The Other Girl

Part 5

The following morning Tori had expected to find a warm body beside her, but to her surprise there was no one. Just slightly messy sheets and the faint scent of the person who slept there. The brunette furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, hoping that Jamie had just gotten up to go to the bathroom or something. Much to her disappointment, the other girl's things were gone along with her. Tori immediately opened her phone, ready to send a text when she saw Jamie had already sent one.

JSchroder_: I know you're probably wondering why I left, the truth is I can't tell you. Not yet. I'll talk to you when we meet at Karaoke Dokie ok? Please don't ask me about it until then, I just need some time. Thank you for yesterday, it was so much fun. ❤️

A long sigh escaped Tori's nose. She knew better than to push someone when they said they didn't want to talk about something. In the few years she'd known Jade, pushing her to try and talk about her feelings had been her biggest mistake. Regardless of the fact it would eat her up all day, she decided to wait. Jamie would come around eventually, or at least she hoped. Deciding to take her mind off things for awhile, she popped her pearphone onto her docking station and put some music on. Hall and Oats were one of her favorites, their music always set her mind straight when she was having a rough time. The past couple weeks were a rollercoaster, for Tori, Jamie, and Jade alike. But for now, the brunette would focus on easing her own mind, she would deal with the pressing issues that night. Although as she expected, her moment of peace didn't last long.

"Tori! Where did you put my hairbrush?!" Trina all but screeched from the other room.

"I didn't touch it!!" Tori called back, feeling extremely annoyed. "Check your backpack!!" After what seemed like an hour of silence, the sound of her sister scurrying down the stairs was music to Tori's ears. She loved her sister, but it seemed Trina always interrupted when Tori needed some alone time. "I guess I should just work on some homework." She said out loud to no one other than herself. The script for the play sat in an open tab on her laptop, so she decided to go over that first. Tori had done plenty of kiss scenes in her lifetime, they had never bothered her nor made her catch any type of feelings for the person she was kissing. Jamie was no different, or at least she thought. The hazel eyed girl's lips were soft, warm and inviting. They held a certain tension to them, something only Tori seemed to notice. She wondered silently to herself if Jamie harbored any feelings for her. If she did, how would Tori respond? "I need to stop overthinking this, she's probably not going to say anything like that." The brunette said to no one in particular as she combed her fingers nervously through her hair. She'd been so busy wondering what Jamie might say, she had forgotten about her hangout with Jade that evening.

Walking into the doors of Karaoke Dokie was a familiar feeling to Tori and the gang. Not as of recently, but this was Andre's idea of re strengthening that bond. The sounds of several highschool students chattering away were like white noise to Tori, her mind was somewhere else completely. Where exactly, she didn't know. Andre noticed this, but decided not to mention it. He hoped that as the night went on Tori could ease into things. The group of friends made their way to their usual table, relatively close to the stage.

Jade's POV

Before you ask me why I agreed to hang out with Tori alone later, not even I have the answer to that. I'm the one who made the fucking decision, so I should probably know. But much to no one's suprise, I don't. Karaoke Dokie is one of the few venues we frequent that I don't actually hate, yet tonight it seems to annoy me. Then again, what doesn't these days? People are way too goddamn happy all the time, as if the world isn't falling apart around us and we aren't all slowly dying. But, music is one of my escapes, so that's probably why I don't mind this place. Tori looks extra nervous tonight, like there's something on her mind. Of course I don't ask her what's wrong though, I never do. Instead, I do something that suprises even myself. I sit down right next to her, Andre on the other side of her. This seems to calm her down a little, making a slight smile appear on my face. I don't let her see, she'd get way too much milage out of it. I want her to know that I'm trying to make an effort here without having to say it. Jade West doesn't do lovey dovey shit. Tori knows better than anyone to ask me why I'm doing something, so she takes any little amount of affection I give her. It makes me feel kind of guilty. All these years, and not once has she given up on me. She's been there for me more than Cat or my own boyfriend ever have been. The few times I've went to her she doesn't ask me what's wrong, she just lets me vent my frustrations and gives me coffee after. That's how I like it, I don't open up. Tonight though, I want to make it up to her. I want to apologize without actually saying I'm sorry, if I can help it. Our arms brush slightly and I can't help but notice that she tenses. Placing my hand on her thigh, she looks to the side at me. Instead of answering, I give it a slight squeeze, letting her know I'm here. I haven't looked at her once since I sat down, I can't bring myself to. Thankfully, the waiter comes to take our orders. What suprises me though is who it is.