Tori wakes up the next morning-wait, no, night. It's only 11.
She sighs and quickly realizes why she woke up. Blake is screaming his tiny head off and she immediately jumps from her bed into the hallway, skidding down the wood paneling into the nursery.
She scoops Blake up without a second thought and the first thing she notices is hot. The kid is impossibly warm and his nose is all crusty.
She can't call Lila, she's with her parents.
Biting her lip, she scrolls down her contacts and settles on one Jade West.
"Mhm?" Is the muffled reply on the other end. "Tori?"
"Look I'm sorry I was so harsh or whatever but I really need you and please come over." She rushes out, patting Blake's back as he cries.
"Okay."
There's a click and Tori sighs, looking at the sobbing baby in her arms.
"Shhhhhhh, baby." She mumbles and Blake opens his eyes slightly.
Tori sits on the couch with him, trying to calm him down, until there's a knock at the door. It's solid and hard.
She picks up her son and carries him with her to the door, opening it to reveal Jade and a muscular man that could only be Paul.
"Hey." Jade whispers, averting her eyes until she catches sight of Blake.
"Um, Tori? Who's this?"
"This is Blake. He's my son." She pauses for a second, watching the shock spread across Jade's face. "He's sick and I have no clue what to do."
Jade clears her throat. "How old is he?"
"8 months."
Jade bites her lip. "How…?"
"Will Ewerson raped me exactly three days after graduation. Fun stuff. Help me please." Tori's voice is even, but her hands are shaking slightly and her eyes are glassy.
Jade steps in and Paul stays outside. "I have to go, but you'll be okay?" he bites his lip at Tori and she nods, smiling at him as he walks toward his car.
"I didn't mean it when I said we weren't friends." Jade sucks in a breath.
Tori ignores her, instead calling someone on her phone.
"Hey, Kelly? What's the number for the 24/7 pediatrician at the hospital?"
She jots down a few numbers.
"Okay, thanks, yeah, he's sick. I'll let you sleep, thank you so much."
She hangs up and calls the number, a throaty voice responding on the other line.
"Hello?"
"Hi, I have an eight month old and he's really sick. Should I bring him in?"
"Take his temperature, if it's higher than 103 bring him in, if not, wait it out. You can still breastfeed and bathe him normally, and it should go down fairly soon. If it doesn't within a day or so, come in."
"Okay thank you so much." Tori rushes out.
"Anytime."
There's a click and she walks into the bathroom, grabbing the thermometer off the counter. She washes it before sticking it in Blake's mouth.
It beeps and she reads the temperature aloud: 101.7.
She sighs and Blake snuggles into her chest. She walks out and sits on the couch, inviting Jade to sit next to her.
"So where's Lila?"
"Visiting family."
Eventually Blake stops crying and starts to hiccup a little before reaching out.
"You hungry?"
Jade quirks an eyebrow. "Do you breastfeed him?"
"Not as much anymore, mostly bottles and baby food. Actually, let me go get some."
She gets up with Blake and they walk over to the cabinet. Tori pulls out a jar of mushed sweet potatoes.
She unscrews it and grabs a miniature spoon before settling on the couch again and starting to feed the baby in her arms.
"I'm really sorry, you know. For saying we aren't friends." Jade says after a moment. Tori nods slightly.
"It's okay. Force of habit, I guess."
"No, Tori, you don't get it. I haven't heard from anyone besides Cat and you. I sort of reacted like the sour grape I am and I'm really sorry because I hate hurting you. Even in high school, I hated hurting you."
Tori meets her eyes, cool gray-turquoise melting in dark chocolate brown. They hold each other's gaze for several beats.
"I think we've both changed from high school." She laughs.
Jade smiles and Blake whimpers a little.
"You still hungry buddy?" She blushes slightly. "Um…we don't have any bottles made…"
Jade laughs and waves her off. "It's fine."
Tori blushes a deeper shade and lifts her shirt up slightly. Blake latches on immediately and Jade smiles, looking at her nails.
"So how's your life?" Tori breaks the silence, glancing at Jade.
"It's good, I guess. I'm double majoring-screenwriting and vocals. On the weekends I go volunteer places. How 'bout yours?"
Tori smiles. "Really good. I'm trying to get my shit together and get a record deal, but Blake's my first priority right now."
Jade smiles. "Well, is it okay if I sleep over? Paul's skyping with Darren and I don't want to disturb him…"
"That's fine…I think I'm gonna put him down too."
Tori yawns and shuffles to the nursery.
I don't really have anything to say, so.
Blessed Be.