A Jori Story: We're Just Acting, Right?

Rom-Com Gestures

The school day had just ended and students were milling around Hollywood Arts. Some were buying food, some were finding places to sit with their friends. The air was filled with the aura and excitement of the upcoming break. Everyone was happy.

Jade peeked out at the crowd from behind the curtain and turned to continue her incessant pacing. She still hadn't found Tori and the show would begin in a half hour. In fact, it wasn't only Tori that she couldn't get a hold of. It was the entire band. Jade and a few crew members were the only people backstage.

Finally after 20 voicemails to Tori and the others, they burst in through the backstage door and hurried to tune their guitars and make sure their instruments were in working order. Tori ran in last with Cat at her heels.

"Where the hell were you?," Jade questioned, marching over to the brunette and redhead.

"Sorry, we got caught up. You look great by the way," Tori added in, smiling at Jade between her light panting.

Jade was a little too stunned to thank Tori so she just nodded awkwardly and walked back to where was stood earlier. Stupid Tori and her stupid compliments, she thought, although the brush creeping on her cheeks said otherwise.

The talent show was about to start and the pair took their places behind the curtain as they waited for their cue. They were standing so close together, the backs of their hands were unmoving on each other. Jade felt sparks in her fingertips at the contact.

When the curtain finally fell away to reveal them, the entire crowd burst into thunderous applause and Jade was no longer nervous. A big crowd so happy to see her always did well at calming her nerves.

Then the first chord of Forever and Always began and the sinking feeling made its way back into the pit of Jade's stomach. She watched as Tori took the first verse, her eyes shut and feeling the music and God, she felt herself fall in love with Tori even more, if that was even possible.

When the chorus started and they began harmonizing, Tori's eyes slowly opened and she turned look at Jade. She reached forward and took Jade's hand, pulling her in a little as they sang and Jade started getting more and more comfortable as she and Tori never took their eyes off of each other. It was surreal.

When the song ended and they were done bowing dramatically at the audience, the pair were ushered backstage. Jade wanted to tell Tori that she did really well but Lane had made them leave til their next song because of the crowd of contestants lining up for the show. They were separated once more.

Their next song would only be at the end of the show so Jade was trying to walk through the crowd of people to get to Tori but the brunette had disappeared yet again. Jade looked around for a few minutes but sighed dejectedly upon realizing that she couldn't find Tori anywhere. she wanted to continue looking around until she ran into Cat.

"Oh, hi Jade!"

"Have you seen Tori?"

Cat giggled for a second but stopped herself. "Nope."

Jade eyed her suspiciously but couldn't ask her anything more because she was swept away by another crowd of people. Jade groaned and gave up her search. She took a seat at the back of the audience and waited til Lane called her up for the last performance.

Was Tori purposefully avoiding her? Jade didn't know. And frankly, right now she didn't care. She just wanted the whole night to be over with so that she could go home and be alone but the hour that had passed already felt like a week. It was going to be a long night.

When it was time for the final performance and Tori burst in through the door once again, Jade caught her eye for half a second but looked away immediately. If Tori wanted to avoid her then so be it. They stood next to each other wordlessly again til the curtain was drawn.