Tori walked downstairs into the living room of her still empty house. She looked at the clock that was hanging on the wall. It was 3:30 PM and she decided to head to Cat's place, even if she would be there a bit earlier. She was sick and tired of the empty house, but she also wanted to help her little, redhead friend who was nervous all day at school and had even less of an attention span that usually. It seemed that Robbie asking her out had more of an impact on her than Tori had anticipated.
She grabbed her keys and walked outside before she shut the door and locked it. She walked towards her car and sat down on the driver's seat. She put her keys in the ignition and turned it. To her shock, nothing happened. Her car didn't react at all. She tried again and again, but her car wasn't even starting.
"No, not now." Tori sighed. She got out of her car and walked in front of it. She opened the hood of the car.
"Yeah, as if I would know how to fix it even if I knew what's wrong." She said to herself as she slammed the hood down hard. She drew her hand through her hair as she walked to her porch and sat down on the steps. She leaned her head on her hands and let out a loud groan. She didn't have the time or the energy to call a mechanic now, she didn't have enough money with her to get it fixed anyway and she didn't know when her father would actually be home at the same time as her.
"Having some trouble?" She heard someone yell. She looked up to see the familiar car parked in front of her house with the familiar Goth leaning out of the passenger side window.
"My stupid car won't start!" Tori called from the steps as she got up and walked over to the Goth.
"So I guess you need a ride?" Jade said with a small smirk.
"Yeah, you guessed that right." Tori said with an annoyed sigh.
"Come on, get in." Jade said as she leaned back into the driver's seat. Tori opened the passenger door and got into the car. She shut the door and leaned back into her seat as she covered her face with her hands.
"Vega, it's just a car. You will get it fixed in a few days." Jade said.
"Yeah, if my dad decides to show up and leave enough money for it." Tori said.
"Pay it with your credit card then." Jade said as she started the engine and drove off.
"I don't have one. Trina's got rejected and she took mine a few weeks ago. She still didn't give me mine back." Tori explained.
"Alright, one more reason why your sister is a grade A cunt." Jade said.
"Jade…" Tori said. Her voice didn't read any anger or anything. It was more that she was annoyed enough with her sister's actions and hoped to talk about anything else.
"Alright, alright. Just… call Beck tomorrow and ask him if he can check your car. He's good with that. If you're still comfortable with him alone, of course." Jade said.
"I am, I'm not afraid of him. Actually he told me earlier today that he would go to therapy. His first session is next week." Tori explained.
"Really? He told you that?" Jade asked.
"Yeah. He and Andre talked and I saw them both earlier in the parking lot."
"Wow. I didn't think Beck would ever say yes to something like that." Jade said.
"Why not?" Tori asked.
"You don't know him as well as I do, so of course you don't understand. He's the type of person who thinks that they can take care of their own emotions and mind. He always used to say how we control our emotions and they don't control us. I guess he changed his mind about that." Jade said.
"I could have predicted that. It's not that he ever was open about his emotions or anything." Tori said.
"Exactly. All that crap about being transparent and having no secrets… I never bought it. And I was right with that. I just hate how we all had to find out." Jade said as she looked at Tori.
"Jade, please, I'm fine. Everything's fine. He's getting help; he's going to be better. If some marks on my neck for a few days were the price, I'll gladly pay it again." Tori said just as they arrived in front of the Valentine home. Jade turned the engine off and sighed before she looked back at Tori.
"And what about you?" Jade asked.
"What about me?" Tori asked back, not understanding Jade's question.
"So Beck's going to be better. Robbie took charge of his life and he's going to make the best of it. Andre's been more relaxed and happier than I've seen him in years. Cat just gave a guy a chance who won't break her heart first thing next morning. But what about you? Your sister is doing god knows what and you haven't seen your father for god knows how many days now. Are a few tears and a few days of bad mood really the worst this has done to you?" Jade asked.
"I'm just trying to keep it together, that's all. It's either that or completely breaking down, and I'm not going to let that happen." Tori said.
"So you just endure it all. Then what? Are you going to have anger issues like Beck? Are you going to get all weird like Robbie? Are you going to be as fucked up as me maybe?" Jade asked, making Tori chuckle with the last part. Jade shifter her body in her seat so she was now turned towards Tori. "Look at me." Jade said as she put her hand on Tori's. "If there is anything I can do, you better tell me. Because I don't need one of the few people in this world I care about to fall apart in front of me. I don't intend to be that one friend who watches that without doing anything about it. And if you don't tell me yourself, I'll find out somehow, Vega. So save us both that stress and time and tell me directly if I can help you." Jade said as she squeezed Tori's hand.
"Thank you. I'll let you know, don't worry." Tori said. She had felt the vision arrive at Jade's touch, but suppressed it. But now, she wanted to know. She wanted to learn something more about the Goth. She wouldn't take Jade's offer up without her doing the same. She allowed the vision to show itself, and that moment, everything went bright in her sight:
"Nine!" Jade called as she stood in front of the door. She looked at it nervously, waiting for something to happen. She gulped, before she opened her mouth again.
"Ten!" She called, weaker than the previous calls. She reached for the handle, but she didn't turn it. She looked at the door one more time before she ran off towards her car. She slammed her door shut and started the engine before she sped off. As she was driving, she tried to wipe away her tears, but to no avail.
Then, she was standing in front of her house. She opened the door and walked inside. She closed the door behind her and leaned on it as she let her body slide down the door until she was sitting on the floor. She hugged her knees to herself, desperately trying to prevent her sobs from escaping her body.
"Jade, what happened?" Jade looked up to see her fathers new girlfriend stand in front of her.
"Beck left me." Jade said in a weak, raspy voice that was ready to crack.
"Why are you so surprised? I mean, it's not like he's going to miss out on something." She said. Jade jumped up, ready to tear her apart, but stopped right in front of her.
"Oh, the Cat lost her claws? If you lay a finger on me, you know what will happen. Your father will throw you out of the house. But where would you go. You could go to Beck, but oh wait" she said as she mocked a shocked expression "he dumped you. I guess you just can't keep people in your life."
Jade clenched her fist. Her fingernails dug into her skin until they drew blood that began dropping from her hand. She ran past the other woman up into her room and slammed the door shut before she locked it. She walked to her bed and let herself fall on it before she let finally allowed herself to cry openly.
"You better not go back on that, Vega. I'll find everything out anyway." Jade said as her voice snapped Tori out of the vision. Tori looked at the Goth. She remembered that night. She remembered how she wanted to go after Jade, but didn't. She had no idea what happened at Jade's home that evening. She had felt guilty then for not going after her. She felt even guiltier now that she knew. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around the Goth.
"I'm sorry Jade." Tori said, hugging Jade tightly.
"Hey, it's alright. You didn't do anything. I just want you to be fine, that's all." Jade said as she hugged Tori back.
"I know." Tori said. "Thank you. I really appreciate it."
"Good. Now let's go inside. I'm sure Cat's already freaking out that we're late." Jade said as both moved away.
"Yeah, we shouldn't keep her waiting anymore." Tori said. Both opened the door and got out of Jade's car. They walked to Cat's porch. Jade opened the door and as soon as both were inside, they saw the mess that the house was in. Clothes were lying all around the house, from the living room, through the stairs, leaving a track all the way to Cat's room. Jade and Tori walked upstairs and saw that Cat's door was not all the way closed.
"Cat, were here!" Tori called. Both heard something move from inside Cat's room. A second later, the door opened and the small redhead was standing in front of them, a purple dress in one hand and a red t-shirt in the other.
"Where have you both been? You're late! I don't like it when you're late! I don't like when people tell me they are going to be there at time and then they don't! I never let any of you two wait! I don't know what I'm going to wear! I'm so nervous! I'm gonna ruin this date with Robbie! He's going to hate me! I don't want him to hate me!" Cat said in one, single breath.
"Cat, did you drink coffee today?" Jade asked as the redhead wasn't able to calm down and kept pacing in front of them.
"Yes, and I hate two energy drinks. Why? Can you tell? Am I hyperactive? I can't be like that on the date!" Cat rushed again. Jade sighed while Tori just shook her head. She hadn't seen Cat this nervous in a while. The date with Robbie must mean a lot to her. Tori put both hands on Cat's shoulder, preventing her from pacing anymore.
"Cat, breathe and calm down first." Tori said.
"But Tori…"
"Cat, calm down. We're going to pick something out for you to wear now, I'll help you with your make up, and then you are going to have the best date you ever had with Robbie tonight. Is that clear?" Tori asked.
"Are you sure? What if something happens? What if we don't have anything to talk about? What if I become boring to him? What if he won't want to hang out with me after tonight? I don't want to lose him, Tori!" Cat said.
"You won't. You're just nervous about Robbie because he means so much to you, right?" Tori asked.
"Mhm." Cat uttered as she nodded.
"Come on Cat, its Robbie. You two have been friends for years now. It has yet to happen that neither of you has anything to say. Especially you." Jade said.
"Jade's right. Nothing bad is going to happen. Robbie likes you. He always did." Tori said.
"Screw the likes, Robbie's been in love with you for so long now. If he means what he told you today at school, you're finally going to have someone who won't dump you for some stupid reason. Or kiss Tori." Jade said. A small chuckle escaped Cat as she shook her head.
"That would be nice for a change." Cat said, a small smile finally breaking the previously nervous expression.
"Then go get ready. It always takes you ages to do so." Jade said. Cat stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Jade and Tori.
"Thank you guys for helping me and calming me down." Cat said. Tori smiled and hugged Cat back. She looked to her side to see that Jade had done the same.
"Everything for you, Cat." Jade said. Cat let them go and walked into her bathroom.
The hours passed quickly. They had picked something Cat should wear and Tori had done her makeup perfectly. The last dilemma for them was whether Cat should wear her hair open or do something else with it.
"I say wear it open. It looks great as it is right now." Tori said.
"I agree. Also, you kinda don't have time left for doing your hair anyway." Jade said.
The bell rang. Cat inhaled sharply, but before she could say anything, Jade decided to step in.
"Don't you panic now!" Jade said. Cat let out the breath she was holding as Tori got up.
"Make sure she doesn't get a panic attack. I'll go open the door." Tori said.
Tori walked out of Cat's room and headed downstairs. She opened the door and saw Robbie standing there. He was wearing a dark suit again, but this time without a tie. He had unbuttoned the top part of his blue shirt, which gave it a more leaned back look. Tori also saw that he had straightened his hair and wasn't wearing his glasses as usually.
"Ulala. You look great. Where are the glasses?" Tori asked as Robbie walked inside.
"I'm wearing contacts. It took me two hours to get them in. I hope it was worth it." Robbie said.
"How do you feel?" Tori asked.
"I'm nervous. I'm scared. But it doesn't matter. I've been waiting a very long time for this opportunity. I'm not going to waste it." Robbie said.
"She's feeling exactly the same way. She's up there, panicking because she wants the date to go well." Tori said.
"She does?" Robbie asked.
"Mhm. Just remember. Be yourself. No weird stuff. No metaphorical walls. Just be yourself and have fun." Tori said.
"I will. Thank you again for everything." Robbie said.
"You're welcome." Tori said. She saw Robbie look past her. She turned around and saw that Cat was walking downstairs.
"You look great." Robbie said as he looked at her.
"So do you." Cat said as she smiled.
"Do you guys need a ride?" Jade asked as she walked downstairs.
"Thanks for the offer, but Andre already agreed to drive us. He's waiting outside." Robbie said.
"Well then, you guys have fun." Tori said.
"Bye. I'll see you two tomorrow." Cat said. Robbie took her hand and led her out of the house and towards Andre's Car. Tori waved after them as Robbie opened the car door for her and they both entered. Both girls watched as the car started and took off.
"They are going to have a great time." Tori said.
"I know. I'm glad that Cat finally won't regret daring a guy." Jade said.
There was a short time of silence as the car disappeared out of their vision.
"Wanna follow them and see how their date goes?" Tori asked.
"I thought you would never ask." Jade said.
They walked out of the house and got into Jade's car. Both girls started laughing once Jade turned the engine on. Tori noticed that Jade was looking at her.
"What?" Tori asked, wondering why Jade was now staring.
"I never thought you of all people would have the idea to follow them like that." Jade said.
"I know it's wrong and that we shouldn't, but I can't wait till tomorrow to find out how it went." Tori said.
"I agree. Let's go." Jade said as she pushed the gas pedal down and they drove off after them.