Tori:

Jade really reads me like an open book. She can tell what I need even before I utter a single word to her. And she is constantly thinking up all sorts of ways to help me, all the time. What did I ever do to deserve such a wonderful girlfriend? It feels like a dream, one which I hope I never wake up from if it's not real.

The anonymous private message I received on The Slap when Trina drove me to school this morning calling me a "disabled fag" didn't even hurt anymore. Jade and the rest of my friends like André clearly don't think of me this way.

I even managed to talk Jade into getting therapy for some of her childhood issues with me. It was surprisingly easy to get her to agree, since I thought she would outright refuse or show more resistance with regards to going to see a shrink. I guess she only agreed because she wanted to make sure I get better. Jade is really such a giant softie behind her scary scissory cloak, although it's something she would never admit to.

Maybe I can try to weasel some information about Jade's mother from her, since I'll have to meet with her eventually, because I'm even more sure now that there's no one else for me but Jade. And that means there is no running away from getting to know the family she is so reluctant to talk about. I've already met her father once during her "Well Wishes" play, and the conversation between them was stiff and just plain awkward. I just hope her mother isn't like that, but I don't really know the relationship Jade has with her. Maybe Jade would even want me to meet her dad again someday, as a different role this time, but that's for another day.

All these thoughts about meeting Jade's family was just stressing me out. Shifting myself out of her arms, I tried to swallow the nerves in my throat away. "So, how were you and your mom yesterday? You said she was finally home for once?"

Jade had a slightly annoyed look on her face. "Yeah, she was home but she flew out again today. I was forced to sit down with her and talk for a bit since we didn't really talk for half a year."

I could feel my jaw dropping. "That long?"

"My mom's hardly ever home anyway, and never for more than three days at a time. But we are on slightly better terms compared to me and my father. The last time we had a disagreement was when she told me I could not get my face pierced over text, and I did it forty-five minutes later, took a picture and sent it to her," Jade finished, the familiar lopsided smile forming on her face.

"So, erm, did you tell her about us?"

The smirk on Jade's face grew even bigger. "Can't wait to meet the old woman?"

"No! It's just that you know, I want to make a good impression on her. I mean, I don't even know what she's like, and what if she doesn't like me or disapproves of us being together because I'm a girl or…"

Jade snorted a laugh, clasping my hands in hers. "Relax, Tori. My mom's cool about this. I told her about having a new girlfriend and she didn't even bat an eyelid."

I let go of the breath I had been holding. "Ok. That's good."

"She even got me a shiny new pair of scissors for my birthday, so she's not that bad. Sometimes."

Oh right! Jade's birthday!

I pulled the cd from my bag, bundled up in a scissor themed wrapping paper, pushing it towards her. "I made something for you. Happy birthday, Jade."

"What's this?"

"Just a little something from my heart. I hope you like it." My face grew a bit warmer upon saying that.

Jade ripped the wrapper off. "A cd?"

I nodded furiously. "I wrote three songs for you, with some help from André. It's like a mini album, titled 'Jade'."

"Oh my god. Tori, you did not."

It's nice to see the rare, genuinely delighted smile on Jade's face. "Would you go out with me tomorrow? It's a Saturday, so we can spend all day together, doing whatever you like. Maybe even go to a cemetery or morgue if you really really want to…"

That brought a booming guffaw out of her. "Sure, we'll go out and have fun together. I'll go back home to change in the morning, then come back to pick you up at around five."

We walked out of the Janitor's closet together when the bell rang, hand in hand.

After Jade went home on Saturday morning, I spent the entire afternoon mulling over what to wear, since I can no longer wear heels or any of the fancier boots I was used to. Those are things I really miss. The only type of shoes I can reliably wear now without any issues is sneakers, and this means wearing casual clothes like the ones I usually just throw on for school.

Maybe next time I'll be able to get a few more legs that are angled differently to wear different types of shoes.

Sighing, I picked out a pink t-shirt with some not-so-skinny jeans, completing my look with a thin brown jacket. I've been putting off going out with Jade outside of school for this very reason: being unable to wear more date appropriate clothes, but it won't be fair for Jade to spend her birthday lounging at my house.

After changing, since I still had some time left, I decided to go for a short ten minute walk to the florist near my house to get her some flowers. Maybe a couple of black roses? It's not exactly the most suitable color to give to someone when going out on a date, but Jade's different. Special.

Ok, black roses it is then.

While passing by a back alley, I felt something hit the back of my head hard, then the world went dark.