West & Vega: The Untold Jori

I Miss the Misery

"Mmm, I've dreamed of this for months," Tori groaned lustily. She seemed to lose herself completely, eyes closed, licking her lips. "Oh, god."

I couldn't take my eyes off of her. I knew what was coming next. I wasn't disappointed.

She erupted into a massive coughing fit.

"Spicy! Too spicy!"

Tori grabbed her water and drank straight from the glass, ignoring the straw.

"Pretty sure that's what extra spicy means," I said as she tried to fan her tongue.

I hadn't gone to Karaoke Dokie since I graduated, but Tori had a craving for their "famous" buffalo nuggets and begged for that to be her first stop now that she was home. I didn't have a better idea, so that's where we went. It was weird being back there with her, honestly. My brain wasn't sure what to make of it. I associated that place with high school, not with being a working adult. And Tori's presence just added more confusion. It was an odd line to cross.

"It's like eating lava rocks," she said, fishing an ice cube out of her glass and rubbing it on her tongue. Part of me laughed because she looked ridiculous and part of me shifted in my seat because Tori had kind of a long tongue and I was already struggling to contend with my...whatever it was I felt towards her. I pushed aside any and all thoughts of her tongue, its length, its dexterity, what she might do with it...

Oh, good job, Jade. What are you, thirteen?

I was relieved when she stashed her tongue and just started sucking on the ice cube. I tossed her an extra napkin to dry her hands. She shot me a curious glance. "What, you're not going to make fun of me for this?"

"It's tempting, but no. I'm more worried about you frying your vocal cords before we make the movie."

"I didn't think of that. These are so good, though."

"Here, try it this way." I grabbed one of her nuggets and dipped it in my ranch dressing, then offered it to her. She took it hesitantly and tried it.

"That's good. And it's not as hot."

"Yeah, it's magic. Or something." I slid her the rest of the ranch. She reached for it and our hands brushed for a second.

It was one of those idiotic moments you see in every lame romance movie. That gentle touch, that unspoken, accidental connection that is completely innocent but somehow profoundly transformative. Before I could comment on how insipid it was, she pulled her hand away.

"Sorry," she said quickly.

"You should be. Now I have to wash my hand."

A grin lit up her face. "Do you know how boring it is without you around to keep me on my toes?"

I had to fight to keep from smiling at that. "Do you know how great it was to not constantly be annoyed by you?"

"Oh, please. You know you've missed me."

Absolutely. A lot.

"Not even a little."

Tori wasn't buying it. "Yes, you have. You'll admit it before I go back."

"I really won't."

"We'll see." She dipped another nugget in the ranch sauce and took a bite, groaning again as it went down. I shifted again.

"Do you two want some privacy?"

She laughed. "I'm sorry. The food out east is just...it's not great. I've missed these." Our eyes connected. "I've missed a lot out here, actually."