TW : Child Abuse, Suicide mention

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Tori's POV

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After the incident in the art room with Jade, nothing really happened at school.

Jade decided that instead of interacting with me at all she'd completely ignore me instead, so at lunch she spent her time eating and listening to music instead of interacting with everyone else.

Beck tried to get her to talk to everyone after about two days of this, but quickly learned to let her be after she screamed bloody murder at him for interrupting her favorite song.

Everyone left her alone after that, and it wasn't until Friday that anything changed.

I'd finally gotten used to Hollywood Arts and it's quirks for the most part. My mom and I decided to ride together today since we would both be leaving at the same time today, so the car ride to the school was filled with loads of purposefully bad singing from both of us to 90's songs.

Once we made it to the school I had to help my mom carry a bunch of objects she'd bought for her classes to paint for the next week. Which is why I was carrying a massive fake tuna fish down the empty hallways.

My mom set down the things she'd grabbed before darting back to the car to get the rest of the stuff. Which is when I noticed the door was open a little already, so of course I pushed open the door and poked my head in.

I expected to see Jade again, but was surprised when I didn't see her anywhere in the room, but there was the same canvas from last week sitting on an easel in the middle of the room.

I raised an eyebrow as I cautiously looked around the room first to see if Jade was hiding somewhere, waiting to jump out and scare the shiz out of me. Since she hadn't been in a good mood, and the last time I caught her in here she couldn't seem to decide whether she wanted to kill me or not.

I didn't see her anywhere so I decided to take my chances and entered the classroom, slowly striding over to the easel.

Setting the giant fish aside, I felt my heart hammering in my chest as my eyes raked over the masterpiece before me.

It was me, but not.

It was absolutely stunning. Jade had somehow managed to make plain old me look like a goddess with the abstract way she painted me. I don't know how to describe the artwork in front of me other than saying it looked better than anything my mother had ever made.

I must have been in a trance because I didn't even notice someone was behind me until I heard a gasp which caused me to flinch, whipping my head around to see who was behind me.

My eyes widened as I came face to face with my mother, who had tears streaming down her face as her eyes swarmed over the painting in front of us.

"T-Tori! It's gorgeous! Why didn't you tell me you'd tried art again?!" She asked me shakily, snapping me back to reality again.

I stood there gapping at her for a few moments before opening my mouth to tell her that I didn't make this when I noticed Jade in the doorway.

She looked like a deer caught in headlights as she tried to assess the situation unfolding before her. I expected her to get mad and stride in and announce herself as the artist, but I wasn't ready for what she actually did.

After a split second of hesitation, her facade went back up.

"Vega didn't want anyone to know she was painting because she's insecure about it."

I blinked a few times, trying to process Jade's words as my mom turned to face her.

"Honey, this is absolutely stunning! You don't need to feel insecure about it! I dare say this piece of yourself might rival even some of my works! I knew you were artistic it just took time for you to find it!"

My mom was over the moon with excitement as she reassured me before stepping closer to inspect the painting further which gave me time to collect my increasingly jumbled thoughts enough to shoot Jade a 'what the fuck' look. Which she promptly shrugged at as she watched my mother gush over all the little details of the painting.

"H-Hey mom? Do you mind if I step out and talk to Jade for a moment?"

"Of course not! When you come back you must tell me how you created this texture!"

I quickly nodded as I reached out and grabbed Jade by the wrist and proceeded to drag her into the hallway. When I looked back at her she was staring at my hand around her wrist which made me immediately drop it. I expected her to get mad and tell me not to touch her, but she didn't say a word and instead raised an eyebrow at me like she didn't know why I'd dragged her out here.

"What the heck was that?" I asked in utter confusion, not understanding why Jade wouldn't take credit for her own work, let alone let me take the credit for it.

The goth girl rolled her eyes and sighed before raising an eyebrow at me.

"Why the fuck does it matter Vega?"

"Because I didn't make that! And now my mom is gonna think I actually have any sort of artistic talent!"

"And that's a bad thing because...?"

"Because I don't! Knowing her she'll start trying to sign me up for stupid art competitions again like she did when I was younger!"

Jade snorted at that, bringing her hand up to try and cover the small smile ghosting her lips that I'd already seen.

"Then just tell her it was a one time thing."

"My mom is persistent Jade! You don't understand!" I could tell I was getting louder with every word, and my anxiety was rising as I remembered horrible things that had happened as a result of art.

She wants you to suffer again.

She knew doing this would cause you pain.

She wants to see-

"Hey Vega? Snap out of it!"

I let out a squeak of surprise as Jade shook me by my shoulders a bit more violently than needed. I looked up at her with the best scowl I could manage, but she didn't even bat an eyelash as she let go of me and crossed her arms.

"I really don't see what the problem is. I don't want anyone to know I do art, and you don't seem to have any talents, so I'm pretty sure saying you made it benefits both of us."

I clenched my fists before unclenching them and furiously running my hands through my hair.

"Jade you don't get it."

"No- I don't. So what? Your mom thinks you can paint and signs you up for a competition or two. Just say no." Jade remarked like it was so obvious.

I groaned as I pressed the palms of my hands into my eyes before looking up at her.

"I can't Jade."

"What do you mean you can't? All you have to do is say no. It's pretty fucking simple Vega."

"NO! She's the only family I have left! I can't let her down!" I shrieked at Jade, catching the goth girl by surprise as she clearly wasn't expecting my outburst.

I could feel the anxiety attack bubbling up at this point as my brain forcefully replayed my childhood memories.

Scenes of sleepless nights in front of canvases, competition upon competition every week, a growling stomach that hasn't seen food for days, and seemingly never ending lectures about my incompetence.

My entire body began to shake, my breathing coming out with short, quick bursts as I shut my eyes when I was suddenly enveloped.

I was warm and could hear a steady and calming beat.

I felt strangely safe which allowed me to focus on my breathing.

It didn't take long for me to calm down, and I timidly leaned back a little which caused Jade to let go of me.

I was surprised the goth girl had hugged me, and I definitely hadn't expected it to feel so nice and calming.

I looked up at Jade with a blush and noticed she was looking off to the side with a blush of her own. It seemed like she hadn't expected herself to hug me either.

"Uhm... t-thanks..." I mumbled softly, looking down at the ground, forgetting the entire predicament that Jade had just caused minutes before.

"It's no problem I guess. I didn't really want to try and explain why you were having an anxiety attack to your mom, so I stopped you from spiraling..." Jade said in a matter of fact tone, turning her head back to look at me with a rather indifferent gaze.

"TORIIIIII? IS EVERYTHING ALRIGHT OUT THERE?"

I slightly cringed at my mother's loud voice coming from the classroom before sighing, looking up at Jade which caused her to raise an eyebrow at me in a 'are we done' sort of way. I sighed, knowing I couldn't do anything to change what was happening without royally pissing Jade off, and I couldn't bring myself to purposefully hurt or harm Jade in any way.

I silently resigned myself to the fact that I was probably in for hell from my mother, and I wasn't sure how in god's name I was going to survive her again.

"Everything is fine Mom, you don't need to tell there's nobody here yet." I defeated my sighed as I pushed open the door and reentered the classroom, Jade following close behind me.

"Ah! Sorry Tori, I thought I heard crying or something! But anyways, how long have you been keeping this from me?"

My mom stared at me expectantly, and I nervously nibbled on my lip as I frantically rushed for an answer.

"Only the past 2 weeks Ms. Vega. She came to me because she heard I had a key to the room, so I let her in the past couple Friday mornings to use the art room." Jade answered for me, saving me from the pitiful attempt at a lie my brain had previously been trying to form.

I released a little sigh and noticed Jade smirk a bit as I did.

"You could have just asked me for a key Tori. I'm your mother for goodness sake! Why on god's name wouldn't you want me to know you're getting back into art?"

I cringed a bit as she huffed at me, thinking back to all the reasons I wouldn't have told her even if I actually had gotten back into art.

"Sorry mom, I just wasn't comfortable sharing it with you yet..."

"It's fine honey. At least I know now so I can help! You're very talented just like I knew you would be once you let go of all your self doubt!"

I could already see where my mother was going with this and could feel my anxiety bubbling again as I remembered the last time mom 'helped' me in regards to art.

"T-That's alright mom... I think I'm good for now."

"Nonsense! Your talent must be shared with the world! I know exactly who to call! I'll be back in a moment!"

I began to open my mouth to tell her not to, but she'd already scurried off to somewhere in the back with her phone and I could feel a sense of dread wash over me.

I adored my mom. She was kind and compassionate, but her 'friends' were not so much. Particularly one of them who was her ex boyfriend named Brock.

Brock ruined my childhood. When I had turned 10 my mom started entering me in art competitions because I had been somewhat decent at drawing. At the time she began dating Brock who was an art critic, and the reason I quit doing art.

At first he was encouraging and just pointed out small things I could improve in my pieces, but that slowly evolved into telling me something looked horrible or needed to be completely different.

At that point I began to feel unsure of myself and my art, and tried to tell my mom that I didn't want to do the competitions anymore. I like to think my mom would have let me stop if she hadn't been influenced by Brock's manipulative ways, but because of him she didn't let me stop and instead basically allowed him to be my art coach.

Once that happened everything went to hell. He'd make me redo pieces over and over again for hours until they were just right for him. He'd deprive me of food until I'd get a painting perfect or until I started passing out. He'd tell me I'm worthless and untalented anytime I'd make a mistake or something he deemed 'imperfect'. I was too scared to tell my mom because when Brock wasn't treating me like garbage, he actually made my mom very happy, and I didn't want to take that happiness away because I couldn't handle Brock's coaching methods.

That lasted for 2 years.

When I turned 13 things changed. The week after my 13th birthday was hell.

Brock began hitting me.

It started with a rough head shove while he berated my artwork like usual, but quickly evolved into a slap across my cheek when I inevitably made another mistake.

Soon it escalated into full on punches to my gut and arms, leaving ugly bruises that nobody but I could see. He said it would remind me to be perfect, that the pain would make me a better artist.

I didn't believe him at this point.

But I couldn't ruin my mom's happiness, so I endured.

For 6 months after my 13th birthday I endured beating after beating both mentally and physically from Brock, and put on a facade to convince everyone around me that everything was fine. That I was fine.

I'm not sure when the voice appeared, but it showed up a little while after the physical beatings began.

It was quiet at first, but gradually got louder, telling me that I really was worthless and there was such an easy way to escape all the pain.

An easy way to keep my mom happy and release me from the torture.

I tried to ignore it, but when you're beaten both mentally and physically everyday you begin to desire anything other than pain.

It wanted me to end it.

It convinced me that mom would still be happy because she'd have Brock.

That Brock would be happy because he wouldn't have to coach worthless me anymore.

That I wouldn't have to suffer anymore.

That the world would be fine if I wasn't in it anymore.

Eventually it won.

After 6 months of beatings it was the day I'd decided to end it all when suddenly Brock was gone.

My mom had found out he had been cheating on her and kicked him out.

I spent that entire day in my room just crying.

I was finally free.

Or so I thought.

Over the following years I'd developed rather severe anxiety because of the entire incident in addition to a very distorted self worth image.

Brock may have been physically gone from my life, but he'd left a mental scar that I'd probably deal with for the rest of my life.

I couldn't bring myself to tell my mom what had been happening once it was over. My mind constantly told myself that I deserved what he'd done to me.

I had my first anxiety attack when an old friend of my mother's came over to celebrate Christmas with us when I was 15. He went to hug me and all my brain could think of was that he was going to hit me, and that sent me into an anxiety attack which ended with me passing out and ending up in the hospital.

Obviously my mom was incredibly concerned and immediately had me see a physiatrist once she was told it was an anxiety attack.

Whenever I have to go in to see my doctor to get my meds refilled she always tells me I can tell her anything. I never talk to her. I don't have any desire to talk about or think about those events.

I shudder as the memories rush through my head, closing my eyes and doing the breathing techniques my physiatrist taught me to calm down. I shift my mind to literally anything else and land on Jade.

The mysterious, moody goth girl who is older than me and unfairly pretty.

Thinking about her manages to calm me down enough to sneak a quick glance at her, and I'm surprised to find her glaring down the door my mom had left through and was now walking back through.

"Good news! Frank said there's an amateur competition that begins registrations this week, and he'll get you all signed up!"

I let out a breath of relief I hadn't known I was holding. I'm not sure why, but I thought she might have been calling Brock even though it'd been years since I'd seen him.

My mom smiled at me before grabbing the giant tuna I'd set down and moving back to the door.

"I'm going to go out this guy away since we don't need him until later in the week. I'm so happy you're getting back into art honey!"

I gave her a small nod before she waddled away with the big tuna, jumping a little as a voice pierced through the air.

"Your mom is a bitch."

"Hey! No she isn't!"

"You literally said no, and she's fucking doing it anyway. That's pretty bitchy."

I frown and lightly shove her shoulder which grants me a growl from her.

"Fuck off Vega!"

"You got me into this mess Jade!"

"I didn't fucking think your mom would be such as ass!"

I roll my eyes and stare at her, waiting to hear her genius plan to get me out of this.

She glanced at me before huffing.

"Don't look at me like that! I'm not about to fucking do shit for you Vega!" Jade hissed at me, making me let out a unintentional whimper as I shrunk away from her, Brock's aggressive nature still fresh in my mind.

Jade blinked at my reaction before she leaned away and tilted her head back with a groan.

"Fucking Christ Vega-" Jade mumbled out as she slowly lowered her head to stare intensely at me.

"Look. If you can just make like 2 more paintings for competition prompts I should be able to get my mom off my back after that."

"Why can't you get her off of it now?"

"Because you had to be so damn good at painting she wants to 'share' my talent with the world, so she's gonna force me to do at least 2 competitions. I'm hoping after that I'll be able to convince her that I don't want to do it anymore, and the 2 more pieces you make with be enough to satisfy her."

"God your mom is a bitch."

"Please stop calling my mom a bitch Jade."

"I do what I want, so no."

I sighed at the fuming girl in front of me as I pinch the bridge of my nose.

"What the hell do I have to do, so you'll do this Jade."

That made Jade grin with an almost predatory glint in her eye.

"I get your lunch money for the next 3 months, and you have to drive me wherever I want to go until we're done with your stupid competitions."

"Deal." I nodded before sticking my hand out for her to shake, waiting patiently as she eyes my hand before rolling her eyes and sticking her own hand out to shake mine.

I feel like I just made a deal with the devil.

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Long time no see guys! Things have been kinda hectic for me with a new fish being added to my family (Named Tiny Child). My job has been busy so I've been working a lot. I hope everyone had a happy holiday! I'm mostly making this part down here to give you guys a list of what mental issues Jade and Tori have in case any of you guys were curious.

Jade: PTSD, Mild Anxiety, Depression

Tori: Moderate-Severe Anxiety, Self Image Issues, PTSD