My eyes scan the crowd of familiar faces, hoping for a few nostalgic ones. It's been years since I've seen my old friends from Hollywood Arts. Andre, Cat and I were still close after graduation, but once I moved to New York it's been hard to stay in touch. The last time they were in town was for my birthday, we got drinks and sang karaoke…it was just like old times, and I could really use one of those times right now.

I've been on Broadway for the last couple years. It's made me famous in some circles, but I want to branch out. I've been lucky enough to star in my latest show, but I don't know what's next if I change lanes. I wanna be in movies, act subtly not for the back of the room anymore. Not that I don't love performing, but I'm stuck doing the same thing night after night, play after play. I won't say I want more, because I know what I have is a lot. I just want something different I guess.

So on the last run of this show I invited my old friends to our wrap party. I'm hoping they can cheer me up. Unfortunately, Andre and Cat told me they wouldn't be able to come, their respective careers keeping them too occupied. And I admit, I haven't made much of an effort to keep in touch with Beck or Robbie, but when they didn't respond to the invite that stung a little. It didn't surprise me that Jade had ignored the email I'd sent, but what did surprise me was the far greater sting that left me with. We had never been conventional friends, but I thought we had connected back in school. Like there was this mutual respect or understanding something. I guess I was wrong though, if she didn't respect me enough to make up an excuse, or even just say 'No thank you.'

She is pretty busy these days though, I imagine. She's inarguably the most successful person from our graduating class. She went off to a prestigious art college and was making hit movies before she even graduated. I remember when her first film came out and everybody was talking about how scary it was. A few castmates had invited me over to their respective houses to watch it, no doubt hoping it would scare me into more intimate positions. Unfortunately for them I told them, I knew that girl pretty well and anything she makes is definitely too scary for me to watch. It became harder to avoid her movies the more popular they became though. She really has made a name for herself.

I sighed longingly. What I wouldn't give for that kind of notoriety. That kind of respect. Don't get me wrong, if you say the name 'Victoria Vega' in the right circles…namely theater nerds, you'll get a decent reaction. But still, I'm nowhere near the celebrity that is "Jade West!?" I hear someone gasp. I scan the the crowd again and see her, and I'm just as awestruck when my eyes land on her. She's as gorgeous as she ever was. Highschool me might have been embarrassed that that is my first thought about seeing her, but I've long since come to terms with my same-sex attraction.

Decoding my borderline obsession with befriending Jade in highschool was part of that, but looking at her again for the first time in years, I really can't blame myself. She's tall, even taller in her black strappy heels that compliment her shimmering black dress. She's clutching a matching handbag, seeming slightly uncomfortable. I've never seen Jade shy before, and I revel in it before she finally sees me starting. Like a flick of a switch, as soon as our eyes lock her tentativeness leaves her. She straightens, raises an eyebrow, and begins confidently approaching me.

I swallow hard as I watch her sway towards me, an air of superiority in her gait that I'm helpless to deny, as I try not to let my jaw literally drop. "Hey, Vega." She says easily, like it's been a long weekend and not years. I open my mouth wordlessly for a few seconds before managing to get out "Jade! Hi!"

I shake my head in disbelief. "I can't believe you-of all people- came!" Jade mock-winces, then smiles and takes my drink right from my hand, taking a sip. "And miss this?" She gestures to the admittedly lackluster affair, with the hand holding my stolen drink. I blush and look at my shoes. "I'm sure it's not the kind of party you're used to." I say, embarrassed.

I wonder if she only came to make fun of me. It would definitely be something she'd have done back then. When she doesn't speak I look up and find her staring at me thoughtfully, instead of smirking. "You're right." She says finally, and then that smirk I remember slides onto her face, and I'm surprised at the surge of fluttering it causes instead of annoyance.

"My parties have better drinks." She says dismissively, placing my drink down on a nearby table. "So where is everyone?" I think she's being snobby again, referring to the lack of guests, when I notice the genuine look of interest on her face. She eyes the people that are here, then looks to me again for an answer. "My assistant said you mentioned inviting the others in your email?" She questions. Her eyebrow rises with it, and I find I kind of miss the stud that used to adorn it.

Shaking my head briefly, I finally answer her. "Your guess is as good as mine." I say, shrugging. "Well I know Cat and Andre aren't coming. But as for Beck and Robbie they kind of left me hanging…. Then again, so did you, and you're here." I say with a teasing smile. She returns it and steps closer to me, invading my personal space in a way I used to perceive as intimidating, but now I find the look on her face far more enticing than frightening.

"Yeah well, I'm an important person, Vega." She smiles down at me, her eyes dancing. "If I'm gonna make a last minute flight I don't really have time to reply to emails." I open my mouth to respond but nothing comes out again, and my tongue feels unnaturally dry. I reach out wildly and grab my drink again, taking a large sip that has Jade stepping back and laughing at me. Feeling fortified despite her laughter I ask "Last minute flight, huh?"

"Yeah, Vega. Who sends out an invitation to people in other states with only a weeks notice-"

"So you booked a last minute flight to come see your old friends?" I interrupt teasingly. "Or not friends, right? That's what you used to say." I say triumphantly, taking another sip of my drink. She rolls her eyes, but smiles back at me. I'm taken back again by this vey un-Jadelike behavior. She's doing and saying all the usual Jade things but, there's no edge to it. She seems bemused by me instead of irritated.

"Yes Vega. Happy?" She stares at me in challenge, but I just look back in awe.

I seem to have ruined her game because after a few moments of this she looks uncomfortable and rolls her eyes again, far less amused this time. I expect a harsh, cutting remark, but again, she surprises me. "I guess, I missed you guys." She says quietly. "When I heard you'd all be here I… dropped everything." She smiles at me shyly, uncharacteristically sheepish. "I rescheduled a few meetings and booked a flight and a hotel. I…wanted to see you…"

She's smiling at me. She's smiling so sweetly at me, and she missed me, and my heart is in an absolute fit. "...all." She finishes, her lips quirk in a knowing, flirtatious smile. My mouth falls into an 'O' shape and my eyes widen "You.." I start, before breaking off into a breathy scoff. "...jerk…" I mutter half-heartedly. She's still smiling at me so I don't have the strength to mean it. She looks me up and down before stepping closer again, that teasing smile opening to say something, and I hold my breath in anticipation.

"Tori!" My head snaps violently to my approaching co-star. "You never told me you knew someone famous!" Jade remains close to me but faces my costar, expression polite but cold. "Maybe because we've never spoken before." I mutter under my breath. "Jade, this is my co-star Angelica. Angelica, this is-"

"Jade West!" She interrupts, thrusting a hand out. "Like I wouldn't know who you are." She laughs obnoxiously. I rock on my heels and roll my eyes, this is going to be the rest of my night. Angelica can smell an ounce of influence a mile away. If I hadn't worked with the director before I'm sure she would've schmoozed the lead role out from under me. Jade shakes her hand, but I feel her eyes on me. I give her a quick apologetic look, but she smiles.

Suddenly suspicious, I narrow my eyes at her. But she's already turned back to my co-star. "So how do you know our little star?" Angelica asks, and I don't miss the sarcastic inflection on the word star. Before Jade can answer she begins a self flattering ramble. "You know it's funny, I was actually considering being the lead in this play, but I had so many other projects at the time I just couldn't commit to it." She says wistfully. "Still, I think little Tori did a great job with the part." She grimaces. "Not exactly what I would've done, but still very good."

"I thought she was wonderful." Jade says, surprising me twice by taking my hand as well. I blush but before I can ask what she's doing Angelica is speaking again. "Oh, you saw the play? What did you think of m-" before she can finish Jade is speaking over her, but looking at me. "Of course I saw it, I wouldn't miss one of Tori's plays." She says so sweetly that I'm at a loss for words again. I don't need any though, because Angelica is letting out a disbelieving laugh that cuts through the moment like a knife.

"Don't tell me you're a fan of hers?" She says breathless with laughter. Jade stiffens and her grip on my hand tightens, before she releases it entirely. She instead puts her arm around my waist familiarly. "You do know Tori's my girlfriend, right?" She squints at me, and then raises an eyebrow in question to Angelica. The color has drained from her face and her gaping mouth gives the distinct impression of a rather surprised fish. "Her-her-her…" she stutters stupidly.

"In fact…" she says, smiling and leaning close so that her lips are a breath away from the tip of my nose as she looks down at me. "As of a few days ago, she's my fiance." I'm sure my expression resembles Angelica's, but I quickly find my bearings and shoot what I hope is a convincing smile at her. Angelica seems to be regaining her composure as well, she swallows audibly and clasps her hands together.

"Tori," she says through the gritted teeth of a clearly forced smile "why did you never mention this before?" I swallow the urge to smile and shake my head, putting my pointer finger on my chin. "You know, I can't think of you ever asking." I shrug and, taking Jade's hand from my waist and relinking it with mine, say "Come on, let's get some more drinks. We've got lots to celebrate!"

We leave her standing there, looking more confused than when she's running lines. At the drinks table I finally laugh, leaning on Jade for support. "Oh my gosh…." I breathe between bouts of laughter "her face…was perfect!" I manage to reel myself in and run a finger under my eye to catch a stray tear. "Thank you for that." I say, looking up at Jade who's smiling down proudly at me. "Anything for you baby." She says in a deep voice, wiggling her eyebrows at me. I laugh again and grab two drinks before handing her one.

"To us." I say, and we clink glasses with smiles on our faces.

Several drinks later, Jade and I are stumbling outside, leaning on each other for support. "Remember the time" I hiccup "we were inside a giant cupcake." She smiles though she's distracted, typing away on her phone. "You already told that one, Vega." She says, her eyes swiveling to meet mine briefly and wow, she's got pretty eyes. I'm about to tell her so, cause I think she oughta know, when she speaks first. "I'm having my driver come pick us up, okay?"

"Oooooo fancy." I slur. She smiles at me superiorly. "You have no idea." she says cockily. Her lips are pretty too and, oh wow, she's so close…if I just turned my head… A horn honking jolts me out of my reverie. "That was fast." I mutter. Jade chuckles in my ear. "He was waiting in the parking lot." She detaches from my side to open the door. "Madame?"

…

"Woah…" I say once we reach Jade's hotel room. The size alone is impressive, but the gold trim on all the walls, marbling on all the surfaces, and the wall of floor to ceiling windows looking out over the city scream opulence. "You were right." I say at once. Jade finishes taking her shoes off by the door then grabs an iPad on a stand by the bed, before sitting on the comfortable looking couch across from it. "I'm gonna order some real alcohol." She says as she taps away on it. I plop down next to her. "I don't know how much more I should drink." I reply honestly.

"I didn't say you could." I expect to see that biting scowl I had grown so used to, but again, she's just smiling at me. She's joking. Jade West is joking. With me! I scoot closer to her, folding my leg on the couch to face her. "What if I say please?" Her smile stays but her eyes narrow at me, giving the look a whole new meaning. She holds it for a moment before looking away and oh my gosh. I think she's actually blushing! "I can't say no to you." She says with a short laugh. She's rubbing her hands together and not looking at me. She's nervous!

I laugh and that gets her to look at me again. "You are so different." I explain. "I mean you're still you, you're just…nice." She gives me a look of mock offense. "You think I wasn't nice before?" That gets a huge laugh out of me, and soon Jade's joining in and we're both leaning on each other again. A knock on the door interrupts, and Jade gets up to get it, muttering "The champagne." While still trying to control her laughter.

"Oh we definitely don't need any." I say straightening up. "That was not that funny." I finish, smiling at her as she brings it over all the same.

She pours only a small finger into a glass and hands it to me. "Humor me." She requests. I dutifully take a sip and "Wow. That is…way better than the champagne at the wrap party." I think for a moment as she retakes her place next to me on the couch. "That might be the best champagne I've had, period." I decide, setting the glass down. Jade does a sort of swirling gesture with her free hand, "You're welcome." before laying it in the back of the couch behind me and taking a swig from the bottle.

"Our lives are soooo different now." I wonder aloud. "Yeah…" she agrees. "We're both still incredibly talented, it's just now, one of us gets paid for it." she smiles wickedly and I shove the side of her torso, before getting distracted and playing with the thousands of little sparkles on her dress there. "Don't forget, I knew you before the fame and fortune, West. I respond distractedly. She laughs, and I feel the rumble beneath my fingertips.

"I'm really glad I came tonight." She sighs, and I look up to see her smiling at me. "I really did miss you." I smile back at her and my hands grip the fabric around her torso. "What did you miss about me?" I ask. Her arm on the back of the couch near my head rises before landing back there. "I missed teasing you, obviously. If I treated an employee the way I treated you there'd be an article canceling me the next day." Her arm bends again and her fingers tangle in her hair self-consciously.

I slide my other knee over her lap so I'm straddling her, my hands laying flat against her stomach now. "Is that… all you missed?" I ask. She chews her lip for a moment, before shaking her head no and closing the distance between us.

She tastes like the expensive champagne, and as I hear the bottle thunk to the ground while her hands burry themselves in my hair, I think that's fitting. It's just as bittersweet as her, and they're both something I never thought I'd be privileged enough to enjoy.

…

The next morning I wake up with a slight headache, but I'm nowhere near as wrecked as should be. Jade stirs beside me before sitting up and stretching, long and lithe, her arms dotted in tattoos I don't recognize. "I'm gonna go take a shower." She says in lieu of a good morning, her voice gravelly.

"The showers here are insane, they're the whole reason I stay here when I'm in the city." She smiles down at me toothily, and I don't think I've ever seen Jade this cheery before. It suits her I think, and I get a glimpse of pale skin before Jade's wrapped herself in one of the plush robes provided. "There's a room service menu somewhere, order yourself something, and whatever it is get me one too, okay?" she says, turning to look at me again.

I blink up at her, blankets lightly clutched over my chest. "Sure, um, thank you." I say, and I can't hide the confusion in my voice. Jade laughs and leans down, and my breath hitches in anticipation. She catches my lips in a heated but short kiss. Then she's sweeping away into the bathroom.

I take time to adjust, everything in the room is white and resonating with the morning sun thats pouring in from the windows. My head screams as I struggle to find the close curtains button on the iPad, before slipping out of bed. I steal one of Jade's shirts from her open suitcase on top of the dresser, rather than put my dress back on since we're having breakfast together. I can't help it, I beam at the thought.

I find the menu on top of the dresser as well and peruse it for a moment. What would Jade like? Definitely a coffee, I remember that about her. I settle on an omelet and a breakfast sandwich that both sound good to me. Jade can pick whichever one looks good to her and I'll eat the spare. There are no prices listed next to the items and I know what that means, expensive. I whistle low as I type the corresponding numbers into the iPad order menu. Breakfast comes before Jade is out of the shower, and with how long it took me to figure out how to order it thats saying something. I guess she really does love them. I wonder if I'll get a chance to use it, if breakfast is an invitation to spend more time together, or just a polite opportunity to tell me thank you and goodbye.

I crack the door open tentatively. "Breakfast is here." I call, without sticking my head in, in an effort to be polite.

Jade pads out a few mintues later wrapped again in a robe, with her long black hair dripping into the plush fabric. She stares down at the circular table where I've placed our food. "Which one's mine?" She wonders, before her eyes land on the steaming mug of coffee I just finished preparing for her. I figured sugar and cream were a safe bet. Groaning and grabbing it, she takes a long sip before sighing and thanking me. "I can't believe I forgot to ask." I nod, glad it must've tasted okay to her, and Jade looks at me quizzically.

"You're quiet this morning." She says, rounding the table to stand close in front of me. "Yeah I…we should talk…about last night." I reply nervously. A wolfish grin tugs at the corner of Jade's lips. She slips her hands underneath the edge of my t-shirt, her t-shirt, and grasps my hips, pulling me to her. "Which part do you wanna talk about?" She asks, voice low and sultry. I blush, and snake my shaky arms around Jade's neck. "Not that…" I try to redirect half heartedly.

But Jade just leans in and starts trailing her lips up my neck. "You wanna tell me your favorite part?" she whispers once she reaches my ear. My blush darkens and I find my voice, but lose my question. "Well…maybe that thing you did…was it the third time?" I try to recall, face growing ever hotter with the memory. Jade's light kisses become teasing nips as she lifts me up and brings me back to the bed. "You mean this?"

…

I sit up amongst the soft covers for the second time today, after a well earned nap after some more…reconnecting with Jade.

I do some stretching myself this time, before reaching for my forgotten phone on one of the bedside tables. Jade starts to sit up too, her arms circling my waist and her nose burying itself in my shoulder. "Hey I do want to talk about this, though." I say, feeling much more confident after that, while non verbal, definite confirmation that last night was not a mistake.

My heart sinks as I see the alarming amount of notifications spread across all of my socials. In showbiz that can only mean one thing. A scandal.

"Yeah, of course. I know we don't live near each other, but I don't want this to be nothing. It doesn't have to be serious but, like, don't be a stranger." I vaguely listen to Jade as she gives a short, uncomfortable laugh, but my jaw drops. "Well I can't be a stranger…" I reply breathlessly. "I'm your fiance!" I squeal, turning my phone and showing Jade an article titled 'Secretive Celeb Finally Found Shacking Up!' Underneath are several photos of the two of us at the party last night.

In every one were standing close together, flirty smiles on our faces, save for the ones where one of us is staring adoringly up at the other. They were clearly been taken in secret and the subheader reads 'Inside informant tells all!'

"What!" Jade gasps, ripping the phone from my hand. "That bitch." Jade says, quickly handing me back my phone and grabbing her own. I continue to scroll through the article, and the one after that…and the one after that….

"I'm so, so sorry Jade. It was definitely Angelica." I confirm.

"No shit." Jade says, and I wince. The articles all mention how private she is about her love life, and how this is the first time she's been caught with anyone. I drop my phone and tangle my hands in my hair. "I'm so sorry Jade." I repeat helplessly.

Jade pauses her anxious scrolling and looks at me. "It's okay, it's not your fault." She says, sliding her arm around my waist again comfortingly, and I look up at her relieved. "I'm the one who-" but her assumption of the blame is cut off by my phone ringing on the bed between us. "Oh, it's that casting company I was telling you about." I hesitate, but she gives me a weak smile and nods. I return it gratefully and quickly scoop up my cell and answer.

She goes back to looking at her phone with an anxious expression, but I barely notice as the voice on the other end of the line is excessively cheery, hopefully because of good news. "Hello? Yes, this is she. Yes. Yes? Yes! Thank you so much! Yes I really appreciate this opportunity. Okay, I'll, I'll talk to you soon!" I drop my phone again and start gesticulating wildly, and Jade already has a polite smile on her face.

"Yes!!!" I scream again. I grab Jade's shoulders and shake her too, desperate to infect her mood with my sudden good one.

"I got it! I got the part!" Jades smile grows despite her worry. "I'm happy for you," she laughs, "I really am." I beam up at her. "...but what are we gonna do?" Her smile slowly fades, as does mine. "Oh yeah…oh…yeah... you don't think?" I start wringing my hands nervously.

"You don't think they only gave me the part…because they think I'm engaged to a famous director, do you?" Jade smiles sympathetically. "Well, it depends. Do you think you had a shot at getting it before?" My eyebrows knit together as I think about how the audition went. "I thought I did good…they even seemed a little impressed." I add hopefully, before releasing a defeated sigh.

"But there was a lot of more recognizable talent there." A sudden thought sends a jolt of fear through me and I grip Jade's shoulder again. "You don't think they'll fire me when they find out, do you?" Jade's eyes are full of concern, and her hand on my waist starts to rub at the skin there soothingly. "Well…you don't really…have to tell them?" she says slowly.

"What do you mean? We just…keep pretending we're engaged?" Jade chews her lip and nods. "Yeah. And then once everybody sees how you kill that part, it won't matter who you are… or aren't actually engaged too." She says with a small chuckle. I beam up at her again. "Really? You'd do that for me?" I ask, touched.

I can tell I must be wearing the look of adoration captured in some of those photos, because Jade turns away from me before looking back with a slight pink on her pale cheeks. "Well…sure. I do really like you…not enough to propose…but…not everyone needs to know that." she concludes.

I kiss her soundly on the cheek before crushing her in a hug. "Thank you." I say while her arms wrap around me too, her nails on the bare skin of my back giving me goosebumps.

"I have a flight to catch." She says after a few seconds. "But, before I go," She says, untangling are bodies and getting up to grab two more shirts from her suitcase. She tosses one to me and slips the other over her head while I hurry to do the same, looking at her curiously all the while. She slips back into the bed next to me and does something on her phone before placing a light, lingering kiss on my lips.

I blink dazedly at her as my eyes reopen after the gentle kiss, and I watch her type away at her phone again. "There." She says finally, gesturing to my own phone. I open it and see another plethora of notifications, a majority coming from my instagram. I open the app to see I've been tagged by Jade in a picture of us kissing just now, with the caption 'Cats out of the bag'