A/N: Thank you so much for all your reviews and alerts. You're truly amazing!
Meant to have this up sooner, but my schedule disagreed.
I had to go back and divide it after accepting it was too long, nevertheless, here it is!
Enjoy! (;
The weekend had finally arrived. After a whole week of mandatory meetings and all the suddenly piled up exams the week was finally over. Tori stretched her arms back and lightly felt the headboard of her bed. Taking a quick glance at the time on her small nightstand by her bed she let out a groan. It was almost four in the afternoon on a Saturday and Tori regretted nothing. She'd spent all morning, after her usual jog, in her room cleaning and organizing the long neglected room. Soon after she'd managed to get some laundry done and for the first time in what felt like weeks she took a breathe and just laid on her bed. Somewhere between catching up on some side reading and lunch she nodded off and fell asleep.
She stretched her surprisingly sore legs and sat up. Taking a deep breath she recalled the following morning she had woken to after talking with Jade that rainy evening on campus.
Tori awoke to the delicious aroma of bacon filling the comfort of her bedroom. Who was cooking bacon? She sat up slowly on her bed, groaning from a headache she felt coming on. Was Cat home? It had to be at least ten in the morning for the red head to be awake. What day was it? Had she missed class? Suddenly a blush grew across her cheeks as she recalled the last place she had been before she woke up in her room and with who she'd been with. She'd been on campus. She'd cried again. She'd cried again in front of Jade. The brunette thought about how she'd made it home. She didn't remember waking back to the building. When she thought back to the course before meeting with Jade in the morning Tori found she couldn't remember anything after. The last thing on her mind was the soothing voice of the beautiful pale woman singing into her ear. Had Jade been responsible for Tori's return to the apartment?
The growing scent caught her attention again and directed her to the small kitchen of the apartment. From the hallway Tori could hear the sound of a woman humming. It sounded all too familiar as she drew closer and walked into the kitchen. She lingered by the doorway watching the woman who had her back turned, but nevertheless Tori knew who it was. It was hard not to. Red locks and black locks were a great contrast to tell the difference between two women and the woman currently standing in the same room with the brunette was certainly not her best friend. Unless Cat had miraculously grown quite a few inches overnight, dyed her hair pitch black and suddenly paled the woman before her was none other than Jade.
Tori silently admired the oblivious woman as she watched her moving around the kitchen. A few moments passed before Tori cleared her throat softly ceasing the other woman's hypnotizing humming. The woman turned blue eyes quickly meeting brown. She gave Tori a gentle smile before shutting off the stove.
"Hey you're up. I made some breakfast," Jade grinned gesturing to the cause of her awakening.
Tori could only nod in response. As she watched the woman set two plates on the dining table she took a few steps finally entering the room. She found herself unable to speak as Jade continued to set the table and serve the food. She'd prepared white scrambled eggs, bacon, and waffles. Blue eyes looked over at the silent brunette in curiosity as she poured them each a glass of orange juice. "Care to join me?" she asked in amusement.
The scarlet color that claimed the caramel cheeks made Jade's grin spread. The brunette seemed to do that a lot lately. The contrasting color made the brunette look breathtaking. Jade bit her tongue, suddenly feeling embarrassed at herself for thinking such a thing. She watched as Tori took a seat, brown eyes casted down on the plate.
"Where's Cat?" Tori finally spoke. Her throat had felt so dry she had to wonder if she'd slept for days.
Jade took a bite of the bacon, taking the empty seat across the brunette. "She said she had a test to take this morning. She should be back within an hour."
Tori nodded taking a zip of the much needed orange juice. "Thank you," she whispered. Jade looked up, a brow raised in question. "For everything," Tori smiled. Jade nodded returning the smile and began to eat. The breakfast looked delicious. Tori took a bite of the bacon and dug into the meal. She'd been unaware of how hungry she'd actually been. Once she had finished her meal brown eyes made their way over to the raven haired woman who took her time eating.
She couldn't help but think about how amazing the woman before her was. Without knowing it she'd helped Tori greatly. Since her first breakdown, not once had Jade brought it up or bombarded her with questions. She'd allowed her to cry and express herself. The first time she held her at the park Tori had felt so warm in the woman's arms and much like the park again the warmth had returned. The pale woman's arms felt welcoming, almost like home.
"I…how did I get here?" Tori asked breaking the silence.
Jade smirked. "Vega, that's a question for your health teacher," she teased pushing her empty plate aside.
Tori blushed. "That's not what I meant," she defensively claimed.
Jade chuckled. "I'm kidding, Vega. It was a joke." She leaned back against the chair and took a zip of her juice. "You fell asleep," she responded in a more serious tone. "I didn't want to wake you. You just seemed so tired," her tone was filled with such concern and sincerity, Tori felt a wave of guilt fall over her.
"I'm sorry," Tori mumbled dropping her gaze. She hated having people worry about. It was why she chose to keep to herself. The thought of venting to a person, to have them only take pity and worry drove her mad. She didn't want people to look at her with such sympathy. She knew right after the park she'd made a great mistake by dropping her guard and allowing Jade to see her so vulnerable, but what caught her off guard was that she didn't regret it. Not like she should. Every time she was with Jade and managed to express what was bothering her she always felt a great weight lift off her shoulders. Somehow with Jade it didn't make her feel guilty.
Jade shock her head. She reached over the table and cradled the brunette's chin. "Hey, don't apologize. Like I told you once before, you have nothing to be sorry about." She gave the brunette a sincere smile that left Tori feeling breathless. She gladly returned the smile with the same amount of sincerity nodding. She would never be able to express to Jade how thankful she truly was for her help. In those small moments it felt like the weight of the world was lifted and for that she would always be thankful.
"I'll wash the dishes," Tori smiled standing and taking both their plates.
Tori smiled to herself. Her friendship with Jade had definitely taken an unexpected turn. Down the hall from her room Tori could hear the sound of two women talking. It sounded more like her redheaded friend was being insistent and the other woman was determined not to agree.
"Come on Jade! I have to work tonight and I doubt Tori would mind going along with you? Just ask her." Cat assured her.
Tori quietly joined the two women in the living room a smile of amusement playing across her lips. "Ask me what?" She raised a brow once she was fully in the room.
The red head and raven haired women both turned in surprise. "Tori! You're up!" Cat grinned. "Jade wanted to ask you a favor." She nudged her girlfriend gaining a scowl from the taller woman.
Jade rolled her eyes and looked over at the brunette. "Cat has to work tonight and well there's a small dinner from the bookstore taking place tonight." Jade took the moment to look over at the grinning red head who gave her an encouraging nod. "I was wondering if you'd like to go with me?" She felt her cheeks burn and a tingling sensation grown in her stomach, almost like a nervous feeling. Could it be the fear of rejection? The woman was only her friend. Why was she afraid to be rejected?
The brunette looked over at the red head in question. Before she had the chance to speak up and decline the offer Cat's voice was heard. "It'll be fun, Tori. You love books and what better than free food and a place where you can talk about all those books you've read?" she asked wiggling her brows.
Auburn eyes danced between the two women. She could see she didn't have much of a choice. Not with the pleading big brown looking at her and the look the pale woman had in her eyes send a shiver down her, making it possible to think of any way to deny the invitation. She let out a small sigh. How bad could it be? It was just a dinner. She did like books and food. She gave the two women a final exchange before finally nodding in agreement. "It does sound like fun," she smiled looking over at the nervously shifting balance Goth. "I don't have any plans tonight. I'd be happy to accompany you."
Cat squealed in delight. "Told you!" She jumped poking Jade on her side.
A hint of annoyance bubbled in Jade as Cat gave her a victorious grin. She was right an Jade hated being wrong. Somehow the idea of going with Tori dissolved any feeling of her lose in being wrong. It was actually a winning situation when she thought of it. She'd get to go to dinner with Tori. "It's semi-formal attire," Jade finally said. "A dress if possible," she added sounding shy and un-Jade-like.
Cat clapped her hands and jumped up in excitement. "Yay! Of course she has a dress!" Her grin widened as she looked over at her best friend who gave her a disapproving look. Tori did indeed have dresses but she wasn't one to wear them on any given occasion. Cat ignored Tori's scowl and looked down at her watch. "Oh no! I better get going. Can't be late again," she said running off to her room.
"Cat don't forget you have to help me decorate the masks tomorrow!" Tori called out. Within minutes Cat was muttering in what like sounded like a promise and running out of the door with her shirt untucked and a shoe untied. Tori shook her head in amusement. It was just like Cat to leave things at the last minute possible.
The two woman laughed both amused by Cat. They exchanged a quick look before Tori began to feel awkward. She shifted her weight on to her left leg and leaned against the wall. "What time is the dinner?"
"It starts at six," Jade answered. She looked at the time on her cellphone noting there was only a couple hours before it began. "You don't have to wear a dress if you don't want to." Jade added.
Tori smiled. "I don't mind, Jade."
Jade gave her a smile that seemed almost relieved. "I'll come back in two hours." Jade smiled before waving and leaving the brunette.
Tori nodded and headed to her room. She had some dress hunting to do in her closet.
…
Two hours later right on the clock, Jade stood before the familiar apartment door. She'd been standing there for almost five minutes passing. She'd arrived early actually, five minutes early and now that it was time she couldn't help but tremble with both excitement and a sting of nervous mixed in. She didn't understand what was causing her to feel suddenly nervous. It was just a dinner. A dinner from work. The work place where she happened to be heading the day she met Tori. She smiled to herself at the memory. Tori seemed in panic when they met. She still remembered the fluttering sensation she had felt when the brunette had smiled at her. It was truly one of the most breathtaking smiles she'd ever encountered.
Jade was brought out of her thoughts when the alarm from her cellphone went off. It was time. She lightly exhaled a breath and knocked on the wooden door. It took only a few moments before the door swung open and she was greeted with a wide grinning brunette. "Hey," she smiled. "Just in time," Tori laughed lightly raising a brow and looking over at the time on the clock that hung by the doorway.
The pale woman could only nod as her jaw struggled to remain closed as blue eyes took in the brunette's outfit. She wore a stunning teal dress that hung inches above her knee levels. The front of the dress was in a V-shape exposing her nicely toned collar bone. The light brown trench coat she wore hung open and down a few inches below the dress leaving her long tanned and toned legs exposed having only her feet covered with jet black colored heels.
A small blush made its way to the brunette's features when the pale woman said nothing and continued to only stare. "I hope I'm not overdressed. I can go change if that's the case. I'll be quick..." Tori began. She pointed her thumb back as she felt the back of her neck begin to burn with embarrassment.
"No!" Jade quickly responded, finally managing to speak. "No, that won't be necessary. You look perfect. I mean great. You look great," she smiled a blush making it way to her pale cheeks. She'd managed to lose all sense of thoughts once Tori had opened the door. She looked amazing. If that was her semi-formal clothing, Jade couldn't imagine how much more beautiful the brunette would look in an actual gown. "Shall we get going?" she asked realizing they'd been standing in the doorway in a surprisingly comfortable silence.
Tori nodded with a timid smile tying the strap of her coat around her waist. Jade frowned in disappointment once the dress was out of her sight. Tori looked beautiful, breathtaking really. Jade had chosen to dress in simple black dress with a V-shaped front that hung below her knees. Underneath the matching coat hid the rest of sleeveless dress, only covering her shoulder with a few inches.
Leading the brunette down to the lobby and out of the building she realized she had suddenly grown the urge to reach out and take hold of the other woman's hand as they began to walk. She tucked her hands away into the pocket of her coat before speaking, ignoring the strange desire. "I hope you don't mind us walking. It's just a few blocks away." Jade asked with a smile.
Tori shook her head smiling gently. "Not at all. It's pretty nice out. The skies are clear tonight. Makes it easier to look at the stars," she stated with a wide grin before nodding up at the night sky. Jade smiled lightly to herself in agreement. The woman seemed so fascinating. She never ceased to amaze her.
As they walked in the direction of the bookstore the two women fell into a comfortable conversation. They'd grown used to their bantering, enjoying it more than they chose to reveal. Tori pointed out a couple of constellations from the stars and named them proudly. She blushed when Jade gave her an intrigued look.
"I come from a small town. Every weekend a couple of friends would gather around in the fields and we'd just lie back looking at the stars," Tori explained. "We didn't have many books on astronomy in our school library but I took a course here my freshmen year," she shrugged, trying play off the smile that fought hard to claim her lips. "It's one of those great benefits for growing up in a small town." She said allowing the smile to win and claim her features.
Jade listened with great interest and amusement. She could tell Tori was really proud of herself for knowing so much about the night lights that claimed the dark sky. "That's impressive, Vega. Maybe one day I'll go down and visit you. Then you'll show me all the constellations," Jade smirked.
Tori chuckled lightly and nodded. "You're always welcome," she assured the Goth. Falling back into a comfortable conversation the two finally arrived at the bookstore. To Tori's surprise Jade led them a block passed and the two finally reached their true destination.
"I thought you said it was at the bookstore," Tori stated eyeing the fairly large looking building. It wasn't a business building. It appeared to be a house. A fairly large house. It was hard to distinguish the color of the outside building due to the night environment, but Tori was pretty certain it was a white building. She eyed Jade suspiciously when the woman remained quiet and did not answer.
Jade smirked feeling the brown eyes on her waiting for her explanation. "Vega, I said we were having a dinner from the bookstore not at the bookstore. We can't possibly have a dinner in the store."
Tori said nothing. Jade had said it was a dinner from the bookstore. She'd just figured it take place there. "I just assumed," Tori contemplated.
"You know what they say about assuming," Jade smirked.
"What's that?" Tori questioned curiously.
"When you assume, you make an ass out of u-m-e," she said her smirk widening.
Brown brows knitted together. "Did you just call me an ass?" Tori asked resting her hands over her hips in a defensive mode.
Jade couldn't help but chuckle at the woman's reaction. She was adorable. "I didn't call you an ass, Vega. I said you make an ass out of u-m-e." It was Jade's turn to furrow her brows when a mischievous smile grew across Tori's lips. "What?"
Tori giggled. "You called yourself an ass, Jade." She didn't know the woman's surname but felt the need to emphasize the pale woman's name.
"I did not call myself an ass," Jade said. It was her turn to face the smaller woman and cross her arms as she thought about what she'd just said.
Again Tori giggled. "Oh really? Did you not say, and I quote, 'when you assume you make an ass out of u'," she pointed at the Goth. "m-e'?" she finished pointing at herself.
Jade opened her mouth to speak but closed it again. She pursed her lips together at the corner of her mouth before chuckling and dropping her arms. "I guess that makes us an ass," she smirked admitting she'd indeed called the brunette and herself the unintended insult.
Tori rolled her eyes. "Whatever, we're both asses. Now, care to explain why we're here?" She gestured to the building before them.
"It's ol' man Sikowitz's place. He's my boss." Jade finally answered. "He used to be one heck of a lawyer back in his time," she answered the brunette's silent question. How could a person own such a place with just a bookstore? Tori nodded and shivered the slightest when a gentle breeze blew in their direction.
Jade noticed and gestured for them to go up the small steps. "Come on let's go inside before Sikowitz sends a search group out to find me." She lightly placed her hand behind Tori giving her a soft nudge to follow and step with her.
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