Jade POV
I groan sitting up in bed momentarily confused about where I was until I remembered coming over to Vega's last night. I look over to find a cup of coffee sitting on the bedside table next to me. I pick it up taking a drink before climbing out of bed to head down stairs. I stop in the middle of the stairs when I find all four of the Vega's all whispering, and seem to be in some sort of argument. Just before I can make my retreat upstairs they apparently come to an agreement with Trina and her Dad giving each other a high five and Tori looking annoyed heading to the kitchen table
"Good Morning Jade" I hear Mr. Vega say as he turns to see me.
"Morning Mr. Vega," I say awkwardly stepping closer to the kitchen not really used to being here with Vegas parents.
"I made some pancakes if you want some," he says pointing to a stack of pancakes on the countertop. "And you can call me David"
"Thank you," I say grabbing a few and retreating to the table, sitting next to Tori. "Thanks for the coffee"
"No problem" she laughs "I'd rather not see you without your coffee in the morning, don't think I would live through it," she say and I roll my eyes.
"I'm not that bad. How is your eye?" I asked changing the subject from my caffeine addiction.
"It's fine, Mum had a fit when she saw it but it's fine," she says.
"Is that what you guys were arguing about?"
"No it's" she starts looking conflicted "we were arguing about you. Nothing bad it's just Trina and I brought up telling you about my um disappearances and Dad immediately jumped on board. Mom is worried that you won't keep it a secret she wants you to sign a nondisclosure" she explains quickly not making any eye contact.
"I'll sign it, but if you guys don't want to tell me you don't have to. I mean if your parents know about it, it can't be that dangerous which is what I was worried about" I tell her but am now more confused as this seems to be a lot bigger secret than she is letting on.
" I want to tell you though, I don't like lying to you"
"Lying" I frown, starting to feel a little concerned about what I was getting caught up in.
"I'll explain after we eat, we don't have school today so there is time unless you want to go home straight away"
I sit on the couch waiting for Vega to come back up stairs and reach for the remote that is sitting on the table before it's snatched away. Mrs. Vega is standing above me holding a booklet of papers.
"David and the girls are convinced that they can trust you, but I still remember that you poured coffee over my daughter's head not to mention the time you pushed her off a ledge" I open my mouth to respond that there was a mat for her to land on but don't think that now's the best time to mention it.
"I won't tell anyone one your big secret Mrs. Vega, not that you have much reason to but you can trust me," I say attempting to convince her. She sits down next to me on the couch and I fight the urge to stand up and run.
"These papers say that if you mention what we are going to tell you that we could sue" I nod my head. She hands over the pen and I reach to take it. "This is also for your own safety Tori will explain why when she talks to you. You can read it over and give it back once it's signed" she says getting up and walking into the kitchen, I let out a sigh of relief surprised at how nervous she makes me. Looking over the papers I check to make sure it's what she says it was before signing my name and date at the bottom before handing it back to her just as Vega walks down the stairs.
"MUM" Vega screams as she comes stomping over to us, "I thought we agreed that she wasn't going to sign that thing"
"No, your father and sister agreed I never said she didn't have to sign it," Mrs. Vega says before going upstairs ignoring Vegas glares.
"Sorry about her" Vega mutters "she's convinced that if this gets out it will ruin my career," she says making me more confused, AGAIN.
"Tori, would you please just tell me what's going on"
"Promise you won't be mad" she whispers "or at least wait for me to explain please"
"I promise I'll let you explain"
"Have you ever heard of Gina Annette?" she asks I shake my head as I follow her into the kitchen as she grabs a bottle of water handing me one too. "She was a big CFC fighter when we were around ten. She was amazing only lost four matches while three really. Her last match had a lot of bets on it people were risking losing thousands. there was one group that wanted to her to lose, so they threatened her little sister thankfully they never did anything to her, but Annette purposely lost her match in fear that they would still go after her sister" As she tells this story I get more and more confused not seeing what this has to do with anything. I follow Vega into the basement laundry room that I had never been in before and approaches a door with an electronic keypad typing in a pin I can't see she opens the door and gestured for me to go in first. I step in blindly reaching for a light switch, with the lights turned on I could see a boxing bag hanging in one corner a set of weights in the other and the was a large mat covering the rest of the room. On the walls were magazine and newspaper clipping, pictures all of Tori in a boxing ring. A set of shelves next to the door show many trophies and medals all with the engraving Shelby Marx, it takes a second to remember where I heard that name before a conversation with my younger cousin suddenly popped into my head 'Shelby Marx is amazing she is the youngest CFC champion ever she won her first title when she was fifteen. FIFTEEN, when I am fifteen I just want to have one a single match' that's all I remember him saying about her before I probably lost interest.
"I didn't want anyone I cared about to be used against me I'm sorry I never wanted to lie to you Jade" I hear Vega explain looking at the ground. "Please say something"
"I poured coffee over the head of the youngest CFC fighter ever," I say collapsing onto the bench next to the waits.