"Keeping Your Secret"
Jori - Tori discovers a secret of Jade's through a surprise facetime call. Tori threatens to expose her secret to their friends, unless she can go one day while being nice to everyone.
AN: Hey friends, guess what? My OTP is back, Yeay!!! This is a prompt from my friend that I think could be fun. Although my friend is not personally a Jori shipper, he was kind enough to offer this prompt anyway, and I appreciate it. Hope you enjoy.
The Vega house is sitting down to dinner after having ordered Chinese food. Tori is enjoying her steamed dumplings while listening to Trina talk about her dance class. Trina feels like she is doing well, although her teacher may beg to differ. Normally Tori would be rolling her eyes at this story, as Trina is often dramatic, but Tori is too happy thinking of her girlfriend, Jade West. The two have been dating for about a month now, and there have been a lot more smiles from Tori as her friends and family have taken notice. Any quiet moment Tori had lately has been spent thinking of Jade. She couldn't wait until dinner was over so she could call her girlfriend, and talk each other to sleep, like they did many nights before. Soon Tori was finished eating, and she excused herself to go call Jade.
Meanwhile, Jade is awake in her bedroom after everyone has gone to bed. It is dark except for a few candles lit, and she is sitting quietly on her bed while in the nude. Jade closed her eyes while listening to her breathing, with her hair brushing against her bare shoulders, and feeling the cool air on her skin. She let her mind float away while resting in her own space, and being free and comfortable within herself. Jade was completely lost in thought when her phone started buzzing on her nightstand. When she picked it up, she saw the facetime call coming from Tori, who she would normally talk to, but she didn't want to answer a facetime call in her current state. Jade tried to end the call, but accidentally answered it, and she quickly grabbed a pillow to cover her body.
"Hey." Jade said quickly, while adjusting her hair, and pulling the pillow closer.
"Hey Jade, what are you up to?"
"Nothing. Just hanging out."
Tori looks at Jade puzzled, while noticing her girlfriend's bare shoulders behind the pillow.
"Why are you hiding?" Tori asked.
"I'm not hiding. Just, ya know, hanging out in my room." Jade said with a smile.
"Are you hanging out naked?"
"I…uh, well, I…yeah." Jade sighs.
"Ah, okay." Tori nods.
"It's not something I do often. I just feel more relaxed this way, and I…I just wasn't expecting a phone call."
"Okay, so why wouldn't you tell me?" Tori asks.
"Because it's something nobody knows; not even my mom." Jade explains.
"Well, I feel incredibly privileged." Tori said with a smile, placing a hand to her chest.
Jade laughs, brushing her hair behind her ear. Halfway through their conversation Jade almost forgot she was naked until she notices that the pillow has slipped lower, and she quickly snatches it back up.
"Look, please promise you won't tell anyone."
"No worries." Tori smiles. "Unless…"
"Unless what?"
"I'll tell you at school tomorrow." Tori giggled.
"Come on, Tori. Tell me." Jade pleaded.
"Goodnight Babes. I'll see you in the morning." Tori said, blowing Jade a kiss.
Jade turned off the screen with a huff, and nothing left to do, but wait until morning to see what her girlfriend had up her sleeve.
The next day while in the hallway, Jade pulled Tori aside to figure out what she was thinking, and to be assured that her secret was safe. Jade opened her locker, hiding them both behind the door to talk privately with Tori.
"Okay, so you have to tell me, Tori. What is your "Unless"? Are you going to keep my secret or not?" Jade asked.
Tori laughs, taking Jade's shoulders. "Don't worry, I'm not planning on posting it on The Slap, but I don't think it'd be so bad if our friends knew. It's not like it's the strangest thing they've ever heard about you."
"Nobody can know about this, Tori!" Jade said, reaching to grab her shoulders. "Even our friends! I'm not ready for them to know this. It has to stay between us."
"Okay, but what if I were to propose a challenge?"
"What kind of challenge?" Jade asked, raising an eyebrow.
Tori walks to the other side of Jade, wrapping an arm around her, and gives her girlfriend a smirk.
"You have to go one whole day being nice to everyone, no matter what."
"Everyone?" Jade huffs.
"Yes, everyone." Tori said, taking Jade's hands. "I know you can do it. I've seen how sweet you are, and I know you can show that to more people than just me."
Jade rolls her eyes. "Okay, fine."
Tori squeals while kissing her cheek.
"You're lucky I love you." Jade said, kissing her back.
"It won't be so bad, I promise."
The young couple continued walking down the hallway as they soon ran into Trina. She is talking more about her dance class, and hoping to be in the upcoming musical. Jade rolled her eyes attempting to turn away, but Tori pointed her back towards Trina, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Tori, hey Tori! Listen, my dance class starts in fifteen minutes, and I think I've almost got the routine down!" Trina said, stopping both girls in front of her. "Here, look…"
Trina then began running through the routine that she has been rehearsing with her class for the past month. She continued to spin and hit poses that looked more erratic than anything like a smooth flowing dance. Through it all, Tori kept up her tight smile while Jade shut her eyes, exhaling hard through her nose. When she was finished, Trina stood in front of them with her arms out as if awaiting applause.
"So? What do you think?"
"Well…it certainly stands out, Trina. Jade, how about you?" Tori smirked, and Jade narrowed her eyes at Tori before turning to Trina.
"It's definitely like nothing I've ever seen before. Nobody will do the dance like you." Jade replied, forming a tight lipped smile.
"Thanks guys, I knew I could count on you." Trina said, smiling as she headed to class.
Jade let out a deep breath, while Tori pulled her in close, kissing her cheek.
"See, I told you, you could do this."
"Yeah, I'm just glad she stopped dancing when she did. I don't know how long I could have lasted." Jade told her.
"Well, there's still the rest of the day to get through." Tori said, pulling Jade along. "Come on, let's get to class."
Jade huffed while following her girlfriend in the other direction. Things went well in Sikowitz's class while they worked on improv exercises. Andre and Robbie did a scene where Robbie could only answer Andre by making animal noises. Jade managed to get through it without any sarcastic comments, and even clapped with everyone when they were done. In her mind she was clapping because it was over, but she wouldn't let anyone, especially Tori know that. As soon as class was over, it was time for everyone to go about their normal day, until the gang met again for lunch. Jade sat next to Tori holding her hand, and quietly eating french fries while Cat talked about the funny thing that happened with Robbie in their theater tech class.
"So when I was on stage, Sinjin was doing the lights, and Robbie was on the floor controls to start the music, but he started the wrong song, and then Sinjin put on the strobe lights because of the song Robbie put on, and he was trying to wave at Sinjin to stop, but they couldn't hear each other." Cat told them while laughing.
"Yeah, I was trying to tell him to stop the lights, and I couldn't even hear him telling me to turn the music off." Robbie added, continuing to laugh with Cat.
Jade listened while squeezing Tori's hand, and shoving french fries in her mouth. She figured if her mouth was full then she didn't have to talk. However that wouldn't save her, because as soon as she swallowed, Cat was already asking Jade for her feedback. Jade swallowed hard while putting on a fake smile.
"Sounds like you had a crazy day."
"I know, it was." Cat said, giggling.
Cat sat silently for a moment expecting her to offer a snarky reply, but Jade simply smiled, and took a sip of her water before continuing to speak.
"Hopefully things will go better next time." Jade said.
Cat tilted her head at her friend before replying, "Oh, thank you."
Jade nodded, and Tori nuzzled into her shoulder. The rest of their lunchtime went by fairly normal, and Jade felt like she'd be safe from having to keep her real feelings to herself, until Sinjin came over to talk to them. Jade was already covering her face before he even started talking.
"Hey guys. Crazy day at rehearsal, huh Robbie?"
"Yeah, definitely. We were just telling everyone." Robbie told him.
Sinjin made his way over to where Jade and Tori were sitting, and Jade tried to hide her face, while Sinjin leaned in close to Tori.
"Hey Tori, our play is on Saturday. Do you ladies think you'll be able to make it?"
"Uhm, I think so. What do you think, Babe?" Tori asked, leaning behind her to talk to Jade.
"Hmm…yeah, whatever." Jade muttered.
Luckily Sinjin walked away by that point to get food, and Jade didn't have to deal with him anymore. The girls had a moment alone, and Jade sighed heavily while taking a sip of water. In the midst of her reprieve, Jade could hear Tori's phone keys clicking, and when she looked over, Tori gave her a mischievous grin.
"What are you up to?" Jade asked.
Still giggling, Tori kept typing while whispering…
"Just typing in our group chat. Newsflash: Jade West REALLY likes being naked. And…"
"Tori, don't even think about it, no one can…"
"...and send!" Tori continued.
"Why would you do that!" Jade shouted.
Tori sat up straight holding up her hands, and showing Jade the phone.
"Baby, I'm kidding." Tori said, handing Jade the phone. "Here look, I was just asking Cat what time the play was."
Jade looked at Tori's message and sighed. Once she was able to get her heart rate down, she was able to crack a smile, giving her girlfriend a playful shove.
"Why do you like to make me crazy?"
"Because you look cute when you're flustered." Tori said, giggling.
"I swear, I don't know what I'm gonna do with you." Jade said, shaking her head as she wrapped her arm around Tori.
As the two of them were finishing up their lunch, Jade was mildly startled by Sinjin who appeared behind them.
"Hey, Jade. I just want to let you know there's nothing to be ashamed of," Sinjin said.
Jade whirled around to face him, stammering at first before finding her words.
"Ashamed of what? Of course I have nothing to be ashamed of. Why, what did you hear?"
"I know you didn't end up getting a part in the play since there was only one female part available, but I'm sure you'll get the next one."
Jade huffs. "Uhm yeah, yeah thanks, Sinjin."
As he bids them goodbye, Jade looks back at Tori who can't help but smile. Jade shuts her eyes tight while raking her hands through her hair.
"You're enjoying this way too much."
"I'm sorry, I can't help it." Tori laughs. "You're so cute."
"Yeah adorable. Come on, let's go to class."
The two of them go to class, and Jade was happy to have gotten through the rest of her day without incident. Thankfully it was now time to go home, and Jade wouldn't have to hold her tongue anymore. Tori came home with Jade, and the two went up to her room with Jade plopping her bag down on the chair before sitting on her bed. Tori set her bag down on the floor while sitting in front of her girlfriend on the bed, taking her hand.
"I'd say today went well." Tori said.
Jade looked up at Tori raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, It went well for you, taking pleasure in watching me squirm."
Tori lifted Jade's arm so she could sit in her lap. She wrapped her arms over Jade's shoulders, brushing back her hair so she could look at her. Jade rested her hands on Tori's waist, while staring up at her.
"I hope you know I would never really tell anyone what I saw. I couldn't do that to you."
"So why did you spend the whole day making me sweat like that?" Jade asked.
"Just to tease you a little." Tori shrugged, giving her a smirk.
Jade chuckled, while pulling her a little closer. "Okay, so all of this holding a secret over my head just so I'll be Suzy Sunshine all day was just your idea of fun?"
"Yeah, a little." Tori said, flashing a big toothy smile, hoping her girlfriend wasn't too mad at her.
"Nice job. I've taught you well." Jade said, pressing her lips to Tori's.
They broke kiss with Tori resting her forehead on Jade's, and relaxing into her. Tori kissed her forehead, before looking up at her to speak.
"I would never ask you to stop being who you are. That headstrong girl who is never afraid to tell others what she thinks is a big part of what I fell in love with. It wouldn't be the same if you weren't you."
Jade hugs her tight with Tori pulling her in, resting her head on Jade's shoulder. Jade's fingers graze her girlfriend's back, toying with her hair, and breathing calmly while taking in her scent.
"I love you, too." Jade said, looking up. "...and, it wasn't so bad being at least a little nice to people today. Maybe I could practice that once in awhile."
"Seems like I'm rubbing off on you, too." Tori smiled.
"Yeah, well, don't let word get out."
"I won't, I promise." Tori said, kissing her once more.
To think, at one point Tori Vega was once this annoyingly perfect, nice girl that Jade didn't know what to make of, and it drove her crazy. Now Tori was the girl that made her crazy in the best way possible, and there was no way she wanted to know what it was like to be without her.