Chapter Twenty-six

It was necessary to practice, unfortunately. Tori blackmailed Andre into getting a band together to record the instrumental part so we could rehearse. With what I don't know.

He caved in, though, and he agreed to playing for the performance, as well.

I was in Vega's room, waiting for her to give me orders to sing while drinking some coffee. She was over at her computer, trying to find out how to download the file Andre had emailed her.

"Vega?" I called. "Do you need help?"

"Nope," she grunted while looking at the wires behind the monitor.

I walked over, standing beside her bent-over form and clearing my throat. "Something tells me that's not the problem," I said. I ducked under her arm, trying to figure it out myself.

I had it set up in ten seconds.

She sat down, huffing. "Nerd."

I laughed, pushing her shoulder playfully. "Just play the damn song, Vega," I said.

She sighed. "Okay. Sing when you're ready."

The music started, so I went and sat on the bed to make it less awkward.

Childhood living is easy to do
The things you wanted I bought them for you
Graceless lady you know who I am
You know I can't let you slide through my hands

I started, thinking about how I felt for Tori. How I'd do anything for her, how I'd die if she left.

I watched you suffer a dull, aching pain
Now you've decided to show me the same
No sweeping exits or offstage lines
Can make me feel bitter or treat you unkind

Then I thought of Beck. Of how he felt that way about me, about how he just wants my happiness. About how I showed him my problems and then just ended up brushing him off, breaking up with him. About how ridiculously calmly he took that.

I know I dreamed you a sin and a lie
I have my freedom but I don't have much time
Faith has been broken, tears must be cried
Let's do some living after we die

How easy it would be for her to break my heart. How easy it was for me to break his. How convincingly I acted throughout our whole relationship.

Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we'll ride them someday

How none of that really matters.

I guess I was crying by the time I was finished, without even noticing. After ripping the words out of my chest. How was I supposed to keep my cool in front of the crowd?

Tori was still sitting in her chair, gaping at me. For my voice or my tears, I don't know.

She recovered soon, whispering, "That was amazing." I shrugged, angrily wiping at my eyes. "Really, Jade. There was so much emotion packed in there. It was beautiful."

She walked over, sitting next to me. She caressed my face, wiping my incredibly annoying tears away with her thumb. She pulled me into a hug, rubbing circles in my back.

"It's okay, baby," she whispered in my shoulder, pressing a kiss to it afterward. "It's okay."

I let out one choked sob into her neck, hating myself for it. I'm so weak. She's seen me cry like a thousand times now. I'm supposed to be the strong one.

When I calmed into sniffles, she laid back, pulling me down gently to snuggle into her chest. "It isn't fair," I murmured, worn out.

She let out a short laugh. "What isn't fair?" she asked.

"How much you mean to me," I said quietly, feeling vulnerable.

She smiled down at me, intertwining our fingers. "I know," she said softly. "I love you too."

I stared at her, hesitating before letting a grin take over my features. I leaned up, pressing our lips together. When we separated, our foreheads were touching as we looked into each others eyes. I sighed. "Shut up," I whispered.

We stayed like that for hours afterwards.

A/N - Sorry. I'm late.

It's just that yesterday was my Grandma's 90th birthday party. And then before I went there, I had hours of tryouts for various things. And before I went there, I had hours of sleeping to do.

That's not a great excuse, is it?

Oh well. It's here now. Feel free to tell me how happy you are. Or what you liked about this. Or what you didn't like about this. Or both. Or neither, you could just say hi.

By the way, Gothicchick, you are not a nuisance. You are the opposite of a nuisance. So go figure out what that is and then tell me.

Okay. Now I must leave. Goodbye.