Tori was running late. Jade would be there to pick her up soon and she wasn't quite ready. She didn't want to make Jade wait. She wasn't a very patient person. Tori rushed out of her room to look for her shoes and almost took a tumble down the stairs.
"Fuck!" she exclaimed, having caught herself but sustaining a stubbed toe and banged knee.
"Victoria Marie Vega! What did you just say?" her mother yelled from the kitchen. Tori hastily got to her feet, foregoing nursing her injuries to face her mother's wrath.
"N-nothing mom," she stammered, carefully navigating down the rest of the stairs.
"Shit, that was close," she grumbled under her breath, passing the couch in her search.
"Tori," her father warned, sitting up where he was laying watching TV. Tori hadn't seen him there and jumped a foot when he appeared.
"What has gotten into you, young lady?" her mother inquired. But before she could make up a lie, Trina cut in, turning in her seat at the table.
"She's been hanging out with that Jade chick," she supplied. Their mother looked from her eldest to her youngest, hands on her hips.
"I thought you two didn't get along?" she wondered. Tori stood frozen in place then ran a nervous hand through her hair.
"We, uh, we've come to an agreement. We're starting to get along now," she explained. Both parents stared at her a moment longer while Trina narrowed her eyes at her sister.
"Yeah, right. She probably dared you to cuss around our parents thinking you aren't cool enough, or something like that," she accused.
"No, she didn't!" Tori defended, letting out a loud sigh.
"Look, I have to get going. I'm late," she rushed out, finally spotting her shoes on the other side of the second couch and running over to put them on.
"Where are you going?" her father asked.
"Movies," she answered.
"With who?" he asked next. Tori hesitated only briefly.
"Jade," she mumbled. Everyone in the room fell silent for various reasons.
"Uh, all right. Have fun, I guess. Don't stay out late," he eventually said.
"Thanks, bye!" Tori replied, running out the door. She let out a relieved breath as soon as the door was closed behind her. Jade was just pulling up when she was walking down the walkway. She got in and buckled up, her usual greeting stuck due to sudden nerves. Jade silently studied her.
"You look guilty," she observed.
"What? Me? How so?" Tori responded, words flying out without her control.
"You're tense and leaning away from me," Jade pointed out.
"No, I'm not," Tori denied, forcing herself to try and relax. Jade only had to stare her down before she cracked.
"Ok, fine. My parents heard me curse and questioned me, Trina told them I got it from you, I had to admit to hanging out with you, and now you're probably going to be wazzed at me," she rambled. Jade listened with slowly increasing amusement. She chuckled then reached out to fix a lock of Tori's frazzled hair.
"Relax, Vega. You didn't tell them about us, right?" she questioned.
"No. You said you weren't ready. Even my big mouth wouldn't betray that," Tori replied. Jade smiled.
"Then there's nothing to worry about," Jade stated simply. Tori grinned, catching Jade's hand before it could return to the wheel.
"Now, about the movie. Are you sure you won't reconsider watching a horror movie instead of that lame romantic one?" Jade asked, hopeful. She looked so cute with the current pleading expression that Tori was sure she would give in if she was exposed to it any longer.
"Let me think on it during the drive over," she relented. Jade smirked, knowing she already won despite Tori's reluctance, and started driving.