A/N: So, I was originally editing this story on my phone, and it ate the file and now I had to start all over from scratch.

But it was probably a blessing in disguise; I wasn't very satisfied when I was a third of the way through it. Felt cliche and done before.

So sometimes a rewrite isn't such a bad thing.

Hope you enjoy this new and improved version.

SONG:

"She's My Kind of Girl" was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus

She pulled into the Vega's driveway, a girl of two minds.

Jade was torn between being on cloud nine from actually going on a date with Tori and the crippling anxiety of formally telling her parents that she was here to pick her up.

The goth psyched herself out, refusing to let herself get bogged down by such things. She met Tori's dad before (a few times actually) unbeknownst to his daughter. Jade could infer that he was okay with her but there was always that bit of doubt.

She took a deep breath and stepped out of her car. Now standing, she looked over her clothes that everything was good.

Jade was wearing a very tight black top with matching leggings. Her outfit didn't reveal much; it didn't need to. The shirt and pants hugged Jade's curves like they were tailor made for her. But for a bit of modesty, she was also sporting an open denim jacket.

She was officially meeting the parents of her girlfriend after all. Jade knocked on the door gently but with enough conviction that she would be heard. Something about a doorbell always felt impersonal to her. Like the government rings the bell. Weirdo nosy neighbors ring the bell. Friends knocked.

Then panic managed to find a kink in her armor.

"Oh no, is my hair alright?"

The dark-haired girl ran her fingers through her locks to ensure that stray hairs weren't obscuring her face. She didn't want to look like a rat from the sewer at first sight.

The front door opened, and Mr. Vega leaned incredulously in the frame.

The pale girl stood frozen, hair in mid hair flip.

(Nice one, dumbass)

"Jade, he smirked. Nice to see you again. And in the daylight, too."

"Okay, maybe she isn't a vampire," muttered Holly out of earshot of Jade.

"Come in, please" David said.

(Well if she was a vampire it didn't matter, you invited her into our home. Now she can come and go as she likes!)

When Tori announced at the end of her grounding that she was going out with a really great girl, Holly was ecstatic. After their conversation in the car a while ago, she was happy for her daughter that she was able to face her feelings and embrace who she was. But her youngest was so excited that she failed to mention the identity of her date. Her husband would smile knowingly and say nothing, like a cat with the canary.

Finally, she confronted David about the matter. She accused him of know who the mystery girl was, and he only shrugged. Then yesterday he let it be known that she would meet Tori's girlfriend soon enough and that it will be fine. Holly was not happy with staying in the dark. Her husband apparently has signed off on this girl by the sound of it but refuses to let her in on who she is?

(What game is he playing?)

Today's the day and sure enough, Holly discovered that it was Jade West.

As the teen sat down on the couch, David called up "Tori! Your date is here!"

He smugly grinned at his wife. She mouthed the word "No!" and he nodded.

They all looked at Trina who ran down the stairs. She looked a little out of breath but collected herself.

"She will be five more minutes," she said.

The older sister then looked at Jade.

"West? You clean up nice," Trina nodded. "No really and that's coming from me."

She made an "I'd kill you if it weren't for your sister" smile.

(Get used to this face, bitch.)

Jade tried her best not to laugh because she had a hell of a comeback locked and loaded if things ever got heated between girlfriend and big sister.

(No, no. We're gonna be civil today.)

"Why thank you, Jade."

Feeling the temperature of the room dip considerably, Trina dashed upstairs to assist Tori.

"So, Jade" Holly started, sitting in the chair across from the sofa Jade was perched upon. "I had a talk with my husband recently. The party. How you were there for Tori but didn't want her to know. That part made me a little curious, if you don't mind me asking."

Jade rubbed the fabric of her pants up and down, using the feel of the material as a way of calming her nerves.

"Well...we were having a disagreement and I thought she needed the space. I wanted her to come to me when she was ready to talk so I didn't want to be pushy. But when I saw her and how helpless she looked, I just had this urge to go in there and get her out."

David jumped in.

"I think what my wife is trying to ask is...what changed? I mean it was no secret that you and Tori were butting heads from the beginning. And now...you're...clearly more than just friends..."

He glanced up at his wife for a second.

(Look, I know teen pregnancy is off the table but dammit, I would be derelict in my duties as the father of a teenager to not have an awkward pow-wow.)

"...and we wondered what changed your mind?"

Jade looked at Holly, who she knew was iffy with her, and back at David.

"I guess one day I finally got it. Like Tori was the real thing. I thought she was just another mean girl who smiled at you one second and then stabbed you in the back when you weren't looking. But she wasn't. Tori's kind and generous and loyal. She'd drop everything to help someone else and sometimes she could be stubborn with that..."

Tori's parents looked at one another as Jade continued.

"I used to be afraid of feeling happiness because I didn't think I deserved it, if that makes sense. But she never gave up on me, even when I wasn't so nice. Now I see. When I'm with Tori, she makes me...want to be better."

The goth couldn't help but smile to herself in that goofy way when she thought she was alone.

"That's what Tori does; you know what I mean? Leaves things...better than when she found them."

David put her hand on Jade's shoulder, silently telling her that pouring her guts out like that took courage.

Holly stood up, fighting back the urge to cry.

"Can I get you some coffee, Jade?"

After a few more minutes of chatting, everyone in the living room turned to take notice of Tori's arrival.

She was wearing an orange top with a sweetheart neckline, which looked captivating on her. Tori was going to do something different with her hair at first but opted to keep it simple and wear it over the shoulder, which framed her face. She was also clad in a pair of hip-hugger jeans that certainly lived up to their name.

"Hi, Jade" she smiled, as bright as a thousand suns.

The goth was a walking furnace, trying to regulate the heat burning inside her; otherwise, there would be an explosion that would level this house.

"You look great," she told Tori.

"This is too precious; I'm getting the camera!"

Next thing everybody knew, Holly was a ghost.

"MOM! IT'S NOT THE PROM!"

Tori covered her face, embarrassed.

Her dad leaned in and whispered, "I can hold her off for a second while you slip out...oh never mind she's back!"

Holly had the 35mm at the ready and stood a short distance from Tori and Jade.

"David! Get out of the frame!"

Mr. Vega obliged, and the girlfriends stood there, waiting for the picture to be done.

"Oh, come on, smile girls!"

Standing side by side, Jade reached over with her right hand and took Tori's left hand. She rubbed the back of Tori's hand with her thumb.

Gooseflesh rose up the younger Vega's back and she flashed the dopiest of grins.

"Perfect," said Holly half a second before the flash went off.

Tori marched forward, leading Jade to the door, despite being temporarily blinded by ghostly dots.

"You have a good night you two," David said, standing beside Holly who was clutching her camera.

"We will," Tori said.

"And Jade?"

"Yes, Mr. Vega?"

"Have her back by ten."

Tori rolled her eyes.

"Dad!"

"How about twelve?" asked Jade.

"How about ten?" he pressed.

Jade shrugged, still holding onto Tori.

"Eleven?"

Holly then chimed in with "We can always do eight, Miss Jade."

The goth gave a thumbs up with her free hand.

"Ten it is!"

"Goodbye!" waved Tori as they exited the house.

"So, what's the big surprise?" Tori asked, buckling herself in.

"I actually had a couple of ideas in mind," Jade said vaguely. "Depending on how you felt?"

She put the car in drive and sped out of the driveway into an enchanted evening unknown.

"I don't follow..."

Jade was visibly struggling for the words.

"Those few weeks we had to wait gave me a lot of time to think..."

Her breath hitched with the sudden presence of Tori's hand on her thigh.

"Me too," she grinned.

"Uh...haha...anyway" Jade stammered. "I was up for anything."

"Anything?" Tori asked.

"It didn't make much of a difference as long as I'm with you."

"AWWWWW!"

Jade's knuckles turned even whiter as she choked the steering wheel.

"So, this first date is going to be...kind of...a choose your own adventure kind of thing."

"Ooooookaaaay..."

"Don't worry," Jade chuckled. "It's gonna be great. And it's perfect when you think about. I get to be romantic and plan the evening out. But if it doesn't go well, you only have yourself to blame because we followed your choice."

"Whew," Tori sighed. ""For a second there, I thought soft, squishy Jade had taken over and mean Jade was dead and buried."

The goth squinted at her date.

"Oh, nothing will kill mean Jade. You're just under her protection. You please her."

"Whoa! Slow down, Vampira! Just what do you think I do on only the first date?"

At a red light, Jade took the opportunity when she stopped to turn fully toward Tori.

"Like I said, you control the night. The direction..." her alabaster fingers traversed Tori's tan arm. "...and the speed."

"Uh...could you turn down the heat, Jade?" asked Tori.

"Actually, the AC is full blast," she said.

The Latina sat straight up, hands in her lap as her legs clenched together.

"Oh, so it is."

Jade just smiled to herself the whole rest of the way. She was as worked up as her and it was intoxicating.

Jade parked in the section of the mall that faced Dave and Busters. It was adjacent to the food court, so 90% of your food options were in one area.

"Oh, we're going to the mall?" Tori asked.

"Maybe," Jade replied. "Let me ask you something; are you out to anyone besides your family?"

Tori's eyes darted about, and she slumped into her seat.

"No," was her quiet response.

"Alright, that's okay."

She put her arm around Tori and looked her in the eye.

"This is the first part. I was thinking of us catching dinner at the food court, and maybe check out some stores. Or..." she pointed to a basket in the back seat. "We could head to the beach and have a nice private picnic on the sand. There's a Maroon 5 concert tonight and someone might have convinced the lifeguards that there was a shark sighting, so swimming was called off."

Jade shrugged as Tori looked at her bae with suspicion.

"So, we won't be bothered. The point is...I will never make you do something you don't want. Especially something like this because I understand how hard it is to put yourself out there. If we go in the mall, you will be seen...with a girl...and then they all know. Or we can do something nice and private; just the two of us."

Tori looked at her awesome girlfriend with so much love and affection.

"I would love to have you all to myself," Tori began. "But I want to see those jealous faces when they see me holding hands with the coolest, hottest girl on earth!"

Jade smiled.

"And if anybody gives my baby a hard time, I'll stab them."

"No stabbing!" Tori pointed.

"Okay," Jade huffed. "No stabbing."

Tori and Jade entered the shopping mall, hand in hand. Almost right away, they passed a handful of kids from Hollywood Arts who recognized them right away. They whispered among themselves.

Tori looked back, a little concerned but Jade squeezed her hand for encouragement.

"That's all it is," Jade said. "A few surprised faces. But this is LA. Not the most close-minded town in the world."

"You're right," Tori sighed. "I can do this. Thanks for giving me the courage."

Jade shook her head.

"No the courage is all you. I'm just here for support. Before some jerky dude thought they could have you. Now you'll have to fend off the girls who want that sexy tan girl."

Tori blushed.

"Maybe a couple guys will. You know, the ones who think they're so manly they can bring you back?"

They both laughed heartily.

"You are a walking sex symbol, Jade. If you can't get someone's attention, they didn't like girls to begin with."

"Mmmm, I'm a walking sex symbol, huh?" Jade raised her eyebrow.

Tori's pupils grew small from embarrassment.

(Oh, shit, did I just say the quiet part loud again?)

The girls went into Old Navy and joked about how terrifying the mannequins were.

"Who made the genius decision to give them faces?" laughed Jade.

"No idea," Tori said. "Hey be back in sec!"

The goth waited for a couple of minutes until Tori came out in brightly bellbottoms and a floral top that matched the color scheme. She looked like a hippie straight out of the Haight-Ashbury district circa 1966. In fact, Jade was inspired by Tori's clothes.

"Stay right there!" she said, leaving the Latina confused.

In no time, Jade emerged with her own counterculture getup. It was a shock to see her wearing such bright colors, but Tori dug it.

The pair stood in front of a large mirror to check themselves out.

"I didn't think this was your style," said Tori.

"It's not," Jade shrugged. "But I was inspired."

"Oh?"

"Not only were you hot as hell," she smirked, knocking her hips against Tori's. "But now I know what our Halloween costumes can be this year!"

"You mean hippies?" asked Tori.

Jade waggled her eyebrows.

"Close...I was thinking we could be Manson girls."

"Thats...pretty morbid" grimaced Tori.

The pale girl ran her fingers through her hair, making it as straight as possible.

"Oh, come ON! I am a dead ringer for Susan Atkins!"

"Who?"

Jade rolled her eyes.

"I have much to teach you, my dear. Such sights to show you!"

"Of course, my girlfriend would quote Hellraiser."

Tori felt her tummy rumble.

"I'm changing back, Jadey-kins. Let's eat."

"Okay," Jade huffed.

But she didn't go right away. She looked at herself for another minute.

"I wonder what their reactions would be if I went to the vinyl music store across the way, dressed like this, and bought the White Album."

Jade found a table and sat while she watched Tori order some Japanese food. She glanced around the food court, trying to make her mind up about what she wanted.

It was then a couple of infamous faces showed up: Alan and Chad. Those morons from Nozu during her and Tori's "pretend date."

(Well, this is ironic.)

"Hello there! If it isn't the little songbird?" said Chad

Jade made a guttural groan of disgust.

"What do you neolithic pricks want?" she demanded.

"Whoa, someone's as feisty as ever!" quipped Alan. "Where's your friend? Or are you flying solo tonight?"

"That's okay," Chad smarmily said, pulling up a chair. "My bro and I know how to share."

"HEY!"

Tori angrily put her food down on the table and stared the two boys down.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

"Oh, okay, never mind!" said Chad. "We have both songbirds here! Now we're even."

Jade was about to stand up when Tori leaned across the table.

"You'd better leave, NOW!"

(Oh, fuck! Tori is pissed. It's kind of hot.)

"What's the matter?" asked Alan. "I thought we'd double date."

"That's impossible. In case you didn't take the hint the first time..." she then turned to Jade, grabbed her by the back of the neck and gave her one hell of a kiss. "We are on a date with each other!"

Those last words echoed throughout the food court, causing some wayward eyes to suddenly point toward the scene.

Jade sat there, stunned by Tori's aggressiveness (in more ways than one).

Chad put up his hands.

"Oh, whoa, sorry girls! Didn't know that...you were...I mean..." he then turned to Alan. "Dude, we'd better bounce!"

Then the moron twins took off, jumping over chairs and tables to get away as far as possible.

Tori shook her head.

"I don't know if that was humiliation or homophobia, but either way they're gone."

She then adjusted her hair, worried that little display might have mussed up her look. Tori sat across from Jade who was still mouth agape.

"You decided what you wanted, babe?"

"What?" asked a dumbfounded Jade.

"What are you hungry for?" replied Tori.

The goth locked eyes with her date and held the hand that didn't have chopsticks in them.

"I know what I'm hungry for."

Tori coughed, nearly choking on her udon.

Later after the sky turned to night, the girls walked through the park where many took their dogs. They petted a few cute little doggos along the way, including a pair of full-grown collies who were just gorgeous and a little Welsh corgi who wanted to follow Jade.

They found a stone slab bench with the names of the individuals who donated to the park permanently marked in the concrete.

"What time is it?" Jade asked.

"Um," Tori said as she checked her phone. "9:30."

Jade moaned.

"I'm gonna have to take you home, don't I?"

"If you don't want my dad to send an APB, then yes."

Jade rested her head on Tori's shoulder.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"I just don't want this night to end," replied Jade.

"There will be more dates," Tori said.

"Promise?"

Tori kissed her head.

"I promise."

"At least a million."

"It's a deal," Tori chuckled.