a decent person… but I just ruined that. Tori pulled her plush turtle out of the pile and hugged it to her chest. I let myself get carried away by a rumor, and now… not only does Jade not trust me, but I've hurt her. Tori squeezed the turtle tighter, and as she felt a new wave of guilt and sadness washing over her, she noticed that the stuffed animal was becoming wet with tears. What have I done?

Late that night, Jade sat in the dark, trying to process the events of the day. In the morning, she had gone to school feeling so hopeful, as if maybe it could be the dawn of a new chapter in her life, one where she could trust again, and have another friend by her side. One where she wouldn't have to feel isolated. But her interaction with Tori had gone just about as badly as it could have, and now Jade felt more alone than ever.

She should have expected that would happen. Should have known that the prospect of actually finding someone trustworthy and kind was too good to be true. But Jade had foolishly believed that she could have another chance at… chance at what? Having a normal life? Yes, maybe that was it. Being able to joke around at school and hang out for hours afterwards, doing nothing in particular but having a great time. Being able to finally move on, and forget about the dark, sad time that came before it. Just being herself.

But no, of course that couldn't have been. Because that would require someone to accept Jade as she was, take in all her flaws and be okay with them, and make it past the rough, bitter exterior. And who would be crazy enough to do that? Who would really want to take a chance on her?

It seemed that Tori had tried to be accepting, and then she had realized it wasn't worth it, and she had just given into the negative rumors that were flying around about Jade, that had been flying around for two years. Those sharp, pointy rumors that had initially pierced deep into Jade's skin and hurt her deeply, until she had learned to grow armor. Even with her defenses up, it still stung to hear them, especially coming from someone she had thought she could trust.

That's why you should never trust anyone, said a small voice in her head.

I thought she was different, I really did! Jade thought. I can't really be faulted for wanting things to change, can I?

Of course you can, the voice responded. It's your fault for being so naive, and you're the one who's suffering now as a result. The only way you can avoid being hurt is to never give people a chance to hurt you.

Jade nodded slowly, realizing that part of her brain was right. It was stupid to believe things could change, or that anyone else could really be trusted. I won't make that mistake again.

A/N: The title of this chapter is not a reference to the Les Mis song of the same name, but it also is totally worth bringing up because musical references are fun, and this is about a theatre program, after all. :)

I hope you're enjoying it. Thank you for reading!

Also, teaser for next week's chapter: Beck finally returns from Canada. We'll be back up to the whole gang.

See you next week!