/TORI/

My fingers slowly glide over her pale skin, wanting to commit every dip and curve to my physical memory. I can feel her warm breath tickle my naked skin as our bodies twist underneath the soft covers. Our hands are entwined together, fingers locked in a tight embrace and I can suddenly feel those full lips against mine, those sweet lips I've been so curious about, the lips which usually spit acid but now were making my head spin and my heart take off. God, she was so beautiful and so perfect and I was falling. I brush a strand of hair that falls in front of her face, my smile mirroring hers. All of her defenses were down and I could feel her vulnerability beneath my fingertips. Our words get lost in another heated kiss and I grab her to hold her close, desperate to capture this moment between us.

Jade.

"Jade!" I jolt awake in a panic, my arms clinging to my pillow. I notice a tiny spot of drool on the material and toss it away quickly. Exhaling, I sit up and run a hand through my messed up hair, tousled and wild from where I must have been tossing and turning. I'm grateful it's still dark in my bedroom because I could feel the blush on my cheeks, the obvious color an indication of what I'd been dreaming about. I let my eyes slowly get adjusted to the black, my gaze automatically landing at the foot of my bed where I had placed Jade's scissors and the shirt she had worn that night. I had attempted several times to put them away, I had tried to tuck them up in a drawer out of sight but I couldn't bring myself to do it. For some reason, I wanted to keep them there, to serve as a constant reminder about what had happened. Even if Jade wanted to try and erase the past, I wanted to selfishly keep it.

I pad over to my laptop and boot it up, scrolling aimlessly through everyone's slap page. My mouse clicks on Jade's profile automatically, my heart practically slamming up through my mouth at her latest status update.

"My God. There is nothing better than a red velvet cupcake."
JadeWest was at Madison's Cupcake Cafe with ToriVega posted 5 minutes ago.

I lean forward in my chair to make sure I wasn't still dreaming, highlighting over my name again and again. A few months ago, Jade wouldn't have admitted to being my friend even if she were being tortured. Now she was tagging me in her updates? I catch my stupid grin in the computer monitor and fight to keep my face neutral, even though my heart was going into overdrive. Sure, it was just a small update but it felt like a huge step of progress. I hit refresh and skim back down to relive the moment, my beating organ instantly deflating. The update was suddenly gone. She had deleted it.

I collapse back in my seat and sigh, my eyes flicking over to the folded up shirt and scissors. It was almost as if Jade was afraid of admitting we had formed a friendship, as if it was some taboo word which would make her burst into flames. I huff and go back to scrolling, not even paying much attention to any one else's news. I still couldn't understand what she was scared of. Everyone already knew we had been hanging out more often so it wasn't exactly a secret. It wasn't like we were secretly dating or anything, so why post something and tag me but then turn around and delete it?

Because this is what she does and I don't think you get it yet, Tori.

I still wasn't sure where we were and I was getting pretty dizzy and tired from trying to work it all out. I kept relating back to science, looking for some clear answer for Jade's behavior but it was equivalent to meticulously calculating a chemical combustion. On the one hand, Jade wasn't being as insulting to me and had even apologized for it...kinda. But on the other hand, she was still trying to deny she was enjoying her time with me. Because she was. She could hide try and hide her smile behind a scowl, but I could see the way her eyes lit up, and how much more relaxed and happier she seemed to be. So maybe? No, no it's better not to rock the already unsteady boat.

TheScissoringQueen: Vega.

The messenger icon flashes.

ToriVega_Docious: West.
TheScissoringQueen is typing...

I smile to myself, a little proud I had used the last name basis against her before I remember my dream and my smile fades.

TheScissoringQueen: Cute. Now not that I care but what are you doing right now?
ToriVega_Docious: Uh...I might go and catch up with Celebrities Underwater, why?
TheScissoringQueen: They never drown. What's the point?

I roll my eyes.

ToriVega_Docious: I don't want them to drown anyway!
ToriVega_Docious: Now why did you ask what I was doing?
TheScissoringQueen is typing...

I watch the icon disappear and reappear several times. She was struggling with what to say. I could picture her in that den of hers, laptop placed on a glass table, surrounded by skulls and other mystery objects, her fingers hovering over the keyboard.

TheScissoringQueen: Do you want to come over?

I blink rapidly several times and my heart skips a few beats, those few words making my throat close up and shivers run down my spine. I refresh the screen quickly to make sure I wasn't still dreaming this whole thing, that the message wouldn't vanish like the status update, but it remained there. Jade West had just given me an invitation to her house. Against all the odds and all the denials of friendships - she was inviting me over and I had to jump at this opportunity.

TheScissoringQueen: Or you can ignore me.
ToriVega_Docious: No, no, no! I'd love to come
ToriVega_Docious: Over* I'd love to come over!

I cringe at the horrifying typo.

TheScissoringQueen: Great. I'm making red velvet cupcakes and need you to pick up a few things.
ToriVega_Docious: Sure thing, what do you need?
TheScissoringQueen: Flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder, cream cheese...

My eyebrow raises.

ToriVega_Docious: That's most of the ingredients.
ToriVega_Docious: ...
ToriVega_Docious: Are you just using me to do your food shopping!?
TheScissoringQueen: Sorry. I can't hear you. I'm going through a tunnel!
ToriVega_Docious: You are on your laptop! In your room!

[TheScissoringQueen has left the conversation]

I slump back in my seat and exhale slowly, catching my reflection in the mirror. Several voices were fighting with me at once, all of them cramming into my brain to tell me not to go, that it would be a mistake and it would be safer to stay at home. I flick a glance back over to Jade's black shirt and the scissor blades, reminded fiercely of how she had felt pressed up against me. She - we might try and hide or ignore our friendship but there was something there we couldn't deny. It felt as if a connection had planted and rooted itself between the both of us, the vines wrapping tighter and tighter around our bodies to force us closer together and neither of us wanted to pull away.

ToriVega_Docious: I can't wait to see you.

I look at my message over several times, my finger resting on the send key, before I highlight and delete.

A/N: Happy New Year (slightly late) Hope everyone had a good few weeks break, I know I did. ;)
Anyone made any New Year's Resolutions? Jade's should be to stop denying who she truly wants, right? R&R!