3:00am // Jori fan fic (EDITS COMPLETE)

10 - Rules, and Boundaries (Part 1)

School was over, and the day had been a dumpster fire. Tori made damn sure of that—teasing me all day with those tight, skin-hugging jeans and that sleeveless top that flowed around her like it was stitched together by the gods of Look-at-my-perfect-body. She knew what she was doing. Her outfit wasn't a coincidence—it was an invitation. And all I could do was watch, trapped in a fog of confusion because this morning was still, well... unresolved.

She suggested—not stated, but suggested—we go the friends-with-benefits route. Like it was no big deal, just casually throwing it out there like it was a pizza topping I could just pick and choose. My brain got stuck in a loop, processing it all like an overclocked computer that had short-circuited. And after hours of running in circles, she knocked out cold on the couch. Waking her up this morning was like trying to rouse a bear from hibernation—if that bear was wearing a skin-tight dress and smelled like trouble.

Anyway, now I was stuck in my car, trying to shake off the misery of the day, when my phone erupted through Beyoncé's Apeshit verse, nearly giving me a heart attack. I groaned like I'd just been slapped by a cactus and answered.

"WHAT?!" I practically screamed into the phone. (Hey, it was Beyoncé's time, don't interrupt that.)

"Hey, Jade," came Tori's voice, casual as if we weren't living in a damn soap opera.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "What is it, Vega?"

"Are you home?" she asked, and her voice was so damn loud in my speakers that I could almost hear her smirking through the phone. I raised an eyebrow, the interest creeping in despite myself. Then came that smirk—the one that made me think I was in way deeper than I'd ever planned.

"I'm on my way home. Why?"

"Cuz I'm already here," she said nonchalantly. "Your mom let me in before heading off to some court thing."

Suddenly, my brain hit full stop like I was driving down the road and slammed into a brick wall. Why the hell was my mom going to court? And why, in the name of all things holy, was Tori already at my house?

Trying to keep my composure, I asked, "Oh... well, did my mom tell you why she was going to court?"

"Nope. She just said you'd be home soon, and that I should hang out. Oh, and she cooked shrimp for dinner. Told me we could eat it together." She paused. "You know, in case you're starving, which I'm assuming you are, because you've been avoiding me all day."

I squinted at the road. "I see..." I let the silence linger for a second, letting my mind do the math. "Alright, stay put, and don't touch anything. I'll be there in ten."

Then, like some twisted plot twist in a teen drama, she whispered, "Can I tell you a secret?" Her voice went all sultry, like a noir femme fatale in a bad movie.

I knew I was probably about to regret this, but curiosity got the better of me. "I guess."

She dropped her voice, making it all smooth and dangerous. "I wasn't wearing anything underneath today... and right now, I'm up in your room... not wearing anything at all."

I almost choked on my own saliva. "Make it five," I shot back, hanging up faster than you can say "I should probably stop making bad decisions." And with that, I slammed the gas pedal down like I was in a Fast & Furious movie, screeching down the road toward home.

 The car roared when driving into my driveway. The garage was already opened and it was probably Tori's idea. I smirked driving in before shutting the garage closed with the remote control and turning the ignition off. I grabbed my phones and shoved them in my bag before locking my car and walking in the house.