You'd Be Home

Certain Uncertainty

A/N: Hi everyone! I'm slowly moving all of my stories from other sites over here, and this is the next one on the list! There are 11 stories of this chapter written, and I plan to post one chapter a week (on Sundays) for the next 11 weeks. After that, I cannot guarantee how often this story will be updated (if at all) because I am currently working on two other stories as well. I come back to this one when inspired, but I promise it's worth the read! Hope you all enjoy! :)

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Uncertainty had always been a longtime companion of mine. Words wavered between the whimper of my lips. Thoughts trickled through the recesses of my mind trying to toss their way silently forward. Choices caught themselves between the creases of my palms climbing callously up my extremities to become actions, inherently cautious in nature.

Whether a simple manifestation of my anxiety or a symptom of something bigger, I consistently struggled to speak my mind. To come to a decision and stick with it resolutely. To step forward with conviction. That is until I met Jade West.

There was something about her candor that felt effortless. She spoke her mind without hesitation, as though the thought had originated on the tip of her tongue. She came off as arrogant, catty, and some might even say vile. But through my eyes, she held a power I never knew could be obtained. Her decisiveness was a mystery to me.

It made me want her even more.

I always felt as though our relationship could fade as quickly as the flame was lit. Ignited with a piece of flint growing dull. Kindled between two hearts of pine which, once sturdy, could easily go up in smoke. Illuminated by each other's eyes and the sparks inspired by our touch.

At first, my understanding of Jade was through whispers. Hushed undertones of apprehension regarding the façade she draped over herself for protection. People's voices tended to quiver when recalling the way she fought through the halls. They clutched to her black clothing, army boots, and resting bitch face to make a determination of her interior.

But no one spoke of her beauty. No one prepared me for the perplexing nature of her piercing eyes and how they seemingly flowed from blue to green to hazel to grey and back again depending on the light shining from within her. No one conveyed the energy encased in her mesmerizing smile. No one noted how her long black hair framed her face in layers, hiding a small scar just on underside of her jaw bone by her chin.

And no one told me that there was a chance I would fall in love. Before my thoughts, words, or actions could tell me otherwise.

Three Months Ago

She plopped down in the seat next to me in Geometry without second thought that first day of school. Though we knew each other through acquaintances, she remained someone in my life that I had never formally been introduced to. As I glanced beside me, I noticed the slight irritation from a new piercing on her left eyebrow before I fully took in that she was seated next to me.

"Can I help you?" she muttered, catching my eye.

I jumped at her tone, snapping my head back forward to retract all previous eye contact "Nope! Not at all."

She sighed next to me and reached across her body with her right hand extended for me to take hold, "We've never actually met, have we?"

Reaching for her palm, I smiled nervously as we regained eye contact, "Mhm. I'm friends with Andre, Robbie, and –"

"Cat," she finished still gripping her hand in mine, "Jade. Tori, right?"

Nodding more than the average human being, I agreed, "Yeah, Vega. Tori Vega."