Chapter Text
“Hey, Tori!” Andre called out, Cat following him. Tori looked over her shoulder and smiled at her friends, shoving her books into her locker. “Hey guys. What’s up?” Cat grinned, twirling a red sucker between her thumb and forefinger. “What’s up with YOU?” She giggled.
Tori adjusted her bag on her shoulder, chuckling nervously. “What are you talking about? I’m fine.” Cat and Andre shared a look. “So you being extra nice to Jade lately is supposed to be normal?” Andre questioned, raising an eyebrow. Tori shifted her weight from one foot to the other and swallowed. For the past few months, her stomach went to butterflies when she was near Jade. But, no matter how nice she was, Jade was still rude and dismissive. But Tori didn’t care.
“You guys are crazy. We should get to Sikowitz’s.” Tori turned to go, ready to end the conversation. But who better to round the corner than Jade herself, Beck’s arm around her shoulders. “Hey guys.” Beck nodded at them. Jade rolled her eyes and took a sip from her coffee. “Hey! Hey, Jade!” Tori stammered out, hoping nobody noticed the way her voice cracked. Jade didn’t respond, but she glanced at Tori a little longer than she usually did.
Andre nudged Tori. “You guys headed to class?” He asked Beck and Jade. Beck nodded. “Yeah, we-” Jade cut him off. “I need to go to my locker.’ She started walking, grabbing Beck’s hand to pull him along. But was it an accident or on purpose when she bumped Tori’s shoulder with her own? “See you guys later.” Beck called as he and Jade walked away. Tori glanced back at them, her eyes lingering on Beck and Jade’s intertwined hands. Why did she want that?
Cat elbowed her. “Someone’s crushing.” She sang. Tori’s face reddened. “What?! No! I gotta get to class!” She spun on her heel and hurried around the corner. Andre and Cat laughed to themselves. “She can’t deny it forever.” Andre said.
In class, everyone took their seats while they waited for Sikowitz. Tori couldn’t help looking over at Jade and Beck. Nobody could. Once again, they were in the middle of one of their famous fights. This time, it sounded like Beck had been getting texts from a girl at school again. “I don’t get why you’re so obsessed with it!” Beck yelled. “Because she’s texting you! Why does she even have your number?!” Jade shouted back. “Because I gave it to her! Before we started dating!” Beck threw his hands up in exasperation.
Sikowitz walked in before the argument could worsen, a coconut in one hand, a box in the other. “Today’s lesson!” He began. “You will draw roles! And improv a scene based on what I give you!” He took a long sip from the straw in the coconut, silence filling the room other than his slurping.
When he finished, he made a noise resembling a car drifting and screeched to a stop beside Tori. She reached into the box and drew a paper, unfolding it. “Abby, daughter.” She read aloud. Sikowitz made his way around the room. Cat drew “Maria, waitress.” Andre drew “Tommy, son.” And by some cruel faith, Beck and Jade drew “Miles, husband” and “Lucy, wife.” Robbie went to draw a paper, but Sikowitz passed him.
The 5 went up onto the small stage and Sikowitz sat in a chair. “You’re a family at a restaurant and you-” He said, pointing at Beck. “You order the shrimp, but! Your poor wife is allergic. And… action!” Beck cleared his throat and held out an imaginary menu in front of him, looking at Cat, who held an imaginary notepad. “I’ll take the roasted shrimp.”
Jade nudged him, her voice fakely sweet. “But, ‘dear’, I’m allergic to shrimp.” Beck didn’t even glance at her. “It’s a good thing I’ll be the one eating it then, right?” Jade grit her teeth, her voice strained. “Well, maybe, you shouldn’t order it.” Beck finally looked at her, his voice rising. “Well, maybe, you shouldn’t be so controlling!” Andre and Tori looked at each other, unsure of what to do. “Maybe you should take my feelings into account!” Jade shouted back.
“Well, maybe I want to break up!” Beck yelled. The room went silent, Jade staring at Beck. She turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Tori followed after her after a second. She found Jade standing beside the drinks vending machine, kicking it and muttering. “Jade?” She reached out to touch her shoulder. Jade spun around. “Don’t touch me, Vega.” She muttered.
Tori stood there, conflicted. After a moment, she stepped forward and fed a dollar into the machine. “Maybe buy something instead of kicking it.” She offered. Jade punched a button and a drink tumbled out. “Thanks.” She muttered, almost too low for Tori to hear. Tori smiled. “You wanna talk.” Jade scoffed and walked towards the stairs to sit down. “Why would I want to talk to you of all people?”
Tori walked over and sat beside her. “Because I want to be your friend. If you’ll let me.” Jade glanced at her. Tori offered her another sincere smile. “I don’t want you as my friend.” Jade finally said. Tori felt her shoulders sag slightly, but she wouldn’t let herself give up. Even with these butterflies moving through her stomach at top speed. “Well, I want you as mine. So, you’re stuck with me.” She said in response.
Silence stretched between the two of them for a moment. Jade sipped her drink. “Why do you do this?” She finally asked. Tori looked at her. “Do what?” Jade shrugged, tracing the rim of the can with a black-polish painted nail. “Be nice to me. Try to be friends with me. That weird, friendly, smiley shit.” Tori paused. She was nice to everyone. At least, she tried to be. But it felt different with Jade. Different, but a good different.
“I don’t know. Because I like you?” She finally said. She froze when she realized how that sounded. “I mean as a friend!” She explained, rushing through her words. “Y’know, because I want to be friends! Good friends!” She felt the heat rising to her face. Jade stayed silent, staring off into space, her nail still tracing the rim of the can. Tori couldn’t help but watch the nail run in slow circles.
“I’ve never seen you like this. With anyone. Even all those boyfriends of yours.” Jade finally muttered. “And girlfriends.” Tori whispered under her breath. But Jade heard her. “What was that?” She said, glancing at Tori. Tori chuckled nervously and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Girlfriends.” She confirmed and swallowed, a lump forming in her throat. “I’m bisexual.” She mustered out. Jade kept her eye on her for a moment before nodding and taking a sip from her soda. The silence returned.
After a moment, Tori couldn’t take it anymore. “So, you don’t-” She was cut off by Jade turning her head and catching her with a kiss. Tori froze, shocked by the move. The butterflies in her stomach churned harder. Tori closed her eyes, not opening them until Jade pulled away. “I was hoping you liked girls.” Jade said before standing up and walking up the stairs. “Later, Vega.” She called over her shoulder as she turned the corner.
Tori sat in shocked silence on the step as Jade’s footsteps got further away. Her face was warm, her lips tingling and her stomach rolling. Holy shit. Her crush had just kissed her. On the stairs.