5 Times that Tori says, 'I love you' and the one time that Jade says it back.

Disclaimer: I do not own Victorious.

In young 5-year-old Tori Vega's eyes, Jade West was a hero.

Tori was just five years old the first time she met her, fresh into her first day in kindergarten. She had been alone on the playground, trying to (and failing miserably since her legs were too short to reach the ground) push herself on the swings when suddenly a voice from behind her startled her out of her skin.

"Do you need a push?" she had asked her in a soft voice, to then follow by apologising fervently for having scared her so bad (she had fallen onto the ground from the fright). She helped her up and asked her again if she needed some help with the swings.

"No, I'm – I'm fine, thank you," Tori had stuttered and blushed.

"Come on, I'll push you and then you'll push me, alright? It'll be fun." The girl had smiled brightly and encouragingly to her, holding the chains of the swing steady for her to sit. "I'm Jade, by the way. Jade West," she'd said.

"Tori Vega," she had whispered once she was sitting securely on the swing.

"Will you be my friend?" Tori had asked Jade later, having spent the whole day with a huge smile on her face courtesy of the girl in question.

"Sure," she had replied with a laugh.

"Forever and always?" Tori had asked solemnly, holding out her pinky finger for Jade.

"Forever and always."

That evening when her parents had asked her at dinner if she, by any chance, had made any new friends at school, she had blushed and quietly mumbled that yes, she had, and her name was Jade West. And in her head, she had added that she was the sweetest and most courageous girl she had ever met. "She's my hero and I love her," she had whispered to her mother in the dim light of her room.

Tori and Jade became fast friends from then on; numerous years went by with them being each other's best friends. Numerous memories, both happy and sad, shared laughter and tears. They would always be found with each other, never apart.

It all came crashing down a few years later.

"You're leaving?" ten-year-old Tori managed to gasp out, face frozen in shock.

"Yes…I'm moving to New York, my dad's new office is there," Jade had whispered, eyes brimming with tears. "I don't have a choice."

"But…" Tori whimpered, her best friend was leaving, could there be anything worse? "Will we ever see each other again…?" she whispered, holding her breath, afraid of the answer she knew Jade would give her.

"I don't know," she could hear Jade saying, but all she could focus on was the sound her own heart breaking and the tears streaming down her face.

She threw herself onto Jade, clutching her tight, trying to cherish the feel of being in her arms one last time, trying to imprint this moment in her memory. Jade held her just as tightly, letting her tears fall freely.

Soon it was time for Jade to leave. Tori tried her best to give her a smile.

"Bye Jade, I love you," she whispered as the car sped away, taking a part of her with it.

Though they did try, Tori and Jade lost contact along the way. So it was a total surprise for her to see sixteen-year-old Jade standing in front of her, glaring at her and yelling at her to step away from her boyfriend. Out of all the scenarios that Tori had dreamt, out of all her fantasies of seeing Jade again, this was not what she had expected.

She stood frozen, gaping in shock at the Jade in front of her. She looked totally different, carefree smile gone, replaced with a scowl that seemed to be permanently etched on her face. Her clothes were different, her personality was completely different. Tori could hardly listen to what she was saying, still awestruck by the new Jade in front of her.

Why was she acting like this? Tori wondered. Didn't she recognise her? Why was she pretending they didn't know each other?

Tori tried her best to talk to Jade but the other girl either ignored her like the plague or tried to make her life a living hell.

After a few weeks of receiving this treatment, Tori decided she'd had enough. After class, she dragged Jade by her wrist to the janitor's closet.

"What the hell-" Jade started to complain.

"I've had enough of this. Ever since I started here, you've been nothing but a gank to me. You've tried your best to humiliate and belittle me-"

"Yeah whatever-"

"No," Tori growled. "You listen to me. After everything we shared, after everything we were, you pretend to not remember me at all. Is the past a mere figment of my imagination? Was it all just an illusion? Was it all just a joke to you? All I'm asking for is an explanation. Give me a reason, please. What did I do wrong? I thought I was your friend. You swore we were friends…" Tori's voice got caught in her throat.

Jade could not bear to see the anger and hurt swirling in those brown irises. The same eyes that never failed to brighten her life once upon a time. But she'd changed now.

"That's precisely the reason," Jade sighed. Tori blinked in surprise as Jade carried on.

"I've changed Tori. New York changed me, being away from you changed me, my mom's death changed me. I'm not the same person I was before. I'm not your Jade anymore. I'm the scattered remains of what I was, the broken pieces of a once-beautiful image that can never be put back together," Jade mumbled, eyes downcast.

And Tori understood. Everything became clear now. Jade had been afraid that Tori would find her all changed and hate her for it. That Tori would hate the new Jade before her. And in typical Jade fashion, she chose to push Tori away before Tori got too close again. Chose to hurt her so Tori won't be able to hurt her beforehand. It was twisted logic, but Tori knew Jade.

"Jade," she said softly, grasping Jade's hands, making Jade look into her eyes to see the sincerity in her words. "No matter what happens, you'll always be my friend. We made a pinky swear remember? Yes, you might've changed, but so have I. People change and that's okay. Broken pieces can always be put together. We might not get the same image back, but who's to say we won't end up creating an equally beautiful, if not better, masterpiece?"

"No matter what has happened, you're still Jade. Sure, you might not be the Jade I knew, but you're still Jade. And I love Jade. Now come on, let's get reacquainted," Tori said, holding out her hand for Jade.

Jade stared at it for a moment and took it, clutched it like it was the life jacket saving her from drowning as the storms of life raged around her.

The next time it happens, Tori becomes acutely aware of how the emotions behind it have changed. It was just a normal day at Hollywood Arts (however normal it can get there), the gang were hanging at the Asphalt Café. Sikowitz had just given them another crazy project to work on, which has entailed a conversation on his various idiosyncrasies.

"I'm telling you, the man never wears shoes," Robbie commented.

"And he never comes in through the door like a normal person. Don't know what the chiz his problem is with the door," André added.

As the conversation raged on around her, Tori merely glanced at her friends, the group of misfits she absolutely adored.

"What's up with the giant smile on your face, Vega? You look like a thousand puppies are dancing in front of you, it's making me sick," Jade snapped.

"Aww, puppies," Cat cooed.

"Seriously Tori, what's got you so happy?" Beck inquired.

"No reason. I'm just appreciating fate. If Trina hadn't got her tongue all swollen, I never would have come here and met you amazing people. I'm so grateful to be here, with you all," Tori gave a smile to the whole gang, "Thank you for accepting me as your friend," she continued softly, eyes focussed on Jade.

"Oh hello people, my name is Tori Vega and I'm a sickeningly happy goody two-shoes. Accept me as your friend and I'll forever be grateful," Jade mocked, in her Sweet Sally Peaches voice. But Tori could see the hint of a smile that Jade tried so hard to conceal. She could see the brilliant blue-green eyes soften, could hear the warmth in her voice. Her heart fluttered at the girl in front of her.

It was then she realised something that was right in front of her. I love Jade West. Trying to get over this stomach-turning realisation she merely shouted,"For the last time, I do not talk like that!"

Tori would always remember the first time Jade said those three words to her. Tori and Jade were involved in one of their worst fights, each screaming at each other over the loud rain that was pouring on Jade's car.

"Why the hell did you do that Jade?" Tori shouted furiously.

"You don't tell me what to do Vega. That asshole deserved it."

"No he did not. We were on a date and you barged in and threatened him to leave me alone. What the heck caused you to do that?"

"That guy was using you for his grade. Come on, are you really that dense?"

"That's just it, right? Everyone wants me just to use me. God forbid someone actually gives a damn about me."

"Tori, you know I didn't mean that. I just-"

"No Jade, you're right. That is exactly how it is," Tori yelled. "But you have no right to say what I can or cannot do."

"You're right, but I refuse to stand by and watch some idiot use you for his grade and toss you aside after it's done. You have too big a heart, Tori, and I refuse to let that guy break it. He doesn't appreciate you, Tori. He doesn't appreciate the way your body unconsciously moves to the rhythm of the song you're singing. He doesn't appreciate the way you grin stupidly at all those cheesy lines in those stupid romcoms you love to watch, the way you always try to help others, no matter who they are, the way your eyes sparkle whenever you laugh, the way you light up the whole room just by walking into it. He doesn't appreciate all these little things that make you the most annoyingly perfect person, Vega. You deserve much better."

"Jade…," Tori breathed out, unable to comprehend everything that Jade just said.

"I love you, Tori Vega. I wish I could give you everything you deserve, because you deserve the world. I know you don't feel the same about me, I know I was stupid to say all this and ruin our friendship, but I couldn't help it. So lets just forget about this and move on, please?" Jade exhaled.

"You are stupid you know?" Tori said, trying to reign in a smile that threatened to split her face apart.

"What?" Jade asked, her eyebrows raised in confusion.

"You are stupid for assuming I don't feel the same way," Tori let out her mega watt smile. "Because I love you Jade West."

Jade's only response to that was smashing her lips against Tori's

There were countless other 'I love you's that they exchanged from then on. There was the casual 'I love you' before ending the phone call, the breathy 'I love you' after a kiss, the sorry-filled 'I love you' after a fight, the 'I love you' full of emotion at major life events like when they got married. And Tori loved each and every one of them.