Chapter 11 – Mrs West

It's Sunday, and here is a new chapter as promised! Enjoy.

Jade's POV

Mrs Vega had made sure that Tori and I slept in our separate beds last night, well you can't blame her… I don't know how Tori slept but I was up all night, taking only short power naps every hour. I couldn't stop worrying about seeing my mother today. She takes no interest in my life. For years she's just sent me a card on my birthday with $20 in it. And now she decides to take an interest.

Oh god, I bet my dad twisted everything when he told her what happened the other night. Great, how typical of him.

I glance at the clock, 7:30am. I decide to take a shower and get dressed before I see if Tori is awake.

8:15am and I'm showered and dressed, my hair dry but not styled and no makeup on. I hear a knock on my door followed by Tori walking into my room, she's obviously just woken up because she's still in her pyjamas and not brushed her hair yet.

"Morning, beautiful" she smiles as she walks over to me, giving me a kiss on my cheek.

"Good Morning to you too Miss Vega" she reply.

"What time are we meeting your mom?"

"She text me last night, she said we'll meet for coffee at 10"

"I suppose I should go shower then" she says heading for the door.

"Yeah, you smell" I joke

"Hey!" she says turning back to me.

"Relax, I was joking." I say grabbing her waist and kissing her. I pull away. "But seriously, go shower".

*10am, coffee shop*

Tori's POV

Sitting alone clutching a mug of coffee was a woman who was quite obviously related to Jade. Her hair was the same shade of brown Jade's was before she had dyed it black. She had the same jawline, pale skin and large eyes.

"She's here" Jade says nodding in the direction of the woman I had spotted.

"You look alike" I smile at her.

"I guess so" she sighs "well.. here goes nothing"

We walk up to the woman who looks up when we approach the table.

"Jade!" she says standing up and pulling her daughter into a hug. "And you must be Tori!" she says then moving over to give me a hug. "I got a coffee, I didn't know what you two drink otherwise I'd have gotten you some"

"I know what Jade drinks, I'll go get them and leave you two alone for a moment. I say before smiling at them, giving Jade a reassuring hand squeeze before I go.

I order the coffees and look back over at the table where they're sat, Jade is looking a little nervous, but nowhere near as bad as she did when I met her dad, but that's understandable. I see a small smile appear for a moment on Jade's lips which makes me smile, it must be going well.

"Vanilla latte and a black coffee" the barista shouts. I grab the two mugs and head back to the table.

"Got coffee" I smile placing the mugs on the table.

"Thanks babe, did you bring my sugar?"

"Of course" I say reaching into my pocket and pulling out 2 sachets of sugar.

"It's going well with you girls then" Mrs West observes, at how well I seem to know her daughter.

"Yes, I'm very happy to be with Jade" I say sitting down.

"And I'm very happy to be with you too, Vega" she winks.

"I'm very happy for you both. Jade your father told me what had happened, however he did explain it as if the world had come to an end… I don't at all agree with the way he handled the situation-"

"Handled it situation? He didn't handle it at all!" Jade started.

"I know. And I'm so sorry about that. I would offer you come live with me but as I'm still living in a small one bedroomed flat I assume you're a lot comfier staying at Tori's? " she says to Jade. That is of course if your parents are okay with her staying with you?" She asks now directing the questioning to me.

"My parents are completely okay with it. My sister isn't Jade's biggest fan but she's surviving."

"I'm not her biggest fan either."

"I know." I say rolling my eyes at her, with a light smile.

"Thank you so much Tori, I'd love to thank your parents in person one day."

"Of course! We'll have to arrange it sometime soon!"

The rest of the time is spent having pleasant conversation; no mention of Mr West, which was nice. Jade seemed to be enjoying spending time catching up with her mother, and Mrs West clearly loved spending time with Jade.

The place was surprisingly quiet for a Sunday morning in LA. We seemed to be having a heat wave so most people stayed indoors with fans going to try and keep cool… that was probably why it was so peaceful.

"I'm just going to the bathroom, back in a second." Jade says leaning over to me.

"Tori." Mrs West starts. "I've been a rather absent figure in Jade's life for a long time now, and I regret it so much. I hope today has been the start of a new found relationship with her. Here, I want you to take this and take her out on a nice date. You make her so happy, happier than I've seen her in years so please, take it" she hands me $200 in cash.

"Oh my- please I could never accept this kind of money"

"I insist. Even if you don't go out, spend it on a few movie rentals and have a date watching movies all night, anything. Just please spend it on her."

"I will, I promise. If you're sure you want to give me this much!"

"I am" she smiles.

"Well, thank you, Mrs West"

"Please, call me Caroline"

A short moment later Jade returns from the bathroom.

"I should get going" Caroline exclaims. "Tori, it was lovely meeting you. I'm so glad you two have each other" she says pulling me into a hug.

She releases me from the hug and turns to Jade. "I am so sorry, for so much. For not being there a lot the last few years, and of course I'm sorry for how your father reacted. I promise you I'm going to be there for you from now on. I've got my life back on track now, and I hope you can accept my apologies and accept me back into your life"

Jade smiled, and seemed to accept her mother's apologies; "I'm in a play at school… we're doing Chicago, and I'm playing Velma. I'd love it if you were to be there on opening night. It's next week."

"I'd love to, I'll text you later and you can give me the details?"

"Okay."

After saying our goodbyes we part our separate ways with the promise of contacting soon.

"It's so hot" Jade complains as we stand outside.

"You're not even sweating!"

"I don't sweat!"

"Come on" I say "I know how we can cool down" I tell her before holding her hand and setting off home.

Reviews very much appreciated.