Miniature Clone - Chapter 7
Tori's POV
Cat knew ..
I couldn't imagine what Jade must have been feeling. I tried to glance at her to gauge her reaction. If she was mad, I was prepared to stop her from killing Cat. But she didn't look mad. She looked scared. Without thinking I reached out to touch her arm. I meant for it to be comforting but she moved away from me and got out of bed muttering something about her bladder. When Jade left, I grabbed Cat by the shoulders.
"You cannot tell anyone Catherina," I said making sure I sounded as serious as I could be but she just laughed at me. I'm sure I looked stupid when I looked stunned from her reaction.
"Of course not, I'm not stupid," another soft giggle.
I sighed, scolding, "er.. Cat I'm serious!"
I didn't want anything to disturb Jade's life. For a second I thought about it meaning less time with her. Then about her habit to run away to avoid situations. Not because she was scared I don't think, but because she simply didn't find it worth dealing with. "I don't want her to up and leave," I rush out, thinking she'd relocate somewhere else and never speak to any of us again. To me again. I didn't want to lose her.
Cat looked unfazed, only smiling like she did when she knew things others didn't. Or at least thought she knew things that no one else did. Suddenly the redhead gasped, bringing her hand up to her mouth with a giggle.
My brows furrowed, most of me knowing I didn't want to know but undoubtedly I still asked her anyway. "What?"
With now both her hands over her lips she whispered, "You guys were doing the dirty dance."
My cheeks instantly warmed. "What? Cat! SHH" I quickly hushed back in a loud whisper of my own. "We weren't doing anything!"
She shook her head like she didn't believe me. "You love Jadey, and I love Mason! I won't tell so they can stay here. I don't want her to move away with Mason either. He's too cute!" she exclaimed pinching his cheeks.
I'm sure I looked like a vegetable, my mouth probably open so I forced myself to close it. "I never said I loved her, Cat" I say defensively, crossing my arms and shaking my head. I probably looked like a toddler when you asked them if they wanted to take a nap. But I knew Jade hated my guts. She let me know every single day.
"Oh. But I did, just now."
I sighed trying not to become exasperated, "No Cat, I mean why would you think that?" My eyes darted to the door knowing Jade could come back in at any moment. Surely it didn't take that long to pee so she was probably grabbing Coffee. Maybe a shower?
"You always meet her at your locker and give her lunch money and carry her stuff around."
I looked at her with a deadpan expression. She literally described what bullying was and confused it for love.
I ran a hand through my hair releasing a sigh. I was afraid she would kill me if I declined when she demanded my money for lunch. I only carry around her shit because again, she'd kill me if I didn't. "Sure Cat." I said.
Jade's POV
"So damn nosy," I mutter under my breath wiping my ass. I stood up and stared at myself in the mirror. What was my next move. Tori knew and Cat. What if the number only got higher from here. I considered why it'd be so bad, before my mom's words echoed into my head. I can't trust anyone. Eventually everyone leaves or stabs you in the back, so what's the point?
I took a deep breath and pushed those thoughts aside. If I disappeared and went elsewhere, they would know they've gotten to me. My face hardened, then suddenly I felt this aching pain in my stupid chest. I was thinking of Tori. Why was I even here letting someone like her effect where I lived or what I did with my life. I hated emotions. If I could discard them I would. I scoffed at myself and rinsed ice cold water onto my face. "Snap out of it," I said to myself and quickly headed out to make sure Cat didn't do stupid shit to my kid while I was gone.
I walked back into my bedroom expecting her to be giving Mason a haircut or using his face for makeup practice. I panicked immediately. I'm a damn mom who didn't see her kid where she'd left him. Was I not supposed to flip my shit?!
"Tori?!" I yelled not really knowing why it was her name that I called and not Cats. I heard her small yet loud thumps speeding up the staircase. Within seconds her stupid face appeared in my view but I couldn't think of anything else more important than him. "W-where's M-"
Arms suddenly wrapped around my neck and I found myself breathing in the stupid scent that was Tori. I have no idea why I didn't shove her away and stab her with my scissors just for touching me.
"He's watching cartoons with Cat. He's okay I promise."
Something about her soft and sincere voice calmed me down. Her grip on me was still tight. Did I look that panicked? How fucking embarrassing. It's not like I thought he'd been kidnapped and on his way to Canada. I knew he was in the house it's just.. Ugh. My shoulders slump.
"Okay get off me."
I felt Tori hesitate against me for a second but I guess she remembered who I was and quickly let go of me as if I tazed her. She started to apologize but I cut her off with my hand and left the room. I needed air. It was too much for me. Passing by the cartoon watching duo on my way out, my embarrassing panic lessened. I grabbed a cigarette from the counter and slipped out back.
Tori's POV
Jade Elizabeth West why do you have to be so stubborn. What pride do you have left?
I sighed deciding it was best to leave her alone. I gave it almost ten minutes, I really did try, but I couldn't stop overthinking. Who was that guy? Was Cat going to tell anyone? Was Jade planning on running away now?
Mason must've noticed me constantly in my head because he tapped me with one of his lego blocks. I knew he wanted me to play with him, he didn't have to talk for me to know as I grew up with quiet kids. I quickly pushed the agitating thoughts aside and crawled over to where the little boy had his pile of only blue colored blocks. Cat was nearby with the rest of the colors.
I really don't know what I was expecting, but when I curiously picked up a red block to add it to his blue castle, he took it and tossed it away
"He doesn't like the other colors," Cat said sadly.
"..It's okay, We only need blue castles anyway," I said quietly to him while playing with his hair a bit. But my thoughts couldn't help returning to someone else. After making sure Cat would keep a close eye on Mason, I slipped out the back, chewing on my bottom lip when the silhouette of Jade became visible. She was sat on the steps to the pool that was covered up for some reason. Probably a safety precaution.
I started taking steps towards her. I didn't care if she told me to scram. I found myself sitting beside her before I could change my mind and run. We sat in silence, me holding my breath not wanting her to sniff out my fear and kill me right then and there or something. I think I actually died when her face turned to look at me. I didn't know what to say, her arching her eyebrow in pointed irritation.
"I-I um. I just I-" I closed my mouth in an attempt to get my crap together. The air around me seemed to be making it hard for me to breathe, her stare suffocating. Is this the part where I just roll over play dead and hope she takes mercy on me?
"Spit it out Tori."
I quickly looked down to avoid looking back at her but I could still feel her intense eyes on me. "He's the father isn't he." I chanced a quick glance up in time to see Jade scowl and move to stand up but I grabbed her wrist causing her to settle a glare back onto me. I almost crapped myself. "We have to talk about this."
"There's nothing to talk about!" she suddenly yelled. We both fell silent, looking at each other. I didn't know if I was only making it worse. If I was only making her want to run away more.
I sighed. How was I still alive.. My hand was still on her wrist. "I just want to help you," I said standing up to be more at eye level with the goth.
"We are not friends, Victoria." She pulled her wrist from my hold and brushed past me back into the house.