You're Worth It (Jori)

Buffalo Nuggets

Tori's POV:

"Have you ever tried the buffalo nuggets here?"

My eyes move from table to table like a panic-stricken bird ready to take flight as soon as it senses the slightest of movements. So much so that for every person that walks through the door, I have a mini freak out session, only to relax seconds later. 

I doubt Jade's suspected anything of it yet. She didn't seem too suspicious when I'd demanded we go to Karaoke Dokie instead of Nozu, an uncharacteristic move on my part, I admit. However, instead of fighting or bickering about it like I'd expected, she chose today to be compliant. The one day I wanted her to disagree with me more than ever.

A sharp, painful kick to my shin snaps me out of my thoughts, causing me to jolt up in my seat. "Ow! What was that for!?"

"I've practically been talking to myself for the past five minutes."

"I was listening!"

"Oh yeah? What was the last thing I said?"

"You..." I avert my eyes, realizing I really wasn't paying any attention to her. Still, I take a shot. "You asked if I was listening." I act casual. 

She grumbles something to herself, crossing her arms over her chest signalling I'd gotten it right. "Ha!" I playfully kick her back underneath the table with a celebratory smirk. 

That, of course, starts a chain reaction; our feet fighting for control as our eyes lock intensely.

"You're wearing combat boots. This isn't fair," I pout when I anticipate my loss. There was never any real chance for my dainty feet to overpower hers, so I resort to pouting. She laughs, clearly not showing any mercy. An aggressive jerk forward pushes my feet back to my side, followed by what I assume was supposed to be a kick (but was really a tap) to my left knee. 

"I win."

"Whatever," I pretend to be mad but really, I couldn't feel any lighter. Being this close, this affectionate, this playful with Jade is like being on Cloud 9. 

"One large buffalo nuggets with fries and two sodas. Anything else?" The blonde waitress, who looks like she can't wait to go home, miserably announces our supposed order before placing it in front of us. I guess Jade must've ordered while I'd been busy checking the entrance for the gang to show up.

"No," the ice queen returns to replace the giddy girl that I'd just played footsie with, causing me to frown. However, her scowl is quick to disappear the second the girl walks away.

"Buffalo nuggets?" I raise an eyebrow at her food selection, and she shrugs while popping a fry in her mouth.

"They're not bad."

I nod, taking a small bite of the nugget before humming in approval. She smiles briefly, something that still catches me off guard every time she does it, before going back to her side of the plate.

"Since when did you share food?" I tease, moving my body forward to place my elbows on the table with my chin resting on my palm.

"Do you want me to kick you again?"

"No."

"Then be quiet."

This time I don't push any further, smiling to myself as I take a sip from my drink. My peaceful cloud is disrupted however, by an awful shriek of a voice that is apparently considered singing here. Grimacing at the two girls who've taken the stage to sing a song that's way out of their league, I notice the clenched jaw in front of me as her bites become significantly more aggressive.