Hidden In Plain Sight
Chapter Three:
Jade's POV;
I was practically being forced to have a sleepover at Cat's house with her and Vega. I hate sleepovers. Especially if they involve Vega. I would rather have a sleepover with Trina- okay, that's a lie. I would probably murder the older Vega by the end of the night, but still. I do not want to have this sleepover. I specifically told Cat that I didn't come back for sleepovers, but because I needed a place to stay, but she didn't listen to me (like usual). Ugh.
Right now I had Cat sat behind me putting my hair up into a Dutch braid. It had grown a little in the time I was gone so it was looking really nice, especially with my coloured extensions, not that I'd admit that to anyone. Vega was currently raiding Kitty-Kat's cupboard looking for a movie for us to watch- one that wasn't Pixar or Disney. She pulled out Cat's Titanic DVD and showed it to us. I slightly shook my head at her, silently telling her no. She nodded in agreement and put the DVD back, continuing to look for another.
When Cat had finished my hair, she stood up with a happy squeal and went to find her hand mirror. She came back with it after finding it in the en suite and handed it me. I took it and looked in the mirror at the new style my hair was in. It, admittedly, looked really pretty. I never used to have my hair up a lot so seeing it like this was a change. A nice one, I think. Looking more intensely in the mirror at my hair, I spotted something out of the corner of my eye. At the base of my neck, nearly underneath my ear, was a scar. A long-ish, thick, pink line. I realised that it was something I had gotten when I was away, and Kitty must have seen it, but hadn't said anything. I briefly glanced at the red-head to see her watching me.
I hastily put the mirror down and plastered a smile on my face, pretending I hadn't seen anything, myself. Kitty looked away when I stood up and went over to Vega, pushing her out of the way of the cupboard so she fell on the floor from her crouched position. I ignored her shocked yelp and started rifling through the DVD's. I spotted a particular DVD case and smirked. I pulled it out and showed the other two girls, "The Scissoring," I said, triumphantly. Cat gasped and covered her mouth and Tori blanched.
I laughed and led the way out of the room, down the stairs, to Cat's living room. I didn't need to look back to make sure they were coming, too because I could hear their shuffling footsteps as they joined me in the living room. I crouched down in front of the DVD player and took the disc out, putting it in. I turned the TV on using the remote and pressed play when the movie came up.
"Go get some popcorn and other snacks, Kitty-Kat. And go get blankets, Vega," I ordered, settling myself on the couch.
"Why can't you get the blankets?" Vega argued. I turned away from the opening credits on the TV.
"Because I asked you to get them? Plus, I'm watching this," I heard Tori groan and knew I had won the small argument. Cat had happily gone to get the snacks the second I told her to, but Vega always had to put up a fight.
Cat soon came back with an armful of sweets and crisps, and a huge smile on her pretty little face. I smiled back at her and rolled my eyes, telling her to put them down on the table in front of the TV and the couch I was sitting on. She complied and sat down next to me. "The popcorn is in the microwave, Jadey!" She squealed happily. I cringed at her high-pitched voice. "Good job, Kitty," I ignored the use of my nickname because it made her happy when I didn't scold her for calling me that and I couldn't put up with an upset Cat right now.
Five minutes into the movie and Cat had fetched the popcorn for us when it was done in the microwave. We were happily eating it and watching the movie (it hadn't gotten to the gruesome parts yet, so Cat was alright), when I remembered Vega was supposed to be here. "What's taking Vega so long?" I asked Cat, "she only went to get blankets," I continued.
"I dunno," she said and turned to me with a frown.
"Go see what's happening," I told her, focusing on the movie again.
"KK!" Cat said and hopped off the couch to go find Tori.
Tori's POV;
When I went to get the blankets for Jade, I entered Cat's room. I picked up the blanket from Cat's bed and headed to her closet for some more. I opened it and took out two more from the top shelf. After tidying the ones that fell on my head in my attempt to reach them, I folded the ones in my arm so they would be easier to carry when I was taking them downstairs and I wouldn't trip.
I picked them back up as I was about to go back to Cat and Jade, I saw a bag from the corner of my eye. I briefly glanced at it on my way out. I was in the doorway when I realised that was Jade's bag. I wasn't one for snooping, but Jade had been gone for three months and refused to give any specific details as to where she'd been. She only said she'd been staying at motels and in the forest near HA. I knew it was a lie because if she'd stayed at any motels, they'd have recognised her from the news. And if she was near HA, I think we would have known.
I stood still for a second, debating whether or not I really wanted to go through my (sort of) friend's bag. If she came up, she'd kill me (as she nearly had earlier) and even if she didn't, Cat might. Then again, I could easily convince Cat it was a good idea and I had the best intentions. I sighed at the part of my mind that thought this was a good idea, and put down the three blankets I was holding on the bed.
Cat's POV;
Jadey wanted me to go find Tori because she was taking a long time getting blankets. She knew where the blankets were so I agreed with Jade, she was taking a looong time. I sighed as I ran up the stairs to find my friend.
As I reached the top of the stairs, I walked to the end of the hallway where my room was. The door was open and so was the bathroom door. That meant Tori wasn't using the bathroom as I thought she might have been. I entered my room and saw the blankets on the bed. Confused, I looked around and saw Tori leaning down rummaging through a bag. Upon closer inspection, I realised that bag was Jadey's.
I gasped in shock and Tori suddenly turned around with fear. When she saw it was me, she relaxed a little bit but she still looked guilty. "What are you doing in Jadey's bag?!" I stage whispered.
"I wasn't snooping!" Tori suddenly exclaimed, holding her hands up as if she'd been doing something illegal.
"Yes, you were!" I pointed at the phone she held in her hand without knowing. She looked at it and hid it behind her back.
"Okay, maybe I was. But it's nothing bad! I just wanted to know where she was, she won't tell us, Cat."
"Well she certainly won't now."
"Cat, you can't tell her, she'll hate me."
"She already does," I muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing! Anyway, you can't just go through Jadey's stuff. She'll tell us where she's been, when she's ready."
"No, but look, Cat," she held out the phone and pointed at it. "Whose is this phone, huh? It's not Jade's, she has hers with her right now."
"So?" I asked, oblivious to what Tori was implying.
"So Jade must have been with someone when she was away! That's a start to figuring out where she was, right?"
"Why does it matter whether she was with someone? If I ran away, I certainly wouldn't want to be alone."
"Look," Tori walked closer and turned the phone on, practically shoving it in my face. "Does this man look familiar to you?" She asked, pointing out the man on the lockscreen. Confused, I looked closer. She was right, I had never seen that guy in my life. And I'm pretty sure Jade had never showed me him, or even mentioned him. I shook my head, indicating I didn't know who that man was.
Tori smiled and quickly ran back to Jade's bag, putting the phone back. "Okay," she started, "I have an idea. When Jade's asleep tonight, we call Sinjin and get him to hack the phone and download all of the data onto a USB. Then, we come back and return the phone, she'll never know it was missing and we figure out who that man is and why she has his phone," she explained.
"I dunno, Tori," I said, "I feel like we're invading Jadey's privacy."
"Well, of course we are," she agreed, "but it's for the greater good. You wouldn't want Jade to be involved with dangerous people, right?"
"No, of course not!" I shook my head frantically and my eyes widened.
"Good, then we go to Sinjin tonight and figure out who this guy is."
"KK..."
"Let's go back downstairs before Jade gets even more suspicious," Tori picked up the blankets from the bed and led the way back downstairs.
Jade's POV;
I heard Cat and Tori coming back down to the living room, but I didn't dare look away from the TV. It was just getting to the good part of the movie. My eyes were slightly wider and I had a sadistic smirk on my face as I saw Tawny Walker-Black with the scissors I now own, thanks to my favourite red-head.
I felt a weight on my lap and I realised Tori had put a blanket on it, realising I wasn't going to look away from my favourite movie to take it from her. I slowly took some popcorn from the large bowl it was in and put it in my mouth.
"Hey, I just had an idea," I heard Cat exclaim.
"What?" I asked, not looking away from the TV as Tawny threatened her friend.
"We can play spin the bottle!" She happily said.
"That sounds like a good idea," I heard Tori agree. I rolled my eyes and finally turned away from the screen to look at the other two.
"Sure, I'm in," I told them. I paused the movie just as Tawny Walker-Black was about to murder "the pretty girl" as I described her to Vega. I seriously think I have a crush on Tawny Walker-Black. Like, I would marry her if I could. I'm not exactly gay, but I would still marry her. I chuckled out loud and got a look of confusion from Vega. Cat was used to me laughing to myself at my own thoughts, but Vega wasn't. I gave her a sadistic look and she quickly looked away. That's what I thought. She probably thought I was plotting against her now. Oh well, maybe I am.
Cat ran off to get an empty bottle and I sat staring at Vega the entire time. She squirmed under my gaze and I smirked in satisfaction. Just the reaction I was looking for. It was so good to be back.
Cat came back with a wine bottle and I wondered where she got an empty wine bottle. I was pretty sure no one in her family drank unless it was a special occasion. Oh well. She pushed everything on the table onto the floor and replaced it with the bottle. I raised my eyebrow at her enthusiasm to play a kid's game, but never commented. "Oh!" She yelled out and ran back into the kitchen to get something. I was confused until she ran back in with alcohol. I smiled.
"Now we're talking," I praised. She squealed at me and placed the two bottles of Jack Daniel's on the table with the wine bottle. It wasn't like Cat to be so hasty to go and drink alcohol, especially something like the drinks she had brought out, but who was I to complain? As long as I got alcohol, I wasn't going to say anything.
Tori looked oddly shocked and I quietly laughed. She probably didn't expect someone like Cat to return with Jack Daniel's for a simple game of spin the bottle. She recovered quickly, though, and replaced her shocked expression with one of amusement.
"Who's starting?" I asked, moving the blanket off my lap and onto the floor so I could sit on it by the table.
"Me! Me!" Cat held her hand up as if waiting to be picked. I rolled my eyes and said she could go first. She spun the bottle and it pointed near Vega so we ruled it out as her. "Truth or dare, Vega?" I said with mock innocence. She looked scared and immediately picked truth. Cat giggled and I thought for a moment, thinking of something to ask her. "Okay, Vega, are you still a virgin?" Her face blushed bright red and she stuttered for a moment as Cat laughed loudly beside her.
"N-no. I'm not a virgin," she admitted regretfully.
"Woww," I drew out, "perfect Tori Vega lost her 'V Card'," I mocked.
"I don't talk like that!" She defended.
"Whatever," I muttered. I actually kind of missed getting under Vega's skin.
Vega reached for the bottle and gave it a spin. It spun rapidly for a few seconds until it slowed down and pointed towards me. I smiled and chose dare. I didn't trust Vega not to ask anything about my running away so I was going to pick dare until those two had, had enough Jack Daniel's to not remember this night. Tori put a finger to her chin in thought, as if thinking of a dare was the hardest task in the world. I glared at her and she took her finger away from her chin, smiling.
"I dare you to down half of that Jack Daniel's," she said and crossed her arms. My eyes widened and my mouth dropped open a little bit.
"Are you serious?!" I asked in disbelief.
"Yep," she popped the 'p' and pointedly looked at one of the bottles before looking at me again.
"Fine," I grumbled. I didn't want to forfeit one of Vega's dares and end up looking like a coward. So I reached for one of the bottles from the table and, despite Cat's warning not to, I opened the bottle. I held it under my nose as I smelled it. I scrunched up my nose at the smell and took a breath. Putting the bottle to my lips, I started drinking. I took it away from my mouth quarter of the way through so I could breathe, but ended up coughing instead. When I'd gathered my bearings, I continued to drink another quarter of the bottle until half of it was gone.
When I took the bottle away from my mouth I started coughing again. It slightly burned my throat, but because of all of the parties I'd been to with Beck in the past, I could sort of handle it. Not that he usually let me order Jack Daniel's, he was too worried I'd do something stupid like hook up with another dude or make a fool of myself. And people thought I was the jealous one.
I groaned in distaste at the drink and I swear I saw Vega's eyes flash in concern for a moment before she applauded me completing my dare. I sarcastically grinned at her and, quite loudly, put the bottle back on the table. Cat squeaked, yes, squeaked, when I put it down rather forcefully. I rolled my eyes and reached for the bottle to spin it.
Cat's POV;
We had now been playing truth or dare for at least an hour and Jadey was starting to get a little too drunk. Me and Tori had, had some Jack Daniel's but nowhere near as much as Jade. She was now leaning on the glass coffee table for support in case she fell. I sighed, almost regretting getting out the alcohol. But I knew Jadey would want alcohol if she was going to get through this sleepover.
I span the bottle and it landed on Jadey. I clapped happily and looked over to Tori. Jadey stared at the bottle as if it had betrayed her and I laughed at how dramatic she was. She chose truth before nearly falling over. I mimicked Tori from earlier and put a finger to my chin in thought. Jade groaned loudly, expressing her annoyance, but I continued to think. I soon came to the conclusion that this was the perfect opportunity to ask about where she had been.
"Jadey, I ask you," I dramatically started, "where you really where when you ran away."
"Pass," she said straight away.
"You- you can't pass, Jade," Tori pointed out.
"I can do whatever I like, Vega," she enunciated.
"Just answer the question, Jadey," I said.
"No. I went to a few- a few motels and stayed near HA," she repeated her lie from earlier, tripping over her words due to the intoxication.
"No you didn't, Jadey. I know when you're lying, you can't look people in the eyes," I told her.
"No I don't," she denied.
"Yes you do."
"Shut up. Whatever, it's none of your business where I was. Why are you so interested anyway?"
"We just want to make sure you were safe," Tori butted in.
"Well, miss perfect Tori Vega, I was perfectly fine," Jade told Tori, using her southern bell accent.
"If you were perfectly fine, why don't you tell us where you were?" Tori pressured.
"Cause I don't want to," I could see Jadey struggling to keep her eyes open so I told Tori we should just leave her be and let her sleep. She agreed and we both helped my bestie up the stairs to my room.
When we got there, we practically had to drag her over to my bed and throw her on. She grunted when we accidentally made her hit her head on the headboard. "Sorry, Jadey," I apologised quickly then, with Tori's help, we straightened her up. Tori ran back down the stairs to get the blanket and bring it back for Jadey. She threw it over Jade and we quietly backed out of the room, turning the lights off for her so she could get to sleep.
Both me and Tori, now without Jade, made our way back to the messy living room. "I just remembered," I said, "Jadey's still in her clothes from today."
"What, did you want us to undress her and put her in her jammies?!" Tori asked.
"No, but she might be uncomfortable..." I trailed off. I knew I was just stalling going to Sinjin's, but now that I thought about it, Jade might not get to sleep in her clothes and won't be able to change because she's too drunk. Tori sighed heavily, "we're not changing Jade, Cat. Now, you wait here whilst I go get the phone and then we can got to Sinjin's."
"KK," I dejectedly said.
A/N: And another chapter done- The Sleepover! I was hoping to make it a little funnier, but I'm not that funny so..
Anyways, leave a review and tell me where you think Jade really was when she ran away.
