Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.

Unfairly Judged.

Chapter 14 – Stay

Tori's POV

There was a small burger stand about two blocks away from Hollywood arts. It was little more than a shack with a few picnic tables outside, but the food was always good. We walked down there and talked along the way, but Jade stuck to topics of school and other safe things.

We had our discussion, we had autopsied our date and at least for the moment there was nothing of importance to be said. But sometimes, just being with a person is more than enough. So much as gone wrong between us up to now.

Just being able to walk down the street with Jade, is a nice thing.

We got burgers, fries and sodas and sat down at one of the picnic tables. We talked more and there wasn't much to tell. I however was preoccupied with my sister and how to settle it. I couldn't' go out with Jade until it was settled.

I should want to settle it simply for the sake of settling it, not merely because, Jade will go out with me. I do miss my sister, but I'm still bitter about it. Jade is right, this is not healthy.

I think Jade sensed what was going on in my mind and let me be. As I said she was mostly quiet with occasional, meaningless small talk.

However, at the end of lunch as we arrived back at school, Jade said out of the blue. "I know it hurts what she did and at the moment you're having a very hard time forgiving her. But what you did hurt me and I'll admit still hurts. It's not easy for me to be here, to want to keep trying. I can hold a grudge, believe me, but I'm starting to see that sometimes it just isn't worth it. Plus you forgave me for what I did, so I know you're capable of it. You'll hate yourself you don't at least try."

I nodded, with a nervous bite of my lip. "Thanks."

Jade nodded and turned to walk away. "Later Vega."

I found myself thinking about it, for the rest of the day, balancing my hurt feelings with the realization that Trina was trying to help. But as they saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Oddly I didn't see my sister all afternoon; I think she's avoiding me.

Arriving at home, I found myself very nervous. Once I entered and closed the door behind me, I turned to see my sister on the couch. She was eating from a bag of potato chips and watching one of the Kardashian reality shows. She paid no attention to me, what so ever. But on the other hand she was quiet and looked somewhat morose. Normally she continually comments on what's going on in the show, regardless of who is or is not around.

She's bothered, but how in and in what fashion? I simply didn't know what I should do or what I even wanted to say. My feelings were so conflicted, I mean this is my sister, the only one I have, I'm still mad at her no question, but do I really want to be mad at her for the rest of my life? Jade's right, this grudge is not doing anything for me.

Out of habit I walked to the stairs to go up to my room, it was so easy to simply walk by her. Too easy, to let it sit unresolved. Far to easy.

But on the 3rd step, I forced myself to stop.

"Trina?" I said, without looking back.

For a full 10 seconds there was no reply. Finally she replied but in a cautious and distant voice. "What?"

"I didn't let you apologize. I know you meant well, but what you did really hurt. But still that should not have stopped me from letting you make amends. I'm sorry."

It was harder than hell getting those words out, not to mention it felt horribly awkward.

"I was just trying to protect you. You know, I don't like Jade. Why should I?"

Only then did I turn to look at Trina. Her face was serious. It was an expression that I rarely saw on her face.

"I made the mistake. I stood her up."

Standing up, Trina stood her ground. "Yes, but that doesn't give her any excuse to put that skunk in your car or ruin your laptop or any of the other things she did. The normal thing to do is simply call the person an asshole and move on to someone else. Not declare war on you and that's what she did."

I couldn't back down, nor could I simply scream, I had to talk this out. "Nor did that give you an excuse to lie to both Jade and I. Just the fact that you kept her away from me without telling me, says that you don't trust my judgment. Is that it? Am I that incompetent?"

"You all but admitted your own judgment was faulty, when you said you misinterpreted Jade's, intentions, and blew her off."

"You should talk Trina. Jade has made amends for what she's done."

"It still doesn't make it right, what Jade did."

Trina stood there for a moment, her face briefly hardening, before appearing to relent. "Look Tori. We don't get along a lot of the time, but I did go about it the wrong way. I was wrong to lie to you, I was wrong to lie to Jade. I'm sorry. But I don't like you going out with her. It's not because she's a girl, it's because she's a horrible girl. I'm not going to back down from that. Just….just be careful."

The front door suddenly opened and in walked our mother. Almost immediately, she said. "You two fighting again?"

It was Trina that shook her head. "No, were talking it out. Tori apologized for how letting me apologize. And I apologized for lying to her and Jade."

My mother quickly breathed a sigh of relief. "So this cold war is finally over?"

"I hope so." I said as I looked to Trina.

Trina agreed. "Yes, but I still don't like Jade. I'm not sure if Tori is making the right choice in seeing her."

My mother quickly answered. "I know that and while I have my own reservations; Tori is a big girl. It may work out, it may not, there's no guarantee about such things. Hearts will be broken, that's the way the universe works. Mine has, your father has his heart broken at various points in our lives and we both learned from that. If there is a lesson to be learned, than she'll learn it, If it works out, I'll be glad to admit that my first impressions were wrong."

She then turned to me, looking a bit stern. "Jade did some nasty things and your father and I are still not pleased. But she does appear to have started to make amends. So we will not stand in the way. But if things go south and anything else happens, something that could constitute a violation of the law, you father will not stand by. I shouldn't need to remind you he's a police officer. You may trust Jade and that's fine. But she has yet to earn our trust. Your father and I will be watching. Am I being clear?

I want to trust Jade and I want her to trust me. But my parents don't and if Jade does do anything, my dad will, drop the hammer on her, so to speak. Not exactly a good foundation for any relationship. I don't like it, but after all that happened, I can't really blame them either.

"Yes mother."

"You heard her…" Snapped Trina, looking just a bit smug.

My mother however, quickly scolded her. "Trina, that's enough; you've made your point and so have I. If you have something to say to your sister, some concern or comment, be open about it. Lying to Jade and your sister only made the situation worse."

Looking humbled, Trina apologized. "Sorry."

"Good, I'm going to start dinner, you can both help me. Come on let's move."

So we had sort of worked things out. I can't say completely and my feelings are still hurt, I could tell she was still bothered. We were talking, but the conversations we had while making dinner were still awkward and halting.

Bad feelings aren't banished very easily.

Now however I had a new worry, what do I tell Jade about my parents watching. Should I tell her at all. Would it scare her away?

I was still thinking and very preoccupied about that the next morning when Jade, snuck up on me, while I was at my locker.

"BOO!"

After screaming and losing a year or two off my life, I punched her in the shoulder. "You scared the chiz out of me."

"I was hoping to scare the crap out of you, so I'll just have to try harder next time." Quippted the Goth as she played with the single streak of pink hair that ran off her beautiful head.

"I talked to my sister last night."

Jade pursed her lips. "My condolences, usually after about 30 seconds of talking to her I get the strong urge to slit my wrists. Don't know how you do it."

Jade isn't being very helpful today. "Jade, I'm being serious. You wanted me to talk to talk to her."

"That is true. Did you come to some conclusion?"

"We both apologized for our actions. But she still doesn't like you dating me."

Jade smirked. "Cause she wants Jade for herself, I'll bet she likes to call out my name when she's playing with hers…."

"Serious Jade, you're not helping." I said, while slamming my locker shut for effect.

Rolling her eyes, Jade seemed to get serious. "Fine, but you need to relax, get laid…and I happen to know just the right girl. She has black hair, green eyes…

"Forget it." I huffed, as I turned and walked off.

She grabbed my arm but I just pulled it free and kept going.

She quickly caught up to me and apologized. "Tori, I'm sorry. I'm just a bit more a gank than normal today. Please, I'd like to hear about what happened."

I stopped and for a moment scowled. "Are you going to listen?"

"Yes."

"I'm nervous enough Jade. I had something to tell you and you're not helping."

"What?"

"There are still bad feelings and those won't go away easily, but we're talking. She still doesn't like me dating you and she's open about it. She doesn't like you."

"I get that. Is that what you wanted to tell me?"

"No."

"Then what?"

"My parents still aren't happy about what happened. They don't trust you either, at least yet. Their not standing in my way, however. But she hinted…no basically said that if things go south and those things start to happen again, illegal things, particularly, my father in his capacity as a police officer will do something."

I had said it and I think my voice was shaking while I said it. Jade's reaction wasn't immediate. She appeared to think about it for a moment with a puzzled expression.

"Vega."

"Yes Jade."

"Do you trust me?"

I'll admit I hesitated before I answered. Realizing my hesitation had to a point given me away, I decided to keep being honest.

"I want to trust you. I'm sorry. But like with my sister, bad feelings don't go away, that easily."

I half expected her to walk off, get mad or do something. Instead she nodded, not looking angry at all.

"Fair enough."

It was then I thought to ask. "Do you trust me?"

Her answer surprised me. But the look in her eyes, told me she was being truthful. "Not fully. You were honest with me, so I'm with you."

After a moment where it seemed neither one of us knew what to say, Jade said. "If you want to walk away. You can do so. I won't do anything. Honestly. No hard feelings. The question is do you?"

"Before I answer, what if I said that to you. Would you stay?"

"Do you see me walking away?"

I smiled. "No. I'm not walking away either. But does it bother you. That my father is….."

"Watching. What sane parent wouldn't. I acted badly and I'm not going to do that, sort of thing if things don't work out. You talked with your sister, started to work things out. Which is what I suggested you do. I think that will help us move along. So….wait I have an idea."

"What?"

"We can have a practice date."

I tilted my head. "What?"

"Look we've both dinged each other pretty good. So we go on a practice date so our first real date…or our next date won't turn into another disaster. We won't count it as a real date and if things go wrong we can critique each other, so we'll get it right.

As absurd as it sounded, Jade was being serious. The thing was, I didn't hate the idea.

"Ok, we can have a practice date. But I take that to mean I'm free to comment on what you do, without penalty. So you can get it right. Maybe if you play your cards, right you may get a practice kiss. Need to do it right you know."

Jade smirked and extended her head. "How about after school, we go to the mall, have our practice date, eat shop and see if we don't kill each other."

I could have answered that in many ways, but instead I said. "You really want this to work out , I mean really work out,don't you.

"Yes." Jade replied with a hopeful smile. That was just the answer I hoped for.

I smiled back. "I do too. You know Jade, we may need more than one practice date. So we get it just right. We are pretty bad at this."

Out conversation was cut short by the bell, indicating, it was 5 minutes to class. Jade then started to walk off, but as she did, she said. "Practice makes perfect!"

Well we're back to the story. Thank you for your patience. I wanted to finish Revenge of the wolf. But that's done now, so I'm back to this.

What do you think of how things are developing. They admitted they don't fully trust each other but are committed to give it a serious try. So, serious or not, they're having a practice date.

Earlier I mentioned the Xcom computer game. It's a turn based strategy game where you fight aliens. I play xcom and the newest installment, xcom 2 just came out. Having many options to customize your characters, I made Jade and Tori characters.

I posted pictures on my twitter page of my Jade and Tori characters. My twitter handle is quittingtime101 Check them out.

Thanks to Invader Johnny.