A/N: Okay I almost missed posting this today... I tired myself out today LOL but Thank goodness this has been written for weeks. enjoy! ~S.K.
Chapter 10: First Stepping Stone
Jade observed with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism as Tori set up her camera on the kitchen island. The two of them had put together a video capturing their "meet-cute" at the beach, and Tori was hard at work editing the footage. The video was soon ready, and Tori wasted no time in posting it online. She watched her follower count on YouTube climb rapidly, reaching around 600,000. It was clear that she had gained significant reach, and her channel was on the rise.
As Tori continued her work on the computer, Jade remained unsure about the impact of this collaboration. She worried that it might make her appear hypocritical, even though she hadn't been the one spreading hate in the first place. The complexity of her situation weighed heavily on her.
In the living room, Sinjin and Burf settled in to watch "Genius High." Tori couldn't help but notice Sinjin's intense interest in Jade's past work. She leaned in and whispered, "Does that bother you?"
Jade raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting between the TV and Tori. "What?"
"I always hear actors hate when people fixate on their work from when they were kids," Tori explained.
Jade shrugged, a touch of indifference in her response. "If you're a fan of mine, that's all you've got."
"True," Tori acknowledged. "He's kind of obsessed," she whispered, glancing at Sinjin, who was engrossed in the show.
Jade chuckled, appreciating Sinjin's enthusiasm. "Oh, I know, but he doesn't annoy me too much about it if he can talk my ear off about it for fifteen minutes a day."
Tori shook her head, a warm smile on her face. "You're amazing."
Jade's response was characteristically nonchalant. "We all have things we like." With that, she opened her own laptop and began reading over the script sent to her for an audition scheduled for the next day.
"YES! This is my favorite Episode." Sinjin said.
Jade looked up from the script and blushed when she saw Emma and Layla at each other's throats. Layla was the physically gifted bully played by Lena, She, was the one who accused Jade of being homophobic.
Tori looked up to the TV She blushed and looked back down to her computer. "Sexual awakening.
This was a later episode, where Ben was pushing a more mature subtext. Layla was his attempt at queer baiting. But At this point, Emma was barely 14. So it is kinda creepy. "Girl same…" Jade stated
Tori chuckled, sharing a moment of understanding with Jade, who was no stranger to the complexities of fan culture and shipping. Meanwhile, Sinjin continued to gush about the episode.
Sinjin: "Can you believe the tension between Layla and Emma? It's so intense!"
Tori nodded in agreement, "Yeah, it's definitely an interesting dynamic they've created."
As they watched the episode, the tension between Layla and Emma escalated, and it was evident that they were handcuffed together. Forced to cooperate, the two characters begin to find common ground despite their differences.
Layla: "This is ridiculous! I can't believe I'm stuck with you."
Emma: "Well, we better make the best of it. If we work together, we can get out of this mess."
Throughout the episode, the characters grew closer, learning to cooperate and, in the process, fostering a deeper connection. The tension gradually transformed into mutual respect and understanding.
Tori turned to Jade with a grin, "You know, this episode might have started the shipping wars, but it also shows how people can change and grow when they're forced to work together."
Jade smiled back at Tori, appreciating her insight, and they continued to watch the episode together, "Were you a BrainyJock shipper?" her eyes fixed on the episode but her mind wandered down memory lane. "It's funny how a show can bring people together, even those who were miles apart. Fans connected through the storylines, the characters, and the moments that became a part of their lives."
Tori couldn't agree more. "I remember the shipping wars and debates on online forums. It was like a whole world of its own."
Jade chuckled. "Oh, the shipping wars. BrainyJock, BrainyEbony, EbonyLayla... You name it. The fans were passionate about their ships."
As they watched the characters Layla and Emma handcuffed together, they couldn't help but be reminded of the excitement and intrigue those episodes had brought. "It's amazing how a simple TV show can have such a lasting impact," Tori said.
"What was it like on set?" Tori asked.
Jade looked back in her memory to retrieve one of her fondests. It was in a break between scenes, Jade, Elody who played Ebony, Lena who played Layla, and Beck who played Raj were doing a neck massage train.
The kids laughed and danced as they massaged. "1, 2, 3 SWITCH!" Jade shouted and they turned in the other direction. Lena was behind her, They danced in a train Elody being super short, danced behind Beck who was tall and gangly. She giggled as she jumped to reach his shoulders.
Jade fell backward into Lena's arms and Lena kissed Jade's neck. Jade gasped and turned to the girl "Lena!" Jade said as she let go of Elody's shoulder and turned to tickle the girl.
"I'm gonna get you!" Lena said and Jade took off running. They hid behind a set piece. Where Lena captured the girl and tickled her mercilessly. Jade laughed boisterously. She was elated to have this time with Lena. She made her feel things that she didn't know what they were. Soon the tickles turned to caresses and Jade remained in Lena's arms. Their eyes met, and Jade's heart started beating triple time. Her blue eyes drifted down to the latina's plump lips. Then slowly their lips touched. Lena kissed her and Jade reciprocated. Nothing since then had felt better. It was her first kiss from Lena though not her last.
"Jade!" Ben barked peering to where the girls had gone. Jade and Lena jumped aside. "Come over here Pal, gotta talk to ya."
Jade went over, and remembered her stomach churning Ben wrapped his arm around Jade and walked with her back to his office "Jade how are you doing you eating well?"
He said heading to his desk and running his hands up and down Jade's arms. "Eh… I eat okay." Jade said as he gripped her hips as if sizing her up.
"You're what… 16 now? He asked his hand feeling her breast, and her ass. "You're doing a bit of growing up."
"I guess that's inevitable," Jade said a little nervous trying to shake his hands off her body.
"You got a boyfriend?" He asked sitting her down on his lap.
"No…" Jade said.
"How about a girlfriend?" He asked.
"Huh?" Jade asked.
"Do you like girls Jade?"
"Um…" Jade didn't know what to say.
"What were you doing with that little girl behind the set Jade?" Ben asked. "Do you want her to ruin your career?"
"Why would she ruin my career?" Jade asked.
"Believe me this Woke movement will fade, and all these little queer babies that are famous now, will have to go back in hiding to keep relevant." He put his hand on her thigh. "You just be a good girl and toe the line. You will be famous for years after you turn 18."
Jade came back to herself and frowned at Tori The only thing she said, was. "Work was my favorite part of my day."
The viral success of Tori's "Meet Cute" propelled her YouTube channel to 800K subscribers, while Jade found herself fielding interview requests from various YouTube podcasts. Despite the increased visibility, Jade's financial situation remained challenging, and she hoped for new work opportunities.
A few days later, Tori, now back in a hotel, discussed their next move with Jade.
"We have to follow up the meet cute," Tori asserted, determined. She had secured some endorsements, and Jade joined her at the hotel to plan their next steps. They sat on Tori's bed, contemplating the best approach.
"How are we going to follow it up?" Jade inquired.
"I just do my story time, and if you're just hanging around, it will normalize you as a presence around me, even if it isn't romantic or anything," Tori explained.
"Okay," Jade agreed.
And so, Tori and Jade executed their plan. Tori incorporated Jade into her storytimes, sometimes featuring her in the shot, and occasionally letting Tori apply makeup. Jade, always in comfortable clothes, lounged on Tori's bed.
Speculations began to brew in the comments, accompanied by substantial donations to see more of Jade in the background. Tori generously shared the profits with Jade.
During a live session, a viewer asked, "Tori, where is Jade?"
"Where's Jade?" Tori echoed, looking behind herself. She moved the camera to her right, Jade was sprawled on her bed like a starfish, wearing a tank top and sweats with white socks. The black of her clothes and the white of the comforter are in stark contrast. Tori poked Jade's sides which caused the actress to stirr. Jade sat up from the bed, intentionally appearing as though she had just woken up. "Should I tell them?"
Jade, looking at Tori with sleepy eyes, asked, "Tell them what?"
"You know…" Tori hinted.
"Is it necessary?" Jade questioned, glancing between Tori and the camera. Tori, in awe of Jade's acting skills, moved closer.
"I tell them everything," Tori said.
Jade rolled her eyes but eventually agreed. "Fine."
"Let's tell them together," Tori suggested, bringing Jade closer to the camera.
The chat exploded with excitement and disbelief as Tori and Jade playfully revealed their supposed romantic involvement. Tori marveled at Jade's acting prowess.
"OMG!" "OH GOD! No way!" "This can't be happening," typed viewers.
Tori and Jade bumped shoulders, and Jade remarked, "Doesn't look like they need you to tell them," with a smile.
"Nope… It can't be happening; we all know Tori is affectionate… We have never seen any PDA," one viewer stated.
"They are keeping it SECRET, are you blind! Look at how Jade looks at Tori," argued another.
"Okay, guys, storytime," Tori interjected, steering the narrative back to its intended course. The two-month-long PR romance had effectively worked, and people had already assumed they were a couple.
"These things are getting a little harder to do because Tori is super recognizable now," Jade remarked, ready to fully reveal the romance they had inve3nted for Tori's fans.
"Yes, but... I really had fun with you, Jade," Tori said, finishing removing her makeup with a wet wipe.
"Babe, I know those wet wipes are really good, but you need a basin with water and liquid cleanser sitting next to you too. There is still residue on your skin," Jade pointed out, getting distracted.
"BABE!" The viewership went wild.
Tori giggled, looking at Jade. "Way to spoil the ending."
"I didn't spoil anything. I used to call Elodie Babe all the time," Jade stated.
"OMG, I'm dying!" a viewer exclaimed.
"Anyway, long story short, Jade asked me to be her girlfriend after she killed me twice in laser tag."
"I am an incredible shot," Jade answered with a smirk.
Grinning, Tori ran a loving finger through a wild lock of Jade's hair. "You shot your shot?"
Jade, blushing slightly, replied, "Shot it, and landed it." She leaned closer to Tori, initiating a kiss, and lost herself in the moment. Kissing isn't something she ever got used to. The intimacy that went with the act, was never present when she'd kissed someone. She was a child. And every kiss she'd had was part of a movie roll. Except when Lena was the one doing the kissing.
The same stars behind her eyelids, and the same fireworks in her chest. The receptiveness of Tori made her want more, and she knew she needed to stop now or she was going to place feelings where they didn't belong.
When they parted, Tori's eyes were fixed on Jade's, and she couldn't look away. Jade almost leaned in for another kiss, but Tori leaned back a little. "I don't know if we can do any more 'lives' together," Tori said, a bit concerned.
Then she remembered the screen filled with skull emojis, the word DEAD, and gravestones. "I think they like it," Jade said, shrugging.
Tori giggled and turned to the audience. "Let me hurry and get off this 'live'. I finally have something to do after I take off my makeup."
"OOOOh, get it, Muchacha!" another viewer cheered.
Jade smirked and rolled her eyes, turning her attention to her phone as Tori continued with her performance. Tori discussed a fake date they had come up with, and Jade contemplated the prospect of real dates, feeling a mix of anticipation and curiosity. Dating was something entirely new and exciting for her, and she hoped it wouldn't empty her bank account.