"Shut up," Jade playfully replied.

"You're so mean to me," Tori replied, imitating Cat.

"Hey, no one gets to imitate Cat, except me!"

"I knew it! I knew you would get protective over her!"

Jade rolled her eyes. "Ugh, cut it out."

"Alright fine... I do still think you're lying about your face, West."

"I wouldn't lie to you, Tori." Jade knew that saying made her a hypocrite, but she also knew that telling her what really happened would hurt her more.

"Jade..."

"Tori," she teased back, slightly annoyed at her persistence.

Tori knew that Jade was getting annoyed, so she tried out a little known way to calm her down. She gently cupped Jade's face in her hands and kissed her on the forehead.

Jade shivered, then returned the gesture wholeheartedly. "Are you trying to get me to shut up, Vega? ... Because it's working..."

"No. I'm trying to get you to talk," Tori stated seriously. They both just stared at each other after that, almost like a staring contest but the loser is the one who says something first.

Jade was determined to not tell Tori anything, in fear of her either leaving or getting hurt herself. She didn't want that to happen, especially now... but she also knew she couldn't keep up the act for much longer. She had a choice: Tell Tori about her problem and possibly get left by one of the only people she trusted, or not tell her, leaving her friend in he dark to possibly find out on her own what was happening to her. She didn't want either of those things to happen. "I... don't want you to get hurt, Tori..."

"I'm calling you out on that. I know that's not the main reason. You're afraid that I'm going to leave, aren't you? Well, don't worry, I don't intend to."

Jade couldn't believe how quickly she managed to catch on. It was as if Tori had read her mind. Ugh, she hated how she was able to do that. But at the same time, maybe it would be easier to tell her now that she promised she wouldn't leave... "Okay... My face wasn't red from sleeping weirdly..."

Tori's expression softened, then reached out and touch Jade's still reddened cheek.

Jade let herself flinch. It still hurt.

"Someone hurt you, didn't they...? How? We didn't even move..."

"I... didn't get up ... he... came over to me..."

"He? Who is he?"

Jade couldn't stop herself from crying.

Tori almost immediately pulled her closer and kissed her on the forehead. "Hey hey, it's okay. You don't have to tell me right now."

Jade's heart hurt with conflict. She felt loved, but also wasn't sure she knew what love even was.

"Jade, I love you."

"Since when were... you comforting me... and not... the other way around?" Jade stuttered, attempting to stop crying.

"Just now. I want to help you. When you're ready, tell me. I've got you."

I'm ending it here, guys! My other two stories ("not so tough" and "fixing what's broken") go into Jade's story in more depth. Thanks for reading!