Yeah i think it was Covid. It took my appetite .

TORI'S POV — "You Could've Told Me You Still Looked Like That"

I flopped down on the bed like gravity had it out for me. My face buried into the pillow, Sinister's fur clinging to my shirt from the whole allergic-apocalypse disaster.8

What the hell just happened?

One second I was maybe, kind of, considering kissing Chloe. Then Jade opens the door like some tragic anti-heroine from a black-and-white film…wet hair clinging to her neck, wearing that goddamn tank top and shorts combo that should've been illegal on a Saturday night…and the next thing I knew, my date was crawling up the wall like we'd unleashed Cujo.

And then she left.

Not just left…stormed off like I'd betrayed her with a housecat.

Sinister had barely done anything but blink. Girl had a flair for dramatics.

But it wasn't Chloe who had my chest tight now.

It was Jade. Standing there. Half-wet, half-smirking, all Jade. Looking like nothing ever phased her, casually slipping into the role of my ex again, just to bail me out. Why? Why the hell would she do that?

Why didn't she just let Chloe kiss me?

Why did it hurt when she didn't fight for me?

My face burned. Not from embarrassment. From anger. Confusion. Frustration. That ache that curled under your ribs when someone you used to love starts showing up again like a glitch in your emotional hard drive.

I rolled to my side, facing the wall, and that's when the first tear betrayed me. Then another.

Damn it.

She didn't care.

She never really did. That was the truth, right?

She looked good…of course she did. But it didn't mean she felt anything. Probably just thought she was being cute, saving face in front of my date. Making a scene without making a scene. Classic Jade. Always in control.

And me?

Crying into my sheets like a dumbass, because for one second…just one stupid second…I thought she might still want me.

I heard a soft click, then a gentle push of the door opening. Light footsteps padded across the floor, followed by a familiar, judgmental meow.

"Delivery for Miss Vega," Jade's voice called lightly. "One very traumatized, borderline-sociopathic cat."

I didn't move. Didn't respond.

But she kept going.

"She's requested a room transfer since she's apparently a relationship ruiner and cat cockblocker. Her words. Not mine."

I wiped at my eyes quickly, hoping she hadn't heard the quiet sniffle. Of course she had.

"And really," Jade continued, dropping her voice into a low drawl that always made me roll my eyes, "what kind of woman invites a cat-hater into her cat's house? Bad taste, Vega. That's like… inviting a vampire to brunch and acting surprised when your mimosa turns red."

I rolled onto my back, arm draped across my eyes. "You're not funny."

"You're crying," she said softly.

I bit my lip.

"Is it because Chloe called Sinister a demon spawn? Or was it the part where she flinched like your house was haunted?"

I said nothing.

"Or…" Her voice dipped just slightly. "Was it me?"

I dropped my arm, turning to stare at her.

She was leaning against the doorframe now, arms crossed, cat gone, face unreadable.

"Because if it was," she said, a little too casually, "that's a hell of a lot more interesting."