A/N: I'm so glad how well the last chapter was received. It's definitely one I'm particularly proud of but so far, my personal favorite is "Does Your Mother Know." Speaking of which, did anyone catch the quick reference to that one?

I have to confess that I probably failed in my ambition to "jump around the timeline." It's the storyteller in me; I just cannot write one chapter and not have it dovetail into the next one and so on. So sorry about that. Maybe we will get some future Jori but for now I'm enjoying the pace that we're going, and you seem to be too.

I'm cranking out these as fast as I humanly can, but I am also trying to catch up on my reading list. One story is 25(!) chapters in and I haven't even started it so...yikes.

So, hope you enjoy this new entry. Please leave a comment and don't be afraid to say hi in my PMs. Really gets me through the day.

SONG:

"Take a Chance on Me" was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus

She had returned Tori home successfully but failed miserably to do so undetected. Jade hoped that Mr. Vega would keep the whole thing to himself. She's not worried about being in trouble exactly but didn't want Tori to find out what she did.

Old Jade would have been more preoccupied with maintaining her tough persona and wouldn't want a story of rescuing the fair maiden and returning her to the castle to get around. People would started thinking she was getting soft and Jade West was not soft.

Frustrated with selective insomnia, Jade bounded to the bathroom and took two Tylenol PM's. She hadn't been one to partake in sleep aids but lately her mind had been a nonstop kaleidoscope of anxiety and fuzzy thoughts. Laying there in bed, in the dark, when the insanity of the day had quieted down; she was there, alone with her thoughts.

And that was not conducive to a good night's sleep.

She swallowed the two pills with half a cup of water from the sink and went back to her room.

Jade played around on her phone until finally giving into sleep a half hour later.

The next morning, Jade was overcome with the brightness of the sun. In her haze of getting home, she forgot to draw the curtains like she always did. Jade rolled over away from her window and let her eyes adjust to amount of light in the room.

Once she had her senses straight, her mind immediately went to Tori.

Her dad mentioned that she was more than likely to get sick. But Jade prayed it didn't get too bad.

She wouldn't mind if Tori never drank again. Not to be draconian about it but Tori was probably one of those that couldn't handle her booze. Or maybe would work up to it. She very well could have been handed a beer on an empty stomach and that's all it took. Tori may need to start small, like a margarita or a wine cooler.

Jade realized that her trouble sleeping was based on her concern over Tori.

Mr. Vega's words swirled around in Jade's head from the night before.

What if she wasn't there? What if Tori was at the mercy of those creeps at the party? Not Tori. Not her Tori.

(Am I really getting protective of Tori Vega?)

"Of course you are, dummy!" Jade answered aloud.

She got up and walked to the mirror. Around it were pictures of her friends. Jade reached over and picked up one pic taped to the frame.

It was a picture of Tori hugging Jade during this past year's Christmas Party at La Casa Vega. As Tori always would say "give Tori a squeeze" and despite her protests would hug Jade. But this time the physical contact felt very different. She felt a warmth that wasn't there before.

It felt like all of the candles in the room were right under Jade's face.

Tori was also wearing one of those body scents that day. It was a thing that made her smell like cinnamon. Jade didn't know if Tori was aware but the tightness of the embrace and the proximity to Tori's face (and lips) combined with the scent of a sweet dessert; all of it was intoxicating.

This must be what Christmas morning was like.

Jade decided not to fight it but lean into it.

(If only...To feel like that more than once a year...)

She snapped out of it and traced Tori's face with her finger.

(THAT DOES IT!)

The goth put the picture back with care like she was hanging a Monet original in a museum.

(If I don't tell Vega how I feel, I'm gonna bust!)

"But how?" she mused.

Jade needed time to think so she figured she'd get the day moving. Get dressed, some breakfast. Maybe her brain will wake up when her body gets going.

She turns on the shower and uses that minute for it to warm up to quickly brush her teeth.

Just when the steam was beginning to obscure her reflection did Jade know that they temperature of the water was ideal.

She discarded the last of her clothes and stepped behind the curtain.

(Okay, West. Let that hamster get on his wheel and figure out a way to ask Tori out.)

Jade had her work cut out for her. She knew the wrong move might scare her off, like a deer in the early morning grazing in the forest.

Trying to relax her thoughts, Jade unwittingly unlocked a memory of last summer where the lot of them were at the beach. This time they were careful about where they parked Beck's trailer.

Everyone ran to the sandy shore and set up the day's base of operations. With a big blanket and a couple of umbrellas with a big cooler, they were good to go. The gang wanted to go straight to the water except Tori.

She wanted to stay behind and catch some sun. Tori loved to lay on a hot day at the beach (with the proper protection of course). For whatever reason, Jade opted to stay as well. She made a little joke about how everyone's stuff will be stolen if Tori nods off during her sunbathing session.

Jade's complexion clearly showed that she wasn't keen on getting a tan today. Or ever. She looked like a lady out of an old Hammer film and was proud of it.

Tori stretched out across the blanket and smiled at Jade.

"What's up?" she asked.

"Nothing," Tori replied. "Just nice to have the company."

She put on her sunglasses and relaxed. But her head didn't turn so with her eyes hidden behind those dark lenses, Jade couldn't tell if she were still looking at her or if she was asleep. Jade brought a book - the latest Stephen King - and was about a third of the way in but after a few minutes, she found herself less interested in the novel and set it down.

Then a dinging came off Tori's phone. Without saying a word, she reached out and turned it off and flipped over to her stomach.

Jade was still (surprisingly) still looking at Tori. Gazing, if you will.

Her orange and yellow bikini looked good on her, like anything else she wore. Tori Vega could wear a grocery bag and look absolutely breathtaking. But when Tori turned over, the revealing little number covered even less. Her back was almost completely exposed and the bottom accentuated her ass like it was another skin.

Tori adjusted herself so she rested on her arms. Now her back was slightly arched and this contrasted with the curve of her butt.

Jade had her thumb in the vise-like grip of her teeth as she took in this sight.

That outfit left little to the imagination and Jade could imagine quite a bit.

The electricity that ran through her body emanating from her most sacred of places made Jade sprawl against the tile wall. Her hand went rogue at some point during this memory and had a little fun.

"Oh FUCK!"

Jade was breathing heavy as she crashed back to earth.

(Did I really just bust a nut thinking about Tori?)

Fifteen minutes later, she went downstairs to the kitchen but Jade was too beside herself to eat.

Her head was swimming. She had never fallen for someone like this. Not even Beck.

Tori charmed her and the most impossible feat lay before Jade.

First, she had to get Tori to talk to her again. Then she had to show her affections and ask her out without scaring the girl off.

(Really? Is that all?)

Tori moaned as the morning light penetrated the room. It exacerbated this pounding migraine in the back of her head. There was a terrible taste in her mouth on top of that.

(Oh, shit! What happened?)

Despite her instincts to shut out the light, Tori forced her eyes to open to take in her surroundings.

It was the living room and she was on the couch. Home. Safe and sound.

The last thing she remembered was going to that rich kid's party. Raymond? Randy? It didn't matter. Some girl offered her a beer and then another. And this guy had another...

Everything beyond that was a blur. Tori had flashes that made little to no sense.

(I was flying through the crowd...the inside of a car...a sus rock?)

Her memories felt like a deck of cards that somebody shuffled.

She didn't think of much else because her mom burst into the room.

"VICTORIA!"

Tori cringed three times over. She knew she was in big trouble. She hated being called her full legal name. And her mother could take it down a few decibels.

"Mom?" she whispered.

Her mouth was so dry. Luckily her mother came in holding a glass of water.

She helped her daughter up and held her hand steady so she wouldn't spill the liquid as she raised it to her face. Tori had never appreciated a glass of aqua more than right here.

"Thank you," she groaned.

"How are you feeling?" her mom asked.

"Like I want to die," Tori replied, punctuated with a moan.

Holly patted her youngest girl's knee in a loving manner.

"Good."

"I deserve that," Tori admitted.

"Just what the HELL were you thinking?"

Tori didn't answer straight away. Instead, her eyes widened and her arms stiffened. Mother's instinct took over and she reached for the bucket that was right below them. She held it while Tori threw up her guts.

"There it is!"

Tori's dad entered at just the right time.

"Was waiting for this," he added.

Later on that day, the sisters Vega were seated on the couch while their parents stood before them. Tori can hold herself up now and only noises irritate her headache so its progress. Maybe she'll be up for some food soon.

"Boy you two have really screwed up last night!" chided David.

"Who the hell said girls were easier to raise?" asked Holly rhetorically.

"Sorry, mom," said Trina, her eyes downcast. "It was stupid."

"No," said David. "Stupid is poking yourself in the eye while you're writing."

(Well I feel seen) Holly thought.

"What happened was completely irresponsible." He turned to Tori. "I know things have been bad for a while. Schoolwork and stuff plus coming off your first big breakup but that's no excuse to drink. It's not gonna solve your problems. Did you think it would?"

"I was..." Tori paced herself. "I was trying to loosen up and it was like my...body wasn't letting me relax."

"Don't believe the hype," Holly said. "You don't need a drink to have a good time. And that's what you're learning now."

Tori held her stomach, really attempting to maintain her vertical state.

"And you."

Trina looked up at her father.

"When both of my kids leave and go somewhere...I dunno...I expect BOTH kids to return. You've been around the block a little bit. Be the big sister she needs."

The older daughter nodded.

"So both of you are grounded for a month," Holly declared.

"Your world has shrunk down to school and home," David added. "That's all."

Tori groaned as she toppled over and buried her face in a pillow.

"I think Tori's world has shrunk down to this couch," he half-joked.

"Let her rest," Holly told her husband. "She'll need it because there is no way you're missing school, young lady!"

Monday came around and Tori got dropped off at Hollywood Arts while Trina went to get a parking spot.

She entered the school and there were a few hushed conversations as she walked past the students. No doubt they were having fun at Tori's expense. She must have really made a fool of herself at the party.

Tori knew things were not going to be good for a long time.

First Steven cheats on her. Then there was that whole business with Jade and now this. This was not shaping up to be her year.

Going to her locker, something about it grabs her attention.

There was a little note sticking out of the vent, just like that invitation.

(Sorry, whoever, but no parties for me until I graduate.)

Tori unfurled the paper and was surprised by what it said.

It read:

"You've been on my mind for a while, Tori. I don't know if you would want to but I would like to go out with you sometime. I think you're really cool and sweet and would like to spend some time, just us. - J"

Tori blushed at the mysterious note. She read it over again, paying close attention to the handwriting.

(It's familiar. I think I know whoever wrote this.)

The Latina looked around for any potential clues, as if they were waiting in the wings to see if she received the note.

The rest of the day was pretty standard; the normal classes and faces. At lunch, Tori approached the usual suspects who were seated together as always.

"Hey, Tori" smiled Jade. "It's great to have you back."

She scooted over to make room for the lost friend.

Tori cautiously accepted the gesture and sat beside Jade.

"What are we having?" she asked Tori.

(Why is she being so nice to me? Is this some kind of trick?)

"Uh...its just...chicken and rice..."

Jade just smiled at Tori and resumed her burrito.

(This is strange. What was she smiling for?)

Beck asked Tori if she was up for some time at the mall this weekend, but she had to refuse, explaining that she and her sister were cold busted and were banned from socializing for the next few weeks.

Jade glanced over, looking a little disappointed but then she quickly got up and left.

(Okay, that was weird.)

Tori did feel better since getting over that hell of a hangover. Being grounded was a pain in the ass but at least she didn't feel like her insides were on fire and accountants were tapping away on adding machines in her head.

She approached her locker yet again and a sense of DeJa'Vu came over her.

In her locker was another note.

Cautiously, she was about to open the paper when Andre and Robbie were walking by. Tori quickly stuffed the note in her pocket as she said hi to her friends. Thinking about the first letter, she was suspicious of the pair initially.

(This is pretty bold for Robbie. And Andre was already seeing that girl from Hillside. Beck maybe?)

But then she remembered that the note was signed "J"

(No. No way.)

When the boys were out of sight, Tori fished the paper out and started reading:

"Sorry to hear about your folks. When your sentence is served, I'll be waiting. Here's hoping the time goes by much faster. - J"

Then Tori looked up and saw Jade at the end of the hallway talking to Beck. She took notice of Tori and waved in an uncharacteristically friendly manner.

Shivers crept up the Latina's spine and she ran off, barely holding onto her backpack.

"What was that about?" asked Beck.

"Ah, fuck," Jade sighed. "She totally freaked out."