Start from scratch

Chapter 29 - Cruel to be kind

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

Start from scratch

Chapter 29 – Cruel to be kind

No One's POV

After storming out of the apartment, Jade took a walk; ranting drunkenly to herself as she went. It was only when she started to sober up, did she feel bad about yelling at Tori, but her inner drive to fix Tori was unyielding.

By the time she had returned home, Tori had already gone to bed, so Jade did the same. Falling asleep, she felt feeling pretty cruddy about the whole thing.

Sometime later she felt herself being nudged.

"Wake up!"

Opening her eyes, she could see it was morning and Tori was sitting on the coffee table next to the couch. It was Friday so Tori was dressed for work at the bank. Jade however didn't have to work and her first hung-over thought was, why is she waking me?

"Jade." Tori said clearing her throat. "I want you to listen and not say a word; I do not want to be interrupted. Nod if you understand."

Jade reluctantly shook her pounding head.

"Good, for starters I want to apologize for having our discussion when we'd both been drinking, it was a terrible decision to speak of it then and only made things worse. I am sorry."

Jade nodded again in acknowledgement.

"OK, I've been thinking. You want to help Cat, as you see it helping me. I also know you're hell bent on doing this. You're frustrated, still somewhat traumatized and impatient. You also feel a uncontrollable urge to fix me. Perhaps you think I need to be fixed in order for us to proceed. I do not agree. I want to proceed and I know you do as well. I think both of us can be very happy together, I really do. The problem is, I think that, I don't know that. I'm being honest here, even the best of relationships go south sometimes. So, a part of any relationship is compromise and sometimes doing things to please the other, even something you may not like. Are you following?"

"Yes."

Tori frowned, then barked. "I said no talking! Nod."

"So, to help you deal with your urge and to get my friend back, I will help you liberate Cat. But I will be in charge and we will do it under my conditions and rules. You look like you have a question. Speak?"

"What if I don't follow the conditions?"

Looking deadly serious Tori quipped. "I don't want to lose another friend, what we're doing is possibly quite illegal. It is something my father would not be pleased to hear about, one bit. All I need to do is make one phone call to my dad, where I let him know you're about to do something rash and 10 minutes later, the Boston Police will know to be expecting you. Am I being clear?"

Jade snarled. "You wouldn't dare.....That's blackmail?"

"I SAID NO TALKING! Yes I would. Blackmail is such an ugly word; I prefer describe it as protecting my investment. You obviously think I'm being unfair, tough cookies. But think of this an exercise in compromise and cooperation, for the betterment of us. That and you being a good little girl and not going off half-cocked will please me. You want to please me, don't you? Someday the shoe will be on the other foot, where I'm sure you'll delight in putting the thumbscrews to me, but for now, I have the power. Got it?" Tori said, looking a little like she was enjoying having Jade on the spot.