Roll the Dice (Jori)

7

Hi, everyone! Just a reminder...this is a slowburn! I hope you don't mind the wait. By the way, there will be a lot of Jade point of views in this chapter.

Enjoy your read!

JADE

I settled onto my favorite spot on the balcony that gave me a perfect view of the sunrise over the Strip. The morning desert air still clung to the remnants of the night, and I already knew the scorching heat would come later. The neon lights of the casinos began to dim as the first light of dawn shined down.

I took a deep breath. Alcohol. Grass. Weed. The faint hum of the city's early risers drifted up to me--a few cars on the strip, the distant sound of a delivery truck, and the occasional laughter of clubbers heading home. I even saw a couple dudes hunched over and hurling whilst double-fisted. I really craved that again. The sky shifted from inky blue to pink and orange, the colors casting shadows on the balcony concrete.

I sat cross-legged, a cold cup of coffee cradled in my hands. I had been up since four o'clock in the morning, unable to sleep. All I could think about was the monstrosity of what the trip had been. Nothing about it was good whatsoever. First, Beck and I break up--or, "take a break." That's a breakup, is it not? Then, I somehow share some weird moment with Vega, the girl I would've never imagined I'd be dancing drunk with. Then, when I try to tell her, some fuck-face dude gets in the way.

I decided I wouldn't tell her. It wasn't that big of a deal, anyway. Besides, Tori didn't even remember it happened. That clearly proved it was nothing to be concerned about. Not that I really cared. But I felt beforehand that Tori and I had to get our priorities straight. We had to confirm it was just some overly affectionate, drunken thing. We happened to get a little devoted on the dance floor, but it was meaningless.

I suppose it didn't really matter any more. Nothing was going right. Everything felt like it was crumbling in my own hands. All I wanted to do was purchase a one-way ticket back to Hollywood and never show my face in the public again. I could sell tit pictures to clueless old men and live off that. Nobody would even have to know.

I laughed at my own stupidity. The quietness of the morning gave me time to think--a little too much time. I took another sip of my dull coffee, savoring the time I had to myself.

"Jade?" A familiar voice croaked behind me.

Fuck. I spoke too soon, didn't I?

I turned around. It was a messy-haired, baggy-clothed, slipper-wearing Tori. She squinted, holding her hand over her eyes to block the sun.

"Is there something I can assist you with?" I urged, watching her stand there like a moron.

"Why're you out here?" The latina asked. "I thought you hated mornings."

I adjusted in the chair. "I do. But this is the only time I don't have an annoying goody-two-shoes blabbering in my ear."

She pouted, playing with her feathered earring. "I don't blabber."

"Whatever."

"Can I sit with you?"

I groaned. "Why?"

Tori shrugged, leaning against the door frame. "I don't know. I figured you might want some company."

"And what if I don't?"

"Then I'll just sit here quietly." Tori closed the sliding door, making her way to the chair next to mine. It was tolerable, but not enjoyable. I was surprised she wasn't talking her ass off, but then again she had just woken up.