Bright Like a Diamond

Chapter 3. Sleep. Drink. Pizza.

The Vega Residence - December 9th, Senior Year

...

By the time her car had pulled into the driveway, Tori wasn't exactly shocked to see both of her parents' cars parked in the driveway already. Typically, one of them, or in most cases, both of them, would be absent. But given the events of today, it made sense that they would both be home. As she came within arm's length of the front door, she couldn't help but pull back her hand from the door. This was typically the time that she could just relax, not having to worry about her parents looking over her shoulder or interrupting whatever it was that she might be doing.

"It's not going to be something that can just be ignored," Even from the front door, David Vega's voice boomed throughout the house. Great... Tori thought to herself as she walked in, hoping that her parents would just let her walk away without dragging her into a conversation.

"Oh Tori, you're finally home," Holly Vega called out, causing Tori to close her eyes in frustration – facing away from her parents of course. As she pivoted her body to face her parents, she found herself forcing a smile onto her face, if for no other reason than to appease her parents. Obviously she had interrupted a serious conversation between her parents and judging by the fake smile on her dad's face, Tori could tell that they were a bit thankful that she didn't come right away. Chances are they wouldn't have minded if she had gone out – or have had a chance to talk out of earshot of her. "You hungry dear? I can fix you up something."

Tori shook her head. "Nah I'm fine. We have one of the later lunch periods, so I'm good." Noticing the almost disappointed look that her mother had on her face, Tori couldn't help wanting to kick herself. She didn't mean to come off as rude or dismissive; it was just the truth. Even still though, she couldn't help but feel guilty.

"Oh, that's OK dear." Holly took a quick glance at her husband before returning focus to her daughter, "So do you have any plans for tonight?"

Tori lifted her arm to scratch the back of her head. Did she forget the gang was coming over tonight? "Uh yeah. Andre, Jade, Cat, they're all coming over. Remember?"

It was like a lightbulb went off in her mom's head. "That's right! Heh," A weak laugh escaped from her mouth. "I'm sorry. For a moment I forgot that they were coming. David, perhaps we ought to go out for a little bit?" She turned her attention to her husband who simply responded with a weak nod.

Rather than waiting for the two of them to leave, Tori simply began heading upstairs to her room, all of a sudden feeling exhausted. Dragging her feet along the way towards her bedroom door, she didn't hear her parents call out a goodbye to her, nor did she even hear the front door shut. Right now she just wanted to take a nap and as soon as her head hit her pillow, she did exactly that.

...

Several Hours Later

...

I'm a rockstar
Hey baby

I'm a rockstar
Hey baby

She wasn't entirely sure of how long she had been sleeping for, but it didn't seem like it was nearly enough. Hell, if it weren't for her phone going off, she may very well have slept well into the night. Rolling around as she began to blindly grab for the phone on her nightstand, Tori finally managed to answer it just seconds prior to it going to voicemail. "Hello?"

"Damn, you sound like crap Tor." Of course it'd be Andre calling.

Tori, still in a half-asleep state, reluctantly began to get herself out of bed, resisting the desire to crawl back in. "You have a way of making a girl special, you know that right?"