Jade looks at Tori, who has fresh tears falling down her cheeks.
"I-I just…she's…did we just break up?"
Jade nods and pulls the hysterical girl into her embrace. "Yeah, but Tori, it'll be okay, it'll be okay... I've been down this road with Ana and I know how you feel right now but you'll move on, I swear." She says this sincerely, and Tori glances slightly up at her.
"You promise?"
Jade nods and Tori dissolves again, clutching at Jade's shirt. Jade rubs her back in small ministrations and eventually the sobs subside and become little hiccups.
Throughout all of this, Jade was very patient with Tori. She treated her as an equal. Eventually, Tori stops grabbing at Jade ad calms down a little.
Jade smiles and sits on the tan couch, patting the spot next to her. Tori sits and latches onto Jade again.
"I'm really sorry you know. For making it sound like you're a prude and it's your fault you got raped or whatever." Jade mumbles into brunette hair. "I should have thought more. I swear I would never mean it like that."
Tori's shaking against Jade and she nods. "I know you wouldn't. I-It's just such a fucking sore spot."
Jade's eyebrows shoot up at the curse but she doesn't comment. Instead, she rubs small circles around her back and brushes some hair out of Tori's face.
"I know what might make you feel better!" Jade says, stroking brunette hair. "Whenever I was sad or tired my mom brushed out my hair and it always calmed me down. Wanna try it?"
"Worth a shot." Tori forces out, handing Jade the hairbrush that was sitting on the coffee table, and Jade runs it softly through her brown strands. Tori's still crying and Jade still wants to murder Lila, but it calms them both down a little bit.
"You should get some sleep." Jade says, putting down the hairbrush.
"We-we both should." Tori manages.
Jade smiles and stretches out on the couch, closing her eyes.
"Um, Jade, you know, if you want, you could take Lila's spot…I mean likeinthebed…"
Jade grins at her rushed attempt. "If you sure you need me there…fine."
Tori whacks her head and Jade grins, standing up. "Come on, it's late. It'll all be better in the morning, I promise."
Tori numbly nods and Jade follows her to the room, grinning.
/
Jade's woken up by a few short sobs, then a curse, then footsteps.
"Tori?"
"Yeah, yeah I have to go pick up Blake…shit I am so late."
"Oh, okay…I'll make breakfast?"
"Yeah…and then Christmas decorating?"
"Oh yeah…forgot that was in a week and a half…"
Tori lets out a short laugh and Jade can't help but notice how incredibly well that top fits her. She sits up and reaches for her cell phone, scrolling through her contacts.
Hm, I should probably call Bee…tell her it all got worked out…
"I'll be back in a few minutes, kay?"
"Kay Tor."
Tori raises an eyebrow at the nickname, but doesn't comment.
The door clicks shut and Jade hits dial, biting her lip.
"Who are you and how did you get this number?"
It's a high pitched, but still masculine, voice.
"Um, I'm Jade West, I'm trying to reach Bee? She gave me this number at a café."
"Simone is busy at this time with a client. Do you want to make an appointment?"
"Um, no, I just wanted to talk to her."
"I'm afraid-"
There's a rustle and Bee's voice takes over the phone. "Hi Jade. Sorry about Alfred. He's new. I'm talking to a client right now, but you can come down to my building if you want. It's at 1895 on Wall Street. I have to go, Sel's pitching a really great idea. See you!"
There's a click and the conversation is cut off.
"What." Jade says to no one in particular and then the door's open and Blake and Tori come into the bedroom and Blake's chattering away with "Momma".
"Hey Blakey!"
The boy pauses and looks at his mom. Tori points at Jade and says "That's Jade. Can you say Jade?"
"J-J-Jaay."
Jade grins and Tori grins back.
"Jay."
"JayJayJayJayJay."
Jade feels a few tears spring to her eyes and she wipes them away.
Get it together West. He's just a kid.
"Um, do you wanna go somewhere with me? I promised this woman I'd meet her somewhere…not like as a date."
"Oh, um, sure! What's for breakfast?"
"Dammit, I forgot. Um, I can make eggs?"
"Fine, that's good, I'm gonna get Blake dressed and change him."
"Okay."
The conversation breaks into a semi-awkward silence until Jade moves and starts the eggs.
Just as they're done, Blake crawls around the corner and Tori follows him, a proud smile on her face.
Jade shovels the eggs into a bag and hands them to Tori, who wrinkles her nose.
"What? They do it in Canada with milk!"
Tori rolls her eyes and Jade slaps her forehead. "Your car is at my house and I only have my motorcycle."
"Um, well, you could get my car and come to pick us up?" Tori suggests, eyebrows raised. "Then my child and I won't have to eat eggs out of a bag like barbaric wolves."
"I'm almost positive wolves haven't invented plastic bags yet. I'll go get your car, you feed Blake." Jade says, rushing out the door.
The drive is short, and Paul's waiting for her in the living room.
"Looking for something?" He dangles the keys off one hand. "You ran out last night, why?"
"Lila and Tori broke up."
"WHAT?! WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE BITCH WAS GONE?!"
"Hm, let's see, I do believe you were a little bit too occupied telling me how much I've fucked up."
"Oh, right…but why?"
"Lila cheated on her three girlfriends with Tori."
"So…they're done? You have a shot? THIS IS SO EXCITING!"
"I don't want to be her rebound, Paul. I'm just gonna see where it goes."
"Oh-kayyyyyyy, if you say so, but remember that every opportunity has a shelf life."
Paul pouts and thrusts the keys at her. She sticks out her tongue and leaves the apartment, driving a mere fifteen miles over the speed limit.
She stops the car and rushes inside, where Blake starts chattering with 'Jay' again.
Tori has her head in her hands and Jade rushes over to give her a hug, taking the baby off her lap.
"Hey, hey Tor, it'll be okay, okay? Don't let the bitch get to you. It's not your fault she's a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy worsted-stocking knave; a lily-liver'd, action-taking, whoreson, glass-gazing, superserviceable, finical rogue."
Tori cracks a smile. "You read Shakespeare."
Jade nods and Tori wipes at her eyes. Jade helps her up.
"C'mon, let's go."