Disclaimer: The show, Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.
Unfairly Judged
Chapter 18 – In sync.
Tori's POV.
As soon as I got home I shed my, Barney, outfit and threw it into a bag, to give to Cat. I can't believe I wore that. I could give Trina some grief for saying how good it looked on me, but considering were just starting to patch things up, I let it pass.
I found myself tempted to call Jade, but I resisted. We're just starting out and also patching things up so the worst thing I could do would be to crowd her. So I decided to leave her alone.
I helped my mom make dinner, then after we ate I did some homework and worked on my music. Of course by then, I had begun to worry that I maybe should have texted Jade. Doe she now thing I'm ignoring her? I'm still a bit jittery about all this. I screwed up enough.
Or is she ignoring me?
About a half an hour later, I got a text from Jade. "One thing, if you ever buy us matching outfits, I'll dump you instantly and resume my reign of terror on you. Good night, sweet dreams."
Ok, Not sure what to make of that, but at least she's thinking forward. I texted back, trying to be funny..
"I'll keep that in mind. Sweet dreams. But in your case, I think you'd prefer nightmares. So I hope they're horrible and full of nasty things."
Jade's response was, "Awwwwwww….that was so nice. Thank you."
That made me feel better.
The next morning, I was at my locker when Jade came up. I was hoping she'd smile at seeing me, but today she just looked her normal, dour self.
"You know Vega, Every time I watch LazyTown, I so want to kick Sportacus's ass."
I wasn't expecting that. "Why?"
"Sportacus, is a hyperactive fascist who constantly tells people what they can and can't eat. Robbie Rotten constantly attempts to free the citizens of LazyTown from his oppressive rule, but never succeeds. That stinks. Robbie Rotten is the true hero of LazyTown."
I quickly frowned. "Jade, that show is all about healthy eating and habits. It's a good show for children. I like it."
"You would!" Ranted Jade, how looked just a bit more irritated than normal. "And don't even get me started on Thomas and Friends, with that Sir Topham Hatt, who has obviously enslaved all the train engines in the Island of Sodor. Why, so they can haul goods to help build his empire!"
There are times where I would just shrug off Jade's insane rant about children's TV, but today, I just didn't feel like it.
"Jade, do you have any idea, how you sound? Those are just innocent children shows, not allegories for fascism, so why don't you rant about something that doesn't make you sound like a total wacko."
I must have hit a sensitive spot or something, as she briefly fumed in anger, before storming off. She didn't even say anything, not goodbye, not see you later or even, fuck you asshole. Just then I felt badly for a moment, did she need my sympathy for some problem she was having or was she just being Jade. Once that passed I realized that I was in the right and her leaving in such a manner was rude. It may be pure Jade, but that doesn't mean I have to either like or accept it.
"Get out of my way!" I could hear her screech at some random student who had the misfortune of bumping into her.
I just grumbled and got back to getting ready for class. I needed to remember that Jade was volatile and unpredictable and pushing back on occasion, was something I needed to do. Though just now, I didn't really even give it much thought. A little like that punch, I used on Jade, it sort of just happened.
I can be volatile and unpredictable as well.
Just another worry on the pile, I guess.
As I finished gathering up my books a minute later, I was joined by Andre' who was excited about a new girl he had met at a party for a family friend the previous night. It was a nice distraction, so I walked with him and listened about the next, future Mrs. Andre' Harris. I didn't bother to ask what happened to the previous, future Mrs. Andre' Harris. A different girl he seemed to be raving about some 2 weeks ago. Anyway, it was a nice diversion.
I also gave the Barney outfit to Cat, who couldn't be happier to get it. She wore it the next day, singing the Barney song over and over. We eventually made her stop.
I saw Jade after the next class in the hallway, but she still looked pretty chizzed off, so I kept walking right past her without a single word. Besides, she was the one that stormed away from me, why should I talk to her. She was rude to me, the person she wants to date.
The next class after that was Sikowitz's class and getting there, I could not see Jade there yet. Perhaps she'd skip it, knowing I was there.
No sooner than I had sat down and wonder did Jade, still looking just as unhappy, sat down next do me.
Still I wasn't going to bend, so I looked over to Beck and smiled. "I love your new shirt, it looks real good on you. Did you just buy it?"
About a second later, I became aware of a low growling sound next to me. It reminded me of animal, from one of those nature shows, about ready to attack.
I ignored Jade and began to fumble in my purse, looking for nothing in particular.
The growling only got louder, causing me to turn and glare back. "Was that growling directed towards me or am I just in the way of someone else who's displeased you? It's so hard to tell some days."
"Don't do that!" Jade snapped.
"Do what?"
"Flirt with Beck, cause your pissed off at me. Do that again and I'll have him killed and Robbie too, just for good measure?"
"Hey, I didn't do anything?" Cried Robbie.
Beck just scratched his head.
Rex of course, immediately chimed in. "Just remember to not bleed on me."
Strangely enough, I let out a snort of laughter, which Jade seemed to not like one bit. "First was not flirting, I was complementing him on his shirt. Secondly, I'm not pissed off; I'm just kind of really annoyed. We were talking and you just stormed off cause you didn't like what I said. "
"That's shirt is ugly as fuck and you know it and I'm sorry for storming off and not saying anything, I don't want to talk about it. I apologized, happy now! Now stop being a bitch." Jade said as she brushed her hand against mine, indicating she wanted me to hold hers.
No sooner did I take her soft hand into mine, did she sit back in her chair and appear to relax.
We couldn't talk any further as Sikowitz suddenly breezed in, announcing we'd be doing an exercise/competition where we were going to portray inanimate objects. We all had to pull slips out of a rather smelly hat and play those things.
I wound up paying a drinking fountain, Jade did a good job as a mailbox and the winner of course was Rex, for his dead on portrayal of a discarded bottle of cheap Bourbon. According to Sikowitz, he truly embodied the object, by not moving one bit. We all of course, happened to move and thus were disqualified.
As class ended, Rex started to boast, but an icy glare from me directed at Robbie, stopped the boast dead in its tracks. Better for me to take care of it, than Jade, not to mention, that puppet pisses me off too.
Jade quickly took my hand and gain and for the first time today, managed to smile.
"A smile, for what do I deserve such an honor?"
Jade shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe putting Rex in his place or surviving our first fight."
"Not much of a fight really, more like a minor skirmish."
"Oh yeah, you didn't punch me." Jade said darkly before quickly apologizing. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
"It's ok."
"I have to go the other way, but can I walk you to class?"
Not able to help but smile, I squeezed her hand. "You're so sweet."
The resulting frown on Jade's face was actually rather funny. "No need to insult me."
"I'll be there's a sweet young girl just waiting to burst out."
Jade quickly gave me a accusatory look. "You like young girls?"
"No….er….I didn't mean…." I sputtered before Jade started to laugh.
"Got ya."
"At least your feeling better, I hope I had something to do with that?"
Jade smiled again. "Just a bit."
"I'm glad."
"I'm taking out shopping tonight. Dinner too. You don't even have to put out, but 2nd base would be nice."
"Only 2nd base, what's the occasion?"
"We spend time together, do that whole bonding thing you and are supposed to do. I promised you I'd buy you some decent clothes anyway. "
"You actually want to bond with me. You do realize that means spending increasing amount of time with me. Sure you can handle it?"
Jade became quiet for a moment, "We're not always going to get along."
"There are two types of couples jade, the ones admit they fight and the ones that lie about it. We had a bit of an off day, but I think it's all a matter of us finding our rhythm with each other. We've had some missteps, several in fact, but we need to just talk it out. That's why you should have just walked off like that. I don't want to leave things unresolved. Heck, even if you just said, screw you Vega, that would be some sort of closure."
As she appeared to think, Jade nodded. "Good point."
We walked in silence, just holding hands until we reached my classroom. Jade this time smirked, tenderly kissed me on the cheek and said.
"Screw you, Vega!"
The rest of the school day went as normal as could be. Though there was some excitement when Rex mysteriously vanished from Robbie's locker during gym.
He was found an hour later, stuffed head first in a toilet, in 3rd floor woman's bathroom. Did I mention that someone had taken a dump in the toilet first, so Rex was rather…..Messy.
Robbie tried to take him to the last two classes of the day, but the stench was so bad, Principal Helen made Robbie leave him in his car.
Jade took me shopping and as promised she only made the sales clerks miserable, but not to the point of tears. It was like that scene from pretty woman, only Jade was much more demanding and cruel. She took me to dinner and we had a real good time. Our conversation flowed well and though we did bicker I felt that were starting to get in sync. She paid for everything and insisted on doing so. I wonder if she feels the need to pay for everything, so I'll like her more. I hope not.
At the end of the night, Jade drove me home and gave me a very very nice goodnight kiss. She's a wonderful kisser, full of passion. I love the fact that that passion is for me.
We have a ways to go before we can really open up to each other. I could tell seem distracted from time to time, as if something was lingering in the back of her mind; possibly what ever made her in a bad mood in the morning. But I was willing to let it go. She'll tell me when she feels ready.
We were doing well, for now at least.
LazyTown is a children's television show originating in Iceland. It's all about good nutrition, exercise and other healthy habits.
Thomas and Friends is a British Television show that follows the exploits of Thomas the tank engine and his friends.
Till next time…..