One Shots

Unexpected Visitor - Jori

Jori is still my OTP and always will be.

Thump, thump, thump. Tori was trying her hardest to keep her dream alive. Trying to block out the banging from below. The storm has been raging on for hours now, leaving her restless. Thump, thump, thump. The trees outside were screaming, begging for a break from the never-ending gusts of harsh air.

Tori's room is cold, freezing even. She knew that if she let any limbs out from under her duvet that they would ache. Her duvet was the only thing keeping her body warm. Unfortunately her face has no cover, eliciting teeth to chatter and a rosey nose to blossom.

Thump, thump, thump.  Tori shoots up, her duvet falling off her shoulders, leaving the icy air to smother her. She luckily was too focused to notice. Those weren't knocks from the wind. Someone was at the door. Tori shoves her feet into her slippers, catching the time from her clock - 03:00 am. Begrudgingly, Tori lifts her phone and heads downstairs. Thump, thump, thump. Whoever was there, they certainly were determined. They were loud enough to differentiate between the storm.

Tori flicks the closest lamp on before fiddling with the door key, trying to unlock it with numb fingers. Finally Tori finds her grip, turning the key and twisting the handle lazily, letting a stray yawn escape before speaking. "It's three a...Jade?"

Jade stood before her, puffy eyed and drenched. Her hair's a mess, windswept and glued to her neck from the waterfall of rain that was continuing to slam on the earth. Tori focuses her eyes on the pale girl. Her mascara has ran, leaving her to resemble a panda but...less cute looking. Blood shot eyes - it's clear she's been crying. Her nose mimicked Tori's, rosey from the frosty night, and her cheeks joined in on the fun.

Jade's wearing the same clothes from earlier in school, leaving Tori to ponder why. Her gaze then fixes on the bag hanging loosely off her shoulders. One strap was ripped slightly, and the seams were being stretched from the amount inside the bag.

Tori finally meets Jade's eyes again, a quizzical look. "What's wrong, Jade?"

"Can I come in?" Jade's voice is hoarse and shaky, a rarity in Tori's experience. Before she can ask why, Jade speaks again. "Please?" Now Tori knows something's wrong. Jade is being polite to her.

"I uh, yeah. Come in!" A sense of urgency fills Tori. She needs to help her. She needs to fix her. She needs to see Jade happy again. "You must be freezing." Tori says, more to herself as she quickly disappears to find some towels. Returning mere seconds later, Tori finds Jade hugging her bag to her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Jade." Tori's voice is soft, barely above a whisper. She quickly comes to Jade's side, slipping the girl's soaking jacket off and replacing it with a towel before taking a seat close beside her.

Tori flinches at the sound of her 'kinda-friend's' muffled cries. Her knuckles are white from the tight grasp she has on her bag. Tori decides to take the girl's hands in hers, trying to soothe her before asking any questions. Jade surprisingly doesn't pull away, and let's Tori slowly but surely unclasp her fingers from the bag. She sets the bag to the side, leaving it somewhere that Jade can see it - just incase. Jade obliges as Tori leads her into her embrace, immediately sobbing the second Tori hums, "It's okay."

A while goes by until Jade calms down. She's finally out of tears. Tori loosens her grip as Jade sits up and hastily wipes her eyes, smearing her mascara further. She doesn't meet Tori's gaze, embarrassment halting her. Tori's brows furrow as she lifts the pale girl's head up, feeling her icy skin melt against her warm hands. "Jade, what's happened?" Tori asks, her tone as soft and soothing as before. "Jade, you need to speak to me." She encourages after no response.