-VEGA
"Tori will you calm down? You said you trust Robbie so hold into your words" my sister blurted, "I know but-"
"Since when did you become pessimistic? Will you stop it? Robbie will be here just wait for him I gotta go meet Tiffany she has my assignment" she cut me off and walk ahead of me, "But-"
"Laters!" she waved her hand to me and went straight into the hallways. Yup that's my sister alright Classic Trina Vega.
I took my books out of my locker and tried my best not to pour too much thought about the flower and about Jade's reaction but I can't stop thinking about Robbie's idea. He said he can do it and I trust him I know that he can do a simple task like that but I don't know why im so worried, maybe because Jade might not like the flower or maybe she won't care. I don't know, im getting paranoid.
"Hey Tori" the canadian went beside me and leaned to my locker, "Oh hi beck" I greeted him back, "Are you ok? You look sort of pale… Are you sick?" he touched my forehead to feel my temperature. I shook my head, "Im fine im just so happy that my parents are home till Sunday and I get to spend some quality with them. You know I really missed them" I lied to him again and I saw him smile, "Yes I do and that's a good thing. Im just checking out on you cause there are times when you're really happy then worried and nervous about something"
"Don't be silly im fine you worry too much" I assured him, "Yeah I guess im just being… Protective" He smiled again and I saw him blush 'Oh beck I don't deserve someone like you'
"Let's go to class together?" he offered, "Oh im waiting for Robbie he said he has something to tell me. Maybe it's about his grandma. You better go or you'll be late for class"
"Alright… But I'll see you later bye" I waved my hand. I don't want to hurt beck but I know that someday I'll have too, and it's because of Jade. I sure hope that he can cope up with it and he'll understand us. I mean he's a good guy and he'll meet the right girl for him someday but we all know that it's not me.
"Tori!" Robbie came running down the hallway, "What the chizz? I've been waiting for you, where've you been?" I asked hysterically, "I did it, mission accomplished" he exclaimed, "What do you mean?"
"Well I left the flower on her doorstep and she went out after a couple of minutes" he explained, "Aww I wish I was there so I can see what her reaction was" I let out a sigh. I want to know if she liked it, "You don't need to worry about that" he took a cam recorder out of his bag, "Oh my god I owe you big time!"
"I know but let's talk about you and Jade for a while"
I played the tape and the first thing I that saw is her front yard and her porch… Then there's the door with the box where the fake black rose is located. It took Jade two minutes to get out of the house and she almost stepped on it which scared the chizz out of me.
But she arched an eyebrow when she saw the box. She picked it up and looked around her but she found no one so she opened the box anyway. Her expression is blank when she saw the rose. She read the card which says 'Good morning' then she looked at the rose again. She went back inside the house which ended the clip.
"Sorry I don't want to be late but I think she only forgot something that's why she went back inside her house so she'll be here soon" he said apologetically, "No it's ok and thank you so much Robbie, you're a life saver"
We heard the bell rang so Robbie said goodbye to me and went to his class. We don't have sikowitz class today because today is Friday and yeah. I am holding my books on my left arm and Jade's coffee on my right hand. Oh the things I do for Jadelyn West.
I was about to go to my next class but I saw Jade entering Hollywood Arts and she proceeded to her locker. She doesn't look happy and she doesn't look like she's in a good mood. Could it be because of the flower?
I approached her but she didn't notice me, "I thought you were going to be late, here's your coffee im going to my next class"
I didn't let her respond I went straight into the hallways and proceeded to my next class which is writing. Robbie and I have the same class but I did not sit beside him. I sat on the front. I took out my notebook and started to think of different ideas.
We're both going to the art museum with the rest of our friends. So that means we'll be hanging out together too. After that what happens next? Where should I take her? But the real question is… Will she hang out with me?
I continued to search for ideas till I finally heard the bell rang. I guess I came up with nothing. I don't want to ask Trina and Robbie for help they did a lot of things already. I need to do this on my own. I know a lot about Jade more than our friends because im observing her. Well besides beck because they've been together for like two years.
That's right… Beck knows a lot of things about Jade. But I can't use him… That's terrible. But I wouldn't be using him if im not the one who's asking him. But who can ask him? If Andre knows about this he might be able to help me because Beck is his best friend. But Andre's in beck's side so I can't tell him about Jade.
Trina? She'll probably annoy beck. They can't even start a simple conversation because beck doesn't like her. This is harder than I thought it would be. What about Robbie? I know im depending a lot on Robbie but I think he can help me on this one.
"Robbie are you still there?" I asked, "Yeah why?" I cleared my throat as I try to compose what im going to say, "Can you do me another favor? I know I owe you a lot"
"What is it? Don't tell me it's about asking Jade out for you cause that's not going to happen"
T"No but it's about Jade… It's not that big of a deal unlike what you told me earlier" he smiled, "Ok name it"
"Well you're friends with beck right?" he nodded, "So you can ask him personal things?"
"Not about hygiene though" he said, "No of course not you can ask him about Jade and what she likes" he hesitated for a while before giving me an answer, "Yeah but he's going to wonder why I asked him that"
"Tell him what Jade likes that he likes too… So that you can know why beck likes Jade just ask him about the things that they both like so he won't get that suspicious"
"Alright alright but you owe me"
"Yes I do and I promise I'll make it up to you somehow"
We went to the asphalt café together and most of our friends gave us the why-are-you-with-robbie look. I gave them a smile. I sat next to cat and beside Andre who is talking to Beck and beside beck is Robbie then next is Jade who is sitting beside Cat… Then me again.
"Beck said he can't go with us this Saturday night. I can't go too because my grandma needs me" Andre started the conversation, "Aww that's just sad" the perky little redhead replied, "How are we going to get there?" Robbie asked, "My brother has a car" that's right. I forgot about that, but I wouldn't want to be with them because I think that her brother's going to creep me out.
"Well I guess grandma can drive me there" I can go with Robbie but I have a bad feeling about his grandma, "What about you tori? Are you still coming? You can go with Jade"
I looked at Jade and she doesn't seem to care. She continued eating her pasta and paid no attention to any one of us. I don't think I can handle another ride from her. The last time I did we barely spoke to each other and I think the silence that will surround us on our way to the art museum will end up killing me.
"I think Trina can drive me there. She'll be home with our parents this Saturday"
That's definitely a lie because Trina will be having another sleepover at tiffany and our parents will be having a date on Saturday but im pretty sure Trina can drive me to the Art Museum first because she knows my struggle. That's what I think.
"I guess we're all set" Robbie stated, "This wouldn't have happen if Cat didn't say anything to Sikowitz" Jade blurted, "She was just being nice"
"Whatever" she ignored Robbie's words and ate her fries again. I still don't understand why I fell in love with this girl. But I know that deep inside her heart she still cares… Someone just needs to make her feel loved and understood so she can show her real self to somebody… And I vowed that that person… will be me.
The day ended well, Andre told me about beck and that I should be going out with him by now but like any other days I turned him down again. Just because his my best friend and I owe him a lot doesn't mean I should be doing what he says. I still have my own choice and that choice is final. I am not going out with beck… not when it's the two of us alone.
This may seem a little bit selfish but I can't deal with him right now. I want to try my chances with Jade I know I have one I just have to let it out I just need to push it through. After all Robbie said there's nothing to lose.
"You got home late" mom said, "Sorry mom you know those construction guys are taking too long, what are you cooking? Do you want me to help you?" I volunteered but she shook her head, "No dear I am almost finished. Why don't you just sit there and wait for me ok?"
"Alright" I missed mom's cooking. It's been a week since the last time I ate her homemade dish which is my favorite. Dad said that it's one of the factors why he loves mom. It's because of her cooking skills, "Mom…"
"Yes baby?"
"Where did you and dad spent most of your time together? When you guys aren't married yet and when Trina wasn't born… at that time" I asked, she turned around to face me and she gave me a smile "Well we would always go to the park and spend some time with each other when we're not busy. And sometimes he'll take me to some places that I've never been before" she replied, "Like?"
"Like the amusement park and the zoo, I once laughed at him because he seems childish but he told me that those places reminded him of his childhood. And for some reason I think those places are lovely because of the memories that we had there" she explained, "Really? So you mean to say that if I ever dated someone I should bring him to a place where I find myself happy?" she chuckled as she went back to cooking, "Yeah or you can take him to your favorite place… The place that describes a lot about you… If he truly loves you im pretty sure he'll love that place as well"
"Thanks mom"
"But why are you asking me all of these?" she glanced at me but it didn't last for long, "No reason, are you done yet? Im starved"
We had a nice dinner because the family is complete and my parents are happy because they get to spend some of their time with us. I am happy too and the fact that mom helped me about my problem with Jade. It gave me hope that one day they'll accept me for who I truly am.
After dinner I also asked Trina if she can drive me to the art museum and she said yes. She even volunteered to pick the clothes that I'll be wearing for the event but I told her no.
"But why? You said Jade liked it"
"I know what I said but I can't always depend on you when I want to impress Jade. I want her to completely like my outfit because im the one who picked it for myself" I reasoned out, "Ugh fine…" she raised both of her arms in the air as a sign of defeat, "But you can tell me whether the outfit is good or not"
"I guess I'll do that"
"So what do you think?" she looked at me from top to bottom and she began to circle me. I felt uncomfortable at what she's doing, "You look amazing… But I look even better" she complimented, "Thanks?"
"Alright let's get going tiffany and the others are waiting for me and I have to drive you to that stupid art museum. What are you going to do there anyway? That's not a good place for dating you know" she scolded me again, "I told you sikowitz wants us to go to that place. I think it's boring but I guess this is the first time that im going there" I responded.
"Sure is"
The others are waiting for me at the entrance. I saw Cat with Robbie and Jade drinking her coffee. I approached them and said hi.
"Wow tori you look nice" I got another compliment from what I was wearing, "Yeah I didn't know you wear black shirts" Cat added, "I do and that's because some of my clothes are still on the laundry" I replied, "You should wear them more often…" I heard the Goth say beside me, did I hear it right? Is that a compliment? She actually said I should wear it more often omg "Im so sick of seeing colorful and mushy clothes from you"
She left us and headed towards the entrance. I got my hopes up… But that was so cold. She wasn't like that when we first went to the bone museum. I was wearing a black and white stripes shirt with black jeans and black boots. I know she'll like it but she took the compliment back all of a sudden.
Cat and Robbie followed Jade and I did the same. Sikowitz was waiting for us at the entrance. He's dressed like a homeless person again. I don't get this man. He showed us some of the famous paintings of the famous painters first. Then some of his favorite paintings followed by the other unknown but beautiful paintings from the common painters then next is the abstract.
The abstract paintings are my least favorite of all because it's weird and boring. I mean why don't you just cut to the chase? Tell us what the painting is all about. You don't have to make things difficult for the viewers to understand the painting. That's just going to mess with people's minds.
I was scanning and viewing some of the abstract paintings when one of them captured my attention. It was a huge canvas full of different types of colors in it. It's pretty basic but you can see that the painter is talented, skilled and artistic.
This painting has got to be the worse abstract painting that I've ever seen. They say that abstract painting should mean something but this painting shows nothing at all. I think it's just placed here for design.
"This one's my favorite…" I saw Jade beside me, admiring the beauty of the painting. "This is your favorite? I don't get it… It doesn't make any sense" I scoffed, "You're so stupid Vega"
"But im serious… It's just a huge canvas composed of different types of colors"
"That's not the way I see it…" she protested, "Alright so how do you see it?" I asked.
"When the painter made this painting he was crying and drowning in depression… So instead of shredding tears… He decided to use different types of colors to represent his emotions," she paused, "Red for his broken heart, Blue for his tragic ending, Yellow for his forgotten happiness, Orange for his loneliness, Green for his weakness, Indigo for his despair, and Violet for his failure" she let out a sigh as she continue to explain the rest of the painting, "He used one of his favorite paintbrushes, and then he dipped it in the colors and let them fall in the canvas like tears. After finishing the painting he was about to commit suicide when he saw the colors black and white"
I was looking at her and I can feel the sadness that surrounds her as she continues to tell the story. I can feel the burden in her heart… I wish I can lessen the pain that she's feeling right now just by listening to her.
"He thought that his painting is one of the reasons why he should continue to live his life. If he takes his own life away… That will only prove that he doesn't deserve to live in this world. So he didn't continue it and now… He's a well known painter"
She narrowed her eyes to me, she's trying to read what's on my mind right now but I tried my best not to show her anything so I just flashed a smile.
"I think that this painting is the real definition of art because the reason behind it is full of emotions… Abstract paintings are supposed to be known because of the reason why it was created… Not just because of their beauty… Do you understand now Vega?" I nodded my head, "Wow I guess I owe you an apology… Im not really into this kind of thing that's why I don't find any of them interesting… How many times have you been in here?"
"Plenty of times…" she smiled, "My mother used to bring me here when I was little. She loves paintings but my father doesn't… So she stopped bringing me here when dad found out that she used to take me to this place" I noticed that she clenched her fist as she try to compose the next thing that she's about to say, "She encouraged me to become who I want to be but dad objected to it. He told me that I was born to be the next empress of the West inc. but I don't want to. And he's blaming mom because he thinks that she's polluting my mind with dreams and hopes"
I can't believe she's opening up to me. She doesn't know how much this means to me. She's beginning to trust me slowly but surely. I wish there will be more time where she'll do this again. I smiled at her and stroked her back.
She smiled and continue to admire her favorite painting.