Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.
Unfairly Judged.
Chapter 22 – Getting situated.
No one's POV.
Though very surprised at the appearance of the Latina in her doorway, Jade moved aside to allow Tori in; only Tori didn't move.
Instead she remained steadfastly in the doorway, with a weary but somewhat critical expression.
"Jade, this is for real. You want to work things out?"
Nervous and surprised, Jade found some of her inherent gawkiness unexpectedly leaking out. "No, I need someone kill a spider. I figure the sight of you would scare it off."
"Fuck you Jade!" Hissed Tori, with a surprising amount of venom in what otherwise sounded like a weary voice.
Before she could move to walk way, Jade grabbed her wrist and quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, I didn't meant that. Please. I'm a gank when I shouldn't be sometimes. I'm glad you came. I mean it honest."
For a moment Tori thought over Jade's apology and then relaxed, making no effort to leave the doorway. Only then did Jade let go.
"Jade, before I come in, I need to give you a message from my father. He told me to give it to you. It was the only way he'd allow me to come."
"Go ahead?"
Tori stood firm and said with a voice tinged with harshness, "It is, that if this is any kind of trick, deception or if the purpose of me coming here was for the purpose of any kind of retaliation or humiliation, you will hear from him and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, if and where applicable. That's assuming I don't cut your throat first. Do you understand?"
Jade looked to the floor for a moment, before nodding. It was obvious to Jade, Tori weren't in the mood to fool around or be kidded. Not to mention the last thing she wanted to do was to make Tori leave. So she said a soft and heartfelt, "Yes."
Only then did Tori come through the doorway, carrying her bag.
As Jade closed the door behind her, Tori found herself in a small entryway with several coat hooks and a small closet. Not stopping there, she continued on into a large room.
It was obviously the main living area and was carpeted with thick dark green carpeting and furnished with several overstuffed leather chairs, a large leather couch and a dining room table near the far wall.
To her right, dominating the wall was a large stone fireplace, which at the moment was cold and dark. To the right of the fireplace was a bookshelf filled with games and various books. It seemed like stuff people would use to simply pass the time.
On the other side of the fireplace, in the corner, sat a 40" large screen tv, with a stereo, which like the fireplace, was silent and dark.
In front of her, just in front of the dining room table, dominating the room was large picture window, with brown curtains, with a breathtaking view of the valley below. Next to the window was a sliding glass door to the patio just outside.
To her immediate left was a small hallway, which Tori guessed led to the bedrooms and up ahead on the left, was an open area leading to the kitchen.
The room had a rustic feel, with pictures of nature scenes on the wall and that killer view, but as she put her bag on the floor, Tori's only concern.
"I'm here."
"Thank you for coming." Jade said, still looking rather humbled. "I didn't give you directions, how did you find this place."
"Your father."
Jade raised an eyebrow, looking slightly alarmed. "What? You spoke to my father?"
"Don't get your panties in a bunch?" Snapped Tori "He didn't seek me out. I got a job with a caterer. We do weddings, parties, corporate events, that sort of thing. I was working a party for Hitchkock Engineering last week. It was for some sort of new product launch. While refilling water glasses, I encountered your father. He said he does some consulting with them and got invited to the party."
Pausing, Tori quickly took note of both Jade's apprehensive expression and the good deal of tension in the air.
"What did he say?"
"He said he heard that you had invited me up to the cabin and simply urged me to go, so I could at least hear your side."
"What else did he tell you?"
"Not much. He said that it would be better coming from you, but he did note that you were quite broken up about what happened and that your relationship with your mother is rather toxic. I told him I wasn't sure, to be honest. He said he understood and ultimately left it up to me, but said you were worth it. I told him I would think about it. He wrote the directions down on a sheet of paper for me, in case I decided to go."
For a moment Jade remained quiet, and then nodded. "Again, I'm glad you came."
"Just don't make me regret it. That and I are partially at fault too."
"Are you hungry? I just made some salad."
Tori shook her head. "No, I ate on the way up here. All I want now is a bed. I worked the Linderman Wedding last night and then Arx Consulting's, family party today at the zoo. I had to take an extra shift today, to have the next few days off. Then I drove straight from work, 2 and half hours up here. I'm exhausted and now is probably not the best time to speak with me. I can be grouchy and tired too. All I want to do is sleep. So if you could, please take me to my room."
Not wanting to push her luck, Jade quickly lead Tori down the side hallway, until she reached the first door. Pushing it open, she directed Tori inside.
The room was a small bedroom, decorated with slightly faded, yellow wallpaper covered with pictures of people at the cabin having a good time. Off to one side was a large queen sized bed, with a large quilt on top. On the other side was a small wooden dresser, and nightstand with lamp, next to the bed.
"There's a small closet in the corner. Bathroom's down the hall. There's a linen closet next to the bathroom with, towels, washcloths, soap and shampoo. Use whatever you need. My bedroom is the next room, if you need anything during the night, just knock. Is this good enough for you?"
Nodding, Tori walked in the room and deposited her large bag on the bed.
"I'll leave alone for now, but I promise you, we'll talk, have fun and work this all out."
Too tired to really give her response thought, Tori mumbled, "Whatever" and went about pulling her sleeping clothes from her bag. She didn't notice, Jade walk away, with a look of distinct disappointment and worry.
Tori didn't even bother to unpack. All she did was put on her sleeping clothes, wash her make up off in the bathroom and walk back to her room, closing the door behind her. She was both mentally and physically worn out and sleep was the only thing on her mind.
Tori quickly moved her bag to the dresser and climbed in bed. She was first struck by how utterly silent it was. At home there was always noise, be it her sister singing off key in the next room or just plain city noises. Tori however, didn't have time to really consider it, as sleep quickly claimed her.
Awaking some time later, Tori realized that the sun had gone down and the only light in the room was a few thin moonbeams that managed to cut through the trees. Combined with the silence, the room began to look and feel very eerie.
Curious as to how long she'd been asleep, as she went to bed around 6:30 PM, she picked up her phone and looked at the time.
It was 2:14 in the morning.
Though still tired, she did feel measurably better than she did when she arrived; extremely exhausted and horribly crabby.
Turning over in attempt to go back to sleep, she suddenly became aware of a dim sound.
"Squeak"
Not expecting the sound, Tori's eyes opened wide as she suddenly snapped fully awake. Of course no sooner had she done that, the sound came again.
"Squeak"
Her fear level rising, Tori sat up and looked all about the room. Though she couldn't see much, but what light there was, revealed that she was alone.
But the sound came again, and a few seconds after that.
Resisting the urge to freak out, Tori listened carefully and sure enough she was rewarded with the same muffled squeak. It happened a few seconds later and only then did Tori realize the sound was happening about every 3-4 seconds.
Listening to it a few more times, she determined that the sound was not getting closer and it seemed to be coming from the other side of the wall.
"That's where Jade's room is." Thought Tori.
Still half scared, but curious, Tori got up and listened at the wall. The sound continued as it did, but a bit clearer. Only then did she realize it was the sound of a squeaky floorboard; one being stepped on at very regular intervals.
"What the?" Whispered Tori.
Standing there in the dark, Tori could only wonder what Jade was doing. Was this some sort of prank? Some attempt to unnerve her in her sleep?
Her fear was quickly replaced by anger as Tori suddenly decided to confront Jade once and for all. This had to be some game and Tori was not going to have one part of it.
Throwing on her robe, Tori flung open the door and emerged into the hallway. Down the hall she could see Jade's door was open a small crack and a thin stream of light darted down the hallway.
She walked down the carpeted hallway to the door, and was about to burst in when she heard Jade say in a low voice.
"Don't mess this up."
Pausing, Tori quickly peered into the room.
There was Jade, wearing black sweats and a t-shirt, pacing back and forth. Not just pacing, but pacing worriedly. Her furrowed brow alone, was more than enough to tell Tori Jade was troubled. She was so troubled, Tori realized she Jade hadn't even noticed the dull squeak, she was making as she crossed the floor over and over.
"This is your last chance Jade." Muttered the Goth to herself. "Don't be such a gank. You had to make that stupid spider crack. Stupid mother, fucking everything up. I hope you choke to death on one of your stupid martinis"
Realizing that Jade was stressing out due to the fact that she wanted things to work out so badly and not playing a joke, Tori suddenly felt like an utter shit.
Again, Tori could hear Jade's low voice. "What if she doesn't listen?"
Again she had jumped to a wrong conclusion. She was tempted to sneak back to bed, but tired as she still was, she couldn't leave Jade this way.
So she knocked on the door.
Abruptly she could hear Jade stop mumbling and a second later, the door flew open. At first Jade looked annoyed, but before saying anything, her expression morphed to embarrassment then back to annoyance.
"Do you need something Tori?"
"I heard you moving around. One of your floorboards is squeaky."
For a moment, Jade's face flushed with embarrassment. "Sorry. I'll stop."
Tori shook her head. "No Jade. I need to apologize. I was really tried when got here earlier and a bit of a bitch. It was uncalled for, not to mention me assuming just now, you were making that spooky noise to freak me out."
Jade nodded rather soberly. "I would do something like that. And don't worry about being tired…."
Tori quickly stopped Jade. "No Jade. I heard you just now. You're worried I won't listen. Yes my feelings are still really hurt and I still don't fully understand, but I will listen and I do want this to work out. I don't want us to keep hurting each other. I have stuff to apologize for as well. That's why I came. I got things off on the wrong foot by being a bitch and that was wrong. Don't worry, I want this too. That and I'm sorry for eavesdropping."
Only then did Jade's expression of annoyance, melt away to one of slight relief. "Thank you."
"Now stop pacing and go to sleep. It's spooky and freaking me out."
"I will Vega." Jade said, with the slightest hint of a smirk. "Do you need anything else?"
Shaking her head, Tori moved off. "No. Good night."
"Night Vega."
Moments later Tori was in her bed, the sound in the next room was gone and she hoped Jade would be able to sleep easier, knowing she really wanted to work things out. Tori knew she'd sleep easier knowing Jade felt the same way.
Not much happens in this chapter as I'm still having some problems writing. But I do hope you liked the chapter.
More to come.
Want to hear something funny. I wrote a Victorious/Quantum Leap Crossover a few years back. It's called "When is Jade not Jade." It's a good story I recommend it. But that's not the funny part. In the story, Jade finds herself in the year 2021 and picks up a 2016 entertainment magazine. In it Jade reads about the wedding of Taylor Swift and an unnamed person, who's ex wife was named Angelina. I'm talking about Brad Pitt of course. The funny thing is that I managed to predict the end of Brad and Angelina's marriage 4 years before it happened. Not that it was a giant surprise. But I wrote the story in 2012. Now all I need is Taylor swift to pick up with Brad and My prediction will be dead on. Wouldn't it be funny. She seems to go through guys pretty quickly, so its a distinct possibility.