Title: Who Knew
Chapter Six: Black Eye
Summary: When Tori Vega stopped talking to her long time best friend Jade West she never expected the heart break she felt, and now that she's found her again she wont let her go.
Rated: T for now, but possibly M later on. I'm not sure.
Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious, unfortunately.
"Come on Jae!" I begged, holding my hand out to her, she glared up at me, "Jae, come on!" I snatched up her hand and dragged her with me, lacing my fingers through hers as I tugged her over to the group of fellow 3rd graders.
They all looked over at us (mostly Jade) and frowned a little, "What are we talking about?" I asked, they start talking to me and ignore Jade so I walked away from them, tugging Jade behind me and dropping down on a bench far away from me, "can I see your drawings from today?"
"No." she snapped instantly, but after a few minutes she handed me the sketchpad. I carefully flipped through the pages, leaning against Jade with a grin on my face as she told me about each of her drawings.
And then suddenly we were sprawled across her bed, wrestling over the same worn out sketch pad, now filled with loose leafs of paper, a cracked spine and many more of her beautiful drawings.
Only now, four years later, she was embarrassed to let me see it. I hooked my leg around her hip and wound it between her legs, flipping us over and pinning her down on the mattress, snatching the book from her pale fingers.
I flipped it open to the back, where her newer drawings were and almost gasped out loud in shock. All I was seeing was my face, me sitting watching TV, me lying asleep beside her, me looking over at something, me reading my book, laughing. "Jade…"
"Look I know they're horrible, I'm sorry." She grumbled, turning her head away from me. I chuckled, closing the book and setting it on the floor, my fingers grasping her chin and turning her face toward me, "what?"
"They're gorgeous." I whispered, pressing my lips against hers, she wrapped her arm around my back and pulled me closer rolling over so we were lying next to each other. She tangled her legs with mine and kissed me again.
"Jade…"My eyes snapped open and I jerked upright as the dryers buzzer went off, I pulled my clothes out of the dryer and then hauled them upstairs with me. It was nearly 3 am now, and thanks to Trina and her big screaming mouth I was lectured for an hour before I could wash my clothes.
I slumped down in my desk chair and pulled out my homework, getting to work on it, praying I might get at least an hour of sleep today. The math problems taunt me, dancing around on the page with 'x's and 'y's.
I scribbled nonsense down on the paper, unsure if I was even close to doing the right thing on the problems, then moved onto my English work, and thought about all the Chemistry work I'd need to do.
"Tor!" Jade squealed, tumbling off of the bed, pulling me with her. We hit the floor with a thunk as I continued to tickle her relentlessly. She was squeaking and screaming with squeals, kicking and wriggling trying to escape my fingers.
A particularly good hip flip had me falling to the ground beside her and her fingers were attacking my sides as I burst into peels of laughter, tears building at the corners of my eyes, "Jade! Jade! I give up!" I was wheezing and trying to get her away from me but nothing was working, "Jade! Stop!"
And just like that she stopped, her hands hovering over my hips a grin on her face while I heaved in gulps of oxygen. As soon as I'd stopped panting she leaned down and kissed me hard, pulling me up so I was sitting, something was lodged under my hand and suddenly Friends was blaring behind us.
"Tori!" I jerked upright in my seat, almost tipping over in the chair. It was not even 5am yet, "Tori!"
"What?" I screamed, snapping my head toward the door. Trina backed away as quick as she could, rushing down the hallway. I frowned and looked at my homework. I had two problems left on my Chem homework so I hastily scribbled down answers and packed my homework away.
I quickly went into the bathroom and took a freezing cold shower, stepped out, dried off and moved into my bedroom. My phone was buzzing on my bed and Cat's bubbly face flashed across the screen, "what?" I snapped into the phone.
"I was just wondering if you had any boots. I forgot to get some to wear." She replied in a small voice, I'd clearly upset her. Guilt bit away at me, "I'm sorry…"
"It's not your fault Cat, I think I have some boots you can wear." I mumbled, "I'll bring them to school for you."
"Thanks Tor!" she squeaked, babbling on about something her brother did while I mindlessly did my makeup, fixed my hair and pulled on my 'Jade' outfit. It was the last thing I wanted to do today, the last thing I'd want to be wearing, but I'd been given no choice unless I wanted an F.
My 'Jade' outfit consisted of a pair of boots, some ripped up black tights, a black skirt and a black tank top with a black jacket and a dark bag that looked like the one she carried. My hair was curled and I put in fake colored extensions.
By the time I was done it was 5 and Cat was still babbling away in my ear, "Cat, you wanna meet me at the coffee shop down the street from school so I can give you the boots? I'll buy breakfast."
"Sure!" she squeaked happily. I hung up with her, put all of my things in the bag, grabbed the makeup I used in case of touch up and grabbed the fake eye studs I'd found at the mall yesterday, as well as the boots.
"Mom?" I called as I reached the bottom steps and nearly kicked the piano bench, "can I take your car today since you're staying home?"
"Sure Tori." She spun around to say something else and gasped in shock, grabbing her chest, "Oh goodness, I forgot about your assignment." She shook her head and turned back around, whatever she wanted to say forgotten. I picked up her keys.
"Bye mom." I muttered, spinning on my heel and heading out to our blue Ford Focus. I tossed my bag into the passenger seat, the boots into the back, started the car and backed out of the driveway, flipping on the headlights once I finally remembered.
I sped most of the way to the coffee shop and pulled into the last available spot, spotting Cat's bright hair disappearing through the front door. I shoved the door open, shut the car off and picked up my bag, slipping out of the car and into the coffee shop.
"Tor!" she calls, rushing over to me. I brace myself for the crushing impact of the hug. Her arms wrap around my neck and she slams against me, I stumble back a few feet and manage to put one arm around her to return the hug.
"Can I take your order?" the pimply twenty something guy behind the counter asked.
"Two glazed doughnuts, a French vanilla coffee, three sugars, large." I answer.
"Hot chocolate for me, and a plain doughnut." Cat says with a thousand watt smile in his direction. He gave her this weird look and then punched the buttons on the register, preparing our drinks.
I looked Cat over. She was in a black and yellow checkered shirt with a gray ribbed tank under it, a pair of loose, low slung jeans, and heels with a backpack slung over her shoulder.
"The boots are in the car, did you walk here?" I asked her.
"No, my mom dropped me off. I was hoping you could give me a ride to school…"
I shrugged, taking my bag of doughnuts and coffee from the guy, handing him a twenty and three singles as Cat took her hot chocolate, "come on." I hooked my arm through hers and pulled her out of the small shop, just as Jade and Beck came swooping through the door.
Jade slammed hard against Cat's shoulder, hard enough that she almost spilled her hot chocolate and doughnuts. Cat made a sad sound in the back of her throat at her supposedly best friends, behavior.
"She just had a bad night." I mumble, thinking about the rain soaked run home I had. I shook my head and took a large gulp of my coffee, hitting the unlock button on my keys so the locks popped open.
I set my coffee cup into the cup holder, grabbed a doughnut out of the bag and handed it to Cat, taking a large bite out of mine. Cat was silent for a few minutes before whispering something I pretended not to hear.
"You and Jade are a lot alike."
Instead of responding, I start the car and pull out of the space, slowly driving toward school, pulling into a spot I know is normally empty. Cat and I finish our doughnuts, and she switches shoes, I put the fake stud on and Cat points out I should draw on Jade's tattoo, so she draws it for me.
"Thanks Cat." I tell her after she caps the sharpie she used. She shrugs and picks up her hot chocolate while I pick up my coffee and follow her to the asphalt café, to our usual table and slump down.
Andre and Robbie are already sitting at the table. Andre is in a dark red turtleneck and girl pants with converse. Robbie is in a hoodie, a large t-shirt and a pair of looser fitting pants with colorful shoes on his feet.
Not long after, Beck dropped down on the bench next to me and Jade sat between him and Robbie. Beck was dressed in a bright pink v-neck and tight fitting jeans with bright yellow converse. He must've changed from when he was at the coffee shop.
Jade was in the yellow tank top with the ruffled top and flowing bottom and the white jeans with a pair of yellow high heels. Her hair was pulled away from her face and her makeup was lighter, her eyebrow ring was out and she'd covered her tattoo up.
"Damn, Jade really is a girl." I choked on my coffee and Cat's eye bugged out of her head as Jade growled, turned to Rex, and for the third time since I'd switched to this school, she ripped his arm off and threw it across the café.
Robbie almost yelled at Jade, but then he changed his mind, shimmied out of his spot, grabbed Rex's arm and ran inside the school. Andre mumbled something about getting to class to get a spot in the back and I just didn't feel like being stuck with Jade, so I left with Andre.
"You did really good on your Jade look." Andre commented, "How was the rest of your day? You didn't text me."
"It fucking sucked." I sighed, pulling open my locker.
"What could have happened in a few hours?" Andre asked.
"Jade picked a fight with me for some reason and when I left there was a huge storm and I had to run home." I sighed.
"Jade, you made her walk home? In the rain?" I hadn't even heard Beck and Jade walk over to Beck's locker. I let my head drop against the locker, not ready to hear Jade's answer.
"Yeah? So what? She should have just called her new best friend, Cat." Jade hissed.
"Cat was at my house, why would you do that?" Beck demanded.
"She's still alive, damn." She growled and stomped off.
"Don't break a heel, Jade." I called after her in anger, my voice coming out just as taunting as I wanted it to. None of the anger and frustration leaked through my voice and she made an angry scream in the back of her throat and sped up.
Satisfied that I'd pissed her off, I slammed my locker door shut and headed toward my first period, already working toward my Jade act for the rest of the day. I was fine all day, and then it came time for Sikowitz's class.
I stormed in, in perfect Jade fashion, and then slumped into my chair next to Cat who was already sitting in Beck's habitual chair. Beck bounced into the door chatting happily and sat down in front of us, turning around and bubbling toward us.
"Shut up." I hissed, not because it was annoying me, but because I was being Jade. He fell silent and mimicked Cat's sad face perfectly. I wanted to tell him so, but instead I just slumped down in my seat and pulled out my phone.
Andre came in, Rex now in his lap, and sat down where Robbie always sat. Jade and Robbie walked in a few minutes later, deep in fake conversation before they sat down side-by-side and Jade flipped her hair, giggling.
The whole class was silent when Jade giggled, and she didn't let her act falter as she gently smacked Robbie's arm, "you are so annoying." I snapped, adjusting my place in my chair to face the back of Beck's head while Cat slung her arm around the back of my chair.
"Well good morning students." Jade instantly perked up and responded to Sikowitz's greeting, as did Beck, while Cat and I remained quiet. He continued on babbling, doing things he knows would set off certain students, and smiled when the ones he was trying to set off spoke.
"Alright, now we have to vote on best impersonation. Look around the room, then write down the pair on a piece of paper, put it in this hat." He snatched a hat off of Sinjin's head and then tossed it to Jade.
She scribbled down her answer, snatched Robbie's and threw it gently to Beck, friendly smile still planted on her face. "While I find the winner you can go change." I sighed in relief; I could wash all this darn makeup off of my face.
Every guy in the class paired with a girl darted out of the classroom, Jade groaned in misery, "what's the matter? Don't have backup clothes?" I tease, pulling out my makeup remover. I quickly scrubbed the makeup off of my face and applied my normal makeup, also removing the stud and part of the tattoo.
Without asking Jade snatched my makeup removing wipes and cleaned up her face, pulling her makeup out of her bag to touch up whatever she'd decided she messed up. I leaned over and snatched the bag back, quickly putting my back to her and setting my bag in my lap.
By the time Sikowitz totaled up the vote the guys that had left were back and re-dressed, "The winners were Jade and Tori, so you two get extra credit. Good job, everyone else, I'll post your grades tonight."
The bell rang and we all moved out to the Grub Truck, got our food and went to our habitual table. Jade took her normal seat between Beck and I, brushing me when she sat down. This time I moved over, closer to Andre.
Cat and Beck kept shooting glances at each other, at Jade and I and then Beck would just shake his head. What are they up to? I catch Cat's eye when she decides to do this again, I raise my eyebrow in question and she squeaks and turns back to her tea.
The rest of my day was a blur, and as soon as I reached my house I ran upstairs, stripped out of the clothes I was in and burrowed under the sheets in just my underclothes. I wasn't in the mood for anybody so after about 10 minutes I got up and flipped the lock on my door before burrowing back under my sheets.
Dad came by a few times, checking if I'm okay, and then he walked away leaving me alone once more. I mostly slept, sometimes I'd just lay there, but most of the time I tried to ward off the dreams of Jade still lingering in my mind.
Of course the stars and lights weren't helping, they just made me remember the good parts of the weekend I wanted to pretend never happened. Jade was just driving me nuts. Why was she being so bitchy? School was going to suck if this is how we kept going.
I was late to Sikowitz' class Tuesday, and when I stumbled in Beck was getting his butt kicked by some guy, I almost ran to help him, if I wasn't in such a bad mood. The guy flipped him onto the table that broke away under him.
"Are you okay?" I gasped, all eyes turned to me.
The guy fighting with Beck helped him up and Beck pushed his fingers through his hair with a smile, "stage fighting Tori." Beck said, I blinked, "Fake fighting, I'm okay Tori."
"Well it looked like he was hurting you." I offer up, slipping down into a seat beside Andre.
"Why do you care?" Jade all but hissed. I couldn't stop myself from saying the words that tumbled out of my mouth next.
"Because I figured he already suffers enough pain dating you." I returned evenly, crossing my arms over my chest and slipping down further in the chair. Sikowitz went on to babble about something I wasn't listening to until he said 'partner'. I already knew who I would be partnered with, just because that always happened.
"Tori and Jade." They were the last two names out of his mouth and I decided I didn't want to stand by and deal with this.
"Sikowitz!" I jumped up as soon as the bell rang, but bumped into Beck and Jade. Beck grabbed my arm because I almost fell over. "thanks Beck." I muttered, catching my balance as he let go.
"No problem." I started walking away but Jade started talking and called for my attention.
"I can't wait for our fight.." she pauses and starts to turn away, then turns back, "scene." Then she snakes her arm around Beck's and pulls him out of the room as I moved closer to Sikowitz.
"Can I have a partner switch?" I asked, my voice edging on begging.
"What for?" Sikowitz asked.
"Because Jade might kill me?" I shrieked. Sikowitz just laughed and shook his head, like I was the funniest person on the planet. As he laughed he walked away from me and out the door.
"Don't worry Tori, Jade wont hurt you. It's points off."
"Great, so she gets an A- and I get a broken eye and a black nose!" I yelled flustered. Andre almost corrected me but I narrowed my eyes at him and he shut up, pulling my arm and leading me out to the asphalt café.
Jade told me what our fight scene was going to be and we practiced the next two days. Even though she never hit me during practice I didn't trust her not to hit me now. She was a robber and I was supposed to 'hit' her with my cane and she would get 'hit' and then rush me.
My hand shook on the cane and we started our scene. With panic in my voice I screamed our safety word as soon as Sikowitz yelled action, "What?" Jade screamed in frustration. I narrowed my eyes and then we started the scene, and just like I was supposed to I swung my cane around.
There was no sudden stop and ricochet, I swung right through, but Jade fell to the ground and cupped her eye. When she pulled her hand back she had a cut right under her right eye. I dropped the cane and stepped back panicked.
People rushed to help her while I stared wide-eyed, "I didn't…I didn't…" I stuttered. Backing up and hitting the table, the break away table. I fell to the ground and just sat there, "I didn't hit her." I managed to whisper.
People shot me shocked, angry, accusatory glances and I just sat there on the broken pieces of the break away table, staring at Jade's bleeding face with complete horror. And then I bolted from the room as fast as I could, my wig flipping off of my head as I moved out the door.
I stayed in the bathroom until the bell rang for class after lunch and I went to class. On Thursday, Jade came to school with a black eye and guilt ate at my stomach every time I saw her. Thankfully for me, Jade didn't sit with us at lunch.
She sat a few tables away, kids behind her were goofing off and before anyone at our table could warn the poor girl, she turned around a threw her glass of water in Jade's face, meaning for it to hit someone who had run away.
Jade jumped up from the table, the girl looked frightened, but something made Jade run away as fast as she could. I sighed and picked at my salad. When Beck noticed Jade's absence and sat down next to me, "where's Jade?"
"Some girl threw water in her face." Cat said in a chipper voice. Beck grunted and took a large gulp of the coffee I could smell was for Jade. He grimaced at the sweet taste, "she ran inside."
"She'll get her coffee in class then." Beck sighed, "I don't want to get screamed at right now."
Cat shrugged and I just let my head fall onto my hands on the table. It was just Beck, Cat and me at the table since Robbie was too scared to even come outside after Jade threatened Rex.
"Is she okay? Does her eye hurt a lot?" I asked, peeking over at Beck.
"I don't know…it doesn't seem to hurt too much. She usually just forgets about it." Beck shrugs. I fall silent and soon the only sound is Cat humming Forever Baby under her breath.
And then Andre bursts out the door, "Jade faked it!" he hissed in my ear when he reached the table, "the eye, it was makeup." My eyes widened and relief filled me. I didn't hurt Jade. I didn't hurt her! Quickly followed by she faked a black eye and I have to clean the Black Box after a food fight.
After a few minutes of everyone staring at me, I shrug, "Okay." They all stare at me, but I don't say anything else. Instead I finish my chicken salad and drink my orange soda before the bell rings for us to go to class.
Andre and I walked to class together, but he didn't ask what I meant and I didn't explain it to him. We talked about the math assignment, worked on our problems during class, and then went to our next classes.
After my last class of the day I bounded over to Lane and Derrick, the security guy. They told me what time to be there and about how long I'd be stuck cleaning and then I got into my moms car and drove home to change out of my school clothes, and then drove back to catch the end of the play.
After everyone had cleared out I stacked up the chairs, pushed them to the side and started cleaning the tables covered in food after the massive food fight. It was just Derrick and I, and he was texting away while I silently cleaned up the food.
I'd finished all the tables after about an hour and then started on the walls, Derrick came over and asked me what I thought the food might be. He thought it might mac and cheese. I agreed annoyed and continued to scrape at the gunk.
"Why are you doing this?" Jade must've been standing right behind me. I nearly jumped when I heard her, but thankfully I had one hand braced on the wall while I scraped at the food stuck there.
"It's my punishment." I deadpanned, flicking the mac and cheese into a bucket. I turned to look at her. She was staring down at me while her eyes flicked around the wall, back and fourth.
"I know Andre told you." She stated bluntly.
"Told me what." I challenged.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked again.
"We've covered this, it's my punishment for hitting you." I told her.
"But you know you didn't!" she screamed, "Why are you being so nice to me?"
I stood up, dropping my scraper and towel to the ground. I put my hands on my hips and stared at her, "Because if were fighting all the time school is going to suck for both of us and our friends so why not try being nice." I stomped past her to the other side of the Black Box, but she followed me.
When I turned around she had a scraper in her hand, I didn't say anything to her as I continued to scrape gunk off of the wall. After a few minutes she walked over and turned the music on so we could dance and clean, and somehow she roped Derrick into helping and as he cleaned we slowly danced out of the Black Box.
"Need a ride home?" she asked once we were outside.
"If you don't mind, yeah." I told her, she pointed in the general direction of her truck and we started walking toward it, silent as can be. I hopped into the passenger's side, and she got into the drivers seat, driving toward my house.
"Thanks for the ride." I mutter when she stops in my driveway. I hop out of the car and run for the door, as I'm unlocking the door she pulls out. And then her truck stops at the end of my driveway and my phone vibrates, "Yes?"
"I'm sorry, Vega." And then she hangs up and pulls away. I unlock the door and push it open, my mom and dad are gone. All the lights are out. Trina's at a friend's house. I have the house to myself the rest of the night. I usually do on Friday's.
I trudge upstairs, drop my bag on the floor in my bedroom, shuffle into the bathroom, kick the door shut, and carefully peel off my clothes, piling them up next to Trina's hamper.
I turn on the water, brushing out my hair while it warmed, then I jumped into the shower and washed the grime away from my body. Once I was done I stumbled back into my room and flopped down on my bed.
I needed to find something to do.
- I want to do a Jade POV chapter, maybe the next or the one after of what's going through Jade's head. Anybody think that's a good idea? Or should I just not?