It was dark when she opened her eyes again. The window casting shadows on the ceiling above her. She waited patiently for the pain to reach her chest, like every single morning, reminding her that she was useless.

However, it didn't come.

She did feel another thing. An arm around her waist, holding her close. A soft breath against her neck. She looked down to watch the sleeping dark-haired mess, who shifted and cuddled close to her, murmuring something. She didn't feel pain, she felt something else.

"This might be love" she thought.

When she opened her eyes again there was light on the room, and she was alone.

She sat on the bed, desperately searching for her. She started to silently panic, "was it all a dream?" and then she stood up, too fast. She didn't have time to reach anything to hold onto, her vision blurring, her knees trembling. She was going to fall.

She felt arms around her and then she collapsed. Everything was dark for a second, and then she opened her eyes again.

- Thank god, Vega. You scared me so much. – She said, smiling. Tori saw the concern on her eyes, maybe some hidden tears. She smiled. She was still there.

- I thought you were gone.

- I was in the bathroom, I didn't want to wake you. Are you okay?

- I really need to eat.

Jade stood up and slowly helped Tori. She smiled and signaled her to follow.

- You're lucky I'm such a good cook.

- Are you? – Tori asked, amused.

- Nah, but I do cook the best pancakes in all America. – She grinned and kept walking downstairs.

You smiled. Relieved. She was still there and she wasn't denying what happened yesterday. "Maybe she won't leave. Maybe it won't be like last times, she will stay this time…" and then she sighed happily. Jade turned when both reached the kitchen and started making the pancake mix, with Tori's help. Half an hour later, they were both enjoying fresh, delicious breakfast.

- Well? – Jade asked, smirking.

- Not bad, West. – Tori said, mouth full.

- "Not bad"? You can hand them back! – Jade faked a hurt expression and went over Tori's side of the table to confiscate the pancakes. She giggled and defended her breakfast, which ended in some tickling and joke fights.

Tori's smile lighted the room. She felt better than she had ever felt. Jade tried to reach her plate again and she half tackled her. Both looked at each other for a second, blushing. Tori leaned a bit, shyly. Jade closed the gap and kissed her passionately. After a while, they broke apart, breathing heavily and smiling.

- I missed that. – Tori said absently.

- It hasn't even been a day. – Jade joked.

- Too much time. – Tori answered, leaning for another kiss again.

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.

After cleaning around, they both sat in the couch, cuddling and talking about whatever. Jade got her phone and answered some texts from their friends. Tori did the same, apologizing to Andre for not being around. He was worried about her, not entirely buying her fake smiles. She sighed, which didn't go unnoticed by Jade.

- What's on that bubbly head of yours? – She asked, softly.

- Andre is worried. I don't think I'm doing a great job with the faking. – Jade looked to the ceiling.

- Then stop faking.

Tori looked at her, surprised.

- No one would want to be my friend if I just went around like a living corpse!

- You don't look like one to me.

- You don't understand… - Tori smiled sadly, looking away.

- But I do, Tori. You fake all those smiles and laughs and go around talking so fast, being excited about everything. It's obviously fake. I may have not think about it much in the past, I was too focused on hating you for being so perfect. But now that I think about it… You're just faking a perfection that doesn't exist at all. I like the real you better, way better. She's nice, caring, and fun, like the Tori we know, but she's also relaxed, easy-going… And god, the real smiles look so good on you. – Tori smirked, and Jade laughed. – If you weren't so worried about pretending to be fine, about pretending to have fun and be happy all the time, maybe you'd be able to actually feel it.

Tori smiled, moved. If Jade wasn't such a good singer and actress, she could totally be a psychologist.

- It's not that easy. What If they don't like me for who I am?

- You're not that different. You're still the cool, nice girl we know. They're your friends, they will understand.

- They're friends with a fake me.

- You're not a character of a play, Tori. You can't entirely fake your personality for your whole life. You might have covered your sad side, but you're still you. I promise. Would you listen to me?

Tori looked at her eyes, then leaned in and stole a quick peck on her lips.

- I'll listen to you.

- Good, because we have to talk about another thing.

- Not that…

- Yes. You need professional help.

- But Jade… - Tori groaned, almost comically.

- No, you promised.

- I don't want my parents to know. I'm not ready to tell them.

Jade thought about it.

- Okay, then you can go alone, but you'll have to tell them eventually. Can you afford it?

Tori nodded.

- We'll search for a good professional this afternoon and you'll start as soon as possible, okay? – Tori nodded again. – It's gonna be easier than you think, I promise. – She winked. – And I'll be here to listen as well.

- As a friend? – Tori asked, looking at her eyes. Jade leaned closer.

- As more, if you want… - She murmured, and then kissed her softly, both melting at each other's touch.

They broke apart, and Jade hugged Tori.

- It's a hard way, I know it. You'll make a step forward and suddenly two steps backwards. It's gonna be tough. – Tori nodded. – But I'm gonna be here.

Tori nudged her head closer to Jade's neck.

- Be my girlfriend. – She murmured.

- What? – Jade asked.

- Be my girlfriend. – Tori asked, more confidently. – I know I should ask you on a date first or whatever but I don't really feel like waiting and I really need some kind of confirmation that you like me as much as I do and won't forget about it in a week…

She was cut by Jade's lips.

- I would love to.

Tori smiled, happily and scooted closer to her beautiful girlfriend. She sighed. Jade caressing her face and hair.

- Two intense days, huh? – Jade chuckled.

- Everything happened so fast, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Both smiled, proudly.

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.

A really nervous Tori paced all over her living room. She had her phone on her ear, waiting.

- Something yet? – Jade asked, equally nervous. Tori shook her head. Jade let go a groan and threw herself on the couch, defeated.

- Ah, yes? Yes… Oh, it's okay, we didn't wait long. – Tori suddenly said. Jade straightened up and looked at her girlfriend hopefully. – We were told you're the best at your job… Yes… Ah, my name is Tori, Tori Vega… - She went quiet for a while. – Ah, sure! I'd love to meet next week, that'd be great… - She scratched her head. – Yes, that time is okay… Tuesday it is! Thank you so much… I'll meet you there. See you soon! Goodbye… - She hung up and looked at Jade.

- Well? Tell me everything! – She said, puppy eyeing her. She chuckled.

- She told me she'd love to meet me to get to know me. She didn't really let me explain the situation, told me that before it, I should decide if I like her enough to be my therapist. She seemed so nice. We're meeting after school on Tuesday.

- That's good. She has to be good. – She smiled widely. – I'm so happy you did this on your own. I'm so proud of you. – Tori smiled widely. – But we're not done. – She stopped smiling. – You still have to talk to a psychiatrist. – Tori groaned.

- Isn't a therapist enough? – Jade shook her head.

- No, baby. Therapists can't give you pills, and you probably need some for your depression.

- But I'm not…

- Don't say it. You're not fooling anyone. Let's call my old one, okay? He's really good, you'll love him.

Tori decided to not ask. If Jade knew so much about these topics was probably because she had been on therapy as well, recovering from her cutting addiction. She felt a tiny hit of pain, she didn't want her to feel bad, never again. She'd be there for her.

After calling and setting an appointment with Jade's old psychiatrist, both girls sat down emotionally exhausted.

- This is exactly how you spend your first day in a relationship. Calling therapists. – Tori joked. Both laughed. Jade looked at her phone and read something.

- Everyone's meeting on Nozu in an hour. – Tori looked away. – Do you want to go?

- I told them I was busy…

- They won't remember. Not when we walk there holding hands, don't you think? – Tori smiled. That was going to be a sight.

- They're going to go insane about it. I wouldn't want to miss it.

- Then let's not miss it. Okay? – Tori smiled and hugged her.

Jade wrote "Tori and I are in." on the group chat and put her phone down, ready to kiss her girlfriend, ignoring all the question marks from their friends.

It was sure going to be a night. She smiled. Both running upstairs to get ready. Jade brushed Tori's head, Tori did Jade's makeup. They both shared laughs and kisses. It was almost perfect.

They were ready to walk outside when the door opened, revealing Mr. Vega. Tori looked at him surprised.

- Ah, hey dad. I wasn't expecting you until late.

- Hey Tori. Hey… Jade? – He laughed when she nodded and then hugged his daughter, lovingly. – I got tonight and tomorrow off. – He stretched. – Were you going to go out? – Tori nodded.

- Is mom coming around too? – She asked, hopefully. Mr. Vega looked away.

- I don't think so, patito, I'm sorry. – He said, scratching his head. Tori looked down, sad.

- It's okay, I expected it. – She said. She signaled Jade and walked away, ready to leave.

- Hey! – He said, before they left. – Save tomorrow for me. We could do some cool family plan, what do you think? Tell Trina as well.

Tori smiled widely.

- I will. See you later dad. – She said. Mr. Vega winked an eye at her and smiled when he saw her daughter holding Jade's hand while they got out.

Jade and Tori walked to Jade's car, laughing and talking. Tori visibly happy.

- I'm so glad you're going out tomorrow with your dad.

- Yeah. – Tori said, happily. – I can't remember when was the last time. – Then she frowned a bit. – It would be better if my mom stopped disappearing though, but I'm not gonna let her spoil all the fun.

- That's the spirit. – Jade said, starting the car.

- It's just… I know you know it bothers me that my parents are not around, but I know my dad's just working as hard as he can. But my mom…

- She's never around. Working or free days, she's always away, like if she didn't have a family.

Tori looked at her, surprised.

- Yeah, exactly…

- I know what it's like. I have a missing mom as well. – She laughed bitterly. – But I don't want her around. Not anymore. – She drove silently, until she felt a hand over hers. She smiled.

They arrived a bit late, so they hurried to enter the place. It was crowded, people singing in the karaoke. They held hands, looking for their friends. When they spotted them, they approached, nervous. They all stood up to greet them. Andre hugged Tori.

- Hey chica, I've missed you. Are you okay?

- Actually, yes. I am. – She smiled, and Andre sighed relieved. It looked real.

Cat hugged them both, asking them a lot of questions. Jade calmed her down and Tori greeted Robbie and Beck. They sat down, ordering. No one really noticed the girls were holding hands when they entered, but all of them were confused about one thing.

- So… Jade. – Beck said, nonchalantly. – Did you… Did you drive Tori here?

- Yeah. - She said, shrugging and drinking from Robbie's drink. Tori suppressed a giggle. Beck turned to face her.

- Are you guys… Okay? – He asked carefully. Tori shrugged, smiling softly.

- Yeah, why wouldn't we be?

- Well… She… Kinda pushed you off a chair and then wished you were dead. – Andre murmured. Jade cringed a bit, remembering it. She hadn't forgiven herself yet, but Tori shrugged again.

- She didn't mean it.

Cat smiled.

- I knew it! – She said happily. Robbie smiled, but Beck and Andre exchanged confused looks.

- So… She apologized… And you're okay now?

- Yeah. – Both said at the same time, enjoying the game.

- And then… You went to her house to pick her up and drive her here. – Andre finished, puzzled.

- Nah, she stayed over.

Everyone in the table opened their eyes widely.

- Rude! I thought you said you were busy! – Whined Cat. Tori patted her on the head.

- Sorry Cat, it was improvised. Next time we invite you, I promise. – Cat smiled happily.

- You stayed on her house? For a whole night? – Asked Beck. Andre opened his mouth and then closed it.

- Correct.

- Tori, are you okay? Did she torture you? – Tori laughed softly.

- Sometimes she would not kiss me when I asked, but nah, I'm okay.

The table went silent.

- You're messing with us, aren't you? – Asked Robbie.

Jade leaned and kissed Tori. She giggled and sighed happily. Everyone in the table wide eyed, looking at them.

- I want you all to meet my girlfriend, Tori. – Jade finished. Everyone were silent, but Cat, who squealed and hugged their friends.

- I knew you loved each other! I knew it, I knew it! – Both laughed. Andre was still looking at them, mouth hanging open.

- Are you guys for real? – He said.

- I swear. – Tori said, more seriously. – We had an important talk, cleared things out. Turns out we don't hate each other, more like the opposite. – She giggled. – She really helped me. Like, really. I've been…

Jade held her hand, reassuringly. Tori took a deep breath.

- I've been really sad lately. I hid it from you, from pretty much everyone because I thought you'd leave me if you found out. I thought you'd hate me for changing. But well… Jade here. – She said, lifting her hand. – Helped me understand you're my friends and you would never leave. And she won't leave either. She helped me understand that having… Well… Being… Depressed… Is not something to be ashamed of… – She said, looking at her adoringly. Jade smiled back. All their friends silent.

Andre got up and hugged his best friend.

- I'm sorry I didn't notice, Tor. I swear if I had known, I'd done anything to help.

- I didn't make it easy, Andre. I'm sorry too.

After their hug, all their friends got up and hugged her in a big group hug, even Jade took part for a second. Then they talked a bit about it, about Jade and Tori's relationship and about school and homework. Tori felt like she had dropped a huge weight on her chest, feeling lighter. She laughed and enjoyed the time with her friends, who were happy for her and her newfound love, but also concerned and helpful about her sadness. None of them questioned her, and if they had done, Jade was there, protecting her.

When the food arrived, they were all laughing and talking like usual. Robbie making terrible jokes, Beck and Andre talking about some new cute girls in school and Tori listening to Cat and Jade's conversation, absently drawing patterns on Jade's hand.

- Hey Tor. – Said Andre. She looked at him smiling. – I'm glad you're better now. – She smiled. Beck nodded, inquiring the same. They fell into comfortable conversation. Tori felt happy, the happiest she had ever felt.

How could she have thought they would hate her?

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hey

so I need to clear some things

i use "" for thoughts and – for conversations because that's how we do it in my country

i didn't realize it was different in english, sorry about that, I wont change it tho. I don't think it's that important. It's fanfic, not a novel. You don't need to hate about it in the reviews, thank you

also you might find some british expressions mixed with american ones. And grammar mistakes (a lot of them) im sorry again. Im not English. I know three other languages and I mix them a lot.

About the story, im sorry if you find it rushed. They did go from hate to love in a second, but well

ah I hope the rest are enjoying this and sorry about everything else I guess

- k