Chapter Twenty-eight

The audience was talking amongst themselves, waiting for the show to start. I wasn't wearing anything fancy or attention-grabbing – just my normal clothes. The last thing I wanted was their attention when I start tearing down my own walls.

I wasn't going on until near the end of the show, so I had time to have a nervous breakdown.

But it didn't seem like as big a deal as before, now that I know Tori Vega is completely mine no matter what.

Nothing did, really.

She suddenly appeared next to me in my closet of a dressing room, smiling. "How are you?" she asked cautiously.

I cleared my throat. "I don't know," I responded quietly. Honestly.

She sighed happily, pulling me into a kiss. When we pulled away, she said, "You'll be fine, Jade," in the same tone.

We heard music come from the stage around the corner.

She laughed, seeing the frozen look on my face. "Jade, for the last time, relax," she murmured, pressing our lips together again, her hands finding my waist under my shirt.

I felt myself about to let out a moan and I pulled it back, letting out a small whimper instead.

And then someone cleared his throat in the doorway.

We jumped apart, Tori almost tripping over a chair as my back hit the wall. We looked over to see Andre standing just in the room, looking at everything but us.

"Jesus, this is the third time," I whispered to myself.

Tori glanced at me, mumbling, "We should really invest in a portable lock."

Andre finally met my gaze, looking incredibly awkward. "I... um, I came to tell you that the music is all set...," he explained awkwardly.

We all just stood there, thinking about what to say but saying nothing.

Finally, Andre spoke again. "You're... on after five more acts," he said, turning to walk out again.

Tori face-palmed, shaking her head. "That was terrible."

I shrugged. "Just be happy it wasn't a news team."

"Okay, since when are you optimistic about things?" she asked sarcastically.

I smiled. "Since I met you." Sappy, Jade. Sappier than a maple tree.

She grinned.

Being on a stage alone isn't as terrifying as you'd think. I have a stool to occupy my thoughts up here. And the light makes sure I see no one.

So, I don't think about my father in the audience.

Yeah, that's right. Daddy. I saw him as I sent a quick glance around from the back of the room.

Now I'm angry, and a little sad, but mostly angry. Which isn't good, because the song isn't coming from an angry person. It's coming from a sad person. So I'm trying to focus in on that, but the anger is drowning it out.

The music started off slowly and I calmed my anger as best I could to let the words I'm singing come off as they're meant.

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

That came out with that bit of sadness. But then I ran out of it. My childhood wasn't easy. My childhood was the opposite of easy.

The chorus came then, my words grating against my throat as I pulled that last bit of sadness out of my system.

I watched you suffer a dull aching pain
Now you've decided to show me the same
But no sweet, vain exits or offstage lines
Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind

That part increased in anger with every word. That part, that hit close to home. I always wanted to just be accepted by him. That's all. But he just took out all his problems on me. What gives someone the right to do that? I know, like my attempted murderer said, no one's born evil, but you have to be pretty close at birth to solve things that way.

I'd never do that.

But, as established, I'm everyone. I'm him at one point. So I would.

I just don't know if he's ahead or behind me in line.

It's funny how these lyrics mean are different from before. But they're the same.

When the song ended, I walked off the stage before anyone could even think to clap. I heard applause behind me, but it didn't matter. My father probably wasn't clapping.

Tori caught up to my fast pace, spinning me around in the parking lot. She took her sunglasses off my face to reveal streaks of tears and puffy eyes.

She sighed, grabbing a hold of my hand and bringing me to my car, letting go so we could get into it.

"You can sleep in my bed tonight," she whispered, taking hold of my hand behind the gearshift. "Nothing sexual. Just sleep. I know you can't face him, honey."

I burst into tears, not even caring how she knew. She pulled me into her arms, whispering soft words in my ear.

A/N - Sighhhh.

I went to school todayyyy. It was as terrible as I remembered it.

Know what's incredibly weird, though? I saw this poster on my teacher's wall about 'The Breakfast Club.'

And then when I got home, I read TheFonzGhandi19's review, which literally said "Watch the Breakfast Club."

So I watched it.

It was awesome.

Now go look it up.

Anyway, not much longer to go, my friends. By the way, you're pretty much my only friends.

Review if you feel sorry for me! Or if you don't.