My last written chatpter... I know I know. God knows when I will come back to this one. It won't be long all of this comes from the top of my head. the others depend on my ability to remember episodes of TV so I haven't written much of any of those. but I'm a bit proud of this Tori Chapter, there is a little more of Jade's Memoir on here. Did y'all hear? a documentary is coming out talking about the abuses of Child actors. It is said that Dan Schneider is talked about in this one. that ought to be interesting. anyway If I haven't said it lately, I appreciate your reviews. see you soon ~ S.K.

Chapter 21:Networking

The picket line was alive with the rhythmic chants of the actors' strike, a sea of placards, and passionate voices. Tori navigated through the crowd, searching for Jade. There she was, engaged in an unexpectedly playful hug with Andre. Tori couldn't help but smile at the sight, never having witnessed Jade's playful side with anyone but herself.

As Andre lifted Jade off the ground, Tori overheard their conversation about a project. "Yeah, man, it was green-lit just before the strike, so when we get this thing settled, I'mma get right to work," Andre shared excitedly.

"Hell yeah, and this is a musical show, right?" Jade inquired. "You know who could definitely play on the show, Tori. She can sing,"

"Well, I was hoping you'd come in," he continued.

Jade grinned. "Of course, but I'm gonna need a love interest."

Their laughter filled the air, and Tori seized the opportunity to approach. Jade, catching sight of Tori, turned with a smile and kissed her in front of everyone. It was a declaration, a public acknowledgment of their relationship. Tori felt the elation rise within her, a sense that Jade was genuinely integrating her into her world.

After the kiss, Jade introduced Tori to her friends. "Tori, meet Andre, Beck, and Elodie. Guys, this is Tori."

Tori exchanged greetings and found herself drawn into the conversation. The details of the acting role weren't mentioned, leaving Tori a bit puzzled. However, as Beck and Elodie joined the group, the camaraderie and warmth enveloped her, making her feel increasingly welcome amidst the striking actors and their passionate chants for fair treatment in the industry.

The picket line surged forward, a sea of signs and voices united in the fight for a livable wage. Jade handed Tori a sign that humorously read, "Logan Roy would pay us more," while Tori glimpsed at Jade's sign that humorously quipped, "I'm trying to pay my rent, not my third and fourth mortgage." Tori's frown deepened as she recalled the meager residual check she had seen on Jade's counter, a mere 11 cents.

The group began to move, and the chants reverberated through the crowd. The leader, shouting through a megaphone, declared, "Livable wage is under attack! What do we do?"

In unison, the masses responded, "Stand up, fight back!"

Tori scanned the crowd, searching for the source of the powerful voice. To her surprise, she spotted Fran Drescher, passionately leading the charge. The energy around her was invigorating, and Tori couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and attraction.

"Stand up, fight back!" Jade echoed close to Tori's ear. Tori turned to her girlfriend, captivated by the passion and determination in Jade's eyes. Her simple attire, the white t-shirt, black shorts, and sunglasses, paired with the bold words on her back, made her irresistibly sexy. Tori's gaze lingered, and she was playfully teased by Andre, who noticed her distraction.

"You're drooling," Andre remarked, holding a sign that humorously mentioned Jade's disdain for AI. "Chat GPT can suck my D"

"Yeah, she likes it when I drool," Tori quipped back, the banter flowing easily.

"Oh, you got jokes!" Andre laughed. "That's cool, Tori. I'mma watch your web show. I think I might have something for you."

Tori smiled, appreciating the camaraderie amidst the serious cause. "Right now, no one has anything for anyone."

"Truth, but once we get this fixed, it's on and poppin'," Andre affirmed, walking ahead with a sense of optimism for the future.

Later that afternoon, as the chants of the picket line continued, Jade found a moment to pause under a tree. Exhausted but determined, she pulled Tori close, seeking comfort in the embrace of her very visible and famous girlfriend. Aware of the watchful eyes around them, Jade mumbled tiredly, "Tell me what democracy looks like!"

Tori relaxed in Jade's arms, feeling the warmth of their connection. "This is what democracy looks like!" she responded, her voice joining the collective shout.

As the rallying cry echoed, Tori turned to Jade. "Baby, we have to go eat. I have to take my meds."

Jade nodded, acknowledging the reality of their needs beyond the protest. She kissed Tori's lips softly, expressing both apology and affection. "I'm sorry, but I needed to hide my face in your neck for like five minutes until TMZ goes away," Jade whispered, burying her face in Tori's neck.

Tori giggled, finding the situation amusing, and turned to face Jade, wrapping herself around her. "You're making me a bit hot and bothered," she whispered back, the intimate moment contrasting with the public demonstration.

"I'm ratty and sweaty," Jade remarked, pulling back to meet Tori's eyes.

"And you look super hot," Tori insisted, appreciating Jade's allure even in the midst of the protest. Jade glanced at Tori's powered-off camera.

"Are you done working?" Jade asked softly.

"Are you?" Tori replied in the same hushed tone.

"If I'm gonna get laid, I am," Jade stated with a mischievous grin, prompting laughter from Tori. The couple shared a light moment, finding solace and connection amidst the chaos of their respective worlds.

"L.A. is a union town," echoed the cries as Jade and Tori walked hand in hand out of a nearby café. Adjusting their clothes with satisfied looks, the couple shared a moment of intimacy. Tori was glad to have mustered up desire for Jade, grateful for the positive effects of her adjusted medication. Yet, amidst the newfound connection, a hint of weariness lingered—a concern that maybe the medication wasn't working as well as she hoped, as she felt an overwhelming surge of emotions.

As they exited the café, Elodie greeted them, smirking at Tori as Jade engaged in conversation with someone else. Tori looked at Elodie, recognizing the gorgeous black woman and realizing they hadn't had a chance to talk.

"Did you have fun?" Elodie inquired, her smirk widening.

"Uh, yeah," Tori replied.

"I never thought she would come out," Elodie shared. "The Lena situation really messed her up."

Tori nodded, recalling the complexities of Jade's past. "She told me it was a reaction to staying in the closet that made her say what she said."

"Nah, Ben made her say what she said," Elodie revealed with a shake of her head. "That jerk tried to touch me too. Then had the nerve to offer me an NDA. I can only guess that she signed hers."

Tori looked at Jade, then back at Elodie. "What do you mean?"

"She hasn't told you about Ben?" Elodie questioned, looking at Tori. "I guess she wouldn't. You've been through enough."

"What happened?" Tori inquired.

"She will tell you when she's ready… or you will read it in her book," Elodie replied. "It was nice meeting you, Tori… will you be back tomorrow?"

"Maybe..." Tori stated. Elodie said goodbye and walked toward her friends. Jade smiled at Elodie and hugged her goodbye, her smile fond. However, Tori took inventory of her emotions and realized she didn't feel any heavy emotion. Jade had cracked her open today, integrating her into her world. Yet she found that she still didn't know her girlfriend at all.

Tori turned to Jade in bed, a question lingering on her lips about Ben, the enigmatic figure from Jade's past. Jade, uncertain how to respond, stood up and donned a giant T-shirt, signaling a shift in the mood. Walking to the kitchen, she returned with her laptop, a bottle of sparkling cider, and two wine glasses, maintaining the pretense they used to indulge in.

Opening the bottle, Jade poured each of them a glass, handing one to Tori. The familiar ritual of pretending to drink was a silent acknowledgment of their shared journey—Jade's sobriety and Tori's inability to partake in alcohol. With the sparkling cider in hand, Jade settled back onto the bed, bringing her laptop with her.

"Ben didn't make me famous, but he kept me on top," Jade began, her words carrying a weight that hinted at a complex history. "And my parents loved him for that..."

Tori peered down at the laptop, her eyes scanning the words as Jade began to reveal the intricacies of her past, the role Ben played, and the tangled dynamics that shaped her rise to fame. As the narrative unfolded, Tori felt a mixture of empathy, curiosity, and a growing understanding of the complexities that had molded Jade into the person she was today.

The first time Ben crossed the line, he told me he was giving me a show. "Genius High," he said. It was supposed to be me and some other kids, all exceptionally smart, attempting to navigate the challenges of attending a STEM private school. The premise included engaging in competitions with nearby schools, excelling academically, and trying to balance the demands of genius with the desire to be normal.

Emma, especially, longed for normalcy. Despite her relentless efforts to be cool, popular, and a trendsetter, she couldn't escape the reality that she was the smartest student in the entire school of geniuses. The pressure to conform to the expected norms clashed with the innate brilliance each student possessed, creating a tension that defined our time at Genius High. And little did I know, Ben's intentions went far beyond creating a show about our academic pursuits.

During negotiations, my mom would bring me to Ben's house, and it was just him and me discussing my future with his company as if I were an adult. I was only 14 at the time. Strange as it might sound, I loved those meetings. I was well aware that I possessed more business savvy than my drug-addled parents, and Ben recognized it too. So, they left me in the company of this 48-year-old man at fourteen.

Let me be clear: at 14, I still rode in a booster seat in my mother's car. Mama kept me small. At that time, my diet consisted of maybe some crackers with shmear for breakfast and a salad for lunch because I had to look like I was eating. However, there was no meat due to hormones, no croutons because of carbs, and maybe a vinaigrette – but the oil, though. Either way, being able to eat a tasteless salad felt like a victory during those lunches.

I know I'm off-topic. But cut me some slack, this is really hard to say. I've never said it before. I loved going to Ben's house at first. That first time we talked about the show… but we ate… I ate things that I had never tasted before. Sushi, sashimi. I had Fried rice for the first time. Yes, my parents took me to fancy restaurants when they wanted to look like they were great parents. But those restaurants always had little tiny food with pungent aromas and are usually an acquired taste. I loved it because those were my treats. I know I did it again. But Ben hit me where it hurt. He said he was "going to put some meat in me…" and now that I am older I understand what he meant. Though I just thought he wanted to fatten me up, and he fed me anything I have ever wanted.

The first time I tasted Pizza… it was… the last time I ate in front of anyone. By now the show had been on for a year, and the other kids were there at Ben's house. I felt safe. I had been there before there was nothing scary. "Pizza's here," Ben said

I smiled excited to taste it. It always looked so good. When I had to pretend to eat it, the pizza was usually cold and I had to spit it out after each take. I was looking forward to a warm slice. I walked into the kitchen, excited, and grabbed a slice. I bit down into the cheezy slice and nearly died from the pleasure I was feeling. "Oh my god…" I moaned.

"Right!" Elodie said.

"I can't believe… My god!" I said and bit again. Beck laughed at my face.

"Geez Jade, don't soak your panties." He chuckled.

"Don't be gross!" Elodie said with a giggle of her own.

I smirked and bit again. Then Ben came up behind me. He said something funny, but I wasn't hearing him, because his big beefy hand was on my hip, and the pizza lost all the flavor. I could feel my heart speed up in my chest as he hugged me from behind and placed his goateed chin on my head. I stiffened as I could feel him stiff and pressed against me.

My friends, laughing around me not knowing what was happening as he ground his stubby little stiffy against my ass. I dropped my pizza and was frozen where I stood. The smell of delicious pizza was replaced by the scent of Brut cologne and stale sweat. My stomach roiled and finally, I broke away. "Something isn't sitting right," I said running to the bathroom. I locked the door behind me and threw up everything I had just eaten.

Tori couldn't imagine the pain and trauma Jade had gone through. She couldn't even fathom the thought of someone taking advantage of her in such a despicable way. Her heart ached for her girlfriend, and she wished she could take away all of her pain.

Jade leaned into Tori's touch, grateful for her comforting presence. She had never opened up about her past to anyone before, but with Tori, she felt safe and understood. She never expected to find someone who could accept her and love her despite her past.

'I'm so sorry that happened to you,' Tori repeated, her voice filled with empathy.

Jade shrugged, trying to brush off the weight of her past. 'Worst thing is, he is out there trying to get back into children's television,' she said with a bitter laugh.

Tori's eyes widened in shock and disgust. 'That's sick,' she whispered, her insides twisting with anger.

'We have to stop him,' Tori declared, determination in her voice.

Jade shook her head, her expression turning somber. 'I tried, they gagged me,' she said, referring to her previous attempts to expose her abuser.

Tori's heart sank, realizing the injustice of it all. She couldn't imagine how frustrating and helpless Jade must have felt.

Without a second thought, Tori moved closer and wrapped her arms around Jade, holding her tightly. 'I'm here for you, Jade. We'll figure this out together,' she promised, her words filled with love and support.

Jade melted into Tori's embrace, feeling a sense of comfort and safety she had never experienced before. She looked into Tori's eyes and saw nothing but love and acceptance, and it brought tears to her own.

'I've never had sex with someone I wanted to be with, until you,' Tori whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

Jade's heart swelled with love and gratitude. She had never expected to find someone who could make her feel whole again, someone who could heal the broken pieces of her heart.

'I love you, Jade,' Tori said, her voice filled with sincerity.

Jade smiled through her tears and kissed Tori's temple. 'I know,' she whispered, her heart overflowing with love for this amazing woman.

Tori bit her bottom lip, trying to hold back her tears. She leaned in and kissed Jade's cheek, wanting to show her love and support in any way she could. Together, they would face whatever challenges came their way, and Tori vowed to always be there for Jade, to love and protect her with all of her heart.