/JADE/
I pick at my wrapper, unwinding it from the red velvet cupcake with a delicate touch. I drop it to the table and examine the guilty pleasure treat, the cupcake a nice deep red: made to perfection. I swipe my finger through the cream cheese icing and glance up at Tori. She hadn't bothered to use any grace in removing her wrapper. In fact, she hadn't removed it at all, choosing to dive right in instead, getting her nose and mouth covered in frosting. I go back to my own cupcake, shaking my head. I should be disgusted but it was almost cute.
"Oh my God...I'm kinda glad we burnt the lava cake because this cupcake is heavenly." I hear Tori moan, my whole body stiffening.
"Just eat it. Don't make love to it." I snap and take a bite of my own, barely resisting the urge to moan myself.
"But it's so good! It's so creamy and delicious. They must have some secret recipe because I've never had a red velvet cupcake like this before."
"Then write about it on a comment card and shut up." I don't even have to look up to know Tori's pulling a face at me.
We continue eating in silence, the world slowly moving around us. After the hilarious, but equally disastrous baking session with Vega, she had immediately pouted and started whining about how she had actually wanted cake. So casually, I had suggested we go out.
I lean my head back against the chair, listening to the general buzz of the cafe. I had to admit it was one of my favorite sounds and I knew I could easily spend countless hours sitting by the window with my script book, simply watching and listening to the world go by. Tori didn't know it -and I wasn't going to tell her- but Madison's Cupcake Cafe was one of my most treasured childhood places. I was still questioning why I'd willingly driven us over here, but I figured maybe it was because after the whole break up and everything, I needed to relive some solid and... happy familiarity.
Tori finishes her cupcake, licking at a stray bit of frosting on her mouth. "We should play a game."
"No we shouldn't."
"I know! What about twenty questions? That way we get to learn a little more about each other?"
"You're annoying and stupid. That's all I need to know." I crumple up my wrapper.
"If you play along I'll buy you another cupcake..."
Damn it.
"...Fine." I sigh and relent, sitting back in my chair and Tori beams in triumph.
"Yay! Okay. I'll ask you one first." I raise my studded eyebrow, watching Vega purse her lips in thought. I had my suspicions she was going to be avoiding the typical, easy questions. She probably knew by now that asking for my favorite color or favorite flower was going to elicit a sarcastic answer.
I wasn't disappointed.
"If you could pick your death, how would you go?"
"Wow." I raise an eyebrow. "That's a little morbid for Miss Sunshine and Rainbows." I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth in thought. "Probably the most gruesome and violent death imaginable. Like something from the Final Destination series. Something which would make headline news for weeks and would need to be censored for home viewing."
Tori shudders. "Of course you'd say that. I'd want to pass away gently in my sleep."
"Where's the excitement in that? It's hardly a headline: Woman dies peacefully in her sleep. Yawn." I can't resist teasing a little, seeing her get all flustered and indignant. My fingers start absentmindedly shredding the cupcake wrapper as I fire back my own question. "Suffocate in space or drown?"
"Uh, space. Because then at least you could see the pretty stars before you...died?"
"Trust you to say that, Tori."
"What was your first impression of me?"
Shit.
She'd asked it with no hesitation. It only occurred to me then that maybe she had only wanted to play this dumb game so she could ask that question. I keep picking away at the cupcake wrapper, watching the pieces flutter to the table.
The first time we met seemed ages ago, mainly because time become irrelevant when we were together. The details of the day were a little fuzzy and blurred around the edges but I could still clearly remember her terrified face when she found out she was rubbing my -now ex- boyfriend. I glance up to see Tori smiling innocently at me, those brown eyes flecked with a small mask of concern. She was waiting for my answer.
"I didn't like you...but now I almost tolerate you." I pick and choose my words carefully, watching Tori roll her eyes.
"Oh cmon. You more than "tolerate me" Jade. You took us out for cupcakes and despite saying you wanted me to stay away from you-"
I grind my teeth and cut her off sharply.
"Well what was your first impression of me?"
"I think you have an amazing stage presence." I pause my shredding, turning my head slowly to look at Tori. She shrugs it off, her lips twitching into a half smile. "What? It's true. You have a way of grabbing everyone's attention."
I study her closely from across the table. I had to say I was impressed with how gutsy Vega was tonight. I didn't realize I'm smiling until I catch the reflection in the coffee pot, smoothing my features back into neutral before anyone could see. I had to wonder briefly if Tori had set this up, as if she was trying to tell me something with this game and her questions.
But I was probably over thinking.
"Alright. Tell me something no one knows about you?" Tori circles her finger across the plate, gathering up the stray crumbs.
We continue to go back and forth with our questions, the cafe slowly beginning to disperse of people. I couldn't recall what time we had arrived but we had definitely been sitting there for at least a couple of hours. We had also managed to devour about three cupcakes each but I couldn't remember ordering them.
"I have a good question. Why can't you cook, Tori?" I smirk over at her. I didn't even want an answer, just a reaction.
"Hey! I can cook!"
"You made a cremated chocolate lava doorstop."
"It wasn't that bad!"
"It dented the table when we slid it out of the pan! You could have used it as a weapon!"
"Well maybe if you hadn't have distracted me, then maybe it wouldn't have burned!" She fires back and I can see her nostrils flaring.
"Well maybe you shouldn't be so easy to distract!" I put emphasis on the word, drawing it out.
"You know what? It's hard to concentrate on everything sometimes and you, you-" She doesn't get to finish her sentence, a fat finger tapping her on the shoulder.
"Hey! Me and my wife are trying to relax, so will you tell your girlfriend here to keep it down?" An overweight man interrupts with a scowl, his sunglasses slipping down the end of his sweaty and unattractive nose. He's looking right at me. I simply stare back coldly.
"I- I didn't think I was being loud..." Tori stammers, her cheeks flushing in that familiar awkward blush and I felt the need to intervene.
"Okay Sunglasses, listen up. One." I count my points on my fingers, making sure to keep eye contact. "This place isn't exactly heaving with people, you are free to move to another table. Two, I'm surprised you voluntarily came out with that sweat stained tshirt. Three, I know it might be hard for you to comprehend more than one worded answers but we're entitled to have a conversation and four, lose the sunglasses. We're indoors."
I finish off by dabbing my lips with my napkin, dropping it to the table. Tori is just sitting there with her mouth hanging open and I stand up, grabbing her wrist to haul her from the chair. When we get outside, she turns to look at me, a mixture of both awe and horror written across her face.
"Jade! You completely destroyed that guy!"
"So?" I shrug it off and rummage around in my bag for my car keys.
"So, it was really - that was really nice of you. To defend me I mean." Tori fidgets, scuffing her feet at the ground.
"He was being a self entitled ass wipe. I hate that." I mutter and climb into the driver's side as she slides into the passenger seat, not even waiting for permission anymore. It had become pretty much normal to see Vega sitting in my car with me and it brought up the constant question which kept burning holes in my brain with everything we did together: Do I want this or not? Tori grins and I find myself mirroring it automatically.
It was so stupid. We hadn't even spent much time together, it had only been a few weeks on and off but it felt longer. I wasn't sure if we had established common ground or even a foundation to start with but for the most part, I was kinda enjoying myself. So maybe Tori wasn't as annoying or as "prissy" as I originally thought and she might have some positive points. Only some. But she had definitely invaded my life thoroughly, my thoughts slipping from Beck to her most days and my car was actually beginning to smell more like Tori than it did of him. I couldn't describe it even if I wanted to, but there was a constant sense of comfort and security with Tori. I knew my guard was slipping but it didn't seem to matter with her. I wasn't racing to build it back up. I was content with leaving it as it was.
We drive in relative silence back to the Vega's house. My thoughts primarily focused on the girl sitting next to me. I grip the steering wheel a little tighter, my words coming out sharper than I intended when we finally reach her driveway.
"Get out." I hear her sigh but she doesn't argue, opening the car door to step outside.
"Thanks for the cupcakes, Jade." Her voice is quiet, almost resigned. She gives me a small smile but I could see those brown eyes clouded with confusion. The guilt twists my gut.
"I'll message you sometime." I rev the engine and back out of her driveway, watching Tori wave at me from her front door before going inside.
I drive through the streets, not really paying much attention to a destination. I knew I needed to drive to clear my head. It was obvious we couldn't exactly stay away from each other and now, thanks to Sikowitz and this stupid blog, it wasn't an option anyway. I grind to a stop at a red light, looking at the rows and rows of streetlights line the road.
I couldn't stay away.
Maybe I was imagining things or looking too deep into it, but I felt we had shifted into another part of our strange relationship. I was thinking about Vega more, getting used to her habits and tolerating her to the point where I could stand more than an hour without wanting to hurt her. I had noticed the change in her behavior too, she seemed more relaxed and every time we made eye contact - she was always smiling.
Tori is a quirky and irritating optimist. It doesn't mean anything.
I hear a horn blast behind me in irritation and I snap to attention, crushing my own horn to retaliate before driving again.
I wasn't sure about my new found "friendship" feelings for Tori. Hell, I wasn't sure if I was exaggerating all the eye contact and the subtle glances.
One thing I did know for certain though, was neither of us had actually denied the man's comment about being girlfriends...
A/N: Hope everyone had a very happy Holiday! What do you all think about Jade and Tori falling further down the rabbit hole? ;)
As always, I would love reviews! I read each and every one and appreciate them greatly!