Stay Strong

Asking For You

Tori was sleeping against Andre when Beck walked over. Andre nudged her awake and she looked up.

"I'm so sor-" Beck held up his hand cutting her off.

"Jade's awake and she's fine. I wanted to see her, but the doctor said she was asking for you."

Tori blinked. "What?"

Beck sighed. "She asked to see 'Vega', that's you. Go talk to her so I can see her when you're done." Beck said quietly, barely lifting up his head.

Tori rubbed her palms on her legs. "Uh, don't you wanna see her now?"

"Of course I do, but she wants to talk to you."

"Well, you can come?"

Beck finally looked up. "Scared?" He let out an airy chuckle.

Tori looked at him with wide eyes and nodded.

Beck chuckled again, this time he let a smile grace his sullen face. "Let's go."

Tori followed Beck down a hallway to a door marked Room 316 and he walked inside. She saw Jade perk up as soon as her eyes met his, but then she saw Jade look down. Almost in a guilty way.

"I asked for Vega." Jade said in a rough voice that Tori never heard before. It scared her more than Jade's usual mean tone.

"Behind me." Beck said then he walked over to a corner chair and sat down. "She was scared to come in here alone." He chuckled yet again.

Tori took a deep breath. "Well, I was- I mean- I'm so so so sorry, Jade."

Jade shook her head. "I'm sorry, Vega, Tori."

Tori blinked in shock. "Um, what now?"

Jade scoffed. "I'm sorry that I said you didn't deserve to be there, at Hollywood Arts, you're good, really good." Jade admitted. "I guess, I just... I'm afraid of you." She admitted, her eyes began to water and Tori could only stare at her.

Her shock wore off and she scoffed. "You're afraid of me? B-But I'm not nearly as scary as, well, ya know, you."

Jade chuckled and licked her dry lips. "No." She gulped. "I'm afraid that you'll take it all away from me." She chocked out. Her voice was cracking and her tears were leaving her eyes to travel her cheeks.

Tori gaped at her. "What? Jade, I- I don't know what you mean? I-"

"Beck. Cat. Being the best student. I had it all, and then you came, and I'm afraid I'll lose it all. To you. Because you're so good and nice and pretty and I'm just... broken." Jade said then she started sobbing until her body was shaking.

"No." Tori whispered shaking her head. "No, you're not." She chanced sitting on the bed in front of Jade. "Jade, you are amazing." Jade shook her head and Tori lifted her face to make Jade look at her. "You are. You're pretty and cool and if I could rock a stage and own it like you do then maybe I wouldn't need Andre to tell me I belong there every day."

Jade sniffed. "Every day?"

Tori nodded. "Yeah, every single day at the start of the day Andre tells me not to worry. I belong with all of you, because every day I feel like I don't. I feel like I'm average compared to all of you, especially you, that's how amazing you are, Jade. You make me feel inferior."

Jade frowned. "I'm sorry."

Tori shook her head. "No. Don't apologize. You make me try harder. You make me do crazy things like putting these color strands in my hair." Tori chuckled moving a strand of pink behind her ear. "You're like the popular girl that everyone wants to be like." Tori looked over at Beck. "Dating the popular guy that every girl wants." She looked back at Jade. "And yeah, I'll admit I wanted him when I first saw him, but then I got to know him and even you and I know you two belong together. I'm sorry for what I said, I was just angry, but I don't really think Beck should leave you. I don't think anyone should, Jade. You are an incredible albeit scary chick." Jade let out a little laugh. "It only took a few months of knowing you and I already care about you. I just want to be your friend, Jade. I don't want to take away Beck or Cat or anything."

Jade gave her a small smile. "We are friends, Tori. I just didn't like admitting it because I thought it would hurt more when you took everything away."

"I won't. I don't want it."

Beck watched as they sat and stared at each other.

"Come on, give Tori a squeeze. You know you want one." Tori said holding out her arms.

Jade rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Yeah. I do." She leaned forward and they hugged. Beck smiled.

"Don't tell me you are trading the pauper for a female? Jadelynn could you at least have some respect for your family?"