A/N: So I know I said this probably wouldn't be posted right away, but whattayaknow- I even surprised myself here. Enjoy!

Jade

If anyone somehow knew what went down that very first day in my living room when it all started, and asked me what compelled me to do what I did, I wouldn't exactly have an answer.

Was it the fact that I had managed to convince myself somehow that helping Cat practice the scene was really the only reason I'd done it?

Maybe.

Was it that she just looked too god damn beautiful to resist?

Could be.

Or did I maybe have some kind of other secret motive I wasn't even completely sure of at the time? Did I know it would turn into more? Was I lying to myself about not having some kind of feelings for the naïve little read head that pushed on the edge of friendship and romance rather greatly?

I guess that's also possible.

Whatever my reason was at the time, all I knew was right in that moment as she sat across from me, back resting against the couch with her smooth slender legs folded over each other, eyes skimming over the words of her script beneath the most luscious of lashes, perfectly shaped pink lips forming the words she read aloud… I desperately wanted to feel the smoothness of those lips pressed against my own. I needed to.

Cat was so naïve- so adorably innocent and naïve it was almost too easy. I like a challenge, but I guess sometimes when things are being handed right to you it's not so bad either, especially not when it's exactly what you've been aching for for who knows how long. When I made my decision about halfway through our one-on-one rehearsal, everything just kind of fell into place. I sat there for a little while after I realized how badly I wanted to kiss her, reading over the lines of her male co-star when the time called for it as she recited her own, but the whole time my mind was off somewhere else, secretly formulating my plan for action in my head. I thought about the script and remembered there was a kissing scene in the play- I gave a little smirk to myself as the plan began formulating itself completely from that point on. Cat didn't even notice my smirk, as she was too busy looking down at her script in immense concentration, really putting herself into her character like all great actors do. I found myself glancing up at her from my own copy of the script every little while, smiling a little wider with each and every line that neared the kissing scene.

I knew Cat wouldn't reject me, especially not if I sounded convincing and logical enough, which wasn't exactly hard. You could tell Cat that they had switched the names of colors around and purple was now red and vice versa, and as long as you kept a straight face, heck maybe even if you were sitting there busting a gut laughing while you said it, she'd believe you just like that.

The girl was a little too trusting at times.

So when there was a gap of silence in between saying lines back and forth, I set forth my plan in motion.

"Have you ever kissed a girl?"

I made sure to keep my voice sounding light and casual to keep the mood that way. Her eyes snapped up to meet mine immediately, and I actually had to force myself to hide a smirk. She said nothing for a moment and just looked at me with the most adorably wide pair of gigantic brown eyes I'd ever seen in my life, cheeks darkening slightly at the intense look I was sure I was giving her. It was almost like she was waiting for me to yell "gotcha!", like I was playing some kind of practical joke on her by just an "innocent" little question. But I kept a straight face, blinking at her casually as if I was just asking her the time or something.

And then, in a very Cat-like fashion, she blurted out her response offensively.

"What's that supposed to mean!"

I knew instantly what she was thinking; "Do I look like a lesbian?" I could practically hear her thoughts, so I answered them instead of her out loud exclamation.

"No," I told her with a light shrug, because she didn't. There was really no way to exactly classify a "lesbian look." She just looked like Cat- adorable, beautiful, irresistible Cat.

"Kissing a girl doesn't make you a lesbian; it just means you're curious. Sometimes girls do it to turn guys on, or because they're bored… or because one of them is helping the other rehearse for a play…" I explained to her, making my motive entirely obvious but I knew that because it was her I was speaking to she probably wouldn't catch on right away even with my blatantly put statement. I was right, because instead of giving me a frightened WTF look like any other girl probably would have, she merely raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow at me ever so curiously.

"Have you?"

The curiosity of her tone only encouraged me further, as she did not seem totally repulsed at the thought of kissing a girl, only wondering, and maybe even a little intrigued.

She made it so easy, and I wondered; why had I not done this even longer ago?

I gave her my honest answer: "No."

I was fourteen when I started dating Beck, and being my boyfriend, he was the only one I'd had any lip action with except for an acting role ever since then. I'd kissed a couple other guys before him and I got together, but below the age of fourteen seemed a little young to be experimenting with other girls, and the thought hadn't even really crossed my mind.

A simple "okay" was the only answer Cat gave me, but I was not about to give up. Her short responses only egged me on further, as my motives began to come out even more.

"There's a kissing scene in this play Cat," I reminded her as if she'd forgotten, pushing toward the point more.

"I know," she responded with a blink of soft eyes, still appearing innocent as ever.

"Have you practiced it yet?"

"No, we're just going to wing it opening night" she responded with a light shrug, biting her bottom lip I wanted so badly to capture between mine. I let my eyes linger on her mouth for a split second before speaking again, but she didn't seem to notice. I was determined to make it happen.

"It's supposed to be a pretty long kiss, it's not some type of little peck that you can just 'wing'. Look," I informed her, thrusting my copy of the script out to her and pointing to a specific line in parenthesis that talked about how "the audience should be able to feel the passion between the characters" during the kissing scene.

"You need to practice it."

Cat's face contorted into an adorably panicked look and I was already so close to kissing away her worry lines.

"Well, Bradley has a cold," she told me in regards to her male companion for the play whose lines I was helping her rehearse with as the male lead. "He thinks he'll be better by opening night, but I can't kiss him tomorrow at rehearsal. He might get me sick."

I knew right then that that was my chance to make my final move; she was practically throwing the chance right at me and I was quick and eager to take it, not even giving it a second thought because like I said, I knew that as long as I sounded convincing, I could really get her to do whatever.

"I'll practice it with you," I offered to her, giving off the impression that I was solely trying to help her out for her own benefit and my suggestion really had nothing to do with me at all.

Too easy, I kept thinking to myself; too easy.

I noticed her stiffen, and I bit back a laugh, knowing already that she was going to start squirming before giving in anyways, but that was expected.

"I don't know Jade… isn't that a little weird? And wouldn't you be cheating on Beck?"

Her concern that the act of me kissing her could very well probably be considered as cheating on my boyfriend was too cute. But I held back a smile and continued to feed her my casual, informative act as the convincing began.

"It's acting, Cat. I'm supposed to be Kurt right now, remember?" I pointed out to her. "You've kissed Beck before. So has Tori; both times were just acting."

She didn't respond right away; appearing to silently consider my words for a while, going over each one thoughtfully, but I didn't mind. I sat back quietly, patiently waiting for her to answer because I was already sure of along the lines what her response would be, and I took each moment of her silence and doubled them to add up to the amount of time I would spend with my lips to hers.

At last, I got my answer, and it was exactly what I knew it would be, because I'd played it right; I'd done my job in convincing her.

"I guess you're right," she responded finally, and I was tired of waiting now that I had the answer I was looking for. So, I said nothing more- I figured there was no point since I already had her blessing. I couldn't help the smirk that crept itself upon my face before I dropped my script on the floor and leaned toward her to capture her lips with mine right then and there, at last. She drew in a sharp intake of breath right before our lips met, and her eyelashes were so long I could practically feel them almost overlapping mine as her eyes fell shut and she pressed her face to mine almost immediately. She tasted sweet; like the nerds rope she'd scarfed down five minutes beforehand and I suddenly had a new love for the candy I'd never cared for before.

The kiss was so enticing that I couldn't resist; I soon found myself scooting all the more closer to her and slowly edging her mouth open with my tongue, aching to feel and taste more of her. Her mouth popped open slightly as she breathed in another shaky breath and I took that opportunity to slip my tongue into her completely, her body trembling at the newfound contact. I ran my tongue alongside hers smoothly, and she seemed to hesitantly go along with it for a little while before finally loosening up and moving her tongue in full synchronization with my own at last as we took turns in overlapping and swirling around each other's.

As much as I wanted to continue forever, I knew I had to break away before she did or things could've very likely turned awkward, so I allowed it to go on for about ten minutes before distancing myself from her.

I almost let out a laugh at the way her eyes snapped open in what appeared to almost be complete shock and just like that I knew I had her; I had left her wanting more, her eyes gave it away.

I saw the way the corners of her lips twitched as I spoke, leaning back against the couch as I did, a light teasing tone in my voice.

"You'll do just fine in the play," I assured her, already knowing what was coming by the way her eyes snapped down to my lips. I ran my tongue over my bottom one, still tasting her candied breath on me as I studied her face, which seemed to scream "what play?" But I just leaned back, waiting for her to make the next move because the minute I first kissed her, it became a two way street and the both of us damn straight knew it.

Half a second and one longing and lingering look later her lips were slamming onto mine again and my eyes were snapping shut as I responded to her eagerly, both of our mouths popping open against each other's that time at once. I wrapped my arms around her petite frame, pulling her closer to me as I felt her hands toy with the strands of my hair. We remained in that seated position for a few minutes until it was no longer satisfying and I knew the both of us needed more and I found myself pushing her gently to the floor and crawling on top of her, my lips never leaving hers as I nudged my way to rest between her legs, kicking off my boots in the process. Somehow my fingers found the bottom edge of her tank top and I toyed with the material for a while, fingertips lightly grazing over her soft tan skin until my curiosity about what was underneath that got the better of me and I removed the fabric completely. I pulled back slightly, giving her room to lift the top over her hand and snake her arms out of it and she tossed it away carelessly. I looked down at her appreciatively with a smirk, letting my eyes linger around her jeweled navel for an extra second than the rest of her.

"Whatty?" she asked; voice panicked and full of self-consciousness. I shook my head before responding.

"Nothing," I said, swooping down to give her a quick kiss for reassurance. "You just never pegged me as the belly button ring type," I told her.

"I got it done with my cousin," she giggled. "My parents don't know. Shh!"

I let out a soft chuckle as I sat back completely on my heels and lifted my own shirt over my head. "Neither do mine," I told her as my own belly ring became exposed. "But I doubt they'd care," I finished, lowering myself down to her level again to continue our past actions.

After a few more minutes I suggested that we head to my room, and she obliged, as we both agreed the bed would be more comfortable. She headed home around ten that night as her annoying mother wouldn't stop calling her, and as I parted ways with her at the door, kissing her goodbye, I knew already that that day was only the beginning of a secret we had began to share.

I was right (as always) because after that things only continued and as time went on, they became a lot more…erm, well… explicit, I guess you could say. Obviously no one had a clue as to what was going on and that made it all the more thrilling as we began to find any excuse possible to get away from our usual group and practically smother each other wherever and whenever possible even during school hours in hidden corners and rooms of Hollywood Arts. We started a routine- Mondays after rehearsals; her house, because her parents went with her brother to therapy every Monday from 4 to 6 and then ran errands after. Wednesdays and Fridays; my house, because my parents were never home anyways and I was thankfully an only child with no annoying siblings running around invading my privacy. The days in between we were both busy and they were also the days where I was at my worst, giving everyone around me all kinds of special hell and torture for seemingly no reason, taking my anger out on them at not being able to have her for at least three hours those days and not being able to do more than make out in the bathrooms and janitors closet and dressing rooms for more than five to ten minutes. She knew it too, because those were the days when at lunch, before, during, and after school she was especially sweet to me no matter who was around in order to keep me somewhat calm, and it was okay because she could get away with the kindness without anyone getting suspicious just because she was Cat, but I had to act like I didn't really care just because I was Jade, and Jade is the gank of the school to everyone; all sweethearts included.

What nobody saw was the hidden smiles to myself every little while when I was sure no one was looking, at completely her expense. Nobody knew of how my heart fluttered whenever she was within twenty feet of me, a little more each and every day as I couldn't wait for the next time we could be alone together. I knew that if I was married to Beck, what me and Cat were doing would be classified as a full blown affair, but I didn't care, because of how good she made me feel; both physically and mentally. I'm not sure at what point I began to actually fall for her and the whole stupid mushy "feelings" thing became a part of it; but I don't care. I tried to fight it at first I remember, but eventually I just gave in when the feelings became too strong. I wanted to be with Cat at all times no matter the circumstances. Right before my own eyes I was turning into something I never thought I'd be; which was a complete and utter sap and at first I hated myself for it. Beck had been the most loving and loyal boyfriend to me and the guy of any girl's dreams for the last two years; but he couldn't even come close to surpassing the feeling that Cat gave me. It was something indescribable that only deepened with every kiss and every touch- innocent, sensual, sweet, erotic; everything about her only made me want her more, and soon it became so intense that I knew I needed to talk to her about it once and for all.

I tried to make myself fall back in love with Beck; I really did. I still gave him sweet little kisses, we still cuddled, laughed, even went all the way several times, but nothing worked and I knew I couldn't keep pretending with him anymore. I thought it was him, I thought it could never get any better than him because he did mean a lot to me, but with a little more secret experience I knew I couldn't keep trying to fool myself and tell myself that Cat was nothing but a secret, different type of friend with benefits. It was her and I knew it, as much as I hated the fact at times.

I was snapped out of those particular thoughts as I sat at lunch with the gang and Rex spoke up with something particularly interesting.

"What's fireball smirking about over there?"

I, along with everyone else, quickly glanced over at Cat who, of course, was sitting there, seemingly staring off into space wearing a tiny little smirk. She didn't seem to even hear Rex or take notice to the eyes on her so I took it upon myself to give her a light nudge, silently telling her to pull it together because I hoped and somehow knew she was thinking about me.

Her eyes snapped over to meet mine, and I nearly melted under her gaze but kept my composure and flashed her an icy warning glance before forcing myself to tear my own eyes away and look back over at my boyfriend, pretending to be only interested in him even though everyone was eyeing Cat.

At last, she spoke up in answer to Robbie's stupid puppet's "question" coming up with a quite lame response for someone who was supposed to be good at acting.

"Oh I was just thinking about something my brother did last night," I watched her shrug out of the corner of my eye. I couldn't help but turn my gaze back to her as she popped a French fry into her mouth, chewed, swallowed, and began licking the salt off slower than was really necessary and I immediately knew she was doing it on purpose.

I could only take watching her for half a second longer before shooting up from my spot at the table as all eyes trained on me at once, besides hers.

"Where are you going?" Beck asked, peering up at me.

"I forgot I have to check out a book from the library," I lied, finding a much better excuse than Cat. I tried to keep my eyes focused on Beck and ignore the way Cat suddenly shoved a handful of fries into her mouth, probably so as not to let a giggle slip out. No one else seemed to notice her actions.

Ignoring her best I could, I turned my attention to Vega, smirking as I continued to speak. "Unless Tori wants to lend me another book," I teased my not really friend but not really enemy but mostly just person that was fun to mess with and bother, recalling last time she'd leant me a text book when I painted the cover black to irk her and because I was bored and happened to have a bucket of black paint sitting in my garage.

"No way," she responded, narrowing her eyes at me. "Not after you painted the cover of the last book I leant you black."

Oh, so she remembered it too.

I smirked. Good.

"Then see you guys later," I said flatly, turning to leave, but not before Beck stopped me.

"Want me to come with?" he asked. After a little while of convincing him I could handle it on my own, I was finally off with no further questions from anyone, expecting that Cat would be after me in five minutes tops.

I probably waited in the stupid smelly janitor's closet for at least ten minutes with the door creaked open slightly so I could peer out before I finally saw the familiar flash of red swoop by. She was probably headed to the bathroom, I figured. I swung open the door just enough to grab her by the wrist and pull her inside with me, slamming my lips to hers the second I had her inside with the door shut and re-locked. I backed her into the wall opposite the door with probably a little too much force, but she didn't break the lip lock so I didn't stop to apologize.

"About time you showed up," I told her instead, whispering my choppy words into her lips in between kisses, giving her an especially long one at the end of my statement. "I was about to go back there and drag you away from them myself."

Her giggle escaped into my lips in response, soft body pressing up against mine as she pushed herself slightly away from the wall. "Impatient, are we?"

I smirked slightly, mouth never leaving hers as I was intent to keep the contact, but I couldn't help but notice…

"You taste like salt."

She pulled her head back a little, but our noses were still touching.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I shook my head; everything was so offensive to her but it was a part of what made her her and I wouldn't change it for anything.

"It wasn't an insult" I promised, brushing her hair back behind her shoulders with a smile that I couldn't control which she wasted no time in returning. We leaned or heads toward each other again, unable to keep them apart for very long when we were in this stance. I wanted to feel her tongue against mine and do everything, but I had too much to say to her that I couldn't keep left unsaid any longer. So when I felt her nudging my lips open with her tongue, I resisted the urge to go along with it and forced myself to pull my head back.

I saw the abandoned look in her eyes as they snapped open and I immediately felt a pang of guilt, something that doesn't happen to me often, so I went on before she could get a word in.

"I've been thinking," I started slowly, trying to work out how to formulate my thoughts into the right phrases. My arms circled completely around her, pulling her as close as possible because if I was going to talk and not kiss her I might as well at least have her close. Her eyes softened from cute frustration to wonder as she let out a single word;

"About?"

"Let's sit," I said, releasing her and lowering myself to the floor. She followed my actions, putting an arm around me in the process.

I took a deep breath before continuing, looking her straight in the eyes. I don't know why I was suddenly so nervous; I guess it was because we'd never really discussed "feelings" before. Heck we hadn't really discussed much of anything before ever since this whole thing started as usually our lips were a little *ahem*… occupied.

"What do you think of us, Cat?" I finally came up with, attempting to get some answers out of her first before giving myself away completely.

She seemed to ponder the question for a moment before answering.

"I think…" she started, and then paused. "We like kissing each other," she smiled, half innocent and half seductive in a way that only she could ever pull off and no one else. "A lot."

I had to smile at that one, placing a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. "True," I told her, pulling back. "Anything else…?"

Her arm rose from my shoulders and I watched carefully as she wrapped both her arms around her knees, tearing her gaze away from me shyly.

"Why?"

Something in her suddenly very shy demeanor gave her away slightly or at least dropped some kind of hint that there had to be something more there for her too aside from just the fact that "we liked kissing each other." So with a slight smile, I continued.

"I'm thinking about breaking up with Beck," I admitted, readying myself for her reaction. Her eyes shot up, eyebrows rising quickly as well in surprise as she quickly searched my face probably to see if for some reason I was messing around. I stared at her patiently, waiting for a response. She let out another baffled;

"Why?"

Her tone that time was eager; hopeful, and it also contained many other things as well. I could sense every emotion in her voice and they all pointed toward signs of it being a positive reaction so of course I wasted no time in telling her the truth, as my questions and wonders were already answered just by her tone of voice and the sudden small smile tugging at the corners of the lips I was so familiar and comfortable with by now, threatening to break into a wide grin across her entire face.

I leaned forward, capturing her in another warm kiss. I knew she already knew the reason- she had to, her pleased expression that quickly took over the shocked one confirmed it almost immediately, but I told her the answer anyways in the least amount of words possible just so I could have that much more time to kiss her, because I wanted to say it. I wanted to tell her myself. I wanted her to know for sure.

"You're why."

A/N: I kind of liked the Jade version a little better. I don't know. What do you think?

"Who Did It To Trina?" kind of proved to me that Jade can be sweet to Cat, when she asked her in a surprisingly kind voice if she cut Trina's gimble, so as odd as it may seem, her one little line of gentleness and kindness to Cat there kind of inspired the way she was with her in this story.

Reviews are the pot of gold at the end of every rainbow. Or just the things that make writers who stay up till 3 AM to write happy. You know. (: