A/N: I think Jade has her work cut out for her. Tori made a move (albeit a probably unconscious one) and Jade reacted strongly. Now what happens next must be handled delicately. Or it could become a total disaster. Stay tuned.

SONG:

"Dancing Queen" was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson

As Beck had suspected, Tori avoided the gang (particularly Jade) for much of the last two weeks. She was noticeably absent from lunch, her social media was crickets, and when spotted in class she sat in the back with her head down in full concentration. Tori did her darndest to drown everything (and everyone) out to get through.

But it was taking its toll.

The young Latina looked like she was going to run over like a boiling pot.

She needed a release. A distraction.

Luckily, a party was being thrown by that new rich freshman, Roger Price. He had strategically invited more upperclassmen than his fellow freshmen to create some inroads with the creme of the student body. Being close friends with some juniors and seniors could come in handy. Rich and ambitious? Hopefully he doesn't grow up to be a douche.

Since Tori kept her phone in "Do Not Disturb" mode for days, she wasn't made aware of her own circle showing up at this shindig. Least of all a certain pale faced goddess. Had the party been put on by Andre or Cat, she might not have gone for fear of running into Jade. But since this Roger kid was a complete unknown and two years younger than her, she figured that she wouldn't run into anybody familiar. When her invite came in the form of a card stuffed into her locker, Tori figured what the hell.

Friday after school, she went home feeling enthusiastic for the first time in a while. And needing a ride, she reluctantly invited Trina along.

That night, the Vega sisters arrived at the Price residence and this thing was a mansion straight out of MTV Cribs.

"Holy shit!" they both said in unison.

Jade was convinced she was doing the right thing. She let that mess breathe.

She gave Tori her space, imagining enough was on her mind as well as her own.

The tension was reaching fever pitch though. Jade lamented about how rotten she had been toward Tori when they first met and wished she had a do-over. In the end she turned out to be the real deal. Not a mean girl, or a two-faced bitch, or anything bad really. What Jade saw was what she got. She didn't trust it in the beginning, but time eventually wore her out.

Now the alleged Ice Queen of Hollywood Arts had her heart melted by the peppy girl who blew in from seemingly out of nowhere. Even her relation to Trina was suspect. They looked like blood, but they couldn't be further apart.

(How did this talentless tart and this sweet, loyal angel come from the same household?)

One of life's greatest mysteries, Jade surmised.

But her reputation continued to proceed her because one day she found a small note in her locker vent. It was an invite to this rich kid's party. Jade shrugged and figured it could be fun. Rich people's houses were the most fun to party at.

Lots of expensive things that could be damaged...House is likely in an affluent area, so the cops are sure to be called at some point...probably filled with a bunch of snobs who could use a lesson in manners.

(What are we waiting for?)

Jade drove to the address on the invitation and while not surprised it was a big house, she didn't expect Xanadu from Citizen Kane. Another surprise was the presence of a valet who asked for Jade's keys and handed her a ticket.

"This little fucker is loaded!"

This house was pretty packed, despite its enormous size. The music was blasting, and everyone was dancing and mingling throughout the place.

It was so thick with teens that Jade had a time moving her way through in some spots.

Some areas were places of relief like the kitchen or the study. The heaviest traffic was outside by the pool and over by the huge living room where the big screen TV was showing that night's Lakers game.

Jade went up the stairs to the second level and leaned over the banister, surveying the crowd. This was a pretty good vantage point to take in how many kids were here. There must have been a couple hundred. It was a blowout compared to other parties Jade had been privy to.

Behind her, she heard the whispers of a couple sneaking into one of the bedrooms and shutting the door behind them.

The goth smirked at the conceit that these teens were slick, and nobody would notice them. At least they both sounded eager, so alarm bells weren't ringing for Jade.

(Hope you brought a condom.)

Then a sight grabbed Jade's attention down below.

"No way. It couldn't..."

The brunette darted down the stairs and pushed her way past the hordes of rambunctious yahoos. She made extra caution around anyone holding a plastic cup. She did not want to go home stinking of cheap pale ale. One boy waddled through, his face upward because he was busy downing a bottle of white wine.

(Oh shit, somebody found the cellar.)

Then she saw it.

Perfect little miss sunshine Tori Vega completely plastered.

She stood on the coffee table and was grooving to the music. Jade couldn't tell where the song was coming from; probably somebody's phone connected to a Bluetooth speaker. It beat the old days of lugging a big ass boom box to the party.

There was a circle around Tori, cheering her on.

Jade knew immediately that she was drunk because she was getting the lyrics of "Take It Off" by Kesha all wrong. And she knew Tori had that song memorized.

While the creature dulled her senses, Tori showed off her moves. She was really going off, too. A mishmash of sexy and dorky. It was true dancing like nobody's watching, but everyone certainly was.

One guy was beginning to walk up to her with a skeevy look on his face, so Jade quickly intervened.

"Step off, dick!" she said, shoving the drunk dude.

Then another guy took out his phone to take video of Tori dancing, but Jade snatched it and tossed it over the heads of the spectators.

"GO FETCH!"

"Hey you!" called Jade to Tori. "I'm taking you home."

The Latina's eyes widened, and she fell forward like a tree cut down by a lumberjack and just barely landed in Jade's arms.

"JADEY!" she slurred.

The pale girl made a face.

"Fuck, your breath stinks!"

Then Jade stiffened.

(She just grabbed my ass!)

"Okay...I think you partied enough, Vega. I'm taking you home."

Jade crouched down and draped Tori over her shoulder in a fireman's carry. She stood back and up and began looking for the exit. On her way she came across Trina who was making out with a senior.

"Vega! The annoying one!"

The older sister broke her kiss and glowered at the goth.

"What do you want?"

"Great job chaperoning," Jade sneered as she turned around to reveal her baby sister looking like a rag doll. "She's fucking hammered."

Trina looked like the blood drained from her face and she made the "oh shit" eyes.

"Lookit, I'm taking her home, so you go back to your...whatever."

Jade didn't wait for a response and plowed through the sea of drunken toddlers.

The valet gave her a dubious look when she emerged from the main entrance with the drunk girl draped over her shoulder.

"I'm the designated driver, you mind?"

He clammed up and deftly produced Jade's key and in a few seconds her Volkswagen Jetta.

She propped Tori into the passenger seat so she could keep an eye on her and help her if they need to make an emergency stop so she could throw up.

"Vega, I hope you make a noise when you're gonna be sick so I can pull over!"

Jade drove away but minded her speed and turns to not exacerbate her inevitable sickness.

About a mile into it, she began to calm down and briefly glanced over to Tori.

"Are you okay?"

"Uh-huh," she giggled. "I'm just a little...drinky..."

Jade shook her head and continued on. Fortunately not as many motorists this time of night on a Friday. How many people were at this party?

"Just sit tight," Jade said. "I'll get you home."

"You're so sweet," Tori said, poking Jade in the temple. "You remind me of Jade."

The goth couldn't believe how weird this was getting.

"Oh I do?"

Tori nodded.

"I'm gonna tell you a secret..." she whispered and then made the quiet sign with her finger. "but you have to promise not to tell her."

Her eyeballs shifted to what was probably the most hilarious thing she had ever seen: Serious Drunk Tori. And she had to keep a poker face because her friend didn't have her wits about her.

"I swear I won't tell Jade," she promised.

"Good," grinned Tori. "I like Jade. Like...like like."

Jade's hands gripped the steering wheel.

(This is not happening right now.)

"She's fun...but also scary..." Tori then chuckled. "Like a roller-coaster..." SMACK

Jade looked over, concerned and Tori just leaned against the window.

"But nobody else is allowed to ride!"

Jade was turning as bright red as that traffic light.

(OH FUCK! RED LIGHT!)

She slammed on the brakes and Tori flung forward. Luckily she was buckled in or she would've gotten a face full of dashboard.

Most people would be aghast at the sudden stop. Tori just laughed incredulously.

Then in some word association in her sloshy brain, she then went into a burst of singing.

"ROLLER-COASTER OF LOVE...ROLLER-COASTER!"

(Now I need a drink.)

Jade was really hoping with these rose-colored glasses Tori was as unaware of her blushing as much as whom she was talking to.

At long last, they reached Tori's house and Jade had no idea how she was going to sneak in this floppy bunny into here without waking up her folks.

But that didn't matter right now. Jade had to get her inside. She'd figure something out.

"Tori, do you have a key?"

"Mmm?"

"Do you have a key?"

She shook her head. Then Tori pointed at the ground.

"Rock."

"Yes Tori," Jade sighed. "It's a rock."

"No...fake rock!"

There was that serious drunk face again.

Jade looked down and noticed one rock colored slightly differently than the others. She bent down to check it out and sure enough it was a false rock. Inside was a spare door key.

"Good job," she nodded. "Now let's get you..."

Before Jade could insert the key, she heard the deadbolt disengage and watched helplessly as the knob turned. Her heart sank when she was face to face with Officer David Vega.

"Evening, Jade."

"Oh, Mr. Vega!" Jade panicked and propped up Tori by the wall. "What are you doing here?"

"It's...my house."

Jade nodded, "Yeah that was stupid."

He peered outside and saw his youngest looking half dead. He didn't have to get close to smell the alcohol.

"Is that my daughter drunk?"

"No," Jade smiled.

THUD!

"...maybe."

Mr. Vega rolled his eyes and went to pick Tori up. Jade assisted with the feet.

"Jade, I think you should explain yourself."

They carried the now snoozing Tori inside and gently laid her on the couch. He stroked her hair. She appeared peaceful, breathing normally.

"Okay, spill it" he said.

"Alright, well, I went to this party. I didn't even know Tori was going to. And they definitely didn't let on that there was gonna be any drinking."

"That part I have a hard time believing," Mr. Vega interrupted.

Jade shrugged.

"Anyway, I didn't know Tori was there. We weren't exactly talking and when I found her she was already..." she then gestured to the sofa. "like that but more loud. And some guys were getting some funny ideas so I got her out of there. Then I just took her straight home. That's the truth."

He had been around enough perps (and two daughters) to sniff out a liar. Jade seemed genuine.

"You said you weren't speaking. Did you guys have a fight?"

Jade rubbed her arm.

"Not...exactly."

He knelled down and checked Tori's eyes. She was out like a light, sleeping it off.

"She gonna be okay?" Jade asked.

The concern in her voice was unmistakable.

"Yeah," he nodded. "If she's anything like me at this age, she'll pay for it in the morning."

"Can you do something for me?"

Mr. Vega looked at her confused.

"What?"

"If she asks, tell her a friend took her home. Don't tell her it was me. I promised to give her space and I didn't want her to think..."

"Jade," he said, holding up his hand. "This is important. She was in trouble and you helped her."

"I know Mr. Vega but its...complicated. Promise me?"

David nodded.

"Okay, if you insist."

He looked down at Tori and covered her with the blanket from the back of the couch.

"You know I did some stupid stuff in my youth. Guess some of us learn the hard way. Would have been nice if I had someone like you looking out for me."

Jade nodded and turned to leave.

"I'll go now."

"Hey Jade."

She turned back at the front door.

"Thank you. I won't forget this."

Jade silently walked out and shut the door behind her.