A/N: Thanks again for the reviews and the views! This was one of my favorite chapters to write. Enjoy awkward!Tori. Really appreciating the feedback & the support. Much love!

/TORI/

"I don't think I have any black pajama shirts. What's wrong with the purple one with the sunflower?"

I watch with concealed amusement, witnessing Jade pick her way through my wardrobe selection like she was inspecting something horrifying. She had grudgingly accepted my black Hollywood Arts sweatpants - though I had to insist I hadn't worn them yet several times. I lounge back. I had already changed into my blue silk top with matching pants and then at Jade's demands, I'd pulled out every single dark piece of clothing I owned so she could find a shirt to wear to bed.

I had to admit, it was pretty surreal to watch Jade move about in my room. Her black on black on more black clothing looking out of place in my brightly decorated walls, but I couldn't say I didn't secretly enjoy this moment...or deny how pleased I was she had decided to sleep over.

"Yeah. I would rather have my insides ripped out with a fishing hook than wear something with a sunflower on it." I hear her toss more options to the floor, listening to a low hum in the back of her throat as she considers the least offensive garment. "Alright. Guess this will have to do." She sighs and picks up an old black t-shirt, suddenly wrinkling her nose with disgust. "It smells like you." I can't help but roll my eyes towards the ceiling.

"Of course it smells like me. It's my shirt."

"Don't remind me."

"You know, you don't have to wear a shirt." I shut my mouth quickly and turn away, but Jade had caught what I said. My cheeks start to burn furiously. I wish my bed would collapse in on itself and swallow me in that very moment. The words had just tumbled out of my mouth without my brain going through the vital and important process of checking as to whether it was okay to say, bypassing every firewall and filter ever. I feel the springs shift on the mattress, the rustle of fabric as Jade undressed. I crane my neck so far away it hurt. It really wasn't like her not to say anything about my mortifying slip up, but I found myself wishing she would almost comment on it.

I turn back when she was settled, my eyes immediately drawn to her slender body. Her figure hugged my old t-shirt better than I ever could. Those curves clinging to the fabric in all of the right places, the low cut collar pushed out by her breasts and the hem barely riding up to expose her flat and slightly toned stomach. My eyes travel to her navel and I could see the small muscles rippling underneath the pale skin.

Oh God. She looked good.

"Is there something I can help you with, Tori?" I blink, seeing her eyes narrowed.

"What? Oh no, no. I was just-" I run a hand around the back of my neck. "Why don't we get comfortable?"

"Fine but just so you're aware. This still doesn't mean I like you." Jade pulls back the covers, sliding underneath them with her back to me.

"Of course not."

"We're not staying up all night to do each other's hair, we're not watching stupid chick flicks and having pillow fights. We're sleeping." I nod along, even though she can't see me and Jade seems satisfied with the silence. She grabs my blanket to wrap around herself, only leaving me with a small sliver, but I let her take it without argument - she was in need of the comfort more than I was tonight.

I lay down and slowly watch the darkness grow even more pressing in my bedroom, the moon highlighting my small trinkets so they cast shadows around the walls. I pull out my phone, relieved to see it was working for now and skim through the multiple text messages from Andre. I type back a quick reply. I felt guilty for abandoning him at the diner but I knew Jade wouldn't want anyone to see her like this.

I seemed to be the only one allowed to see her at her most vulnerable.

Sorry I bailed on you. At home with Jade. Explain later.

My thumb scrolls through my contacts and hovers over Beck's name. I try his number and reach his voicemail, my phone cutting out before I could leave a message. It had only been a few hours since Jade and Beck's argument. Maybe contacting him about Jade wasn't the best idea. I'd do it in the morning when everything had calmed down. She was safe at mine tonight, no point in getting him worried.

I close my eyes with a sigh and let the events of tonight wash over my body. Jade's chest is rising and falling gently beside me and I can't resist a small peek, knowing it was a rare opportunity to see the fearsome Jade West asleep, especially in my bed. I knew this tender moment between us probably wouldn't last. She just needed someone for comfort and for some reason, I was always the first person she ran to. Except... this wasn't the same. Because instead of her showing up at my door, I had run to her. I was the one who picked her up in the alleyway and made sure she got somewhere safe, the one who treated her bruises and held her close. I couldn't explain it, but for some reason, it just felt... different.

She turns over, a small sigh escaping from her lips. She looked so innocent, so calm and peaceful, her hair falling gently over her cheek that I felt the sudden desire to tuck it back behind her ear.

A vibration makes Jade's phone shake on the bedside table, a light flashing through the darkness. A Slap update from her phone. I swipe through to the notification knowing I shouldn't look but the curiosity gets the better of me, the status making my heart leap up into my mouth.

Beck Oliver is no longer in a relationship.
Posted a second ago.

I feel Jade twitch in her sleep beside me, her fingers moving underneath the covers. I stare at the status update again, blinking twice to make sure I was reading it correctly. Everyone knew Beck and Jade had been arguing more recently, but neither of them had ever gone as far to change their relationship status. This had to determine it was serious. I quickly switch the vibration to silent as the messages come pouring in; comments, questions and people demanding answers, and Jade didn't even know yet. I debate waking her up, but then I figured she had already suffered through enough tonight. I quietly set the phone back on the bedside table.

"Tori..." A bleary, half asleep mumble makes me jump in the darkness and I open my mouth to respond, stuttering with an apology for snooping through her phone, but Jade still had her eyes firmly shut, burrowing herself even deeper into my covers.

"Tori." She breathes out again.

I don't have to think about it. I move to wrap my arms around her body once more, giving Jade what she wanted. My heart is pounding furiously against my chest, the organ beating itself against my rib cage. I was worried Jade could hear it because I definitely could, the deafening sound in my ears as I held onto her. She was still murmuring my name and I force myself to stay calm and still, half expecting her to wake up, to push me away. But she does something so out of character for Jade, that I have to squeeze her a little, remind myself I wasn't dreaming. Because, just as I had gathered her up in my arms in the alleyway, she didn't shove me off.

She held on tighter.