J is for Jade…

…it's also for just.

The West girl is probably the last person you'd expect to look at everything fairly, especially given her temper and all of her biases.

But when it comes down to it, Jade is probably the most level-headed and reasonable person you'll ever meet.

Jade didn't dump coffee on Tori's head that first day because she was angry, or though she deserved it.

Rather, she did it because she knows Beck's been seduced and tricked into cheating on her before.

That one action prevented Tori from getting close enough to Beck to tempt him, and would serve as a constant reminder to Beck that Jade was keeping an eye on them.

(And oh, the things she's seen. Tori's true self makes Jade look like an angel.)

That said, the only reason Jade stays with Beck and cares so much is because without her hurting him and keeping him in line, he'd be hurt by so many more people.

So, she keeps them away from him with scathing words and steely glares.

Jade can see the affect she has on people. She can both keep people away and draw them close.

She can make them believe one thing, when she's really doing another.

This is Jade's favourite thing to do.

She can insult and taunt and tease and ridicule Trina, and to everyone else it makes her look like a bitch… even if they secretly agree.

But she knows that it makes Trina's day because she matters enough for Jade West to even acknowledge her existence.

And she can threaten Rex and tear him apart and even try to convince Robbie that his puppet has died…

…but in a strange way, both she and the ventriloquist know that that's her way of saying he doesn't need Rex, and that he doesn't need to distance people from him and be so afraid.

That's her way of telling him they like him better when he's himself.

But she can also scare people, threaten them without words and make them wish they were never born, without doing anything at all.

Andre's completely horrified of her for this reason.

She knows everything about him, the thoughts that run through his head.

What he does borders on obsession, but it's the other side of the border.

As much as Jade hates Tori, and as horrible as Tori secretly is, Andre is so much worse.

Jade remembers that day when Cat came to her, close to tears, after being cornered in the bathroom by Andre.

The redheaded girl had told her about how he had shaken her and yelled at her that Valentine's day wasn't a day made for her, Cat Valentine, until she whimpered with fright.

Stalking and threatening was one thing, but to Jade, hurting Cat was so much worse.

Cat was the only person Jade liked, hung out with, and paid attention to because she wanted to, and not because she deserved it or needed it.

Jade really is the only thing keeping Hollywood Arts in check, from keeping it's students from descending into complete chaos.

There's a reason such an unlikable girl is on top of the food chain.

Everyone either thinks they owe her something, or they're too afraid of her to attempt to dethrone her.

Jade is judge, jury, and executioner.

But more than anything, she just wishes she could be a girl for once.