Future Course

I smoothed the edges down on my pink dress as I stood outside the school entrance halls. It was our first day back in our own bodies, and I was grateful for that.

But now, some more strange events were happening to us, starting with our looks. Jade's hair had changed in color and size, while my eyes had turned a luminescent yellow and looked more cat-like.

I was too scared to go out with my eyes looking the way they were so Jade was kind enough to go grab some brown colored contact lenses.

I made my way to my own locker, placing my bike helmet inside. Everything else I just carried in my backpack.

I slammed it shut and hitched up my backpack, making my way over to my first period class.

Across the way, I saw Beck talking to a very fearful Tori. Instinctively, I let out a low, irritated growl.

I fast-walked in their direction, I felt like a ticking bomb, seconds away from exploding. His large hands were on her waist and every time Tori tried to step away he stepped closer.

I quickened my pace and stepped in front of Tori, "Go away Beck."

"Cat?" He asked, pushing me to the side and leaned in close to Tori's lips, about to kiss her.

But then...

There was a tap on Beck's shoulder and he turned around. It was Jade.

She smirked, then took a long swig of her coffee.

"What do you-"

Then he was blasted in the face with scalding hot coffee. She ran her hand over the left corner of her mouth to get rid of the delicious brown liquid.

Beck screamed in pain and whipped his head and body in all different directions trying to get the coffee off. His limbs began to redden, and he ran away quickly towards the nurse's office. I laughed at the sight of him, and Tori just looked impressed.

"Wow. I never imagined that happening." Tori said.

"What? Spitting coffee in Beck's face?" Jade responded.

"No, well...yeah. But, I was actually going to say helping me."

"Oh, please. Don't flatter yourself, I just wanted to get back at him for messing with yo-" Jade cupped her mouth, "I-I mean getting back at him for being a lying asshole."

Tori smiled at Jade. No matter how hard the pale-skinned girl tried to hide her words, the brunette noticed her slip up.

"Whatever you say." She sing-songed, "Now what's the problem?"

"Problem?" I asked, "Why do you think we have a problem?"

"Because whenever you talk to me nowadays, it's always about some sort of issue."

"No problems." I assured.

"Are you sure?" She said, her eyes fixed on Jade.

Jade forced a bitter smile, "We're both fine Vega."

I fanned myself, all the sudden feeling intensely warm. I tied my red hair up in a small bun, "Hey..." I said, feeling woozy.

The girls took one look at me and rushed over to my aid. I reached out and stroked Jade's exposed shoulder, "Hey..." I repeated.

"Cat?" Jade asked, "What's wrong?"

"Is it hot in here?" I asked.

"No, not really." Tori replied.

Jade caught me just as I was about to fall, "Cat?" She yanked my head up to face her, "Cat? Cat look at me!"

"Which one?" I asked.

My eyelids suddenly felt heavy, "... sleepy." I said, reaching out to hold Jade, but all I felt was air.

"Good night." I said, slipping out of Jade's grasp and falling head first to the ground.

Jade caught me just in time.

"See?" Tori said, pointing to my unconscious body, "Always with your issues."

"Now is not the time!" Jade shouted, carrying me bridal style through the school entrance, Tori following close behind.

Jade laid me in the back seat with Tori. I was strapped in, but was collapsed into the brunette's lap. She was anxiously petting my red velvet hair, hugging me close against her chest.

In the driver's seat, Jade was exceeding the speed limit as she muttered "Please be okay." Over and over.

Now at the Vega household, Jade carried me inside and ran upstairs to Tori's bed, then sat me down gently.

"Tori!" Jade screamed, trying to get the brunette to search faster.

Tori pulled up an article and read in aloud to Jade, "Rising heat, double vision, repeated speech... looks like she has something called... Future Course. A condition caused by intense magical transformation or strong magic power."

"Alright, but what do we do about it?"

"There have been no cases regarding this condition."

Jade paced back and forth, "You've got to be kidding me!"

"But..."

"But?" Jade asked, sounding eager.

"But suggested treatment would be; Applying a cold compress or icepack on the forehead."

Jade ran out of Tori's room and returned quickly with a bag full of ice, then placed in on my head

"Second, um...massage legs gently with milk?" Tori looked at Jade, "Why would we..."

Jade left Tori's room and came back with a jug of milk and a washcloth. She poured the milk into a large bucket and dropped a washcloth into it, then grabbed it back and squeezed it. She ran to me, and did as the instructions told, then repeated the action on the other leg.

"Now?" Jade asked.

"Now...now we wait." She said.

"How long?"

"Hm... three hours or so."

"Alright." Jade said, her voice cracking a bit. "I'll stay with her."

"For three hours? What are you going to do?" Tori asked curiously.

"I don't know. I just...I need to be with her."

Tori beamed, "That's so sweet. You really care about Cat, don't you?"

Jade shrugged, "I guess. She's the one person I can actually put up with."

"Cat really loves you." Tori said, "You're her best friend."

"Really?" Jade asked Tori, "Did she say that?"

"She didn't need to. Just think about it; you hate nearly everybody, correct?"

"And you're at the top of my list."

Tori rolled her eyes, "My point being that of all the people in this school, you choose to 'not hate' the sweetest, sunshiny, possibly girliest girl at school." Tori said, "And your either in denial or just clueless enough to realize that." She turned on her heel and left the room, casting one last side glance at Jade before going downstairs.

Jade climbed into the covers with me, and snuggled deeply into my side. The coolness of her body comforted me. My left eyebrow twitched, the first sign of life. Her eyes softened at the sight of my unconscious body, "You're my best friend."

Three hours later, my eyelashes fluttered open, "Ow!"

Jade clicked off the TV and turned to face me.

"What's wrong?" Jade asked, "You still feel sick?"

"Kind of." I admitted, "My eyes really hurt."

She watched me rub my eyes, then started to laugh.

I looked at her strangely as she continued to laugh, "What?"

"You fell asleep with your contacts in, idiot." Jade smiled and ruffled my hair, "I'll go steal something from Tori's bathroom."

"...okay?" I answered, feeling nervous.

She pulled herself out of bed and fast walked to the bathroom. I could hear the opening and closing of doors (more like slams), "Found it!" She shouted.

Jade sat down next to me and handed me a unused contact case, some contact solution, and eye re-wetting drops.

I put the drops down on the baby blue nightstand, raising my hand to remove my left lens. My hand hovered there for a second.

"Cat." Jade said calmly. A tone she only used with me.

"Whattie?" I responded.

"Stop being so damn nervous. Its either painful eyes for life or your freak-pretty new ones." Jade said, "Your pick."

I nodded, my hand shaking as I removed the first lens, then the other. I rubbed my itching eyes again before squirting some wetting drops into my eyes.

"Better?" Jade asked.

"Better."

My eyes flicked over to the door at the sight of movement. My brown-haired friend bumped the door open with her hip and walked in carrying a tray full of food.

"Jade told me you were awake, so I made you some dinner." She explained, handing me the delicious looking meal.

As she was getting up, her brown eyes locked with my exposed yellow ones. I was expecting an incoming freak out session and turned my head in the other direction. But instead, Tori chuckled.

"What?" I asked, feeling offended.

"Nothing." She responded, winking at me.

I heard Jade growl beside me. I watched her curiously as she dug her black painted nails into Tori's quilt, popping a few threads.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I shouted at Tori, my mind focused back on our conversation.

"Nothing. I just think the color suits you." Tori complemented.

I smiled, "Thanks."

Jade grabbed one of Tori's pillows and slammed it against her mouth, attempting to muffle a very loud scream.

But, to no avail.

Tori frowned at Jade and sat down beside her, "What's wrong?" She asked.

"Why do you care?" Jade shouted.

Tori remained calm. She and I were used to Jade's attitude, so I guessed it didn't really bother Tori like it used to.

Tori scooted closer to Jade, "Well, you're basically destroying my bedding."

Jade looked down and noticed what Tori meant. Some of the threads were loose, and others getting there. She lifted hands away and frowned. Tori laughed, "Just tell us what's wrong."

"Shut up Vega, nothing's wrong."

Tori just smiled and lay down across Jade's lap. She raised her hands and pushed the girl off.

Tori pulled herself up off the ground, rubbing a large bump on her head.

She copied one of Jade's evil stares and walked out of the room, mumbling something to herself about just trying to help.

I touched Jade's hand, and she shoved it off. Her green eyes met my yellow ones. Her face calmed a teeny bit when she saw how sad I looked.

"What?" She said.

I just frowned and shook my head. Her eyes followed me as I got out of bed and left the room.

"Cat." She said, and I stopped just outside the door.

Jade got up and made her way over to me.

"Whattie?" I said, annoyance in my voice.

She opened her mouth to speak, but struggled to find the right words.

I crossed my arms, "You know something Jade? You're my best friend, and I love you."

"Really?"

"But Tori was just trying to help. She was just worried about you, that's all. Would it kill you to show some appreciation towards her?" I shook my head and walked out the door.

Jade can be nice to Tori, I've seen it. But is it just because she needs something from her? I thought.

I love Jade so much, but sometimes I just couldn't understand her.