Chapter 8

Date

The evening had gone better than Vic could have ever imagined. The Dave and Buster's-style restaurant was buzzing with energy, the sounds of laughter, electronic beeps, and the clattering of arcade tokens filling the air. It was the perfect mix of fun and casual, and Vic had to admit, Jade seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself.

They had spent the last couple of hours playing everything from skee-ball to racing games. Vic had let Jade win most of the time, savoring the rare sight of her carefree, triumphant smile. She had a competitive streak, and seeing her gloat over her victories was endearing in a way that made Vic's heart pound a little harder.

Jade was in her element, tossing teasing remarks his way as they moved from game to game. "You're going easy on me, aren't you?" she'd asked more than once, narrowing her eyes at him suspiciously.

Vic had just shrugged, offering a lopsided grin in return. "Maybe you're just better than I am."

Jade had smirked, clearly pleased with herself, but there was a softness in her eyes that hadn't been there before. It was as if the arcade's neon lights and the carefree atmosphere had chipped away at some of her usual defenses, leaving behind the girl who just wanted to have fun and be herself.

The night flew by, and before they knew it, they were standing by the prize counter, Jade inspecting the selection with mock seriousness. "I think I'll take the giant stuffed snake," she declared, pointing to the top shelf.

Vic chuckled and handed over the tickets they had won, and soon enough, Jade was wrapping the ridiculously long snake around her shoulders like a scarf. She turned to Vic, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "This has been… surprisingly fun."

Vic smiled, feeling a warmth in his chest that he hadn't expected. "Yeah, it really has."

As they walked out of the restaurant and into the cool night air, a comfortable silence settled between them. Jade's mood seemed lighter, almost playful, as she swung the snake's tail over her shoulder like a cape.

Vic's thoughts were a whirl. The date had gone so well, maybe even too well. Jade's flirty remarks, the way she looked at him with those piercing eyes—it was all new, and it stirred something in him that he hadn't felt in a long time. But the reality of who he really was—the secret he was keeping—made everything feel more complicated than it should have been.

They stopped by Vic's car, and for a moment, the only sound was the distant hum of traffic. Jade turned to face him, her expression softening in a way that made Vic's breath catch in his throat.

"This was… nice," she said, her voice unusually gentle. "I didn't expect to have such a good time."

"Me neither," Vic admitted, his heart pounding in his chest.

Jade took a step closer, her gaze locking onto his, and Vic knew what was coming next. He felt a mix of anticipation and dread as Jade leaned in, her eyes fluttering shut, her lips just inches from his.

And then it happened—Jade kissed him. It was soft, tentative at first, but then she pressed closer, deepening the kiss. Vic's mind went blank for a moment, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions coursing through him. But as he felt himself getting aroused, the reality of the situation hit him like a cold splash of water.

He couldn't do this. Not like this.

Gently, Vic pulled back, placing his hands on Jade's shoulders to stop her. Jade opened her eyes, blinking up at him with a mix of confusion and vulnerability that he rarely saw from her.

"I… I can't," Vic said softly, his voice hoarse. "I respect you too much for that."

Jade stared at him, her eyes wide, and for a moment, Vic thought he had blown it. But then, to his surprise, Jade's expression softened, and a small, almost shy smile curved her lips.

"You're really something, you know that?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vic let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "I just… I don't want to rush things. I want to do this right."

Jade positively melted at his words, her tough exterior softening into something more open, more real. "Yeah," she whispered, nodding slowly. "Yeah, I get that."

There was a lingering moment of silence between them, filled with unspoken emotions and the promise of something more. But for now, they both knew it was time to part ways.

Jade stepped back, wrapping the stuffed snake tighter around her shoulders as if it were a protective shield. "So, I'll see you around, Vic," she said, her voice light but tinged with something deeper.

"Definitely," Vic replied, offering her a small smile.

Jade nodded, then turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing in the quiet night. Vic watched her go, his heart still pounding, knowing that tonight had changed something between them. He had no idea where this would lead, but one thing was certain—he was in deep, and there was no turning back now.

Tori emerged from the bathroom, feeling more like herself now that she was finally back in her own skin. The warm bath had done wonders to ease the tension from the past week. She wrapped a towel around her damp hair and another around her body, the familiar comfort of her room welcoming her as she stepped inside.

But as she turned to close the door, she froze, her heart leaping into her throat.

Perched casually on the window seat, shrouded in the soft glow of the moonlight, was Jade. Tori's scream was instinctive, a mix of surprise and alarm. "Jade! What are you doing here?"

Jade's expression was unreadable, a mixture of something intense and vulnerable all at once. "Trina let me in," she replied, her voice calm but carrying an undertone that Tori couldn't quite place.

Tori bit her lip, her mind racing back to the kiss Jade had given her just hours ago—when she was Vic. It was still fresh in her memory, the way Jade's lips had felt against hers, the way her heart had pounded in her chest. The memory stirred something deep within her, something she wasn't ready to confront just yet.

"What do you want, Jade?" Tori asked, her voice soft, trying to keep her emotions in check.

Jade's gaze was steady, her eyes tracking every movement as Tori crossed the room to grab her clothes. "I don't know," she admitted, a rare hint of uncertainty creeping into her tone. "I just didn't want to go home."

Tori nodded, understanding more than Jade might have realized. She turned her back to Jade, dropping the towel and pulling on her clothes, not caring that Jade could see everything. She knew Jade was watching, and could feel her gaze on her skin, but it didn't bother her. If anything, it felt oddly comforting.

Jade's eyes followed every movement, her breath catching slightly at the sight of Tori's bare skin. She swallowed hard, struggling to keep her composure, but it was getting harder by the second. There was something about seeing Tori like this, so unguarded, so real, that made her want to… No, she had to control herself.

Once Tori was dressed, she turned back to Jade, noting the way her friend's eyes lingered on her. She sat on the bed, tucking her legs beneath her, and asked, "Do you want to stay the night?"

Jade nodded, her voice coming out quieter than she intended. "Just to sleep over… if that's okay."

Tori didn't ask why, didn't press for details. She simply nodded and patted the spot next to her on the bed. "Of course."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, the air between them heavy with unspoken words. Tori could sense there was something more on Jade's mind, something that had driven her here tonight.

Finally, Jade broke the silence. "My parents are getting a divorce," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "They've been fighting a lot, and… they don't care where I go or what I do. I just feel so alone."

Tori's heart ached at the raw vulnerability in Jade's words. Without thinking, she reached out, pulling Jade into a tight hug. She could feel Jade trembling slightly, her defenses finally crumbling in the safety of Tori's arms.

Jade held on to Tori like she was a lifeline, the warmth and comfort of her embrace washing over her. And then, before she could stop herself, Jade leaned in and kissed Tori. This kiss was different—softer, more tender, filled with a depth of emotion that hadn't been there with Vic.

Tori's heart fluttered as she kissed Jade back, but then she pulled away slightly, her mind spinning with everything that had happened that day. "Jade… what about your date?" she asked gently, not wanting to push but needing to know where Jade's head was at.

Jade shook her head, her eyes locked onto Tori's. "I don't want to talk about Vic right now," she whispered. "It's not that I don't like him, it's just… right now, this is about you. About us."

Tori nodded, understanding Jade's need to compartmentalize. She could respect that, and more than anything, she wanted to be there for Jade in whatever way she needed. "Okay," Tori whispered back, her voice full of quiet assurance.

Jade's gaze softened, her lips curving into a small, grateful smile. She leaned in again, resting her forehead against Tori's, and they stayed like that for a long moment, finding solace in each other's presence.

There was so much more to say, so many feelings to navigate, but for now, they both just wanted to hold onto this moment. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.