Just A Stage Kiss

Chapter 13

PoV: Jade.

I shook my head, hugging my arms tighter around my chest, feeling Vega's glare even as I refused to look at her. I knew this time was coming, but I wished it wasn't this soon. After the whole break down after finishing with Beck just yesterday, then that... that kiss this morning- I still couldn't believe that had happened- it was all too much. But now, I was trapped in a closet by Vega, literally and metaphorically, apparently, while she waited patiently for me to speak.

"There's nothing to talk about." I said in a monotone, staring at the half destroyed broom I'd taken my scissors to the other day.

Tori huffed in disbelief. "Yes, there is, Jade." She said slowly, deliberately, taking a step forward which I backed away from. "What was that about this morning?"

I snapped, defensively.

"You tell me! You were the one who-" I cut myself off, even though I knew there was no one around to hear, I still couldn't say it out loud.

"Kissed you?" Vega scoffed. I flicked my eyes up briefly to catch her with her arms also folded, biting her bottom lip in frustration as she glared at the wall to the left. "You were quite happy to kiss me back. Not to mention you kissed me right here, in this closet!"

"Don't." I cringed as my voice came out quieter, weaker than I meant it. I couldn't let this get to me, I couldn't let Tori Vega break me, but that's exactly what was happening.

She huffed. I could tell she was holding back from saying exactly what was on her mind. We both were.

While the conversation, or lack of, was extremely awkward, there was something oddly comforting about the janitors' closet. It was always the first place I came to when I needed time alone, or a private place to talk. I'd discovered the sanctuary in my first week of Hollywood Arts, when I had no one, when I was nothing but a wannabe actor, just like pretty much every single person who passed through the school. Now everyone knew me as the cold hearted bitch with the hot- now ex- boyfriend, and quite the reputation, one that I hadn't set out to build up, but didn't pause to fix.

I'd come to the closet and hide from the unwanted, to take my anger out on the innocent knickknacks scattered everywhere whenever something went wrong. Beck and Cat found me here one day, beating a wooden mallet against the floor, after I'd messed up an alphabetical improv challenge. I hadn't been able to escape them since. I'd still hide in here though. Whenever I disappeared off, they knew exactly where to find me and pester me until I told them what was wrong, or 'til they gave up, which was more likely. Eventually, they learnt just to leave me to it. Unlike Vega, who never gave up.

"I'm so confused" Tori said quietly after a stretch of silence, bringing me back from my reminiscing. She swept a hand through her long hair, turning to meet my eye as she chewed her bottom lip. "I don't know what's going on anymore. Ever since this stage kissing project, it's just been so... so-"

"Confusing" I finished in a mutter.

Toti nodded, the corners of her mouth twitched as if she was trying to fight back a smile, but instead she sighed.

"Why'd you break up with Beck?" She asked suddenly.

It was my turn to scoff.

"What do you want to hear, Vega? That I broke up with him to be with you?"

Shit. That wasn't meant to come out of my mouth. Tori looked a sour mix between hurt and angry as the words sunk in.

"Oh yeah." She said slowly, the sarcasm dripping from her words could've created a puddle, or more an ocean, on the floor. "Yeah, it's my life long dream to have these feelings for a girl who claims to hate me then kisses me on more than one occasion!"