I See the Light

"Jade are you sure about this?" Josh asked his sister. Jade sighed and shrugged her shoulders.

"I want to tell Tori how I feel but I feel like this is the first step to doing that," Jade replied leaning against the countertop. She had invited her dad over to talk. She wanted closure and she wanted to know how to not completely fuck it up. She didn't want to do that to Tori. She couldn't break Tori's heart again. It wasn't right.

"Jade I will say I am surprised you reached out to me," James West said after arriving at the home of his ex-wife and his children. Part of Jade was surprised that he showed up. James was notorious for making promises and not keeping them.

"It's purely business," Jade told him. "When did you stop loving mom?"

"What?" James asked her. "I didn't stop loving your mom. I just realized I wasn't right for her."

Jade contemplated that answer before speaking. "Do you still think I'm just like you?"

"Well yeah. You're stubborn, you're persistent and determined," James said. "Why do you ask?"

"I love a girl, dad and I'm scared I'm going to be just like you and ruin it," Jade admitted. "Everyone always tells me I'm just like you and I don't want it to be true."

"Jade I know we don't see eye to eye and I know I offended you when you first came out," James told her. "For that I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that. If you're worried about ruining your relationship, that's up to you. Don't stress about what happened between your mother and me. You may be similar to me in many ways but you're also your own person. I admit I was selfish and I wasn't the best father but I'm working on it. I've started therapy and I'm trying to make the future better. I know I can't fix the past."

Jade gave him a small smile. That was the nicest thing he's said to her in years. Jade was willing to work with him on making a better future. She wasn't going to forgive him but she was willing to give him a chance. She thought about what he said. He was right, they were similar but at the end of the day, Jade was her own person. She wasn't going to make the same mistakes.

"So tell me about this girl?" James said with a smile on his face. "When can I meet her?"Jade smiled and started telling him everything she adored about Tori. James was happy that his daughter found someone. He regretted how he treated her in the past but at least now they could move forward.

At the end of the conversation, James surprised Jade by hugging her. Jade was taken by surprise. She wasn't used to people hugging her, especially not her dad. It had been years since her dad hugged her. Jade hugged him back and suddenly she felt like she was five years old again.

"Daddy I missed you," Five-year-old Jade said as she heard the door open. Her dad was finally back after what seemed like ages to the young child.

"Hi princess I missed you too," James said picking up Jade and hugging her tight.

"You're my favorite person daddy," Jade said.

"I hope it always stays that way," James told her.

Jade smiled thinking about the memory. Things finally felt okay with her dad. This was the most bonding they had done in years. It felt good and Jade would even say she loved it. She missed her dad. She needed him back in her life. She wouldn't have dared admit that a few days ago but now things were different. Everything felt right in the world again and Jade knew she was going to be okay. Everything was going to be okay.

"I'm not mad, just slightly disappointed," Trina told Tori. Tori had just admitted that she broke curfew the night prior and hung out with Jade. Tori hadn't planned on telling Trina anything but Tori had stupidly fallen asleep in Jade's hoodie. Trina was able to tell that it was Jade's because she knew her sister didn't listen to Paramore and that's who was featured on the hoodie. "You don't want to get hurt again."

"I won't. I'm putting my feelings to the side. I'll get over it," Tori protested. Tori knew she couldn't go through that again. She wasn't going to let it happen. Her feelings for Jade were irrelevant. It didn't matter anymore. They were just friends and nothing more.

"No offense Tori but you said that last time and look where that got you," Trina reminded her. Tori sighed. She knew Trina was right. Tori did claim she wouldn't get hurt but this time was different. It wasn't a secret how Toti felt and there were no contracts. It was just a normal friendship between Jade and Tori. Tori would go as far as to say that they were best friends.

"I promise I'll be fine," Tori said. "Scouts honor." Trina rolled her eyes. Her little sister could be so naive sometimes. But Trina learned that sometimes you couldn't stop people from being stupid. Sometimes the hot stove was the best teacher after all. For Tori's sake, she hoped that Jade wouldn't break her heart. Trina's intuition told her that Jade did have feelings for Tori. Trina saw all the signs. She wished Jade would just tell her sister how she felt. Although Jade wasn't exactly Trina's favorite and vice versa, Trina would put that to the side for Tori's sake.

"Whatever you say," Trina told her little sister. She really hoped Tori was right.

"So how'd it go with dad?" Josh asked his sister after their dad left. "I'm surprised I didn't hear any yelling."

"It went well actually. We've come to an understanding," Jade told her brother. Josh's mouth dropped. He couldn't believe his sister and his dad came to an understanding. Jade resented the man for so long. Josh's relationship with their dad was slightly better. He could tolerate their dad and have a civil conversation. "Why do you look so shocked."

"Because it's you and dad. When's the last time you guys ever agreed on something?" Josh asked. Jade thought for a moment trying to think of an instance but she couldn't. "What did you guys talk about?"

"We talked about the twins. They're naming them Josiah and Jonah. You know more J names," Jade said with a small smile. "We talked about Tori. Dad is okay with my sexuality now. It's a nice feeling."

"Wow," Josh said. His dad rarely changed his stance on things. His dad was incredibly stubborn and didn't like to change his mind. It's what made him and Jade fight so often. They were both stubborn and Jade liked to push his buttons. Josh always figured they acted so hostile to each other because both of them sucked at communicating feelings. Josh knew deep down they both missed each other and wanted a relationship. "So does this mean you're going to finally tell Tori?"

"Yeah it does," Jade said with a smile. "I'm so nervous though. I just want everything to go right. I feel like I deserve it."

"Everything will be fine," Josh told her. "You two are smitten for each other. It's disgustingly cute."

"Me and cute don't belong in the same sentence," Jade grumbled.

"I'm sure Tori would disagree," Josh said with a smirk before Jade playfully smacked him.

Jade invited Beck over to talk to him. He may be her ex but she went to him for advice often. They were still really good friends. Jade also knew that Beck was waiting for Jade to ask out Tori.

"So you're finally coming to your senses?" Beck said with a smirk. Jade had just told him everything from how she and Tori reconciled, to how she talked to her dad, and how she wanted to tell Tori how she felt.

"Shut up," Jade mumbled.

"It's about time you guys start dating," Beck told her. "Don't tell the others but we've all figured out you guys have feelings for each other."

"You guys all can tell?" Jade said an amused look on her face. She was surprised that her friends could put together that she had feelings for Tori or that Tori had feelings for her. Was it really that obvious? Jade had no idea how Tori felt until Tori admitted it to her. It couldn't be that obvious right?

"Yeah," Beck said. "You're going to hate me but we have a pool betting on when you guys will finally get together. If you do ask Tori this week that would be great. That would mean I win."

"I can't believe you guys bet on us," Jade said and Beck held his hands up in surrender. "I'm going to tell Tori this week. Once you get your money I want 25% and I think Tori deserves 25% as well."

"I can arrange that," Beck told her. He thought that sounded reasonable. Sure he'd lose half of the pool money but he was glad Jade didn't kill him.

"How should I tell her?" Jade asked Beck.

"I don't know. I love you Tori seems like the way to go," Beck said. Jade rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at him. Beck muttered an ow before moving the pillow next to him.

"Every time I try to say that I freeze up and can't find the right words. I just don't know what to do," Jade said. Telling Tori how she felt had shown itself to be quite the challenge. She doesn't remember it being this hard with Beck. Jade thinks about it and realizes maybe it was because she didn't actually love Beck romantically. She loved Beck for sure but more like a brother than a lover. When she told Beck she loved him she didn't realize she was a lesbian yet so that could be why it was so much easier.

"Well, you have had other thoughts occupying your mind as well. Maybe it'll be different now that you settled that," Beck told her. "Just let your heart speak."

"Sounds easier said than done," Jade said sighing.

"When has Jade West ever given up on a challenge," Beck asked her. Jade hated that he was right. She would never tell him that though. Beck's head was big enough already and Jade didn't need to add to that.

"Shut up," Jade told him. She contemplated hitting him but decided against it. It's not that she didn't want to, it was that she heard Tori's voice telling her that violence was not the answer.

"You know I'm right," Beck said with a small laugh. Jade just rolled her eyes in response. Beck could be so annoying sometimes.

Soon after Beck left, Jade was left alone to think of what to say to Tori. Jade thought about all the things she loved about Tori. She loved Tori's brown eyes. She loved Tori's smile and her adorable laugh. She loved that Tori always believed in her and always saw the best in her. She loved Tori's stupid sense of humor. She loved all the bad puns and ridiculous dad jokes. She loved that Tori made her a better person. She loved that Tori was the only one to break down her walls. Tori was the first person to get Jade to watch a Disney movie. Sure Jade had watched them when she was a kid but Tori got her to watch it now that she was older. Tori was just special and Jade loved everything about her. Tori Vega was everything to Jade. Jade still couldn't believe she went from completely resenting the girl to being smitten with her. It was funny the way life worked.

The more Jade thought about the more she realized she knew what she wanted to say. She was ready to finally tell Tori that she loved her.

~~~~~~~~

Chapter title comes from I See the Light from Tangled

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