A/N: As I mentioned on my recent Stuntwoman update; I have a vacation coming up next week. I'll take notes whenever inspiration strikes me, but I won't be actively working on any chapters during this time. Just need to relax mostly.
That being said, I will do my best to crank out another chapter before that happens. We shall see!
If I don't manage to pull it off, either way, I will see you in July!
Kind of ironic when you think about it, how the real-life timeline is almost in step with the timeline of the story because July is coming here as well.
Jade was writing on her computer when a knock came at the open door.
"Mom?"
"Oh, hey!" she smiled at her daughter. "What's up?"
Alice pursed her lips and entered.
"Can we talk about something?"
Jade nodded and went over to the couch where she was immediately joined by Alice.
"What's on your mind?"
"I just got off the phone with dad and he suggested I talked with you first before making a decision."
The former goth raised an eyebrow.
"Decision for what?"
Alice sighed, rubbing her arm.
"For going back east...to visit."
It dawned on Jade what she was talking about. This past year had been such a whirlwind of firsts, both chaotic and glorious, that Alice spending time in Massachusetts had slipped her mind. The arrangement her and Harry made was since Alice would be in Los Angeles for the school year, she was going to fly back home for the summer.
(But THIS is her home!)
As much as she detested Harry's past transgressions, it wouldn't be fair to keep a child from her father. And he was always good with her. It broke her heart to see her baby racked with guilt. Obviously, she liked living with her and all of her friends were here, too.
"What did your father say?" asked Jade.
"He said he understood that I wanted to spend the summer break with my friends and he's happy for how I've adjusted to living here. He was just wondering if I could visit for a couple of weeks in July...around my birthday."
Harry's family always had a big birthday party for her as a family. While they had mixed feelings toward Jade for a time, her in-laws were over the moon for the girl.
Jade rubbed her chin in deep thought.
(What the hell, Harry? Why did you suddenly get so reasonable and mature?)
"You miss them?"
Alice shrugged.
"I mean...I haven't seen them since December."
A thought started to weigh on Jade. Now that she was on good terms with Harry's fam, they probably expected Jade to tag along. And it wasn't like she was going to allow her fourteen-going-on-fifteen-year-old daughter ride a plane across the country as an unaccompanied minor! But if that's the case...that means Jade would have to be separated from Tori and after being apart last Christmas season, she wasn't looking forward to doing that again.
(If Harry can come up with a compromise, maybe I can think of a solution, too.)
"What do you think, mom?"
"Give me a minute," Jade smirked. "I might have an idea."
She excused herself and quietly walked out of the room, taking out her phone.
Mia stretched as she passed Tori and the Latina signaled for the teen to come over.
"Yeah?"
Tori put her phone call on hold and placed the cell on the coffee table.
"Alice is traveling back to Massachusetts for her birthday and to visit extended family. What would you think about us tagging along?"
The tan girl scratched her head.
"Not my first pick for a vacay, but I guess...maybe...wait, what about the store?"
"Miles can handle it for a while. Plus, he'll have some extra help."
Mia rubbed her neck.
"I don't know, mom."
Tori grinned and flicked back her hair.
"I mean if you don't want to go, that's fine. Just thought we'd make a stop before New England."
"Where?" asked Mia.
"Hey, Alice!"
The short girl ran over to her mother.
"Yeah?"
"Tell your dad we'll be there and expect a couple of extra guests for your party!"
Alice regarded her with confusion.
"Huh?"
"I just got off the phone with Tori; her and Mia are coming with us."
She was not expecting that at all. But her heart rose at the sound of it.
"Really?"
"Tori's been looking for an excuse to go east and visit some very old friends. So, tell you what..."
Jade took Alice's hand and sat down.
"We fly to New York for a week and then we can spend the rest of the month in Massachusetts."
Alice thought it over and it sounded exciting, and she would at least have her best friend along.
"So, it will be like a big family vacation?"
The author thought about it and smirked.
"Guess it kind of is."
Jenna went over to the recreational park the old team frequented.
Sure enough, last basketball court on the right. There she was.
Tambry McAlpin.
None of the other girls standing near her rang any bells so they must have all been new.
(Wait, was Tam the only one left from the old guard?)
This puzzled Jenna and she was also bemused by the fact that their coach was absent. If this were in fact practice, he should be here.
"Tambry!"
The olive-skinned girl looked up and sneered at Jenna.
"It's me, Jen!"
The short girl with green eyes walked to her.
"This is a private practice session," she told her. "No traitors! So, leave."
"Who are you calling a traitor?" protested Jenna.
The aggravated girl continued on, picked up the basketball and turned her back to Jenna.
"What the hell, Tambry?!"
Jenna grunted as she banged on the chain link fence, making it clang and vibrate.
"You're not gonna face me?"
She ignored the question and motioned for her teammates to huddle up.
"Since when did you become a coward?"
The ball slammed on the concrete slab, bouncing higher than the fence. The other girls' eyes were drawn upward to the flying ball and as it came down, they noticed Tambry charging to the fence.
"What did you just call me?" snarled Tambry.
"A coward because you'd rather ignore me than talk to me!"
Tambry scoffed.
"That's fucking rich, Parker! You have stones getting in my face and saying that I'm a coward!"
"Dammit, Tam! Where do you get off calling me a traitor?"
Their eyes noticed the orange object rolling toward them and Tambry lifted her foot to catch the rogue ball.
"See how you're on the other side of that fence?" she pointed. "Because you don't go to Pitney. You're no longer a Dragon. And you are NOT my friend!"
The other girls followed Tambry and Jenna left, feeling defeated.
That night, Jade and Alice came over for dinner and to discuss the details of their first big trip together.
Tori was particularly excited as she hadn't been out of this town for some time. Mia tried to play it cool, but she could tell the girl was just as eager for a change of scenery.
Jade was at the counter chopping up the fixings for a salad, as Tori reached for the stove to turn of the oven. Dinner was nearly ready.
"Alice! Mia, could you set the table please?" Tori yelled out.
Jade hummed along to the soft music playing in the background.
"God, why do you always play the Karaoke tracks for dinner." Mia grumbled as she entered the room.
"That way the lyrics don't distract us from conversation at the dinner table," Tori said, handing her daughter four plates.
"Wait, this music actually has lyrics?" Alice asked grabbing the silverware.
"Oh, yeah..." Jade said scooping the lettuce and putting into the bowl then taking it to the sink to wash it. A new track began.
"Ohh.. Jade... Do you know this one?" Tori said swaying a bit.
"Tori, it's been less than five seconds..."
"Come on you know this one. It's a duet." She said taking the knife from her girlfriend and twirling her around and pulling her close and swaying with her. "The closer I get to you," Tori sings, and Jade remembered that Tori is a singer. And a damn good one.
The former goth smiled and wrapped her arms behind Tori's neck.
"Oh yeah..." she said softly.
"The more you make me see..." Tori continued singing to her girlfriend. "By giving me all you've got"
"Tell me more" Jade whispered to her.
"Ooh, yeah, your love has captured me," Tori finished. "Sing with me Jade!"
Jade smiled, then took a deep breath.
"Over and over again...
I tried to tell myself that we."
Mia and Alice stopped what they were doing then. It had been a long time since Jade had sung in front of anyone, and Alice had forgotten that her mom could do that.
"Could never be more than friends
When all the while inside I knew it was real..."
"Ooh" Tori harmonized with her, and Alice grew fascinated by the display in front of her. She had never seen her mom happier than she was in Tori's arms.
"Oh wow!" she whispered to herself distracted.
"The way you make me feel." Jade sang as Tori dipped her in their dance and kissed her neck as she brought her back up. She giggled and their work just faded away. it was just the two of them. Jade touched her forehead to Tori as they swayed and she sang the top of the next verse.
"Lyin' here next to you,
Time just seems to fly,
Needin' you more and more..."
"more and more" Tori harmonized with her spinning Jade around once more.
"Let's give love a try..." Jade sang with a smile and Tori harmonized that line with her. "I wanna try, oh..."
"Sweeter and sweeter love grows..." Tori took up her part of the verse now, as Jade put her head down on Tori's shoulder. "And Heaven's there for those..."
Mia finished her take and folded her arms. This was getting super gross now. She glanced at Alice, who seemed to be taking in the romantic picture and absorbing it completely. Mia is not against romance. Not even against two women being together... this was just her mom... She was not supposed to be doing things she would do with Ryan if they were alone. it's just... ugh no.
"Who fool the tricks of time..." Tori sings, as her dancing with Jade has turned into a barely-there Sway, and a slow caress down Jade's arm, as the woman pressed herself closer, Jade kissed Tori's neck as she sang as they were lost in this moment. "With hearts of love will find true love..."
Mia gasped when she noticed the change and looked more urgently at Alice, who seemed entranced.
"In a special way, way, way..." Tori finished the verse and jolted when she heard a throat clear.
"Can we eat now?" Mia asked, turning off the music.
Jade and Tori reluctantly let go of each other. Jade turned quickly back to the salad bowl she had been working on.
"Uh... Yeah... I'm almost done with the salad.
Tori turned to the oven blushing profusely. "Yeah... Um, dinner is done, let me get it out of the oven."
"Maybe that could be your song..." Alice said trying to dispel the sudden tension she felt. "You guys sound great together!"
Tori clutched her girlfriend's hand as they momentarily passed each other.
(We do make beautiful music together. And oh, the songs I want to play with you. Songs that are just for us.)
Jade swallowed.
(Vega giving me those eyes will NEVER get old!)
A/N: Okay, we've got some bad blood between Jenna and her old teammate.
And it seems Chase isn't the only one traveling east to visit family.
See? That phone call Jade and Tori had during the holidays would come back; where they would go to NYC and bring the girls.
FINALLY: special thanks to SKRowling for that awesome karaoke scene. The song is "The Closer I Get to You" by Roberta Flack feat. Donny Hathaway for those that care to know.