Of Scissors And Scooby Doo

Chapter 23

"I don't want any surprises. I just want to... lie in bed and watch TV."

"Come on, Tori. You can do that tomorrow. I want you to cheer for me and Cat. I need you there."

No, you don't." I let my right leg dangle from the couch while I massaged the throbbing point on my forehead which bothered me ever since I came back from school earlier. "You'll be great with or without me there. It doesn't matter."

"True. I'm going to be great. But with you I'm going to be incredible."

"Jade," I whined and closed my eyes, "I don't want to. I have a headache."

"Don't lie to me!"

"I'm not lying! I really do have a headache."

There was a deep sigh on Jade's end. "Well, but... it's the Full Moon Jam," she argued weakly to which I let my eyes fall shut, "You can't just not come."

"Look, Jade, I just don't feel like... people tonight. I'd love to see you and Cat perform but I just really don't feel like going out today and fake being happy because I'm really not."

During the last two weeks my home situation... got better, I guess. I mean, it didn't get worse. Mom and dad didn't yell at each other anymore, however, they didn't really talk to each other either. Although I have to admit, my mom tried. She started to make breakfast for all of us again, not just for herself. She did everything what she could to make it up to my father, to make sure that Trina and I knew that she still loved and cared for us so much.

"Fine. But can I come over after? I really do have a surprise for you."

My lips twitched into a smile. "You do? I thought you were just saying that to get me to come."

"No, I didn't. I really have one."

"Well, what is it?"

"Can I come over later or not?"

I grinned at the slight annoyance in her tone but as soon as I heard the front door open and seconds later my mom's face hovered above me with a small smile, my temporary good mood vanished. "Yeah. Yeah, you can. Just, um..." I sat up and watched my mom place her purse onto the kitchen table, her eyes hesitantly glancing over to me when I lowered my voice. "Use the door, please."

"Yeah, sure. If you insist."

"Good. Bye."

I stared down at the pear-shaped object in my hand long after I had disconnected the call, actually considering going to the Full Moon Jam as I heard my mom in the kitchen making herself a cup of coffee. I didn't even want to think about spending the evening alone with my mom. Trina would be at school and my dad at work. That just left me... and her. "You're going out tonight, you and Jade?"

My fingers tightened around my phone as the light shadow of my mom loomed over me. I glanced up at her, noticing the small smile and the hesitation in her eyes. "No. Are you eavesdropping on my phone calls now?"

She sighed and, much to my annoyance took a seat next to me on the sofa. "I wasn't eavesdropping, Tori."

"How do you even know it was Jade?"

"Well, she's the only one who takes the window to get into the house," she said with a chuckle, "Unless you're not telling me something."

"What, you think I'm some kind of slut who sneaks in someone different every night? Jade is my best friend, okay, we don't do anything. She's there for me, that's all."

I saw the surprise etched on her face when I turned to look at her with a glare that could definitely do the ones of Jade justice. For a moment I felt bad but then I remembered that she, in fact, was someone who wasn't satisfied with just one person, no matter how much they loved her. So I didn't apologize. She didn't deserve it.