Another chapter, and another chance to see what people think. The Big Bang folk will appear more in the next chapter.
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Jade was sitting in her living room, feeling anxious. 'I'm Jade fucking West. I don't do nervous. Especially not around Tori Vega. God I hope she's genital. Wait. I'm giving in already? Maybe I'm accepting I want her, and maybe I'm accepting I trust her, but no way I'm letting her take the lead in this relationship. Where is she.' Jade was driving herself crazy. She had surrendered control of the relationship over what, Sex? Yes, Tori was far more comfortable with their impending copulation, but that didn't give her the power. 'Okay, it kinda does. Funny, Tori never has the power when dating.' Jade was confused, nervous about the confusion, and mostly wanted Tori there so she could get on with whatever they were doing.
Somehow Jade had missed the car pulling up in front of her house until the heard someone knocking. Quickly she raced to the front door, only to hesitate for thirty seconds to give the impression she wasn't just waiting for Tori.
"Who is it?" she finally asked. 'You're next to the door, idiot. She'll know you're right here.' she scolded herself.
"Car service" a familiar voice answered.
"Andre?" Jade asked, quickly looking through the peephole. There her friend stood, dressed in a dark suit with a chauffeur's hat and dark glasses. Behind him was a dark late model sedan. Jade had to struggle not to laugh.
"Jade, could you please open up the door. I look foolish enough standing here waiting when you're right there." He said.
"I'm not decent." She replied.
"I don't mind." He said with a smirk. "Just hurry up so we can go. Their waiting for you."
"Wait, what?" Jade asked.
"I don't have many details. I just pick you up, drop you off, and someone will come pick you up for the return when you're done. There might be a trip in the middle." He said. The door opened and Jade looked him in the eye. Andre lost his thoughts for a second, taking in the view of Jade dressed up in her Dark sleeveless top, black skirt, stockings and black heels. She looked coiffed withing an inch of her life, a slight curl in her black hair with the red and blue extensions giving her hair that extra color. He would later be thankful for not saying what he was thinking.
"I though you'd be staying." She said. 'Car services stay, right, like limos.' Jade thought.
"Nope." He said. Her question seemed to knock him out of his stupor.
"Why not?" Jade asked.
Andre sighed. He knew he'd have to tell her a lot for her to understand. "I have a friend who owns a small limo and car service. Sometimes on the weekends he needs extra drivers. Unfortunately, because of my age can't work later than ten PM. Finish early and I might be the guy picking you up, but otherwise I'm just a one way ride." He flashed her his best smile.
"That can't be true. Lots of kids work late on the weekends." she said as he led her to the car.
"Yea, but their not driving people. I can only do this on a limited basis until I'm twenty one. Still, it's good money, Twenty dollars per hour plus tips." He said as he opened the door for her. She slid into the back of the car, then he closed the door. He quickly went around the car to the drivers side and got in. Once he was sitting he spoke again. "Seat-belts. Company policy." She buckled up, and he started the car.
"So, if you don't mind my asking, whats the occasion?" He asked as soon as the car was moving.
"Date. Wasn't expecting a town-car." Jade said, forgetting her friend wasn't totally in the loop yet.
"Anybody I know? I mean, who's the lucky fella." Andre asked trying not to sound too serious.
"Tori." Jade breathed out. The car skidded to a stop as he slammed on the breaks, simultaneously guiding the car out of the road and onto the shoulder. 'Good anti-lock breaks. They must have taught him some serious road safety.' Jade passive observed the whole reaction.
"You're dating Tori? Okay, this'll probably cost me my tip, and please don't kill the driver, but I just gotta know what you have on her to make this happen? Or did Sikowitz somehow get you two to do a summer project?" He was trying to process what he had heard.
"Actually, she asked me. I didn't want this, but she holds part of my heart. I think Beck gave it to her." Jade said. 'We'll, he took that well.'
"Right. So where are you going?" He asked.
"You're driving. You tell me." She replied.
"Wait, Beck gave her your heart? Whats that mean?" He asked as they started moving again.
"Tell me where we're going and I'll tell you." She replied.
"Olivia's. It's a restaurant, I think. GPS will get us there." He said.
"Beck set us up. He even told her to try and get into my pant's." Jade said.
"How do you know this?" He asked. His world just got weird.
"She admitted it all this morning, when she set up this date." Jade knew it was technically a lie, but didn't want to go too into details about last night.
"So you agreed? I mean, it's not like you've been the best of friends. I used to think you two needed a referee in the room to keep you from killing her. And Tori tends to stand her ground, even when it's obvious that it'll cost her." Andre said as they drove along.
"That's the thing. I respect her, even when I don't agree with her. That plus my pride got me used to coming to her when I had problems. At first I didn't want my cool friends to know, back when she was new and not one of Sinjin's so called 'Main People'. After a while, it somehow got to the point where I told her things I wasn't telling Beck. When we broke up, he had already pegged her to take his place. He knew. That's why when I told him I was bisexual, he wasn't surprised at all." Jade said, watching her friend for his reaction.
"When did you tell him? I mean, when did you know for sure?" he asked as he drove, glancing back at her through the mirror stations just for that purpose. He was not used to so much private communication in the group, but then again they were friends, and friends keep secrets from each other.
"Last Saturday at the beach, while we were getting food. He told me he was sure he'd have to do something drastic to get me to realize my sexuality, and now I know what he meant." Jade said. "This isn't freaking you out, is it?"
"The part about you dating Tori kinda did, but the rest just flows along with it. I can see Beck thinking about your happiness, even during your breakup. I'm just glad you're not bitter." He said.
"Just keep that in mind for after I set him up. I figured out just who would suit his needs, and it's no one you guys would ever suspect." Jade said with a smile. Andre just drove for the next few minutes, with only the sound of the GPS telling him where to turn coming from the front. Jade let the silence stand, watching the world flow by as they drove. As they approached the restaurant, a hole in the wall type establishment, Andre spoke up.
"Trina. He likes difficult girls, and she's about as difficult as anyone I know." He said. Jade was floored. She had no Idea he'd guess her. Seeing her face in his mirror, "Oh my chiz, I'm right? I though it was a stab in the dark. Someone I would never suspect. It could have been Poesy for all I knew." He probably had more, but Jade cut him off.
"Don't tell anyone. Tori doesn't know. I've been working with Trina to help her better self come out, and I don't need anyone spoiling my big reveal. There's a lot more to her than just being difficult. She cares about Tori, and I'm helping her become comfortable with that caring side. With a little effort she's becoming the kind of girl I'd trust to keep Beck on his toes." She said. They stopped and He got out to open her door, but she had already opened it and was getting out of the car. "Are you sure you can't stay? I might want to talk again later, and Tori will be thrilled."
"Can't. They don't let me. I'm like a cab. I have another pickup in twenty minutes, and from there I could wind up anywhere. It was nice to talk with you, and I'm glad you trusted me with this. We'll talk soon. I want all the deets." He said as he got back in the car, started it up and started to drive away. She spent a few seconds watching the car shrink into the distance before venturing into Olivia's.
'I guess Tori already paid. I wonder where she's getting the money, or is Trina behind this.' Jades thought were broken by the first view inside the restaurant. It was small, barely a dozen tables and booths. A lightning fast count confirmed seating for 43 comfortably. She also noticed that the room was nearly full, as well as curtains towards the back that obviously led to the restrooms and probably a storage room. The waitress was identified only by her apron, otherwise having dressed comfortably. Jade felt massively overdressed. As the waitress approached, Jade spoke. "I'm looking for Tori Vega."
"Right this way" the lady said, and led her towards the curtains. Once through she noticed a couple of open doorways covered by curtains on one side of the hall, as well as the bathroom and supply closet on the other. She was led to the first room, and found Tori sitting at a small table. The room was intimate, with barely space for the two person table plus room to get to the seats. They both had to be seated for the waitress to be in the room to take their order.
Tori was wearing a nice outfit, a light blue dress with matching feather earrings and black pumps. She looked incredible sitting there, waiting for Jade. As the goth sat down, she was handed a menu and they were asked what they wanted to drink. Tori ordered coffee, lemonade and water for Jade, and just lemonade and water for herself. Jade was again struck by how Tori was just taking charge, and it was making her feel very uncomfortable.
"I can order for myself, Vega." she said.
"I know. I just wanted to save time. They make authentic Mexican food, as well as some Italian. Just no Pizza. I've hears it's kinda Mexicanized Italian. I recommend you avoid the Taco's since there far different than what you're used to. Maybe an enchilada salad, or the burrito's are good here." Tori said, trying to help.
"I mean it. I can take care of myself." Jade said again.
Tori sighed. "I know that. I know once we start dating you'll get your footing and start deciding things for us. I also know that once we get intimate, you need to be the girl. I'm just establishing that I'm not submissive now while you need me to be more dominate. I'll save the sex part until I get that package I ordered this afternoon." Tori seemed to have mastered that evil smile of hers.
"Wait, what?" Jade said.
"One part at a time." Tori replied.
"Okay, how about you tell me what makes you think I need to be the girl." It was a statement, but Tori didn't mind.
"What do you think. While you're at work, Becks been making me take Jade 101. I know how he says you like your sex, how you like to be in control outside of sex, and even what gets sensitive when. I didn't ask, didn't want to know, but still got a b on the quiz." Tori laughed at her own joke, only to notice Jade's glare. "I'm sorry if I was out of bounds. I want this to be as easy as possible for you." Tori said.
It was Jades turn to sigh. "Oh chiz, now I know why you have had such a hard time in relationships. I mean besides attracting users and losers. Tori, love isn't easy. The trick is learning what you have to accept and what you can't and hoping that the person who gets your heart doesn't have too many of those traits that drive you crazy. I mean, like me. Don't just strive to make me happy. If I wanted that, I'd have dated Sinjin, or a better looking version of him." Tori chuckled at Jades joke. "Beck challenged me. If he wasn't such a child, always wanting to be reminded of all the girls he could have if he wanted them, then we'd have broken up anyways because I did just what I'm telling you not to do. I tried to put his happiness first, often getting crabby because he was my happiness. It was more than just the sex. Would you believe, during those months when we were apart, I refused to even think about anyone else. I didn't think I could be happy with anyone else, until Moose came along and ruined that. But during that time I was a better person because my happiness wasn't linked to Becks. A bitter, bitchy gank but still easier to get along with. But when I got back together with him, I became worse. I believed that without him I was just the dark goth bitch. I always felt like I was losing him, and he would wake up one day and see that he could do so much better. I was trying to be what he wanted; Hot, difficult, demanding, loving, loyal, and available. Being with him was supposed to make everything better, normal. If I'd have known..." Jade just stopped.
The next few minutes were spent with neither talking. Jade and Tori both digested Jades little rant, and when the waitress came Tori just ordered for both of them to give Jade a chance to think. She had opted for the Enchilada salads, with steak, since it was easy and hopefully quick. Tori watched Jade as she tried to make sense of her own speech. She guessed Jade needed to hear it as badly as she did. Tori still was trying to figure out where this pearl of wisdom had come from. She wanted to ask so much, but decided to wait it out and see where this led to. That lasted a total of five minutes.
After the silence had stretched for over five minutes, Tori decided that she had let Jade think long enough. Jade was in her head, working through some new insights, and she wanted to be included. The new Jade was hers, and whatever her girlfriend had figured out needed to be shared. Besides, maybe Jade would benefit from talking it out.
"So tell me, what does all that mean. I mean, what did you learn. I want to be with you, so I guess a little venting on your ex is to be expected." Tori smiled.
"I'm sorry. I still kinda love him, but now I see how much I tortured myself to try to both interest him and be what he wanted. But he wanted me, and I never saw it. I only saw the image I tried to portray. Hot, cool, and desirable. And yet I loved that everyone feared me. But I needed someone to love me, and the more desirable the someone the more I felt normal, like maybe no one would judge me for being a freaky weirdo. I used him, and paid him off with sex. And even that hurt him." Jade felt the guilt hit her for a moment, as black waves of despair rolled through her mind.. Then she let it go, using techniques her therapist taught her, because Beck would want her to move on.
"Go on" Tori said, smiling. Jade was in pain, but she hoped it was bringing them together.
"I need to go after what I want, and I want love. I'm attracted to you. I want to be with you, and I know I could love you. I just need to keep from losing myself in that identity. I'll be Jade West, the bad ass in love with Tori Vega. We'll do things together, but also do things apart. You'll have your own interests, and be Tori Vega, the hot Latina in love with Jade West." Jade smiled at the thought. She wasn't there yet, but that was the goal. And that was the opening Tori would use.
"So what I'm hearing is you want all of me, warts and all?" Tori said. Then she continued. "But doing things apart, isn't that a risk. I mean, we should share everything. Hobbies, friends, etc. It doesn't sound like a relationship otherwise." Tori said.
"And who would you give up? I mean, Sherwood. You had friends, right? Whens the last time you hung out with any of them? Do you want to? If you met a nice girl, in a platonic way, and wanted to be her friend, should I be jealous? Insist on going with you? Or trust you and give you some space?" Jade asked.
"I see that point. But can you? Your the most jealous person I know." Tori said.
"So I'm learning to trust. I believe I can trust you, and I believe you wouldn't hurt me, or make me think something could be happening. Right? That's the thing, beyond the attraction, that makes me think we could work." Jade said. 'Wow, did I just say all that? My god, when and where did I learn this chiz, cause I needed it years ago.'
"So give you some time, right? Are you feeling better?" Tori asked.
"That depends. What did you order and how scared should I be." Jade asked.
"A sex toy, advert claimed it would allow girls to do it missionary. You'd be amazed whats available on line." Tori said, still smiling. Jade tried not to look nervous. Tori was defiantly taking control of their sex lives. Their food arrived ending the heavy conversation.
The two girls made light conversation while they ate. It was a needed change from the heavy talk they just had.. They found that the food was very good, and the service was the right mix of there when needed while giving them space to talk. They talked about things they both knew, and they talked about new stuff. Jade found out that Tori has a cousin on her fathers side who loves checking out new places, and he found this restaurant. Tori found out about Andre's driving Jade. It soon became obvious that they knew so much and so little about each other. Much of the standard first date conversation they both knew, but they just used it as an excuse to get to know each other better. After the meal, they called for the town car, asked for Andre, and were told it would be about thirty minutes. They decided they wanted to just drive around until ten, and that would be all right. So they went to a small coffee shop down the road to wait. Tori decided they still needed to cover some things.
"Jade, I'm enjoying this date, but I need to make sure something's understood. I want us to be together. I think Trina's right, and we could last. I don't want to rush things, but I suspect that we'll be intimate before we'd otherwise if we didn't know each other so well. Now, I promise I won't seduce you before your birthday, but after that we'll just have to see what happens. I want you to be comfortable with whatever happens. However, I want to be together, if possible, by the start of school, and I'd like to have worked out the getting to know you part early" Tori said as they sat on a couch and watched the people around them.
"We'll, we are getting to know each other." Jade said.
"Sorry. I meant getting to know your body. I want to confirm that if I touch you in certain places I'll get the reaction I want. And you might want to learn where to touch me that makes me wet." Tori managed to say all of that looking Jade in the eye. "I'll warn you now that if I'm feeling it, I can have a hell of a sex drive."
Jade felt herself swallow at that statement. 'Damn, it's too late. I'm falling for her, and now I find out she's gonna wanna screw my brains out.' Fear of disappointing Tori filled Jade once again.
"Sweety, FYI, don't think about faking it. I don't want you to do anything you don't want to. I'm just telling you that you will want to do it." Tori said. Once more, Jade gulped. They proceeded to try to make small talk for the next twenty minutes, but Jade had to admit she felt like Tori was looking at her like a piece of meat. Finally Andre showed up, and they got into the car and drove.
"So girls, I was wondering, since I'm not taking money, who's paying for your trip tonight?" Andre asked. Jade was curious, and thankful for the distraction.
"Mason" Tori replied. Jade's head shot around so fast she almost hurt herself.
"Mason? Thornsmith? As in Platinum Music Awards?" she asked.
"I was surprised at how much he wants us to be a couple. Didn't ask why, didn't care." Tori replied.
The three friends spent the next hour enjoying a drive around a few of the scenic sights most natives never bother to look up, and they all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Finally, Andre had to start dropping them off so he could return the car and clock out. Jade was dropped off first, and Tori walked her to her door.
"From here on in, you control the dates." Tori said, giving that evil smile again. "I'm just glad I could give you a nice memory." She said, then she cupped Jades face and slowly leaned in for a kiss. Jade met her half way, and they enjoyed a brief but deep kiss. "Bye. I'll call you tomorrow, Okay?" Tori said, heading back to the car. Jade could only nod. Tori got back in the car and soon they were speeding off. Jade wasn't used to getting home from a date this early, but felt that maybe it was for the best. She walked up to her bedroom and as she reviewed the date, was suddenly thankful for Andre's question. He had dispelled the awkwardness and vulnerability she had felt about Tori's admission of wanting to seduce her. And just as quickly, She was all right with that.
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Am I the only one who's had that moment, where what I'm saying includes advice I realize I should be listening to? Also, I firmly believe in two complete people in a relationship. That way, neither one is lacking. Whats your thoughts?