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I sighed dreamily as I watched Jade exit, my fingers feeling the ghost of her lips on mine.

Trina's loud throat clearing was more than enough to snap me out of my daze and kill whatever mood I had left.

"Tori," my sister began angrily. "Please tell me it's a one-night stand or experimenting or whatever, because if you tell me you're dating this gank, I might punch something."

"It's… really complicated," I winced, coming to sit on the bed. "But I can't say it was just a one night stand. I'm sorry," I offered at the look of pure distress on her face.

"Tori, I swear to God," she groaned, plopping beside me. "There are so many beautiful, smart, and mentally stable girls at school, and you just had to go after the crazy one. And," she raised her voice, shutting me up as I went to say something, "this is also the girl that tried to ruin your life multiple times, more often than not putting you in danger! Have you forgotten how she drained you of blood?"

I wince again, this time at her screech. I hope I don't sound like that.

"Look, I know how this looks, but it's-"

"Are you dating?"

Why does everyone feel the need to ask that?

"Well… not at the moment," I reply sheepishly.

"So you're fuck buddies?"

"Must you be so crude?"

"Answer the question," Trina growled.

"We're more than that!" I burst, getting agitated as well. "She told me she loved me!"

My sister just scoffed.

"She obviously wants something from you," she stated confidently. "Can't you see she's just using you for whatever it is her sick mind came up with?"

I scowled at her angrily. I scowled at Trina because she was laying out in the open all my insecurities I tried to bury these several weeks.

"So what, you're saying I'm unlovable? Everyone always has an agenda when it comes to me?" I jumped to my feet, clutching the blanket around me tightly.

Trina quickly backpedaled, realizing just what she said to me.

"No, that's not what I meant, but- Tori, it's Jade we're talking about," she tried softly. "Calling her 'Satan' would be offensive to Satan."

"Oh, no, c'mon, we both know what you meant," I said loudly, dumping the blanket and furiously tugging on the first clothes I could find. "Say it. I can't be loved, right? I can only be used. Ryder used me for a grade, Danny used me to piss of his racist father, and Steven-" words stuck in my throat, but I continue anyway. "And Steven wanted his first virgin. And they all got what they wanted. Why date me for me, right?!"

I didn't realize there were tears running down my cheeks until Trina tried to pull me in a hug, begging for me not to cry.

"Tori, you know I didn't mean that…"

"But you said it," I reply shakily, forcefully wiping at my cheeks. "You said it."

"I'm sorry," Trina said in an uncharacteristically small voice, looking at me sympathetically. I don't need her pity. I'm not being used this time.

Right?

She loves me.

She said that in the middle of an orgasm.

"Shut up!" I screamed out loud, clutching my temples.

"But… I didn't say anything," Trina confusedly stated.

I don't need this.

"Jade is not using me," I quietly said. "We have something. She loves me. And I'm in love with her," I impatiently waved at Trina to shut up as she let out a horrified gasp. "We're in love, and we have sex. Deal with it, and on your own, because I'm going to take a shower."

With that, I turned and headed for the bathroom, ignoring Trina's attempts at stopping me.

She's not using me.

I paced the hallway for the hundredth time, watching the entrance like a hawk.

What's taking them so long? It's five minutes till the first period. Vega's usually here by this time, as perky and happy as ever.

I smiled unconsciously as I imagined her bouncing with giddiness, lighting up the whole room with her beautiful smile.

Man, I've got it bad.

My hands feel slippery with anticipation as I walk in tiny circles in front of her locker, muttering the speech to myself. Yes, the speech.

Today's the day I'm telling Tori I love her. Well, not right now; right now I'm just asking her out. I have the whole evening planned. There are even horses involved. And candles. And the night beach. I'm pulling every romantic cliché I could think of, because I know for a fact how much Vega adores them. A couple of calls and my mom's card number set it up perfectly.

Of course, for a real perfect scenario I'd have to somehow wind up with her at the top of Empire State building on 14th of February after I stopped her from getting on a plane, but that was beyond my control.

Shit, should I get her flowers as I ask her out? She loves roses. Dammit, why didn't I think of that?

I stood there, berating myself for being so stupid when a warm hand gently gripped my shoulder, causing me to whip around in fright.

"You okay?" Vega giggled at my jumpiness. "I didn't mean to scare you, sorry."

Great. You missed her entrance, dumbass.

"Yeah, I'm cool," I replied steadily, feeling anything but. "Are you okay?"

"Well, I'm still alive, which could be considered a good thing," she smiled. "I'm so sorry for earlier, by the way."

"It's not your fault Trina absorbed all the obnoxious genes and left you the good ones," I replied, watching with fascination as her face turned slightly pink and she muttered a shy 'thank you'. "Look, Tori…" I began, glancing at the clock and realizing I didn't have enough time. "I kinda wanted to ask you something. It's, I guess you could call it a favor…"

Her sudden sharp look threw me off balance, and the words got caught up in my throat.

"You want to ask me for a favor?" She quietly asked.

"It's not actually a favor per se," I quickly answered. "I just wanted…"

"I can't believe it," Tori muttered to herself, her mood taking a complete turn as she scowled. "Trina was right. Oh God," she shook her head, hugging herself as she turned, ready to flee.

"No, Tori, wait – what are you talking about?" I grabbed her shoulders, but she shrugged free of my grasp, facing me with tears streaming down her face.

"You're just like them!" She accused me, her hold on herself tightening. Several people in the hallway looked at us at her outburst. "You're using me just like everyone else," she whispered. "You used me this entire time."

"What- how can you even think that?!" I exclaimed disbelievingly.

"It's over, Jade," she replied firmly, stepping away. "Whatever we are – it's over."

She's leaving. She's shaking her head and crying, and her shoulders shake.

I'm not letting her go.

"Tori, I love you!"

She froze.

"I'm in love with you," I rushed out, not caring about the astonished faces of the on-lookers. "The favor I was going to ask is you going on a date with me," I continued as she slowly turned around, her frown deepening as she studied me. "I was going to tell you how I felt. I had everything prepared, I wanted it to be perfect, and romantic, and all those things that you love."

Tori looked cornered as she stood there, trembling, watching me as I cautiously approached her.

"But it doesn't matter," I breathed, smiling. "I mean, it doesn't matter where and how I tell you that I love you, because it won't change my feelings for you. All that matters is I'm in love with you, Tori."

"…You mean it?"

"Of course I mean it!" I laughed. "Vega, I'm risking my flawless reputation here. I'm telling you that I'm absolutely and insanely in love with you in front of the whole school," I gestured at the crowd of impressive size we gathered in just a few minutes. "And I'm willing to keep proving that to you if you'd let me," I finished in a whisper, my voice full of hope as I wait for her answer with a baited breath.

A warm body slammed into mine as Vega desperately clung to me, kissing me, and I kissed back just as urgently, hoisting her up on my hips as her legs wrapped around my midsection.

"I love you too," she mumbled against my lips. "I love you, so much…"

"I love you," I gasped between kisses, losing myself in her scent, in her touch, in her warmth.

A loud fake cough slowed us down, and we parted reluctantly, gazing deep into each other's eyes.

"Not that I'm not happy you ladies finally sorted everything out," Lane stated as Sikowitz grinned knowingly. "But you're about to be suspended if you keep going. I am strongly sure that the continuation of this is illegal on school grounds, and PDA you're currently displaying is banned, as well."

I grudgingly set a heavily blushing Tori down, holding her close in my embrace.

"Is that better, Mom?" I asked Lane who simply smirked.

"A lot. Thank you. And I assume you and Miss Vega will control yourselves, at least at school?"

Tori mumbled an embarrassed apology while I just scowled.

"I didn't know there were so many people in this school," Vega whispered to me, mortified, as the crowd continued to stare at us in awe.

I rolled my eyes, shielding her protectively as I snapped at those idiots:

"Everyone get the hell out of here and mind your own business!"

"They love each other," a hippie girl gushed, moved.

People went still for a moment, and then those fucking weirdos began to cheer, high-fiving each other and clapping as they yelled.

"Finally!"

"About time!"

"Aw, they are adorable!"

"Tori's so cute when she blushes!"

Vega barely managed to yank me back as I charged at the last commentator, a tall blond guy who got the hint and quickly disappeared.

"Everybody shut up!" Nope, not my line. Sikowitz roared at the psychos, immediately calming them down as everyone eyed him curiously.

"Now that I have your attention, I would like to remind each and every one of you that classes started at least five minutes ago. Now, I believe no one wants an F as their semester grade?"

The crowd booed, disgruntled, as they temporarily forgot about us.

"Well, I also assume you remember about the new attendance policy?" Sikowitz stole a quick glance at me and winked, pointing at the door with his eyes, an act that went unnoticed by others. "I guess we should all do something about it?"

Sikowitz, you mad genius.

"C'mon," I whispered, tugging Vega away from the preoccupied crowd to the exit.

"What's going on? Where are we going?" she asked, confused and looking beyond cute.

"Sikowitz' stalling those morons, and we are starting early on that date," I replied as we ran from school, me dragging her to my car. "We're kinda six months behind," I grinned at her sheepish wince.

"How did you-"

"Ran into your father on my way to school," I chuckled, turning the ignition key. "You're lucky you're in love with a pathological liar, Vega. He didn't suspect a thing when he brought up our 'stable' relationship of half a year."

"I'm sorry," she said, lightly giggling. "I panicked, and the words just flew out of my mouth before I could stop them. And I'm so, so sorry for overreacting earlier," she regretfully added. "You set up this whole thing to tell me about your feelings, and I ruined that for you."

"Vega," I laughed. "You know what I realized? There is no perfect scenario to tell someone you love them. There is just the love itself." I squeezed her hand, nuzzling her nose with mine and eliciting a small giggle from her. "Life's not a movie, and we're perfect in our own way, baby," I breathed out before capturing her lips with mine and hearing her small whimper as she reciprocated, tenderly cradling my face in her hands.

I was wrong. This is perfection, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Here we are! The final chapter! The journey of a heartache has ended, and there is only endless amount of smut and fluff to come :) Thank you, all of you, so much for favoriting, reviewing and following this story. Thank you for being my reason to get up in the morning through my tough times. I love each and every one of you, and I wish for you to love and be loved in return, like our dear girls in this story :)

"I wanted to tell you that wherever I am, whatever happens, I'll always think of you, and the time we spent together, as my happiest time. I'd do it all over again, if I had the choice. No regrets."

––Boundless by Cynthia Hand