POV: Tori

"I want the strawberry! No! I want the vanilla!"

We were stood at the counter of the local Freezy Queen waiting for Cat as she tried to decide which flavour of ice cream she wanted the most from the giant menu behind the desk. The cashier was drumming his fingers impatiently on the table top, his elbow resting just by, propping up his head. He shot me a wink when he caught me watching him, to which I gave a small smile.

"Oh! I want the chocolate too!" Cat whined, grabbing my sleeve and tugging at it to get my attention. "Tori! Which one shall I have?"

"Get the combo." Jade said in an irritable voice; I knew the employee was getting on her nerves with his constant drumming and sighing. She pointed up at the far side of the menu "Look, right there. Chocolate, strawberry and vanilla all in one, then you don't have to pick."

"Yay!" Cat exclaimed, clapping. "I'll take that one, please!" She grinned brightly at the cashier as she handed over her money.

Jared- according to the name tag hanging off his shirt- pushed away from where he was resting, his eyes lingering on me for a moment before he turned away and slouched off the retrieve our frozen treats, including cookie dough for me and mint choc chip for Jade. I heard Jade give a small growl, her eyes narrowed as she watched his retreating back.

"What's wrong?" I asked in a quiet voice, shuffling past Cat, who was stood between the two of us, so I could get to Jade. I placed my hand next to hers on the counter and unsurely, yet softly, ran my thumb over hers and was glad to see her smile at the comforting gesture.

A waved of butterflies invaded my stomach at this and I wanted nothing more than to just hold her hand properly, but instead, she shook her head as Jared made his way back to us and handed over our ice cream cones with an added, cocky grin at me. Jade didn't miss this and she quickly grabbed my wrist, dragging me off to the table furthest away from the teenage employee. When I turned back to check if Cat was following, I caught him watching me as we went, apparently Jade did too as she flipped him off.

"I don't like that guy." She grumbled the instant we sat down. She'd practically pushed me into the seat in the corner and plopped herself beside me so I could no longer see the desk, or be seen by anyone over there.

"But he gave us ice cream!" Cat said innocently, indicating the cone in her hand, ice cream already starting to dribble down the side.

"That's his job, Cat." Jade replied, with a bit more acid in her tone than I think she was meant to put. Thankfully Cat was too busy catching the melting cream with her finger to notice. "He's lucky I'm in a good mood, otherwise I would've knocked his teeth out." She took a rather violent bite of her treat after that.

"He was just drumming his fingers on the counter." I tried to reason, not understanding why Jade was so worked up all of a sudden.

"He was not 'just drumming his fingers on the counter'!" Jade hissed, repeating what I'd said in the accent she used to mock me. "He was practically drooling all over you, Tori, how could you not see that!"

She slumped back in her plastic seat, moodily licking at her ice cream cone. I watched her for a second, confused, before it suddenly hit me- was Jade jealous? I'd seen her jealous a thousand times whenever a girl got too close to Beck, but I never imagined that a trivial little thing like that would set her off, especially when it involved me. I was still getting used to the fact I could now call the girl beside me my girlfriend and, for some reason, it made me happy that she felt strongly enough to get annoyed over something so little.

"You've got nothing to worry about." I said in an undertone, reaching out to take her hand that lay across her stomach. Her sulking quickly changed to a smile when I laced our fingers together, it made my heart skip a beat.

Before, from time to time, when I let my hopes wander far enough up, I'd let little scenarios like this play out in my head, but never did I think they'd come true. Never did I imagine that just twenty minutes earlier, Jade would've asked me to be her girlfriend, cuddled and kissed me. It all felt so surreal and I was half expecting to wake up at any moment to find Trina stood over me, yelling about how I'd be late for school if I didn't get my lazy ass out of bed. If that were the case, then please don't let me ever wake up.

"Brain freeze!" Cat suddenly called, clutching a hand to her head and breaking me out of my thoughts. Her ice cream was devoured in quick succession now, although I'm sure most of that was actually covering her mouth. Jade chuckled lightly and let go of my hand to pass a napkin over to the red head, who took it gratefully and began wiping her face in a very childlike manner.

"There's ice cream in my hair!" Cat complained, screwing up the napkin and tossing it on the table. How she managed to get in such a mess, I'll never know. "I'm going to the bathroom!"

With that announcement, she hopped up from her seat and headed off, leaving just Jade and I to sit in silence as we ate our cones. Me and my girlfriend. My girlfriend, Jade, and I. I had to keep repeating it to myself to remind myself it was real, and a goofy smile worked its way onto my lips at just the thought.

I almost inhaled the chunk of cookie dough I'd just bitten into which I when I felt her hand sneak back to mine, entwining our fingers on my knee underneath the table and watched the satisfied smirk creep onto her face out of the corner of my eye. I was about to say something just as Jared made his way over, walking with a slight swagger and that cocky grin again; I felt Jade's grip on my hand tighten, the smirk instantly vanishing.

"Enjoying your ice cream, ladies?" He said, emphasising the last word as his eyes flicked quickly over Jade and rested on me, and I now understood what she meant when she said he'd been practically drooling over me. The look he wore made me uncomfortable, but luckily, Jade stepped in.

"We were until you showed up." She said, watching the boy with great dislike. "Haven't you got a job you're meant to be doing?"

He smirked smugly. "That's exactly what I am doing. And if you talk back to me, I could get you kicked out, you know." He proudly tapped the pin just below his name tag that read 'Assistant manager'.

"Assistant manager of an ice cream store, that's an achievement." Jade said sarcastically under her breath "Now, please assist us by leaving."

Any come back Jared had for that was lost in a high pitched scream as Cat came charging back to us, her eyes wide in fear. Instantly, Jade jumped to her feet and I sat up poker straight, our hands dropping as we let go of one another and our eyes began to frantically roam the place in search of exactly who or what had made Cat scream, only to be greeted by the puzzled faces of the many other customers.

"I saw a spider in there!" Cat cried when she eventually reached us.

Beside me, Jade dropped back into her chair with a groan and an eye roll and I couldn't help but shake my head; I wasn't the biggest fan of spiders either, but I certainly wouldn't scream like that… at least, not in a public place.

"Cat!" I squeaked, relaxing in my seat. "We thought someone was trying to murder you!"

"Don't ever scream like that again unless someone really is trying to murder you." Jade added, pointing a finger in Cat's face causing the little red head to pout.

"But the spider was scary!"

"Just go have some more ice cream!" Jade sighed, stuffing a couple of dollars into the red heads hand. Cat giggled with delight and skipped off to the counter again, followed closely by Jared, who looked annoyed, but he'd have to serve her. Jade then turned to me with a 'this is your fault' look.

"I've done nothing." I said, raising one hand in defence while the other still gripped my ice cream cone.

"You promised her ice cream." Jade pointed out. "And ice cream sends Cat more insane than usual. So, whatever she does is all your fault."

At any other time, I would've thought she was being serious and trying to start a fight, but I could here the playful tone in her voice and the smile, not smirk, on her face that clearly said she was messing with me. I smiled too and returned my hand to hers while we sat back and enjoyed our ice creams, hoping for no more silly little interruptions.

Xxx

If Cat ate anymore ice cream, I'm sure she would explode. The tiny girl had managed to polish off five cones and a bowl of tutti frutti with sprinkles before Jade and I had to physically drag her out of the place. She was buzzing and bobbing around in the back seat of Jade's car, unable to keep still from the huge sugar intake and we both knew she'd be complaining about stomach ache soon enough, which is why we wanted to get her home as quick as possible; neither of us wanted to deal with that.

While Cat stuffed herself into oblivion, the three of us still managed to have some decent conversations. The whole time we were in the Freezy Queen, Jade and I kept our hands held under the table, our fingers occasionally fiddling with each others or else starting thumb wars that Jade always won. It was soft and silly and fun, all things that, at one point, I never thought Jade could be, especially with me, but I loved every second of it. But now I sat in the passenger side of her car, separated from her by the gear stick, itching to be right beside her again. It was amazing that after just a couple of hours of actually being together, all I wanted was to be by Jade's side and never leave.

"Here." Jade pulled up to the Valentine residence and unbuckled her seatbelt, which I'd convinced her to wear after a bit of a lecture on car safety- My dad's a cop, what can I say?- and turned around to face our friend.

"Yay!" Cat grinned, bouncing around again. As I turned to face her too, she suddenly sprang forward and enveloped us both in a bone crunching hug. "I'm so, so happy that you two finally worked things out!"

"Yeah, yeah." Jade smiled, patting her red hair as Cat pulled away.

"We couldn't've done it without our little cupid." I added with a laugh.

"What's that supposed to mean!" Cat exclaimed, somehow taking that the wrong way.

"Uh, you know, cupid." I stuttered, taken aback by the outburst. "The little angel you see everywhere on Valentines Day."

"Ooh! I love that day!" Cat giggled. "It has the same name as me!"

Jade and I turned to each other with identical smirks then watched as the little red head clambered out of the car and skipped off to her house. We drove to mine after, which isn't too far from Cat's place, and, not wanting the day to end so suddenly, I invited my new girlfriend into the house, pleased to find the place empty as I began to make coffee for the both of us. I didn't drink coffee very often myself, but I had a feeling that I'd be drinking more and more the longer I was with Jade.

"Keep that cow juice away from my coffee!" Jade called from where she'd made herself at home on my sofa, just as I was about to pour milk into my own mug.

"I know!"

After putting the 'cow juice' back into the refrigerator, I walked over to where Jade was sat with her feet up on the table, which I nudged off so I could set the coffee down. She scowled playfully then patted the seat beside her to indicate I should sit down. I did, and her arm instantly snaked around my waist, pulling me in closer so my head and hand rested on her shoulder and I was looking up into her shimmering green eyes through my lashes. She pressed a soft, fleeting kiss to my forehead and sighed, making a bunch of butterflies explode in my stomach and a cheesy grin appear on my face.

"This is weird." She stated, the fingers on my hip tracing circles. "But good weird."

I nodded, shifting around a little so I could place a delicate kiss on the underside of her chin. Man, how I'd longed to be able to just nuzzle up to Jade and share moments like these and now that it was coming true, I wasn't sure if I could believe it. But all doubt was extinguished from my mind when a finger lifted my chin up and my lips were captured in a tender, lingering kiss. I felt Jade go to break away, but I didn't want her to, so I lent forward a bit, keeping the contact, which Jade obviously smirked at. My hand found its way to her hair, Jades arms wrapped around my middle, pushing each other closer as our lips moved together with a little more urgency.

The world disappeared once again, leaving nothing but Jade and I. It was blissful and beautiful and I could only wish we could stay like this forever. It amazed me how just a simple kiss could make me lose my mind, make my heart skip a beat and make that swarm of butterflies in my stomach go crazy. I would never be able to get enough of this.

A wetness brushed my bottom lip and I surrendered, allowing Jade to slide her tongue inside my mouth, carefully caressing my own in a way that made an uncontrollable moan sound from the back of my throat. Her fingertips wander up my back and mine fell from her hair to rest on her shoulders, our shallow breathing the only sound in the room until-

"Ew, keep the PDA's to a minimum while I'm around, will ya?"

And, the spell was broken just like that.

Of course, it had to be Trina to interrupt as she walked down the stairs and over to the kitchen to make herself some apple juice. I pulled away from Jade, my face on fire from a blush as I realised the noise I'd just made- damn, I needed to get my hormones under control! Curse being a teenager!- Out of the corner of my eye I could see Jade looking half annoyed, half amused.

"It wasn't a public display of affection until you showed up." I grumbled.

"Yeah, and no one asked for you to be around." Jade added, grinning as she tugged me in so I was once again snuggled up to her. "Now beat it!"

Surprisingly, Trina did as told and quickly went back up to her room, taking the whole carton of apple juice with her. Once we'd heard her door close, Jade turned back to me with a questioning look.

"I expected that drama queen to scream at me and tell me to get out of the house when she found me making out with her little sister, not just brush it off like that."

I laughed. "I think she's okay with it, actually. She's been really supportive. It's been quite nice."

Jade made an impressed noise. "So she has the ability to stop thinking about herself?"

"Be nice!" I giggled, smacking her playfully on the shoulder. "But, yeah, it does seem so."

We stayed silent for a moment, just enjoying the embrace, but there was something niggling at the back of my mind. Trina knew about Jade and I, Cat obviously knew too and Beck knew to some degree, but what about everybody else? Andre, Robbie, other kids at school, our parents? Would they react as well as Trina and Cat, or get angry like Beck?

"Jade?" I asked, deciding to voice these concerns. "Are we going to tell anyone, about, you know… us?"

I felt Jade stiffen a little and prepared myself for her to bolt again, but was more than relieved when she didn't. Instead, the paler girl shifted us both around as we were face to face, her hands cupping my cheeks so we locked eyes.

"I've kept this a secret long enough." She said softly. "I say we tell people, or at least make it obvious, if that's okay with you?"

All I could do was nod again, stunned by Jade's sudden willingness to admit to our relationship. "But, how are we-"

"Going to tell them?" Jade finished for me, eyebrows raised slightly. "Well, Beck sort of knows, but I think we're going to have to talk to him seriously about it, so he can understand it's got nothing to do with him." She sighed. "I think Andre will take it alright, he seems to be pretty accepting, and as for Shapiro, well, he's none too bright, so I think we'll have to sit him down and explain to him about the birds and the bees… or just the birds, in this case." Jade smirked at her own joke and I chuckled lightly. "But I think we should wait 'til Monday at school, give us chance to think it though properly rather than have some big get-together coming out thing."

"A-at school?" I repeated, receiving a hum of confirmation. "But, what about everyone else?

I could see a plan already formulating behind Jade's eyes. "Leave them to me."

I opened my mouth, wanting to question her idea, but she spoke over me. "Now, let's watch a movie, yeah?"

Xxx

Jade left that night just before my parents came home, which was a good thing seeing as I was no where near ready to explain to them why I was cuddled up on the couch with the girl I was supposed to hate, suffering though one of my dads horror movies that Jade had found. I stupidly let her talk me into watching it and, admittedly, I kept my face hidden though most of the film, either behind my hands or buried in the crook of Jade's neck, the latter of which my girlfriend seemed to enjoy. I couldn't help but smile to myself whenever I thought of those words: 'my girlfriend', it felt unreal, yet so right to say.

Neither of us wanted her to go, but time was getting the better of us, with my parents saying they'd be back around eleven, so at ten to I kissed Jade goodbye on the door step with a promise that we'd meet up over the weekend, and watched as her car pulled out of my drive and disappeared off down the street.

Deciding I didn't want to wait around for my parents, I poured myself a glass of, the now affectionately named, 'cow juice' and headed on up to my bedroom. Before I could make it inside, however, I was stopped by Trina calling my name quietly from down the hall. I approached, confused, to find my sister with her head sticking out from her own bedroom door, her face bright green with whatever facial beauty mask thing she was trying out this week and I watched as a blog of the gunk dripped from her chin and landed with a splat on the laminated floor.

"Ew." I stated, taking a step back so none of it would get on me.

"Shut up." Trina replied. "I wanna say something serious."

"And how am I supposed to take you seriously with that stuff all over your face?" I questioned.

"You just are!" Trina huffed, before her voice became soft. "Listen, Tori. I'm glad things worked out with Jade."

I grinned. "Thanks, Trina."

"I'm happy for you, Tori." She continued. "But I do want you to be careful; some people aren't quite as accepting as you or I"

I sighed, why did she have to bring up that downer? "I know, but I can handle myself. Besides, I think Jade would beat the crap out of anyone who makes any stupid remark."

"Me and her both." My sister said defensively, surprising me. "But, really, I want you to know that I'm here for you if anything happens, whether it's with stupid idiots, or Jade herself, I'm here if you need me."

A bubble of affection rose, almost making me tear up. It might not seem like it, but Trina's always been supportive and protective of me, ever since we were little kids, even being there to convince me to stay at Hollywood Arts when I thought about leaving after my first day. I made me so incredibly happy to know that she supported my relationship with another girl, Jade West, no less, and that she was here for me, no matter what. If it wasn't for the door blocking the way, or the dripping face mask, I would've happily pulled my sister into a hug right now.

"Thank you, Trina. That means so much" I said sincerely "I love you."

"I love you too, lil' sis" Trina said, reaching around her door to tap me on the nose. "Now, leave me alone, I have to get on with my beauty regime. It takes a lot of work to look this fantastic, you know!"

I rolled my eyes; back to typical Trina we go. With one last smile at my sister, I turned around and pretty much bounced to my bedroom with the renewed spring in my step. If only the world could be as accepting as she was.

A/N: Surprise! A quick update! I hope you like it! I hope it's not too rushed either =/
Much love! 3