authors note: I haven't written in ages, and this is the first story I've posted on this site, so *please* let me know if I did anything wrong! I read the rules as carefully as I could, but sometimes I miss things. Thanks. I hope this story is mildly interesting :-)

-1-

"Hey, Miss Psycho! Put the lip gloss down and pay attention," Jade sneered.

Tori reached across the desk and slapped Jade in the shoulder. "Don't talk to her like that!"

Cat rubbed her lips together, smoothing out the gloss, and sighed happily at the strawberry taste. "Tori is nice to Cat," she said with a lilt to her voice. "Jade tries to be mean, but it doesn't matter. Because sticks and stones may break Cat's bones, but words -"

"Enough with the narration Cat. We're sitting right here," Jade interrupted. "Besides, you're full of shit. The whole world knows you're sensitive as hell."

The smile quickly wiped off Cat's face, all evidence of its prior existence gone. "I'm not sensitive!" She paused, twitching her fingers. "Sensitive." She rolled the word around her mouth, trying to taste its flavor. "Sensitive. What's that supposed to mean?" she squealed.

Tori threw her hands up in the air. "Come on guys! We need to focus or we'll never get this project for Sikowitz done. We haven't even settled on an idea for our scene, and it needs to be written by the end of tomorrow's class."

"Okay fine," Jade grumbled. "I say we go with Cat's idea. It's really good, there's no way we won't get an A," she suggested, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Oblivious, Cat's face brightened up. "I'm so excited! This is the greatest day ever!"

"Seriously guys?" Tori could feel herself getting frustrated, so she took a deep breath before speaking again. "Cat. Your idea is great. Really. But Sikowitz wants us to write a tragedy. Do you really think a shoe store being all out of a certain shoe is a tragedy?"

"Yes, Tori, of course its a tragedy!" Cat cried defensively. "In fact, it happened to me a month ago. I was so depressed, I didn't know what to do. I lay in bed and thought I'd never be able to get up -"

"Of course you did," Jade interrupted, disinterestedly.

"Until the next day my mom bought me a new handbag!" Cat continued. "It was soooo cute, I thought I was going to die! It's purple, kind of like a blueberry but even purple-er, and has this adorable stitching along the side where -"

Tori interrupted this time. "Cat! That's interesting, but we really need to focus." She forced her mind to think, pushing her neurons to fire faster and faster. They really needed an idea, and fast. Unfortunately, before she could think of anything, the bell sounded. "Ugh," Tori groaned. "Okay, guys, let's talk about this during lunch."

Jade shook her head. "Nope. I have plans."

"Plans?" Tori questioned.

"Jade wants to go make out with Beck," Cat answered for her matter-of-factly. "On Tuesdays they like to make out in the band room during lunch."

Jade folded her arms in front of her and scowled at Cat. "You do realize how creepy it is that you know that, don't you?"

"Creepy! I'm not creepy," Cat squeaked, color rising in her face. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Tori sighed. "Whatever Jade. And Cat, you're not creepy. Can you work on this during lunch with me?"

"Can't, sorry!" She shrugged. "I have to have a talk with the choir director. She says she wants to talk to me about my behavior in class. Apparently I talk too much and don't sing enough. But talking is just kind of singing but on the same note, don't you think? I think I'm going to tell her that. I hope she doesn't -"

Tori slapped her forehead in annoyance. "Okay fine. How about we meet after school. My place? Around 4?" Jade nodded grumpily while Cat squealed with excitement. "Alright. Sounds like a plan."

Jade sat on Beck's lap, her knees straddling him, as she kissed him forcefully. She tried her best not to smile out of pure happiness as Beck combed his fingers through her long hair, but evidently she failed.

Beck pulled away, smirking. "Someone's having a good day today. What happened sweetie, did you beat up a freshman?"

Jade growled and tugged him back towards her, sucking aggressively on his lips. "Call me sweetie again and I'll punch your pretty little face in," she snarled in between kisses.

Beck slid his body forward, pinning Jade's shoulders against the wall and taking control of the kiss. Pulling back for just a second, he whispered "And that's the Jade I know and love," before once again attacking her lips.

As the bell sounded, Jade leapt up and quickly grabbed her backpack.

Beck grumbled. "I swear, that's got to be the shortest lunch period ever." He watched Jade curiously as she gathered her belongings. "What's the rush? Excited for class?"

Jade swallowed hard. She didn't want to lie to Beck, but at the same time she felt foolish explaining. "Um... I..." she stuttered. Finally she just blurted it out. "I want to go talk to Cat. I think something's going on with her. I'm worried."

"Cat? Why? You hate her!"

Jade rolled her eyes as she folded her arms across her chest. "I don't hate her, Beck. We're friends. I've known her since the first grade."

Beck scrunched his face in confusion. "Okay... But you always act like you hate her."

"And she always acts like an airhead," she snapped back. "What difference does it make?"

"Jade. Cat doesn't act like an airhead. Cat is an airhead."

"Shut up!" Jade felt her muscles tensing in anger. "Beck, just shut up! I'm serious. Something seems really off about her lately."

Beck smiled, putting his palms up in defeat. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry." He pulled her body in for an apologetic hug.

Jade let herself be pulled in, but did not reciprocate. "This is the last time I tell you anything," she muttered into his shoulder.

"Babe, I'm sorry. Sometimes I forget under all that you're just a softy like the rest of us."

Jade grinned up at him slyly. "Tell anyone and you're dead."

"Oh, I believe you." He kissed her forehead lightly and then pulled away. "Go find Cat. Whatever is up, you'll work it out."

Jade smiled at the love of her life one last time before bolting out of the band room.

Jade headed towards Cat's locker just as she was leaving, and then followed her into the bathroom. Thankfully it was empty.

"Hey Cat," Jade said timidly.

"Oh!" Cat's face erupted like a volcano of pure happiness. "Jade! What's up? Have fun with Beck?"

"Um... yes..?" Jade stammered. "Can we not talk about that?"

"Okay! What do you want to talk about? I love talking!" Cat smiled at her reflection in the mirror as she started to reapply mascara to her lashes.

Jade took a deep breath and stepped towards Cat. "Why don't we talk about you. How are you doing?"

Jade wouldn't have thought Cat's smile could grow any bigger, but it did. "I am doing awesome. Awesome! I am so excited to go to Tori's tonight! And my mom bought me a new dress last weekend - I swear its the cutest thing ever! Jade, this is so much fun! I love talking about myself. My dad says I talk too much, but its so fun, I just -"

"Cat, quit it!" Jade's eyes searched in Cat's, looking for something, any sort of clue. "Drop the cute act for a second and just talk to me."

Cat was silent for a few seconds, stunned. "What... what do you mean?"

"God Cat, I know you! And I know you know that. We were best friends for years! We're the same, Cat. I'm messed up, just like you. Except you survive this hellish place by doing the cute crazy girl thing, while I do the mean girl thing. But really, we're the same. We're fucked up, Cat."

Cat's soft face grew harder, her cheekbones almost looking like stone. "I really don't know what you mean," she said evenly.

Jade sighed with frustration. "Stop lying Cat. Before high school you used to tell me everything. I know you. And I know you know me." Cat remained silent, refusing to engage in the conversation. Jade did her best to soften her voice. "Look Cat, I don't want to argue with you. This is hard for me too. I'm just worried, I know something's going on with you. I don't know how I can tell, but I can. I mean, look at you! You're so pale."

Cat stepped closer to Jade. Her kind eyes had turned frozen, and pierced sharply into Jade's. When she finally spoke her words were low and icy. "Leave. It. Alone," she breathed, barely audible.

Jade didn't know what to say, so she just stared. There were so many things she wanted to say, so many questions to ask. But none of them could be articulated.

Suddenly Cat's face was enveloped by warmth again. She giggled as she leaned back towards the mirror, applying her lip gloss. "Mmm... strawberry! My favorite!" She smiled at Jade as if their conversation had never happened. "Hey Jade, I have to go. But I absolutely cannot wait til we hang out at Tori's tonight! Omigod! It's going to be way fun! Yay!" She pulled Jade in for a quick hug and then skipped out of the bathroom leaving Jade stunned.