Decided to upload two today since I may not be able to next Thursday-Saturday because of my new work schedule
After stopping by for some gas, Ryder pulled up to the curb of the Vega house, and the faint rumble of the engine quieted. Tori sat in silence beside her sister, who'd kept her gaze fixed on her since they'd left the school parking lot. Beck had his hand wrapped gently around Lola's, squeezing it just before she pushed the car door open. Tori could see the tightness in his jaw, the way his eyes flicked to her and back again, gauging the atmosphere like he always did when Lola was in one of her moods.
"Talk to her, alright?" Ryder's hand lingered on Tori's cheek as he looked over at her with concern. His words were soft, an encouragement rather than a command, but she could still feel the weight of his disappointment. Tori bit her lip, nodding just enough to satisfy him, then leaned forward for a goodbye kiss. When they pulled apart, Ryder let his gaze fall on both twins for a brief moment. "Work it out, alright?" With that, he gave Tori a small, lingering look before putting the car into gear and driving away.
The only sound was the convertible's low hum fading down the road, replaced quickly by the crunch of Lola's boots on the gravel as she walked up to the house. Her shoulders were stiff, her whole posture radiating cold anger, but she didn't look back at Tori once.
As they neared the door, Tori kept her distance, feeling the weight of her sister's silence settle heavily around them. She reached into her bag, fumbling slightly as she unlocked the door and opened it, stepping aside to let Lola enter first. Her sister brushed past her without a glance, her expression hard, her lips pressed into a thin line. The only acknowledgment of Tori's presence was the faintest twitch in Lola's brow, a flash of something raw and pained that vanished as quickly as it appeared.
They made their way down the hallway, each step magnifying the icy chasm between them. Tori wanted to say something—anything—to break the silence, but her mouth was dry, her mind spinning with nothing but hollow words she knew wouldn't mean a thing to Lola right now. She'd seen her sister mad before and had been on the receiving end of Lola's ire more times than she could count. But today was different; Lola's silence, her refusal to look her way, was a sharp, cutting blade that went deeper than any shouted insult.
Lola reached the staircase, her pace unchanging as she climbed, her footsteps echoing in the quiet house. Tori followed, each step feeling heavier, more laboured, as if she were walking through quicksand. She wanted to apologize, but the words twisted bitterly in her throat, and the memory of her own harsh voice calling Lola a "bitch" seemed to sear her all over again.
The moment Lola reached the top of the stairs, she turned toward her bedroom and disappeared inside, slamming the door behind her with such force that the walls seemed to shudder. Tori flinched, the sound reverberating in her chest, leaving her frozen in place at the bottom of the stairs, gripping the banister so tightly her knuckles turned white. She felt herself start to tremble, not from fear exactly, but from the raw intensity of Lola's fury, a force so palpable it seemed to hang like an invisible barrier between them.
There was no one else in the world that could make Tori feel like this—this stripped of her armour, this small. She ran a hand through her hair, nails grazing her scalp as she leaned against the wall, struggling to hold herself together. Lola's anger was a storm she'd weathered before, but knowing how much her sister truly cared, twisted the knife deeper.
In her room, Lola could feel her pulse throbbing painfully in her temples. She hated herself for being this angry at Tori, hated that her sister could get under her skin so completely. She pressed a hand to her forehead, forcing herself to take a few breaths, but every time she closed her eyes, she saw Jade's tear-streaked face, saw Tori's sneer and heard her cruel laugh echoing back at her.
Back down in the living room, Tori sprawled across the couch her expression unreadable, locked somewhere between hollow calm and underlying dread. The house was eerily silent for a Monday afternoon, but the silence was broken by the television she turned on. Her gaze was vacant as the TV droned on in front of her, filling the silence with a low hum. Her legs were stretched out, crossed at the ankles, and her arms hugged a pillow to her chest, more for comfort than anything else. Her mind was elsewhere, as it often was these days.
The TV flickered as she finally settled on a random talk show, hoping to numb her mind for a while. But the relief was short-lived. The program abruptly cut to a breaking news segment, the words "Special Report" flashing in ominous red letters across the screen.
Tori straightened up, her stomach tightening involuntarily. She stared at the TV, remote clutched in one hand, her breath held without realizing it.
"We interrupt this program to bring you a special news report on the recent double homicide in Los Angeles." the anchor's voice was grave, his eyes hard behind the camera. "Authorities have just released the names of the victims found early this morning in the Ferguson residence: Hayley Ferguson and Tara Ganz. Details remain unclear, but sources confirm the murders bear striking similarities to other recent cases attributed to the Los Angeles serial killer, the Boogeyman."
Tori's heart skipped a beat. She knew those names. They were familiar faces from Karaoke Dokie, the rival schoolgirls who had made a habit of challenging her and her friends on stage. Hayley had always been brash, competitive, and Tara. As well, Tara had a mouth on her that could rival even Tori's. They were always at each other's throats, hurling insults as easily as they tossed back shots of vodka after a performance.
Tori's stomach twisted into a sickening knot as the news anchor's voice took on a sombre tone, recounting the horror. Though the screen showed only a picture of the two girls—smiling, happy, completely unaware of their fate—the memories clawed at Tori's mind. She forced herself to breathe steadily, her knuckles white as she gripped the edge of the couch. They weren't going into details, not publicly. But she knew what those details looked like. Knew too well. Her mind leapt back, suddenly sucked into memories of another scene—a backyard scene, thick with the metallic scent of blood, the mutilated remains of her mother hanging in the grotesque display from the old oak tree. Her mother, brutally murdered in their own home, the news had reported, echoing in every paper and screen across the nation. That crime was the first, they'd said, the start of a terror spree that had only grown worse. It felt like the Boogeyman himself had been born from her mother's blood that night.
"No… not again." She whispered, gripping her hair, each inhale sharp, quick, as her pulse thundered in her ears. Every muscle locked tight as she tried to swallow the terror, the revulsion clawing its way up her throat.
"This is only the third time the killer has displayed their victims. The first two, infamously, were Sole Cinema Studios and the brutal murder of Holly Vega, which first brought national attention to the Boogeyman." She heard the anchor.
Her hands started to shake, and she gripped them tightly, but that only made the tremors worse. She could see the dark outline of the studio in her mind, the memory of a jagged wound that had never quite healed. The night after it happened, she'd cried herself to sleep, torn between horror and a strange, vindictive sense of satisfaction she could never admit to anyone. Every monster there had deserved to burn, and she knew it. But remembering how it felt when they dragged her into that back room, when her screams were muffled, how she'd barely held onto any sense of self after that night.
She choked on a sob, feeling bile rise in her throat. Her vision was swimming, blurring as her body buckled under the weight of the memory. She hadn't realized her breathing had gone shallow, erratic until the buzzing in her ears drowned out all other sounds.
She needed to breathe. Needed to feel something other than the terror consuming her from the inside out. But before she could even think, her body moved on instinct, dragging herself up and stumbling toward the kitchen. Her hands shook as she rummaged through the clutter on the counter, finding the little orange bottle and twisting it open, nearly spilling the pills everywhere in her haste. She took two, swallowing them dry. Then another, just for good measure.
Standing there, hands braced against the counter, she let the bitter taste linger on her tongue, hoping the meds would somehow erase the images that assaulted her mind. The horrific sight of her mother's body was so brutalized that she felt less like a human and more like a hollowed-out message. She felt her stomach tighten, bile rising as her eyes squeezed shut, her jaw clenched against the wave of nausea.
As the pill began to dissolve, she clung to the countertop, trying to steady herself. The twisted logic that something so horrible as Sole Cinema being erased had, in a sick way, brought her peace, wrapped around her like a straitjacket. Her mother, that studio, they were her demons. And both had been taken from her in ways that still clawed at her mind like vicious animals.
But for all the raw, guttural pain, there was an even deeper fear—one that settled under her skin like a parasite. This was the third time the Boogeyman had made a display.
Tori could still hear the faint crackling sound of her mother's skin against the bark of the tree. Fourteen years old, coming home early from a sleepover with her best friend, finding her mother strung up like some grotesque offering, carved and displayed for everyone to see. The blood had dried by then, stark against the morning air, staining the garden grass a vivid, deathly red. They'd ruled out anything typical in the case immediately, called it the work of a madman though nobody had dared call it what it was until years later.
Tori let out a shaky breath, gripping the edge of the countertop until her knuckles went white. She felt trapped between fear, hatred, and a sickly shame that clung to her even as she tried to shake it off. She wanted to run, to scream, to disappear into thin air. The pills were supposed to make it easier, to help her forget, but they couldn't touch the edges of her memories tonight.
The silence in the house was so thick she could barely breathe, but she didn't dare turn the TV back on. She wasn't sure how much more she could take hearing about bodies, about people torn to pieces and hung up like grotesque art. That twisted satisfaction flickered again, darker and more dangerous, but it was quickly drowned by the horror of knowing what this killer could do—and what they had already done.
As she lowered herself to the floor, back against the cabinets, she muttered under her breath, barely loud enough to be a whisper. "I don't care what they did, I don't deserve this. None of us do."
Over at the West residence, Alexis stirred the sauce on the stove, stealing glances at her daughter, who was sitting at the counter, poking her fork at a bowl of pasta she'd barely touched. Jade's usual quick wit and sarcastic grin were missing; instead, her face was shadowed by sadness. It wasn't just the typical teenage angst. Alexis could sense the weight of something heavy, the kind that didn't simply pass on its own. "Jade, honey." Alexis said gently, watching as Jade's gaze remained fixed on her bowl. "You've barely eaten. I know it's Monday, but that doesn't mean you have to start the week with a diet of self-pity."
Jade finally looked up, her lips twitching slightly at her mom's attempt at humour, but her eyes didn't hold their usual spark. "Mom, you know how people say, 'sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me'? Well, they're full of crap. Words hurt like hell."
Alexis sighed, leaning against the counter across from Jade. "I'm guessing it's Tori again?"
Jade's silence was all the answer she needed. Alexis set down her spoon, her eyes filling with a mix of sympathy and frustration. The girl who once practically lived in their house, who had been practically inseparable from Jade. The girl who, after her mother's death, had turned into Jade's personal tormentor. Alexis hadn't understood it back then, and she certainly didn't understand it now.
"Tell me what happened." Alexis said softly.
Jade shrugged, putting on that familiar tough front she was known for, but it faltered. "Oh, you know, just another day at Hellhole High. Tori… she—" Her voice faltered, and she looked away, trying to laugh it off. "She really went for it this time." she mumbled. "Made a show of it in front of everyone. Said... some pretty personal stuff."
Alexis sighed, not surprised but visibly pained. "She didn't say anything nice, I bet."
Jade gave a hollow laugh. "Nice? Nah, she took my damn notebook— read every word, every… you know, thing I'd written about her in there. I mean, I should have known better, right? Just… stupid."
"Jade..." Alexis's voice was firm but kind. She reached across the counter, resting her hand over Jade's. "You don't have to go through this alone, you know? You've got me—and Lola. She'd probably throw Tori into a wall if she saw her talking to you like that."
Jade smirked weakly at that. "Lola's actually the one who found me after it happened. Made me wait for a bit, like she always does." Jade chuckles, "She tried to make me feel better. She's... weirdly sweet sometimes. Even if it's wrapped in a lot of threats and violence."
Alexis squeezed her daughter's hand. "I just don't get it, Jade. Why she's been so cruel to you after everything you two went through together? I mean, I loved that girl like she was my own daughter. But seeing her turn on you like this…" Her voice caught for a second, but she composed herself quickly. "It makes me furious, Jade."
Jade looked down, her fingers tightening around her fork. "Mom, I know you're mad. And I don't blame you. But... please don't hate her. I can't even hate her. Not really. I don't think I ever could."
Alexis exhaled deeply, reaching over to brush a stray strand of hair from Jade's face. "That's because you have a heart bigger than anyone I know. You're still you, even if she's not the Tori we remember." She paused, softening her voice. "But sometimes, you have to look out for yourself too, Jade."
A faint blush coloured Jade's cheeks. "You make it sound so simple, Mom."
Alexis smiled knowingly. "Oh, don't be mistaken—it's far from simple. But at least it's honest. And it's high time you had a little happiness in your life, don't you think?"
Jade hesitated, fiddling with her fork as she seemed to gather her thoughts. "Funny you should mention that…" Her voice was barely above a whisper, and for a second, she looked more vulnerable than Alexis had seen in a long time.
Alexis's eyes lit up as she leaned in, immediately sensing a secret worth prying into. "Are you telling me my little girl has a date?
Jade groaned, burying her face in her hands. "God, Mom, could you be any less subtle?"
Alexis laughed, delight shining in her eyes. "Well, you can't just drop a bomb like that and expect me to sit here calmly!" She reached over, nudging Jade gently. "Come on, spill the beans. Who's the lucky girl?"
Jade peeked through her fingers, looking both embarrassed and amused. "Guy." She corrected. "It's... it's Andre, alright? He asked me to the Senior Ball, kind of made this big, ridiculous promposal in the middle of the parking lot."
Alexis clapped her hands together, grinning with unbridled enthusiasm. "Oh, Jade, that's fantastic! Andre is wonderful. And I never thought you'd say yes to a guy."
Jade rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile creeping across her face. "Yeah, yeah, let's not get carried away. But... he is nice. Really nice. And it felt... I dunno, it felt good. For a second, it was like people still... like I matter to someone."
"Of course, you matter." Alexis said, her tone firm and loving. "You matter to me, to Lola, to Andre... to everyone who really sees you for who you are. And don't forget, kiddo, you're loved. Deeply."
Jade's face softened, the guarded look fading for the first time all evening. "Thanks, Mom." She took a deep breath, a genuine smile finally breaking through. "Maybe... maybe I'll even let you help me pick out a dress."
Alexis' jaw dropped, feigning shock. "Is that an invitation to help my daughter—who's averse to anything remotely glamorous—shop for a prom dress?"
Jade chuckled, nudging her mom. "Don't push it, alright? It's still me we're talking about here."
"I wouldn't dream of it." Alexis replied with a wink. Then she leaned forward, pulling Jade into a tight hug. "But seriously, sweetheart. I'm proud of you. So proud. Don't let anyone, not even Tori Vega, take that from you."
As they pulled back, Jade nodded, her eyes shimmering slightly. "I won't. Thanks, Mom."
Back in the Vega home, Tori stood outside Lola's closed bedroom door, her hand hovering above the smooth wood, nerves gnawing at her. She took a breath and closed her eyes, biting her lip. She could hear muffled sobs from the other side, each one twisting her insides. Tori's chest tightened as she tried to muster the courage to knock. The memory of the argument lingered, and her words—"You're such a meddlesome bitch"—echoed in her head, like venom, she couldn't un-spill.
Steeling herself, she finally rapped on the door, soft enough to test the waters. No answer. She shifted, her stomach churning. "Lola?" she called quietly. Her voice cracked, and she cursed herself for letting her fear show. She raised her fist to knock again but stopped mid-air when she heard another sob slip through the silence.
Without thinking, Tori cracked the door open, slipping inside. Lola was slumped by the wall, her knees pulled tight against her chest, her head resting against her arms. A mess of raven hair fell around her face, hiding her tear-streaked cheeks. Tori's heart clenched at the sight. She rarely saw Lola like this—Lola, the fierce one, the one everyone respected, even feared. Her eyes were rimmed with red, her breaths coming in shallow, broken gasps.
Tori stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Lola…"
Lola looked up slowly, and Tori almost flinched. Her sister's gaze was raw, distant. But she forced a thin, tired smile, shrugging as she wiped a hand across her face. "What? Did you come here to add some salt?" Lola's voice was light, but it carried a hidden weight that sliced right through Tori.
"No… I…" Tori stumbled over her words, guilt flooding her senses. "I just… I heard you, and I wanted to see if you're okay."
Lola's tired laugh was hollow. "Well, I'm rehearsing." she said, her voice a thin shield. "For my final project, you know, that thing where you have to show raw emotion and all that. Really gets you in the mood." She gestured vaguely like she could wave away the hurt that lingered in her eyes. But Tori didn't buy it for a second.
"Lola…" she murmured, taking a step closer. She crouched down, lowering herself to meet Lola's gaze. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." The words tasted bitter on her tongue, and she swallowed hard, forcing herself to continue. "I shouldn't have said that. I was just… I was just being a complete… I know I'm a mess right now, okay? But you didn't deserve that."
A pause stretched between them, heavy with words left unsaid. Finally, Lola's face crumpled, the anger and pain melting into something vulnerable and broken.
Lola's shoulders slumped, her mask slipping as her face crumpled. "Do you know what it feels like, Ria? Watching you destroy yourself every single day? Watching you hurt everyone who used to care about you… all because you're too stubborn to deal with what happened?" Her voice broke, raw with emotion, her fists clenching as she struggled to keep herself from falling apart again. "It… it kills me."
Tori's throat felt tight, a sting forming in her eyes as blinked back tears and listened. The truth in Lola's words cut her deeper than she'd ever admit, the stinging shame of her cruelty creeping up on her. She reached out, and Lola hesitated only a moment before leaning into her. Tori wrapped her arms around Lola, pulling her close, feeling the warmth of her sister's body against her own.
"Lola, I… I'm so sorry." Tori's voice was barely audible, her eyes fixed on her sister, desperate, like a child reaching for something just out of reach. "I didn't mean to hurt you… or Jade… or anyone. I just—I didn't know how to handle it, okay? I didn't know how to handle any of it."
The pain in Lola's eyes softened, her anger dissolving into something gentler. She didn't speak; instead, she reached out, pulling Tori into a fierce embrace, holding her so tightly Tori could feel her own heartbeat pounding against her sister's chest. Tori's arms wrapped around her automatically, relief washing over her as she sank into Lola's warmth.
"I love you, you dumbass." Lola whispered, her voice trembling, and Tori felt a tender kiss on her cheek, grounding her in a way she hadn't felt in ages. "I hate fighting with you. You're my other half. And when we fight…it's like I'm breaking."
Tori's own tears spilled over, and she buried her face in Lola's shoulder, ashamed of how she'd pushed her sister away, how she'd been so blind to how much she was hurting. "I love you too, Lo." She choked, her voice muffled. "I'm sorry for all of it. For every time I hurt you… I don't ever want to lose you."
They stayed like that, holding each other tightly, both sisters clinging to each other as though they were the only things keeping each other afloat. But as they hold each other Tori's grip tightens. She draws a shuddering breath, as something gnaws at her, barely holding on.
"Lola." Tori murmurs, voice trembling. "I... I have to tell you something."
Lola pulls back, raising an eyebrow. The fire in her eyes from earlier is softened but not gone; she's wary, sensing there's more beneath Tori's apology, more darkness lingering. "What is it?"
"About Mom." Tori says, her throat tightening. "And about… why things happened with Jade." She swallows hard, fighting against the rush of shame that nearly swallows her voice. She can't look directly at Lola, not yet.
Lola's eyes soften, her face shifts from suspicion to surprise, her mouth parting slightly. "You're finally gonna talk about it?" A relief builds up, she places a gentle hand on Tori's back, urging her to go on. "You have no idea how long I have waited to hear you speak about this Ria." A small smile cracks in her lip.
Tori looks down, terrified to meet her twin's gaze. "I wasn't supposed to be at Jade's that night, Lo… I was supposed to be home… with Mom."
The air freezes between them, the silence thick, stretching painfully. Lola's relief at the confession is betrayed by a look of shock. She opens her mouth, takes a breath, but no words come out. Tori notices how her expression shifts—relieved, yes, but the worry is still there like it's only just started to settle in. "Oh my God..." Lola finally speaks, her voice hushed, "Thank God you weren't home. I mean, you could've been… you could've—" Lola pulls Tori into a tight hug, "I don't know what I would've done if I lost you too."
"No, you don't understand." Tori said, her words barely above a whisper, her face dropping as the shame settled over her like a shroud. "I should have been home, Lo. I left her alone. I left her alone, and then she—" Her breath hitched, and she struggled to continue.
Lola frowned, confusion and anger beginning to simmer in her eyes. "This isn't on you, Ria. You weren't the one who killed her. It's on that psycho who broke in. It's on them, and them alone."
"No." Tori almost shouted, her eyes widening, voice laced with panic. "You don't get it. A few days later, I overheard Dad his detectives talking. They said… they said it was planned. That the killer was just… waiting for everyone to leave. They waited until Mom was alone. If I hadn't left—" Her voice broke, and her tears flowed freely now, body trembling as the weight of the years of guilt pressed down. "And I—I thought if Jade hadn't asked me over, I'd have been there. Maybe it wouldn't have happened." Tori paused in her sobs, "I was so, so angry at her for calling me that night. I didn't know how to handle it. So, I blamed Jade…"
Lola's eyes widened, and her rage began to boil over once more. "What?" she asked, her voice almost cracking.
Tori's mind wanders back to that dreaded Friday afternoon, when the first week of their tenth grade, had come to an end. The air in the park felt thick and heavy with a cloud cover that seemed to settle low over everything. The muted, gray sky mirrored the tension between Tori and Jade as they sat on a worn park bench, silence hovering between them like a ghost. Jade had hoped—prayed, even—that today might be different, that maybe Tori would show a glimpse of the girl she used to be, the girl who'd laugh with her, who'd dance to terrible pop songs in their rooms until they were too breathless to care about anything else. But that Tori was gone, and in her place was someone Jade hardly recognized.
"Tori…" Jade finally broke the silence, her voice soft, as though afraid a louder tone might shatter what little calm remained between them. "I just want you to know… I'm here for you. You don't have to go through this alone."
Tori's gaze was cold, fixed on some invisible spot beyond the park, her expression hardened, almost vacant. She looked like she was on another planet, and Jade wondered if she'd even heard her.
Then Tori blinked, and something sharp sparked in her eyes as she turned to face Jade, "Fuck you." Tori spat out, her voice venomous. The words hit Jade like a slap to the face. Tori had never spoken to her like that—not once in all the years they'd been friends. Jade's throat tightened as she struggled to make sense of what was happening.
"What… what did you just say?" Jade stammered, her mind racing. She'd heard rumours of Tori acting distant, shutting people out, but this was something else. This was raw, painful malice aimed directly at her.
"You heard me." Tori replied with a sneer, eyes narrowing as she studied Jade. "God, you're so dense sometimes. Do I have to spell it out for you?"
Jade's hands began to shake as she tried to hold onto whatever fragment of calm she had left. "Tori, I don't understand… I'm just trying to help. I've been here for you since the start. If I've done anything to hurt you, tell me. I'll—I'll fix it. Just don't—don't push me away."
Tori scoffed, a bitter, humourless laugh escaping her lips. "Fix it? You think you can just… fix this? You can't bring her back, Jade. My mom is dead because of you!" She was nearly hissing now, her eyes filled with unshed tears, her face twisting with a mixture of grief and fury. "Do you know where I was that night? Do you know why I wasn't there? I was at your house, Jade. All because of your bullshit sleepover, I would've been there, and my mom wouldn't have died!"
Jade's heart stopped. "Tori, no, don't say that…"
"It's true, isn't it?! If I had been home that night, if I had just been there, maybe she'd still be alive!" Tori's voice broke, a raw, cracked edge in her words, but she didn't stop. "She was alone, and I wasn't there because of you, Jade!"
Jade's eyes were wide, brimming with tears. She shook her head, barely able to breathe. "No! That's not fair, Tori! I didn't know that was gonna happen. You can't blame me for this."
"Oh, just shut up." Tori snapped, cutting her off. Her eyes flashed with a fire Jade had never seen before, a twisted, hollow anger that made her look almost unrecognizable. "You and your… your pathetic attempts to 'be there for me.' Like I want that from you. I don't even want to see your face, let alone hear your pity."
"Tori… don't talk to me like that." Jade pleaded, her voice cracking, barely holding back tears. "Please. I love you. I just… I want to help you."
Tori's face twisted into something cruel, a cold smile playing at her lips. "Love me?" she said mockingly. "You don't even know what love is, Jade. Besides, it's not like I need anything from a fucking dyke like you."
The word cut through the air like a knife, slicing straight through Jade's heart. She felt herself recoil as if Tori had physically struck her. Her mouth dropped open, the breath knocked out of her lungs as she struggled to comprehend what she'd just heard. "Tori… you don't mean that. Please, tell me you didn't just say that."
But Tori only glared, a cold satisfaction settling over her face. "Oh, I meant every word. And don't think I'm done." She reached forward, grabbing Jade's wrist in a vice-like grip. The shock of Tori's touch, usually comforting, felt brutal, and painful. Tori's fingers dug into her skin, and Jade could feel her pulse hammering in her veins.
Before Jade could react, Tori yanked the bracelet off her wrist—the one she'd given Jade years ago, the little woven thing that had meant so much to both of them. She let it dangle between her fingers for a moment before tossing it aside, as though it meant nothing.
Jade watched as the bracelet landed on the ground, her vision blurring with tears. The anger, the hurt, it was overwhelming. "Tori… please don't do this. I'm begging you. Just… just talk to me. Tell me how I can make this right."
But Tori only sneered, her eyes cold and unyielding. "Make it right?" she repeated, her voice dripping with disdain. "You want to fix this so bad? Here's a tip—go fuck yourself, West."
Jade reached out, her hand trembling, but before she could touch her, Tori's hand came flying into her cheek. The sting was sharp and immediate, and a hot tear rolled down Jade's cheek as the reality of it set in. She barely felt the pain of the slap itself—what hurt more was the fact that Tori had done it at all, that she was looking at her with such pure hatred.
Tori's face twisted into a smirk, something dark and almost triumphant. "Yeah, that's what I thought. We're done, West. Just go back to… whatever the hell it is you do. Just leave me the hell alone."
Jade stood there, her mind spinning, her heart shattered, as Tori turned and walked away without looking back. Jade wanted to scream, to run after her, to somehow make everything go back to the way it was before. But all she could do was stand frozen, feeling as if a piece of her heart had been ripped away.
As Tori disappeared into the distance, Jade finally broke down, sinking to her knees in the dirt as sobs wracked her body. She'd lost her best friend, the person she thought she'd be able to count on forever, and it felt like her whole world was falling apart. And though Tori walked away with her head held high, her own tears fell slowly, a bitter reminder of the love and friendship she'd just destroyed. Each step felt like a knife twisting inside her, tearing her apart. But pride—her pride—kept her from turning back.
"YOU FUCKING DUMBASS!" Lola's roar jolted Tori back from her memory. "So let me get this straight—" Lola paused, seething, "You cut off Jade because of… because of this idiotic, self-absorbed nonsensical guilt you've been carrying around for years?" She growled and laughed bitterly, each syllable dripping with disbelief. "Do you even hear yourself? You're telling me that you threw away your best friend—the one person who never stopped loving you—because you felt guilty?"
Tori can barely hold herself together, her arms wrapped around her middle as if she's trying to keep from falling apart completely. "Lola, I..." her voice is small, a pathetic whisper against Lola's mounting rage.
"NO! I don't want to hear your bullshit excuses." Lola snaps, cutting her off. "You let yourself believe that somehow, you sneaking out was enough to get our mother killed? You think that? That somehow, it's your fault she's dead? That it's Jade's fault she invited you? Are you even listening to yourself? God, Ria!" Lola's voice cracks, a vein of raw pain coursing through her words. "It's not anyone's fault but the psycho who came into our house!"
Tori flinched, her gaze falling to the floor. She felt herself shrinking under Lola's glare, the weight of her anger almost tangible. She had been expecting anger, but this? Lola's fury was terrifying, "I'm… I'm…" Tori's voice shook.
"Look at me." Lola demanded, her voice icy and unyielding. Tori's eyes darted up, guilt swimming in them, but she immediately looked away, too frightened to meet Lola's gaze. "I said, LOOK AT ME VICTORIA!" Lola snapped, her voice like a whip. Tori's head up like a command she can't refuse. Fear and shame ripple across her face as she finally meets Lola's fiery gaze. "Look at you, cowering like a little girl at big sis when she yells at you, yet you strut around school with that smug attitude, using people, humiliating people, Jade most of all—but you can't even look at me in the eye unless I yell at you." Lola's voice shakes, her eyes blazing with disappointment that cuts deeper than her anger. "You did that shit to Jade? And for what? To hide from your own stupid illogical guilt? To make everyone else pay because you're too much of a dumbass to realize that the world doesn't make a lot of sense and is unfair sometimes!?"
The words sting, raw and real, and Tori flinches as if Lola has slapped her. She wants to hide, to shrink away from the truth pouring out of her sister like a dam finally breaking. She knows it's true, and it's killing her. "I'm sorry." her voice wavers, barely a whisper. "I thought… I thought if I pushed her away, I wouldn't have to think about it. I know I messed up, I know… I—"
"And don't even get me started on the fact that you're goddamn slut!" Lola cuts her off, disgust dripping from every word making Tori shake even further. "You think I don't hear people talking? They can't look at you without undressing you in their heads, and guess what, Ria? They look at me and see the same damn thing because we're identical you moron! You've got half the school thinking they've practically seen me naked!" Her words land with a blunt, heavy thud, making Tori close her eyes against the rising tide of shame. "You have no idea how many times I wanted to claw my own fucking face off every time I heard you got fucked by some asshole, especially that gangbang shit you pulled off last spring break!"
"Lo—" Tori, pleads.
"How many fucking times have you cheated on Ry? Don't you know how embarrassed he is whenever he hears someone else mentions his girl sucking them off and fucking her? Or having a train run on her?"
"Lola, I… I didn't mean to…" Tori's voice breaks, and she turns away, shoulders slumped. She can't face her sister, can't look her in the eye and admit just how deeply she's messed up.
"Don't you dare look away from me, you little skank." Lola's voice is a low, deadly growl, and before Tori can react, she's pulled around to face her sister, her eyes wide and terrified. "Do you have any idea what it's like watching you do this to yourself? Destroying everything and everyone? God, Ria, you're such a fucking, idiot!"
"Lola, please…" Tori's voice is desperate now, her hands reaching out to clutch her sister's in a silent, pleading apology. Her heart pounds in her chest, her face flushed with shame.
But Lola isn't having it. She yanks her hand away, her expression hardening further. "Don't 'Lola, please' me. I'm done listening to your empty apologies. Get out." Lola pointed Tori towards her door.
Tori's eyes widen, her chest tight with desperation. She clutches at Lola's arm, a small, broken cry escaping her lips. "Please, Lo. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I just…I didn't know what else to do. Please I'm sorry."
Lola's face twists with anger, but there's something else there – something that makes Tori's heart break a little more. Betrayal. Disappointment.
"Get. The. Fuck. Out." Lola repeats, her voice cold and final. She wrenches her arm free from Tori's grip, then, with one swift motion, grabs her sister by the arm and drags her across the room. The strength in her grip is unyielding, almost bruising, and Tori can barely keep up as Lola practically hauls her to the door.
Before Tori can say another word, she's pushed out of the room with a forceful shove. She stumbles, catching herself against the doorframe, her eyes wide with shock. The door slams shut with a thunderous crash, and in the split second, before it fully closes, Tori catches a glimpse of Lola's face—twisted, pained, and unrelentingly angry.
Inside, she hears Lola scream, a raw, anguished sound that tears through the silence, followed by the sound of something heavy crashing to the floor, shattering into pieces. Tori's heart seizes, and she presses a hand to her mouth to stifle the sob building in her throat.
Tori stands there, her back against the closed door, trembling as she listens to the silence that follows. She slumped against the closed door of Lola's room, knees drawn to her chest, stifling broken breaths as she wiped fresh tears.