Right, I'm going to be able to update like I did before for a week, just got done with my horse team bonding thing...and I'm sore. Whatever, it was fun.

Hope you enjoy!

:)

Tori's Perspective-

Rolling my eyes, I brush passed the girls chatting right in front of the door, a textbook at hand. I may have gone to bed a bit later last night but, jeez, I thought I can spare some hours to sleep. Apparently I need a hell of a lot more time to study this book. Well, at least I can study later today when I get home; the test isn't until tomorrow anyway. I sigh, slipping it into my locker before going through the rest. My gaze glides over automatically towards Jade's locker which is oddly vacant. Not that she's always there at the crack of dawn or anything, but she isn't really one to ditch at the beginning of school. She has her writing course. So it would always be after that class.

'Like when you ditched to talk and make out with her...' my thoughts blip. I shake my head, knowing full well it wasn't like that. Okay, maybe a little but it was nice, and I- yeah.

Like a blessing or something, my phone hums at my pants pocket, my hand shifting to get it. I blink at the screen, heaving a small sigh before typing an answer.

Jade- Not goin' to school until about second period. My dad told me to take my brother to school about an hour or so from my house...

Jade- Fucking cunt.

Tori- Well...alright. Hope you make it back okay. :)

Her answer comes soon enough, and I stifle a small chortle which, really, I shouldn't but...

Jade- If I manage not to drive off a bridge with my brother.

Jade- He's asking me to play Katy Perry.

I scoff hotly, growling just a bit.

Tori- She's not bad.

Jade- He's asking me to play 'Ur so Gay.'

Jade- Which you kinda are...

Tori- Aren't you supposed to be driving?

Jade- I'm busy talking to you and duck taping my brother to his seat.

Tori- Good luck with that...

I shake my head as I see that she responds, giving me a winky face. Stashing the phone back to my pocket, I go through my locker once again, pausing as I hear steps aside from me. I turn around and give a small smile. "Hey," I greet.

"Hey," Beck grins back, swaying at his feet. "So how are you doing?"

"Good, I'm doing good," I nod, shutting the locker. "You?"

He breathes in slowly, eyes shifting to find the answer as if it wasn't apparent. "Good actually. Not the greatest but, I'm doing well."

"That's good," I bob my head, leaning against the locker. "Have you see the new movie coming out?"

"'Internet Connection?'" he asks. I nod as a reply. "No, I've been debating whether or not I should see it but not yet."

"I heard it was alright," I comment, "Not the best, which isn't a surprise, but a fairly good one." We stand in the short silence ebbing away at our company, Beck's eyes darting towards the ground.

"So are you two, Jade and you, doing well?"

I smile gently, murmuring, "Yeah, we are."

"Awesome," he grins, shaking his head. "I shouldn't have let her slip away like I did... I mean, we had something, right?" I nod quietly, allowing him to continue. "But I just...fucked it all up. At least we're kind of texting now."

"That's good," I chuckle briefly.

He nods quickly. "Yeah. You two deserve each other though. I can see it... She really does care for you. Just, just don't do what I did. She may be, well, Jade but she's a loyal one at heart. I can't bear to watch it break again...even if we aren't together."

"Don't worry," I promise truthfully, "We'll do well. And you could join us for lunch too, it would be nice to have you back in the group."

Beck scratches the back of his neck in thought, eyes switching towards the speaker for the bell. "Yeah, I'll think about it. I don't really want to rush into things though."

"I understand," I mumble just as the bell rang, signaling us to our classes. "Well, see you then."

"Yeah, bye," he gives a small wave, darting towards his first class. Maybe he will join us again...maybe he won't. I don't know honestly. I mean, I hope he does, he is a good dude after all, and he's a good support for Jade either way. I exhale calmly, raising a foot when I feel another buzz at my pocket. Grinning, I pull it out, my eyes furrowing at the message.

Jade- I'm proud. :D

I glance at it, confused, until I see the picture. Derek, her half-brother, is taped to his seat with Gorilla Tape, eyes focusing on the camera with a nervous gaze. His legs are bound together, arms to the seat while pinned to his sides while his mouth as a small sliver over it. I, I kind of feel bad for the kid.

Tori- Are you sure he'll be alright?

Jade- He'll be fine.

'I highly doubt that...' my thoughts gather, people leisurely brushing past me.

Tori- Like...more than fine?

Jade- He'll be fine.

Tori- Jade...

Tori- Oh my god.

She doesn't reply - which I kind of expected - so I slide my phone in my bag. I take a step forward before grimacing, my mind back in the locker. The class with the textbook is my second hour. "Damn it," I curse, going back to the locker.

-(:)-

"JADE!" I bellow hotly, whipping around a corner, very phone-less. Of course Jade had to go through my phone and find the picture of me and Trina in the bath together as three and four year olds respectively. She gawked at how my chest barely grew and intended to run off to print the picture to give it as a card for my birthday. And, of course, I hate that idea. "Get back over here!" I snap, twisting around a corner. I spot her dangling the phone in the air; luckily it's not on otherwise there would be the picture. I honestly don't know how I got it...maybe my grandma on my dad's side sent it to me or whatever.

She chortles happily, prancing off down another corner, disappearing into the Black Box Theatre. I growl storming in furiously when I run into a kid with pasta. I barely feel the slimy noodles in my hair, the culterary kid apologizing profusely as I barge into the theatre. I whip around finding Andre with a small grin on his face. "Oh no you don't!" he chuckles, grabbing me from the side as I dart towards Jade, arms out. I grunt as I kick out, my phone held up to me.

"Are you filming me?" I snap.

She shrugs, murmuring, "Another addition."

"Jade!" I whine, "Come on, I'll call my dad."

"Without your phone?" I groan, still flailing as Andre chuckles, Dennis and Marcus striding in curiously.

"DAD!" I belt out, "DAD!" Loosing feeling in my legs, I hold them limp, my arms still struggling around.

The double doors smash open as my dad comes in, eyes darting around with his hand on his Taser. Huh, that...that actually worked. I didn't expect it to. "Uh, what's going on her- What are you doing Jade?"

"Nothing," she answers innocently, still having the camera on me, "Just doing a video which will be a hit."

"Jade...why is there noodles in my daughter's hair?" my dad asks, not bothering to get me out of Andre's grip.

Jade chortles, shrugging. "I swear that wasn't me," she answers honestly. My dad merely sighs, folding his arms, watching this with a small smirk.

"Dad..." I whine weakly, "Help."

"Andre, if you don't let go of Tori, I won't give you a free Twix."

"Okay," he says happily, setting me down. I growl as the two walk out of the theatre, Jade shutting typing on my phone.

I furrow my brows as my dad waves behind me, tilting my head. "Can I get a Twix?"

"Not until you study for that test," he calls back. Damn it. I sigh, picking myself up. There's no use...I'm not getting anything until I study for the stupid test...on vocal chords. Jade chuckles, her hand extended with my phone.

"What did you do?" I ask quietly, watching her reaction.

"Well," she steps closer, her hands finding my waist, "I posted the video online with the others and then shared the picture with me." I groan, knowing that I will regret texting grandma. "But don't be sad..." she drawls, "It's just a little while for your birthday."

"I hate you..." I grouch, attempting to fold my arms when she presses closer to me. She nods briefly before her lips connecting with mine, hoping she won't get in trouble...which she won't because she's a manipulative bastard. "But hey," I pull away, "Could you take me home?"

"Sure," she ruffs, pulling me back in. I hear the doors open, my dad carrying two Twix bars in his hands. He halts, glancing at the two of us.

"Jade, you want these two?" he smirks as I groan.

"Sure..." she nods, taking them.

"Give me one..." I whine.

Shrugging, she mutters as my dad walks away, "Maybe." Why does everybody feel like teasing me today. First Jade and then my dad and then Andre and then my dad and then Jade and then my dad and then Jade... God that's so hard to think about.

-(:)-

"Thanks for taking me home," I mumble, my eyes darting towards the mirror, glancing at the back seat; there's shredded pieces of tape and marks all over it. She nods, turning the corner for my neighborhood. She pulls to the curb, the wheels halting smoothly. I unbuckle my seatbelt, shuffling for my bag.

"So, hey, so do you want to study Sunday?" she asks.

I grin in response, "Sure. That would be good. See ya." I peck her lips before climbing out, earning a mere 'yup.' I trek through the grass, soon unlocking the door. Trina's not in the driveway which, I'm assuming, she already went to the mall or something. Maybe even stalk a boy or whatever...I really wouldn't put it passed her. I stride through the door, shutting it behind me before glancing up.

"Hi mom," I mutter, my steps making their way up the stairs.

"Hey sweetie, Jade drop you off?" my mom asks quietly. I nod, her eyes going back down towards the sink. "That's good...Trina said that she had to get some pants or something." So it is the mall. "Anyway, how is, uh, how is Jade, then?"

"Good," I drawl my eyes flickering towards her. "I mean, she taped her brother down to her car before driving him to school but...yeah."

"Is she good to her brother?"

"...maybe about the same as Trina and I," I furrow my brows. I'm not all that sure. The only time I've seen him is when we walked in on us and asked if I had a penis. Not really a time to be gentle and nice. Either way, the conversation seems to have dropped, leaving me to go back up to my room and just crash on the bed. I sigh, glowering down at my textbook. I really do need to study...

So I pull it to my lap once I'm situated on the bed, eyes skimming through the table of contents to find the right chapter. I don't even know why I have a textbook for this class. It's Singing 101, what good is there to read how to open up my throat and have more volume? I just have a low voice...can't go much higher. I groan softly, face palming myself. The only way I'm going to be able to reach the high notes like the textbook tells me to is to practice as much as Trina or snatch Cat's or Jade's voice. But honestly, I'm fine with mine.

Why am I going on a tangent about me voice?

'Because I hate this textbook...' I mentally note. With a grumble, I do blink at the first words of the chapter, starting a long session of reading.

Okay, so as you can tell, this is shorter. Not really any other reason than it's a decline in this story and really, this chapter's more of a filler. The rest will be rather short but, yeah, it is what it is. This story's ending on a shorter - but nicer I hope - note.

Hope you enjoyed!

:)