Disclaimer: By this point, I think you got it. I don't own the source material, I just use them. I make no money from this use.

:}

After lunch, Jade was left thinking about life. How things fell in to a routine, and you kinda get used to it. This class at this time on this day. Even schools like Hollywood Arts, where the class order rotated as the days wore on, you only had each class four days, you still fell into a routine. Jade knew, by the third week of the semester, just were she was expected to be at any given time during the day. Even teaching classes had fallen into that routine.

Yet at the same time, there was something new every day. The classes always tried to teach them something new, even if it was just that little extra added during a review that made it memorable. So High school became the paradox of routine and new. And as much as she hated to admit it, there was a comfort in that system.

Jade loved knowing what to expect any given day. That way, when things went wonky, she didn't have to adjust her whole world, just the wonk. Even the big stuff, like the picture of her scratching her nose (She only picked in private), or the day they found out she was Mandy Walker, MMA fighter and general purpose bad ass, those were able to pass because she had her routine.

Today, something had broken the routine. Tori.

Jade was almost back to normal, as normal as coming out, dating the girl she used to torment, and adjusting her life around the community center could be. 'And oh yea, I'm friends with Trina Vega.' She reminded herself. Jade could act out, intimidate the school, or otherwise be a bit of a gank, and people expected it. It was the norm.

Tori wasn't the kind to embrace the norm. 'For a girl who worried that the school wasn't normal, she's come a long way.' Jade thought.

Tori claimed Jade today. In the Asphalt Cafe, in front of dozens of people, dozens who would in turn post about it, Tori had one upped Jade and claimed the goth. Then, as Jade was reeling, trying to process the new information, her new status as Tori's girl, the singer joked about it.

People were looking. Watching to see if Jade had gone soft, or maybe insane. Even Beck wouldn't make a public claim like that. He was willing to let Jade's constant fighting for him speak about his availability. 'But Tori...' Jade had no idea where this left her.

It wasn't like Tori hadn't done anything the actress hadn't in the past. Even the joke had been a repeat of her own. But somehow it just felt different. Jade felt vulnerable. Like people could finally see her as more then the hot, untouchable, unstable goth who loved scissors and violence. 'It's like they could see the real me?' Jade thought. 'But who am I?' Jade asked herself. 'I mean, who is this, sitting here? Have I been honest with myself? Am I really the hot goth who loves scissors and bunnies and Tori?' The thoughts were driving her mad.

More than mad, it was tormenting her. Somehow, that one action had knocked Jade's world sideways. Normally she only looked like she didn't care what they were saying in class. Today, she was having trouble concentrating. Her mind kept going back to Tori, and from there it lead to the question 'Who am I?'

Jade held out for study hall, then made a run for Lane's office. "I need to talk to Lane. Is he available?"

The secretary told her to sit down, and called the guidance counselor. Seconds later, she was in his office.

"Jade, I've been expecting you. For about three years now." Lane gave her his warmest smile.

"I'm..." She started. She didn't even know what to tell the man. 'Normally I'd tear into him for that comment, but...' She told herself. "Did you hear about what happened at lunch?"

"why don't we go over what happened." Lane suggested. They covered the basics, and then delved into what Jade was feeling. "Have you ever felt comfortable joking with someone like that before?"

"It wasn't a joke." Jade replied.

"I know." Lane said, still calm. "I was just trying to help you figure this out."

"I can't remember ever feeling comfortable having someone act like that over me." Jade admitted.

"So we've established that this isn't about the public groping comment." He said.

"Everyone's looking at me differently." Jade complained.

"Why?" The counselor asked.

"Because they know I'm Tori's" Jade said.

"But you told me, just moments before, you announced that Tori was yours." Lane pointed out.

"So?" Jade replied.

"How's this different?" Lane asked.

"I didn't do it!" Jade said, exasperated.

"So this was out of your control?" He asked. "You feel the need to control your image...Who are we kidding. You're a teenage girl. Of course your concerned about how others perceive you. But I think this goes a lot deeper than just having people think you're Tori's property. But I want to know what you think."

"They think I'm weak." Jade said. Then she took a second to listen to herself. "They think I'm weak."

"Are you?" Lane asked.

"What do you mean by that?" Jade was sitting up, her eye's held a challenge.

"Are you weak?" Lane repeated. "Does being with Tori make you weak?"

"NO!" Jade responded. "I mean, yea, but at the same time..."

"So being loved makes you weak?" Lane asked. He knew he was taking a risk, but having known this girl for three years, he suspected this was the right way to go about helping her.

"Maybe?" Jade said. "I mean, when I was with Beck, I loved him so much, and I always felt vulnerable. There was always some skank waiting to steal him away."

"So you made it clear that Tori was yours, and she let people know she felt the same way." Lane said.

"But that's not how it works." Jade told him. "I mean..." Jade was out of words.

"You mean you're not used to being in a loving relationship." Lane offered. "According to your own slap page, you got Beck by throwing his old girlfriend into a lake?" Jade nodded, so he continued. "And you've spent the rest of your time in that relationship looking over your shoulder, waiting for the next person who'll throw you away and claim your spot. Makes sense how you like people to know what's yours, and that you'll fight for it."

"Then why am I so freaked out over what Tori did?" Jade asked.

"Nothing is more scary than the unfamiliar." Lane started. "As actors, you're always pushing those boundaries, but what's the first thing they teach for stage acting? Walk the stage if you can. Know the stage, and you'll feel safer. Know your lines, do your research, do whatever it takes to make it safe to be whatever character you're playing. Then, when you are exploring those emotions, you're doing it in a safe way."

"And what does this have to do with my freaking out?" Jade asked.

"I think we're in unfamiliar territory, something you've not had a chance to prepare for." The counselor said. "When Tori claimed you at lunch, she made it clear that she was going to fight for you, right?"

"Yea?" Jade said.

"Then, she probably pointed out that more people than just the freaks wanted to date you." He continued. "I'll bet she said something to the effects of how desirable you'd be to a large percentage of the schools population, right?"

"Uh-huh." Jade grunted.

"That's when it hit you. Tori was willing to fight for you." Lane sat back. "Let that sink in. You don't have to be the one pursuing someone. Tori pursued you. And Trina, you've discovered a friend in her that you can't manipulate easily. That has to be new for you as well."

"I'm freaking out because things are going great in my life?" Jade asked.

"How often, in your life, has this happened?" Lane asked. "Where you didn't have to work hard to make things happen, and the good stuff wasn't a direct result of your hard work?" Jade stared at him. "Let me add to the mix. When was the last time where you knew that the other people in your life cared about you, and so you could relax and enjoy being with them. No outside threats."

Jade tried to speak, but her voice wasn't working. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that 'The body does as it's told.' With that effort, she managed to force out a "uuhh..."

"That often?" Lane said. "You're probably feeling vulnerable because this is new, and not something you did. You're not the one enforcing it, and it feels like your love life is dependent on it. Don't worry, relationships are a lot of work. Tori's just let you know she wants to do her part. In fact, I'd say she's demanding it."

"So what do I do now?" Jade asked.

"You've done the first step." Lane replied. "You're here. It's time for you to learn that you are allowed to be loved. It could take some time."

Trina, meanwhile, was having a moment of her own. It was one of those moments she'd imagined over and over, but today it was finally here, and it still felt good. "Trina, that was perfect." Her dance instructor praised her.

Trina had quickly moved up to being one of the top dancers in the class. There were a couple who were just more talented, but Trina was as skilled as anyone. Instead of being a beat off and a step behind, she'd followed advice and trained in the dances as if they were kata, while counting off to the beat. She still moved too forcefully for some of the moves, but she was in step, able to blend into the group. It was a strange feeling, being noticed individually for her ability to blend into a crowd.

The only real downside was that now, everyone was rushing to take credit. Her dance instructor was beaming about how she'd "managed to get Trina Vega, of all people, to dance in line." It was sounding like Trina had never been able to follow choreography. Trina knew from her time in Yerba that she was good enough to follow any choreography that was set in front of her.

"It's obvious that it's her improving understanding of music." Another of her teachers would say. Just because she was now able to sing a bit, and was slowly improving in that department too.

The one person no one seemed wiling to give any credit to was Trina herself. No one but Jade, Tori, Andre, Scotty and Sikowitz, that was. The people who'd put in the long hours and worked with her, helping her overcome her psychological blocks weren't trying to steal her spotlight, so no one knew about how much they helped. Of course, Sikowitz just seemed to know, with no explanation of how he knew. And Scotty, Scott helped in more ways than one.

"Trina, I just heard. They want you to dance at the showcase." Scotty said as he rushed towards her. "It's a lot of work. Do you think you'll have time to learn all the steps?"

"I'm not sure I want to." Trina replied. "I've got so many other commitments, what with my show, and helping Jade. Plus, I need to make sure I have time for you."

"Talk to your teachers. I'm sure they'd be willing to work with you. We could find you a roll. I really want to see you dance." Scotty said.

"My voice isn't ready yet." Trina admitted. "I really want to sing, at least once, before I leave this place. I want them all to hear me really sing."

"Then lets make a deal." He replied. "I'll work with Andre, write you a song, and you can perform at the Friday night concerts, just as soon as your ready. In return, I get to see you dance."

"Scotty," She said, blushing, "I'd be happy to dance for you."

"I want them to see you dance." He corrected himself. "It's time they all got to see you shine."

"They will." Trina replied. "I'm not giving up on the independent film with Jade. That's my best shot at stardom. But if you really want me to, I'll dance at the showcase."

"And I'll invite my family, and yours and Jade's and..." he started.

"Not Jade's." Trina cut him off. When he gave her a confused look, she told him "From what I can tell, her family is kinda janked. I think, this Friday, they're going to watch her play. Maybe then they'll find a way to fix some of the damage..." She looked in his eyes. "Six fights in five moths. Scotty, she didn't care if she got hurt. What kind of family leaves their child in that much pain, that she didn't care if she got hurt."

Scotty hugged Trina, both to comfort her, and to hide his smile. As concerned as she was about Jade, he couldn't help but be proud of how deeply she cared for the black belt. The better, caring side of Trina was growing stronger. 'And Trina's mine.'

:}

This story just keeps coming up with twists and turns. Didn't see Jade looking for help.