Disclaimer, see chapter one.
:}
Trina drove the girls back to her place to find Tori and her friends had returned and taken over the living room area. "Don't you miss the days when we could just displace Tori and her little friends?" Margo asked.
Maddy saw them, rushing over to greet Trina with a hug. "Trina, how're you doing?" The taller girl asked.
"Oh, boob, right to the face." Chloe commented.
"Chloe, what gives?" Cindy asked. "Aren't you supposed to be all glum and brooding?"
"Brooding's overrated." Chloe said. "It may look deep, but it's depressing as hell. No, I had fun today, and I don't feel like letting it end just yet. So how about this? We share the space. Tori and her impossibly hot friends are using the kitchen table, so we use the living room, maybe watch a movie."
"Depending on the movie, I may join you." Maddy said. "I'm not that into poker."
Beck and Jade both looked annoyed, something that surprised Trina. 'Jade, this is normal for her, but Beck? I think he doesn't like that his girlfriend isn't into the group activity.'
"So, Trina, what'd you and your friends do today?" Tori asked, smiling.
"Don't engage them." Jade growled.
"She's my sister." Tori defended her actions.
"I, uh, we went and visited Jax." Trina admitted, looking at Maddy with apologetic eyes.
"Good, I was hoping you could help him." Maddy said, making everyone feel a bit more relieved. Everyone, that is, except Beck, who was realizing his date now had business with Trina.
"We hung out, went and did some kid stuff, ate lunch at Karaoke Dokie, sang some karaoke, then did a bit of sight seeing. It's amazing the things we'd never visited, and we chizzing live here. But we saw the walk of fame. Then we headed back to the Palm Woods..." Trina was on a role.
"Home of the future famous." Cindy chimed in.
"Been there, not that special." Jade commented,
"JADE!" Tori warned.
"Anyways." Trina huffed. "We hung out there, looked at some of the minor celebrities, and then had dinner. Turns out Jax can cook."
"Jax can cook?" Beck asked, not sure he heard that correctly.
"Jax can cook?' Maddy asked, not sure she'd ever seen him eat anything that wasn't brought to him. "You mean, heat chiz up, right?"
"He's addicted to cooking shows." Chloe offered. "But don't worry, Margo here busted his chops for it."
"Really?" Andre asked. "We're really pausing the game cause Trina had a day out with a male model?"
"Give her a chance." Robbie said. Then he addressed Trina's group. "Sounds like you guys had a fun day."
"Oh, we did." Cindy assured him. "We totally did."
"Jade, right?" Chloe said, addressing the goth. "Just wanted to say, you scared the holy chiz outta Margr- mrummfff." Margo's hand was over the wanna be vampire's mouth.
"Oh, I know." Jade dropped, even as a smile broke across her pale features.
"Um, guys, I recommend we do what Trina's friends suggested, and get back to whatever we're doing." Tori said. "I know most of us aren't gonna be up that late, and Trina's friends have to drive all over L.A. to get home."
"Any of you gonna be near Venice?" Cat asked. "My roommate's coming by to pick me up, and she, no, wait, we can only fit two people on her motorcycle."
"It's okay." Maddy said. "Beck and I can drop off anyone who needs a ride. We could use a late night drive through L.A. anyways. That is, assuming you all live in relatively safe neighborhoods."
"Why don't you give Chloe a ride." Cindy suggested. "Margo and me, we're kinda near one another, and she can give me a ride easy."
"Okay, lets get our movie on." Trina suggested, pulling out a musical. She chose Rent, cause it had the right feel for everyone, and put it in the DVD player. Seconds later, they were wading through the list of adverts before the main event.
It was just after the movie that Beck and Maddy left, driving Chloe home before he dropped the ex model off at her place. The rest of Trina's pals also left, saying their goodbye's and giggling about a day well spent. Trina missed them, almost as soon as they were out the door, because while they had their differences, they believed in her talents, and that was all too rare at Hollywood Arts.
As for the rest of Tori's friends, Cat wasn't leaving, since her roommate had called, and asked if someone else would give her a ride. Instead of heading out so late at night, Tori suggested she stay over and they film an episode of the "Funny Nugget" show. Jade took that as her excuse to leave, offering Robbie a ride, since Beck had been the one to bring the puppeteer, and the handsome Canadian was gone now. Andre also took off, since he'd only stayed to offer Robbie a ride, and when that necessity ended, so did his reasons for being there. With that, the room was reduced to just the Vega sisters, and Cat, who was looking for something sugary to help her 'Get in character' for the show.
Trina went up to her room and checked her emails, messages, updates, the usual stuff. Mixed in her normal correspondence was something from Jax.
Trina (From Jax): I really did have a wonderful time tonight. Love to do it again some time. I'd forgotten what it was like to be a teen.
Trina (From Jax.): Also, I get it. I get why you won't date me, and wish you luck in finding that special someone.
Trina (From Jax) I know I should be rediscovering who I am, working on being a better person, but sometimes, you meet the right person and your world changes.
Trina (From Jax): I guess what I'm asking is, do you think I should be dating, if I meet the right one?
Trina (From Jax): Also, is Chloe seeing anyone right now?
Trina let those messages slide, not ready to think about what the handsome boy was asking. Inside, she knew there had to be more, but she let it slid, wanting to rest and regain her faculties before she tackled the obvious question. So the older Vega sister rested, but her mind drifted back to that one thought. 'Chloe, Really…?'
Sunday passed with Trina thinking about what Jax had asked. 'Chloe? Really? I mean, she's cute enough, I guess, but she's like, totally average. And yea, she has that mystery chiz going on, with the whole Vampire subculture. Only, she's more hot topic then anything else, and yesterday, what she was was alive.'
Jax. (From Trina): Chloe just got out of a relationship.
Jax. (From Trina): My advice, hang out with her when you can, and see what comes of it.
Jax. (From Trina): After maybe a month, if you're still interested, I'll give you her number, and you can ask.
That set Trina's pattern for the next few weeks, a patters she followed without realizing she was in a pattern, or that things were winding towards a seemingly major change that would happen, bit by slippery bit.
During the day, Trina'd go to school, hang out with Tori and her friends, maybe try out for yet another part she wouldn't get. But Trina, as always, believed in her dreams, and pushed to make them a reality. But after each play posted it's cast, or each time she was "Edged out" for a spot in one of the performances, only Maddy, and to a lesser extent, Jade, were there to comfort her. At least Maddy was willing to hug her, tell her she believed in Trina's ambition.
After three weeks, Trina needed a release. "Jade, what the holy hell is your game?"
"What?" The normally cruel goth asked. As per usual, Trina had found herself spending more and more time with her older friends, as well as Jax, if for no other reason then to help the male model see if Chloe was the girl for him. Even Wendy and Ron, her boyfriend, had come by at one point. It hadn't worked out, since Ron Sims was the son of a local AM radio personality, Venus Rising (real name Gordon Sims), and as such felt he was supposed to be the biggest celebrity in his social group. Tori's budding stardom threw the curve off, making the poor boy feel like he had something to prove. In the end, he was left feeling like he'd somehow lost, when the competition wasn't even aware there was a challenge. Also, throughout those visits, Jade had stoically supported Trina, even to the point of making the normality relaxed and controlling Ron run from the house in fear.
"I totally get you supporting Tori, but why me? I mean, last week, that thing with Ron, you didn't have too." Trina explained.
"Ron?' Jade asked.
"Black boy, came with Wendy..." Trina tried. Seeing Jade wasn't gonna just admit she knew who Trina was talking about, the older girl pushed forward. "Wendy is one of my oldest friends, who happens to be Black, date's a black boy and is wazzed at me for letting, and I'm quoting, 'a Psychotic goth chick threaten to castrate him with a pair of rusty scissors.' Yea, that." Trina glared at the goth.
"Oh, him." Jade shrugged. "I'm kinda, sorta dating your sister." Jade admitted. "Just not yet, you know, publicly. So that, and we've been getting along a lot more since Maddy came into the picture." Jade sighed. "That's you and me, not me and Tori, though honestly, that's been going nicely too."
"Maddy's sweet." Trina said. "And she just wants to be your friend…" A dark smile crossed Trina's face. "Which means you'll torment her, then date her?"
"Not tormenting Maddy." Jade insisted. "Beck asked me not too, plus she's not a threat to anything I have or want. No, I just find sweet girls like her nauseating. I have Cat, and that's about my limit." Jade sighed. "Besides, Tori has a lot more bite to her. I love he way she pushes me, fights back, makes me want to be more then I am. I love being challenged, and supported, and I figure I owe her a little support in return. That kinda extends to you, kinda, you know, like a default mode."
"You don't need to apologize for being nice to someone." Trina stated.
"I do." Jade insisted, showing a side of her that was a bit less confidant then Trina was used too.
"So, um, whats your thoughts on Jax?" Trina shifted subjects.
"I don't trust hot boys." Jade said sharply. "Whats he hiding?"
"Mad cooking skills and a major crush on Chloe." Trina told her sisters girlfriend.
"Figures." Jade grumbled. "Hot topic probably sells some kind of fetish, or charm, that lets their customers attract boys out of their league."
"Or maybe Jax is burnt out on the models he's been..." Trina was interrupted.
"Sleeping around with?" Jade said, smirking.
"Seeing." The older girl corrected. "Plus, Chloe has a wicked sense of humor. That is, she had one before Hot Topic stole her soul." Trina smiled, chuckling at her own joke.
"Jax would be fine, for you, except he's not interested in you that way." Jade said. "But as for him and Chloe," her shoulders rose and fell, a shrug of explanation, "some people just click. It's like an instant connection, one you can't describe. Part of the reason I was so mean to Tori was that click, and how it terrified me. I didn't know..." Her eyes held confusion. "It's like, um, I'd never had that connection before."
"Betting you had." Trina joked. "And I'm betting you became best of friends, despite being so different. So, I'm assuming, this time, you felt like..."
"If I felt it, then Beck's probably feeling it too." Jade finished for her. "So, thing is, if I'd been single, and aware enough of what I was doing, then maybe Tori and me, we'd have dated years ago."
"Better this way." Trina commented. "This way, you both can look towards the future, having had some bad relationships, and knowing what you want in life."
"And Jax has that feeling with Chloe?" Jade wondered.
"Not sure yet." Trina said. "But if he does, that means one more of my friends is seeing someone."
"Always the brides maid, huh?" Jade asked. "Let me get something out of my car." Jade got up and rushed out of the room. Trina was left sitting alone, sinse her sister was off at some practice, and her friends not expected until Saturday.
'Now I'm even more freaked.' Trina thought as the goth made her way back with something in her hands. "So, what're we doing until Tori and the others finish, wait, what are they doing again?"
"Tori and the others are in a one act play, something the schools putting on this weekend." Jade explained. "I managed to avoid any of the grunt duty in running the play by virtue that I wrote this one. It's about a man who..."
"Please, spare me the bloody details." Trina begged.
Jade's smile increased. "A man who accidentally married two women the same day. He'd wanted one, but made the other think she was the one, and because of contract laws, was tricked into marrying them both. But the woman he wants, she played her own trick, insisting she sign everything her husband does, and insists that the other woman is her wife too. I tried to make it so the audience doesn't know if this is how she's trying to keep her husband, or if she really wanted to marry the other woman. Naturally, complications will arise, but since it's a one act play, it's all about the crazy that happens as the different people realize they've been tricked, and then start making plays for what they want."
"Sounds confusing." Trina said.
"All good mind janks are." Jade replied, smiling. "And because they didn't want me playing one of the lead characters, I told hem I'd focus all my energies on rewrites, and thus am free unless they call me and tell me something's not working." She chuckled. "Gotta admit, that arrangement, it makes for a weird wedding, right?"
"Yea." Trina as eyeing the box Jade held in her hand. "So, not that I wanna distract from talking about your play, but whatcha got there?"
"Tarot cards." Jade said, smiling. "Out of fricking print, Gummy Bear Tarot cards. I keep them in my car cause I wouldn't be as wazzed if they were to disappear. Though, I'll admit, right now, I've almost grown attached. Honestly, I was giving a reading to some chick, someone my dad knew, and I saw an ace, and I was like 'Oh my gods, the ace of gummy!' Like there is such a thing. It's just a tarot deck, with the same meanings as the Rider-Waite decks, but with gummy bears instead of people, angles, whatever. But the look on her face..." Jade's smile was demonic, beautiful and unearthly.
'Okay, I get what Tori see's in her.' Trina thought. "And you have this deck why?"
"Twenty dollars for half an hour." Jade replied. "Professionals often charge a hundred dollars or more per hour, but I give a good rate, cause I don't have that many people who ask me to give them a spread. I do, however, charge that rate to my dad's business partners, and their wives." She smiled for a moment. "Usually I make about forty dollars every so often, just for an hours work. The wives of my dad's friends pay me to answer questions like 'Is he cheating on me,' or 'Is this the right course of action.' I even got one lady asking if she should drop her boy toy. Keeps me in pizza money."
"And you have it out why?" Trina tried again. 'Why am I not surprised she's into this kind of chiz? Wait, I am, cause I pegged her for something much darker then gummy bears.'
"I'm gonna answer that question you asked." Jade replied. Trina would then watch her shuffle the cards in a dizzying display of control before laying out the cards in a pattern that Jade insisted meant something.
"Thats weird..." Jade murmured. "One moment." She reached into her pack and pulled out a bag, and from that produced a bunch of stones from the small sack. "Okay, lets see whats going on..."
"Those are?" Trina asked.
"Futhark." Jade said as if it were obvious. "Norse runes. I sometimes use them when the cards are giving me odd results. Okay, lets see what they have to tell me…." Jade pulled out the runes, one at a time, but unlike the cards, she put the runes back in the bag, or laid hem out, based on whatever she was trying to figure out. "Okaaay..." Jade's eyes now bore into Trina.
"What'd it say?" Trina asked. 'Wait, I'm buying this chiz?'
"It said you already have your soul mate coming, so Jax needed someone else. So the fates, trying to make this easy on you, the fates arranged for someone else, someone he'd feel a strong attachment too, to come along and meet him." Jade explained. "Only, I'm also getting some results that worry me."
"What do you mean, worry?" Trina asked. 'Wait, I don't believe in this tripe, do I? I'm certainly reacting like I do. Then again, if anyone I've ever met was a witch, it's Jade.'
Jade just shrugged, her eyes digging into her tools, as if they'd somehow provide the answers, speaking them clearly to the pale girl. "I'll need to delve deeper into things. Just, remember, be careful what you wish for, cause sometimes you get the letter, not the intent."
"Experience?" Trina asked.
"Oh yea." Jade groaned. "Now, I'm gonna go do some research. Tell Tori to call me. I'll be around, and I really want whatever's coming next for me. Just, holy chiz, this is, I don't know, interesting? It feels like someone messed with forces they didn't understand, and got kinda lucky, or majorly unlucky." Jade let out a frustrated sigh, gathering her things up with quick but reverent motions before making her way out of the house, almost in a daze.
"You do that." Trina replied, not knowing what else to say. 'Man, that was weird. I suspect she was trying to help, but what the chiz? I mean...'
Tori would call later, letting her sister know they were ready, and she needed a ride. Trina, not ready to drive anyone, sent a mass text asking anyone else for help, and Maddy happily gave Tori a ride. Trina watched the tell blond wave from her car, a Cherry red 2012 Chevy Volt, as she let Tori out. The model seemed to notice, and waved at the window. Only some divine interference, in the form of a call, kept the blond from going into the house with Tori.
"You realize, Beck wanted to spend time with her, right?" Tori asked as she walked into the building.
"Ya, I should have gone and gotten you, but..." Trina tried to think of how she'd explain her afternoon with Jade. "Um, did you know Jade's into Tarot?"
"If it's dark and weird, she's probably into it." Tori dismissed her sisters statement. "Look, I don't drive. Next time, just come get me, okay. It's bad enough Jade was busy, and wait..." Brown eyes looked Trina up and down. "She was here, wasn't she? She gave you a reading, then what? Why didn't she offer to come get me when I called...?" She looked upset, ready to go further, into darker thoughts.
"Cause something in the reading caused some major freakage." Trina jumped in, saving the younger girl from her own doubts about her relationship. "I don't know, she was looking to see if Chloe and Jax had a chance, and it looked good, but then…. there were these stones with weird symbols on them, funsized, or something like that, and she did a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, and then had to go do some research."
"Oh, okay then." Tori seemed to agree, even if she did seem a little down about not being picked up by her girlfriend..
"You're really okay with that?" Trina asked, making sure.
"No, not really." Tori replied, ignoring the other implications of her sisters question. "But hay, what can I do about it. Jade's into some weird chiz. At least she doesn't collect dead bodies or something."
"She collects butterfly's." Trina told her sister. "Dead butterfly's. I swear, it's like no one realizes that you have to kill them to mount them."
"And on that cheery note, I've got homework to do." Tori announced, disappearing up into her room. Half an hour later, she came down.
"Finished?" Trina asked.
"So whats this about Jax and Chloe?" Tori asked.
:}
Okay, it's not the dark and dangerous, but yea, we're touching on the supernatural again here. This is close to as mystic as it gets, but it does speak of divination and delving into deeper things, all for pizza money. And yep, Jade reads tarot, and has the gummy bear deck. It's real, out of print, and just as I described it. Gives us a hint at whats going on behind the scenes too. So, thoughts?
I know, a building chapter, but this is important, kinda. Just, it sets a stage for more, later.