I snap my fingers, trying to get Tori to pay attention. I realize it's not working. I grab her and kiss Tori forcefully. She melds in my lips, groaning softly. I pull away from Tori. She grumbles in protest. I smirk, "Where did you go just now", trying to coax her into talking to me. Tori swallows hard, blushing. She smiles, "Let me put my clothes back on then we'll talk", as she gets up to retrieve her clothes from across the living room. She will never know she's so beautiful. I don't care if she's in sweats and a tank top. She's beautiful to me.

I slip my sweats and tank top back on. I notice Jade just watching me. She has this love struck look plastered on her face. This glow of happiness. I smile at her, "Yes J?", tilting my head slightly. She shakes head, "Nothing..well you need to spill where you went first then we'll deal with me", I roll my eyes at Jade. I nod my head, "Okay okay that's fair", as she comes to sit down facing me. I smile softly at Jade, brushing a hair from her face. I sigh softly. I'm about to drop a bombshell on J and myself.

Tori looks a little nervous with what she's about to say. I'm starting to get a little nervous myself. I hear her sigh softly, "No one really knows what I'm about to say about myself. So bear with me here. I've only told my mom so far. I haven't even told Trina or dad. For one, I know she wouldn't care. For two, I don't need the whole school knowing. After this that second part may be changing. Before I say what I need to say. Do you remember about two months ago, just before school ended, when you threatened to break me if I revealed that you had called me "Tor"?", I didn't even reply. I just nod my head, of course I remember that day. Too much was said, but the silence spoke volumes. I nod my head, "Okay. So remember how I blushed hardcore after you threatened me?", Jade nods her head again, "Well the reason was I was starting to fall for you. Harder than I had when I first met you. I knew for some time after we met that I had feelings for you. Like I would've for Ryder, I just brushed it off as nothing. Then after Ryder and I fucked a few times, your face started to blur in more. You became a sexual fantasy. I just figured it was hormones, it would pass. It never did. Eventually I realized there was more going on. Eventually I broke off sleeping with Ryder because I..", I steady my breath and self, "I realized..I'm..gay..", Jade's eyes widened. The silence is speaking volumes again. Only this time it's screaming.

I'm listening to Tori carefully, we have been trying to learn more about each other. Especially since Beck and I split up. Then I hear the statement, "I'm gay", fall from her lips. I'm completely shocked. I didn't know that was what she wanted to tell me. I honestly didn't expect it either. I gather my thoughts and myself, "Tor, is that true..? You're gay..?", seeing Tori looking more nervous. Tori swallows, "Yes J. It's true. I'm gay.", she takes a deep breath and her voice quiets, "And I'm falling..in..love with you.."

Andre just called me and said we needed to talk. Asked if my mom was home, of course she wasn't. He said okay I'll be there in five minutes. I got myself prepared and walked up to go wait for him. I heard a light, rhythmic knock. I open the door and motion for him to follow me.

I hit the downstairs living room, grabbing us something to drink. He is sitting in the recliner, in his "I'm not sure how to say this" pose. I smirk at him, shaking my head. I playfully ask, "What's got you so worked up", thinking he'd relax. His face and jaw turn to stone. He looked irate, "How could you do that to Beck. How could you fall in love with someone behind his back? He gave you everything. He was good even when you were cruel", he stops because I raise my hand signaling for him to stop, "No I won't be silenced. You are cruel to not only him, but all of us.", I was shaking my head no.

I steadied my breath, "You listen to me Andre. You have no idea what Beck can be like. You think I'm cruel. Then ask your best friend why I was always mad. Why I always was crying. Why didn't we get along? Why I actually broke it off with him. Instead of telling me he didn't want to be with me..he chose to cheat on me and try to hide it. I'm not stupid Andre. I saw the text alert on his phone. I talked to people. I know what he did. Actually I know who he fucked. I've never been unfaithful to him, no matter how cruel he was to me. No matter how mad I got at him. No matter how much spite I wanted to dish out. I loved him every day and still do. I will always love him, I gave him three years. What did I get in return? Cheated on, lied to, and heart broken. Yeah I fell for someone else but I NEVER acted on it..", trying to choke back tears. I hate crying in front of people, especially Andre. He can be so thick sometimes. Where is Tor when I need her..

I hear Tori confirm that she is gay, which I had suspected for awhile. However I wasn't expecting to hear her say she's in love with me. I have no clue what to say. Thoughts are racing through my head like a super highway. Tori is looking at me for some kind of answer, "I had my suspicion that you were gay..takes one to know one..even though I identify as sexually fluid."

I'm looking at Jade for some kind of answer when she confirms that she was hiding something from us. Ever since that day in the dressing room last year I always suspected that she might be. I know artists see the woman's form as beautiful but it was the look of panic when she said it. I sigh, "Alright so you confirmed my year long suspicion. But I meant what I said. I'm falling in love with you. If you're not then it's perfectly fine. That's not what I'm expecting from you. I never wanted you to leave Beck just fall in my arms. I never wanted to wreck you guys. That was never my hope. Now when I found out he cheated and had to tell you. That's the only time I wanted to wreck Beck for you. I'm not even lying as soon as that bimbo told me I wanted to break his face. I legit saw red and thought about beating the living shit out of him..", Jade is sitting there raising her pierced eyebrow at me. She starts to giggle, "You were going to go beat up Beck for me? Tor, you might've gotten hurt. No one understands how cruel he could be..", lowering her eyes from me. I immediately become concerned, my voice turns darker, "Jade you better not finish that statement saying he ever laid a hand on you. I will leave right now and go beat the living shit out of him. A man never hits a woman. You never beat the person you love.", she doesn't even speak. The look in Jade's eyes speaks volumes. They're screaming at me. My jaw clenches. I see full red. All I hear is Jade telling me not to do anything stupid. I rip my keys from the hook. I fly in a fit of rage down the road, I don't give a fuck if I get pulled over.

I whip into his driveway, my car door flies open, not even bothering to shut it. I rip the RV door open. I see Beck and that bimbo sitting there. Beck has a bewildered look plastered on his face, "What the fuck is your deal Tori!", I don't even give him a chance. I rip him off the couch, off his feet. I slam him into the floor, pinning him down. I punch him in the face, "You fucking worthless jackass! How the fuck could you hit her!", as I'm screaming in his face, the blows are landing. I don't even know what I'm doing at this point. Suddenly I hear, "Tor! TORI VEGA! STOP. STOP!!!!", as I feel arms wrapping around me to pull me away. I realize it's Jade, she's pulling me down the stairs. She shuts the door with her foot. I'm fighting Jade hard, trying to get back to Beck. She sets me down on the concrete, "Hey hey..breathe..breathe, take a deep breath. Calm down baby, I think you did enough damage..", stroking my face lightly, "Alright, your eyes are brown again. You scared me for a minute there. I thought you were going to slaughter him. I will say you did a number. Jesus what got into you..", looking a little concerned.

I'm seriously concerned for everyone's safety when Tori flies out the door to her car. I realize I probably shouldn't have said anything. I've never told anyone about Beck hitting me or smacking me around. I've never seen Tori's eyes blacken and the sheer look of rage. I pull up on his RV, seeing her car door and his door wide open. Then I hear the screaming from three different people. Tori is screaming all sorts of things about him beating on me. I hear him screaming in pain while another girl is screaming in terror. I slam on the brakes, throw in park, and bolt into his RV. Tori is on top of Beck beating the living shit out of him. I see blood. Immediately I'm screaming for her to stop. I realize she's gone, so I just grab her to pull her off. I drag her down the stairs and outside. After I calm her down, I ask what got into her. Tori's still pissed, spitting out, "I couldn't deal with the thought of him smacking you around. It instantly pissed me off. I saw red. I didn't know what I was going to do but I knew it wasn't good. Then I got here and saw that cheap bimbo here. I snapped. I hope I didn't do anything too serious. Maybe we need to leave..", as she goes to stand up. We get in our vehicles and head back to Tori's house.

I pull into my parent's driveway. I lay on my head steering wheel, feeling the sting of tears in the corners of my eyes. Jade knocks on my window, looking concerned. I step out of my car. Jade grabs me, pulling me close. I start to sob softly, feeling her hand rubbing my back, "Hey, hey. It's okay babe. I know you didn't mean to hurt him. That you were just protecting me, I appreciate that greatly.", she pushes me back a little. Jade uses her thumb to wipe the streaks away. I muster up a smile in return. I pull her in for a soft kiss, "Sorry for scaring you like that. When you said he used to be so cruel then you gave me that look. I instantly knew what he did. I lost it. I couldn't deal with someone hurting you.."

Tori is beating herself up now. She shouldn't be so hard on herself. I honestly appreciate the fact that she defended me when I felt defenseless. I caress her face, "Baby it's okay. You don't need to feel bad for doing the right thing. I never had the courage to stand up to him. I should've fought back, I just feared it would make things worse for myself. Probably explains a few things about why Beck and I could never work. I know people think I'm a monster but they don't know the meaning", I have to stop talking as the tears are starting to streak my face. Tori is now wiping my tears away, "Shh, it's okay. He won't ever hit you again. I hope he never hits another woman after that. Hopefully I gave him a piece of his own medicine", as Tori pulls me into her chest, letting me rest my head.

I let Jade rest her head on me. I can't believe she never told anyone that he was beating on her. She probably didn't want what just happened to happen. Jade pulls away from me, grabbing my hand and leading us into the house. She guides me to my bathroom, "C'mon sit down so I can clean up your hands. I noticed you busted your knuckles..", as she starts to look around for supplies.

I grab peroxide and a rag to start cleaning her knuckles. Tori winces slightly but doesn't make much of a fuss. This girl is a lot tougher than she seems. I mean how many girls take on a grown boy and take him down. Not many. I know I couldn't have done it or I would've looked a lot worse. I smile at Tori, "Let me dress them for you real quick. You're tougher than I thought", as I wrap her knuckles covering the damage.

Jade just said I'm tough. I chuckle at her, "I guess so. I told you I went into a blind rage and I didn't know what was happening. I'm not sure if that makes me tough or just crazy..", looking at her for an answer. Jade smiles at me, "I think you're tough. I think you're strong. I think you're beautiful. I think you're so much more than you give yourself credit for. And I think I'm falling even harder for you now..I was going to give your prize tomorrow..but I think you deserve it early..", I look at her confused.

I'm so nervous right now. I had a big plan for her next prize. Now I'm about to go for it in her bathroom. What have I gotten myself into? I take a deep breath, "I wanted you to prove yourself to me. Prove that you truly had feelings for me. Especially before I decided to date you. Now that you have, come with me.", I grab Tori's hands carefully, leading her to her room. I guide her to sit on her bed, "Stay right there", as I disappear quickly.

Jade disappears, I hear the front door open and shut as well as a car door. Jade appears in front me in a flash holding a large canvas. She seems nervous about what is about to happen. I smile sweetly trying to ease the tension. Jade swallows, trying to ease her nerves, "This was my final project in my painting class. I just finished it last week. My teacher said it was one of the most profoundly beautiful paintings she's seen", stopping to ready herself, "Please close your eyes"

I close my eyes, "Alright Tor, count to twenty then open your eyes", I start to count. I'm so nervous but excited. I mentally reach twenty, opening my eyes. In front of me is a large scale painting of myself. I'm completely nude, with my hand tastefully covering myself. My hair is flowing loosely around my head, draping down my shoulders, covering my nipples and breasts carefully. My head is tilted back with my eyes looking up in ecstasy. I gasp loudly, a slight blush forming. I understand what the teacher meant by profoundly beautiful.

Jade clears her throat softly, "I hope you like it because it's yours now..I was going to give it to you during our date but I want you to have it now. Thank you..for standing up for me. Thank you for making me feel whole again. For making me feel wanted. You made my life worth living again. You gave me strength", leaning forward and kissing my cheek. She smiles softly, her cheeks pink with soft blush. I start to remember the small things that led me to this point. To fall in love with her more and more each time. Peeling back the little things that make her tick. That makes her J to me. I know for once my heart led me to the right person. I don't care if she isn't mine forever. I just want her for as long as possible. I want to give her a reason to fall in love with me. To give her peace. Give her hope. Make her know what love truly means.