Just A Stage Kiss

Chapter 2

POV: Tori

I gulped, already knowing the two names Sikowitz was about to pull out of that top hat, but praying that he'd made a mistake, like he had with so many others in the class already. Sadly, I was wrong.

"Tori and Jade!"

Our names seemed to bounce around the silent class. I could feel all eyes flickering between me and Jade as the tattooed girl in front of me turned slowly in her seat, her green eyes piercing me from under that trade mark scowl. She raised her eyebrows and, yep, there it is, that cruel smirk spread across her face, the same smirk she put on when our names were read out for the stage fighting class, the "I'm plotting something nasty for you, Vega" smirk. I tried to smile cockily back at her, but it came across more of an "I ate something bad for breakfast and now have a stomach ache" grimace.

After what felt like an eternity, she turned back in her seat. I knew the sneer was still playing across her lips by the slightly uncomfortable look Beck gave her before turning his attention back to Sikowitz, who was rattling on about the importance of stage kis- hold on a sec. Stage kissing! I've just been partnered with Jade West, the girl who hates my guts, for stage kissing! My hand was raised and my throat cleared for attention before I'd even processed the thought properly.

"Is there any way we could swap partners with someone else in the class?" Hell, I'd swap with anyone right now, I'd even take Robbie's place and kiss Sinjin.

"Oh no" Sikowitz laughed "Nope. The hat has spoken! You are to remain with your designated partner until these two weeks are up. No swapping, no changing, no faking illness to get out of it"

Chiz.

"What about me!" Andre called, his hand half raised in the air. "My partner doesn't even go here any more!"

"Ah, yes. There may be a few minor difficulties along the way, but I'm sure you'll sort them out amongst yourselves"

"But-"

The rest of Andres protest was drowned out by the bell. I jumped to my feet at the sound, ready to make a fast exit from the room, if only my bag hadn't got caught on the chair.

"Hi, Tori"

I paused in my wrestling match with my bag to cringe at Jades sickly sweet voice.

"Hi, Jade" I sighed, spinning to face her. I could see Beck hovering awkwardly in the background.

"Ready for our kiss?" She puckered her lips, winking at me and I swallowed the lump that had worked its way into my throat. All I could do was stare at her, unable to think of any sort of reply or rational thought except Run for it, Vega!

"See you later, partner" She laughed as she left the room, Beck following along behind her, offering me a sympathetic smile as he passed.

I remained frozen to the spot; the strap of my stuck bag fell for my limp hand. Why was I so scared all of a sudden? Surely this was as bad for Jade as it was for me. Maybe she'll go easy on me, seeing as it's her grade too- no. This is Jade we're talking about. She'll find some way for me to fail and her to pass.

"Tori?"

Cat's chirpy voice broke into my thoughts.

"You're going to miss lunch if you stand there like a statue all day" She grinning, detaching my bag from the chair for me. "Or is this part of an acting exercise?"

"No, it's not" I said, letting out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. "I was just thinking"

"About what?"

"Nothing, really"

"Oh! I think about nothing sometimes, but then I starting thinking about how I'm thinking about nothing, then I realise I'm thinking about something and-"

I tuned out the rest of Cat's rambles while we walked to lunch together. She's a lovely girl and some of the things she says are actually kind of interesting, but right now I had more important things to worry about.

Xxx

I toyed with the salad I was supposed to be eating, feeling a small sense of déjà vu. This felt the same as what had happened after we found out we were partnered for stage fighting: Jade sat at a table across from me, talking to Beck, probably about how she was going to humiliate me later. And me, sat with Andre and Cat, stabbing at my innocent salad while I watched the girl I was going to have to kiss this time, rather than pretend to hit around the face with a cane. Frankly, I'd rather take what had happened that time all over again, rather than this.

My eyes followed Beck as he almost reluctantly got up from his seat, heading over to my sister to tell her the news of their partnership. I looked back over to the table to find Jade had also left and jumped as her voice sounded right next to my ear.

"Budge up, Vega. You're taking up the whole table!"

Jade nudged me out of the way with her hip as she sat down and I felt goosebumps erupt from where she'd touched the bare skin of my arm. I gulped, again.

"Hi Jade!" Cat said brightly, earning a sarcastic smile from the girl beside me, although Cat seemed to take this as a good sign, as she giggled lightly while eating the rest of her lunch.

"So, Andre." Jade said, moodily playing with her food. "What're you going to do about your non existent partner?"

Andre shrugged. "I'm gonna have to wing it. I'll probably end up bringing some mannequin in and have to kiss that in front of the whole class"

"I wonder what mannequins do when no one's around"

Jade glared at Cat before angrily attacking her own salad once more. The rest of the lunch break passed in silence, and I was all too aware of how close Jade was to me, something she'd usually avoid. I suddenly didn't feel too hungry any more. Butterflies were churning around my stomach. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what I was feeling right now, nerves, humiliation, whatever it was, I did not like it.