There is a brief flashback in this chapter. The italicized part.

CHAPTER 8
Tori's POV

"Tori! Tori! I need another bag of ice up here!" Trina's voice rang out above the sounds of a full-blown party.

I brushed my hair out of my eyes, trying to follow where her voice was coming from. Our house was packed—and I mean packed—with people. I had no idea that Trina had this many friends.

Mom and Dad, coincidentally, had a dinner to go to with Dad's boss, or the head chief of Hollywood's police force. They were certainly not too happy about the idea of Trina throwing a party, seeing as her parties never usually ended too well, but the dinner was on a short notice and they had no other options.

They put me in charge, demanding that I text them every hour and send them pictures of what was going on at the house. Unfortunately for me, I was turning more and more into Trina's slave than Mom and Dad's secret spy.

It was Saturday and the party started at twelve o'clock sharp. People from Hollywood Arts that I barely even knew went there started pouring in, as well as people from our old school, Sherwood. Trina sent me around the house, refilling the punch bowl, fixing the falling banners hanging precariously from the ceiling, and just making sure that everything was okay in general.

Some older sister I've got, right?

It was now about six, and I was really tired. Trina kept giving me more and more tasks to do. Every hour I sent a text with a picture attached to Mom, showing her that the party was doing all right.

I was so busy I completely forgot about Sikowitz's project with Jade until she texted me. Of course, I thought it was Cat, because I had also forgot that Jade was borrowing her phone, but judging from the content of the text, it couldn't be the sweet little redhead.

Hey Vega. I'll come to your house in ten minutes to pick you up. You didn't move, right? Not that I'd mind that or anything. ;) –Jade

I sighed reading the text before giving a quick reply.

No, I did not move so get your hopes down. I'll be ready. SYS. –Tori

"Tori!" I heard my sister yell again. "We need more ice up here!"

"Coming!" I hollered, sending a text to my parents, saying that I would no longer be able to send them updates on Trina's party due to the fact that I would be going to Jade's house for the rest of the evening to work on Sikowitz's project.

All right. Have fun and stay safe. –Dad

Oh yep. I hope so, I thought, trudging up the stairs to find Trina and deliver her ice.

Trina didn't take too well to me telling her I would be gone for the rest of the night.

"Come on, Tor. Who's going to help me now?" she whined.

"You've got friends. Use 'em," I replied smartly, retreating down to the front door. My purse, which had my phone and some other things inside, was hanging off my shoulder and under my arm I carried my laptop, because it had all the files we would need to write the rest of the script.

I waited patiently, and within minutes there was a ring of the doorbell. I don't think anyone else heard it, because the music was blasting so loudly. I went and opened the door, and found Jade standing there.

"Hi, Jade," I said calmly.

"Let's go. I haven't been home all day and I really don't want to wait any longer." She left the door without another word.

"Bye Trina!" I called as loudly as I could back into the house. "I'm going to Jade's now!" I didn't hear her response, but shut the door behind me as I followed Jade down to her car.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Jade's POV

It was Saturday night and I was certainly in no mood to do homework, let alone with Tori. As soon as this morning came around I drove out of the house and left my car at a park. I didn't want to talk to anybody. Beck was out of town, and he wouldn't be coming back until later today, not that he could come and see me, thanks to my stupid father. I couldn't talk to Cat, since I had possession of her phone. I didn't even know if my dad had gone to work today or not.

Tori followed me down to my car. I jumped into the driver's seat, but she hesitantly stood there in the darkness of the night, unsure if to sit shotgun or in the back.

"Just get into the car," I said impatiently, revving the engine.

Tori reached for the door handle and hopped into the front seat with me. It was awkwardly silent as I started down the road, keeping a straight look ahead, my hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

"I brought my laptop," Tori said, patting the large bag on her lap.

"Okay." I could tell she was trying to start a conversation, but I was in no mood for conversing. I was surprised she couldn't figure that out. And people kept trying to convince me that she wasn't stupid.

Tori told me more random things, like the fact that she had come up with some great ideas since we last worked on the project, and was wondering if we could work it into the play.

I didn't pay attention to a single thing she was saying.

We came to my house pretty fast, and I was surprised that I lived quite close to Tori. Great. But I guess it was a good thing because then Tori finally shut up.

I parked the car in the driveway and got out.

"Is your dad home, Jade?" Tori asked, getting out of the car and coming after me like a puppy.

"I don't know. I think I told you earlier that I haven't been home all day."

"Then where did you go?" God, she was so annoying.

"You don't know me, Vega," I mumbled, unlocking the front door. I was practically knocked backwards by the horrible smell that hit me.

Crap, what the heck is that?

I pushed the door open a little more, and the smell got stronger. I heard Tori halt right next to me and she blew air out of her nose, probably not able to believe what she was smelling.

"I told you this was a bad idea, Vega."

"What?" She seemed in a trance.

I entered my house, practically gagging. Tori came in behind me slowly. I flipped on the light switch when the door was shut behind us.

Well that was a big mistake.

All kinds of trash littered the floor; loose papers, cups, smashed glasses and bottles, streamers, confetti, and even a few unlit cigarettes. The pictures on the wall hung crookedly and the glass coffee table was covered in some sort of sticky liquid.

The huge black umbrella we kept folded by the corner of the door had fallen over into the little bookshelf (that I had finally put back up after Beck's visit) and books were scattered across the floor in a disorganized fashion. The knick-knacks my dad kept over the fireplace were knocked over, and some were on the ground in broken pieces.

"Uh," I said awkwardly. This was probably the worst state I've ever seen my house in.

And now Tori was here to see it all.

Oh, boy, things were going to get uggllyy…

"Just walk around everything. My dad has a lot of parties and never cleans up his shi—stuff," I said quickly before she could say anything. I pushed aside several bottles with my foot to create a sort of walkway for us. "Uh, you can go put your things on the kitchen table. It's through there," I pointed in the direction of the kitchen.

Tori didn't move. I stared at her, and she crossed her arms.

"What?" I asked. "The kitchen is through there. Go put your stuff down."

"Your dad has parties, he calls you and acts drunk, you come to school looking like you just got the chiz beaten out of you…" Tori said, advancing on me.

"You don't know me, Tori," I growled. "You don't know me, or my life. So stop making guesses and go into the kitchen. We can work on the project in there."

There was a silent pause.

"I'm calling my dad," Tori yelled suddenly. She reached into her purse and started digging around frantically.

"Stop! You're making assumptions, Vega, you little assumer. Stop being such an idiot!" I leaped towards her, fighting to get the blue PearPhone out of her hand. She slapped me on the head repeatedly.

"Get off of me Jade! You need help! This is serious!"

"No, I don't! This is my problem. I can fix it myself!" I grabbed her hand, which was holding tightly onto her phone, and I wrenched it out of her grip.

"Ow! Jade! Give me my phone back!"

"No. I don't need your cop-of-a-father down in my business." I wanted to break her phone to pieces, just as my dad had done to mine, but I couldn't do it. Instead I turned it off and pocketed it.

"Give me my phone back." Tori's voice was sharp in the smelly room.

"You're going to go and tell everyone what you assume. And I can't have that happening, can I?" I grabbed her arm and dragged her into the kitchen. "So let's work on the project."

Tori gave me a look that could hold its own against one of my Jade-stares. Finally she said, "All right. But I'd better get my phone back before I leave. And then we need to talk."

"Whatever," I said, rolling my eyes and giving her the impression that I was agreeing, when the case was completely opposite. I couldn't give her her phone back. She knew too much. I would need to figure out a way to keep her quiet.

And if my dad could keep Jade West quiet for twelve years, I'm sure I could keep the little Tori Vega quiet until I figured out something.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

I swallowed the lump rising in my throat and stared up at my dad, looming over me like a tall building. I couldn't breathe and my body hurt all over. In my dad's left hand was a mangled wooden coat hanger covered with my blood.

"You're not going to tell anyone what's going on between us, right, Jadey?"

I could feel his hot, smelly breath all over my face. I shook my head slowly, tears coming out of the corners of my eyes. I just wanted him to leave me alone. I would do whatever it would take.

"No, I don't think you quite understand what I'm asking of you, Jade." He stepped on my left hand, and I could've sworn I heard the bones crunching. I was too tired to scream.

My dad knew when I was lying and when I was telling the truth. I'm sure if he had been a super spy—a good one mind you— I think he would've been great at telling if the enemy was lying or not. But no, he used his 'powers' for evil and abuse.

"Do you understand?" His face was right next to my ear and I could feel his hot breath on me.

"I...under-underst-st-st-and.." I whispered back, putting as much feeling as I could force into the words.

"Good. And if you do tell anyone, you know what'll happen." His blue eyes narrowed viciously.

Oh, I knew of course. I hated even thinking about it, it scared me so much. Yeah, that's right. Scared me, Jade West of all people.

My dad had so much control over me. It was like I was an animal, and he was the trainer. His tricks were keeping me quiet and telling people lies about what really went on, and I listened to him because I would pay the price if I didn't.

But I wasn't an animal, not that they deserved to be treated in the ways that they were.

I was a human being, just like him.

I was his slave, and he was my master.

When would I get my own freedom again?

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

"So are we going to work or what?" Tori said to me, breaking my thoughts.

"Huh? Yeah we'd better get to work before my dad gets home," I answered darkly, pulling up a stool next to her and sitting down at the messy counter. I swept away some trash with my arm, providing a somewhat clean space for Vega to put her laptop on.

Tori's eyes narrowed but she said nothing else as we got started.

Review!