Chapter 14


The balcony in Jade's parent's house had only been the beginning. Jade had driven Tori back home, where Her own parents had left town. So Tori and Jade spent the rest of the night loving one another.

THe sun streamed into the window of Tori's room. their naked bodies were covered and warm from their long-love-making-night. Unfortunately for their first night together, Tori couldn't compare it given that they were both highly intoxicated, but she was sure it was just as wonderful as last night.

Tori's eyes blinked open, met by the sight of Jade's sleepy blue gaze.

"What a nice way to wake up," Tori said with a smile, noticing a grin spreading across Jade's lips.

"Definitely the best weekend ever," Jade agreed, a blush adorning her cheek as she spoke. She had something important to share, something that had become crystal clear after their night together.

"I want to tell you something," Jade murmured.

Tori's curiosity piqued. "What is it?"

Jade had always loved Tori, but now it was as clear as day. She felt remorse for allowing things to progress this far with Beck, but she didn't want that anymore. She wanted what she had with Tori.

"I'm calling off the wedding with Beck," Jade confessed, her voice soft but determined.

Tori shifted to her side, her eyes wide, lips parted in surprise at Jade's revelation. "Jade..." she began.

"It's the right thing to do, Tor," Jade insisted, shifting onto her side as well, her head propped up on her hand. "It's what I want. After spending an entire day with you, I want more of it. And I want it all with you."

Tears welled up in Tori's eyes, and she quickly wiped them away. She loved Jade deeply, and the idea of being with her was a dream come true. However, the thought of hurting Beck tore at her heart.

Jade's thumb gently brushed away Tori's fallen tears, and her free arm wrapped around Tori, pulling her close for warmth. "It's going to be okay," Jade reassured her in a soft voice. "I promise."

Tori voiced her concern, her voice tinged with sadness. "I just hate that this is going to break Beck's heart," she murmured, her nose slightly pink. "I never imagined... that someone like you would want to be with someone like me. And now that it's happening... I'm scared."

Jade's hand brushed away a strand of Tori's brunette hair, tucking it behind her ear. Their eyes locked, and Jade spoke from the depths of her heart. "You were all I ever wanted, Tori. We both knew this would be tricky, and I understand we're going to hurt Beck. But I can't live without moments like these anymore. I can't live without you. Not when I love you with every beat of my heart."

Tori leaned in, capturing Jade's lips against her own in a passionate kiss that Jade found herself becoming immediately lost in.


As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the city streets, Tori and Jade continued their leisurely walk, hand in hand. Their smiles were infectious, radiating happiness that couldn't be contained.

"You're so beautiful," Jade whispered, her voice filled with genuine admiration. Her own smile grew even wider as she noticed the faintest blush blooming on Tori's cheeks.

Tori, slightly taken aback by the compliment, couldn't help but grin in response. "What?" She chuckled, her eyes sparkling with joy.

"You're blushing!" Jade playfully accused, her teasing tone bringing out an even deeper shade of pink on Tori's cheeks.

"I am not!" Tori protested, though her grin betrayed her.

Their shared laughter filled the air, and they continued down the sidewalk, basking in the warmth of their affection for each other.

"I hate that it's Sunday," Tori admitted with a sigh. "I don't want this to end."

Jade couldn't agree more. "Neither do I," she said softly, her voice tinged with longing. "And it won't. After I talk to Beck, I'll just have to figure out how to tell—"

Before Jade could finish her sentence, a familiar voice interrupted them. "Jade?"

Startled, they both let go of each other's hands and spun around to face the source of the voice.

Jade's blue eyes widened with surprise and anxiety as she saw her mother and grandmother approaching. The odds of them randomly running into Jade and Tori in that exact spot seemed astonishingly low. Jade's heart raced, and for a moment, panic threatened to engulf her. But they were still a fair distance away, so maybe they hadn't noticed anything unusual.

Sensing the tension, Tori whispered, "I should go," her eyes darting between Jade's concerned gaze and the approaching figures.

"No, stay," Jade urged, her voice firm and resolute. As frightened as she was, she wanted to face this head-on.

"Jade—" Tori began hesitantly.

"Stay," Jade repeated, her determination unwavering. She turned her attention back to her mother and grandmother, forcing a warm smile onto her lips. "Mother," she greeted as she leaned in to place a kiss on her mother's cheek, and then did the same for her grandmother, who appeared more vibrant and lively than Jade had seen her in a long time.

"Beck's been trying to reach you," her mother informed her, concern in her eyes. "He called me, saying your phone has been off. What are you doing in the city? We thought you would be away with Beck, especially after you finished at the studio."

Jade tried to come up with a convincing response while glancing over at Tori for support. "I didn't feel like it was worth the ride... you know, with gas prices and all," she replied, trying to sound casual. Her mother's gaze drifted toward Tori, making Jade subtly nervous.

"Mother, this is Tori Vega," Jade introduced her companion. "We used to attend Hollywood Arts together."

Tori smiled warmly, extending her hand in greeting. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. West," she said politely, acknowledging Jade's mother.

The elderly woman, Agnes, turned her attention to Tori, her eyes sharp and discerning. "So, you are the famous Tori?" she said with a warm smile, her gaze more alert than Jade had seen in a long time. "It's lovely to meet you, dear." Surprising Tori, Agnes pulled her into a warm hug, making her feel immediately welcomed. "I remember my granddaughter always talking wonders about you."

Mallory, Jade's mother, observed the interaction between Tori and Jade closely, her eyes narrowing slightly as she exchanged knowing glances with her daughter.

"I must say," Agnes continued with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "her description of you was rather brief, Jade. You're even more beautiful than you let on."

Tori blushed, grateful for the elderly woman's kind words but trying to hide her embarrassment. "Thank you," she replied with a smile. "You look wonderful too, Mrs. West."


Jade's mother, Mallory, extended a warm invitation to Tori. "Your grandmother and I were just about to get some lunch at her favorite restaurant," she suggested with a kind smile. "Why don't you and your friend join us, dear?"

Tori hesitated for a moment, unsure whether she should accept. But before she could decline, Agnes took her by the arm and insisted, "Oh, no, I couldn't—"

"Nonsense, dear!" Agnes interrupted with a charming smile, holding onto Tori's arm. "Of course, you can. You must join us."

Tori glanced back at Jade, who responded with a shrug and a blush, silently encouraging her to accept the invitation.

With a genuine smile, Tori agreed, "Alright, I'd love to join you for lunch."

Agnes beamed, and the group of four continued their walk, heading toward the restaurant where they would share a meal and create a unique memory, one that neither Tori nor Jade could have anticipated when they started their weekend together.

"So, there was little Jade, running up with a yellow ball, showing it off to her mother and father, and they were smitten with her," Tori listened with delight as Agnes shared a tale of a young raven-haired girl, recounting fond memories of Jade as a child.

While Agnes reminisced, Mal, Jade's mother, had her eyes fixed on her daughter and Tori. She was clearly aware of the growing connection between them, and that was something she couldn't let happen, especially with the wedding just days away.

Clearing her throat, Mal interrupted the story, announcing her intention to take a walk to the bar. She looked at Jade and asked, "Jade, would you accompany me, please?"

Jade nodded and rose from her seat, leaving Tori with a smile as they headed toward the bar.

As they reached the bar, Mal took a sip of scotch and mentioned, "Your grandmother hates it when I drink during the day."

Jade chuckled and commented, "Yeah, I know." She looked back at Agnes, who was engaged in a pleasant conversation with Tori. "She looks so great today. That makes me very happy."

Mal agreed, acknowledging her mother's improved mood. "She's been remembering everything with full detail. I know for sure it's the whole wedding. Ever since you became engaged to Beck, she's been in such a great mood."

Jade seized the moment, deciding it was the right time to talk to her mother about her decision not to marry Beck. They were alone, away from their grandmother's earshot, and Jade needed to be honest.

"Mom," she began cautiously, gathering her thoughts. "Can I ask you a question?"

Mal nodded, her gaze fixed on her daughter, waiting for the question.

"Have you ever, uh..." Jade's eyes flicked toward Tori briefly before returning to her mother's. "Taken a wrong turn in your life and realized that that road isn't the one you wanted for yourself?"

Her mother's expression remained unreadable, and Jade couldn't predict whether the answer would be what she hoped for.

After a sharp inhale, Mal responded, "No. Because I don't believe there are such things as 'wrong turns' in life. You have choices, and it is up to you to decide which of those choices is the best one."

Jade was disappointed by her mother's response. "So, you don't think there is such a thing as marrying the wrong person?"

Mal's brow lifted slightly, and she replied, "I believe there are people who come into your life simply to cloud your good judgment, Jade." She took a sip of her drink, her gaze fixed on her daughter. "Especially beautiful brunettes who spend an entire weekend with others who are engaged."

Jade's anger began to simmer, and her brow furrowed as she retorted, "I don't know what you're talking about, Mom—"

"Jade," Mal chuckled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "I wasn't born yesterday, dear. I have many years of experience under my sleeve, and believe me—I am well aware of the attraction between you and... your friend. Now, if you want to have her on the side, that's your business—"

"Don't talk about Tori that way," Jade hissed, her jaw clenched in irritation.

Mal continued, undeterred by her daughter's protest. "I don't exactly know what type of relationship you and this girl are having, but it has to stop," she warned. "For God's sake, Jade, even your father had a little more discretion than that."

Jade's gaze shifted to Tori, who thankfully remained unaware of her unpleasant conversation with her mother. While it was true that her father had cheated on her mother many times, this was a different matter. Her father had never known love, whereas she did.

"This isn't that, Mom, okay?" Jade spoke in a low voice, her eyes locked onto her mother's. "I'm gay—"

Mal chuckled, shaking her head dismissively. "Jade, it seems you have already allowed this girl to cloud your judgment and make you do what's right. You've made your choice, and you will follow through with this wedding. What do you think your grandmother would think of you if she knew what you were doing behind Beck's back?"

Jade's eyes stung with unshed tears, causing them to turn red. She felt trapped, torn between her true feelings for Tori and the expectations of her family. The weight of her mother's words bore down on her as she reluctantly nodded in response to her mother's ultimatum.


"Your grandmother is such a sweetheart," Tori smiled as they walked together in the tranquil hills of Los Angeles. "Your mother, on the other hand..." She sighed, acknowledging the tension she felt during their lunch. "I don't think she liked me one bit."

Jade's smile appeared somewhat sad, a stark contrast to the joy they had shared earlier. "What's not to like?" she replied, but Tori could sense that something was amiss. Ever since they left the restaurant, Jade had grown distant and serious.

Concern crept into Tori's voice as she asked, "Are you okay?" She stopped on the quiet hillside path, her eyes searching Jade's for answers.

"Yeah," Jade managed another one of those melancholic smiles. "I guess I'm just tired. It was a beautiful weekend—the best."

Tori frowned, sensing that something had changed. Jade hadn't held her hand since they left the restaurant, and the sudden shift in her demeanor worried her. "Okay," she said, her brow furrowing. "Why do I think this is you telling me goodbye?" Her heart ached with the fear of what was coming.

Jade sighed, her eyes filled with turmoil. She reached for Tori's hands, her gaze locking onto hers. "Tori," she began, her voice trembling with emotion. "Please know that everything I said, everything about loving you... I meant it."

Tori's lips parted, stunned by the unexpected turn of events. She watched in disbelief as Jade walked away, got into her car, and drove off without looking back. What Tori didn't see was the single tear that rolled down Jade's cheek as she left, leaving her heartbroken and confused.


Jade quickly wiped her tears as she heard the RV's door open, followed by Beck's voice calling out her name.

"Babe?" Beck's voice echoed through the camper, and he looked around, finding it empty. "Jade, where are you?"

Jade hurriedly stashed a strip of photos they had taken together at the fair into her jacket pocket before emerging from the small bathroom, trying to put on a facade of composure.

"Oh! You're home! Good!" Beck greeted her with a warm smile, rushing over to hug her and plant a kiss on her lips.

"How was your trip?" Jade inquired, trying to act as normal as possible.

"It was awesome! Have you eaten? We can have lunch, and I'll tell you all about it."

"I'll get changed," Jade nodded, ready to put on a facade for the day.

"Hey," Beck frowned, pulling her back toward him. "Are you alright? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm fine. Why?" Jade replied, forcing a smile. She couldn't let Beck see the turmoil inside her.

"You seem a little off," Beck observed, his concern evident as he studied Jade's face. "Did something happen while I was away?"

She shook her head, her voice betraying a hint of sadness despite her smile. "Nothing but the usual—I just missed you." She tried to play it off as longing, but she knew there was so much more behind her emotions.

"Aw! I missed you too, Babe," Beck said, pulling her into a hug, though he sensed something was amiss.

"How about we have lunch with my mother and grandmother today?" Jade suggested, her smile more genuine this time. "I know they would love that."

"Of course, whatever you want," Beck agreed with a grin, though he couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between them.