A/N: Yeah, that was pretty low of Jade. I wanted to show her emotional state at this time so not to make you think she just turned evil for the sake of the story. But we do some crazy things when we're upset and desperate.
Quick note, we are still in the flashback. Second half of this chapter we will go back to the present.
Shout out to SKRowling. Welcome back!
With the opening of the play a couple of weeks away, rehearsals were ramped up. Fortunately for the flustered director, Jade was well versed in the part. She knew all her lines and acted well alongside her fellow actors after witnessing several sessions from afar.
There was a sense of life being sucked out of the room though. Everybody across the board missed their original star. Cat's absence was deeply felt but the show must go on. And Jade was determined to make her part memorable so that everybody forgot about the first girl.
Tori marched up to Jade, who was fixing her hair.
"Vega, I'm busy," she sighed.
"Please tell me its not true."
That accusatory statement rattled her a bit.
"What?"
Tori gave her a nasty look and folded her arms.
"WHAT? I'll tell you what!"
"Is this about me playing Evelyn?" asked Jade. "I'm sorry about what happened to Cat but these guys worked really hard and nobody can do it as good as me so I'm filling in. What's the problem?"
The Latina took a step forward, getting right into Jade's face.
"You know what I'm talking about!"
Jade looked around to a couple of stagehands.
"Don't look at them! They're not gonna help you! Look me in the eye and tell me you didn't sabotage Cat!"
The goth didn't break eye contact but unconsciously retreated backwards half a step. She had seen Tori upset from time to time but had never become acquainted with (and not this close) Tori being angry.
"I...um...how..."
"DID I FIND OUT?" barked Tori. "Earlier I tried looking for this big shot director. I was trying to talk sense into him that Cat was so right for the part and this flying gimmick just came out of the blue. If it was already a part of the show, Cat wouldn't have auditioned. But it wasn't! So she did!"
Jade was about to open her mouth to say something but the Latina held up her finger for her to rethink that idea.
"I'M. NOT. DONE."
Tori was genuinely intimidating right now and Jade's actions gave her precious little to defend her character. She had no choice but to stand there and listen.
"So I asked him what gives? Then he let it slip that his new lead offered him the great idea! The new lead aka Cat's best friend. The girl who had known her since sixth grade. Someone who she trusted. Someone who knew what she feared most."
Jade stepped back a bit to make an exit but was stopped by Beck and Andre.
"Please tell me this is just a rumor," Beck demanded.
Her stunned silence was damning enough.
"Jade," Andre sighed. "This is a new low."
"I don't know," Tori said, closing in. "This is the same girl who tried to supplant me by sending me bush daisies because I was going to be Steamboat Suzy. Seems pretty on brand for Jade West."
She was like a dog cornered. So many emotions running through her mind. But like anyone feeling trapped, it doesn't bring out their best.
"All of you need to stop ganging up on me!" Jade warned.
Her three friends looked tired of the bullshit but they weren't leaving.
"How could you?"
The trembling voice made Jade feel heavy.
She turned around and sure enough there was Cat with fresh tears in her eyes.
"Why Jade?" Cat pressed.
"Cat...the..."
Jade was adrift in the sea during a storm. Words failed her because she failed her.
"Jade! If you wanted the role so bad I would have let you have it!"
The goth was shaken when she said that. Her face; it was clear she wasn't just saying so.
"You would?" she asked.
"Because that's what friends do," Andre said. "Or God forbid you were happy for Cat and supported her."
"I understand you were disappointed that you didn't get it," Tori sighed. "But where did you get so entitled..."
"SHUT UP!"
Jade was being pushed and challenged long enough. Now her inner ice queen was taking over and reaffirming her place on the food chain.
"Yeah, Tori. I'm telling you to shut up! Tori Vega; the sweetheart of Hollywood Arts. Nobody else matters. Need a singer? Need a star? Look no further! She's the whole fucking package!"
Tori cocked her head like she was really trying to justify her actions with this.
"Save it!" Tori pointed, almost close enough to poke Jade. "I am so damn tired of this bullshit! Jade West, super bad bitch who isn't scared of anything except someone who might be a threat to her status. The conceit that she isn't the smartest, most talented, most beautiful thing in this school. If only these plebeians down there could begin to appreciate her greatness!"
"SHUT UP, VEGA!" Jade yelled.
"You're so above it all, aren't you JADE? It doesn't matter who you hurt because it's all for the greater good!"
"SHUT UP!"
Tori looked like she wanted to deck Jade one but the boys held her back. Robbie came up behind Cat, showing his support.
"I'm not even mad," Tori huffed. "Nothing about this shocks me. But that you would do this to Cat of all people. As much as I've tried being your friend, Cat has been a saint. You keep putting her down and now you pull this shit."
"Jade!"
Cat now had the floor and walked up to Jade. She ripped off the colorful bracelet from her wrist and threw it at her feet.
That was a gift from Jade. She had a matching one.
"I don't want it anymore," the redhead stated. "You're a bad friend."
She just turned and started walking away. No crying. She was done with crying. Everyone followed suit and left Jade standing.
Except for Beck. He took a moment to look back.
"You got what you wanted, Jade. I hope it was worth it."
The goth shot back with a silent middle finger and he joined the rest of the gang as they exited the auditorium.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU LOOKING AT!?"
The stage hands from a moment ago looked away and went back to work.
END OF FLASHBACK
"I hope it was worth it."
Jade had a very uneventful day, stuck in her linen prison. Once in a while, one of the nurses made their rounds and assisted Jade when she had to use the bathroom. When asked if she would prefer a bedpan, she said "HELL NO!"
The TV was finally working but the channel changing function was busted, so she was stuck on the DIY channel. Hours and hours of home improvement shows, lottery winners buying their first mansion, growing families looking to relocated and expand, etc.
Jade neither approved nor disapproved of this kind of programming. In the world of reality television, you could do a lot worse than a DIY show. At least they aren't complete fabrications. But like anything else, such shows do lie by omission. Like this house has so many crazy things in it like an indoor pool, a bowling alley, a movie theater and an underground platform the car could park on. The logistics of keeping up with the maintenance on such extravagances not to mention the energy bills to heat such massive homes or power the electricity of the thousands of gizmos and light sources.
She dozed off a little here and there.
Being Sunday, things were relatively quiet for her young roommate.
His dad came by and he was so excited to see him. The tall man told his son to relax and he promises they will play all of the games while he gets better. He's been sitting on some vacation time and now has the best excuse to use them.
Now and again, when Jamie was napping or preoccupied with one of his books, the mother would look at Jade with concern.
When afternoon turned to evening, she approached Jade's bedside.
"Hello, I'm Lori."
"Jade," she weakly responded.
"Sorry if we waked you this morning with all of the excitement."
The brunette shook her head.
"No trouble. Sorry about the swearing."
Lori chuckled, "It's no big deal. Between us he hears worse at home."
Jade raised an eyebrow.
"His dad tried replacing the outlets in our house once and he thought he turned off the right breakers in the basement. Let's say the last person who lived there wasn't the best at labeling. There were a few F-bombs and S-bombs."
That was the first time Jade smiled all day.
"Are you..." Lori looked around Jade's side of the room. "Okay?"
She gestured to her messed up leg.
"I've been better."
"No visitors yet?"
Jade looked at the open door and nothing has changed. The only people that came through that door to see her had scrubs and a name tag.
"No," she sighed. "But my mom's coming tomorrow."
Lori looked taken aback.
"Tomorrow?"
Jade shrugged.
"Well, excuse me for saying so but that's just ridiculous. There's no way in hell my kid is laid up in the hospital for almost 2 days alone."
She caught herself.
"Sorry, sorry" Lori breathed. "Don't want to judge so quickly."
"She is okay, really" Jade explained. "Just a...bad time."
Her tone sounded like she was really trying to buy what she was saying. Jade just couldn't admit that she was making excuses.
"Well that's the thing about emergencies," Lori said. "They just emerge."
Suddenly arms wrapped around Lori and her husband went in for a kiss on the cheek.
"Do I have to talk to both of you about talking to strangers?" he grinned.
"Even when you get to know me I'm still pretty strange," Jade quipped.
"Ah, a sense of humor" he said. "Don't lose that."
"How's little man?" Lori asked.
They both looked and Jamie was fast asleep with his book in his lap. He loves his dinosaurs.
"Hi, I'm Ted. Don't get up."
Jade made a face.
(Oh, you're a funny one too.)
"I was gonna get some food," Ted said to Lori. "Want anything?"
"Caesar wrap. Those were really good."
"Got it," he nodded. "Be right back."
He left and Lori looked back at her son.
"Well, got to get back. You hang in there, Jade. It'll get better."
"Thanks," she said.
(Hope you know how lucky you are, Jamie. Some parents are real assholes and there's nothing you can do about it. If it were up to me, every kid would have a mom like yours. Your dad is okay, too I guess.)
Jade took the wand and lowered her bed. She was in for an early bedtime tonight. No idea when her mom was going to show; probably the moment they open the hospital to visitors. Might as well get sleep out of the way to have enough energy.
(Never thought I would be looking forward to a Monday.)