I don't own. Schneider's Bakery and Nickelodeon own everything but my original characters, the concept, and who knows, parts of Europe. This is for entertainment purposes only, and buys only my sanity.
:}
Despite her misgivings, Trina knew it was time to call Jax. She knew it was time to let him know what was up, and maybe help them both avoid him using girls like too many boys often tried to use her sister. But given his odd lifestyle, the Latina decided it was safer just to text him.
Jax (From Trina.): Spoke with Maddy, and at her request, won't be dating you any time soon. However, she said we should be friends.
Trina thought about sending another text. 'I should let him know I wanna talk...'
It would be a few hours later she'd get a reply, long before she had the courage to request a face to face.
Trina (From Jax F!): I'm staying at the world famous Palm Woods hotel. You should come by, wear something sexy. We have a pool, so swimwear is an option.
"Really?" Trina asked, looking at the ceiling. But that indignation lasted only a short time, before she went on line and looked up the Palm Woods. A quick search revealed that the Palm Wood was the place where a lot of kids who came to Hollywood with a dream and a contract in entertainment lived before they either moving up, or moving out. Trina decided that maybe it was time to visit Jax, if for nothing else, to see some celebrities.
'I wonder is Mrs. Lee knows about this place?' She wondered. 'Maybe I shouldn't tell her.'
Trina made plans to go visit, then let Maddy know about where they were. 'I'm gonna have to be his friend? How the holy chiz do you remain friends with a hot, talented guy and not let it become anything more?' She wondered, her mind reeling at the many possibilities, including how jealous her friends would be if she were seen with a guy like him.
Trina decided to ask Tori. "Sista, how the holy chiz do you and Andre remain friends and not let it drift into anything more?"
"I remind myself that he has baggage." Tori said. "Or at least, in the early days, I did. But as time went on, I found that we just worked as friends. Honestly, it's up to us whether or not we let sex become an issue. Once we get past that, and the fact that guys are gross, rude animals who don't seem to get it, then it's easy to be friends with them. Also, this whole thing I have with Jade, it's making me wonder if any of the hints I've given guys in the past were really so obvious."
"Baggage?" Trina asked. "Are we referrer to a near record number of ex girlfriends, or maybe his way crazy grandmother, who no way in chiz could yell louder then I can?"
"Lets just be sure which one of you is crazy, okay?" Tori jabbed.
"Hay, I'm not the one dating Jade." Trina said back. "No hating on the girl loving, just, I don't see it."
"She's sweet, if you get past her defenses." Tori insisted. "Just, you might get cut up a bit along the way. Jade's complicated."
"Actually, since she's started dating you, I've seen a lot more of an upside to her." Trina admitted. "But when you said yes, that was crazy, no excuses."
"So, whats this about being friend with a boy, cause to my knowledge, you don't have any." Tori said, shifting topic to safer territory. But she realized what she said was way mean. "Oh, sorry, I meant to say, you don't have many friends, cause I'm sure you have a few."
"Thanks." Trina drolled. She decided she needed another opinion.
Cindy Chau somehow made it clear, with her voice alone, that she didn't believe Trina. "I mean, you actually want to go to this Palm Woods, and meet up with some male model? Like, your really gonna do it?" Cindy sounded less then thrilled, and since neither had bothered with video chat, sound was the only thing Trina could judge her reaction by. "Have you run out of boys to try and woo at Hollywood Arts?" Inwardly, Trina was grateful her friend had avoided the word "stalk."
"This is… God, why does it have to be so complicated." Trina groaned. "Look, Beck, the hot guy in Tori's social circle, he's dating this new chick, and..."
"Whats her name?" Cindy asked.
"Really?" Trina asked back. "You really need her name? Like, you'd ever have met her?"
"Maybe. You never know." Cindy shot back.
"Madeline Fairchild." Trina huffed. "And her ex, a model name Jax, but professionally he's..."
"Jax F!" Cindy in, again. "He's hot."
"How did you know that?" Trina asked.
"My other phone has voice recognition." Cindy said. "I asked, got a picture of her, and him. Boys a looker. And you claim you know him?"
"I ran into him while he was stalking Maddy." Trina said. "Of course, that was before I met her, but that's another story. Thing is, we've been in communication, and he invited me to his place, at the historic and world famous Palm Wood Hotel. And of course, I had to tell someone."
"And you chose me over your highfalutin Hollywood Arts friends. How nice." Cindy scoffed. "Why not call Margo, or Reba, or maybe Wendy?"
"Margo's a bitch, Reba doesn't have the time, and Wendy would tell me I'm being ridiculous." Trina counted off. "So, why you be hating?"
"Cause I realized, over the last few weeks, that you do get to meet the beautiful people." Cindy whined. "Like this whole situation. You're gonna be a guest at the home of the future famous, cause you know some guy who used to date the current girlfriend of your sisters friend. Me? I know you, and Margo, and a few kids from school, and then there's Phil, who's dating again, and guess what, she's pretty. He made a point of introducing us, just so he could let me know she was prettier then I am." Cindy seemed wounded by the antics of her ex.
"So? He told you he wanted a collage girl." Trina said. "Look, I'm sorry thing's didn't work out for you." A kernel of an idea popped in her head. "But hay, why don't you come with. I know, it's a bit of a drive, but we could make a day of it, go visit this model, then maybe hit the beach, before fighting traffic to get you home."
"So you're offering to drive?" Cindy asked.
"I wanna get there in one piece." Trina joked.
"I can drive." Cindy protested. "I just don't like to. It's the boyfriends job to drive you where you need to go."
"I have to get you out of that house, before your mother sighs you up for Cotillion." Trina groaned.
"I've been going since I was twelve." Cindy informed her friend. "I even had my coming out ceremony."
"I knew they were open minded here in California, but wow, a whole ceremony?" Trina joked. "Seriously, I though you had to be older."
"To be a debutant, but not to go to Cotillion." Cindy replied. "I'm not part of the real society, but the stuff mom and dad sent me to, that was enough. As someone once said, I have the skills and graces to survive in eighteenth century Vienna high society."
"And you like that stuff?" Trina asked.
"My mom wanted me to be a lady, regardless of how my dad made a living." Cindy explained. "We may not be rich, but we have class."
"So, you coming with?" Trina asked, wanting to get focused back on the business at hand.
"If you'll give me a ride." Cindy replied. "In other words, you're paying."
"Sigh. Okay, I'll cover the cost of this one, but only cause my job paid okay, and I still have money laying around." Trina agreed.
"So your show is over?' Cindy asked.
"We're on hiatus." Trina explained. "We may be making new episodes real soon, or not for a while. It depends on if the writers can figure out how to expand the very limited scope of the running gag the show was based upon."
"I'm sorry about your show..." Cindy started.
"It's okay." Trina assured her. "I made some money, and I have contacts that will help me get the next show. Now, why don't we make arrangements for me to pick you up tomorrow, okay? I'm gonna need to do it early, cause I'm planning on spending some time with Jax. I kinda need to. I promised Maddy."
"About that." Cindy said, sounding a bit suspicious. "You're telling me YOU'RE friends with Maddy Fairschild? As in Fairchild industries? As in her daddy's rich?"
Trina let out yet another sigh. "Beck, my sisters really hot friend, is friends with Alyssa Vaughn. Yep, rich girl debutante Alyssa Vaughn. Surprised you hadn't met her at one of your Cotillions."
"Gank." Cindy said, but left it at that.
"Anyways, when Beck wound up single, Alyssa introduced him to Maddy..." Trina was once again cut off.
"Maddy's a model?" Cindy asked. "Why? I mean, her daddy's rich, so why would she want to work. I mean, okay, modeling has to be easy, and she makes enough money at it that she probably thinks of it as acceptable, but that's what? Pocket change for her?"
"You done?" Trina asked.
"Did she tell you?" Cindy asked. "Was it to hook up with hot young men?"
"Her mother was a model, and raised her to be one." Trina explained. "And she's dating Beck. I met her through him, and for some reason I cannot fathom, other then my innate awesomeness..."
"This is me, Treen." Cindy warned.
"Okay, we just clicked." Trina amended. "I don't know, she wants to live in our world, and I kinda like how down to earth she is. So, we're friends, kinda. I will admit she wants me to be friends with her ex. Told me not to date him, on account of his sleeping around, but she believes that he can be a good man, and wants my friendship to help mature him. I agreed, cause..."
"You're stupid?" Cindy asked. "Wait, that was uncalled for. I know what it's like to have some guy you care about stomp on your heart. In cleats." She let the hurt hang a moment. "So okay, lets go visit this so called world famous hotel that's the home of the future famous."
Trina smiled as she worked out the details, knowing she wouldn't be facing this trip alone.
The next morning Trina got up early, despite it being a Saturday, and prepared for her trip to visit Jax. Pulling out her phone to check her messages, she found a text from Cindy.
Trina (From Cindy): Found an alternate ride, will be at your place around nine.
Trina read the message, twice, before acting. She called her friend. As soon as the other side picked up, Trina spoke. "Who're you bringing?"
"Well, Reba was busy, and Wendy is doing something with her boyfriend, while reminding us all she has a boyfriend, so I asked Margo..." Cindy said, and was promptly cut off.
"You asked Margo?" Trina shot back. "Cindy, Cindy, Cindy, as much as we love her, we all know what she's like. I mean, we've known her a long, long time. We're going to the world of celebrities, and they don't like it if your a fucking gank."
"...And Chloe" Cindy finished.
"Chloe? Dietrich?" Trina asked. "As born again at Hot Topic Chloe? I thought she felt we weren't cool enough to hang out with any more."
"She was dating some guy, another goth, or vampire, or whatever group of depressive, horror inspired night walkers she's a part of, and that takes time." Cindy said. "But she's up, in the daylight, and coming with. So try to look past the dark cloths, the pentagram, and the.. wait, it's a pentacle. Apparently there's a bit difference. Oh yea, pentagrams are for white magic. God, Trina, maybe you can help her out of this delusion."
"I'll try, but that's not the mission today." Trina reminded them. "I'm gonna get something to eat. You guys have eaten, right?"
"We'll stop at Inside-Out Burger and get something." Cindy assured her. "See you around Nine. And make sure there's enough room in your car, cause you're driving from your place."
Trina hung up, and decided to get some more rest. She had an hour until they'd show up, maybe less. She would eat in about half an hour, but until then, her time was her own. 'Okay, maybe watch television?'
There was a knock on the door. Trina got up and checked to see who might be there first thing in the morning on a Saturday. What she saw was unexpected, but only due to the hour. Jade was standing there, tapping her foot. 'Guessing no one else is gonna get it, so...' Trina opened the door. "So, what brings you here first thing in the morning?"
"We're heading over to Cats, and from there, the beach." Jade said. "And this time, we're not all going in Beck's RV. Was a good idea at the time, but I'm thinking, we can probably walk from Cat's place, and there's plenty of parking. Also, no seat belts in the RV. I'm not his girlfriend any more, so I'd be relegated to the back, without seat belts. Not gonna do that. So, I'm here for Tori, Andre, and you if your interested."
"Normally I'd love to go, but I have plans." Trina informed the dark girl. 'Amazing, she doesn't really look that much like a goth. Her cloths are dark, and she has pale skin, but she dressed in whatever, more leather and lace then dark and depressing. And yes, she loved dark, scary things. But it's like, they'd call her a poser, but she may be more goth then all of them combined.'
"Something on your mind?" Jade asked.
"Just, some of my oldest friends are coming over, cause Maddy asked me to try and be friends with her ex, and so we're gonna go visit him at his place in the Hollywood Hills." Trina said, not even sure if that was an explanation.
"So, he's expecting you?" Jade asked.
"Me, yes." Trina said. "We've been in contact..."
"Has he hit on you yet?" Jade asked.
"First night." Trina replied. "And lately, just a day or two ago, I asked him if I could come over, talk. He invited me, and I invited my friend." Trina looked at the clock, not expecting anything. "I only invited one, but three are coming. I just wanted moral support, you know, and couldn't trust any of my crew from Hollywood Arts not to assume anything from me going to his place."
"When are they expected?" Jade asked, almost thinking she might want to wait, meet these friends of Trina's.
"About nine." Trina replied. "Don't you and Tori have to head out?'
"As soon as Andre gets here." Jade said. "Lets see how long it takes him, shall we?" Hr smile was anything but reassuring.
Trina really wanted the musician to rush there. 'I'm not embarrassed by any of my friends. It's just, my god, what would Jade do to them? I mean, yea, Margo's a bit of a mean girl, and Chloe is kinda dark and gothic, but I swear, none of them have ever met anyone like Jade West before. She just straddles so many lines...'
Jade sat down and engaged Trina in small talk, asking about her homework, work, anything to pass the time and not deal with Saturday morning cartoons. That promptly ended when Tori came down, got something to eat, which prompted Jade to start with their verbal sparring. 'Andre, hurry. At this rate, I'm gonna watch my baby sister do something very adult with her girlfriend, and I'm not ready for that chiz.'
About eight forty five. Trina thought her prayers had been answered by a knock on the door. Tori pulled herself form where she'd been sitting next to Jade, or on her, as the pale girls tickle bunny twins had wrecked havoc on the younger Vega girl to the point where Tori was forced to sit on the girl to stop her. Trina estimated they were seconds from a heavy make out session, confirmed by the groan that ripped from Jade's throat after Tori got off of her.
"Trina, we're here." Margo called out from the door. "We brought you a breakfast buster sandwich. You ready to go?"
Jade's face broke into a huge smile as the girl with the terminal case of "resting bitch face" found something entertaining to do while waiting for Andre to show up. "And who are these girls?" She asked, a dark joy in her voice that made Tori move.
"You know what? We should probably go check on Andre. Good to see you guys again, but we need to get going." Tori blurted as she tried to push Jade in the direction of the french doors towards the back, safely away from her sisters friends.
"Maybe you should call him first, while I get to know your sisters friends a bit more?" Jade suggested. Despite Tori's efforts, Jade had hardly moved.
Margo was already sizing her up. Jade was five seven, while Margo was only five five, so Jade had height and reach on the other girl. But the older girl, Margo, she wasn't the type to just back down. "Oh look, a goth wanna be. Chloe, looks like we found a pretender. Wanna make a comment?"
"I'm not goth, I'm vampire." Chloe said. "Goths are way to depressive, while I just brood." The girl was too tanned to even fit that sub genera, but at least had the dark hair to make her looks work. Apparently she didn't want to lose her California tan, not even for her clique.
"Oh. My. Goddess." Jade breathed. "This is gonna be so..."
"Sorry I'm late." Andre said as he walked through the still open front door. "Oh, looks like I got here just in time. Jade, you're driving?"
"Just a minute." Jade said, her evil smile gleaming on her pale flesh. "I have new people to meet. I'm Jade, and not all the rumors you've heard are true, just the ones that give people nightmares."
Margo scoffed, even as Jade fixed her glare on the girl. "Pa-leeze." She almost laughed. "Like a little girl like you could hope to..."
"She laughs at the scissoring." Tori tossed in. "And look, Andre's here. Time to go."
"She laughs at the scissoring?" Chloe asked. "Really? Cause that movies kinda sick, the way the main character..."
"Tawny Walker-Black." Jade helpfully offers.
"She kills her two best friends, while wearing a wedding dress. My god, I get how it's a good use of metaphor, the betrayal of a young bride, but who laughs at it?" Chloe continued.
"I even have prop scissors from the film." Jade boasts. "And no, I don't laugh at all of it, just some of the parts. Like, in the extended cut, when Tawny makes meatloaf out of the brains of her friend, and serves it to the girls boyfriend before cutting him up with her scissors. Now that's funny."
"Um, maybe we should go..." Chloe suggested, pointing towards the door.
"Good seeing you again, Tori." Cindy said, smiling. "My brother is wondering, are you single?"
"You're brother is fourteen." Tori replied.
"He still wants to know." Cindy said, but she felt awkward, and wanted out. "But look at the time. Trina said we were going someplace, and we really just wanted to pop in, say hi, and take off."
Jade's eyes hadn't left Margo, and the older girl was starting to feel the intimidation that came with that. "Yea, we probably should. Nice seeing you again, Tori." Margo said, unconsciously backing away from the younger goth.
Trina huffed. "Jade, stop." She instructed. "Their some of my oldest friends, and the last thing they needed was an encounter with you. Girls, Jade may look mean, and trust me, she can be, but she's one of Tori's best friends. I'll admit, she doesn't always act like it, but hay, she looks out for Tori like I do, so I accept her deep psychological problems as normal. Just, she can be, um, violent when provoked, so lets let her have this victory, and not worry about her overdeveloped sense of revenge, okay?"
"She gonna toilet paper my home?" Margo asked, suddenly wanting to challenge Jade again.
"According to her ex, her best friend, and a couple of others, Jade can kill with a roll of toilet paper, so lets assume toilet papering is a best case scenario." Tori offered. "Look, instead of us all puffing up and getting nasty, lets agree to be nice, and leave. This house shouldn't have any teens in it now, just my mom."
"And maybe your dad's partner." Jade said, earning her a slap on the arm.
"I'll have you know, Gary is with my dad." Tori huffed, then walked out the door. Andre followed, and Jade was forced to trail behind.
"Whats her malfunction?" Margo asked.
"You know how you use intimidation, social norms, exclusion, that kind of chiz, to bully someone?" Trina asked. "Jade adds violence, the kind no one can prove she did, and often leaves people hurting for a long, long time. She says as much in her Slap profile. However, the girl can be legitimately scary. But don't worry, right now, Tori has her on a short leash."
"Blackmail?" Chloe asked.
"Dating." Trina replied. "Tori and Jade just started dating, so aren't ready to tell anyone yet, but I'm already reaping one of the benefits, in that someone dangerous is looking after Tori."
"Pl..." Margo started.
"NO!" Trina cut her off. "None of that chiz. You have doubts, then have them. But trust me, I've seen the way boys act around her. She's terrifying, and you know, deeply intimidating, but the only reason most guys are scared of her is that she backs it up, and they're certain of that much. I'll tell you stories, sometime, but not today."
"One story." Margo said. "And I believe your driving this leg?"
:}
So, Trina's friends met Jade, and hilarity ensued. Answers the question, what do you do when dealing with someone as unique as Tori's friends? Sometimes, it's better to just find some way to avoid conflict, cause jade's not the normal mean girl. Also, Trina's on a trip with some of her girls. This doesn't look like a disaster. Finally, Cindy has a phone, and for some reason, Trina forgot. Brave new world, where people have the answers tot he trivia questions in their pockets.
So, thoughts...