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Jade's first day of her senior year at Hollywood Arts had been less than intriguing would be the understatement of the year. It had been downright boring. She didn't have Sikowitz until last period which was okay but it made for her mornings to take forever. None of her five friends had classes together in the morning either. Yes she said five friends. Jade had really relaxed over the end of her junior year and summer break. What was the point of being hateful for any reason anymore. Plus she had made it her mission to be nice to the younger Vega since then. Tori. Tori was sweet and talented and beautiful and her lips always looked so soft. She wondered what Tori would look like naked. Their bodies wrapped together. Jade's breath hitched as her own thoughts started to take a NSFW turn of their own.
She was making her way to their lunch table as she chastised herself. Yeah, she had developed a huge crush on Tori months and months ago if not longer. Honestly, she really liked Tori. She honestly felt like she was free falling around Tori but in the best of ways. Is this what falling in love really felt like? Jade felt like maybe there was a mutual feeling there but she wasn't for sure. She was scared to make that jump without 100 percent confirmation. Jade kicked herself everyday for how she had treated Tori the last couple years. Tori was the main reason that Jade was on this mission to reinvent herself. She was still herself. She was snarky and witty. She still snapped at her friends but they had become less frequent and held less venom. She would still threaten anyone with her scissors but the offending item was rarely seen if at all.
Tori on the other hand had started to stand up for herself. She didn't let Jade snap at her without snapping back. She was more confident in her talents. Jade had even witnessed Tori rip the arms off rex when the puppet spouted off something inappropriate. Jade liked this new dynamic between her and Tori. Their friends were elated too. There was less drama and conflict in their lives. They all felt like they had finally hit their pace. They were oblivious to the genuine smiles that were shared between her and Tori. The slight touches when they sat close to each other. Hell Tori was the only one who could even touch Jade without consequences. All of them oblivious except Mr. Pretty boy himself Beck Oliver.
Jade and Beck had ended their relationship in the ending of their Junior year. To everyone's surprise there was no fighting. No screaming. No running back to each other. It was just mutual and done. They were both tired and just didn't have the feelings for each other they used to have. he had figured out Jade's feelings for Tori before she even said anything. Beck had quickly become her best friend again. They just worked better that way, but with that came his stupid smirks and knowing looks when Jade and Tori sat close to each other. When they would let their hands slip into one another when they thought nobody was looking. Beck had her back but he was still a smug asshole about it.
Jade was finally pulled from her thoughts when she reached the lunch table. Everyone was there except Tori. Tori had been busy the last week or so before school started back up and hadn't really been seen. Jade frowned on instinct. This day was not being nice to her. She hadn't seen Tori since this morning. She sat down next to Beck and Cat. Beck had gravitated towards Cat this summer and they had hit it off. Beck was still a good guy and she wanted him to be happy, and there was nobody better to make sure Cat would be happy than Beck. Jade leaned towards Beck and asked the only question on her mind, "Have you seen Tori?" A smirk on his face soon melted into a genuine smile once he seen Jade pouting. "She stayed behind in history to ask about the project we were given. She should be here soon. Relax Jade. Your girlfriend will be here soon." Jade pouted even more, only if she was lucky would she be able to call Tori her girlfriend. She was about to elbow Beck in the ribs before the woman in question finally made her way to the table.
Tori made eye contact with Jade before anyone else and they shared one of those smiles that were reserved just for each other. Jade could see that Tori was literally almost bouncing with glee. She was almost as bad as Cat. Jade was about to make a remark but Andre had beat her to it. "Why are you so giddy chica? You're bouncing like little red over there." Jade could tell that Tori was excited about something, "We'll you guys remember my birthday a couple weeks ago right?" There were nods and agreements from around the table, "Well being 18 now I was finally able to do something I've been wanting to do." She slid of her jacket and held her left arm out for the others to see.
There were several gasps and blank stares because everyone was shocked. Tori had a tattoo. And not a small butterfly or a microphone or something like that, that people would probably associate Tori with. It was a snake that started on the back of her hand and wrapped around her arm up to her elbow. It was beautiful and Jade couldn't help to be proud of her friend, amazed by Tori's boldness and of choice of the tattoo, and also extremely turned on. Tori was already a goddess in Jade's mind but to see her with a tattoo like that. Jade had to cross her legs and bite her lip to keep quiet. The slightest of moans must of escaped her lips because Beck shot a knowing smirk with his eyebrows raised. She ignored him and turned her attention back to Tori. Stone face. Jade was an actress and a damned good one but she had to get her hormones in check, despite the heat pooling in between her legs.
"Damn Vega, I would have never pegged you for getting a tattoo. Let alone one as cool as that." Smooth Jade, smooth.
Tori bit her lip and tried to push the thought of Jade pegging her out of her mind. Focus Tori! "Thanks Jade. I'm glad you like it." There was one of those real smiles shared between each other again. " I got it a little over a week ago. Sorry I was kind of hiding, I was trying to hide it until it was mostly healed up. I'm so happy with it." Tori squeaked from excitement and Jade couldn't contain her smile. She liked seeing Tori happy. The others started chiming in and asking about the tattoo. Tori couldn't contain her blush as someone asked what kind of snake it was, " It's my favorite type of snake. It's the Emerald Tree Boa. It's so beautiful. It can be very aggressive, especially when cornered, but will keep to itself if left alone. It also has no venom. So no matter how bad the bite, there's no venom behind it."
Tori was looking at everyone but Jade as she explained her choice. She wanted Jade to understand but was also scared if her or any of there other friends got it. Robbie and Cat were still excitedly asking questions and talking about it but when she made eye contact with Andre, he had a genuine and knowing smile on his face. She had told Andre about how much she liked Jade. Beck had his eyebrows raised and smug grin on his face. Tori looked at Jade and they locked eyes. Jade could feel a light blush covering her face. Was she reading too far into this. Did Tori get a tattoo inspired by her. She wanted to believe it and pull Tori into a kiss right then and there but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She was scared. Yes the big bad Jade West was Scared. Terrified actually. She wanted to believe Tori wanted her just like she did Tori but she just couldn't stop the tiny voice in her head that said she wasn't good enough for Tori. Tori deserved better, but that look Tori was giving her. That was saved just for her, said something different. Jade tried to tell Tori everything she wanted to say through just her eyes right now. It would have to do.
The bell rung and people started to make their ways to class. Tori and Jade were the only two remaining at the table. People whispered and pointed at Tori. Jealousy rose in Jade before she could stop it but it died on her lips and she looked at Tori. There was so much emotion swimming behind her eyes. Tori was nervously chewing on her lip, "Would you want to skip the rest of the day. Or maybe at least until Sikowitz's class?" Jade didn't even have to think about it to accept that offer, but she wasn't going to miss an opportunity to tease Tori, "Oh is Miss Sweet Sally Peaches wanting to skip and go get a soda pop with lil ole me?" Tori rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the grin from her face, "come on dork."
They had made it as far as Jade's truck but that was it. They were sitting in the front, both just kind of avoiding eye contact with each other, wanting to say everything but too afraid to at the same time. Tori was the first to speak up, " Do you know why I really got the tattoo?" Jade wanted to speak, she wanted to make a hopeful guess but her voice betrayed her. She couldn't speak so Tori continued, " I wasn't lying when I said it was my favorite snake or my favorite animal. There's a reason behind it though, all the way down to its name." Tori looked over to the girl with the beautiful emerald green eyes, " I got it so I could always have a piece of you with me. Something that reminds me of you. I don't want you to ever leave my life in any capacity but now I can always carry a reminder of you with me. The snake has a nasty bite but carries no venom. Just like you. I know you have a nasty habit of snapping at people even if they're close to you but there isn't any malice behind it and there hasn't been for awhile. It's aggressive when it's been cornered and been messed with because it gets scared, but when left alone, left to be itself, it's such a beautiful creature. One that I would love to touch if it would give me the opportunity."
Jade could tell Tori was nervous about her confession. She was messing with the bottom of her shirt and biting her lip like she always did when she was nervous or scared. Tori had gotten the tattoo in reminder of Jade. She wanted to tell Tori how much that meant to her. How much she wanted to tell Tori she was sorry for everything she had put the girl through. To tell her she loved her. To ask her to be her girlfriend but Jade was also scared. Tori deserved to be happy. She deserves someone who can treat her right. Jade doesn't want to make Tori sad anymore. Not purposely anyway. Before she knew what she was doing, she was leaning in towards the younger Vega and Tori was leaning into her. Their lips met and it was better than Jade had ever imagined. As they deepened the kiss, it felt like Jade's body had been set ablaze. They eventually had to part so they could breathe. Jade took Tori's had and traced the tattoo up and down her arm, "Tori. I am so flattered that you would tattoo something on your body that reminded you of me. More than flattered honestly. I lo... Like you so much. I have for quite some time now. I've wanted to tell you, but you deserve so much better than me. You deserve someone who can make you happy, not someone who treats you like shit. I hate myself for how I treated you."
Jade went to pull back but Tori wasn't going to let her. She was finally having Jade open up to her and she wasn't going to let her go that easy. Tori did deserve someone who made her happy and that was Jade, " Jade, I've forgiven you for how we used to be. I know you didn't mean a lot of what you did. No venom, no malice, only instinct. You can't keep beating yourself up for that stuff anymore. Our dynamic has been changing for the last six months. Finally getting to see you for you is one of the best things to happen at my time here at Hollywood Arts. I do deserve to have someone that makes me happy and that's you. You make me happy. I want to try this. I want you." Jade is looking at Tori, can see that she means every word she's said. She's still scared, still worried she won't be enough for Tori but she knows it's now or never. She has to take that leap to finally be happy and to make Tori happy too, " I just want to be enough for you Tori. You deserve the world. I want this with you. I want you too. I think I wanted you the first night I saw you. Tori Vega, will you be my girlfriend?"
Tori squealed in excitement, she had waited so long to hear those words. Tori pulled Jade into another kiss, not as long but just as passionate in it's own way, " Jade, I would love nothing more to be your girlfriend! I plan on showing you everyday how much you also deserve to be happy. I know you don't think so but I'm going to show you that you do." Jade smiled at Tori, what had she done to deserve the feelings of Tori. She had no idea but she wasn't going to waste the opportunity anymore, "Do you just want to head to your place? Watch some movies and make out on the couch." Tori didn't mind skipping even if it was the first day of school. She'd much rather be cuddled up with Jade on the couch. She answered by just leaning back in the passenger seat of Jade's truck and shooting Jade a big cheesy grin.
They had made it halfway into the Lion King before cuddles turned into light kissing, that turned into kissing and nipping at Jade's neck, that then turned into Jade pulling Tori into her lap and Tori straddling her. Jade was was lazily drawing designs on the tan back of Tori on the skin that made itself know when Tori leaned forward to run her hands through Jade's hair. Jade's hands were starting to dip right above Tori's ass, both in their own world. Tori and Jade, that was it. That's why as soon as Jade grabbed a handful of Tori's jean clad ass the door swung open. All that was heard was several intakes of breath and a high pitch, off key, "What the fuck!?"
Jade and Tori didn't spring apart, Jade just moved her hands from Tori's ass to her hips and they separated their lips and just let their foreheads rest together, trying to catch their breathes. Jade was pouting because they had been bothered, Tori found it adorable. Tori sat up but still stayed on Jade's lap, "Hey, uhh what's up?" Beck was leaning against the doorway, eyebrows raised and that shit eating smirk on his face. Andre gave a awkward salute but had a genuine smile on his face. Robbie and Rex stood there mouths hanging open. Cat was leaning back into Beck, clapping and bouncing around. Trina looked like she was going to be sick or explode, "Toriiiii what are you doing?? Why were you eating her face and why were her hands on your ass??"
It was Jade's turn to smirk, She loved making Trina uncomfortable. She had changed but not that much, "Well Trina, I happen to be dating your sweet innocent little sister. I asked Tori to be my girlfriend so I can corrupt her and take her to a bunch of satanic lesbian orgies." The rest of their friends made their way into the house because you know, they weren't busy or anything. Jade was looking up at Tori. Tori was red faced from the orgy comment, arguing with her sister. Their friends were making themselves at home like they always do. Before Jade even thinks about it, she cups Tori's face so she will look at her. This morning, she had no idea she would ever get to say this to Tori, she wanted to be with Tori for a long long time and she loved Tori, was in love with her. "Tori, I'm in love with you."
The entire room was silent. Shocked faces on everyone in the room. Jade would have been uncomfortable if she was looking anywhere but Tori's eyes. Tori was on the verge of tears, "Oh Jade, I'm in love with you too. I love you so much!" Tori pulled herself into another kiss with Jade. Nobody mattered that moment but just the two of them. Once they finally broke apart and Tori slid off Jade's lap and melted into her side did they finally pay attention to their friends and Trina. Cat tackled them and was yelling congratulations and bouncing up and down until Beck swooped in to pick the bouncy red head up, " About time you two, but seriously I'm happy for you. Both of you." Rex made the mistake of being too close to Tori when he decided to open her mouth, "Yeah that's cute and all but can you two go back to kissing, and when is someone going to take their pants off. Jade you firs.... Ahh! Rob she took my arm!" Tori had ripped an arm off Rex and continued to beat him with it. Jade loved a feisty Tori. Andre simultaneously smacked Robbie in the back of the head, "Rob, watch that shit." Then he turned his attention back to the new couple, " For real, we're happy for you chica, and devil chica. Whatever makes you two happy. Right Trina?" Andre had always been like a big brother to Tori. She was happy to have him around.
Trina had finally calmed down. She could see that Tori loved Jade. She had known that but never gave it a second thought. Seeing Jade though, holding her sister protectively against her side. Replaying what Jade had said. She was seriously in love with her sister. She could see it. She meant it. Jade meant every word she said, "Jade, do not break her hurt." Jade went to shoot off a snarky remark but thought better of it. She just nodded and left it alone. She never planned on hurting Tori ever again. They all sat around talking about the first day of school. Apparently Sikowitz wasn't mad they missed because he had guessed they would end up together anyway. Even if nobody had told him anything yet. They were told he was just proud of them, and that Lane owed him 20 bucks. That man was bonkers but he was genuine and really smart. As they all sat around talking, Jade was tracing the snake tattoo up Tori's arm. Tori said she had gotten the tattoo to always carry a reminder of Jade with her, but as far as she was concerned, Tori would never need a reminder at all. Jade planed on being apart of Tori's life from this point on, "Hey Tor, I'm never going anywhere."