Note: I present to you the "I didn't know where this was going until I wrote it" chapter. It's finals week, so what better way to prepare to fail than procrastinating by writing a useless fanatic.
Chapter 6. Bubble Wrap
You made her take you for a burger, and proceeded to get the large chocolate milkshake, as well as the party size onion ring appetizer. There wasn't any more tension in between your shoulders when you spoke with her.
She asked how classes were going and groaned when you started talking about your chemistry professor. She mumbled about hating that guy and offered some tips for the final exam.
You inquired about the arboretum and she started going into all the details of the student worker drama and the stubborn plants in the green house.
You noticed she had a definite glow around her features when she was talking about it all, and you found yourself zoning out from her words. You were caught up on how different she was moving compared to this morning, or yesterday, or really even the first day y'all ran back into each other.
The deep reflection you were having into this epiphany means you were too far away in your thoughts when she stopped talking. She stared at you with a smirk, and it took you way too many extra moments to realize it.
"Sorry, what was that?" you asked, dazed.
She laughed slightly, "I said you were staring, and asked if you had even heard anything I said in the last 5 minutes," the little smirk that played on her lips was intoxicating, "but judging by your face right now I would say that's a no."
Her accusation made you cross your arms defensively, but you looked away sheepishly nonetheless. "I was just noticing that you're different. You're smiling more and just being, I don't know, like you are totally at ease now?"
She gave a small nod, the knowing smirk less directed at you. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
You shifted in your seat, suddenly a little more desperate to get the attention off of you again, "I mean, all things considered, you're essentially homeless and sleeping on an air mattress on my floor."
She immediately deadpanned at you before rolling her eyes, "Gee, Tori, what a way to kill a mood."
You laugh a little, "Am I wrong?"
She grumbled, "I mean…no…but every place I called within my price range is full up until after the semester ends." She looks down and starts absentmindedly playing with the onion ring that fell out of the basket. "I just need some time to sort it all out and either find a roommate, or find someone who needs out of their current lease."
You tap her leg with your foot under the table and she looks up at you, "Hey," you say,"don't stress about it right now, there's only like 3 more weeks of the semester before finals so just figure it out over the summer."
She squints at you, "Do you hear yourself right now? Are you high? Was the milkshake spiked?" she smiles when you laugh.
"NO" you say after a few chuckles, "I just like the you that is at ease." She wiggles her eyebrows at you and you click your tongue at her. "You know what I meant, Jade."
Her face scrunches up, fighting a smile, "Do I though?" You just shake your head at her. After a few moments of silence she sighs, "Thank you. I'll make it worth it for you."
As soon as she finished her sentence, a mischievous smile crept onto her features. Your eyes narrow, "What? I don't like that face, what are you planning?"
She holds her hands up in innocence, "Hear me out," your eyebrow rises at her words as she continues, "I propose a win win for us."
"Ok?"
"How would you feel about a couch?"
Whatever you thought she was going to say, it wasn't that. "I mean…I hardly had room for your air mattress, what makes you think there's room for a couch, too?"
"Like I said, win - win, I'll buy a futon and then you'll have a couch and I'll have a bed"
After a slow blink, you shrug, "I don't hate the idea, I guess? Especially if you're going to stay any length of time, I'm sure an air mattress would get old quickly."
She gave a small excited clap, "Great, we will go back to the apartment and get your car and then head to Walmart."
"Say what, now?" you look at her like she's lost her mind, that wasn't part of the deal.
The server walks up, check in hand, glancing back and forth between them while trying to decide who to hand it to. You look at them, the glare still on your face, and then look to Jade pointing a finger to her. She frowns before holding her hand out to get the bill, as soon as they walk away she grabs her wallet and mumbles under her breath.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" you asked her.
"I said you're a brat." she says, looking you dead in the eye.
"Look who's talkin, sweetheart." You say with a wink.
She looks away to write the tip, fighting the obvious blush that springs across her face before standing up and gesturing to the door.
"Whatever. Let's go, hotstuff."
You bite your lip and slide out of the booth, walking ahead of her towards the car.
The playful, ironic flirting and sarcastic pet names continued all the way home, throughout the drive there and whilst walking around the store. Jade ended up buying some sheets and stuff for the futon as well, and you found yourself on "don't let the cart flip over" duty. There was entirely too much fun being had, and you haven't laughed this hard in years. It was complete chaos and you loved every second of it. By the time you got out of the store and managed to get the futon box into the back of your SUV, the lunch had all but worn off.
"I bet if we ordered pizza right now, the pizza guy would get there and help us carry the box up the stairs by the time we got home." You say as you start pulling out of the parking space.
Jade scoffs, "We don't need a man to carry it up the stairs, we've got this."
You frown at her inflated confidence, and make a point to wiggle your arm, "Babes, I gotta break it to you, when I flex, it sags."
She laughs, "Don't worry, dear, I'll pick up your slack."
You just roll your eyes, "Ok but seriously, pizza?"
She shrugs, "Fine with me, but I just spent a shit ton, so unless it's fuckin Cici's, I'm out."
"Don't worry, I know a guy at Joe's pizza place." You could feel her look over, and a quick glance over to her shows you her questioning face. "What? He always flirts with me in my Comp Sci class. I'm not above using that to my advantage. I'll call after we get home."
She nodded her head approvingly, a smirk plastered on her face, "I didn't think you had that in you, Vega."
As you stop at the red light, you feel that tell-tell flutter in your stomach when you look over to her. You almost don't even recognize your voice as it comes out of your mouth, the sound dripping with a low rasp. "There's a lot you don't know about me yet, West." Your eyes flicker down to her lips as they part open briefly. She licks them slightly and swallows hard, before you catch her eye again.
"Not yet," she said slowly, matching your tone, "but I can't wait to find out."
The rest of the car ride was silent, but not uncomfortably so. You were just blatantly aware of the bodily reaction you had to the look she gave you earlier and the tension in the car afterwards. It was a very different kind of tension in comparison to what you had felt when she first got there that last night, or that morning even. This was a weird, partially acknowledged sexual tension that was subdued, but determined to be felt.
You pulled into the parking lot for the apartment, and backed up as close as you could get to the stairwell.
"Let's get the bags up first and maybe just leave the door open?" she asks as you both get out
You press the trunk button on the keys and the back door starts to open slowly, "Sounds good, I'll go ahead and call Chet while we're at it so the pizza can get here. What kind do you like, pepperoni ok?"
You glance to her and see that she's trying not to laugh. "His name….is Chet?" she squeaks out "What a douche name."
You laugh, "Oh you have no idea, he lives up to it, too."
She shakes her head, grabbing all of the bags at once, "I've got too much ground to cover with you to have Chets getting in my way." You try to protest the bag situation, reaching for her loaded arms, but she just pulls them away as you reach for some of them. "Listen, noodle arms, just call the pizza boy and get some grub delivered, would you?"
It's as she starts walking past you that you process the first part of her words. You walk quickly to get ahead of her before she gets to the stairs. "Ground to cover?" you say, the dots still not connecting in your mind as you start trying to find the kid's number.
Going up the stairs, talking, and being on your phone all at the same time was a recipe for disaster. You totally misstep right at the top, and your shin slams into the metal edge of the top step before your knee and empty hand meet the concrete. You scream, eyes squeezed tight, chaw clenched trying not to start crying.
"Oh, Shit! Tori!"
You barely hear her words beneath the throbbing in your ears. There's a loud clanging as the sacks are thrown to the ground and then you feel her hand on your back and arm, pulling you up slowly.
"Jesus Christ. Do I need to wrap you in bubble wrap? Fuck babe, you're an accident waiting to happen." Her words said one thing but the voice was nothing but concern.
You feel one hand leave you, and soon the lock clicks. The door creaks as it gets pushed open, and she replaces her hand, guiding you inside. Your leg is throbbing, you can hardly put any weight on it, and your eyes are still shut tightly. She's whispering soothing words and phrases but you're too out of it to hear what they are.
She stops you, and the warmth of her hands disappear. You peak your eyes open, and see that she's pulling the kitchen table chair out. She glances up at you, seeing your eyes are open, "Don't look down. I'm going to clean that up for you. How attached to these leggings are you?" she reaches out her hand and you grab it for support while hobbling to the chair
You just shake your head, "Go for it." As you sit down you bend the painful knee, and you feel the wetness for the first time. "Fuck, how bad is it?" you gasp, eyes wide to the ceiling.
"Not BAD bad, but definitely not great," she gives you a wincing smile. "I'll be back with scissors and some soapy water, just hold tight."
You close your eyes again. The throbbing was all you could feel now, the shock and adrenaline calming the pain momentarily. Against her advice, you peek at the leg, immediately regretting it. There's a large hole in the knee of the leggings and there's just bright red to be seen. You pale slightly, "Shouldn't have looked," you say loudly.
As soon as the words leave your mouth, she comes in with her hands full of supplies. "No shit, sherlock. I warned you not to look. You haven't been able to handle blood since Robbies hospital visit."
The woozy feeling paused long enough for you to glare at her, "That's mostly your fault."
She waves her hand, dismissing the comment, "Details, details. Now, focus. Distract yourself." She sits down on the ground in front of you.
Nothing was coming to mind for a distraction, especially as you feel her gingerly lift your leg, and the cold steel of the scissors press against your leg. The sound of fabric cutting, followed by a sharp intake of breath from the dark haired woman playing nurse. "Oh damn, I didn't know you hit your shin too. Remind me to order that bubble wrap.
You bite out a laugh, "What are you going to do, make me a bubble suit?"
"Don't tempt me any more than I already am." she said with a concerned laugh. "Listen, this is gonna hurt like a bitch."
That was all the warning you got before you feel her start cleaning your knee with a rag. The soap and warm water dripped down your leg, and you feel a sting on your shin as the water touches that wound, too. You close your eyes as she cleans it. You don't scream out, but your breath keeps hiking and you let out hisses and grunts in response. Before long you were almost numb to the pain just content to be having someone else take care of it.
Her voice startles you when she finally talks again. "Alright. It's not pretty, but it's clean. I'm not gentle, but I am thorough."
"Kinky," you croak out before you could stop yourself. You open your eyes just in time to see her rolling hers. "Thanks."
She rolls her eyes and nods, "I'm calling the pizza guy. I'll let the poor dumbass who shows up help me get the couch up the stairs."
"I can help y-" You try to speak but she interrupts you.
"I didn't just clean that shit up for you to go ripping open the scabs. You're gonna stay up here and ice your leg."
You feel your face pout. "Fine, but I'll call the guy."
She smirks, "A brat, and a stubborn ass." She stands up and goes to get ice.
With a shrug you pull out your phone, feeling the pull on your palm, the road rash looking all red and inflamed. You wince, switching hands you finish finding Chets number, quickly pressing dial.
She turns around with a bag of ice as the line rings, immediately seeing your bag hand face up on your leg. Hands immediately on her hips, "Really? Another one?" she says quietly.
You wave it up a little and shrug, making a face of innocence. She shakes her head and walks back over to you, kneeling. The ice goes to the ground and she gets the rag back out of the bowl of soapy water.
Chet answers the phone, "Hey, Sexy, to what do I owe this pleasure."
Jade frowns at his words, but still picks up your hand gently, the warm rag slowly wiping small circles into your injured palm. She looks up at you, listening to the man's voice on the other side of the line. Those bright blue eyes swirl, the warmth of her hand holding yours, the gentleness of her actions, it was all too much. You just sit there staring at her, completely lost for words.
"Tori? Are you there?" Chet asks over the phone.
Jade looks at you, looks at the phone, and back at you. She nudges you. With no responnse she starts shaking your good leg while whispering, "Earth to Tori! You gotta say something."
Her words barely reach you, "What?" you say arily.
She glares at you, reaching up to grab the phone from your hand. She puts it on speaker phone and holds it between the two of you. Coughing slightly, she starts imitating your voice,
"Chet? Sorry, I dropped the phone. Listen, are you at work?"
"Oh, yeah, no, I'm not, there's a kegger tonight that-"
Jade dramatically interrupts him "OHHHHH Nooooooo, I was reallllllly hoping you could help me tonight." She adds some fake giggles for extra measure, gagging behind the scene as Chet responds.
"You need help? With what?"
"Well, I fell down the stairs and hurt myself," Jade squeezes your leg softly, "And I was really needing a big strong man to come help me move my couch in. And maybe if I was really, really lucky he'd bring me some 'feel better' pizza when he came?"
Whatever daze you had been in was now faded, and you were suddenly really aware of how close Jade was, and that she was imitating you very poorly. You scrunch your eyebrows, and open your mouth to speak. Jade immediately covers your mouth with her hand, and shakes her head at you.
Chet pauses on the line, "I mean, I could probably swing by on the way to the party. What's my reward though?" he asks suggestively.
Jade visibly repulses before responding in her Tori voice, "I guess you'll just have to find out when you get here. Oh and a large pepperoni would be heavenly."
"A Large? For that tiny figure, are you sure?" Chet's condescending tone was the last straw for Jade.
"Yep, that's what I said, 1832 S Main St. Apartment 149 B. And make it fast, I want to take a bath sooner than later." With that Jade hung up the phone. Disgust on her face.
She handed the phone back to you and went back to cleaning your hand. You handled it a little better this time.
"A bath? Really?" You ask, trying to keep your mind focused.
"Now he thinks he's gonna get lucky and see a naked chick, obviously he's gonna hurry." Jade said dryly, a frown on her face.
You sense the tone shift, but it isn't until she starts scrubbing your hand harder that you say something. "Ouch, hey, whoa. What's wrong?"
She looks up at you, tapping your palm with the rag a few times, "That guy is a pig." you nod in agreement, "'What's my reward', like what? What do you usually offer him?" She was not looking happy.
You raise your eyebrows, "You sound jealous."
She scowls harder before opening her mouth slightly. She doesn't actually speak, and ends up just waving the rag hand dramatically.
You fight a smile, when she looks into your eyes. You say the first word with air quotations from your free hand. "Usually, I give him homework solutions. But I've only done it like twice, both in a moment of weakness and utter laziness.
Jade visibly relaxes, looking back to your hand she holds, washing more gently this time, "Oh." she says simply.
That's when you remember what she said, right before you fell. The lightbulb goes off, and you make the connection with what she had said parallel to your conversation at the gardens.
You watch her finish your hand, patting it dry with another towel, she closely inspects it before reaching down to grab a few of the bandages from her pile of medical supplies from the bathroom. Carefully she puts some on the biggest cuts, and then rubs them down slowly. She looks up at you, and a small smile appears on her face when she sees you have been watching her.
"All done." She says softly, her hands retreating to her lap.
You swallow, determined to keep your composure steady, "Typically, you're supposed to kiss them to make them really feel better"
She falters slightly, searching your face for clues as to what exactly that meant. Finally she says, "I think you're right, but I don't want to rush my redemption arc."
You bite your lip, "Fair enough, but you came a long way today, so maybe it won't take you as long as you thought.
Her smile shines, "Oh, yeah? Keep me posted on my progress, would you?" You nod, her smile was contagious
Jade stands up, grabbing the partially melted bag of ice from the floor, "Hold this to your shin, it's gonna be a bad knot by tomorrow, but hopefully this will help a little. I'm going to get the stuff from the stairs, and ambush Chet to helping me with the couch." She hands you the bag before walking to the door, and you wince at the cold as you put it on the tender leg.
You can hear her rustling outside with the bags, collecting the stray items that tried to roll away, and you decide to try hobbling to the bed behind you. She just happens to see you as you sit on the bed. She shakes her head at you, her arms full of the bags as she brings them inside. "Stubborn ass."
You give her a cheesing grin, "I can't help it."
"Whatever. I'll be back." She rolls her eyes, leaving the door partially cracked for when they brought the couch.
You take this moment of silence to ponder the fact that this was only day one of living with Jade. The same Jade that single handedly almost ruined your entire highschool experience. And yet, the smile still plastered on your face was undeniably larger today than it has been in entirely too long.