A/N: I'm glad you are all responding well to this. I missed hearing the feedback.
Again, I was originally going to update weekly but I'm too excited of the possibility of having it finished in time for Christmas so I will do it every few days. Luckily the pages flow freely when it comes to Jori; it just comes as easily as breathing.
So, yeah, Jade dropped quite the bombshell. She had her reasons but we can agree that Tori's initial reaction was understandable. I think she just let everything out when she should have chosen what to say out loud more carefully.
But we're all human and humans make mistakes. And like Jade said, its not over yet. We can still make amends.
And now we see where our main players were coming from (plan to have a few flashbacks here and there) we can set the plot in motion!
Strap in!
Jade stretched after opening her eyes, resting from the bright L.A. afternoon sun.
She immediately became aware of a curly-haired guy with a goatee looking right at her.
He was a few rows in front and he was doing the over-the-shoulder. This angle and the seats around her nearly empty; there was no mistake that she was the focus of his gaze.
(Seriously, what the actual fuck?)
Her stomach felt queasy for the first time since this long road trip started.
Jade looked down at her phone, only half ignoring him so that hopefully she won't see him on the look back.
Moving her eyes up whilst keeping her head down with an unpleasant expression she looked like Jack Nicholson in The Shining.
Sure enough, he was still looking at her. Even more off-putting, he sat there expressionless. He looked like he was trying to read her mind.
(If he could, then why isn't he running?)
Finally having enough, Jade looked right back at him and retreated into a classic Jade West scowl. The kind of grimace that could make a dog walk the other way.
This motherfucker just smirked as if he found it amusing.
(Fuck, I got to get out of here!)
The bus stopped at the next station with a loud hiss. Enough people stood that Jade thought she could vanish into the crowd and make it off the Greyhound. She looked the other way as she passed where he had to be sitting. Jade figured it was the same rules as monsters when you're a little kid in your room all by yourself. If you don't see them, especially making eye contact, then they can't see you and get you.
Jade breathed in deeply, never more grateful for good old Los Angeles smog than right now. The air was fresher than the recycled A/C back on the bus. She squeezed her way through the passengers eagerly finding their luggage from the stowage. The driver opened the hatch and stepped aside until he had to close it again. Jade felt like the toothpaste in a tube being crushed by the hand of an anxious kid told to brush his teeth.
She spotted her hunter green backpack and old black gym bag filled with clothes. Jade grabbed both and burst her way out of the swath of travelers.
Something made her shiver and she chanced to look back.
Goatee was outside the bus, not far from her. He wasn't look straight at Jade but more in her general direction.
(Was he looking for me? Oh, shit...)
Jade waved for a taxi as she distanced herself from the bus station. People started to follow her example and were flocking to the yellow cabs. The first two she had her eye on was snatched from her before she could blink.
"HEY!"
One thing she knew she was going to milk when she would start showing was the chivalrous nature people tend to have around pregnant women. Jade had it up to here with rude people so a little humanity was welcome.
At last, one stopped and she threw her luggage in the back seat and slunk in, slamming the door behind her.
"Where to, Miss?" asked the driver.
"I dunno," huffed Jade. "Just take me away from here. Where are we?"
"West of Hollywood" he replied. "Couple minutes you can see the sign."
Jade shook her head and handed the guy a $50.
"Listen, some creep is following me and I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!"
She could see a concerned look in his eye through the rear view mirror.
"Say no more, miss. I know a good place. Really nice. It's public, lots of people around and you can wait for your party there."
The brunette sighed with gratitude.
"Thanks."
The cab took off and made it onto the freeway.
Tori was driving while Jordan rode shotgun.
"You're sure you're okay to drive?" asked the redhead.
"I'm fine. I actually had an okay sleep for the first time in a month. And to be safe I drank a huge coffee, three shots of espresso."
"Mama warned you about the creature, Vega. Now you're gonna be up allll night."
Tori chuckled sarcastically.
BUZZ...BUZZZ...BUZZZZ.
"What's that?" asked Tori.
"What? Oh, it's me," Jordan replied, opening up her phone.
"Facebook?"
"No, its a text...from Jade."
Concern overcame Tori but she forced herself to keep attention on the road. The tone of voice in Jordan was also worrisome.
"Is she alright?"
"She says she saw a creepo on the bus and tried getting off early but he seems to be following her."
Now the half Latina was beginning to feel rage.
"My girl finally comes back to town and this douche trough is harassing her?!"
"Where is she now? We'll be there soon..."
Jordan held up her hand and quickly typed. In a couple seconds she got her response.
"She says she hailed a cab and is stopping at the Davenport."
"What the hell does that mean?" asked Tori.
"Oh," Jordan replied loudly. "I've heard of this joint. Real high end hotel just outside Hollyweird."
"How close?"
"About ten minutes," Jordan said as she brought up the GPS on her phone and put it on speaker so Tori could hear the directions.
(Hang in there, Jade. And heaven help the asshole giving you a hard time.)
Jade saw some other cabs and fancy town cars following her ride.
"Must be a popular place," she said.
"Like I said its very nice," assured the driver.
The brunette's jaw dropped when she saw the elaborate fountain that stood at the end of a long horseshoe that lead right up to the main entrance in the middle. This building was ridiculous; must've been at least 30 stories. Who knows how many rooms in this place.
Horns honking snapped Jade out of it and she grabbed her things and got out of the car. She gave the driver an extra ten for being so quick and understanding.
Jade went through one of the three revolving doors, avoiding the ones actively being used by old-school bellhops (uniforms and all) wheeling metal monstrosities packed to the gills with suitcases and even a few steamer trunks.
The lobby was as big as Hollywood Arts. And so much going on; must be a hundred people either checking in, checking out or airing grievances to the management. Some kids would run past here and there like squirrels at the park. Blink and you'll miss them. Nobody calling anybody's name so their parents are obviously off doing something else. Jade chuckled at the thought of a couple locking themselves in their room to have sex, letting their demon spawn roam around the halls of this very nice hotel and agitating the staff.
This whole area was a bit too noisy for the annoyance a little bit ago. She needed somewhere to clear her head while waiting for Tori and Jordan.
She then noticed a fancy door ordained with gold trim with an equally fancy sign on an easel that proudly proclaimed that this led to "The World Famous Hollywood Golden Lounge."
"A bit much," shrugged Jade. "This'll probably do."
Jade entered and was immediately accosted by a rather officious-looking fellow.
"Pardon me, Madam but what room are you staying in?"
"What's it to you?" she bit back.
(Jesus, what's with the creeps today?)
The clean-shaved man pointed to his little gold badge. It read "Concierge."
"I noticed you coming in Ma'am. You aren't a guest here, are you?"
"Look, I literally just came back to town an hour ago. I'm meeting friends and your lobby is giving me a migraine."
"Are you going to check in?" he said, annoyed. "Because areas like the gym and the pool and our three ballrooms..."
(Do your balls have room for my foot?)
"...are reserved for guests only."
"Of course I'm staying here at your ding-dang hotel!" Jade lied. "I was just waiting for the line to go down a little. See the bags? Notice how I look clean? Clearly I'm a traveler trying to rest her feet, if you don't mind."
Her tone of voice was attracting some unwanted attention from other patrons just outside the hall.
"I mean I'm pregnant, not even going to drink so what kind of shenanigans could I get into?"
The concierge looked around, hoping that this woman doesn't instigate a full blown scene. Especially when his superiors are very close by.
"Okay, okay, my apologies!" He then stepped aside and presented the open door. "Please enjoy and welcome to the Davenport Hotel."
Jade rolled her eyes and went past the prick and looked for somewhere to sit.
"CAN WE MOVE IT ALONG!"
Tori was honking the horn like there was no tomorrow.
"Vega, cool it!"
The half Latina gripped the wheel, her knuckles becoming one with the fake leather circle.
"Damn, even by LA standards, you got some road rage."
"Can you blame me?" Tori huffed. "I finally get to see Jade and it feels like everyone is in my way!"
"Calm down girl, calm down" Jordan chuckled.
She then looked at her phone screen again.
"See? Jade just got back to me. She's safe and sound at their lounge. There's probably plenty of people around."
Tori exhaled like she had been at the bottom of the ocean and only now saw the surface.
"Thanks, Jordan. I do feel better knowing she's there and staying put."
Jade didn't feel so strange sitting on her own; lots of people were too. Maybe they were staying with someone who didn't drink and they parted ways while they did something they enjoyed like go to the spa. She dreaded that some doofus would see this as a prime mating spot and try to pick her up.
But fortunately people left her alone.
Then a waitress came to her table, holding a pad of paper with drink orders for those not sitting at the bar.
"Can I get you something?" the lady asked.
She had an accent; if Jade had to guess Eastern European, maybe Ukraine. It was prominent but she pronounced everything beautifully so Jade understood her well.
"Do you have anything without alcohol or..." she shuddered. "...or caffeine?"
The woman stuck her pen into her tightly-wound bun and pondered the question, as if nobody had every asked her that before.
"Water?"
Jade just sighed.
(This pregnancy is going to be a loooong one.)
"Milk?" she then offered.
"Can you make it chocolate?" asked Jade.
"Yes," she nodded, retrieving her pen and writing it down.
"Sure why not? Make it a big one."
"Be right back," she smiled before walking away.
Jade dropped her head down on the glass table.
"This is my life now."
The cold sensation of the table on her forehead was very welcomed. It did help ease the headache she was working on this afternoon. The sudden clank of a heavy glass on the table made her look up and thank the patient waitress.
She even put a red and white striped straw like in the commercials.
The pale woman sipped some of her drink which was as brown as a mud puddle. The ice cold milk sweetened with plenty of chocolate admittedly tasted amazing.
"Okay, maybe I can do this."
While appreciative of the straw, Jade nicely took it out and laid on her napkin. She then picked it up and downed a big gulp like she was in a saloon out of an old western.
Setting down the glass, Jade could see again and quickly her blood ran cold.
Goatee just waltzed in and approached the bar, while keeping a huge black duffle in his grip.
(You have got to be shitting me!)