Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious!

Jade's POV:

What happened to Cat's neck? That wasn't from a ball. How can she act so casually after she lied? I glance at her from the corner of my eye. I had the same frown on when I first saw the bruise. The small dark purple skin looked like it was almost completely covered in makeup. She tried to cover it up. If it was from her brother, why would she try to hide it? The teacher dismissed us and I saw Cat trying to get out quickly. I quickly gathered my stuff and followed her to the door. When we got there, I put a hand on her shoulder, my face still in the form of a frown. She turns and it almost seems like her face dropped when she saw it was me. I grab her arm and drag her to a corner. I was determined to know where she got that bruise.

"What actually happened, Cat?" I asked in a stern whisper. I saw her swallow and put an innocent on.

"I told you. My brother hit me with a ball." She spoke feeble. I just rolled my eyes and scoffed.

"No he didn't. That's not a bruise from a ball. I know. I have one that looks just like it from my fa—" I freeze as realization hit me. Someone must have beat her. Was it her father too? I let go of her arm and started backing away. I put concern in my eyes. She looked baffled. What is going on in Cat's life at home? I turned away and started walking away. I glanced over my shoulder and Cat was running a hand through her long, red velvet hair. I felt tears prick at my eyes and swallowed them down. I'm not going to start crying. But Cat doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her. I walked to the bathroom, the place I always go when I needed to think.

Maybe Cat gets beat, just like me… I shook my head. No. How or why would that happen? Cat is too sweet. But maybe we have more in common than I ever thought. I always thought we were total opposites. Cat was all bright, happy, cheerful. To where I was dark, angry, and I don't know. Regretful? Sometimes I regret too much. I regret that I broke up with Beck 2 months ago. But I can't change it. He was noticing too much. Asking too many questions. And I know it's strange, but I didn't trust him enough to tell him the truth. He would have freaked and probably tried to kill my dad, then go to jail himself. Or something.

No, that wasn't the point right now. The point, was, what was happening to Cat?

I walked out to the Asphalt Café walking towards my car, looking down at my keys, trying to find the right one to my car. I was exhausted after school that day and I was looking forward to going home and just taking a nap, before my dad came home and started his daily beatings. I opened my car door and plopped into the driver's seat with a thud. I sighed and stuck my keys into the ignition and turned, my silver Sentra rearing to life with a soft purr. I smiled slightly and patted the dash board for a moment before turning around, ready to back out.

I nearly had a heart attack because what I saw in the back seat I hadn't expected. I expected an empty seat, with maybe my leather jacket on it. But no. I saw the bright red hair of Cat Valentine. Her arms were crossed and she had a very serious expression on her face. Her dark eyes showed nothing. I breathed out a breath.

"Jeez Cat. Give me a heart attack why don't you?" I said, finally backing out of my parking space. She probably just needed a ride home.

"Don't leave Jade. Stay here for a moment. I'll take my car." She said looking down at her lap. I stopped the car and sighed. I pulled back into my space and turned the car off. She wanted to talk. Of course. I wanted to as well, but I didn't come up with anything to say before it happened, so I was at loss for words.

"Okay, what? What do you want?" I said, lifting my arms and dropping them heavily on my thighs. Cat followed my movements with soft, curious eyes. She did respond yet. The silence was growing awkward. I looked at my phone for the time. 3:45. My dad would be home at 5, maybe later if he goes to a bar. I looked at Cat helplessly.

"Ca-"

"What were you going to say in the hallway today?" Cat interrupted me looking up and into my eyes. I froze. That's what she wanted to talk about? Not what was going on with her? Not where that bruise really came from? I could see it slightly through her bright hair right now. It was purple-ish and yellow around the edges, just starting to heal. That had too of come from someone hitting her. It had to. My eyes flicked back to Cat's face. She was staring at me intensely and I could feel myself crumble under her stare. But I didn't.

"Where did you really get that bruise from?" I asked softly, turning fully towards her as best as I could in the front of the car. Cat looked back down at her hands and murmured "I can't tell you that."

"Well why not?" I said a little bit sharper than I intended and Cat looked up with tear filled eyes. They looked like they were about to spill before Cat blinked them away and shook her head sadly, looking down again.

"I just can't, Jade. You woudn't understand." She said softly. I blinked and realized how wrong she was. I would understand. Of all people, I was pretty sure I would understand.

"No, Cat. I would understand." I climbed to the back seat as best as I could without making it seem awkward and clumsy, failing terribly. I put my hand on her arm and she flinched away. I narrowed my eyes.

"I would understand." I said softly. "Because we are alike, Cat. In so many ways."
Cat shook her head and looked up into my eyes, tears in her eyes again, only this time she didn't blink them away and they spilled softly and slowly down her cheek.

"How, Jade? How are we alike? You are dark and I'm sunny. We are nothing alike."

I shook my head deliberately. I knew what I needed to do. I put my hand to on her face and wiped away the tears with my thumbs, and just as I expected, make-up came off, thick on my fingers. I looked to her face at the spot I brushed away and saw a darkening spots. I thumbed over them again, the rest of the make-up running away with the tears and my fingers. There were bruises covering her cheeks, and I had a feeling there were more covering her whole face.

"Like that." I breathed out and I wiped the make-up on my dark jeans, leaving smears that might stain but I didn't care. I quickly wiped away some of my make-up on my face and winced slightly at the force. Cat's eyes widened and she brought her hands up to my face, touching the bruises and cuts delicately. I felt like I was going to cry, just like Cat. And I did. I let myself cry. I let it out, because I was with someone who understood what it was like. What it was like to get beaten. Abused.

"Who did this to you, Jade?" Cat whimpered softly, bringing her hands to her lap again and staring at me with concerned and teary eyes. "I should ask you the same thing, Cat." I murmured looking away. I glanced at Cat and she looked ashamed. Like it was her fault those bruises were there. I immediately felt angry at her for thinking that. It wasn't. It couldn't.

"Cat, who did that to you. And I'll tell you who did this to me." I said firmly, looking back at her. She looked up.

"We can say it together." She whispered. I nodded and I grabbed her hands. I wasn't sure why, but it felt right. It felt like the right thing to do at the time. Cat looked down at our hands and smiled just slightly.

"1. 2. 3." I said softly. And then we both hesitated before saying:

"My father."

We both looked at each other in shock.

And that's all I felt. Shocked.

Because, we were just alike.

A/N: Omg. I am SO FREAKING SORRY that this took so long. I was on a MAJOR writer's block. But I'm getting over it. So I wanted to finish this. xP I hope you like it. X]

Review! And maybe I will write faster!