A/N: Not a new update. Went back to break the last chapter in two parts. The next chapter will be up either later today or tomorrow. It's currently under work. (;
Before Jade could even think to ring the bell the main door swung open. A tall man dressed in a nice light blue cable sweater stood with a wide welcoming grin. His partially bold hair gave Tori the inkling the man might just be the owner of the majestic home.
"Ah, Jade. I was hoping you'd come in soon," He spoke for the first time. Clearly he had been expecting them. If it was anything to go by, Tori had to guess he had been peeking through the peep hole of the door. "I was beginning to think I was going to have to go outside myself and drag you in here." He chuckled to himself.
Tori blushed realizing she was right on and looked over at the amused Goth who only rolled her eyes in reply to the elder man's comment.
"And who is this lovely young lady?" the man asked turning his gaze onto the brunette.
"Sikowitz this is Tori," Jade smiled. "Tori, Sikowitz," She gave Tori a soft smile gesturing to the man before them.
"Pleasure to meet you, sir," Tori smiled.
Sikowitz's grin spread and he nodded, "Wonderful! Come in, come in." Both women stepped into the cozy home. Tori looked around in amazement at how big and luxurious the home was from inside. The walls were painted an elegant dark red color and contrasted beautifully with the seemingly pricey carpet.
"Let me help you with your coat," Sikowitz spoke claiming once more Tori's attention.
Jade had removed her own coat and hung it over the coat hanger that rested by the entrance. Blue eyes watched carefully as the light brown trench coat was removed by the brunette herself before she handed it to the tall man who gladly took and hung it beside Jade's. As the trench coat came off, it was then that Jade realized the brunette's dress exposed her back. She felt her throat tighten suddenly and her heartbeat quicken. Without the protective garment and the dress free to flaunt Jade couldn't help but smile at how stunning and breathtaking Tori truly looked. The brief look back at the apartment she'd been allowed could not compare to how the brunette looked.
"It's nice to have you join us this year, Jade." Sikowitz stated. He turned back at the sound of the doorbell ringing. "You two make yourself at home. Jade feel free to show your girlfriend around." He winked.
Jade and Tori tried to explain to Sikowitz that they were only friends but the man nudged the both their backs and patted them to go into the other room. Jade rolled her eyes. It was just like Sikowitz to tune out when he was most needed. "Sorry about that, Vega. He likes to make a lot of assumptions."
Tori nodded. She giggled walking along with Jade into the other room. "Have you ever told him your little saying about assuming?"
Jade shook her head. "You just won't let that go will you, Vega?" she raised a brow. It amused her and surprised her that Tori had not completely freaked out over what her crazy boss had called her.
"Nope. I'll remind you of it any given chance," Tori winked at her lightly nudging her elbow with her own. Jade groaned playfully and led them through and to the dining table where most of her co-workers were already seated and eating. Some were standing around a table that rested against a wall with drinks over it while others stood by the chimney chatting. Tori's eyes roamed the room and again she grew amazed how beautiful the home was.
"This place is huge," she mumbled.
"Tell me about it. First time I was here it took me fifteen minutes to find the bathroom," Jade replied.
Tori giggled at the woman's confession. She looked over at the drinks on the table. Jade followed her gaze and smiled. "Grab us some seats and I'll get us a drink," she said gesturing to the two empty seats around the table.
Tori nodded watching Jade make her way to the drinks before walking over to the available seats near the head of the table. She took a seat setting her purse down on the chair beside her for Jade.
"Hey, I remember you!" a friendly voice announced.
Tori looked up across the table to meet a curly haired man who wore glasses. It took her a moment before she recognized him as the guy from the bookstore. Jade had called him Robbie, ignoring him after he had gone in search for her. "Hey," Tori smiled. "Robbie right?"
The curly haired man nodded in excitement. "Yeah, I work at the bookstore."
"Of course you do. That's why you're here," Jade's voice rang behind Tori. She turned around and looked up at the Goth who wore a sly smirk. Robbie leaned back against his seat and sighed.
Tori smiled removing her purse from the seat and taking the warm drink Jade handed her before she took the seat beside her.
"Nice seats, Vega," she smirked.
"They were the only ones…" she began before Robbie cut her off.
"Vega? Your name is Vega?" Robbie asked raising a brow and leaning on his elbows on the table.
Jade gave the curly haired man a scowl. Tori wasn't sure if it was due to his interruption or the question.
"Maybe it is. Got a problem with that, Shapiro?" Jade challenged.
Tori could see that Jade was displeased with Robbie. The way of addressing Tori had been Jade's own choice and she didn't like being questioned about it. Her nostrils were flaring and her eyes were practically throwing daggers at the young man.
"Jade," Tori said gently placing her hand on the pale woman's arm. She gave her a small smile assuring her the question had not been taken as an offence.
Immediately Jade turned her attention to the brunette and relaxed. She felt heat rise from the back of her neck and up to her cheeks in embarrassment. Jade had anger problems and she knew it. Her anger had grown under control over the years and every once in a while she would slip and snap at some innocent person for no given reason. Lately it had grown more under control but in that moment she just seemed to lose it when Robbie asked Tori if Vega was really her name. It wasn't her first name of course, but nevertheless she hated the idea of the young man disliking Tori's last name. Why would it be a problem? His opinion to her surname was not really of an importance, but she felt protective of the brunette. She knew Robbie didn't mean anything by it, nevertheless she couldn't help herself. There was nothing to dislike about Tori, not even her last name.
"My name's Tori Vega," Tori smiled and explained to Robbie who nodded in response. "Jade thinks it's amusing to call me Vega. I don't know why," she rolled her eyes.
Jade chuckled taking a drink of the hot cup of coffee she had served for herself. "It's an endearing term, Vega." She looked over at Robbie and gave him an apologetic look for her snap.
Robbie was taken by surprise. He'd known Jade for years and not once over that time had she ever taken the time to apologize. His eyes wondered between the two women. A smile grew as he realized Tori had been the reason Jade had apologized. He settled in his seat comfortably. It was interesting to see that Tori had such in effect on the pale woman. He have to ask her about the woman sometime.
"And an endearing term it is," Sikowitz spoke. He took his seat at the head of the table with Tori on his left side and Robbie on his right. Across the table from him sat an elder woman around his age. She had light brown hair with hints of gray streaks in it. Tori smiled as she watched the exchange he and the woman gave each other.
She didn't have to ask as it was clear in the way Sikowitz looked at the woman that he was in love with her. Surely she was his wife. She wondered if the day would come when someone would look at her in such a way. The way Sikowitz looked at the woman was like she was his entire world. She laughed at herself inwardly and pushed aside the silly thought taking a zip of the cup of coffee Jade had given her.
The two settled into the table. Jade had fallen into a conversation with the colleague opposite of her side. Tori had taken a few bits of some of the appetizers being served and had enjoyed watching Jade be so animated as she spoke. She'd taken the opportunity wander into her own as she played with her food not wanting to intrude with the woman's conversation.
"What are you thinking?" the small voice asked breaking the brunette's thoughts.
"What?" Tori shivered and looked over at the blue eyed woman. The feeling of Jade's breath against her ear in a whisper awoke a wave of goose bumps all over her.
"You've been quite for the last five minutes. What's on your mind, Vega?" Jade asked with the same tone in her voice low enough so only Tori could hear.
"Just you know stuff," she shrugged unsure how to respond.
The raven haired woman raised a brow in question. "Stuff? Well that's a first," she smirked. "I should try thinking about stuff sometime."
Tori grinned. "You should. It can be quite interesting." She was amused with the way Jade was able to respond to her empty answer. She always had a combat and secretly Tori enjoyed how they were able to banter back and forth without growing bored with it.
"Do you want to see something amazing?" Jade's smirk faded replaced with a gentle smile.
"But aren't we going to eat?" Tori questioned.
Jade shook her head. "We can eat at any time. Come on, you'll like it." She stood offering the brunette her hand. Tori looked down at the pale hand hesitant for a moment before nodding and taking it in her own. She stood and followed behind Jade.
"Mind if I show Tori the Meteor room?" Jade asked Sikowitz. He gave them both a huge grin and nodded. "Not at all. Go on," he returned to his discussion with Robbie about ordering new promotional posters. Tori smiled to herself. Sikowitz was an interesting man.
Jade led them out of the dining room and through a thick wooden door that led to a long hallway. They walked down the hallway stopping in front of two large white doors. Tori looked at it for a moment in curiosity. A Meteor room? Did Sikowitz collect meteors?
Jade let go of Tori's hand and Tori couldn't help but miss the warmth of the Goth's hand. Jade gave the doors a push and opened it, revealing a dim lit room. Jade grinned and gestured for them to go in. Tori obliged and entered the room, missing the sound of Jade closing the doors behind them. It looked almost like a theater room. There at least five rows of seats each aligned behind the other in a semi-circle. The walls were painted black along red seats. In the center of the room was a larger cylinder object. It was white and appeared to be a large telescope.
Tori walked over to the curious object. It wasn't a telescope she discovered. There were no lenses to look into or out of. She stepped back in surprise when the room went dark and the object awoke lighting the room with what appeared to be shooting stars.
"It's a planetarium" Jade explained. "But Sikowitz refers to it as the Meteor room," Jade continued a few steps behind Tori. "He has it set up for a meteor shower." She finished standing beside the brunette who stood captivated by the glowing lights.
"This is amazing," Tori said in awe. She looked around amazed at how real the scene before her looked. Growing up in a small town she'd seen a fair amount of shooting stars, but the scene before her was so beautiful it brought tears to her eyes.
Jade led them to the first row of seats and sat beside the brunette. Tori leaned her head back against the seat enjoying the shower of meteors filling the dark sky. It looked so real had Tori not seen the room before it was set to show the meteor shower she'd have easily fallen into belief that it was indeed real. They sat side by side in silence watching as the dark ceiling was filled with projected shooting stars.
Neither women knew who did it, but without realizing it they were both enjoying the flutter of stars with their hand intertwined. "It's so beautiful," Tori whispered giving Jade's hand a light squeeze.
Jade looked at their hands linked together and back at the brunette who was intrigued by the show. The only other light in the room allowing her to see Tori in the darkness was provided by the projected stars. "It is," Jade whispered. She leaned her head back on the chair and enjoyed the rest of the show. The warmth of the brunette's hand in her own sent a tingling sensation down to her stomach she was growing to like. And when Tori accommodated herself and angled her head to rest against her shoulder Jade could have sworn her heart skipped a beat. With a she sigh of contentment she rested her cheek over the brown crown and simply enjoyed the quiet moment with Tori.
…
Sikowitz let out a roaring laugh, "You're quite the young lady, Tori. I do hope to see you around more often." He raised a brow at Jade who in response blushed.
Tori smiled and nodded. "I really enjoy the store," she met azure eyes that looked deeply into the brown in search of something. Tori eyed the woman curiously. She was ready to ask the Jade about it when Robbie spoke up breaking the given opportunity.
The two women had spent a good half hour enjoying the Meteor room with nothing but silence and each other's company. After the show had ended they had returned to the table to find the guests had not taken note of their absence. They took their seats conversating with both Sikowitz and Robbie who seemed to have some sort of interest in the brunette.
"Hey Jade you should recite something. You're really good at it." Robbie grinned.
Jade had been watching the curly haired colleague from the corner of her eyes. She knew he would eventually bring up the Goth's secret ability to cite old works from admired authors. He did every year at the dinner table.
"I don't think so. I think I'm all burned out this year, Rob," Jade lamely replied.
"Come on West, don't be such a drag," Robbie said shaking his shoulders playfully. Jade was ready to protest and growl at the curly haired man when the sound of the woman giggling beside her caught her attention.
"Don't afraid, Jade. I bet you're great at reciting works," Tori said with a smile. A Glint of mischief sparkled in the chocolate colored eyes.
Jade raised her brow at the given challenge. It felt like the room had suddenly grown silent and small. All the pale woman could concentrate was on the way the brown eyes sparkled when they were turned on her and how the smile dancing along the brunette's lips seemed so dreamy. Under the light of the room the teal dress made the brunette look irresistible. She could swear her heart was beating loud enough for it to sound in the large room. She cleared her throat, turning her body to face the brunette before speaking.
"I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! - When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library." Blue eyes gazed into the brown as she finished. The brown eyes seemed so mesmerizing. It felt like some sort of force was pulling her closer to the brunette. Before either women could explain what was happening the spell between them was broken by the sound of Robbie coughing.
Jade groaned inwardly but nevertheless turned to look at the co-worker and found the awkward man had been choking on one of the fruit tarts. She rolled her eyes as his coughing stopped annoyed by the man's constant interruptions.
"Jane Austen," Tori said.
Jade returned her gaze to the brunette and blinked before realizing Tori was referring to the quote she had just cited. She nodded, feeling proud.
"You are quite the reader aren't you?" Jade pointed out.
"Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorites," Tori shrugged in amusement.
The rest of the night consisted on small conversations. Some were about the new books to be out soon and others were about the workers favorite books and television shows. Jade cited a couple more authors and was taken by surprise when Tori managed to Emily Dickinson. Sikowitz seemed so gleeful with the event Tori couldn't help but be glad she had agreed to accompany Jade. After they had finished their food they fell into a discussion on the new television program Once Upon a Time. Jade laughed at Tori's animated way of talking about the show. She clearly loved the show and the characters known as Emma Swan and Regina Mills. Jade made a mental note to take a look at the show and perhaps consider buying the brunette the first season on DVD, she had after all seen it around in the music and movie department of the bookstore. It was hard to avoid it with all the promotions be made about the show.
The dinner ended shortly after they shared a round of coffee with cheesecake. Eventually Jade and Tori said their farewells to everyone. Tori thanked Sikowitz for welcoming her into his home. Sikowitz made it clear she was more than welcome to return anytime she pleased and on the final note added he hoped the Meteor room was always open.
"I had a lot of fun tonight," Tori smiled, turning to face Jade. They stood in front of the brunette's apartment quietly. Tori played with the keys her gaze fixed on the blued eyed woman.
Blue eyes looked down at the brunette softly. The night had been amazing. Jade had worked for the bookstore for quite some years and each year the holiday dinners Sikowitz held weren't exactly boring but they had grown too predictable and frankly Jade had skipped out the last two past years claiming she had prior engagements to attend to. Honestly she had believed the dinner this year would be just as she had expected, but with Tori with her it had gone so unexpectantly wonderful. She caught up with some co-workers, joked around and recited; she had not recited any works for the longest time. A smile grew across her lips. She glanced down at the keys Tori held, amused by the woman's evident nerve.
A line by Shakespeare suddenly crossed Jade thoughts as she watched the brunette who retuned the gentle smile. I'll watch her place of stand, and, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Without thinking Jade leaned down and pressed her lips gently onto the warm caramel cheek of the brunette. She lingered for a brief moment before stepping back and meeting the surprised chocolate eyes. "Goodnight, Tori," she smiled.
Tori nodded speechless and smiled before unlocking the door and entering the apartment. Once the door was shut behind her she reached up and touched the spot over her cheek where Jade's lips had been moments before. She smiled to herself and closed her eyes. A quote she had once read in one of Shakespeare's work crossed her mind and created a fluttering sensation in her stomach. She could still feel the warmth of Jade's lips on her cheek as the line consumed her thoughts along with the adoring azure eyes. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.
A/N: I suppose there is a pattern in my stories with the stars. I just love them! ;1
Thank you, Shakespeare. "I'll watch her place of stand, and, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night," Romeo & Juliet, William Shakespeare.
A great thanks to all of those who reviewed and alerted! Seriously love you guys!
This story is beginning to pick up. It may be a bit slow paced, but trust me. I don't want to rush it and make the story feel like its jumping all over the place. I have a plan for it and of course it will involve Jori! It will begin to pick up more gradually after the next chapter (;
By the way Once Upon a Time it a phenomenal show! Check it out!
As always please review, honestly you're all the reason this story lives on. (: