Chapter Text
It’s not like they’re still good friends.
There was no falling out, no big fight or anything of the sort. It’s just...life. With college and careers and rare times they could all meet together, it was inevitable that the group of six from Hollywood Arts would eventually drift.
But then Jade writes a script that gets picked up by a big time production company who even wants her to help direct it, and there’s a song that goes along with it that Jade maybe writes with a specific voice in mind.
So her agent reaches out to a certain successful pop star’s agent with a demo.
“Tori, I think you’ll really like this,” her agent tells her.
So Tori sits and listens in her Los Angeles home, and the song’s amazing - she’s definitely going to say yes - but there’s something familiar about the voice.
She knows that voice.
“Hey,” she says when she calls her agent back. “Do you know who sang the demo?”
“Apparently it’s the script writer,” he tells her without much thought. “Think her name is Jade West or something.”
At the sound of Jade’s name, Tori can’t help but smile.
There is something about the song that sounds so Jade, something about the overview of the script that sounds effortless in a way Jade did everything when it came to her talents.
But she doesn’t reach out, doesn’t feel like she can. They haven’t spoken to each other in years, especially not since Jade mutually broke up with Beck shortly after high school. It’d be weird, Tori figures, to try to re-kindle something once again.
So she records the song, has her people send it off, and that’s the end of that.
They run into each other later during awards season.
It’s nothing monumental, nothing of value, but there are photos and smiles and casual conversation. You know, just a typical awards show function. They’re both used to it by now.
“Thanks for recording that song by the way,” Jade tells her as they head into the venue.
Tori just shrugs, the ever-humble person she’s always been as she replies, “Of course. I fell in love with it when I heard it. I can’t wait to see that movie, by the way.”
“Maybe you’ll get invited to the premiere,” Jade smirks.
Tori’s eyes narrow like they used to back in high school, when she knew Jade was taunting her. Jade’s smirk only deepens at the sight, feeling accomplished before she wanders off and away from Tori.
It’s a small interaction, but the moment lingers in both their minds longer than they’d like to admit.
“Honestly it’s kind of like a dream come true,” Jade shrugs, trying to play it cool. She keeps her eyes on her interviewer and not on the camera just a few feet away. “I’ve been working so hard for this moment, and now that it’s here it still doesn’t quite feel real.”
“Well we’re all very impressed with you,” the interviewer - Jade thinks her name is Gaby - says. “Writing and directing a film isn’t easy.”
Jade smirks a little. “Not exactly a cake walk.”
Gaby laughs along, making Jade feel at slight ease. It’s not her first interview by any means, but keeping up appearances for all of them is still a challenge to her.
“We also hear pop star Tori Vega is potentially linked to this movie,” Gaby hints, and Jade’s honestly surprised it’s getting brought up. “Is she returning to an acting gig in your movie?”
The comment makes Jade chuckle. She answers, “No, Tori won’t be on the big screen in this one, but she is involved in another way.”
“Care to share?” Gaby asks eagerly.
“Guess you’ll just have to wait and see,” Jade responds smoothly.
“Well how do you get a star like Tori Vega involved in your movie?” Gaby asks, still pushing the topic of the star.
Jade can feel herself growing irritated; it’s not that she has any issues with Tori or her fame, but in the grand scheme of things, Tori’s role the entire journey of her film is somewhat insignificant. However, she forces a smile and answers without missing a beat.
“We went to high school together - Hollywood Arts,” Jade explains. “I had my agent get in touch with hers and the rest is history, I guess.”
Jade doesn’t think too much of it at the time. She figures it’s just questions she’ll get because of Tori and her success; it’s fine, Jade can deal with it.
(Tori finds the interview in passing on the internet one day.
It’s not much, but she can’t help but smile. Honestly, she’s just a little surprised Jade didn’t use this opportunity to publicly take a jab at her.
Maybe Jade’s grown up after all.)
“I’m sorry, you want us to what? ”
“I’ve been in contact with Jade West’s publicist,” Tori’s own publicist, Anna, explains. “We think it’s a good idea.”
“In what world?” Tori gapes. “Wouldn’t it be enough if we played like the best friend route?”
Her publicist shakes her head. “If you two are seen in the public eye as dating each other, then it raises both your profiles. It’ll create a buzz around the movie and your song in it, leading up to your tour. It’s the ideal situation.”
Tori can only manage to stare at her publicist like she’s grown a second head. The idea sounds crazy to begin with, and to top it off Tori hasn’t genuinely spoken to Jade outside of passing interactions in years.
“I haven’t even talked to her since high school!” Tori exclaims. “We’ve barely seen each other since then - and anyway, we weren’t even really friends. ”
And that’s the truth, the half truth of it, anyway.
“Celebrities that barely know each other date all the time,” Anna reminds her, eyes focused on the email she’s typing on her phone.
Tori lets out a groan, throwing her head back. She thinks she might lose this battle, but then she remembers - this is Jade West they’re talking about.
“Yeah well good luck getting Jade on board,” Tori snorts, rolling her eyes. “That woman is probably plotting my death still.”
“We’re working on that.”
Tori only scoffs. They may have drifted, but she knows Jade and how much she’ll hate this idea the moment it gets brought up. This idea won’t even go anywhere, Tori figures. It’ll be shut down within the next few days and they’ll move on with their lives.
“ WHAT? ”
It comes out as a screech, and it’s honestly impressive that Jade’s publicist doesn’t even flinch. She’s used to it by now after dealing with Jade for two years. Instead, she harbors an unimpressed look at her client who’s got that crazy eye look going on.
“I am not fake dating Tori Vega!” she announces loudly, adding a stomp of her boot for effect.
Her publicist, Madeline, shakes her head. “This isn’t up for discussion. It’s happening.”
“No it’s not,” Jade seethes.
“Come on,” her publicist tries. “Tori’s cute and fun.”
“Exactly,” Jade deadpans with a hard eye roll. “I’m sure Vega doesn’t want to do it either if she knows what’s good for her.”
“You went to high school together. I’m sure that’ll make it easier.”
Jade just works her jaw because no, it doesn’t make it any easier at all.
“I’m not fake dating Tori Vega for this stupid plan,” she repeats firmly. “I don’t want to fake date anyone.”
“You will,” Madeline tells her.
As if on cue, her phone rings and Jade glares at her, as if threatening her to pick it up.
Once again, her publicist is unfazed.
“End of discussion,” Madeline says before answering the call and walking out of the room.
Jade lets out something similar to a growl, frown pasted on her face.
She hates everything about this.
Tori’s stomach twists with anxiety as she follows Anna down the hallway of the hotel.
It’s not that she’s nervous to see Jade - no, not at all. It’s more so that she doesn’t know what waits for her in the meeting room. Actually, she supposes she has a really good guess. She assumes Jade West’s probably wearing a deadly glare with a pair of scissors in her hand, ready to chuck them at the first person who does so much as speak.
Anna opens the door and it’s only then Tori lifts her head. Following right behind, Tori notices her prediction isn’t too far off. Jade is slouched in a chair with her arms crossed as she glares at the wall.
As their publicists exchange hellos, Tori hesitantly makes her way to the brooding Jade. It’s not the first time she’s seen Jade since high school, but she still takes a moment to take her in. It’s the first time they’re in the same space without it being a public event with cameras and small talk and a red carpet.
Jade’s hair is lighter now; it’s somewhere between dirty blonde and a soft brunette, far from her dyed black hair phase she’d kept for most of high school. Something about her looks so elegant without losing her grungy vibe. Her glare is still as effective as it always has been, and it’s somewhat surprising she hasn’t glared a hole through the wall just yet.
“I hate this stupid idea,” Jade states, not even bothering to spare Tori a glance.
Tori rolls her eyes, easing into the chair next to Jade. “Yeah, good to see you too, Jade.”
“Whatever,” Jade mutters with a wave of her hand, but she does offer Tori a side glance.
“You’re not the only one who thinks this is stupid,” Tori informs her.
“Well you’re both doing it anyway.”
The two of them look up to find their publicists taking seats across from them.
“You can’t make us,” Jade insists.
“There’s no way anyone’s going to believe us,” Tori adds.
Jade snorts. “Yeah cause Tori wouldn’t be able to keep up with me.”
Tori turns to Jade, gaping. “That’s so not true.”
“It definitely is,” Jade shrugs, clearly unbothered.
“Tori can and will keep up,” Anna states plainly. “Madeline and I have already discussed this in depth.”
“But I don’t want to date Jade,” Tori whines.
Jade then quirks an accusing eyebrow at Tori. “ Oh. ”
It’s the first time she’s really looked at Tori since she’s walked in. Somehow, Tori Vega looks the same as she did in high school, just older. Her cheekbones are still impossibly high and her hair falls around her face and down her back effortlessly as usual. Jade’s always envied Tori for that, for how she looks ridiculously good no matter the circumstance.
“This is going to help both of you career wise,” Madeline explains. “You’ll just have to keep up appearances until maybe a month or two after the movie comes out.”
“And then we can feed a mutual breakup story to the press and it’ll be over before you know it,” Anna finishes with a shrug.
“Two months after the movie?” Tori repeats, eyes wide.
Jade frowns. “That’s like, so long from now.”
“You haven’t had a relationship in awhile Jade,” Madeline shrugs.
“No one asked you, Madeline,” Jade quips a bit bitterly.
Tori can’t help but give Jade a side glance for her snapiness, to which Jade pointedly ignores. It’s almost comical how they still act and react to each other like parts written in a movie.
“This is happening whether you like it or not,” Madeline tells them, a sense of finality in her voice. “We’ve come up with a general timeline of events that coordinate with the timeline set for Jade’s movie. It’s happening.”
“You’re not allowed to date or hook up with anyone else,” Anna adds, to which both of their clients’ eyes widen. “If we’re going to do this, you two are going to have to see it through.”
Jade and Tori exchange a glance and without words they both know; this situation is some Sikowitz level bullshit.
“So we’re stuck with each other,” Tori says more to Jade than their publicists.
Somehow, that doesn’t exactly feel like the worst situation on earth. But also, it kind of does. This is Jade West she’s dealing with.
“Great it’s like I’m back in high school,” Jade groans.
“Hollywood Arts wasn’t bad,” Tori insists.
Jade stares at her for a long beat before she says, “Not at all for dear Tori Vega!”
Tori immediately cringes at the voice. She doesn’t even understand how Jade can still do it flawlessly after all these years, that dumb drawled out southern accent she uses to mock the singer time and time again.
“I still don’t talk like that!”
Jade snickers, a small smirk on her lips. “Sure you don’t.”
Tori can only sigh.
(They miss the way their publicists exchange a glance like they know this just might work.)
“I mean really, what are they even thinking? We’re-”
“Will you calm down? We’re just getting coffee.”
Tori frowns, turning to face Jade from the passenger’s seat. “I am calm.”
“No you’re not,” Jade insists, eyes still very much focused on the road. “You won’t shut up.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m not calm.”
Jade snorts. “Yeah it does. You’ve never been able to stop talking when you’re nervous.”
Tori twists her lips, looking at Jade curiously. “How do you know that?”
Jade rolls her eyes and replies without missing a beat. “We went to school together, remember?”
Tori opens her mouth to say something, but can’t exactly find the right response. Most days at Hollywood Arts, it seemed like Jade couldn’t care less about Tori. Apparently, Tori may have been just the tiniest bit wrong.
Jade pulls into a street parking spot a moment later and says, “Let’s just fucking get this over with.”
Tori holds in a sigh as she gets out of Jade’s car. It comes as a surprise when Jade is immediately at her side, way too close for what she knows Jade deems as appropriate. When Jade slips her hand into Tori’s effortlessly, the singer looks at her curiously.
Jade looks at her like she’s the dumbest person alive.
“Are we or are we not on a date right now?”
Tori blinks, nodding quickly. “Right, sorry.”
“Ugh,” Jade scoffs, rolling her eyes as she walks with Tori into the coffee shop.
Tori follows wordlessly, mainly just looking at the ground as they go. It’s only when she hears the door of the coffee shop open that she looks up. The place Jade’s picked seems appropriate enough. There are dim lights but plenty of windows to let the natural Los Angeles light seep in. The furniture is mostly wood, giving it an old-timey feeling. There are people busy on their laptops or scribbling in notebooks or simply just drinking coffee.
When Jade nods at the guy at the counter upon entry, Tori knows this is a place she frequents. Something about that makes Tori soften. There is something about being brought into Jade’s world after being removed from it for so many years that gets to her.
“This place is cool,” Tori hums as she looks around.
“Yeah,” Jade nods. “The coffee’s even better.”
She slips her hand out of Tori’s, surprising the other woman with the sudden lack of contact.
“Go get us a table. I’ll get the coffee,” Jade tells her.
“I can get my own coffee,” Tori insists.
“Tori,” Jade clenches her jaw, her voice low and quiet and eyes widening just a little. “This is a dat e.”
Tori lets out a soft sigh, shoulders dropping. “I know, I know. Sorry. I want an-”
“Iced caramel macchiato with extra sugar, yeah yeah got it,” Jade finishes for her, waving her off as she walks away.
Tori’s mouth opens as she stares after Jade. “Wh - how do you remember that?” she calls out, but Jade blatantly ignores her as she approaches the counter and Tori is left to stare in confusion for a moment longer before she turns and finds a table.
And as it turns out, going on a fake date with Jade isn’t the most terrible way to spend her time.
Jade is different now - older, slightly less rough around the edges. She actually asks Tori about work and her tour and what she’s got lined up workwise. Of course, she still takes a jab at the singer when the opportunity presents itself, but there are more smirks and soft smiles than Tori can remember there being in high school.
When Tori asks about Jade’s new movie - the one she wrote the song for - Jade’s eyes light up as she dives into an explanation, and Tori is somewhat entranced by it all. Jade has always been so passionate about her work, something that was easy to pick up on after transferring to Hollywood Arts. Although her taste is usually more gruesome and frightening than Tori’s liking, Jade has a knack for the movie world.
“Come on, this isn’t terrible for a date, right?” Tori says when their coffee cups have been empty for awhile and they’ve gotten lost in conversation. “You’re not absolutely miserable out here.”
Jade snorts, lifting her pierced eyebrow. “Can’t get much worse than Nozu.”
Tori laughs at the memory. “I can’t believe those guys.”
Jade chuckles softly, but then her line of sight shifts just past Tori.
Tori frowns. “Everything okay?”
She’s about to turn around and see what Jade’s looking at, but she’s stopped by Jade leaning forward and grabbing her hands. It’s an unexpected movement, but Jade has all of Tori’s attention with wide eyes.
“Paps showed up,” Jade murmurs quietly, her eyes focusing on only Tori now. “I think they’ve been here for awhile.”
“Oh,” Tori says. “So...this is working?”
Jade nods slowly and then tells her, “We should head out. You ready to go?”
“Y-yeah,” Tori nods, staying still for a moment even after Jade releases her grip and eases out of her chair.
“I meant now Vega,” Jade states, slight irritation in her tone.
“I know,” Tori snaps, standing up and letting Jade take her hand again. “Try not to look like you hate me, girlfriend. ”
Jade rolls her eyes, tugging Tori closer to her as they exit the coffee shop.
“Try not to look like you can’t believe we’re dating,” she quips back.
“Hey!” Tori whines. “You know I used to act, too.”
Jade smirks. “I know.”
Hollywood Insider: Tori Vega out and about with broody brunette
Pop star Tori Vega has been out and about around Hollywood lately! If she’s not alone, she’s usually with Jade West. West is an up and coming writer on the scene. You may know her name from her upcoming movie Silent Void which she wrote and directed herself. Vega herself is also linked to this movie, though no one’s sure just how yet. The duo have been seen grabbing food or getting coffee together around town and have been spotted holding hands often. Sources say the two went to high school together right here in Los Angeles at Hollywood Arts. It’s too soon to say if Vega’s got a new boo, but so far we’re loving this combo!
As much as Jade hated to admit it back in the day, Tori Vega is ridiculously talented.
This is what she’s thinking while she’s backstage at Tori’s concert, nodding her head as she watches Tori dance around the stage as she sings. The monitor to her side shows her what the cameras are picking up, and there is no doubt in Jade’s mind at this moment that this was what Tori was always going to do after Hollywood Arts.
It was never a secret that Tori was good - no, just about everyone aside from Jade fawned over her since the moment she took over Trina’s spot in the showcase. But this confidence, the way she looks totally and completely relaxed like she knows this is her time - this is something Jade never saw from her before. Jade catches herself smiling just a little as she watches Tori flip her hair before reaching out and grabbing a few fans’ hands as she sings.
At the end of the set, Tori is quickly running backstage breathless. As people hover around her to make sure she’s good for her encore song, she makes a beeline for Jade.
“Hi!” she says, and then she’s hugging Jade like it’s the most normal thing to do.
Jade is slow to hug her back, but then she figures she should be playing the part even if it’s just Tori’s stage crew around.
“Hey, you’re killing it,” Jade tells her, mouth close to Tori’s ear so she can be heard over the cheers and the directions of the crew.
Tori pulls away from the hug, a big grin on her face. “You think so?”
Jade snorts. “I’m not repeating it just so you can hear me compliment you.”
“Jade!” Tori groans, but she’s smiling anyway.
“Thirty seconds!” someone calls out beside them.
“I have to go. Wait for me in the dressing room?”
Jade nods out to the stage. “Give the people want they want, Vega.”
Tori smiles wide before she’s running into place. Jade gives her one last look before she heads back to Tori’s dressing room.
Jade would be lying if she isn’t mumbling the lyrics under her breath on her walk back to the dressing room, singing along through the muffled sound of Tori on stage.
By the time Tori finally makes it back to her dressing room, Jade is sprawled out on the couch and scrolling on her phone comfortably.
“Hey again,” Tori says as she grabs clothes to change into.
Jade lifts her gaze and sits up. “Hey superstar,” she half-teases. “You were great tonight. Glad I’m not fake dating a completely talentless loser.”
“And to think I was going to get away with a nice compliment from you,” Tori deadpans, rolling her eyes at Jade before she’s disappearing into the bathroom to change.
“You thought wrong,” Jade tells her, eyes lighting up.
When Tori emerges a few moments later, dressed in leggings and a hoodie, she’s peering at her phone.
“Anna says we should post something tonight,” she says as she joins Jade on the couch. “You know, since you’re at my show.”
“Whatever,” Jade shrugs, not bothering to look up from her phone.
Tori pouts. “Can you at least try to put effort into this?”
It’s then that Jade looks up from her phone, giving Tori an expectant look. “Fine. What do you want?”
Tori twists her lip in thought for a minute - a trait Jade has thought many times is equally irritating as it is slightly endearing - before she lights up with an idea.
“Pretend you’re on your phone,” she instructs Jade as she opens up her Instagram stories.
“I’m already on my phone,” Jade informs her dryly.
Tori decides to ignore her as she singongs, “Okay! Look happy!”
Jade gives her an exaggerated eye roll, but does her best to look content in the moment.
(Which, it isn’t that hard after watching Tori perform the way she did.
Jade won’t give her the satisfaction of knowing that, of course.)
Once Tori’s sure Jade isn’t scowling outside of the shot on her camera, she holds down the button to record.
“Guys, guess who made it out to my show tonight!” Tori says excitedly into her camera. She then shifts the angle to show Jade in frame before she’s falling against Jade’s side and forcing her to look up from her phone.
“Tori,” Jade groans. “Turn it off.”
Her arm squeezes out from underneath Tori to wrap comfortably around her waist. She decides to attempt to hide her face in Tori’s neck, and the first thing she notices is how warm Tori is. The next thing she notices is the way Tori leans into her touch immediately.
Nice move, Vega.
Tori ignores her and asks, “What did you think of my show?”
“It was great,” she answers in a mumble, lips moving against Tori’s neck as she speaks.
Jade thinks she feels goosebumps on Tori’s skin, but she could be wrong. Honestly, what the hell is happening right now?
“No seriously,” Tori says in an impossibly adorable whine. “Tell my followers what you thought.”
Jade lifts her head and instead of looking at the camera, she keeps her eyes directly on Tori. Tori turns away from the camera to look at her and it surprises Jade just how close they are.
“It was amazing,” Jade tells her in a quiet, more gentle tone. “Like always.”
Tori’s lips burst into a wide smile and her eyes light up and Jade can’t remember when Tori got so good at acting.
(Okay, that’s a lie, she’s always been annoyingly good at that too.)
“Thanks babe.”
Jade isn’t quite sure what propels her to do it - later, she’ll reason to herself it’s what that specific moment as an actor called for - but she leans forward and gives Tori a quick, soft peck. It’s nothing earth shattering by any means. It hardly even lasts a second.
But Jade does it and then says, “Okay now turn it off.”
It takes Tori a split second before she reacts, but she laughs and says, “Fine” before she stops recording.
Tori’s hand holding the phone drops into her lap while Jade immediately leans back into her original position, pulling her arm away from Tori. She picks up her phone and resumes scrolling as if nothing happened.
“Happy?” Jade asks, voice dripping with dryness.
There’s a beat before Tori replies, “That was...Jade, we look like a real couple.”
“Well duh that’s the point Vega,” Jade says, not looking up.
“It’s kind of cute,” Tori decides after watching it back another time. “The kiss was, uh, a nice touch.”
“Whatever just get it up so we can go eat.”
Jade would really just not like to talk about it.
Tori posts the video after tagging Jade and adding a few hearts before looking up at Jade with a sweet smile.
“Thanks girlfriend. ”
“You are so annoying,” Jade tells her.
But the next day when Madeline is pestering her about posting something about being at Tori’s show the night before, Jade finally relents. She posts a photo that one of Tori’s show photographers caught backstage before her final song. They’re hugging each other and Tori is leaning up because Jade’s still got two inches on her. Jade is leaning down, head angled and Jade knows she’s whispering in Tori’s ear, but from the photo it looks like she could possibly be kissing Tori’s cheek.
@jadewest: ♥ @torivega
Andre Harris
iMessage
Today 5:10 PM
So...you and Jade?
Oh, yeah...it kind of just happened
Definitely did not expect this, trust me lol
It’s not a lie technically. Tori’s telling the truth for the most part. She and Andre aren’t as close as they used to be in high school, but they do make an effort to see each other when they’re in the same city and catch up when life isn’t too crazy.
So it’s no surprise that a few minutes after Tori sends off her texts, her phone rings. She winces at the name on her screen, but then takes a deep breath and answers like the big adult she is.
“Hey Andre,” she says cheerfully.
“Tori! Hey, it’s so good to talk to you. I know it’s been a minute.”
The sound of Andre’s voice makes Tori smile. Although she knows exactly what this call’s about, it’s still nice to hear from her friend. Andre has always been one of Tori’s favorite people in the world; it’s comforting to know that fame and distance have never once phased him.
(Though, she could do without the rumors and speculation that surface every six months about whether or not they’re dating when they finally have a few days to hang out with each other.
Tori guesses Jade eliminates that probably temporarily, anyway.)
“Yeah I know I’m sorry,” Tori begins to apologize, shaking her head.
“Don’t be,” Andre immediately insists. “I’m doing my thing and you’re out there doing your superstar thing.”
“Still,” Tori laughs softly. “We haven’t talked in awhile. I’ve just been so busy.”
“Busy with Jade I see,” Andre comments lightly.
Tori holds in a wince at the mention, but she gives in anyway. “Yeah, with Jade.”
“So are you going to tell me how this all happened?” Andre asks curiously. “The last time you even spoke to Jade was years ago. You didn’t even talk to her when you recorded that song for her movie.”
Tori’s explained this story to her mother and father and some of her other friends who have brought up the topic recently. It’s rehearsed and ready and everyone believes it without a doubt. She’s acted in the past and this is no different. Yet, somehow it’s harder for her now that it’s Andre asking. Andre knew Tori best out of everyone in high school; he was there for her lows and highs, for every argument she’d had with Jade. He knew when something was wrong and when Tori was on top of the world. Tori had trusted him totally and completely at Hollywood Arts - part of her still does.
She’s simply afraid he might see right through this facade she and Jade are putting on, but Tori knows she has to see this through.
“Well...you know, she recently moved back to LA from New York and wanted to thank me for recording the song so we got dinner,” Tori explains, trying to keep the hesitancy and strain out of her voice. “And I don’t know, Andre. It’s like everything is so easy with her, like...I can’t explain it.”
That part is starting to become more and more true, at least.
Pretending to date Jade West isn’t absolutely dreadful. Tori’s finding she kind of likes Jade’s company when she’s not being mean to her every other moment.
“So she didn’t threaten or physically harm you within the first minute of being in the same room?” Andre asks, and Tori knows he’s only half joking.
Tori rolls her eyes. “Come on, Andre. We’ve all grown up. That includes Jade, too.”
“I know, I know,” he relents, and Tori can just picture the easy smile on his face that lets her know he’s only joking. “But to be fair, when I claimed to be in love with Jade, you thought something was wrong with me.”
The memory of it all makes Tori laugh. It was so long ago, but now that Andre’s brought it up it feels like the moment is just in reach.
“Okay one, that was when she was high school Jade. Adult Jade is different,” she defends. “And two, no one said anything about being in love. We’re just...I don’t know. We’re just dating. It’s...fun.”
It feels weird to say these things out loud, things that Tori and her publicist have gone over multiple times for moments like this.
There’s a pause, and then, “Well are you happy?”
The lie comes without hesitation.
“Yeah, yeah I am. You know, it’s kind of unexpected, but I’m happy.”
(Honestly, it’s not much of a lie at all.)
“Then I’m happy for you,” Andre tells her.
“Really?” Tori asks, hoping she doesn’t sound too surprised.
But Andre chuckles at her question, and Tori knows he heard the tone in her voice.
“Tori, you know at the end of the day no matter what, I want you to be happy,” Andre reminds her. “You’ve put up with some pretty dumb guys and gals over the years. If Jade’s treating you right then I’m cool.”
Tori grins knowingly as she asks, “And if she isn’t will you beat her up?”
“Absolutely not,” he answers without a second thought. “You know she still scares me.”
Tori laughs. “Glad nothing’s changed with you.”
“I don’t care what you say. Jade West is capable of murder by scissors and you know it.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
(And there’s something oddly satisfying about Andre’s approval. At the end of the day, Tori knows it doesn’t matter; it’s all for show. But having Andre support this “relationship” with Jade makes Tori breathe a little easier.)