Chapter Twenty-three

The combination on my locker was incredibly simple. Easy to remember. But, I have a lot on my mind, so I don't remember things that aren't priorities anymore.

So now my lock will meet a pair of pliers.

But as I tried to get a good grip and squeeze, Tori came up and pulled them out of my hands, dropping them back in my bag. Then she twisted the lock for a few seconds before the locker opened wide.

"I... how?" I stuttered.

She ignored me. "Twenty-five, ten, five," she whispered in my ear. "Quarter, dime, nickel. How do you forget that?" Then she turned and walked away with a smirk on her face.

I gaped after her for a few seconds before turning and getting what I needed.

Later on, I was walking down the halls with a scowl on my face. Robbie came up, making Rex talk.

"So... why are you and Tori dyking around? You tryin' to get Beck jealous so he'll take you back?"

Naturally, I got incredibly pissed off by the time the first sentence was out and when he stopped talking I pushed him up against the lockers, the puppet falling to the floor.

"That was the most ignorant thing I've ever heard in my goddamn life," I growled. "I have some advice for you, Shapiro. I want you to go home, find a small closet, lock yourself inside and then sit there in the dark for however long it takes for your brain to rot. Which shouldn't be that long, considering it's size."

Then I kneed him in the crotch, leaving him on the floor when I walked away.

Yeah, so maybe I was overreacting. Maybe if he told anyone I'd be suspended. But I'm done with the people staring, thinking it's okay. I'm done with everyone thinking they're so much better, happy to be perfect in comparison.

Apparently, rumors spread fast and Trina was good at starting them. Even though it was true. That doesn't apply.

Apparently, everyone in the damn world knows Tori and I were doing certain things on her living room couch.

I told Beck he should tell everybody we broke up because nobody seemed to know. And I do not cheat. Not even in rumors.

So, he got up on a table in the middle of lunch and yelled, "Jade and I broke up like a month ago, y'know!" to all the assholes whispering to each other and looking between us.

He seemed to have gotten over it well enough to be sitting at the same table as me again. Good for him.

But that just confirmed that something could be happening between Tori and I, so they just switched their gazes away from Beck and onto her.

I don't mind if they know, but I just don't get why they care so much.

So I needed to set people straight, show them that I was Jade West, gay or not. And it was convenient, because Robbie was really pissing me off. More than he usually does.

I told Tori later, in her room. What he said and what I did about it.

"Jade...," she sighed. "I'm not saying he didn't deserve it, but beating him up probably was not the best solution."

I chuckled. "I didn't beat him up. I just kicked him in the balls."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, pretty sure that qualifies," she said sarcastically.

Then she rolled on top of me, her knees caging me in.

I yelped. "Where'd that come from, Vega?" I asked, my voice deep.

She shrugged, leaning back and yawning. "Got bored. Hey, Jade?"

I rose an eyebrow. "Yes...?"

"Did you ever tell Beck you loved him?" she asked quietly.

I didn't hesitate. "Yes," I replied. "But I didn't mean it."

She looked down, fidgeting. "Why'd you say it then?" she whispered.

"Because I thought that that was love until I met you."

She looked up, staring me down. "Are you serious?" she asked. "Or are you just saying that to get in my pants?"

I grinned. "I'm serious. But I wouldn't mind getting in your pants, either."

She rolled her eyes again, grinning back. "You know, you come off tough, but you're basically as soft as is possible inside. Like a jelly doughnut," she said. Then she squinted. "Okay, bad analogy."

I smirked. "Damn right, bad analogy," I growled, tackling her under me. "Hm," I muttered. "I can see how you like it up here. Very empowering."

She giggled, playing along. "And I can see how you like it down here. Very... safe." She rolled us over again, getting on top. "But I prefer it this way," she whispered into my neck as she explored it.

"Agreed," I moaned softly.

Then there was a knock on the door. "Tori! Dinner!" came from the other side.

"Ooh!" she yipped, excited. "Tacos tonight!" She opened the door and ran out.

I stayed on her bed for awhile, feeling gypped off.

A/N - Get it? Locker, gate? Combination, key?

...No? I'm a failure.

So, who likes tacos? Anyone? Hard or soft? Review to tell me and I might just send you your preference in the mail.

Might.

Taco preference, by the way. Not like, sexual preference. 'Cause that's... I don't know.

Whatever, it's not like you're getting anything in the mail anyway.