burn the bridges

TORI: With seconds, Tori’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of red at Caleb’s compliment. Admittedly, she missed hearing things like that from him. He was typically so quiet and kept to himself, not really showing much emotion, but when it came to her, he always said what was on his mind. He made her feel special and truly important to him and his life. That was why she showed no hesitation in silently reaching for his hand, her pinky linking with his and tugging ever so slightly until their palms clasped together. With a small smile on her lips, she stole a glance in his direction, as if checking to make sure what she had done was okay.

TORI: Her instant reaction was to laugh at his comment. She could picture it - him getting annoyed because a girl was too prissy or too demanding. That wasn't his type. Tori knew she always had been. Even if it was difficult at first, back when she was a shy little wallflower and didn't think he was capable of liking her, she eventually realized that they were right together. She believed it then, and she still believed it now. Things had just changed for them and forced them apart. But maybe they gave up too soon? Chewing on her lower lip, Tori stole a glance up at him in an attempt to make out the expression on his face. "And... what am I like?"

TORI: She swallowed thickly, wanting to come up with a lie to make herself feel better. He had been dating around, why didn’t she? Because she was still in love with him - that was the real answer. Marcus was fun and sweet but it was never going to be like Tori and Caleb. “Not too much,” she admitted, pressing her lips together. “I couldn’t fairly date another guy when I wasn’t over you yet.”

TORI: His words registered in her brain and stuck there, wondering what made him add that piece of information on. It wasn’t exactly what she wanted to hear, especially now that she was willing to try again with him. “Yeah, it’s good that you’re getting back out there,” she explained, coming up with a response on the fly.

TORI: Her eyes flickered to his hands that had disappeared beyond the depths of his pockets and then back at him. She’d forced the conversation towards a different tone, mainly out of unresolved jealousy and a bed of insecurities. It was unintentional and completely subconscious, but it revealed a whole lot about how hurt she’d been by him. “That’s good,” she commented, allowing herself to pull down the wall she’d put up just a tiny bit. Tori was relieved to hear he wasn’t seeing anyone seriously, so why not let him in on that?

TORI: “Very solid,” Tori agreed with a strong nod, crossing her arms over her chest. It was easy to feel like things were back to normal when they had their back and forth banter like this, but there was still so much left for them to figure out. She didn’t want to forget that. “Speaking of dating... have you been?”

TORI: Her eyes softened as he turned to look at her, the smile wide across his face in the way she’d only ever seen him smile at her before. “Oh, you mean... yourself?” Tori asked, leaning her body towards his. “Last I checked, you’re the only guy on my dating history.”

TORI: She raised an eyebrow as his list came to fruition, specifically curious as to the last item: really cute boys. Was he referring to himself? Tilting her head to the side, Tori clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and then continued on. “Right, can’t forget the really cute boys. I mean, I’ve yet to see any in this city, but...” Tori teased, a smirk of her own shining back at him.

TORI: /I know they were always on our list./ Tori couldn’t help but analyze the way he phrased that. Our list. It meant something different, as opposed to saying that the band was on his list. It was something they shared - music, that is - and he was making a point that they still shared it, even after all of this time. It was the one thing that could bring them back to one another again and again. “Yeah, I’m glad we got to see them together, too.”

She left the store and began rounding the corner, only partially paying attention to where she walked as she was much more focused on the tall, handsome man to the left of her. “Only for the weekend, but I think I’ll be back in a few weeks. Tasha and I were thinking of having a weekend together and there’s no place better than Chicago for that.”

CALEB: Fighting the urge to take her hand, Caleb slipped his own into his jean pockets and began to walk with her on the sidewalk; smiling as she shared his sentiment. Raising his eyebrows at the mention of her returning in a few weeks, Caleb found a new spring to his step - almost as if that meant she was coming back to see him specifically.

TORI: Her cheeks flushed at his comment and her smile grew tenfold. Caleb was clearly looking forward to getting together with her again and she was relieved to hear that she wasn’t the only one wanting to give their relationship another go. At least, she assumed that’s how he felt, until he continued that he was starving. That seemed to be the real reason why he had been ready all night. Smile faltering, Tori gave a curt nod of her head in acknowledgement.

“About the show?” She asked, gesturing to the empty stage behind her that was once full of energy. “They were amazing. I couldn’t stand still for even once second,” she laughed. “You?” Tori asked, beginning to walk towards the door.

CALEB: Making his way to walk beside her, Caleb followed Tori's lead to the door and shoved his hands down his pockets to avoid the urge that kept on nagging him to reach out and take her hand.

"They always put on an awesome show. We've come a long way from just listening to them on shift, Sanders," he smirked, nudging into her gently. "I'm glad we got to see 'em though, I know they were always on our list."

Reaching out to grab the door, he held it open for the girl and followed her through it.

TORI: Hours had passed, concertgoers cleared out of the store, and all that was left to show for it was the confetti sprawled across the old hardwood floors and the partially torn ad posters hanging on the walls. Otherwise, the store looked identical to during the day, and Tori’s eyes took in every single inch of it. She had no problem reminiscing, remembering every album she heard for the first time in the store, every time her and Caleb kissed in that store, every time she had a dance party during her shift with Celia. The memories were endless. And right at the center of them all was Caleb.

She found him shortly after, bent down behind the counter, and walked over to him. All the while she was wondering what pizza place they’d go to, whether he would remember her usual order (extra cannolis with dessert), and if he even remembered offering in the first place.

“Hey, you ready?” She called out, leaning across the counter so she could see him.

CALEB: The concert was a hit and any other night, Caleb would have been totally focused on the Flaming Lips. Only tonight Tori was here and after the show they were hanging out, so all he really wanted was for the show to be over and for everyone to get the hell out of there so that they could get to the hanging out part.

When that finally came and Caleb heard her voice, he stood tall once again with a bright smile.

"Been ready all night," Caleb nodded, moving from around the counter. "I'm /starving./" He thought it was best to add that to make him seem somewhat less pathetic.

TORI: He didn't sound overall excited, but that was likely because Caleb was trying to play cool, too. They both knew how things ended last time - why things ended - but it could be different the second time around. Tori was that much closer to finishing school, and it wasn't /that/ hard to spend weekends going back and forth at one another's place if they felt like the relationship was worth it. That's what they'd have to decide, though - was it?

"Definitely pizza," Tori nodded. "I have a feeling I'm going to be working up an appetite with a lot of dancing once the band gets started."

CALEB: She was just the same girl she'd always been and Caleb was definitely thankful for that. One thing he'd always loved about her was just how comfortable she was in her own skin. She was never trying to be something or somebody else.

TORI: "Uh-huh," Tori commented, not convinced by his attempt at persuading her that his feelings for Marcus weren't tainted with possessiveness. It was only natural for him to feel that way, considering she felt the exact same about Jade when she discovered they had been sleeping together. But that was all in the past now, it seemed, and the two of them were finally able to admit how they really felt to one another. He missed her, too. God, that felt good to hear.

"So, maybe... I don't know, do you want to hang out when you finish your shift?" She offered, figuring it was a good place to start for them rather than just jump straight into being together again.

CALEB: He thought for a moment at her question, of course his immediate thought was to answer with a big fat yes, but then he took into consideration how much it would suck when she was no longer in the city and how maybe old problems would arise.

TORI: A long, dramatic roll of her eyes came at Caleb's reaction. "You were jealous," she pointed out, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm sure if you didn't feel like he was hitting on me every chance he got, you two could have gotten along." It was true that sometimes jealousy got between two people who otherwise may have gotten along just fine. She was guilty of it a few times herself.

"But if we're being honest... it make me happy to hear that it makes you happy," Tori admitted, looking up at him as a more sincere expression took over her features. "I missed you, Caleb." It was a more vulnerable moment than she intended to have with him that evening, but it felt right to admit it, and Tori thought it was important to listen to her guts at all times.

CALEB: "I wasn't /jealous/," he huffed out, reaching a hand up to run through his messy hair. "He was just...annoying. And always hitting on you." Which wasn't a lie whatsoever; that guy was always hitting on her.

Putting all that aside as Tori gave him a little something in return, Caleb bit down on his bottom lip to try and stop his grin from taking over his face but it was no use.

TORI: An eyebrow quirked at his comment. Did that mean they weren't sleeping together anymore? Luckily, Tori didn't have to wonder for too long, as Caleb quickly responded to her thoughts, explaining that, no, he didn't really hang out with Jade anymore. An overwhelming smile stretched across her lips and she didn't even try to stop it. Although he may not be sleeping with Jade, it was possible he was sleeping with /someone./ Still, Tori was going to be positive about this.

She laughed at his question and shook her head, reaching up to brush a strand of hair away from her collarbone. "Marcus and I are strictly friends. He's seeing someone, actually. Has been for a while," she told him.

CALEB: Tori almost seemed as though she was about to burst into song and dance over his revelation about Jade. Secretly, he was happy to see she was so happy about it - there was obviously feelings there between them, even after so much time had passed.

A similar sensation took over Caleb as Tori confirmed that there was nothing going on with Marcus either. During their time together, Caleb always knew Marcus had a thing for Tori and it pissed him off to no end.

TORI: Her cheeks brightened at his direct comment regarding her presence. “The Flaming Lips, right, that’s why I’m here.” She wasn’t the least bit convincing, but she would attempt to hide behind the facade regardless. He already made her feel like a fool at the party; she didn’t want to relive that feeling again today, so she’d keep herself believing the lie as long as she could.

“I guess Jade wasn’t all that interested?” It would have been smarter to leave the other woman out of conversation, but lately it felt like she didn’t know what else to talk about with him. All she really wanted to know was whether he was dedicated to someone else now. “Her loss, though. From what I remember, you’re a great concert buddy.”

CALEB: A mischievous grin threatened to take over his face as Tori's reply let him know she wasn't just here for the band tonight but he tried his best to keep it at bay.

"I don't really know what Jade's interested in these days," he admitted with a shrug. "We don't really talk...or see each other. Strictly band business these days."

Glancing around to make sure she wasn't there with a date herself - and a very specific date at that - he returned his focus back to Tori.

TORI: Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him. Tall, dark, handsome, and sporting the same smirk that always made her legs tremble and her knees weak. She would give him anything because of that damn smirk, sexy as ever. It was clear he wouldn’t be coming over to her, and she was tempted to see how long he’d last if she didn’t give in and go to him first, but Tori never was that strong.

As soon as the girl parted ways, Tori drew in a deep breath and passed through the crowd, making her way to where Caleb stood, seemingly waiting for her. “Hi,” she said simply, forcing herself to ignore the impulse to hug him and plant a kiss on his cheek. “Looks like you drew in a pretty big crowd for this show, huh?”

CALEB: There was a small voice inside of his head saying that Tori would completely ignore him and pretend like he didn't exist. Maybe she was here for the music and solely the music. After all, their last interaction hadn't been the best - she'd been visibly hurt when he'd told her about what had happened with Jade. Maybe she was done.

Thankfully, he felt a breath of relief leave his body as she made her way over to him and as soon as she good up close, Caleb felt his heart pound in his chest. She was as beautiful as ever.