"How long are you going for?" I sat beside Tori on the edge of my pool. It was a hot summer day, not unusual considering it was the beginning of July, but this one seemed hotter than before. Heat rays could be seen if you looked hard enough into the distance, even the side of the pool was beginning to burn my bare skin as I sat on the warm tiles. The bright sun had begun to burn my pale skin whereas the rays were shining on the brown girl beside me, making Tori's tanned skin glow considerably more.
"Only a week." Tori smiled.
"And who are you staying with in Vegas?"
Tori giggled. "I'm staying with my Aunt. Trina and I used to visit her every summer but now she has summer school it'll be just me going to visit. I don't mind though because I have friends up there I can hang with and my Aunt is super cool."
"What are your friends like?"
She tilted her head towards me slightly, her face crumpling a tad in confusion. "Umm, just normal friends." She laughed, her face relaxing again. "Kind of dorky, you probably wouldn't like them." She pushed a few strands of hair off her face, a hint of embarrassment in her pink cheeks.
"Probably not."
"Tell me about your friends some more." Tori dipped her toes into the clear water that made up my swimming pool. She flicked the water up, her eyes following it as it flew into the air and rippled back down into the pool.
I watched the water make rainbows against the sunlight before opening my mouth. "Why?" I questioned, cocking my eyebrow at her and raising my sunglasses into my hair. "You've met them, you know what they are like."
"I feel like I don't know much about them. I know you see them when you're not with me and I'm just curious I guess, I want to know if they are like you or like me or whatever."
"They're alright." I pushed my sunglasses back over my eyes and glanced across my yard, avoiding her obvious looks at me.
"Jade.." She rolled her eyes at me, pouting her lips and trying to get my attention.
"Don't roll your eyes at me." I grit my teeth at her. She knew how much I hated eye rolling yet still insisted on doing so.
She crossed her arms over her chest, a cheeky grin on her face. "Fine, whatever." She moved her entire body into the water now. She slipped into the pool slowly and elegantly, the cool blue liquid consuming most of her body as she stood on her tip toes, her arms resting on the sides of the pool.
I felt a deep sigh release from my lips as I slid in after her, a lot less gracefully than she had done seconds earlier. "My friends are unique, put it that way. One of my friends carries a puppet around on his arm and talks to him as if he's real."
Tori let out a shocked giggle. "For real? I thought he was doing it for a joke at the party!"
"Yep. God knows why I'm friends with him. The puppet is kind of like his weird alter ego and he always hits on girls and shit like that. It's freaky." I pulled a face just thinking about it. "And one of my friends has this crazy Grandma, and she's always calling him in school and freaking out over tiny things. Like before school broke up for summer vacation she rang him screaming from inside her closet because she thought she could hear voices coming from the walls and it turned out she had left the TV on." I chuckled slightly. "She's insane. Like literally, I'm sure he said she always forgets to take her medication!"
"Wow." Tori's mouth was in a permanent 'o' shape as I spoke to her.
"Then I have one friend who's hair color is this mental shade of red because she is obsessed with red velvet cupcakes so she had to make her hair match. She's got the mentality of a ten year old but she's a good friend when she needs to be. I've known her for years so even though she annoys the crap out of me a lot of the time, I do love her I guess."
"She dyes her hair to be like a cupcake?" Tori's eyes lit up as she giggled again.
"Uh huh." I nodded. "And then there's my ex.." I trailed off, watching her reaction as her face dropped slightly.
"No, go on." She tried to half smile but I could see right through her. I knew she didn't really want to hear about him.
"You sure?" I took my sunglasses off totally now, making sure I was concentrating on her fully.
She nodded. "I want to know about him, seriously." Her smile seemed more real this time around.
"We dated on and off for two years. He's a down to earth guy and one of the most popular guys in school. His downfall is his total lack of emotion. He's just so bland and laid back about everything, which was good sometimes but he just showed no feelings towards me a lot of the time, which didn't bother me too much as I hate that overly soppy and gay kind of shit, but I needed it sometimes, you know? It's nice to be reminded of how loved you are and how much they appreciate you every once in a while." I bit my lip slightly. I felt bad talking about my ex in front of Tori, it just felt weird. "We have a lot in common I guess, but I just don't love him like that anymore. Our relationship ran dry. But he's just my friend now and that's cool."
"Well that's a relief." Tori joked. "He's an idiot for letting you go, but if I ever meet him, remind me to thank him because that means you're all mine now." Tori kissed my cheek with a cheesy smile on her face.
"So gay." I mocked.
"You gonna miss me?" Tori looked around the pool before planting her lips softly on mine.
"Not one bit." I kissed back, smirking into her lips.
...
"Tori not coming over tonight then?"
"No." It was the first thing I had said over dinner tonight. I'd sat in silence just listening to my parents and brother converse all evening. I struggled to find anything to say to them, I had nothing in common with any of them. My Father was constantly talking business and didn't care for any other input across the dinner table. Whereas my Mother was forever trying to talk to me and although I would nod and occasionally crack a fake smile it was almost torture listening to her talk as she is by far one of the most ignorant people I have come across in my lifetime. And then there's Jett, probably the most sane of us all but because of the age gap it was hard to keep a decent conversation going for more than a few minutes. So as usual, I sat in silence.
"Well there's a surprise." My Mom chipped in, glancing a look over to my Dad before placing her eyes back onto the wine glass glued to her hand.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Why don't you ever spend time at her house? It seems that every other day that girl is here. Whatever happened to Beck and Cat and that strange boy with the puppet?"
"I still see them they just don't come over that often, that's all." I felt a ball of anger beginning to build in me. I stumbled over words as I tried to answer her question. I didn't know why we never went to Tori's, we just didn't. We always ended up at my house for one reason or another. "Our house is bigger and closer to everything." I made up.
"I barely even notice the girl so it's no problem for me." My Dad finally pitched in, shocking me slightly at the fact he'd stuck up for me.
"That's not the point. She's just always here, that's all."
"I like Tori, she's nice to me." Jett added innocently.
"Whatever." I pushed my half full plate into the middle of the table before storming up the stairs and into my dark bedroom.
It had only been a few days since Tori had left for Vegas and already I was yearning for her to be back in LA and back with me. I felt pathetic, like I needed her to breathe and to function normally. I'd functioned normally without her before I met her, so why couldn't I do that now? It was ridiculous I felt this way. The moment I watched her drive off my stomach tensed into a tight knot, it was a feeling I'd never felt before and it hadn't left since that moment. I missed her, way more than I should.
'Do you wanna skype?' Popped up on my phone.
My Pearpad turned on slowly, allowing me time to re-adjust my hair and make up before logging into skype. I twirled a blonde curl around my finger, pulling the last bit of hair into place as I hit the call button.
"Hey!" Her cheery face answered the call. I felt an immediate calmness as I saw her face on my screen. Her enticing brown eyes gazed at me, making me almost melt on the spot.
"Hi." I squinted at the screen. "I didn't realise we would have company."
"Oh, this is Katie. She wanted to see you." Tori laughed bashfully to the girl beside her.
"She won't shut up about you!" Katie added, rolling her eyes at Tori. "I can see why now though."
My cheeks blushed. "She's a dork. Wait, hold up. Are you drinking?"
"You look impressed." Tori replied, holding up a bottle of vodka.
"Well yeah, when I first met you, you could barely manage a shot of that stuff."
A smug look appeared on Tori's face. "Care to join us?"
"Fuck it, why not." From beside my bed I grabbed an old bottle of vodka and took my first of many shots.
"No I'm serious. She will not shut up about you. It's all I've had to listen to for the past few days." Katie slurred into the camera, her lips peeling into a smile as she turned to face Tori. "I've waited all summer to see her and I haven't been able to talk about anything else other than you!"
"Like what?" My eyebrow rose.
"Like how you're just super sweet to her and you're fun and outgoing and laid back and how beautiful and smart you are."
I watched Tori blush from the corner of the camera. "Vega, you are so gay."
"It's true though. You're perfect." A drunken Tori blurted out. She had already had far too much to drink. She was laying across her bed, facing the ceiling and occasionally looking at the camera to talk to me.
"I need to meet you one day, Jade. After all she's said about you, you sound awesome."
"I love Vegas so I'd love to come visit one day."
"Why not come now? Tori's Aunt would totally let you stay, she lets me stay all the time. The bus or the train wouldn't be that much either." Katie's voice changed pitches as the excitement in her rose.
"Oh my god yeah!" Tori sat up quickly, her voice going even higher than Katie's.
I didn't even have to think twice before I'd googled train and bus times to Vegas. "The train's only $60 and would only take me four hours. I could totally do it."
"Do it!" Katie added, moving closer to the camera with a massive grin on her face.
I looked at the black watch on my wrist, squinting to make my eyes adjust to the blurry and small numbers. "It's five in the morning! This is insane." I laughed as I purchased the tickets. This was by far the craziest thing I had ever done. I was going to get the train at six in the morning to Vegas to see Tori, still drunk.
"Are you serious?" Tori squealed. From the webcam I could see her eyes watering up as it hit her.
"Oh god, are you crying?" I rolled my eyes at her as I clicked the final confirmation button for the ticket.
"No." She lied, wiping her eyes poorly. "Are you coming to see me for real?"
"Yes, Vega. Right get some sleep and meet me at the train station at ten. Got it? I'm leaving now so I'll text you when I'm almost in Vegas. Do not forget me."
"Oh my god. I can't believe it. You're going to be here in a few hours!" Tori's voice beamed in excitement, tears still flowing down her cheeks.
"Shut up and get some sleep. Katie sort her out will you." I blew a kiss at the camera before ending the call and throwing together some clothes into a backpack.
My head was spinning as I grabbed personal items and threw them into my bag. Although very intoxicated I managed to pack my toothbrush, underwear and pyjamas before hauling it onto my back and tip toeing down the staircase. I was convinced the half an hour walk to the train station would sober me up but as I boarded the empty six o clock train and sat down I still felt my head spinning.
...
For the third time now Tori's phone had gone through to answer machine. "Where the hell are you?" Was my last message to her. I knew she hadn't done this on purpose but that couldn't stop how angry I had become. I'd been waiting at the station for half an hour in the boiling heat, waiting. Tori was a no show and no matter how many texts and angry messages I left her, I got no response.
"I'm gonna fucking kill you." I cursed at my phone. I'd bought a shitty magazine and was sat trying to cool off in the shade although it didn't do much. The heat was a perfect metaphor for how angry I actually was. I could almost feel the heat pouring out of me and I had no idea whether it was from the sun or because of how pissed off I was.
Another fifteen minutes passed before my phone rang. "Where the fuck are you?"
Before she even spoke I could hear her crying. "I slept through my alarm, I'm so sorry!" She blubbered. "Where are you? I'll come right now. I'm so sorry, please don't hate me!"
"Whatever, take your time." I couldn't feel sorry for her when I was this angry, even though I wanted to because hearing her cry wasn't exactly something I got pleasure out of.
"Jade, please don't hate me. I didn't mean to over sleep." Her voice wobbled.
"I know." I knew she hadn't done this on purpose, I knew that but it didn't stop me yelling at her.
"I'll be there in half an hour, okay?"
"Ok." I replied bluntly, hanging up before she could reply.
After another long wait, her shy and guilt ridden face appeared on the platform. It took a few moments as she walked slowly towards me, almost as if she was terrified of me. Not a single word left her lips as she finally crashed her body into mine. "I'm so sorry." She whispered, a few tears cooling my shoulders. Her arms wrapped tight around my neck, pulling me in as close to her as I could be.
"I know." I held her back tighter. I could feel her body shaking ever so slightly as I hugged her closer. All the anger I had felt towards her slipped away.
"I thought you were going to break up with me."
"You're an idiot. I wouldn't break up with you over this. Sure you stood me up but it's not like you did it on purpose, Tori." I laughed at her.
"I'll make it up to you I promise." She wiped her guilty eyes.
"I just want to go to bed. I haven't slept yet."
Her eyes widened. "Not even on the train?"
"I drifted off every now and again but it isn't easy sleeping on trains when you're drunk out of your face."
Tori smirked finally. "I can't believe you're here."
"Me neither."
"I missed you." She said in a cheesy voice.
"Don't be gay."
...
After a long day of meeting Tori's Aunt and having to force myself to stay awake all day long we were finally in bed. The seven cups of coffee I had drank all day to keep me alive were finally wearing off and my body was beginning to enter relaxation mode.
"I'm so glad you're here." Tori whispered as she lay on my chest, her right arm across my body and her legs entwined with mine.
"Me too." I ran my fingers across the back of her neck, playing with the baby hairs that surrounded my finger tips. Although my eyes felt heavy, they were wide open taking in everything.
Before we'd got into bed we'd spent hours sat at the top of the house staring at the view of Las Vegas. A million lights sparkled in the distance in every direction around the house, it was by far one of the most stunning views I'd ever seen. Both of us sat on the large window ledge in just our t-shirts, talking for hours. I'd never told her but my favourite look of Tori's was her casual look, the one where she wears a baggy jumper with leggings and her hair tied in a messy bun. All day I hadn't been able to take my eyes off her and now even though I was with her I couldn't get her out of my head either. My mind replayed the conversations from earlier as I cuddled in close to Tori.
"I love you." I whispered in her ear.
I could feel her heart beating faster as I pulled away from her ear slowly. She paused, holding her breath for a moment. "I love you too." She replied with a smile so big it could touch both her ears.
A/N - So I know I haven't updated this in months and I have no excuses other than the fact I've been busy with work and my girlfriend. If you're still reading this then you are a trooper! Hang in there ;)