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Fic: Waited on a line of greens and blues (2/2)
TITLE: Waited on a line of greens and blues - Part 2
See Part 1 for details.
Having kept her damaged hand in water for the requisite time period, Tori’s watching Jade pat it dry with a soft towel. The tenderness in the other girl’s touch is becoming less surprising as the evening progresses, but Tori still finds herself marvelling in it.
“Do you have anything for burns? Ointment or something?”
Tori catches herself before she blurts out something entirely lame about how Jade’s touch is more effective than any ointment would be. “Uh...maybe in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom?”
Jade nods. “I’ll go check. Try not to injure yourself while I’m gone.”
Watching Jade leave, the beeping of Tori’s phone startles her. For the first time in two days, she actually feels like checking her messages. The latest one is from Cat; it’s a picture of a bunny with a party hat on. Tori smiles as she scrolls back through the other messages Cat’s sent her. Most involve animals in some way, others are questions about how she’s feeling with lots of extra punctuation and sad faces. She dashes off a quick message to let Cat know that she’s fine and that the bunny made her smile.
Beck and Robbie have each sent a few texts checking if she’s okay so she responds to those too. André’s sent the most messages of all. Some are enquiries into her state of mind. Some are offers of physical violence against Ben. Some are just the usual kind of texts he’d send her about songs or shows on TV. She feels bad for ignoring him and types a response to his last text.
- Sorry I haven’t been in touch. Been kinda mopey and didn’t want to bring everyone down :( Thanks for sending Jade to take care of me xx
Almost immediately, a reply pops into her inbox.
- Hey chica! Good to know you’re doing better :) But I didn’t send Jade.
She frowns. She was sure Jade had said André was worried and that’s why she’d come over.
- Then who did?
Again, the answer comes back right away.
- Nobody did. Jade spent all weekend yelling at us to call and text you to make sure you were okay. Today she said we were useless and she’d have to do the job herself.
Tori’s throat grows thick. Jade had chosen to be with her, with no prompting from anyone else. Footsteps on the stairs jolt her back to reality and she dashes of a reply to André.
- Oh. Okay. Thanks. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.
Stashing her phone under a cushion, she smiles as Jade sits back down beside her holding a bottle.
“I can’t find any ointment, but this has aloe vera in it, so it should help.” She lifts the towel off Tori’s hand and gently pulls it over to rest on her knee. She takes her time spreading the cool gel over the red, swollen flesh on Tori’s knuckles. Tori’s still reeling from her newfound knowledge that Jade had chosen to come over and spend time with her like this. She only notices when Jade sets the bottle aside and runs her fingertips over the burned area. She looks over to find Jade biting her lip.
“It doesn’t seem too bad. Maybe we should take you to a hospital just in case?”
The concern on Jade’s face makes Tori’s heart beat faster. But she decides to play it off. She nudges the other girl and launches into Jade’s ‘Tori voice’.
“Maybe I’ll meet a handsome young doctor, get married and share a soda pop.”
Jade smiles but it quickly fades. Her eyes drop to Tori’s hand. Their fingers are lightly interlocked as they lie together on Jade’s lap. "Yeah, well...try and make sure the next one is someone who’ll buy you a whole damn case of soda pop."
There’s no levity in her voice. She’s deadly serious and Tori has no response. Except that she really wants to hug Jade. Like really wants to.
“Jade?”
“What?” Jade’s still looking at their hands.
“I don’t think a soda pop would help me feel better right now...but I know what might...”
They’ve been in this situation often enough that Jade knows what she’s talking about without asking for clarification. And, for once, Tori doesn’t have to beg or bargain or blackmail. Jade reaches out and pulls Tori into her arms without so much as a sigh or an eyeroll. Tori closes her eyes, scrunching up her brow as she concentrates on remembering how it feels to be held by Jade. She expects it to be short, but Jade holds onto her and rocks them both back and forth.
“You’re a real swell gal, dollface.” Tori jumps slightly at the unexpected volume right by her ear. “And if Ben can’t see that, well then he’s all wet.”
Tori smiles into Jade’s shoulder, hugging her tighter. “I don’t talk like that.”
“Sure you don’t, Vega.” Jade’s grip loosens and Tori tries hard to be grateful for the hug, and not to resent the fact it’s over. She looks into Jade’s eyes and sees something that looks like resignation. She looks like she’s come to a decision she’s not happy about.
“Okay, I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to say this until later...or, you know, at all.” Tori notices Jade wringing her hands and wonders if she should reach out and take one of them. Jade starts speaking again before she can do anything. “And I’m only going to say it once, and if you repeat it I will remove each of those little stars from your locker door and insert them into your right nostril, got it?”
Tori nods, slightly dreading what was to come. Jade rolls her eyes and sighs, but she holds Tori’s gaze.
“He’s an idiot, okay? You’re a really nice, sweet girl who’s not all that difficult to look at. If he doesn’t see that, then it’s his problem, not yours. People are lining up to date you. Move on.”
Jade’s a lovely shade of pink by the time she’s finished speaking. Tori’s stomach is doing somersaults at the implications of Jade’s words. And then backwards somersaults at the thought that she’s reading too much into the situation. She knows she can’t be overly effusive in her response, or Jade will back off and deny everything. So she nods once.
“Thanks.”
Jade moves away and folds her arms over her chest. But she nods too.
“Don’t mention it. And I mean that. Don’t mention it.”
“‘Kay.”
“Good.”
The next words out of Tori’s mouth are spurred on by a sense of ‘now or never’. Or perhaps by a bout of intense stupidity.
“Are you in the line, Jade?”
All movement ceases and the air feels heavier all of a sudden. Tori only half wishes she could take the question back. Jade looks at her, eyes guarded and unreadable.
“That depends.”
It’s not an immediate rejection, which Tori had pretty much braced herself for. Her voice is high with excitement when she replies.
“On what?”
She can see Jade’s jaw working, like she’s forcing herself to speak. Her voice doesn’t waver when she does, and neither do her eyes; currently boring into Tori’s.
“Are there any more stupid boys ahead of me?”
Tori shakes her head violently. “Nobody’s been ahead of you for a really long time.”
Jade looks down, but not before Tori catches the relieved smile that blooms on her lips. When she looks back up, it’s still there.
“Then I guess I’m next in line.”
Swallowing thickly, Tori urges her mouth into a smile. “I guess so.” She starts to lean towards Jade, her eyes drifting closed.
“Well...” Jade says. “This is a predicament.” Tori opens her eyes to see Jade sitting exactly as she had been before.
“Wh...wha-...what predicament?” Tori’s confused now. Didn’t they both just say what she thought they said?
“I don’t do rebounds, Vega. When I got here you were crying over a boy. I’m sure as hell not gonna make out with you to make you feel better.” Jade raises her eyebrows. “You want to do this?” She gestures between the two of them. Tori nods, with a hopeful smile. “Then we have to do it right.”
Tori’s smile fades. “And...that means no kissing?”
“No kissing. Not tonight.”
“Bu-...but...”
“Buh buh,” Jade mocks. “I’m serious, Tori. I don’t want whatever happens between us to be all mixed up with you getting over that buttcheek who dumped you.”
Wrapping her arms around herself, Tori sits back a little. “I think I preferred you before you told me you liked me.”
“No-one used the word ‘like’.” Jade’s answer is immediate, though she does look a little contrite when Tori huffs in frustration. “Fine, I like you, or whatever. But I’m still not kissing you until you’ve got that idiot out of your system.”
“But Jaaaaade...”
“No buts.” Jade’s standing up and moving to put on her jacket as she speaks. “When you think you’re ready, you can ask me out on a date. And if I think you’re ready, I’ll probably say yes.”
“Probably?” Tori squeaks, trailing Jade to the front door. “Seriously? Probably is all you’re giving me?”
Jade pauses with her hand on the doorknob. She turns to look at Tori over her shoulder. “Well, I have to keep you on your toes, don’t I?” Sin drips from every word and Tori wants to scream.
She reaches out and runs her finger down Jade’s forearm, looking up at her through lowered lashes. “So you’re just gonna leave me here? All alone?” She lets her tongue trace along her bottom lip. And Jade laughs.
“Uh, okay, so I see subtle seduction isn’t your strong point. You should work on that.”
Tori has one last card to play. She pouts and holds up her burned hand. “But I’m hurt!”
This time, Jade’s face does crease in sympathy and Tori thinks she’s got her. Jade very gently takes the injured appendage with her own hand and brings it to her lips, looking into Tori’s eyes as she places the lightest of kisses on the inflamed skin. Tori lets out a sounds that she’s reasonably sure she’s never made in her life before. Still holding Tori’s hand, Jade leans in and presses her lips at the very edge of Tori’s mouth, only letting them linger a second or two before drawing back.
“There, you big baby, consider that a preview.”
And with Tori too shocked to do anything about it, Jade opens the door and walks out. It takes Tori a moment to come to her senses. She darts forward to stand in the doorway to see Jade slipping into the driver’s seat of her car.
“Jade!”
The other girl looks up and tilts her head to the side. “What, Vega?”
It briefly occurs to Tori to ask Jade out right there and then. It would be a gutsy move. But maybe also a stupid one. And she doesn’t want to risk Jade thinking she’s not serious. So she plays it safe.
“Thank you. For tonight.”
Jade puts a hand to her chest. “You’re ever so welcome!” And she yanks the door closed with a cackle. As Tori watches her drive away, she pulls out her phone and types out a text.
- I don’t talk like that!
When she can no longer see the taillights of the car, she closes the door and leans back against it, a stupid grin adorning her face. Trina plods down the stairs, looking around warily until she spots Tori by the door.
“I heard the Wicked Witch of the West leave. Thought I’d better check she hadn’t killed you and sucked your blood or anything.”
Tori smiles up at her sister. “Nope, there was definitely no sucking.” Unfortunately, she added to herself.
“Well...good, I guess.” Trina starts to go back upstairs, but stops and turns back around. “You seem weirdly happy...are you sure she didn’t...do anything to you?”
“Nope. She didn’t do anything.” That’s not strictly true. She turned Tori’s world upside down. Her dopey smile gets bigger. “Nothing bad, at least.”
It seems like Trina wants to delve deeper, but after a few moments she holds her hands up. “Your smile is freaking me out and I really don’t want to continue this conversation. So if it turns out she roofied you or whatever, you’ll have to come in and wake me because yelling doesn’t work with my new earplugs.”
“‘Kay. Night!” Tori gives her sister a little wave. Trina just shakes her head and trudges back up the stairs. Tori’s phone beeps and she’s so keen to read the message that she almost drops the thing.
- Sure you don’t. Sleep well, Sweet Sally Peaches. I’ll see you at school. Who knows? Maybe you’ll ask me to go steady and we can go to the sock-hop together! x
The little kiss at the end of the message makes Tori giddy. She holds her Pearphone against her chest and sighs. With shaking fingers, she taps in a reply that might be pushing the boundaries a little at this stage.
- I guess we’ll see... But here’s a question...Will you buy me a soda-pop? ;{P
She watches the message upload and the whooshing noise it makes as it sends is mirrored by the dip in her stomach. Seconds tick by without a response, turning into minutes. Just as Tori’s thinking of something else to write, her text tone sounds and she jumps. Squeezing one eye closed, she opens it up.
- I’ll buy you a whole damn case, Vega.
And with those eight little words, Tori knows her heart is mended.
See Part 1 for details.
Having kept her damaged hand in water for the requisite time period, Tori’s watching Jade pat it dry with a soft towel. The tenderness in the other girl’s touch is becoming less surprising as the evening progresses, but Tori still finds herself marvelling in it.
“Do you have anything for burns? Ointment or something?”
Tori catches herself before she blurts out something entirely lame about how Jade’s touch is more effective than any ointment would be. “Uh...maybe in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom?”
Jade nods. “I’ll go check. Try not to injure yourself while I’m gone.”
Watching Jade leave, the beeping of Tori’s phone startles her. For the first time in two days, she actually feels like checking her messages. The latest one is from Cat; it’s a picture of a bunny with a party hat on. Tori smiles as she scrolls back through the other messages Cat’s sent her. Most involve animals in some way, others are questions about how she’s feeling with lots of extra punctuation and sad faces. She dashes off a quick message to let Cat know that she’s fine and that the bunny made her smile.
Beck and Robbie have each sent a few texts checking if she’s okay so she responds to those too. André’s sent the most messages of all. Some are enquiries into her state of mind. Some are offers of physical violence against Ben. Some are just the usual kind of texts he’d send her about songs or shows on TV. She feels bad for ignoring him and types a response to his last text.
- Sorry I haven’t been in touch. Been kinda mopey and didn’t want to bring everyone down :( Thanks for sending Jade to take care of me xx
Almost immediately, a reply pops into her inbox.
- Hey chica! Good to know you’re doing better :) But I didn’t send Jade.
She frowns. She was sure Jade had said André was worried and that’s why she’d come over.
- Then who did?
Again, the answer comes back right away.
- Nobody did. Jade spent all weekend yelling at us to call and text you to make sure you were okay. Today she said we were useless and she’d have to do the job herself.
Tori’s throat grows thick. Jade had chosen to be with her, with no prompting from anyone else. Footsteps on the stairs jolt her back to reality and she dashes of a reply to André.
- Oh. Okay. Thanks. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.
Stashing her phone under a cushion, she smiles as Jade sits back down beside her holding a bottle.
“I can’t find any ointment, but this has aloe vera in it, so it should help.” She lifts the towel off Tori’s hand and gently pulls it over to rest on her knee. She takes her time spreading the cool gel over the red, swollen flesh on Tori’s knuckles. Tori’s still reeling from her newfound knowledge that Jade had chosen to come over and spend time with her like this. She only notices when Jade sets the bottle aside and runs her fingertips over the burned area. She looks over to find Jade biting her lip.
“It doesn’t seem too bad. Maybe we should take you to a hospital just in case?”
The concern on Jade’s face makes Tori’s heart beat faster. But she decides to play it off. She nudges the other girl and launches into Jade’s ‘Tori voice’.
“Maybe I’ll meet a handsome young doctor, get married and share a soda pop.”
Jade smiles but it quickly fades. Her eyes drop to Tori’s hand. Their fingers are lightly interlocked as they lie together on Jade’s lap. "Yeah, well...try and make sure the next one is someone who’ll buy you a whole damn case of soda pop."
There’s no levity in her voice. She’s deadly serious and Tori has no response. Except that she really wants to hug Jade. Like really wants to.
“Jade?”
“What?” Jade’s still looking at their hands.
“I don’t think a soda pop would help me feel better right now...but I know what might...”
They’ve been in this situation often enough that Jade knows what she’s talking about without asking for clarification. And, for once, Tori doesn’t have to beg or bargain or blackmail. Jade reaches out and pulls Tori into her arms without so much as a sigh or an eyeroll. Tori closes her eyes, scrunching up her brow as she concentrates on remembering how it feels to be held by Jade. She expects it to be short, but Jade holds onto her and rocks them both back and forth.
“You’re a real swell gal, dollface.” Tori jumps slightly at the unexpected volume right by her ear. “And if Ben can’t see that, well then he’s all wet.”
Tori smiles into Jade’s shoulder, hugging her tighter. “I don’t talk like that.”
“Sure you don’t, Vega.” Jade’s grip loosens and Tori tries hard to be grateful for the hug, and not to resent the fact it’s over. She looks into Jade’s eyes and sees something that looks like resignation. She looks like she’s come to a decision she’s not happy about.
“Okay, I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to say this until later...or, you know, at all.” Tori notices Jade wringing her hands and wonders if she should reach out and take one of them. Jade starts speaking again before she can do anything. “And I’m only going to say it once, and if you repeat it I will remove each of those little stars from your locker door and insert them into your right nostril, got it?”
Tori nods, slightly dreading what was to come. Jade rolls her eyes and sighs, but she holds Tori’s gaze.
“He’s an idiot, okay? You’re a really nice, sweet girl who’s not all that difficult to look at. If he doesn’t see that, then it’s his problem, not yours. People are lining up to date you. Move on.”
Jade’s a lovely shade of pink by the time she’s finished speaking. Tori’s stomach is doing somersaults at the implications of Jade’s words. And then backwards somersaults at the thought that she’s reading too much into the situation. She knows she can’t be overly effusive in her response, or Jade will back off and deny everything. So she nods once.
“Thanks.”
Jade moves away and folds her arms over her chest. But she nods too.
“Don’t mention it. And I mean that. Don’t mention it.”
“‘Kay.”
“Good.”
The next words out of Tori’s mouth are spurred on by a sense of ‘now or never’. Or perhaps by a bout of intense stupidity.
“Are you in the line, Jade?”
All movement ceases and the air feels heavier all of a sudden. Tori only half wishes she could take the question back. Jade looks at her, eyes guarded and unreadable.
“That depends.”
It’s not an immediate rejection, which Tori had pretty much braced herself for. Her voice is high with excitement when she replies.
“On what?”
She can see Jade’s jaw working, like she’s forcing herself to speak. Her voice doesn’t waver when she does, and neither do her eyes; currently boring into Tori’s.
“Are there any more stupid boys ahead of me?”
Tori shakes her head violently. “Nobody’s been ahead of you for a really long time.”
Jade looks down, but not before Tori catches the relieved smile that blooms on her lips. When she looks back up, it’s still there.
“Then I guess I’m next in line.”
Swallowing thickly, Tori urges her mouth into a smile. “I guess so.” She starts to lean towards Jade, her eyes drifting closed.
“Well...” Jade says. “This is a predicament.” Tori opens her eyes to see Jade sitting exactly as she had been before.
“Wh...wha-...what predicament?” Tori’s confused now. Didn’t they both just say what she thought they said?
“I don’t do rebounds, Vega. When I got here you were crying over a boy. I’m sure as hell not gonna make out with you to make you feel better.” Jade raises her eyebrows. “You want to do this?” She gestures between the two of them. Tori nods, with a hopeful smile. “Then we have to do it right.”
Tori’s smile fades. “And...that means no kissing?”
“No kissing. Not tonight.”
“Bu-...but...”
“Buh buh,” Jade mocks. “I’m serious, Tori. I don’t want whatever happens between us to be all mixed up with you getting over that buttcheek who dumped you.”
Wrapping her arms around herself, Tori sits back a little. “I think I preferred you before you told me you liked me.”
“No-one used the word ‘like’.” Jade’s answer is immediate, though she does look a little contrite when Tori huffs in frustration. “Fine, I like you, or whatever. But I’m still not kissing you until you’ve got that idiot out of your system.”
“But Jaaaaade...”
“No buts.” Jade’s standing up and moving to put on her jacket as she speaks. “When you think you’re ready, you can ask me out on a date. And if I think you’re ready, I’ll probably say yes.”
“Probably?” Tori squeaks, trailing Jade to the front door. “Seriously? Probably is all you’re giving me?”
Jade pauses with her hand on the doorknob. She turns to look at Tori over her shoulder. “Well, I have to keep you on your toes, don’t I?” Sin drips from every word and Tori wants to scream.
She reaches out and runs her finger down Jade’s forearm, looking up at her through lowered lashes. “So you’re just gonna leave me here? All alone?” She lets her tongue trace along her bottom lip. And Jade laughs.
“Uh, okay, so I see subtle seduction isn’t your strong point. You should work on that.”
Tori has one last card to play. She pouts and holds up her burned hand. “But I’m hurt!”
This time, Jade’s face does crease in sympathy and Tori thinks she’s got her. Jade very gently takes the injured appendage with her own hand and brings it to her lips, looking into Tori’s eyes as she places the lightest of kisses on the inflamed skin. Tori lets out a sounds that she’s reasonably sure she’s never made in her life before. Still holding Tori’s hand, Jade leans in and presses her lips at the very edge of Tori’s mouth, only letting them linger a second or two before drawing back.
“There, you big baby, consider that a preview.”
And with Tori too shocked to do anything about it, Jade opens the door and walks out. It takes Tori a moment to come to her senses. She darts forward to stand in the doorway to see Jade slipping into the driver’s seat of her car.
“Jade!”
The other girl looks up and tilts her head to the side. “What, Vega?”
It briefly occurs to Tori to ask Jade out right there and then. It would be a gutsy move. But maybe also a stupid one. And she doesn’t want to risk Jade thinking she’s not serious. So she plays it safe.
“Thank you. For tonight.”
Jade puts a hand to her chest. “You’re ever so welcome!” And she yanks the door closed with a cackle. As Tori watches her drive away, she pulls out her phone and types out a text.
- I don’t talk like that!
When she can no longer see the taillights of the car, she closes the door and leans back against it, a stupid grin adorning her face. Trina plods down the stairs, looking around warily until she spots Tori by the door.
“I heard the Wicked Witch of the West leave. Thought I’d better check she hadn’t killed you and sucked your blood or anything.”
Tori smiles up at her sister. “Nope, there was definitely no sucking.” Unfortunately, she added to herself.
“Well...good, I guess.” Trina starts to go back upstairs, but stops and turns back around. “You seem weirdly happy...are you sure she didn’t...do anything to you?”
“Nope. She didn’t do anything.” That’s not strictly true. She turned Tori’s world upside down. Her dopey smile gets bigger. “Nothing bad, at least.”
It seems like Trina wants to delve deeper, but after a few moments she holds her hands up. “Your smile is freaking me out and I really don’t want to continue this conversation. So if it turns out she roofied you or whatever, you’ll have to come in and wake me because yelling doesn’t work with my new earplugs.”
“‘Kay. Night!” Tori gives her sister a little wave. Trina just shakes her head and trudges back up the stairs. Tori’s phone beeps and she’s so keen to read the message that she almost drops the thing.
- Sure you don’t. Sleep well, Sweet Sally Peaches. I’ll see you at school. Who knows? Maybe you’ll ask me to go steady and we can go to the sock-hop together! x
The little kiss at the end of the message makes Tori giddy. She holds her Pearphone against her chest and sighs. With shaking fingers, she taps in a reply that might be pushing the boundaries a little at this stage.
- I guess we’ll see... But here’s a question...Will you buy me a soda-pop? ;{P
She watches the message upload and the whooshing noise it makes as it sends is mirrored by the dip in her stomach. Seconds tick by without a response, turning into minutes. Just as Tori’s thinking of something else to write, her text tone sounds and she jumps. Squeezing one eye closed, she opens it up.
- I’ll buy you a whole damn case, Vega.
And with those eight little words, Tori knows her heart is mended.