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Chapter 8 – Unexpected

Jade's POV

After my encounter with Beck yesterday, I was a mess. He claimed he was making changes and things would be better. I hate to admit it, but I want that to be true. But at the same time, I just want him to go away. I feel so torn and mixed up.

Much to my surprise, Tori let me help cook dinner and even acknowledged that I was trying. Even more shocking she said I could do it. But that was all she said, increasingly I think she's essentially, emotionally crippled.

Much to my regret and shame, I know that I played a part in tall this. But there are other pieces of the puzzle I simply do not have. Over the next couple of days, Tori continued to let me help make dinner. We did so largely in silence, but occasionally she comment on the weather or some other safe subject. But even without the talking I find we seem to work well together. It's a nice feeling when we're working together making dinner and maybe at least for a few minutes, all seems right.

But most of the time she was closed, reserved and the only emotions she expressed were anger, bitterness and cynicism. Needing something to get my mind off of Beck and the whirlwind of emotions he had stirred up inside me, I thought more about Tori.

What did I know. Well first of all I pretty much humiliated her in front of her father. She told him I was raped and I told him I wasn't. I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about it.

All else I know is that something caused her to abandoned her music, something which is near and dear to her heart. I can only imagine what.

About a week after that first dinner I found myself thinking more about the causes. Then I thought of Tori's other mysterious job on Friday and Saturday nights. I'm afraid to even ask her about it, for fear of making her angry, setting us back.

So Friday night, I decided to follow her. I knew she went straight from her normal day job to her other job on Friday's so after getting out of work, I went to the bank that Tori worked at. I knew where she worked as I saw the address on tax form, she had left on her desk.

Across the street from her bank was a small coffee shop so ducked in there and sat in the window with a cup of decent coffee. Perhaps it's silly to do this, but I need to get my mind off of Beck, my constant urges to call him. Part of me just needs to know more about Tori.

5 o'clock rolled around and the employees of the bank came pouring out. A few minutes later I spotted the Latina coming out. She's had her customary frown and headed towards the subway.

I headed outside into the cold and began to follow her from a distance. The cold snap had passed but we were still in the grips of winter, with the temperature today hovering around 28 degrees.

The streets were crowded so I managed to blend in but remain close at the same time. I followed onto the subway and there she went down to Time's square. I followed her again out onto the square and down one of the side streets. There was a big restaurant on that street and I guessed that Tori worked there as waitress, but much to my shock, she passed it and entered the building next door.

It was a strip club, aptly named, "The Playpen"

Standing just down the street, in shock, digested the fact that Tori went into a nudie bar. As far as places like that go, this one looked to cater to business and tourist types. It was just off of Times Square.

I needed to go inside and see what she did there. Regardless, just thinking of the fact that she has to work there, sickens me.

After gathering up my courage, I waited until a large group of businessmen entered and came in right after them. I had to be careful to not be seen by Tori so I stuck as close to the group as possible.

After paying the 5 dollar cover I entered the club, taking a few moments for my eyes adjust to the darkness

From the looks of the space, it appeared to have once been a movie theatre. The seats had been removed and in their place, tables and a bar had been put. At the far end of the room, where the movie screen used to be was a large stage.

In the dim light, I could see dancer stripping to the sounds of Billy Squier's, "Everybody Want's you"

"Please let that not be Tori." I found myself silently praying.

Much to my relief, it wasn't and then my attention turned to the two smaller side stages, but Tori wasn't on either of them.

A moment later I saw her walking through the crowd holding a tray of drinks. It was clothes or lack of that I found disturbing. She was wearing, black leather fuck me boots, a black miniskirt and pasties on her nipples. She was not wearing anything else.

I soon saw another woman, also carrying a tray of drinks wearing the exact same outfit. It was then I realized she wasn't a stripper, but a waitress in a strip joint. That wasn't' much better.

I took a step back into a dark corner so I could observe her unseen and took some time to study her expression. She looked happy and talked and flirted with the customers as she served them drinks. But I could tell, it was only an act. I guessed she took this job probably out of necessity and just stuck with it.

The old me would have gone over there, laughed in her face and taunted her mercilessly. But the old me checked out some time ago; right about the time I let Beck hit me and get away with it. I miss being her.

Tori wasn't herself anymore either. She's so talented, to see her in this dump, was utterly depressing. Not to mention that, I know that I had some part in her ending up here, just stuck in my gut.

As I intently watched Tori, one of the other waitresses, a busty bleach blonde with ice blue eyes, came by.

"I'm Barbie, Can I get you something?" She said with a flirtatious smile.

I pulled out a 20 and flashed it. "Of course you are. How about an answer to a question."

She snapped up the 20 and nodded. "Sure."

I pointed to Tori. "Her, how long has she worked here."

Barbie looked to Tori, than to me. "Over a year and a half, she started just a week after I did. She used to work full time here, but she got a job at office something. Now she only does it part time. The tips are pretty dam good here, that's if you don't mind being groped about 50 times a night."

She then looked me over, with what could be described as a rather hungry look. "You'd do well here. They are looking for another girl. I wouldn't mind having you around."

I shook my head. "I think, I'll stick to scrubbing toilets in the psych ward."

"So why so interested in Tori, you won't get anywhere with her. Believe me, I've tried. She flirts with the customers to get tips, but that's it."

I turned red with embarrassment, as Barbie had totally misread me. "No, it's nothing like that."

Barbie laughed and ran a finger up my chest between my breasts. "You can't fool me, sweetie. I saw you watching her. I see that same look at least, a hundred times a night. Now if you turn that gaze towards me, your luck might just change."

I suddenly was gripped with and intense and bizarre sense of panic, "Look, thanks I need to get going. I was never here, Ok."

Barbie grinned and grabbed my wrist. "So you want me not to tell Tori that a raven haired chick with green eyes was here tonight, well that's going to cost you."

I began to reach into my purse for another 20. Barbie at this point, put her tray down and shook her head. "It's not money I want, baby."

I sputtered in confusion and semi panic, "What do you want then?"

Before I could react she pulled me in tight and smashed her lips against mine, causing my mind to go totally haywire. The kiss was probably the most passionate one that I had ever felt. For brief second I even felt her stick her tongue in my mouth, causing me to moan involuntarily.

But as abruptly as it started, she broke the kiss and picked up her tray. "You got it sugar, you were never here? Are you sure you don't want to leave. There's a lot more to that kiss you play your cards right."

I was half dazed from the kiss and I think I had turned about as red as I possibly could.

"May…may…maybe some other time."

She smiled coyly and whispered in my ear. "Are you sure, cause, I get off at 11. Then I'll take you to my dream house and fuck you seven ways till Sunday. How'd you like to wake up tomorrow morning with me between your legs? It's the only way to wake up."

I'm feeling stranger by the second and I need to get the fuck out of here.

"I'll think about it. Thank you…bye." I said, just before I turned on my heel and dashed towards the door.

On my way out, I could hear her playful taunt me. "Run now, but you'll be back…"

Before leaving, I paused in the doorway and couldn't help looking at Tori one last time. She looked happy and all admit rather sexy, but I knew there was a profound sadness beneath that smile. That bothered me to no end.

Not wanting Tori to see me and desperately needing to get away from Barbie, I fled the bar.

On the subway home, I pushed Barbie's kiss out of my mind and quickly focused on Tori. This job wasn't the reason she abandoned her music, but probably just consequence of it. It was just another indignity she had to suffer through.

I was half asleep on the couch later when I heard her come home around 2:30. She didn't say anything, but I could hear her make what sounded like a rather pitiful sounding sigh.

We do what we need to survive sometimes, horrible things, degrading things. I can't fault Tori for working there, but I don't like it.

I pretended to be asleep and let her quietly get ready for bed. I didn't even consider asking Tori about that place, she'd be mortified if I did. Not to mention kick me out on the street. Feeling very troubled, I fell into an uneasy sleep.

The mornings after she works at The Playpen, Tori usually sleeps to 11 or 12. After getting up she eats, showers and then runs errands. Sometimes she'll just read in her room.

I felt bad about her working in that place, so I wanted to do something for her and decided to make breakfast for her. I figured things had changed since she let me help her in the kitchen, so I gave it another shot.

I remembered she used to love pancakes, I didn't mind them either, so around 10:30, I made pancakes, eggs, toast the works and just as I was finishing, I sensed a presence behind me.

Turning around, I could see a sleepy looking Tori in the doorway.

I smiled and beckoned for her to come in. "I made breakfast, pancakes, eggs, the whole works. I know we've been making meals together and I thought I'd throw caution to the wind and make something for you again. Before you speak, please just eat it."

"Thank you." Tori said quietly as she went to dish up her plate.

She dished up her plate, then I did mine and we sat down. After a few bites, Tori nodded.

"It's very good."

"No I should be thanking you for letting me stay, you didn't have to."

Tori paused for a moment, a half frown on her face. "So, has he contacted you since that day?"

Just the thought of him churned up about a hundred conflicting emotions, as it always did. "No. I'm doing better with my urges to call him, now they only happen about every 5 minutes; they used to happen about every 3 minutes."

It was a dark attempt at humor, but sadly not that far from the truth.

"Just keep trying."

Tori didn't say much after that and I left her alone. I could however, tell that she enjoyed breakfast. Afterward she insisted on helping to clean up.

I don't know, maybe it was the breakfast I made for her, but the tension in the apartment lessened just a bit more. Over the next 3 days, she got just a bit more talkative and would occasionally ask how I was doing. She usually refrained from offering any advice or support.

Improving things with Tori, made me feel better and got my mind off of numbnuts. I started to have some optimism about things, that was until the next Thursday night.

We were eating dinner when I suddenly said. "I've been wanting to call Cat in forever. Since she's moved to Boston for school, I pretty much lost touch with her. Do you have her number? I could invite her over, it would be like old times."

I had thought that bringing Cat in the situation may help both me and Tori.

I was wrong, dead wrong.

Tori's face immediately flushed red in anger, as she bolted up from her chair and pointed a fork at me.

"DON'T YOU EVER MENTION THAT NAME TO ME AGAIN! LIKE BECK, IF YOU INVITE HER HERE OR TELL HER YOU'RE STAYING WITH ME, YOU'RE OUT. GOT IT!" Tori screamed, with a utterly hate filled look in her eyes.

I would have not expected that rather extreme reaction in a million years. It was baffling; Cat and Tori were good friends.

I could barely comprehend what had just happened and all I could do was nod.

Before I could ask why, she stormed off to her room and slammed the door shut.