Disclaimer: I do not own Victorious.
Shots
"This-this is what you do when you 'work overtime'?" The words slipped from her lips like the crack of a whip; the sonic boom her intensity produced making the entire classroom buzz with tension. Silence.
Cat gasped, stepping away from Tori, who moved in front of her. Tall and strong like a protective barrier. Jade's eyes followed Cat's movements, glued to her hand as it grasped Tori's shoulder, fingers squeezing so hard it certainly must've hurt her.
"Matthew! It's not what-"
"It's not what, Rachel? It's not what I think it is?" She laughed then. In such a humourless way that it even surprised her. A pat on the back for a job well done. Back to the scene. "How about what I saw? Because, I might be short-sighted sometimes, but I'm pretty fucking sure of what I saw." Sikowitz cleared his throat from where he was sitting, issuing a small warning at the strong language. Jade smirked and disregarded his warning; noting that taking risks were essential when portraying characters, human emotions.
Taking a step forward, she tried to reach around Tori and grab Cat: to pull her close and shake her and demand an explanation. The sting of jealousy hit her once more, her own feeling mingling dangerously with that of her character. Her hand was stopped halfway, however, by a vice-like grip that did actually hurt her. No one's half-assing this assignament, eh?
Tori stepped in front of her completely, shielding the redhead from her view, eyes stern and the scowl on her face looking almost as vicious as hers. 'Impressive, Vega.' The voice in her head chuckled, amused and relatively taken aback by Vega's sudden feistiness. Probably the same thing that had given her the courage to fully get into her role. To kiss-
To kiss Cat.
To kiss Cat.
Your Cat.
The intensity from just a moment ago came back with a vengeance. Her chest bumped Tori's in defiance, but the girl stood her ground.
"Leave her." 'Jake' ground out, hands balled into fists and stance tense.
"Don't worry, I will." With that, she turned her back on them, proceeding to walk away.
"No, Matthew, wait!" Running past Tori, Cat made a grab for her hand, effectively stopping her. Even then, she wouldn't face her. She couldn't. Matthew couldn't bear to look into her eyes.
You can't look her in the eyes either, can you?
"Please... please, let me explain!" Sobbed the girl hanging desperately to her arm, pulling on the sleeve of her shirt harshly.
"Explain what? Did you explain to him," Jade pointed behind her, where Tori stood awkwardly, looking hurt, angry, and scared, "that we've been married for five years? Did you? Did you tell him about our son? The son you've been neglecting lately, so you have time for your more important affairs?" At the accusation, Cat flinched, as if something had burned her, but her hold remained firm.
"Please," was her plea, simply a hushed whisper. A tear slid down her cheek as her face contorted in sadness. Regret.
"No," was her response. "Not after you've kis-" Her voice cracked at the memory, her role faltering for a second. Jealousy.
The rage that had been simmering since she'd seen Tori and Cat kiss finally boiled over. She wanted to get out of there, or bad things would happen. At that moment, warm hands cupped her cheeks, thumbs stroking the flesh tenderly. Her face was pulled towards Cat's and Jade foun that he had no means to resist. Her composure faltered slightly the moment Cat leaned in. Cat was going to kiss her. What that part of the scene? Nervousness took over her, paranoia, fear, and I'm not ready for this, I don't want it to be this way.
Lips brushed against her cheek when she turned her head away, away from Cat and her sweet kiss. It worked, though. It made the scene more believable and Sikowitz had already sprung to his feet, shouting "cut!" and applauding them for a job well done before they even parted. Everyone did the same and the applause felt like a much needed bucket of cold water thrown at her. Taking a step back helped compose her façade and Jade went back to being Jade Jade. With the scowl that seemed to permanently marr her features, an eyebrow raised just so, and a very condescending attitude.
"That was great work, people." Sikowitz praised and Jade allowed herself to feel just a tinge of pride.
"Yeah. Are we done now?" That was Jade Jade speaking. The questioning and worried look Cat gave her wasn't lost on her, even if she pretended not to notice.
Frustrated beyond relief and just wanting to get out of there, Jade did that exact thing. Walking away and out of the classroom with a very purposeful stride, doing everything she could to ignore that little voice-
It was only a scene.
Cat called after her, but then she ignored that, too.
The remainder of the school day went by in in a blur. Fast and rushed. Just the way Jade wanted it to be. The time not spent in class was spent avoiding Cat and the inevitable conversation their meeting would lead to. She was going to talk to her. Eventually. Cat really didn't deserve such treatment, but it was slightly more acceptable than snapping at her and just being Jade, the Jade she had been trying to avoid being, all over again.
That, of course, didn't mean Cat wouldn't stare at her so intensely at any given moment. Because she had been staring at her, with that lost, confused, and questioning gaze only the redhead could make seem adorable.
With that thought in mind, Jade sighed and looked at her watch. Only five minutes left. Then, she would be able to go home and go back to avoiding everything. Maybe she'd be able to get into her father's liquor cabinet... though, Cat would most likely not approve of that decision. It was unfortunate, though, because Jade found that she honestly couldn't be bothered enough to care about that right now.
You do care.
With that plan in mind, Jade was out of her chair in a flash the moment the bell rang. Easily waving through the student body, she tried her best to ignore, once more, the glance Cat shot her way. And how the girl looked like the was about to chase after her. Her long stride and quick pace made sure that didn't happen.
Jade got into her truck the moment a flash of red slipped out of the school doors.
The satisfaction she felt as she pulled out of the lot only lasted briefly before being overpowered by guilt and shame.
Getting the liquor cabinet to open was fairly easy. Mostly because her father was never there and he didn't really care. There was quite a wide assortment of liquors in it, most of which Jade had, at one point, tasted. It wasn't something she indulged in a lot, but she understood why it was so appealing.
Yes, she understood as she tipped back her small shot glass and felt the searing warmth go down her throat, branching across her chest in a way that was pleasurable yet almost painful.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
The increasing number of empty shot glasses were pushed closely together, in a neat little row. The fifth shot was now pressed against her lips and she was bracing herself for the welcomed warmth when her phone went off. With a dissatisfied grunt, she reached out for it lazily, the alcohol already doing its work.
"Speak." She commanded, tongue heavy and voice gruff from her buzz.
"Jade? Are yo- have you been drinking?" The response came in the form of Tori Vega's concerned and desperate tone.
Should've checked the ID before picking up. The voice taunted before she decided to make it quiet by downing the shot in her hand.
Oh, Vega expected her to say something.
"Yeah, well..." She began, surprising herself with a low chuckle, "I'd tell you, but that's not really any of your business, is it?"
There was a frustrated and annoyed sigh in the other line. "It wouldn't be, except you went off today without saying a word and, overall, acted like a total gank to C-"
Her humour dissipated at the possible mention of Cat, and she was quick to cut Tori off with a hot hiss. "You don't even kno- look, Vega, do me a favour. Shut up and just..." She trailed off after that as her temper cooled down for a split second, giving way to guilt once more. As much as Tori annoyed her, she didn't deserve her attitude... even though torturing Tori was always a great stress-reliever. One she needed badly at the moment.
"Just leave me be, Vega. I honestly don't want to talk to anyone no-"
"I'm at your door. Let me in." It was Tori who cut her off this time and she could barely contain her surprise at the statement.
"What? What are you even-"
"I'm outside. Please, let me in."
"No, I won't let you in."
"It's sort of... really cold out here, Jade."
"...Ugh, I fucking hate you." With that statement, which was true, by the way, Jade set down her phone and glass on the table. The urge to punch something became almost tangible as she neared the front door of her house and a small, sober part of Jade wished that she actually didn't punch Tori. No, if she ever punched Vega, she wanted to be completely sober to enjoy the experience. The thought almost made her laugh.
Unfortunately for her, when she opened the door, she wasn't met by the expected brown eyes, which were usually at her level, nor Tori's infuriating and reprimanding expression.
The red hair made her look down, and green and brown clashed.
There was a moment of tense silence. Right before Jade asked rather stupidly,
"Where's Vega?"
That seemed to break the ice, making Cat smile almost sadly at her and shake her head. "It's just me."
"Oh." The silence stretched on for longer now. The girl before her shuffled awkwardly in her doorstep.
"Can I? It is a bit cold outside..."
"Yeah, sure." Jade stepped aside to let Cat in, running her eyes down her pyjama-clad body and resisting the urge to smile. Well, it was better than wanting to punch things - namely, Tori's face - at least.
Cat made her way to the dining room, already familiar enough with the layout of her house, where she knew the cabinet was located. Jade simply followed her quietly.
The bottle of vodka stood tall beside the row of glasses and Jade knew the exact moment Cat noticed it by the way her lips tugged downward the slightest bit.
"Jade, are you... okay?"
It was a complicated question to answer - except, not really - and Jade did so automatically.
"Yeah." The words didn't exactly sound genuine, even to her.
"Mhm," Cat agreed with a small smile, as if she knew Jade was lying to her. She probably did. "Jade." She repeated.
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay?" This time her eyes were looking straight at her, questioning yet oddly gentle and comforting.
"Yeah, I don't-" But then Cat stepped closer to her, slowly and patiently. Jade wasn't entirely sure if she felt dizzy because of the alcohol buzzing in her body, or the shortening distance between them. She stood her ground, even when a small sense of claustrophobia clawed at her.
"What are you-"
"I'm Cat." One step closer.
"Wait, what?"
"You're Jade." Two steps closer.
"Cat-"
"I'm Cat and you're Jade, okay? And..." Hands reached out for her.
"I don't-"
"...this is not a script." The words hit her, even in her slightly inebriated state, harder than a slap. With enough force to make the words she had been trying to say die at her lips- realization dawning.
Fingers slid around her wrists, gently grasping and pulling her towards a very warm and soft body. Her own hands were wrapped around Cat's waist, with some guidance. With the position secure, Cat's own hands drifted up and to her face, cupping her cheeks warmly. All the while, chocolate brown eyes stared at her with such patience that Jade had to remind herself that this was Cat-goofy, childish Cat. Except she wasn't being quite so childish right now, a little voice reminded her at the feel of Cat's body against her front. Her breath hitched.
The thumb that had been stroking her cheek stopped momentarily before Cat giggled softly, so close to her face that Jade was starting to feel dizzy again. Or maybe that was just the oxygen deprivation.
Cat leaned in slowly and, with a smile still curling her full lips, whispered,
"Breathe, silly."
And Jade found that she couldn't until the lips her eyes had been glued to brushed faintly against hers, pressing forward and more fully into a kiss just a second after.
Author's Notes: Cliffhanger!
I am so, so sorry for taking so much to update this. With midterms and finals and just recovering from a killer semester, I didn't really have a lot of writing juice, if you know what I mean. I'm sorry if the chapter is off, the characterization and whatnot. I will admit I struggled a lot to come up with this, but I do hope it was good enough to read. Feel free to point out any mistakes.
I gave you the kiss! So, I hope that makes up for how shitty this chapter might've been. And don't worry, it's not over yet-the kiss, I mean. -evil laugh-
Thank you for the messages and for being interested in this little fic here. I am so honoured and flattered that people like it. :3
A bit late but, happy holidays to you all and a happy new year. May 2012 bring forth more Cade. \o/
Now, if you were so kind as to review...
It'll be like a New Year's kiss, except in review form.
Come on now... I'll let you use the whip on me. ;D You know you love that.