A/N: Our gang returns to Los Angeles!
Today was not a good day, so leave a review because that always makes me smile.
The plane took off at O'Hare International in Chicago. The girls were sleeping, zonked out from the hustle and bustle of the early morning sojourn from one plane to another. Tori peered around her seat to see they were still snoring softly.
"When are we gonna talk with them?" Jade asked.
"Soon," sighed Tori. "I really want to do this as soon as possible."
Spending the last few weeks together, the four really bonded. They were comfortable with each other to begin with but this whole trip gave Tori and Jade a taste of them being a truly blended family unit. They were already spending time together back in L.A. to the point that they were having sleepovers twice a week. The big "M" word wasn't that big of a deal among the women. They weren't against the idea of re-marriage, as neither of them had a previous wife, but the institution didn't matter much to them. Not these days. According to Jade, marriage had too much baggage as a pseudo-religious rite that historically was a transactional arrangement between clans. But that wasn't them. Jade and Tori were devoted to each other and their daughters.
It was easy for Tori to think of Sam as Mia's father first, because nothing would ever destroy that. And for Jade, it's even easier to do so. In fact, she'd much rather not being reminded she had an ex-husband. As far as she was concerned, she found her soulmate in Tori. For the Latina, it was more complicated given that her strong feelings toward Sam hadn't wavered. She would never forget his face, his voice, what he had given her. Tori could never repay that man but at least she could make that equity he put into their relationship count by being the best mother she could be for Mia, and not to neglect her own happiness as well.
Being able to bed Jade every single night for weeks was unbelievable. That steadiness of having that constant companion under the sheets was something Tori missed dearly. Jade respected Tori's reluctance to sleep together (in the literal sense) at her place because of the shadows of the past. However, when it came to Jade's house; Tori was eager to spend the night in the author's chambers. The same was for when they were at the hotel or the townhouse.
The ladies discussed that the two-bedroom apartment would be inadequate for all of them. Where to put Alice? So, Jade figured if they would pull the trigger and do this, it would have to be her house. There was a guest bedroom already, but Jade knew of a larger space that would serve as a better bedroom for Mia. And that meant the girls wouldn't be that far from each other. Could Tori make Mia consider the lateral move? This was the building Mia had lived for all of her seventeen years. Had it been Jade and Alice moving in, that would likely be an easier sell.
"I just hope Mia keeps an open mind," Tori admitted to Jade as she leaned against her. "This would be an adjustment for me, too."
"I can see the benefits; she'd be closer to school. Wouldn't have to bus it all the time. A bunch of her friends are in that part of town, too."
Jade squeezed Tori's hand.
"I could get used to a shorter commute."
"What about your building?" Jade asked.
Tori scratched her cheek.
"Now that the store was back on, we don't really have a reason to sell it."
"Think the store is doing that well it can sustain itself?"
The tan woman pressed her lips together.
"Well...we still have about sixty thousand or so left on the mortgage. I suppose we could find a tenant?"
The former goth glided her tongue across the pointed bottom of her top teeth in thought.
"Who would live above a music store..." Jade smirked before giving her girlfriend a peck. "...besides you?"
Tori hummed in a low voice and snuggled properly next to her love.
"Let me think on that..." she yawned, the traveling madness finally catching up with her. Her eyes shut right after that.
Jade shook her head and quietly covered Tori with her jacket.
Once they finally landed in LAX, the gang regrouped at the food court so Jade could get some much-needed extra fuel from the Starbucks. Even Tori and Mia were eager to get some of the hot stuff, lots of cream and sugar of course. Alice just got an earl grey with enough sweetening to satiate an ant colony. Now recharged, the ladies trekked home, stopping over at Tori and Mia's.
Miles ran out of the store to give everybody a loving hug. Even Jade allowed the affectionate gesture, seeing the older man as Tori's brother. He helped them with their baggage to the upstairs apartment and once they were settled in, he retreated back down to man the store.
It was mid-afternoon, so it was already decided that Jade and Alice would spend the night and head back home when they were nice and fresh the following morning. Nothing worse than getting to your destination, or even back home really late in the evening. You feel like your body won't let you go to sleep because of the nagging worry of those bags piled up in the foyer. So, what happens? You stay up late putting things away, maybe even do a little laundry. Next thing you know, it's three in the morning and you're wondering where all the time went.
They pretty much skipped lunch, so they set up some chips and salsa in the living room and would have dinner in a couple of hours. Jade returned with sodas for everyone and joined Tori, who was seated on the big chair. The writer playfully perched herself on the arm, just above her girlfriend. Tori looked up at her with warmth and regarded the girls, who were sharing the sofa.
"Girls, um..." Tori began. "There's something we've been meaning to discuss. This effects all of us, so it was important to have everyone here."
Alice and Mia looked at each other with confusion and restrained concern.
"What's going on, mom?" the younger girl asked Jade.
"This whole trip got us thinking..." Jade sighed. "Well, let me first ask did you guys like living together, like spending time every day?"
Mia folded her arms with blinking eyes. This wasn't an aggressive arm fold, but a protective one.
"Yeah, why?" the tan girl asked.
"What would you girls think about...us living together?" asked Tori. "And I don't mean sleepovers but something more...permanent?"
(Wish my old ass could think of a better word, but that's what jetlagged me could muster.)
"You want us to move in?" Alice queried with a raised eyebrow.
Mia leaned in to lock eyes with her friend.
"No, I don't think so. There's not enough space, right mom?"
Tori cautiously nodded, holding herself together.
"That's right, sweetie."
"There's plenty of room," Jade added. "But...we don't want to force you two. We want you to agree to this."
They tried not to stare but it was unavoidable; everyone's attention was on Mia. She was going to be the tough customer on this deal. The teen put down her Coke and got up, slowly descending the stairs to her room with hands in pockets. The slam of the bedroom door was deafening.
Jade rubbed Tori's back while the Latina hunched over, hands clasped together.
"Give her time," she told her.
Tori licked her lips, regretting even bringing up the subject.
Mia laid down on her bed, clutching her pillow. Her eyes didn't shift when a knock came to the door.
"What do you want?" she asked, deadpan.
"It's me," replied Alice. "Can I come in?"
"It's a free country," Mia sighed.
The petite girl entered and closed the door behind her.
"Come to talk some sense into me, huh? Did they put you up to this?"
Alice scowled and dropped her bag, making the older girl flinch.
"No, actually! I came on my own. Mom tried to talk me out of it, to give you space."
Mia rolled over and regarded the girl.
"You were always stubborn," she smirked.
"Stubborn recognizes stubborn!" Alice pointed.
The taller teen stretched as she sat upright on the bed.
"Ah, the unstoppable force versus the immovable object. That old story."
Alice approached the bed and without asking, Mia scooted to the left to give her some room to sit beside her. They both sat in silence for nearly a minute before the pale one spoke.
"I know this is a big decision, but it was a surprise for me too!"
"Alice..." sighed Mia, putting a hand over her face. "Don't get it twisted; I like you. A lot. But you're not being asked to give up your only home."
"Excuse me?"
Mia turned her head to face the source of that sudden burst of sass.
"This was months before we met, but in case you weren't paying attention, I was born and raised in Massachusetts. It was everything I knew! But then after my parents divorced, which by the way was a big adjustment too, I packed up all of my shit and moved to the OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY! You want to talk about new? How about being a freshman in high school surrounded by people who didn't know who the hell I was?"
Alice sighed heavily before going on.
"I didn't know what I was doing, Mia. But you were there for me from the very start."
"I was kind of a bitch," Mia admitted.
"Oh, you were!" Alice chuckled. "But you were what I needed. Now I associate this new chapter in my life with you and I can't imagine you not being in it."
Water was forming in Mia's eyes, but she suppressed it as best she could. Alice rubbed her hands against her pants, breathing frantically. Mia was about to touch Alice when the petite girl hugged her tight, her head pressed against Mia's stomach.
"Mia, you're not just a friend to me. We've been through too much! I never had a sister and this past month...I dunno...I got to at least pretend."
(Now I know I have a heart because its breaking.)
The older one started to cry as she stroked the other girl's head.
"When our moms talked about moving in, I was so excited but also scared. I want this! But only if you do too."
Alice released her and sat back up straight, sniffing back her nose and rubbing her eyes with her sleeve.
"Sorry, I'm sorry, I just wanted to say my peace. I just...wanted to tell you that change can be a lot but that doesn't mean it has to be bad. Meeting you was a change for me, right?"
Mia scooted closer to her partner in crime and put an arm around her.
"It was a positive change for me, too."
For years, she was pretty miserable and depressed. Friends she made at Hollywood Arts began to turn the tide, but she was still hurting inside. Then this little ball of sunshine blew into her life and Mia honestly couldn't imagine her life without Alice either. Nearly a decade ago, Mia's family was badly broken but, in the debris, they managed to rebuild. She wasn't a little kid anymore. Mia had the power to help keep her family together this time and she was going to do just that. Alice was brave and she can be as well.
"I didn't make my decision," Mia told her. "I just needed time to think."
"You still need more time?"
She leaned her head against Alice's.
"Maybe a few more minutes..." Mia sighed. "Don't want to cry in front of my mom because then she will start, and it'll be a big mess!"
Alice giggled.
A little later, in the kitchen, Jade and Tori were cooking while the girls were helping. There was some top 40 playing on the radio, but it was turned down a lot so they could continue to talk about the subject of moving.
"Do we still own the building if we move?" asked Mia. "I mean...the store and all?"
"That's the thing," Tori said, melting butter in the hot pan. "There's still the building's mortgage to consider and the store is doing alright, but we would need more to make the difference."
"Once the place is paid off eventually," added Jade. "Then it would be just property tax and the insurance from then on."
"Jade and I were discussing it, and we figured a tenant for the upstairs would be the best move."
Alice looked at Mia with surprise.
"Really?" the short girl asked. "Do you have to put out an ad or something?"
Tori smirked.
"Well, after sleeping on it, I got a good idea for someone to take the space. But I was waiting for everyone to be on board with the move first."
"Is it happening?" asked Jade.
The Latina held her finger against her lips, letting the author know she will not spill the beans. Not yet.
"This particular candidate just needs to see though some details before they can agree. If they say no, then I would have to list it."
Alice leaned on the counter, Mia close by.
"Who is it?"
"Nice try, cutie!" winked Tori. "But my lips are sealed until I know it's a done deal."
"Oh, come on!" whined Jade.
"Hey, guys?"
Miles poked his head in through the door.
"Uncle Miles! We'll let you know when dinner is ready!" Mia smiled.
"Actually, we have a visitor. Oh, rather you have a visitor."
The man stepped up and opened the door, revealing Ryan. The teen girl's heart sank.
"R-RR-Ryan?"
"Hey, Mia" he nodded. "Welcome back. Can we...talk, just the two of us?"
Mia turned back to her mom and gestured toward the roof access with her thumb. Tori nodded and the couple made their way to the stairs.
Their last face-to-face was right here, on this rooftop. Mia's anxiety was already spiking but she breathed in and out, maintaining some equilibrium. They have talked on the phone several times and Ryan failed to mention this girl. Was he refusing to come clean? It was driving Mia batty.
"Let me ask you something, Ryan. I tried calling you Tuesday night and you didn't answer."
The boy squinted.
"But...I didn't have a missed call from you."
"Ryan..." the tan girl rubbed her arm. "I tried calling you a few days ago and this girl answered."
He stood there in bemusement.
"Who was she?"
He ran his hand through his dark hair, his face twisted into a confused look.
"If this girl is nobody I should worry about, why are you being weird?"
Mia bit her lip, unable to keep from pacing around.
"Mia, hold on! I think I know what happened. It's ridiculous but there can't be any other explanation."
His girlfriend (for now) folded her arms and leaned against the concrete barrier.
"Remember when I said some old friends and I were hanging out?"
Mia nodded silently.
"Anyway, we went to the beach, and it was fun. But then it started to get dark and this one guy Randy, he had a sister around our age. And as the evening progressed, everybody paired off and it became this big make out session. All that was left was me and Ellie, the sister. She tried to start something, but I told I didn't want to!"
She was listening but her skeptical face was hard to ignore.
"Ellie was persistent and I tried to be polite and turn her down. Then she tried to kiss me, and I pushed her away. She asked me what my problem was, and I told her I had a girlfriend. And her response to that was you weren't around, so it didn't count. As corny as it sounds, I said it would matter to me and I couldn't cheat on you like that. So, I left."
"But how did she get a hold of your phone?"
Ryan scratched his head.
"The only thing I could think of was when a bunch of us went to swim one more time before it got too late. Ellie and some of the others stayed behind. We left our phones and wallets and stuff behind, so they didn't get wet."
He tilted his head.
"When did you call me?"
Mia huffed and took out her phone. She scanned through the recent calls and on Tuesday night, around six, there was a call made to his phone. Ryan blinked and showed her his recants and no call showed for that night.
"See?"
"But that's impossible," Mia shook her head.
"Hold up," Ryan pointed. "Did you tell her you were my girlfriend?"
She nodded.
"That conniving little b-word..." he muttered while he went into the settings for his cell and showed Mia his phone records. "There you are!" he said in shock.
"She deleted my call?" Mia frowned.
"Amateur..." Ryan sighed. "Novices think they hit delete and it's gone forever. But you can always find a file or a fingerprint when you look hard enough."
Mia let out a huge breath, covering her head.
"I'm sorry I thought you cheated," she admitted.
"No, no, it's fine! I would have been suspicious, too."
The pair stood just inches from one another; an awkwardness hung in the air.
"There's still one more thing, Ryan."
"Yeah?"
"Why didn't you tell me about this? That she tried something, but you got out of there?"
His broad shoulders collapsed slightly; his whole posture looked deflated.
"Ryan?" Mia pressed.
"I wasn't planning on telling you because...I thought you'd overreact!"
It was a fair point. Historically, Mia wasn't the most understanding when it came to a girl who wasn't one of her friends chatting with her boyfriend. How would she take the news of some Jezebel making some unmistakable moves on Ryan while she was away, an insecure teen's biggest fear? But Mia was trying. Lately, she was leaning toward her better angels. Old Mia would have blown up his phone immediately after that encounter with the strange girl, demanding an explanation. But no, she tried to give him the opportunity to come clean and explain.
Now, she found out that he had no intention of admitting what happened. Mia thought they could trust each other.
"Mia..."
"Don't!" she sighed. "I admit I was pretty bitchy in the beginning, Ryan. I learned that it was my problem."
"I guess being able to trust you with the truth is mine," he admitted.
"Where do we go from here?" Mia asked.
Ryan shrugged with a sad expression.
"I don't want to fight, Mia. I could never...say things just to hurt you!"
Mia wiped her eyes.
"It just so happens you not trusting me does hurt."
Ryan folded his arms, looking downward.
"Guess we have a lot to think about."
"Yeah...maybe," Mia sniffed.
He said his goodbyes and left through the door. Mia was overcome with deja vu from that spat they had before she left. Being alone with him again on the roof made her anxious but she hoped that they would leave this on better terms. No such luck.
(Wait.)
Mia's eyes widened and she ran back inside.
(OH, SHIT!)
She was like lightning, blowing past anyone and anything until she made it down into the store.
"Ryan, wait!"
He was just out the door when he stopped.
"Yeah?"
"Uh, listen...I promised Alice that we would double date with her and Becky. She's a little nervous because it's their first one."
Ryan nodded, "I can relate."
Mia walked cautiously up to him.
"We can talk more later on but until then, can we hold it together...for them?"
He swallowed, unable to ignore the sincerity in her eyes.
"Sure. I mean, she's my friend too so I'll do it."
"Good!" Mia nodded before rushing back to the door.
"Mia?"
The teen turned back to make eye contact.
"Whatever happens...don't stop being my friend, okay? I mean it...I don't regret getting to know you."
Mia's heart was pounding, and her throat was on strike because no sound came out. All she could do was nod as he pivoted to leave. She held her chest as she slowly came back through the front door.
"Hey."
Mia turned to see Jade standing inside the store.
"Oh, hi" came Mia's quiet voice.
"You okay?"
The teen nodded and walked right past the writer to grab a bag from the glass counter. Once she picked it up, the girl froze in place but her hand was shaking. Jade carefully approached her. She was startled when Mia turned and latched onto her and started to sob softly.
Jade stood stiff while trapped in the arms of the tall girl. She could hear her heavy breathing and feel the wetness from the salty drops of her eyes.
"Um...there, there...?"
A/N: Don't know what it is, but scenes of Mia hugging Jade make me all warm and fuzzy inside. Either one can be abrasive at times, so its sweet when they recognize the other is in distress.
NEXT CHAPTER: WE HAVE A FIRST DATE!