Fractured Fates & Silent Vows

Rating: T/M for some themes

Summary:

In another timeline, Liam triumphantly returns to his hometown for a fresh start. His time at Hollywood Arts is a whirlwind of success and new friendships. Despite keeping a few secrets, he's on top of the world. But just when he thought everything was going smoothly, an old friend reemerges, hellbent on reigniting the past.

Author's Notes:

Chapter 11: Hollow

Damn it all...

It was never your fault that you were roped into a war that was never yours to fight. The forces of light and darkness are selfish and arrogant to think they have a right to force such precious children into roles neither of them asked for. Thankfully, I found a solution. While the results guaranteed protection, I knew they would never agree to this scheme. It is with a heavy heart that I had to separate the three in hopes that they could live their lives without fear and trepidation.

As expected, Jade was the first to protest; Her outcry was justified, if not expected. It was a miracle that she didn't discover the truth until it was too late. Jade's friend, Tori, was no different, though her emotions were easier to handle. I felt the girl's pain, but, it was a small price to pay to ensure things went according to plan. It was more annoying having to convince their fathers. Lucifer and Uriel were all too eager to have their daughters "back to normal".

What do I mean?

According to them, a spell would remove their memories of the poor boy, leaving Jade and Tori to follow the path set by their controlling figures. Such a deed would be horrific; To remove memories of a cherished ally and friend is a horrid fate to endure.

Fortunately, this was never the plan...

The "Angel of Justice" and the "Father of Lies" were so caught up in their daughter's returning to their former selves that neither detected my true plot. Yes, I changed the girl's memories, but I never erased them. Liam either. Like Tori and Jade, he needed to be removed, if only temporarily while things died down. I sent him away with similar thoughts while I put the next step of my plans into motion.

But, unlike those fools, I eagerly await the chaos that is approaching. This started when Aeshma... or Darius left with Uriel's eldest daughter. Now, things will be interesting when his protege comes back. I hope that coward is proud of the warrior he betrayed.

Liam, I wonder what chaos you'll bring upon your return?

Emerald portals slowly opened, flooding the boy's senses with the cruelty of the mortal realm once more. Surprisingly, his ears picked up the pouring rain outside, the hushed deluge providing a calming effect for him. From what he could make out, he was in a luxurious bedroom, a far cry from the elements. It was all the comfort he'd receive at the moment as his first conscious inhale forced a sharpened hiss. Even worse, stabbing pain in his sides plagued him at the tiniest of movement.

"Shit..." he winced, trying to hold back the tears.

"Such deplorable language," a motherly tone made his ear twitch. His chest tightened, but he couldn't help but follow the voice, finding a familiar sight smiling back at him from across the room. "Honestly, I should expect nothing less from that cowardly demon, though."

"It's you..."

"Save your voice. You've endured a lot in the past few days..."

"Days?!" Liam shot up, instantly regretting it as his body roared at him to lie back down.

Lilith calmly strode over to the bedside, gazing at his writhing form. Despite the excruciating pain, he could barely make out the sorrow in her eyes, yet there was something else. He took short, shallow breaths as the woman checked his body. This was when he noticed the bandages that adorned him. Was the damage that bad?

"I need you to lie back and rest," she chastised. "Aeshma, the coward that he is now, still packs a vicious punch. He cracked several ribs and ruptured some vital organs. The fact that I was able to get you healed up was nothing short of a miracle. You should count yourself lucky. They managed to get you to me in time."

"They...?! Wait, you're, OW!" Liam regretted his outburst as that triggered a sharp pain in his side. "The one..."

"You must be careful, child!" she scolded, though her voice never faltered. " You are far from fully healed and you would do right by avoiding any sudden movements."

"Sorry..."

"Save your strength. The ones responsible for saving your life have been waiting for you to regain consciousness. Jadelyn and her friend are worried sick about your state. Just relax and I'll bring them to you."

As Lilith turned to exit, she felt Liam grab her hand. She turned to comfort him, it was the shiver in his grasp that made her heartbreak. Gone was the defiance that she admired from the young soul. What remained was a shattered husk. They said that the eyes were the window to a person's soul, and it was apparent that he was in no shape for company. Such a transformation was abrupt but not unwarranted as his gaze fell to the sheets. Whether he wanted to or not, Liam couldn't shake off the truth.

He remembered that look in Darius' eyes; the rage exploding with each blow inflicted upon him. Every blow had a purpose. The result was a trip to another realm where pain and agony couldn't dream of touching him. His breath grew shallow as bile threatened to burn his throat. His shudders soon shifted into mini convulsions. Lilith took pity on the boy, stroking her fingers over his hand.

"Liam?"

"You... Did I die?"

Jade and Tori sat silently in the living room of the former's home, each trying their best not to dwell on the awkward air around them. Even turning on the television didn't help matters as their minds were preoccupied with the status of their friend and [secret] crush. Every time they closed their eyes, that traumatic scene replayed in their minds on repeat. The sound of his body crashing into a tree combined with his pained grunts was horrendous, even for someone like Jade. Seeing the blood and bruises marking his body, such a grotesque portrait on his body, was enough to make their stomachs churn.

Bloodthirsty rage stirred with unrelenting yearning.

But nothing compared to the finality of the whole ordeal. Liam was barely clinging to life when they finally left their hiding spot. After a quick inspection, they had to struggle to get him in the goth's car without being noticed. Thankfully, Jade called her mother who told her to bring him to the house, further confirming her worst fear. Now, they were sitting around, waiting to hear about any progress... or the inevitable fate of their friend.

"Dammit!"

"Jade?" Tori turned to the goth, startled when she slammed her fists against the table.

"It's been days and we haven't heard anything about Liam's condition! What is that woman doing? She'd better not be playing us!"

Throughout Jade's outburst, the Latina could easily see the fear and desperation pouring out from her words. The dam was breaking and the passionate plea of her frenemy was both terrifying and inspiring. Ever since she found out about Jade's connection to Liam, she figured that there was something more beyond the surface and this moment proved no different. Jade was usually passionate about herself, her future, her intended profession, etc. Seeing her show affection to someone not named Beck was a sight to behold; Like an actor with the role of a lifetime, Jade played her part to perfection...

...If only it were a role, to begin with...

Jade felt a hand on her shoulder, tearing the goth from her tirade. She felt ready to explode until she beheld the fearful gaze of the one she considered her rival. This was the moment that she lost her composure, allowing herself to sink into the couch. Right now, at this moment, it wasn't about some petty need to win; Her insatiable need to win had no place here. Tears stung her eyes, each word cutting deeper than the last. She allowed the drops of pain to trail down her face as it was the only form of solace she'd get as she turned to the understanding grin of the girl.

"Why don't we go upstairs and check on him?"

Jade blinked at the awkward sight, her face knitting with confusion. "What are you talking about? My mom told us she'd come to get us and-"

"Since when have you ever followed the rules?"

She didn't miss Tori's mischievous tone, prompting a weakened smirk of her own. While she hated it when she was right, Jade wouldn't waste this moment of clarity. With a rekindled spark, she grabbed her frenemy's arm and rushed up the stairs. Every step she took vindicated Jade until she felt like an indestructible tank staring at the guest room door.

She raised a fist to pound on the door but was stopped when it opened that moment, revealing the taller woman wearing a sullen smile that knocked the wind out of her sails. Immediately, she thought the worst as her stomach dropped. Thankfully, Lilith stepped to the side, revealing the object of their journey.

"Wolfy?"

Liam didn't respond to her nickname for him. He continued to sit in the bed, his eyes staring straight ahead. They cautiously stepped inside, eyeing the bandages that concealed the many different wounds. Liam looked like a zombie, his blank gaze making him look like a doll. Only when they saw his fingers clench the blankets did his usual visage begin to return to normal. The emptiness behind his portals slowly gave way to normal, merely a fraction of their usual brilliance. Jade didn't care about specifics, rushing over to hug the boy. Tori joined in the embrace, albeit more gingerly than her gothic counterpart.

"Jade? Tori?" he managed to whisper.

"It's alright..." The latter smiled brightly at him, tears brimming her terra pools. She kissed his cheek, missing the evil look coming from Jade. "...You're safe and that's all that matters!"

He didn't respond, still lost in his senses. He tried to hold his poise but he was nearing his breaking point. Jade recognized this and placed her hands on his face, making him look into her eyes. To the average person, they would mistake his reaction as depression, but his damaged soul was all she glimpsed.

"I... We're here, Liam. You don't have to pretend!"

"Don't be so hasty, Jade..." The girls turned around to the approaching woman. "He's just coming to grips with what has happened. You mustn't push him too hard."

"What do you know? He's tougher than you think, Mom..."

Jade's venom did nothing to rattle the older woman, but her motherly scowl remained.

"I am well aware of his resilience, Jade. But, it would be unwise to rush the recovery of those who had to be helped back into this world. You, of all people, should know the importance of this."

"You mean... Liam was dead?"

"Yes. When you brought him to me, he was barely clinging to what little life he had left..." Lilith sighed while making her way to a nearby chair. Her manicured finger massaged her forehead in hopes of staving off a headache. "I could explain everything, but we are pressed for time and he needs rest for an important choice. But I need to know that you'll listen to what I say... Without interruption."

Both nodded in silent agreement, allowing her to resume.

"First, your friend did cross over to the realm of souls, or the afterlife if you prefer. Aeshma, or Darius, tried to harm the boy in hopes of offsetting a bounty that was put on him by powerful people..."

"You mean, HIM?" Jade's eyes narrowed, flashing more knowing than suspicion.

"Partially," Lilith sighed heavily. "Your father was notified about your friend's extracurricular activities. However, there was something that shifted everything for the worse. Many of the bounty hunters were reapers who tracked their prey through scent rather than appearance. When they came for Liam the first time, that was all that was required of them to continue their hunt. However, he wasn't the only one targeted."

"Trina..."

Multiple gazes pointed at a solemn Tori Vega. "What does your annoying sister have to do with anything?"

"The one you call Trina had another name, Seraphina. Like your friend, Seraphina possesses spiritual gifts that are considered a threat to the forces of hell. She's the eldest daughter of Uriel, the one you call David Vega, the archangel of justice. Should she ever tap into her power and the truth of her identity, it could redirect the balance of power out of my husband's hands. This is where Aeshma comes in..."

Lilith's words were brief but still important as Liam flinched violently at the name of the person he held so dear to his heart. Sensing this, Jade clutched his hand while Tori took the other without noticing the other's actions. Lilith smiled and continued to explain why Darius attacked him, careful not to trigger the boy any more than he already was. Besides, there was still the matter of what was to come from all of this.

"Your sister and Darius fell in love, ignoring the treaty set between angels and demons. Though forbidden, a general in Lucifer's army and a daughter destined to take up the mantle of an archangel coming together was the last thing anyone could've predicted. Even worse, no matter how much time passed, they never changed what was in their hearts. Aeshma renounced his claim as the demon general of wrath while Seraphina turned down the role her father had trained her for and both were cursed to wander the earth until they agreed to return to their respective posts."

"So, what changed?" Jade raised a brow.

"Your father meddled, as is his way," Lilith giggled as she recollected the outcome that transpired. "What he did was supposed to force Darius to return as your father's general. Instead, it allowed him to exploit a loophole that resulted in where we are."

"That bastard sacrificed Liam so that he and Trina could run off together?!"

"Exactly... But, this has also given us a chance to reshape the future. Which leads us to my offer."

This caused Liam's ear to twitch, drawing his attention to her for the first time since their initial reintroduction.

"You want me to work for you?"

"Something like that. Given the way things have played out, I want to help you three avoid the impending bullshit that these two sides will try to force upon you. With your friend and my daughter on opposite sides by proxy, there's no doubt that they'll be eventual targets for a choice that neither of them should ever have to be forced into making. Hence, my proposition."

"Which is?" Liam stared at her with weary eyes, wanting nothing more than to go back to sleep at this point.

"Before the summer solstice, there will be a battle of sorts between Uriel's forces and which General Lucifer chooses. Of course, this also serves as a recruitment opportunity. No doubt, the two will try and bring you in, one way or another..."

"Like hell!" Jade snarled, her eyes flaring up with fury at what was being implied.

"Jade's right!" Tori added. "They can't just make us do something we don't want to!"

"They will certainly try..." Lilith's grim smile was matched only by her gentle simper. "But, I suspect that it would be difficult to conscript you if you're not here."

Liam, Jade, and Tori all eyed the woman, noticing her features dance with amusement. Tori was oblivious to what she meant, but the former duo figured it out rather quickly. Picking up on their realization, Lilith cleared her throat.

"Unlike those two, I can sense that you all are more than just good and evil. Being born into something isn't enough to justify one's path. That's why I'd like for you three to enter a summer academy, one that will aid you in discovering your true identities as well as your purposes. I want you to think about this throughout your upcoming semester but I'll need an answer before spring break so that I can know whether or not to make arrangements. For now, enjoy one another's company. I must go."

"What? Where to?"

"I made a promise to help young Liam with a place to stay in Aeshma's absence!" she giggled again before exiting the room.

On cue, Liam finally allowed himself to lean back in bed, exhaling sharply with his eyes closed. He could feel the power of slumber begin to overtake him, but not before noticing the presence of two bodies against his own. While the bed was large enough to fit them all with enough space, he didn't complain about having them huddled so closely either.

"Thanks..." he whispered, finally allowing his lips to drift upward. "...For-"

"Shhh. We can talk later," Tori cooed gently, yawning into a restful sleep.

"Just rest for now, Liam."

While Tori's tone was tranquil and nurturing, Jade's voice was a mix of demanding and worrying. Liam didn't blame her, especially now that she knew the truth of his condition. He only hoped that she didn't find a way to blame herself for what occurred. The last thing he needed was to awaken to a Jade West pity party. So, he chuckled, just enough to ease a bit of tension in the air before he gave into his body's pleas for sleep. Jade was the last to succumb, but not before considering her options moving forward:

Because of Darius' odd actions, Liam had to be resurrected.

She nearly lost him again.

How was she supposed to cope with that right now?

Maybe she wasn't supposed to?

Jade sighed as she wrapped a leg over Liam's, clinging to him for fear he'd vanish again. This was the third time fate had tried to rip them apart, and if she had anything to say about it, it would be the last chance it'd have to do so. While she was never one to lean on others for assistance, she found her mother's proposal both intriguing and perfect. Whatever this academy had, she'd welcome the chance to embark on a new journey.

With a wicked grin, she too lost her battle against the sandman letting her mind begin to sink into the depths of unconsciousness, though not without one final thought to address everything that'd resulted from this turn of events. Meanwhile, her mother watched with sorrow as she uttered something that would change everything. For better or worse, she was uncertain, though it would allow the three to live without fear of her husband or themselves.

Lilith opened her eyes and was greeted with multiple events between the three, significant moments of their lives from many dimensions and timelines flashed in her mind's eye. As a rebellious soul, Lilith West was no stranger to breaking away from traditions and the status quo. This would be nothing new as she searched through the moments in time only to stop on a singular event that would change everything for them.

Tropical trees in a lush jungle. Soldiers searching. Spilled blood and lives lost.

"A country called Yerba?" she rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "I think I can work with this."

Even though she couldn't change events meant to happen, she realized she didn't have to. Her only goal was to subtly influence things in a specific direction long enough to divert her husband's attention. While the younger ones were not to blame for any of it, the same couldn't be said for the others. Lucifer, Aeshma, and even Uriel, disguised as a humble police officer, were all responsible for imposing their troubled past on these unfortunate children.

"But this..." she smirked as she found a future event that could shift them away from the religious egos of those entities.

It would do as she shifted the original idea for another, one that was simple but impactful all the same. While she never wanted her daughter to lose someone dear to her, Lilith would never forgive herself if she allowed things to play out as they were headed. It would require some further manipulation, but it would pan out; It had to.

Forgive me children... she continued her chant until a spark began to glow brighter around the three. I hope you understand, this is only temporary. You'll all have to fight for one another again, but it'll be worth it. May you be free from the bonds of a life that was never yours. May you find the Source for yourself and follow your truth.

[Several Weeks]

"8... 9! 10!" Jade West just stood there, frozen as she stared at the Vega's front door.

She hadn't anticipated this - being alone at night without her boyfriend, or rather, her now ex-boyfriend. Time seemed to stand still as she stood trembling before the mahogany door in disbelief. When the countdown reached '10', he didn't emerge. He didn't confront her to admit his mistake or salvage their relationship. Jade felt a sharp pain in her heart as she slowly reached for the doorknob, only to hesitate, unaware that Beck was hesitating too. Nevertheless, both of their actions felt inconsequential as Jade, wounded yet prideful, stormed off down the driveway toward her home.

"Screw Beck..." she sniffled quietly, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

Jade struggled to hold back her tears, uncertain of how long she could keep her emotions in check. Facing reality, she hastened her steps, hoping to avoid the inevitable. After walking through several streets and blocks, she stumbled upon a seemingly random cafe. The cacophony of orders being shouted and the aroma of various coffee beans overwhelmed her.

At that moment, it felt like heaven on earth for her, and she longed for some kind of solace.

"What'll it be, miss... Jade?!" a familiar voice called out in surprise, amusing her.

Standing a few feet away from her was a stunned Liam. The sight of him made Jade want to giggle but, sadly she wasn't in the mood right now. All that mattered was that she was around her best friend.

"Sup?" she nodded her head at a young man wearing a 'Lava-Bean' apron.

"What're you doing here at this time of night?"

"You weren't at home..." she crossed her arms. "...I came here to get a drink before... Wait! I didn't know you started working here!"

"Your mom got me this gig so that I could earn some extra cash."

"Why would you have to do that? Didn't my mom offer to cover the bills for the house?"

Now it was Liam's turn to snicker at her as the tables turned. "Sure. It saved me from having to find a new place to live. That doesn't mean I magically became a trust-fund kid, no offense."

"None taken..."

The young man noticed a subtle expression of emotion but didn't take the bait. He glanced over his shoulder, grabbed his notepad, scribbled something, and then returned to the front counter to help the remaining customers. Jade glanced at the note on which he had written "I'll be back. Need answers," and she couldn't help but chuckle softly as she tucked it into her pocket. Looking out of the window at the nearly empty street beyond the store, her mind wandered back to the last half hour when her ex-lover had humiliated her, deepening her newfound hatred for Beck.

"Sorry about that" Liam's return broke Jade from her brooding before sitting across from her. "You know the late-night rush can be hectic at times. Luckily, you came in just as it was wrapping up." Seeing no discernable response from Jade, the guy finally let his grin drop to a more serious look. "Alright, what's going on, Jade?"

"Maybe I came here to enjoy the scenery?" she quipped, pressing her lips together.

"Cut the crap! We both know that you only come here for two things: Straight black coffee heated at 101 degrees precisely and advice," He crossed his arms, narrowing emeralds focused solely on the pale-skinned girl across from him. "Seeing as you haven't ordered anything, it's safe to assume that you came here for the latter and, judging by the conflicted look on your face, something big happened, didn't it?"

"First: I'm impressed that you learned my order in such a short time... Props!" she rolled her eyes playfully. "Second: Do you have to know me so well?"

"Only when you're being a pain in the ass..." he retorted, his smug grin slowly returning as he leaned back in his seat. "Now, will you please tell me what's going on?"

Given her reputation for keeping her emotions concealed, Jade finally lowered her guard enough to show the despair behind her azure orbs. No tears. No sobbing. No cracks in her voice. None of that was necessary.

"He broke up with me..." she muttered, those words stinging her lips. "Beck and I are done!"

"How's that any different than any other time before? I heard you two break up and makeup pretty often..."

"Where the hell did you hear that?!" she raised a warning brow toward her companion.

"I... Heard it through the grapevine?"

Jade sniffled softly before resting her head on her fists. From there, she explained everything, from the increasing number of arguments to the game show, and finally, the ultimatum. The last part caught most of Liam's attention, as his focused gaze never left the girl until she finished catching him up on the details. Many observers would have been surprised to see Jade West confiding in what seemed like a random stranger (although the goth has done stranger things), but it was evident that Liam was more than just an average guy, let alone a total stranger.

"...and there you have it..." Jade let out a pronounced sigh followed by a deep scowl.

By now, the last couple of customers had received their orders and the shop was practically empty outside of the pair and the few staff members remaining. Liam noticed and stood to his feet to remove the mint green apron and toss it over his shoulder. Signaling to Jade, he went to the back only to arrive a couple of minutes later with only his backpack on his shoulders.

"Come on!" he smiled brightly.

"What about work?"

"I'm through with my shift, so we can go. Are you heading home or..." he ceased his inquiry when she tapped her foot on the floor. "I take it you're crashing at my house?"

"You're a quick study! We can take my car and pick up some clothes for the weekend. If you think I'm leaving you in that big empty house alone, you're grossly mistaken!"

As the new week began, the aftermath of the previous week hit Hollywood Arts hard. Trina Vega's sudden departure and Jade and Beck's breakup had disrupted the peace within the school. While Jade tried to weather the storm, Liam and Tori found themselves in different situations. Liam had to suffer in silence while everyone flocked around Tori, offering their condolences.

Even worse, whenever Tori tried to spend time with Liam, she was either hounded by her peers or swamped with schoolwork. Even now, Liam wasn't around for class yet few noticed his absence.

I hope you're alright...

"Alright, class!" The hyper Sikowitz bursts into the classroom with his usual coconut in hand. "I'm feeling giddy today so, we'll be exploring the inner workings of emotional stability in acting." He watched his students, expecting a hand to be raised in questioning only to find them just staring at him with either blank stares or looks of confusion on their faces. "Glad you asked my darling palm trees! This exercise will challenge your ability to maintain whatever emotion you're given. Under no circumstances are you to break that emotional state or else you'll be eliminated."

"So, it's like when you had that challenge back at your- OW!" one Robbie Shapiro yelped as the lower half of Sikowitz's coconut collided with his noggin, courtesy of the unpredictable teacher followed by the uncontrollable laughter of Rex Powers, Robbie's dummy.

"Now then, I'll need Andre, Beck, and... Jade!"

The room grew deathly silent at the grouping decision who was obliviously sipping from another coconut that left his students wondering where it even came from. In only a few days, news of the pair's breakup had reached nearly everyone in Hollywood Arts and even some people out of school. This only made things tenser to the point where Jade outright avoided everyone in her 'circle' to ward off having to express her feelings about the situation (not that there were many people eager to do that, mind you).

Oh, kill me now... she groaned inwardly, trudging toward the front stage.

"Excellent! Now, Andre, you are an inconsolably fearful man who is always down on his luck. Beck you're a rage-filled husband and Jade, you're his unusually happy wife who can never show any sign of problems with Beck. The scene is marriage counseling where Andre tries to get to the root of your marriage problems while trying not to lose his mind in the process."

"That's... oddly specific," Tori frowned softly from her seat at the wacky man.

"'Tis the world of acting! And action!"

"Okay now..." Andre shuffled uncontrollably as Jade and Beck as they took their seats. "Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Hattwick. I trust that you both know what you're doing here so let us... Cabbage patches!" he jumped out of his chair in terror as if something was flying overhead. "Sorry about that. Now, please tell me why you believe you both are here."

"We're here because of my incompetent wife, Jane!" Beck snapped causing Andre to duck and hide behind his imaginary clipboard. "If she'd just do as she was told then we wouldn't have any problems in our marriage!"

Jade wanted nothing more than to go off and let out some pent-up frustration that remained in her heart but, through sheer effort alone, held her bright and awkward smile as Beck and Andre conversed about her 'shortcomings' as a wife. This continued until Andre finally turned his attention to the strained goth.

"Mrs. Hattwick, would you care to give your opinion about the state of your umm... marriage?"

"Why certainly!" she replied cheerfully in her fake 1940's accent, much to Tori's chagrin. "You see, Harold can be a bit excessive with his temper at times. True, he works long hours at the factory and can be demanding, but, I feel if he were to tell me what irritates him, then our marriage would be strengthened and stable."

"I tell you every single day!" Beck viciously cut her off, ignoring her discomfort while she gripped the ends of her black skirt. "If you'd stop and listen to what I say instead of pretending that things revolve around your perfect little world, maybe you'd be able to understand!"

"I don't mean to upset you, Harold. I was just saying that maybe you could show me how much you care rather than..."

"That's what I'm talking about, Jane! Did you even hear what I was saying?!" By this point, the atmosphere was growing heavier around the trio on stage and it was far beyond clear to everyone, even Sikowitz himself, that the proverbial 'elephant in the room' was being exposed for all to witness. "You tell me to open up and yet, you can't even follow your desire. You're always silent when I do ask you about anything that might be bothering you, you just pretend as if it's nothing and you get all passive-aggressive! I can't even take you on a date without you pretending that you're this perfect woman when it's far past clear that you're the furthest thing from that!"

Now it was Jade's turn to retaliate.

"Well, since we're on the subject of emotional stability and honesty, maybe you'd like to share with the good therapist about the real root of your anger. Perhaps if you spent more time pleasuring your wife instead of indulging other women's fantasies of you, then it's possible I wouldn't have to be all passive-aggressive. I mean, since we're talking about perfection, let's talk about how you've gone out of your way to assure every other Mary Sue and Holly Wood who comes your way, but it's an issue when your wife needs it?"

Despite the growing tension between the two, Jade still managed to keep a chipper and upbeat disposition, never once dropping her smile. As an actor, she was more than capable of handling such menial trials such as staying in character, but, this time was different. This time, the rage lacing every word from her ex-boyfriend's mouth made her insides tremble as he masterfully mixed his true feelings with the fabricated lines he conjured.

In short, Beck was breaking her.

"This is exactly why our friends hardly invite us to parties and other hangouts!"

"You're saying it's my fault, dear?"

"Yes! That's exactly what I'm saying! You treat everyone around you like you run everything or you scare people off! I can't even have normal friends because they're afraid of what my overly happy wife might do if she found out!"

"They wouldn't have to worry if they stayed far away from you, honey..."

"They wouldn't have to worry if my wife wasn't a hypocritical and hyper-sensitive gank!"

Time stood still.

The room held no sign of sound aside from the usual ticking of the clock above the entranceway.

As the former couple stood just a few feet apart, Andre quietly tried to slip away, no longer able to muster the will to participate in the acting exercise. It was a wise decision, for with each passing moment, Jade's forced smile slowly faded, and Beck's eyes revealed everything to her. All of his true feelings about their relationship were now laid bare for the entire class to see.

"Is... is that what you think of me?" her voice cracking as she struggled to ask such a simple question.

Beck said nothing; there wasn't anything else he could say that wouldn't make things worse.

"Fine."

Jade stormed out of the room, not even caring that she'd left her backpack behind. For her, all that mattered was that she got as far away from Beck and the others before she completely broke down. Fortunately, she managed to make it past the janitor's closet, taking a detour down a corridor that led to an abandoned part of the school. Jade rushed down as the tears began stinging her eyes, the perfect representation of how she felt when every memory came flooding back one by one as she pushed open a pair of double doors to find herself in a place most would find creepy.

However, it was a home away from home for the gothic girl as she finally allowed the dam to open. The last year or so now overtook Jade, thankful that she was hidden away from the world, if only temporarily. She didn't have to hide how she felt as she took a seat on the old decrepit stage and just stared at the dimly lit seats as she surrendered to her true emotions.

"Fuck my life..."

After school, everyone gathered to go to Karaoke Dokie, but Liam and Beck were missing. They arrived at a karaoke club around 6 pm, impressed by its stylish design. Robbie and Ahrya, the couple, quickly found seats near the big stage, just like always. Cat admired the lovebirds enjoying the music, while others either shrugged resignedly or rolled their eyes in annoyance.

Two girls, one blond and the other brunette were on stage singing a pop song, but their rendition was quite terrible, enough to make even Jade West cringe. As they finished, there was an awkward applause, and oblivious Cat joined in. Tori and Andre exchanged uncertain glances as the blond girl mentioned something about there being no competition. Right on cue, Jade grabbed Cat's arm and pulled her on stage, determined to prove those girls wrong.

While the song was going on, Tori couldn't help but shake off this feeling that something wasn't right...