Start from scratch

Chapter 5 - Boxed in

Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.

Start from scratch

Chapter 5 - Boxed in.

Jade's POV.

"Stay"

I cocked my head and gave Tori a look of utter disbelief. "Stay, are you kidding. Why in the hell should I?"

Tori lowered her head and only then, could I see that the previous look of disdain was now gone. The expression on her face now, was a guarded one; showing almost no emotion.

"Well for starters." Responded Tori in casual monotone "New York City, is still in the middle of a terrible cold snap. They say it's the coldest winter in 70 years. I heard on the radio yesterday, that has caused all the shelters to be filled to or above capacity. Secondly, my father in his work has seen a few places like that, you have to watch your possessions like a hawk, or they quickly vanish. Your only other option is a hotel and I can't imagine your money would hold out long."

I suddenly started to feel like I was slowly being boxed. "Well, you seem to have everything covered. You know what; maybe I should just roll the dice and see if I get lucky."

For a moment the guarded expression on Tori's face waivered, but soon returned. "You leave and you could very well die just trying to get to a homeless shelter, you're hurt and I don't think you could make it very far in this cold. It's just better of you stay here."

It's the way she says it, that's the most unnerving, as if it were plain fact. If I walk out that door, I'm going to die, period.

I suddenly thought of Tori's occasional taunts about me crawling back to beck. I hated them. "Why, you want me to fail. You keep taunting me about it."

Tori quickly turned her back, "I was wrong in the assumption I made tonight. For that I am sorry. But if it helps, I'll refrain from any more negative comments."

More than anything, I wanted to see the expression she decided to hide from me by turning, but I didn't want to push it. Her argument for me to stay was very logical and sound, but I knew there was more to it. More than likely it was the same thing that caused her to let me in here in the first place. My feeling of being boxed in, became more acute as I realized, mystery or not, her cold logic was sound.

Being with Beck I had been trapped, but I escaped that only to find myself trapped again. Looking at the door, this place felt less like a sanctuary and more like a cage. Not that any of it mattered, as I knew Tori would never forgive me anyway. Maybe she's doing this to me, to pay me back for my betrayal of her. Keep me here and slowly torture me with the cold silent treatment. Each day I'm reminded of what I did and each day I feel just a bit worse about it.

I looked to the door again briefly before looking to Tori and her emotionless eyes and was suddenly filled with a feeling of dread. "Looks like I don't have a choice."

"You're making the right choice, Jade." Tori said with just the slightest hint of a what appeared to be smile. For once Tori's smile, did nothing to make me feel better. I found myself thinking about her old smile, the happy smile. I never thought I'd admit it, but I miss her old smile.

Suddenly I felt like I was about so suffocate, I needed to get out, even if for a short while. "Since when do I ever do that? I'm going to the movies; I'll be back later."

Tori began to say something but I simply ignored it and walked out of the apartment.

I found myself running out of the apartment and took the subway down to the nearest multiplex. I just needed to escape, into a movie any movie. Getting there I picked the next movie starting which was an unfunny Adam Sandler movie. But between the popcorn, soda and horrible movie, I managed to at least for 90 minutes forget my problems.