Chapter 22 : Up fronts

Jade woke up to find herself wrapped around Tori, who was gazing at her with affection. Their eyes met, and they shared a tender kiss. Tori then casually suggested having breakfast together, and Jade nodded, determined not to retreat from the intimacy.

Disentangling herself from Tori, Jade joined her in the kitchen, where they prepared breakfast together. Tori ate while Jade hesitated to touch her avocado toast.

"That's okay, baby," Tori reassured her, kissing her cheek before returning to her meal. Eventually, Jade managed to take a bite, earning a smile and a hug from Tori.

"I'm so proud of you," Tori whispered, prompting Jade to chuckle and take another bite.

"Shut up," Jade replied, her smile widening.

"I love you," Tori said before heading to the shower. "Now hurry up and finish so you can join me."

Grateful for Tori's encouragement, Jade quickly finished her breakfast and cleaned up the dishes before joining her girlfriend in the shower.

I figured out I was queer soon after that. I'm not bisexual, I'm not Pan sexual. I want to clarify it. I am a Lesbian. And the line between my Virtue and sexuality was a blurry one.I was spoiled long before my sexuality came into question with the public. I had been molested over and over again. It was usually my parents who put me in harms way. I have a reputation for being secretive. But when you're a kid and are told never to let anyone know you need help ,you tend to shut up. I always felt like I was drowning.

THe last three years of Genius high were miserable. I was on several different mood enhancers just so that I could ge tup and do my job. But the things that happen to me I can never forget. And when I think about them, are as vivid as if it were happening. But imagine a little girl, who is a lesbian being passed around by different men. The trauma. Because I cant forget.

If you say but Jade, then why did you sasy those things about Lana. The truth is, that I didn't. Lana came up to me after we kissed. She was older you know. 18, and I was 16 and so totally in love with her. And she said. "Ben told me that it was you that outed me.."

I had no idea her secret was out. "What?"

"Don't play dumb. He says you laugh at me to your little friends and told them I was a dyke."

"That doesn't make sense." I stated. "But I'm gay"

"Well it really doesn't matter does it. Because now everyone is talking about me and I'm going to call you out on your bullshit."

Then she walked away and everything that came out after that was the beginning of my bad reputation. There was sno grace given to a 16 year old for things she may have said. Because that sixteen year old has been an adult her entire life. IT made it so that when I was ready to come out, I couldn't.

Ive led a very lonely life since. Convinced that I didn't deserve love. And I lived that way, even when you would see me walk down the red carpet with Beck Oliver at my side. That whole thing was set up by Ben. To keep the world from knowing that Beck was gay and I, was his play thing. He treated me like his girlfriend when I was 17. After I looked like a complete dyke. He threatened my work if I ever said no.

And I never said NO because my parents wouldn't let me say no.

But that all ended when my parents died.

Jade stretched, surveying the words she had just written. It all felt a bit disjointed, as there were many details she couldn't bring herself to include. Memories dredged up by her therapist through EMDR therapy were still too raw to fully delve into. She was desensitized enough to acknowledge what happened, but reliving the visuals would have been overwhelming.

Tori walked into the bedroom, her face painted and adorned with feathers and gemstones. "Let's get her reaction," she said excitedly, prompting Jade to turn and burst into laughter.

"It's my beautiful pride peacock!" Jade exclaimed between giggles.

Tori made a kissy face and then planted a kiss on Jade's cheek, leaving a smudge of blue lip color. "Ugh... I look like I've been kissed by a smurf," Jade joked, prompting more laughter as Tori handed her a makeup wipe.

As Tori animatedly turned off the stream, Jade couldn't help but notice her increased energy on the new medication. She hoped it was a sign of stability. "You good?" she asked Tori.

"Yeah," Tori replied softly. "Thanks for checking in."

"You bet."

"Did you hear about the documentary they're making about Ben?" Tori inquired, taking a seat beside Jade.

Jade's expression tensed at the mention of Ben. "EYeah..."

"Did they reach out to you?" Tori pressed eagerly.

Jade hesitated before admitting, "Yes."

"Did you do it?" Tori asked, her tone hopeful.

"No... do you think I should?" Jade questioned, uncertain.

Tori fixed her with a determined gaze. "It would completely destroy him. And you know I want his ass six feet under, babe. Destruction is the best. I heard he was pitching kids shows again. We need to stop him."

"It's my word against his," Jade countered. "I just dug myself out of the pit that he made for me."

"Baby, you're writing it in the book," Tori pointed out, gesturing toward Jade's computer screen.

Realization dawned on Jade, and she quickly opened her email and composed a message to the documentary team. She would tell everything.

Jade and Tori sat shoulder to shoulder amidst the bustling crowd of the picket line. September had come, and they had been at this for what felt like an eternity. The murmurs around them grew louder, and then the news rippled through the crowd like wildfire: the writer's strike was over. The Writers Guild of America would be back at work come Monday.

Jade let out a sigh of mixed emotions. While she was thrilled for the writers, there was a bittersweet realization that Quinta, one of the writers they had been supporting, was still on strike. The group celebrated the end of the strike for the writers, but there was still a long road ahead for the actors.

Despite the news, many of the writers stood in solidarity with the actors, just as the actors had done for them. The bond forged through the struggle was palpable, a testament to the strength of their collective resolve. They remained united in their fight for fair wages and better working conditions, knowing that their journey was far from over.

Jade encountered another child star, someone she knew in passing from a different show overseen by Ben. This individual had been particularly vocal against Ben, openly condemning his actions. They approached Jade, their tone accusatory.

"Dude, how do you live with yourself keeping your mouth shut? I can't believe you didn't go crazy like Amanda because we all know you are the other one that got it as bad as her," they said, their words sharp with frustration.

Jade took a moment to compose herself before responding, her voice steady. "I think you are doing enough talking for all of us," she replied, her gaze unwavering.

The other child star persisted, expressing disbelief at Jade's silence in the face of adversity. "My story, while valid, is nothing compared to yours. He sunk you," they pressed.

"My family sunk me," Jade said softly, her tone tinged with sadness. Despite the accusations thrown at her, she remained resolute. "Don't worry, he will get his," she added, a steely determination in her voice as she pulled Tori up from the floor. "Babe, let's go."

As they walked away, Jade carried with her the weight of her past, but also a sense of inner strength and conviction that justice would prevail in the end.

After enduring that abuse, I decided that I was never going to have sex again. And I would have done it too if it wasn't for my pesky girlfriend.

I tell you, Tori is a saint. Because the first time we were intimate, I cried, and she held me and didn't ask me why. She said she knew I would tell her when I was ready. I finally did tell her what happened, so now I am able to write this.

My parents were high the night they died. I had just gotten access to my Coogan account. That was an account where 10% of a child's money earned while working is put away so that they are able to have savings when they are adults.

My mom had gotten a hold of my debit card, and my Coogan account had been cleaned out. I got angry. And I'm not proud to say that I became violent. I hit her, but my father had gotten into the room and pulled me off of her by my hair and threw me down on the floor.

I wasn't willing to back down. I yelled at them to get out of my house. And they did. But they were high. And they died that night. I don't really miss them. But I felt guilty because they weren't the only ones that died, and it was my fault for insisting that they go.

I got hit with a lawsuit soon after I had my parents lowered into the ground, and I didn't contest it. I gave their victim's family what was left of my assets after I paid all of my parents' debts. Leaving me with less than $40,000 to my name. Many people live off of that. You have to know I was a child. I was not good with money. I wasn't taught about money, and I just kept living how I lived. And that 40K lasted me a year. I hadn't worked at all. I was ostracized from Hollywood. Completely blacklisted. And it wasn't until Tori found me in that cafe, that it was even a thought to anyone in Hollywood. So I have a lot to thank her for.