Disclaimer: Don't own.
Disclaimer 2: All board games mentioned in this chapter are real. Go ahead, look them up.
:}
Standing just outside her home, Trina once again worried about what she was leading her girlfriend into. Tori's smile was almost predatory as she gestured for the two girls to enter. Seeing no other way, and since Maddy was already insistent on going through with this, Trina took her girlfriends hand and led her into the home.
Tori watched the two, making a point of placing herself between the two lovers and the door. That action felt like Tori was locking them in, while simultaneously pushing the two girls a bit further inwards and towards the second couch section. "Mom, dad, Maddy's here. Come, get to know her." The youngest Vega called out.
David walked out from his office wearing a nice shirt and slacks. "So, you're Maddy, right?" He asked, hand extended. "Nice to finally put a name to that face. I've seen you around, back when you were dating, Beck was it?" He paused a moment, thinking, before shaking his head. "No mater. See, while I'm sorry that didn't work out, I have high hopes you and Trina can make it."
"Even if it happened so fast." Tori added. "So, Maddy, I was wondering, where were your parents? I know you only recently turned eighteen."
"Tori, please." David said, holding a hand out to interpose between the tall blond and the singer. "She just got here. Let me take her coat, get her something to drink, let her settle in a bit. Then we can ask questions."
"Dinner will be ready in five." Holly called out. "And Maddy, how'd that present you got Trina work out?"
"I think I'd love something to drink." Maddy said, desperately trying not to sound nervous.
"This isn't Europe, so nothing alcoholic for you." David informed the former model. "I know they can be more liberal about drinking over there."
"I've seen what drinking can do to a young girls body." The blond girl said, oddly feeling a bit more confidant about that subject. "Specifically, she got pregnant, and it ruined her career. No, I'm good with soda." She offered a nervous smile as her comments reflected in her mind.
"Tori, why don't you help me set the table, get the food out." Holly called out. "Trina, you and Maddy relax. We'll be seating in just a few."
"Do you want your soda on the table, or at the couch?" David asked from his spot at the refrigerator as he pulled out a can of 'Peppy Soda.'
"Just place it on the table." Maddy said. "Might as well start with the food, right?"
It took a couple of minutes for the table to finish getting set, then everyone found their places. Maddy sat patiently as the family said it's prayers. Then, they dug in, and everything looked basic, but good. The sounds of eating, enjoying the repast provided, filled the air. All the while Tori was giving the tall girl the evil eye.
"So, your parents?" Tori asked.
"In New York." Maddy said. "Well, my mom is there. She loves the fashion, and since she doesn't travel much any more, New York is like her place. I visit occasionally." She hesitated a moment. "Only, mom's mad at me right now… for giving up modeling. She runs an agency, used to represent me. They're doing good, have lots of clients, but she still feels I betrayer her, just because dad thinks I could potently do better."
"And your dad?" Tori asked, taking a moment of hesitation as an invitation to continue to press her questioning.
"He discovered he could do about as well with the San Francisco Stock Exchange as the New York one, even better with the Asian markets, so he lives on the peninsula. Yea, they get THE City, and THE Peninsula up there. But hay, he has a nice house, big, and his current wife and kid are enjoying the weather." Maddy explained. "I know, we got better weather, but hay, at least I don't have to go so far to visit. And oh yea, he has a place in Napa, cause his current wife would rather make her own wine to get sloshed on." An uncomfortable smile crossed her face. "She claims it's hard being married to my dad, and he did have the place long before they met. She just uses the vineyards."
"So your dad was growing grapes, and not using them?" David asked, feeling drawn in.
"He was selling them, to the local wine makers. My step mom, she makes enough wine for herself, and they still have plenty to sell. And that's on only ten acres." Maddy explained. "Dad grows grapes there because the property is a vineyard. He has no idea what to do with them after, and selling them helps defray the costs. He doesn't much care beyond that."
"So your step moms a drinker?" Tori asked. "What about your mom? You? Do you keep some of this wine around, maybe to ply on attractive, if untalented Latina's?"
"Tori, down." Holly said, trying to cut her daughter off. "Sorry about that. Tori seems a bit off today."
"I understand." Maddy said. "I heard last night got a little intense."
"Jade's a special case." David said. "Um, how much do you know?"
"Oh, Beck told me everything." The blond said. "He used to complain a lot, after we'd tried fooling around, about how bad Jade was, her family, everything."
"So you understand, I had to push." David shot back. "I mean, yes, most of it was emotional abuse, but I think some of what she went through, she should press charges. We're still very much in the statute of limitations. And if she doesn't, who knows who might wind up hurt."
"Wait, what?" Trina jumped in. "You weren't giving her the third degree?"
"No, we were trying to show her we could be an open, understanding family." Holly said, now a bit worried. "We showed her all our courtesy, manners and forgiveness. Hell, we even tried to make her feel love. That, naturally, was when she started breaking down. I mean, it makes sense, given what she was used too. But she was getting very emotional, so David talked to her. They walked over there and discussed things, in private, and I only know what I overheard or she was wiling to talk about with me." Holly let s shiver run down her spine at the memory. "But what she did share, with me, it sounded dreadful. And of course, after that, a normal dinner was off the table. So we gave up, put on a movie, and tried to give Jade all the emotional support we could, hoping it might help her get through it."
Trina glared at her sister. "You said they made Jade cry." She growled.
"And they did." Tori said back, putting her angel persona on, exuding innocence. "I never lied, I just let you come to your own conclusions."
"Jade left here feeling accepted, and you made it sound like she got the third degree." The older sister argued.
"That cause this, um, girl, she broke up with Beck, and the next thing I know, she's seduced you, in her very expensive apartment, and who knows what else she's done." Tori more growled then said. "I mean, Jax, he wasn't so secretive when he talked about that world they were in, as young models. I asked, and Chloe, Cindy, even Margo, they all had stories. Only Reba didn't have any, and that's cause she's not one to tell stories out of school. But Wendy, she had the most stories, from Ron, and that got me worried. I mean, I don't want you to be some spoiled girls rebound."
Maddy sighed. "Then you haven't talked to Beck about this, did you?" Maddy said. "If you did, you'd know he practically threw me at Trina. Said that, given what was going on, I shouldn't feel guilty if things went a bit faster then I was used too. And for the record, thanks in part to the many mistakes I've made in the past, I don't rush into romance. I had no intent on letting things go nearly as far as they did. But things happened, and Trina spent the weekend with me. No, I'm not sorry, cause I honestly never felt this way about anyone before." She sighed. "But I get how it might offend you. I'm sorry if it looked like I was taking advantage of Trina. I want her, but if I only got the physical, then I'd be gypping myself out of the best of her."
Tori looked stunned. "You're telling me Beck was okay with this? I mean, when he came to pick Jade up, he seemed kinda down. I just thought..." Her voice faded, and for a second, her confused look persisted as she scanned the room for any explanation.
"Sweety, even if he realized their relationship was doomed, and that breaking up, moving on, was all for the best, I'm betting Beck invested a lot of himself into that relationship." Holly tried to clarify. "It hurts to fail, to grow to care about someone, only to realize that while you were slowly falling for them, they couldn't, for whatever reason, return your feelings. But Beck sounds like a good young man, thinking of her first. He put her needs above his feelings. That's good, cause he needed to let go, given what did happen, so they both could find someone who could love them back." She patted her youngest's hand. "But still, it had to hurt, letting Maddy here go.
"And, if what Jade told me was right, their relationship was doomed from the start, even if Maddy here didn't wind up infatuated with someone else." David added. "Not saying your feelings aren't real, just that Beck is feeling hurt, and will need some time. But I do believe that you and he will be able to be friends, down the line."
"Not to push, but what made Jade think Beck and I were doomed?" Maddy asked.
"She said Beck loves a challenge, need to feel like things weren't just handed to him." The police detective explained. "Even if you pushed him, made him work, I get the feeling your the type who wants to grow together, and Beck needs to constantly be challenged. He wants to earn love. Funny, cause I believe he was never deprived any affection, just found that too many girls would try to change themselves for him, and he got hurt by the lack of authenticity. So, not a huge chance of making it."
"So, this is fun." Trina said, feeling awkward.
"Will be, once we break out the party games." David said, trying to dispel the heavy atmosphere. "Oh, Maddy, there's another reason I'm kinda okay with you and Trina. To distract Jade, help her get over her hurt, I asked her about you. She said you were good people, even if she hated to admit that. She hinted that maybe you and Trina would be good for one another. So, we're all good and happy, cause while it's not a traditional party game, I feel like maybe playing a nice round of Diplomacy."
Holly chuckled. "Ah, so we're testing their relationship now?"
"You realize, dad, we have school in the morning." Trina added.
"Wait, whats this diplomacy game?" Maddy asked.
"It's simply a board game where everyone plays one of the early twentieth century European powers, circa nineteen oh one, and you use various tactics, including diplomacy, military conquest, alliances, betrayals, et cetera, to acquire resources centers and power to win the game." David explained. "It can be played in as few as four hours."
"One of the rules is, if you don't get caught, then you didn't break any rules." Trina pointed out. "It's about trust and betrayal. Not what I'd consider a date game."
"Not what I'd consider a party game." Maddy said. "But if we're gonna be playing a game of trust, then lets try charades, or Pictanary. Something were we get to interact..."
"Oh, you interact in Diplomacy." Tori said, smiling.
"Where we get to enjoy guessing each others work, maybe make fun of our artistic skills." The blond continued.
"We have an odd number of people." Tori pointed out.
"Worse, we have a prime number." Holly said. "What? You can divide nine into three groups of three, but five, that's a prime, so you don't have a good divide."
"What ever happened to Twister?" David asked.
"It's just an excuse guys use to fall on the cute girls." Maddy informed him.
"Why don't we try something else." Tori suggested.
"We have Sorry, but that's only for four players." Holly pointed out.
"Do you guys have any less confrontational board games?" Maddy asked.
"Clue." Trina offered.
"Monopoly." Tori added.
"Cosmic encounter, with the expansion packs." David suggested. "I still have it from my collage days."
"What with the what?" Maddy asked.
"Cosmic encounter." Holly said. "We could do that. It can be played with up to six players, each playing one of the various alien races trying to colonize other worlds. There are a lot of rules, given the number of expansion packs, and we'll go over them all. So, lets finish dinner first, then play a bit. We can talk as we play."
The evening continued, with everyone enjoying themselves. Tori still had a few trust issues with Maddy, mostly out of her protectiveness towards her sister. However, in the end, even she had to admit Maddy was as out of her depth about what the two girls had as everyone else was. So Tori agreed to let Trina and Maddy figure things out.
The next week was a bit tense, mostly because Jade was helping Beck deal with his breakup, while Beck was helping Jade adjust to facing her own dark past and secret fears, all while both were trying to stay strong for their friends. However, Trina was seeing Maddy, and since Holly wouldn't hear of them spending all their time together at Maddy's place, Beck and his friends often had to coexist with his curvaceous Ex. That made evenings at the Vega residence often tense.
Between their times spent waiting around for her parents to suggest activities, Trina decided to take the bull by it's horns, so to speak, and pushed for them to go out on a normal date. "Why is it, having been together for over a week, we haven't even had a night out?" The Latina asked her girlfriend.
"I can think of a couple of reasons." Maddy replied, smiling. But the smile fell a moment later. "Mostly because I've never been to a gay bar, and I'm not much of a drinker, so..."
"You don't have to get drunk." Trina huffed. "Wait, there's a story behind this, isn't there?"
"Not as bad as you'd think, but yea." The former model admitted. "Lots of guys would try to convince you to get drunk, especially in the countries where the drinking age was younger, and then you'd be so much more willing to try things. I didn't think getting preggers would help my career, or my relationship with Dad, so I had someone watching out for me. Still, almost got assaulted, er, sexually manhandles, in France." She leaned in, as if to tell a secret. "The French, or at least the one's near by at the time, they weren't having it. Kept the guy from getting what he wanted and everything. See, in some places, they're big on consent. As long as everyone's happy with the arrangement, then you're on. Not saying they didn't have their share of perves, cause they did and they do. It's just, culturally, they're more open, but also way into consent."
"That still doesn't change the fact that you must have been..." Trina stopped herself. "You deal with that, or do we need to make it a therapy date?"
"I've seen people." Maddy said. "And I'm hyper aware of when someone might be spiking the punch, so to speak."
"Good." Trina nodded. "So, we done distracting, cause I was trying to discuss where we'd go on our out date."
"You know, if we stayed in, we would be able to cuddle, maybe play around as the mood struck us." Her eyes held promises that Trina knew she'd keep.
'"Yea, but a relationship is more then tolerating the other persons family and screwing each other's brains out." The older girl said.
"Well, this is new." Maddy smiled, a relaxed, open smile. "Normally, the guys are so into staying in, and I'm the one wanting to go out." She glanced down, then looked up at Trina through her eyelashes. "Are you sure I can't convince you to stay in?" She purred.
"We'll have plenty of time for that after we ave us some fun." Trina countered. "Um, clean fun."
"Not used to this." The Blond admitted. "Normally, my boobs pushing out like this gets the guys to be kinda compliant, or really horny. Either way, we'd be staying in." Her hand went up, and tapped her tit. "Think they're broken, cause they don't seem to be working."
"Oh, their working." Trina assured the ex model. "I'm just, we're looking at this being long term, and for that, we need to date." A quick, disarming smile followed. "So, we're going out someplace, having some fun, dancing, then we can come back and I'll show you how much those are working."
Maddy's smile faded. Her warmth faltered, just a moment, as she mustered up the will to be honest. "I'm not the guy." She said. "I mean, sexually, in this relationship, I've been the guy, cause I can do that. I can go for what I want, as long as I think I have a real, reasonable chance of getting it." Her eyes were tracking the floor, for that moment, but rose to meet Trina's. "Still admire your drive. But I'm not used to working so hard for anything, except maybe daddy's love. And as for going out, I..." She shook her head. "I don't think I wanna take responsibility for those choices."
"I'll pay." Trina announced.
"You can't afford the places we'd go." Maddy said, sounding put upon.
"How would you know, since you just said you're usually not the one choosing the place?" The Latina asked. "You want me to take charge, I'll take charge, make this relationship happen. I'll choose a place, make sure you enjoy it, and then take you home again, all safe and sound. Plus, I'll pay for it, the whole date, so you won't think I'm trying to take advantage of you."
"Still hoping to make love." Maddy said. "Later, after." She relaxed, smiling at her girl. "So, you know a good place to go? Maybe in West Hollywood?"
"I know a place not that far from here." Trina told her. "Not that expensive, and they have a dance floor. No DJ, but a dance floor. We go, dance, have us some fun, and who the hell cares what anyone else thinks. And if anyone objects, then screw them, cause this is Los Angeles, and it's about time people got with the times. I'm not looking to pick up, and neither are you, so why do we need to go to a gay club?"
"To be among our own?" The taller girl asked.
"We are." Trina assured her. "We'll try the gay clubs later. This, it's dinner, maybe some dancing, and that's it. Just a night out before we commit, and tell everyone about us."
"Wait, what everyone?" Maddy wondered aloud.
"My friends, your friends, those kinds of everybody." Trina said.
"Oh, yea, lets do this then." Maddy seemed to deflate, again.
"Okay, whats wrong?" Trina said, her stance softening.
"I just, I don't wanna share." The model whined.
"You are new at this, aren't you?" Trina chuckled. "No one is sharing. You and me, we're just dating, and a part of that involves telling our friends. That way, they won't freak out when we hang out at their places and wanna snuggle."
"We could hang out at mine." Maddy offered.
"I meant with my friends." Trina sighed.
"So did I." The Blond said. "My peace offering. I agree to let you woe me, but in return, I'm gonna be hyper aggressive about the parts I'm gonna take charge of, like getting you used to my sexual needs."
"You must have worn most of your boyfriends out." Trina joked.
"Not really." The girl said. "You're kinda the first person I've ever wanted to be this aggressive for. So, buck up, lets date, and I'm planning on earning that awkward morning with you trying to sneak out past the doorman."
Trina smiled at her girl. "I don't sneak out past the doorman." She said. "I sneak into my home. I don't need having everyone in my business."
The date, it turned out, was a simple affair. A visit to a Lennies, because Trina liked their specials, followed by a quick trip to a near by dance place. The girls had a date that cost less then Maddy had ever spent on shoes, and they enjoyed themselves completely.
The dance place Trina chose, after rejecting her earlier choices due to lack of appropriate music, being a bar and thus requiring ID, or just not being the right kind of dancing, was an "under twenty one" place Jade had recommended called "The Place!" Trina half expected a punk or metal bar. Instead, she found an under twenty one club that catered to the gay community.
"This is, um..." Maddy tried to express her feelings as the boys next to them made out feverishly. Popular music blared in the background and the dance floor was full of kids of various ages getting their boogie on.
"I'm gonna kill Jade." Trina growled.
"No, this is good." The taller girl quickly interjected. "It's, um, it's appropriate. I like it. It's just, this is an under twenty one club, so it's mostly kids."
"It's a gay club." Trina emphasized. "I thought we'd agreed not to let our orientation affect where we went."
"Maybe we should stop complaining and enjoy the music." The blond suggested. "Get our dance on."
"Fine." Trina huffed, and led her date out onto the dance floor.
:}
So, meeting the family went well. No apologies, sometimes my fish are scarlet.
Thoughts on what made Jade cry? Surprised? What about Tori being protective? Despite everything, I do see the sisters caring about one another. It just feels more real.
Thoughts on Trina's date so far. Like the place Jade chose? Think it's gonna cause problems? And how do you suppose our friendly goth knew about that place?
And as always, feel free to review.