4
Six o'clock couldn't have come soon enough for Tori. However, when it did, she wasn't ready for how the day would turn out. Jade drove Tori to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
“This is definitely not where I thought we would be going,” said Tori, looking out the passenger window.
She turned to the driver seat to find Jade had already gotten out of the car.
Tori followed Jade through the museum as she walked with purpose to the elevator. She pressed the button, highlighting the second floor.
The section that she had been brought to held a collection of works by Salvador Dalí.
Tori slowly walked by each work of art on the walls, gazing at each one before it faded from her peripherals in time with her walk.
Once she had finished looking at all the works on one wall, she turned to Jade.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“I thought it would be interesting. His work was defined by his dreams.”
“Right. I remember I learned about him in art history. He doesn't really seem to be your style, though.”
Tori thought the outlandish portraits etched by pencil and ink were a far cry from Jade's obsession with the macabre. The only overlap, to her at least, was that both elicited an uneasy feeling in people.
“Only recently, I've started looking at his work. I discovered this exhibition three days ago.”
“What made you start looking at his work?”
Tori looked into Jade's eyes. She had a dreamy stare, so unlike the stare she often gave to people. Jade hesitated before speaking.
“I started having some pretty interesting dreams.”
“Is that right?”
Jade watched Tori get closer to her. In front of her eyes, Jade's face took on a subtle blush. An unspoken understanding formed between the two women. They merely had to express their feelings verbally.
“That's why I couldn't sleep,” Jade clarified. “Every time I closed my eyes, I would see you.”
Tori smiled. She leaned into Jade's face. She watched Jade's expression carefully. Anticipation emanated from her heaving breaths. The tension was broken the instant that they kissed.
Their first kiss only lasted a few seconds, but it was the catalyst for their second, third, and final one before they parted for the evening.
“You know? I bet you could probably get away with staying over,” said Tori.
Jade smiled.
“I'll see you tomorrow.”
Jade walked away.
“Pick me up at seven!” Tori called.
“See you, Tori!”
Tori practically skipped into her home with all the joy that flowed through her body. When Trina bombarded her with her problems, she listened to her freely. Not even Trina could ruin her current mood. Tori went to bed and, in theme with the day she had had, dreamt of Jade West.
In contrast with Tori's first dream of Jade, Jade, for the first time since her infatuation began, slept peacefully. No longer plagued by dreams of fantasy, she revelled in her waking reality.