Quite the ride for this story...

Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter and enjoyed the story anyway.

:)

Tori's Perspective-

My brows crease as I shift, a dull ache coating my body. My room blinks before me, the bookshelf winking calmly while the windows let in a soft, morning light. This isn't the side I usually sleep on... I twist over to find the alarm and a gentle smile graces my lips at the side of what's instead laying beside me. Her pale back sinks down into the sheets, moving slowly with her breaths, raven hair falling smoothly to the pillow...along with the some frizzies here and there. Is 'frizzies' a word? I don't know...

'I doubt it,' my thoughts chime in.

I brush them away, shifting closer to her, my arm draping over her waist as I glance at the clock. '6:00 M,' it reads. I smirk quietly, recalling the last time I had seen that. Why hadn't I have woken up like this? I mean...I probably would've just stared at Jade like a goon since I wouldn't have remembered shit. But, hopefully, things would've worked out anyway. Hopefully that is. I press my lips against her shoulder, my eyes scaling along her inked side. I smile softly, closing my eyes with my nose nuzzling at her shoulder.

"You did say that your parents were getting out early this morning, right?" she mumbles quietly, sleep still husking her voice. I nod slowly; I hope to God that they didn't come in and say 'goodbye' to us...they probably did...oh well.

"So?" comes out gravelly, my throat clearing afterwards. "Trina's still here..."

I feel her turn around, pale eyes blinking groggily at me. "She wouldn't mind if we took a shower together, right?" I shake my head gently, our lips meshing together gingerly, a small smile lingering on her lips. Nails brush lightly against my cheek, her leg twisting around mine.

"Yeah she will," I hear a stubborn voice from the door.

Lips tense against mine before pulling away, annoyance lacing her stare. I don't care how much she's dropped - kinda - her little glares around me, she still has them...and it still sends a small chill in my spine. I mean, knowing that it's not reserved for me, it kind of feels good. I'm not going to go into that but, yeah...it's fine. I'm fine...I'm not falling in love with a thorny, horny - heh, that's makes me chuckle - rose or anything.

Jade rolls her eyes, twisting around. "Uh, no she won't!" she growls, all tiredness leaving her vocals.

Trina's gaze widens at her glare, nodding quietly. "And no she won't." We both chuckle as the door closes, our lips connecting briefly.

"'These are not the drones you're looking for,'" I quote, Jade shaking her head.

"You're an idiot..."

I snicker in response, wrapping my arms around her shoulders anyway, hearing the shower turn on a few doors down. Her lips peck against my cheek gingerly, nibbling lightly at my neck. She sighs softly, rolling towards the side, removing what heat had radiated off of her from my chest to my arm. I twist about, facing her with a small grin. "You've changed..." she murmurs quietly, eyes flicking towards my own.

I digest the abrupt words, vaguely recalling the several other times people had said that. Not too many times, mind you, but enough. I nod, mumbling, "So I've been told. I don't really feel like I have though."

Her expression remains thoughtful, nails trailing along my arms. "It's subtle," she mutters, "I mean...you've changed your wardrobe a bit but it's...subtle."

"How so?"

Jade heaves a short breath, pale eyes keeping to mine. Her shoulders hug her neck briefly, "I suppose you're more, I don't know...mature? It's, it's not the same dorky-esque thing going on with you I guess." I lay my head on the pillow, my eyes remaining on her curiously. "It's just that, dunno... When, before the- before the party I mean, you were just...before our play together even, you were just so, naïve. Not, well...yeah, naïve, innocent in a way I suppose."

"Well I'm glad you had such high standards for me," I smirk, Jade shooting a quick glare.

"You're not the exact same Tori that I started to like a while ago," she continues, "You just seem more...more open and closed off than before..."

I shift, my arm slithering under the pillow while her fingers play with my hair. "And which Tori do you prefer?"

Jade breathes in slowly, murmuring, "This one. I doubt you would never be this way but...it's not a bad change, kind of inevitable I guess."

I find my head against her chest, arms caressing my shoulders and hugging my sides. "You aren't really the same either," I mutter, "Not as bitchy."

"I can be," she grumbles, though I can tell there is a soft smile curving her lips. "But a new environment, I guess, a new stage light shining on me."

Light... I blink softly, Jade's raven hair in my peripheral while the soft glow from the sun basks the walls in its light orange. It's interesting...really, light. There's stage lights which make the audience see things differently and then there's just flat out light which presents the thing hiding in the dark. We want light to see what's there but, really, we don't want what's in the dark all of the time. Especially when it's not something to tell... God I sound like a damn professor talking about light but, I guess, it's true. Maybe I have changed. Hell, I just- yeah... People change I suppose and we don't want to admit it. Maybe people could bounce back and lead a happy life. But then again, there's people like Jade's parents and, God, I don't think their trampoline will reach the surface from the hole they've dug themselves.

I do sound like a droning professor.

Soon Trina strolls towards her room, Jade detaching herself from me with a short smirk. I roll my eyes, chucking a towel at her from the side of my bed - I made sure that Jade didn't see that side of the bed, it isn't clean - before joining her with one of my own. With the bathroom door closed, we take our time with the shower, actually bathing ourselves. Maybe a few other things but no...nothing like that. Just nice, really; soft hands with soap and soap would burn if it got places anyway so there we go. Perfectly nice, quiet shower...yep. I don't care how I'm describing this, I know it sounds retarded, give me a break.

'Oh God I really have changed...I sound more like Jade.'

Damn it.

'Oh, there we go again.'

Stop...

'Right, still doing it aga-'

I really need to quit having wars in my head...jeez. I stepped from the shower, Jade already drying herself with a towel, and followed suit. Pale eyes flash towards me as I wrap the linen around my chest, it draping to my knees. With hers around her waist - and not having any clothes to pick up after ourselves - we disappear back towards my room where...God. It took her fifteen damn minutes to get her ass in one of my pants. And no, not because it didn't fit her, because it does, but she hate's the brand since they have a lot of pink stuff.

"JADE! That has nothing on it," I snap tersely after a while, receiving a glare. I merely scoff at it. Defeated, she does pull them up, surprised as of how soft they are. Go figure...this is how I start my day.

-(:)-

I know they're all looking. I know they're all gawking and whispering because, well, Hollywood Arts isn't the best when it comes to gossip.

Our fingers are laced together as Jade follows me to my locker, keeping by my side as I shuffle through the books. It's what I expected, honestly, since only, what, seven or eight other people know? And then there's Trina too, and my dad and mom...and Jade's brother and dad... Not a lot of people at HA though. Pale eyes narrow at those who stare for far longer than they should be as they stride past, unable to comprehend the possibility that, you know, our hands are holding and we aren't handcuffed.

"I swear I will rip your head off if you keep staring at her, quit-it," she snarls menacingly.

"Jade...calm down," I grumble, shutting my locker.

She huffs, mumbling, "But it's not like you grew horns."

"Might as well," I shrug, pecking her cheek. Damn it feels good to not have to dash to the closet and do that...literally and figuratively I guess. She tugs me towards her own, my feet scrambling after her with my bag swinging. She has no patience. The locker wrenches open as I hear steps bounce behind me, a small grin tugging across my lips. "Hey Cat!" I greet happily.

"Hey! Hi you two! You two are so cute together like I just want to see you two study together -" no she doesn't, Trina didn't like that "- because it would be so cute-"

"Cat.." Jade growls.

"And I just want to see you two go to another prome together and have a good time-"

"Cat..." came another warning.

"And I just like how you two go together and you two are good to each other and-"

"CAT! I KNOW!" Jade barks, stunning the redhead. She blinks rapidly as Jade goes back to her locker, shuffling through her things. I shake my head as Cat merely giggles, knowing that it wasn't really out of anger...to a point.

Brushing the shout aside, Cat turns to me, tilting her head to the side. "So are you two together like together-together?" I nod slowly before I'm strangled in a tight hold. "I hope you two do well, but - uh - don't make out in Sikowitz' anymore...that was awkward."

"We'll make out in Lane's office then," Jade spits. I whack her shoulder briefly, glaring at her. "I haven't had my coffee..."

"Like you need the caffeine to make you more grumpy."

"I don't get more grumpy."

"Yeah, you do," I nod, "You just get less bitchy." Pale eyes widen, steam smoking her ears before she grunts in a sudden annoyance.

"Take-that-back," she growls, reminding me of a child. Oh Jade... I shake my head, folding my arms. "I want coffee!"

"Jade...you're acting like a kid," I mutter, sighing as more people gawk at us. She scowls stubbornly, crossing her arms as Cat shakes her head sadly.

"Maybe you two won't be together for long..."

"CAT!" Jade snaps heatedly, promptly startling both of us. "TAKE-THAT-BACK," she bellows.

I bob my head, snatching her wrist before flashing the redhead an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that... Jade, come on, we're giving you coffee, since you're being too much of a gank," I grouch, feeling Jade behind me glower. At least that's all she does, but I can't help to think that if we weren't dating she would do more. Luckily we are otherwise I would probably be thrown in front of Trina's car.

-(:)-

I sip happily on the water in front of me, Jade's shoulder brushing against mine. After the whole no-coffee-fiasco, she became less aggressive with the drink. Whether or not it was more to do with the fact I mini-slapped her cheek once she barked at a freshman or she had coffee, I was pleased that she calmed down a little. I had mentally noted as we separated for our classes to have her - you know - not do that often. Though, with a soft brush of fingertips on my thigh, I know she's not entirely pissed...hopefully. If she is, well, she'll get mini slapped again. Not what I did in front of Ron, since I didn't mean to do it that hard, but a mini slap. Just enough to get her attention.

"So," Andre breathes out, flicking his gaze towards us, "Now you two are together."

"Don't start Andre," Jade snaps, "You've known for months." He merely shrugs as I glance over the table, smiling softly at the company. Beside Jade sits Cat, then Robbie - and I suppose Rex - and then Marcus with Dennis, Andre and even Ashely joined us as well. It's interesting this change...I never really would've expected our group to branch out. Not that I'm all surprised or anything; Jade had made friends during the months so it's natural.

I shift in my seat once the guys engrossed themselves in a conversation, Robbie nodding along with some of his sandwich in his mouth. I glance about the Asphalt Café, the sun bathing everything in a calm light. Everything is just so...tired almost. Like - to a teenager I suppose - hell broke loose and finally the heavens allowed everything to settle down a bit. It's, I- it's a nice feeling, actually. It really is. I mean, it may have been calm for a while now but, I suppose, everything is just tamed.

Well...you know, until Jade tries to do shit and deserves a mini slap.

I switch back to the conversation, not realizing I had drowned out everybody else. "I guess, I mean the movie wasn't the best but I did like the plot. It wasn't really executed very well though...the dialogue was atrocious," Marcus comments.

Dennis nods slowly, Cat mumbling, "But Detective Blow-hole was perfect! There wasn't anything wrong with it."

Marcus coughs something in reply, not attempting to have the redhead hear it. I chuckle softly, Andre shrugging. "Not the best..." Cat scoffs half-heartedly, eyes flicking over Ashely's shoulder.

"Uh," we hear a voice behind her, Beck standing with a plastic box in his hands. "Can I join you guys?" he asks softly. Everybody nods, shifting over to make room for him. He seats himself beside Ashely and Andre, flashing a small smile at Jade and I as we return it gingerly. Man this table is full...

We dive into another conversation, Beck slow to join though - once Andre asks a quick question - he speaks fluently as if nothing has changed. Not completely anyway... I finish my awesome sandwich, Jade, nudging me as Sinjin strolls by, making eye contact with me. "I perfected my sodas! You all want to try?" he asks, lifting his bag.

"Yeah, sure," I mumble as he hands me a purple can, Jade a green one.

"This better not be lettuce," she growls, eyeing it carefully. The circle received each of their own, a mixed-matched rainbow in our hands. At once we all take a sip, everybody's expression morphing into those of a strange, yet pleased grin.

"Fanta Gummy Bears," I nod, taking another sip.

Jade nods beside me, my eyes darting towards hers once I hear 'orange, grape' and 'mango, honey' from two of the others. "Finally, Green Apple..." she growls, taking another sip. I chuckle lightly, gazing back at the others who put in their comments.

"When did he start doing this stuff?" Robbie furrows his brows, staring at his brown one.

"What's one's that?" Andre raises a brow.

"Uh...I think Chicken and Gravy," he mutters, setting it down on the table. I smirk as Robbie sighs, not having luck with his drink. As the others laugh at Ashely's drink - Chocolate and Mac n' Cheese - I grin as fingers curled against mine, settling on my lap. I tighten my hand around hers, leaving it there under the table.

Pale eyes shift towards mine with a gentle smile, something that I haven't seen in a while. Not in our group anyway. I think, I think we've changed enough for the spark to glisten in her eyes which maneuver back to the table, her lips giving a snarky comment. I sigh in content, her thumb stroking the back of my hand softly, knowing of the short, brief moment of tranquility. It's a nice Spring day, really, and Summer's bound to come with surprises with her.

I don't know if I'm ready; the sun's hitting just right on my back with her hand holding mine.

FUCK YES IT'S OVER! *proceeds to fist punch the air* Oh, uh...sniff, sniff...I'll miss writing this story... *and so the author awkwardly walks out of the room*

:P

Okay, in all seriousness here, I have enjoyed writing this story. It broke a lot or records for me. Most follows, most words, most chapters, most reviews...a lot. Not favorites since people loved 'Road to the Unknown' for some reason. Oh well. Anyway, is it my best story? Dunno, not my favorite that I have planned (and I have, like, a total of 82 Jori stories ideas at the moment).

So yeah, do hope you enjoyed!

:)