Hey, Upper East Siders, Gossip Girl here, and I have the biggest news ever. One of my many sources, melanie91, sends us this. Spotted at Grand Central Station, bags in hand, Tori Vega, was it only a year ago our "it" girl mysteriously disappeared for quote "boarding school?" And just as suddenly, she's back. Don't believe me? See for yourselves. Lucky for us, melanie91 sent proof. Thanks for the photo Mel.
Andre Pov:
My sister Cat was telling me all about the new shoes she got on sale as we tried to find our dad Porter in the midst of New Yorkers in Grand Central Station. Honestly I wasn't paying any attention to what she was saying. I mean I love the girl, but I am a guy, and guys don't care about shoes, or sales, or shoes on sale.
"Andre! Cat! Over here!" my dad called breaking me out of my reverie. Oh good, we finally found him, if I had to listen to Cat talk about her shoes for another second, I was going to explode.
"Hey dad," Cat greeted, oh so now she stops talking about shoes.
"Hey Cat, Andre" says my father giving Cat and I each a hug. "Welcome back, how was your weekend? How was your mom?" questions dad. I should probably mention that my dad and my mom don't live together anymore.
Cat and I just awkwardly answer his questions with "fine" and "she's good". It's awkward having to answer question about mom to dad, especially when I know dad still loves her even though she doesn't love him anymore.
"Like maybe I should've never left Manhattan fine, or taking time out of my marriage was the best idea I've ever had?" my dad comments bitterly. And this is why I don't like having these discussions. It's just so awkward having to not tell my dad that mom's seeing another man in order to not completely crush his fragile heart.
"You know what? I am starving," I say attempting to break the uncomfortable silence we've fallen into since Cat is no help and is just staring at the ground probably hoping to be anywhere but here.
Thank god my dad takes my lead as he says "Let's go home, I'll cook a salad with a little dressing at the side." As he slings an arm around my sister's shoulder and leads us away.
That's when I saw her. Tori Vega. I was stunned; all I could do was stare at her. I'll be the first to admit it. I've always had an enormous crush on her. She was like an angel to me, her wavy brown hair falling in perfect waves framing her face. I hadn't seen her in so long. She'd left to go to boarding school for an unknown reason months ago. Nobody, not even the elite Upper East Siders which included her best friend Jade West knew. And now she was back.
Spotted: Lonely Boy can't believe the love of his life has returned, if only she knew who he was.
Everyone knows Tori's back, and everyone is talking about it. I wonder what Jade West thinks. Sure, they're bffs, but I always thought Jade's boyfriend Robbie had a thing for Tori.
Jade Pov:
"Jade!" my mother called while beckoning me over to talk to another one of her business partners. Usually I didn't mind conversing with them as if I made a good impression it would help me later on in life, but I had just found out Tori was back, and through Gossip Girl no less. Tori, Tori Vega, the former Queen at Constance Billiard and my former best friend. When she left all those months ago, I felt a mix of emotions, but at the top of that list was betrayal. How could she leave me? She was my best friend, we were each others other half, and she just left me without a goodbye or an explanation. Now she dared to come back, and without informing me of it? The nerve of her.
Robbie Pov:
"So Robbie, started thinking about college?" asked one of my dad's colleagues. The good old college talk. As if I actually had a choice. My dad went to Dartmouth, and so I am going to Dartmouth. It hadn't been finalized, but here in the Upper East Side, money can buy you anything, and my family was filthy rich. Now my father was going to tell them how he was a Dartmouth man, and I would have to agree to it, but not today, today was going to be different.
"I'm a Dartmouth man," my dad informed him while eyeing me.
"Yes, dad's always spoken very highly of Dartmouth, but I'd like to check out West, maybe USC," I stammered out, not wanting to meet my father's gaze and see he disapproving look.
"His mother wouldn't hear of it, Dartmouth is far enough away for her," spoke my father, cutting me off. Of course, blame my mom, when in reality she actually listened to me when I talked to her about it whereas my father immediately shut me down with harsh words and a disapproving glare.
I guess I wouldn't win this one, at least not today, as I said "Well Dartmouth is my first choice," with a fake smile.
"Excuse me Captain, Robbie, can I borrow you," asked Jade as she appeared next to me saving me from further questioning. Jade was my girlfriend, but that was strictly to please our parents. We didn't really have romantic feelings for each other, but that didn't mean that she wasn't incredibly hot or that I minded the make-out sessions we had on occasion.
I excused myself as I followed Jade to wherever she was leading me.
"Robert, can I interest you in some fresh air?" offered my best friend Beck Oliver
from the couch he was sitting on with some whores who just liked him for his looks. Beck slept with them to feel as if he is loved because his mother died when he was very young and his father was a cold and intimidating man who was all business and didn't have the time for Beck.
"Uh, yeah sure, when I get back," I replied.
"If he gets back," commented Jade with a smirk from beside me. Jade doesn't really like Beck because he is and I quote "a fluffy-haired Beck-whore".
I chuckled a bit while Beck gave me a knowing look before I followed Jade into her room.
"I want to do this, it, now," said Jade bluntly before pouncing on me. We'd never actually had sex before. We were close to it, but we were always interrupted, and I wasn't complaining, but I wanted to make sure she was ready for it, as she was still one of my best friends.
"Now?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied without missing a beat. Well, if she wasn't hesitating she must be ok with it. She started unbuttoning my shirt while I attacked the zipper on her dress while cupping her face in my free hand and shoving my tongue down her throat hungrily.
Better hurry up J, clock's ticking.
Beck Pov:
"You'll never believe what's on Gossip Girl, someone saw Tori at Grand Central Station," one of the girls beside me (I could never remember their names, not that I tried) informed me. Tori's back? Well this could get interesting. Only I knew the real reason behind her stint at boarding school. Maybe with her back, Jade and Robbie would break up, and I could have Jade all to myself. Yes, Beckett James Oliver is in love with Jadelyn August West, I have been ever since she gave me the name Beck instead of the horrible Beckett and kissed me on the cheek in Pre-K, that was before her and Robbie's parents thought it was such a good idea to make their children date as they "look so cute together." The fact that she and I could never be was part of the reason I whored myself around all of the Upper East Side. Well her, and my dead mother and ever-absent father.
"Good, things were getting a little…dull around here," I had to keep up my act as I commented emotionlessly while sipping my glass of champagne.
Tori Pov:
I thanked my driver as I got out of my limo and made my way up to the building where my best friend Jade's penthouse was located. At least I still hoped she was my best friend, I had left her without so much as a second glance after the mistake, and left for boarding school. All I could hope for was that I at least had a chance for at her forgiveness. God knows Jade doesn't just forgive and forget.
As I entered Jade's penthouse, I immediately began looking for Jade through the hordes of people. I could hear them all whispering about me, but I didn't care at the moment.
"Tori Vega, is that you?" I heard a voice from behind me question. I turned around to greet Jade's mom with a fake smile plastered on my face.
Jade Pov:
"Jade! It's Tori!" my mother shouted.
"Tori?" Robbie questioned as we stopped our…activities. Oh that's right, I originally wanted to tell him about Tori being back before I saw the smirk on that Beck-whore's face. "Your mom says she's here, don't you want to go say hey?"
"Um, yeah sure," I responded uncertainly as I put my dress back on. I mean yeah sure I missed her like hell, but she still betrayed me.
Tori Pov:
After Jade's mom promised to go get Jade for me, I figured I might as well find my mom, I haven't seen her in ages. Plus, I needed to ask her about my brother.
"Mom, hey," I greeted my mother with a genuine smile.
"Oh Tori darling, I missed you," my mom said as she pulled me into a hug.
"So, where is he? Did they let him out yet?" I asked.
"Let's not discuss that right now, ok?" she replied. Oh well, I guess this wasn't such a good place to discuss this anyways. "I thought might have wanted to see some of your friends."
Just then Robbie saw me from across the hall. Robbie. Part of the reason I had left. Jade appeared then too, when she saw me, she put on her best fake smile and pulled me into a hug. My resolve shattered a little. I guess getting her forgiveness wouldn't be that easy.
"Come eat dinner with us, I'll set a place for you at the table next to Jade," said her mother.
"Actually I have somewhere to go," I informed them.
"You're leaving?" Jade said, any hint of her smile gone as she gave me a cold glare.
"I just, I'm not feeling well, and I just wanted to come by to say hi, I'll see you at school?" I mumbled my excuses as I practically ran out of there. Jade wasn't going to forgive me, at least not today, might as well save my breath.
Jade Pov:
"School? So I guess she's back for good," I said aloud, leaning onto the wall with a sigh.
I didn't realize my minions were beside me until one of them said "Didn't you know she was coming?" As Queen of Constance, it was expected of me to know everything about everyone before anyone else. I quickly caught my slip as I answered "Of course I did, I just wanted it to be a surprise," with a smile as fake as their noses. They accepted my answer. Dimwits.
Word is that T bailed on J's party in under 90 seconds, and didn't even have one lemon square.
Has the bad girl really gone good? Or is it just part of the act.
Tori Pov
"Young lady you can't be here, visiting hours are over," the receptionist at the desk informed me.
"I'm family," was all I said before I darted past her and into the room of my brother, Danny. Who was sleeping while attached to all those wires and cables. The sight of him made tears spring to my eyes. The tears I didn't let fall until I came back.
Why'd she leave? Why'd she return? Send me all the deets. And who am I? That's one secret I'll never tell. The one and only, XOXO, Gossip Girl.
Tori Pov:
"Tori, Tori," I heard someone call as I was woken from my dream and into the harsh reality. I didn't realize the voice was Danny's until I opened my eyes. Even though my back was sore and my neck was bent in an unnatural shape from sleeping on the lumpy couch of his hospital room, the sight of him smiling brought a smile to my own face.
"Hey, how are you?" were the first words that tumbled out of my mouth as I hoisted myself upright and into his bed with him.
"You know, I've been better," he humbly replied.
"Danny, I know I've been a terrible sister, but I'm just so happy to see you," I pulled him into a hug as the tears threatened to spill over again.
"Must be a lot of rumors why you're back."
"Yeah," I shrugged, "but none of them mentioned you."
"Just like mum wants, huh."
"What do I want? Maybe for Tori to sleep in her own bed, possibly wearing pajamas," came the voice of my mother.
"Hey mom, I was just about to ask the doctor if I could take Danny to breakfast, want to come?" I asked innocently.
"Um no, I think what I'll do is go get a croissant from down the street."
Typical, she hid Danny so as to not ruin her perfect image. I stalked after her not hearing Danny's "Tori, don't."
"Let me guess, you told everyone Danny's just visiting Grandpa in Rhode Island," I told her with annoyance etched over my face.
"Actually, he's visiting your Aunt Harriet in Miami."
"So you're actually hiding him. He tried to take his own life and you're just worried it's going to cost you mom of the year?" I exclaimed my voice rising with each word.
"Tori, you've been gone, doing who knows what with god knows who."
"I told you boarding school was not like that." I couldn't believe she thought I was whoring my way around boarding school.
"Tori, as happy as I am to have you home, you have no idea what it's been like." And with that she stepped into the elevator, the doors closing behind her.
Andre Pov:
"Guess whose dad is cool?" asked my father as I came into the kitchen for breakfast.
"It's a trick question." Was my sisters' witty retort as she was placing cards in envelopes?
"Look at this," said my dad proudly as he showed me a magazine.
"Top ten forgotten bands of the nineties," I read out look while my father grinned like a maniac. I wonder why he's showing me this.
As if he read my mind, he said "Check out number nine." Oh, that's why, his band, Lincoln Park, was number nine on the list.
"He's very proud," Cat said, sarcasm oozing from every word.
I decided to take her lead as I told my dad "Hey, way to be forgotten." Shoving the magazine back in his chest.
"But that's how you get remembered," he defended.
"Maybe you'd care if dad's band was on Gossip Girl."
"What? I don't read Gossip Girl, that's for chicks." Of course I read Gossip Girl, everyone does, but she doesn't need to know that.
"Is that why your laptop was on Gossip Girl's page last night, and why you were reading all about Tori Vega?" Damn, she got me there.
"Rolling Stone, wow, let me take a look at this again dad." I said trying to change the subject. "Woah, looking hot, number nine."
"Hey what are you working on?" my dad asked Cat. Oh, I almost forgot about her weird putting cards in envelopes thing.
"They're for the Kiss on the Lips party, everyone's going."
"You were invited to that?" I asked with disbelief, poor kids who live in Brooklyn like us don't get invited to rich kid parties.
"Yes." Well then.
"Well no offense if I sound surprised, since I've never been invited."
"One of the girls from my art class saw my calligraphy, and she said that if I wrote all the invitations, I would get one." Now it makes sense.
"Sounds very fair."
"Dad, please don't make this a platform for another one of your rants."
"Yes it is."
"Besides, you make us go to private schools."
"That's for your education," my dad deadpanned.
"So we should just be anonymous losers who eat lunch alone and never get invited to parties," she deadpanned right back.
"Works for me," I said with a shrug.
"Mom thinks it's a good idea." Oh great, now she brought mom into this.
"Because her judgement is always sound, right?" my dad said bitterly as he took a sip of his coffee.
My sister sighed and I mentally told my dad to just let her go. My dad sighed too, but I think he agreed.
"Caterina, if you want to go to that party, you should go."
Cat's face immediately shone and she smiled and thanked him.
Tori Pov:
I was walking to the Palace Hotel where I had to stay as my penthouse was being renovated when I saw Robbie in front of the entrance. What was he doing here?
"Robbie?" I asked.
"Oh, hey. Your mom told me you guys were staying here at the Palace."
"Yeah, we're renovating again, you know my mom, if it's not broken, break it." We laughed awkwardly and fell into a sort of silence when I realized he probably wasn't going to say anything. "So what are you doing here?"
"I just wanted to see how you were; you seemed kind of upset last night." Of course I'm upset, my brother tried to take his own life and my best friend is treating me like a stranger.
"I got to get going and change for school; I'm going to be late."
"Tori." I knew what was going to happen next.
"No. No."
"But you're back now."
"I didn't come back for you," I watched his face fall, "look, Jade's my best friend, and you're her boyfriend, and she loves you. That's the way things are supposed to be." At that, I walked away, not caring if I just broke his heart.
Andre Pov:
No, no, no. I'm going to miss the bus and I'm going to be late. That's going to look great on my record. I swerved between the cabs and cars on the streets in the early morning rush trying to catch the bus. Thankfully I got there just in time.
"Tori looked effing hot last night," I heard Beck Oliver say to Robbie Shapiro, "there's something wrong with that level of perfection, it needs to be…violated."
"You are deeply disturbed," was Robbie's reply.
"And yet you know I'm right, you're telling me if you had the chance-"
"I have a girlfriend," Robbie reminded him. To which Beck's facial features fell for a fraction of a second at the mention of his girlfriend. Interesting I thought.
"You guys have been dating since kindergarten and you haven't even sealed the deal."
"Who says seal the deal?" I do, I thought bitterly.
"Come on," he said as the bus neared St. Jude's private school.
"Are you following us or something?" Beck asked. It offended me, but I didn't show it. It wasn't the first time someone had asked me this anyways.
"No, I go to your school," I informed him, "identical uniforms? Isn't that kind of a tip-off?"
To that, he just shook his head and laughed while following Robbie out of the bus.
Cat Pov:
"Oh cute," Jade said to me when I showed her the invitations I spent hours on. "Not bad work, here's yours." Jade handed me my invite and I grinned victoriously.
"Thanks," I said, trying not to sound like a giddy schoolgirl.
Just then, Tori Vega showed up with frozen yogurt in her hand and greeted Jade with a "Hey." This could get interesting I thought. "Here you guys are, I looked all over the dining hall for you." Jade's face showed discomfort as she found the ground very entertaining all of a sudden. "Oh hey, I'm Tori." Tori said to me as she stuck out her hand. Was the Tori Vega talking me, lowly servant Caterina Harris- Valentine? I just stood gaping at her outstretched hand for a second before I composed myself and shook it.
"I know," I said as I mentally face-palmed, "I mean, I'm Caterina, but you can call me Cat." Tori just smiled before turning back to face Jade.
"So, when's the party?" she asked. Oh no, Jade didn't invite her, though I made her an invitation anyways, this could get ugly.
"Saturday. And you're kinda not invited. Since until twelve hours ago, everyone thought you were still at boarding school. Now we're full, and Cat used up all the invites." Oh if that was just the problem, I could tell her I made one for her anyways.
"Um, actually-" I started to say.
"You can go now." I took that as my cue to leave, but curiosity got the better of me and I stayed just within hearing distance.
"Sorry." Jade said when she thought I was gone.
"No, its okay, I've got a lot of stuff to do anyway." Tori replied as she dropped the invitation on the ground for Katie, one of Jade's minions, to pick up.
"Well, we should get going then, unless you want us to wait for you. Looks like you've got a lot of yogurt left."
"No, go ahead," Tori said as both she and Jade smirked at each other.
I thought it was over when Jade stood to leave with her minions trailing after her when Tori asked, "Jade, do you think we could meet tonight?"
"I'd love to, but I'm doing something with Robbie."
"The Palace, eight o'clock? Robbie can wait."
"I could probably do a half hour."
"Thanks for making the time."
"You're my best friend."
Spotted on the steps of the Met, a J and T power struggle. Did T think she could waltz home and things would be just like they were? Did J think she would go down without a fight? Or can these two hotties work it out? There's nothing Gossip Girl likes more than a good catfight, and this could be a classic.
Andre Pov:
"Uh you know dad there's this thing called Facebook, where you could post all this information online." I was stuck helping my dad hang up posters advertising his bands' concert around town. Why he couldn't just post the details online baffled me. "Save some trees, you know."
"Maybe if musicians got off their Facebook profiles and actually picked up their guitars, the music business would be in better shape." That was a valid point. Music today sucked, what was with all those electronic and bubblegum pop songs people pass for "good music" these days.
"Spoken like a true relic."
"Thanks son." Wasn't exactly a compliment dad.
My phone beeped signaling a new text message. It was from my sister. Figures, no one ever called or texted me besides my mom, my dad, my sister, or my best friend Sherry. "Help. Emergency. 712 5th Avenue." It read. Oh my god my sister's in trouble. What happened? I told my dad and ran over there as fast as I could.
Tori Pov:
"I talked to the nurse and I'm kidnapping you," I informed Danny as I stepped into his hospital room and tossed him some actual clothes.
"What? We're not shopping are we?"
"We're going to Bendalls. Just for an hour though, I swear. I had a really bad day."
"Really? Cause I had a great day. Couple of pills, couple of tests, and they gave me this green jell-o to eat afterwards."
"Ooh, why didn't you save me any?" I asked him, my voice full of sarcasm. "Come on, let's go, we gotta get you out of here before mom comes."
Andre Pov:
I became significantly less worried when I realized the address Cat gave me was for the department store Bendalls. Nevertheless, I entered the store and began to look for Cat. I found her trying on dresses on the fourth floor.
"Cat," I asked, "what is it? What's wrong?"
"Do you like this on me?" She wondered gesturing to the bright pink monstrosity she was currently wearing. Did she seriously make me run all the way over here from Brooklyn to ask me if she looked good?
"Wait. Wait a second, is that why you needed me? You said this was an emergency!"
"A fashion emergency," she said in the kind of voice that was like: "duh, you should know this." "Come on I've never been to a big dance."
"Neither have I." Why would she think that I would know anything about what anyone wears to those things, I don't exactly get invited to them.
"Yeah, but mom's gone, and dad's allergic to department stores."
"Well you look good lil' red." Lil' red was my nickname for her, since she dyed her hair red to match her favorite snack, the red velvet cupcake, I swear, she's addicted to those. "You do, really."
"Thanks. I mean this costs more than our rent, but I think I can sew something like it." "Oh my gosh, it's Tori Vega." "Hi Tori!" she said as Tori and her brother Danny rounded the corner. All I could think about was how Tori looked stunning and how running from Brooklyn to Bendalls was actually somehow worth it.
"Hey," greeted Tori. Since when did Tori Vega know who my sister is? "Cat, right? This is my brother-"
"Also known as Tori's personal shopper, Danny." Danny introduced himself while sticking out a hand for my sister to take. I took that time to hide behind one of the clothing racks.
"Hi, this is my brother…" Cat started before realizing I had hid and promptly turned back around.
"Is that your dress for the Kiss on the Lips party?" Tori inquired.
"Sort of. Speaking of that, here," Cat thrusted a manila envelope into Tori's palm. "I made this for you, but if anyone asks where you got it, I don't know anything."
"Thanks." Tori replied before taking the envelope and leaving.
"Andre?" Cat asked as she neared my poor hiding spot.
"Cat!" Tori said, "That dress would look even better in black."
"Black. Cool. Thanks."
Robbie Pov:
"This is some good stuff," Beck informed me referring to his cigarette.
"Yeah, I'm gonna need it, Jade's mom's at the country house."
"Yeah? Well maybe I should swipe some of my dad's Viagra. Robert, you're finally going to have sex with your girlfriend. The way your acting, it's like you're heading to your execution," Beck said with a hint of resentment in his tone. I'll have to ask him about that later.
"No man, I'm good."
"Talk to Beck buddy, you and Jade have been dating since Kindergarten, all of a sudden there's a problem?" He sounded a bit happier now, maybe it was nothing.
"No. No problem, it's just, do you think our whole lives have been planned out for us? And we're just gonna, end up like our parents?"
"Man, that's a dark thought."
"Don't you want to be able to choose? To be happy?"
"Look Socrates, what we're entitled to is a trust fund, maybe a house in the Hamptons, a prescription drug problem, happiness does not seem to be on the menu, so smoke a joint, and seal the deal with Jade because you're also entitled to that ass."
Tori Pov:
"So, how's your mom doing, with the divorce and everything?" I asked Jade. We were sitting at the bar of the Palace, drinking martinis like we used to. She told me about how her mom's getting a divorce and how I wasn't there for it. Great, at this rate, I'm never going to get my best friend back.
"Great. So my dad left her for another man, she lost fifteen pounds, got an eyelift, it's never been better."
"I'm really sorry."
"Yeah, I could tell, since you didn't write or call the entire time it was happening."
"No, I know, it was just, boarding school, its-"
"I don't even know why you went to boarding school to begin with; do you know how it felt calling your house when you didn't show up at school and having your mom say to me: Tori didn't tell you, that she moved, to Connecticut?"
"I just, I had to go, I needed to get away from everything," I said trying to explain myself to her. Not that I was going to be the one to tell her why I left. "Please, just trust me."
"How can I trust you when I feel as if I don't even know you?"
"Let's fix that. I saw you at school with Katie and Isabella, and I get it, I don't want to take any of that away from you, I just-"
"Because it's just yours to take if you wanted."
"No, that's not what I mean. I. I miss you. I just want things to go back to the way they used to be. You know, walking to school together, dancing on tables at Nozu, night swimming at your mom's country house? You're like my sister, we're family, we need each other."
"Well, you missed some classic Elizabeth West meltdowns; if it wasn't such a tragedy it would've been funny." At these words, I knew that she had forgiven me, and I smiled a first genuine happy smile in days. "Actually it kinda still was." We burst out in happy laughter together, Jade always made the best jokes.
"Well I wish I could've been there."
"You are now," a smiling Jade said, "I have to meet Robbie, kinda have something special planned," as she hopped off the bar stool.
"Well I wouldn't want to keep you, but um." As I pulled her into a hug and told her "I love you J."
We pulled apart and she met my gaze as she said "I love you T." This time, I think she meant it.
Spotted at the Palace Hotel, J and T having a heart to heart, hmmm, why so thirsty T? You may have won over J for now, but we still think you're hiding something.
Cat Pov:
"Hey," my brother, who was leaning against the doorframe while I worked on my dress said.
"The invisible man returns, you know I really had no idea you could move that fast." I was referring to his stint at Bendalls. I mean hiding behind the clothing racks, really?
"Well I think the emergency was solved, so my work was done."
"Come on 'Dre, Tori said hi to you at a ninth grade birthday party, and you've never forgotten it."
Scoffing, he replied, "How could I? She was the only person who spoke to me, but I'm pretty sure she thought I was someone else."
"You know she's actually nice, and if she did know you, I think she'd really like you," I told the figure lying on the couch next to me.
"I don't know, I think she'd be a tad overwhelmed by the glitz and the glamour of the Harris-Valentine lifestyle."
"Well I heard she's living at the Palace Hotel."
"My point exactly."
"Probably sitting all alone at the bar, sipping martinis, by herself," I tried hinting to my clueless brother, "you know it's actually kinda sad, oh and, dads at the gallery working late, he left money for dinner so."
For once in his life, Andre Harris-Valentine got the hint when he said, "You know what? I'm gonna go, out." Promptly leaving his comfortable perch on the couch to go search for his brunette beauty.
After Cat watched his figure depart, she mumbled to herself, "Good, cause I already ordered and only got enough for one."
Beck Pov:
Beckett James Oliver walked into the Palace Hotel bar looking for someone by the name of Tori Vega. He knew why she had left, and decided to guilt her into telling Jade, since he had a sinking feeling that Robert wouldn't have the guts to tell her himself, considering what they were about to do tonight. Of which Beckett couldn't let happen, for obvious reasons. He spotted said brunette downing apple martinis like there was no tomorrow.
"I love this town," I said while I sat down on the chair next to Tori, "I'm going to have to tell my father the hotel he just bought is serving alcohol to minors."
Tori just gave him a glare and deadpanned, "And if they serve you a drink, they would also be serving pigs."
"Ooh, what a burn," I shook my head and half-smiled at her.
She took another sip of her martini as she replied, "I've missed your witty banter."
"Let's catch up, have a couple drinks, let loose."
"I just want a bite to eat, I've been drinking on an empty stomach," she informed me.
"I thought you didn't do that anymore."
"It's a special occasion."
"Well, how about a grilled cheese with truffle oil, you do love truffles."
"Enough to know it's not on the menu."
"Good thing I know the cook."
She downed the rest of her drink and begrudgingly followed me into the kitchen. "Only because I'm hungry," she said.
"Of course."
Jade Pov:
I don't really love Robbie, but I figured since I'm probably going to spend the rest of my life with him anyway, I wanted to have sex with him. And because it's my first time, I would have to make it special.
After I mended my friendship with Tori, I came back here to my penthouse and promptly turned my room into a kind of sex haven. I lit about a hundred black rose scented candles; as I love the color black and red roses remind me of blood, placed handcuffs, blindfolds, a whip (just in case, you never know), condoms, champagne, and two glasses on the table beside my bed. When there were only ten minutes until when he was supposed to show up, I changed into the sexy black lingerie I had bought with Katie and Isabella the week before. I touched up my makeup and fluffed my hair before positioning myself on my four-poster queen sized bed and waited.
Just a few minutes later, Robbie showed up and just stood there and gaped at me for a couple seconds, "Wow," was all he said.
"Is it too much?" I asked nervously, suddenly finding the bedspread to be quite interesting. I had a sudden burst of courage when I brushed past his ear and spoke in a low sultry voice I didn't know I had possessed, "I just wanted it to be special." He shivered next to me. Maybe that bottle of champagne I had drank in between lighting candles and changing was a bad idea. I cupped his face in my hands and started to kiss him when he pushed me away. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"Look, I don't know how to say this, even if it is the right thing to do, but there's something I need to tell you."
Beck Pov:
"I need you to make me two grilled cheese sandwiches with truffle oil," I told the head chef of the Palace Hotel Bar as I slipped a hundred dollar bill into his hands, "now have a good night."
I carried the sandwiches back to Tori as I watched her devour it greedily.
"Oh my god, this is so good."
"Well if you're looking for a way to thank me, I've got a couple ideas."
"It's a sandwich Beck," she choked out between bites.
"You worried Robbie will find out?" I asked her, this would be the only way I could make her admit it to me. This, and coupled with the fact that she's drunk off her ass.
"What?" she asked me.
"Last year, the Shepard wedding, you think I don't know why you left town?" I said innocently.
-A half-Latina with wavy brown hair falling framing her face and a puffy light purple dress billowing around her as she twirls around with a bottle of red wine in her hands stands on a bar counter. "Hurry up," a male with curly black hair wearing a suit tells her as he sits beneath her on one of the bar stools "we're not supposed to be here," he says while grabbing her calf in a feeble attempt to drag her off the counter. Feeble, as they're both drunk off their asses and wouldn't be able to tell black from white. "Oh if the happy couple didn't want us to be here, they wouldn't have thrown their wedding at a place where there was a bar," the giggling girl replied. The male, being the slightly less drunk of the two, reached for the bottle of wine, attempting to tear it out of the female's hands as she protested, "No, Robbie. Stop." "Come here," he said, "let me see it." "No, stop," she continues to protest, but she doesn't mean it as she giggling the whole time. The bottle opens with a pop, and the bubbly liquid inside spills all over the girl's pretty purple dress, and the boy's crisp, white dress shirt. But they don't care, as they continue to laugh even harder. Somehow, through that, the girl ends up in the boy's lap and their lips connect-
Jade Pov:
"But, that was it, right?" I choked out, trying to stop the liquid pooling at my eyes from spilling over. My boyfriend had cheated on me with my best friend. I couldn't let him see me cry after that revelation. "You guys kissed?" It sounded more like I was convincing myself rather than him. He didn't say anything, but I knew what that meant. My boyfriend had sex with my best friend and they didn't have the decency to tell me for months. I blinked away the tears, no Jade; he doesn't deserve to see you cry.
-The male's tongue was shoved down the female's throat as they began tearing at each other's clothes in a frenzy. Teeth clashing, skin on skin, neither realized what they were doing until it was too late and it had been done. All while the boy with the fluffy hair watched with a knowing smile from the balcony above.-
Beck Pov:
"Best friend and the boyfriend," I say to Tori, who was looking quite ashamed of herself, "that's pretty classy T. I think you're more like me, than you want to admit."
"No, that was then, I'm trying to change," she tried to defend herself. I guess she couldn't take it anymore as she shoved past me and ran.
Jade Pov:
"I always knew it," I told Robbie, "I always knew there was something between you and Tori. Get out." I pushed him out the door and collapsed on my bed. The tears spilling out like there was no tomorrow. I picked up the bottle of champagne on my beside table, opened it, and drank from the bottle, throwing myself a pity party on my bed.
Tori Pov:
I can't believe he knew. All this time, he knew. I had to get out of there. I had to go home. I was walking out of the bar when I bumped into someone, a somewhat handsome guy with dreads, who was vaguely familiar. My bag fell down and of course all the contents of it just had to spill out. I hastily picked up my things and got the hell out of there.
Andre Pov:
I was now in possession of Tori Vega's cell phone. She had dropped her bag and left her iPhone on the ground. What do I do? I'll just return it! Brilliant idea Andre, I'll just return it later.
And just when J and T had built a bridge, it all had to come crashing down. Dry your eyes, the Kiss on the Lips party is just around the corner, and you know who loves parties? Gossip Girl.
Beck Pov:
"It's getting hot in here, so take off-"my iPhone blared. I checked the caller ID, blocked number, it read, I answered it anyway, and am I glad I did.
"Beck," the person on the other line said.
I stared at the phone in utter disbelief for a few seconds before asking, "Jade?" I didn't even know she had my number; the girl hated me, well as far as I knew. Why would she ever call me?
Jade burst into tears on the other line. "Jade, are you crying?" Jade crying was almost as rare as her calling me willingly.
"Come over, please," she choked out between sobs. Ok this was getting really freaky, am I dreaming? I pinched myself to see if I was awake or not. It hurt. Nope, definitely awake.
"Jade, I'm coming over, okay?" I told her as I informed my driver, Sinjin, to turn the limo around, towards the West residence.
Jade Pov:
I don't know why I called him. I don't know why I did anything I did last night. Maybe it was the 3 bottles of champagne I'd consumed last night after I found out that Robbie had slept with Tori. Or maybe it was just the fact that I had virtually no one else. I couldn't call Robbie or Tori for obvious reasons. I wasn't about to spill my life story to my maid, Daniella, my mother was at her country house, my father was with some other man who knows where, and my minions were just that, minions.
I couldn't remember all of the events of last night, but I was certain of one thing. I had had sex with Beckett James Oliver, and I had liked it.
Robbie Pov:
"Nice run son," my dad said. We were out on our weekly morning jog.
"Maybe next time," I told him.
"Well you seem upbeat this morning, were you at Jade's last night?"
"Actually, we got into a pretty big fight."
"If you want my advice, apologize. Even if it was her fault, flowers, maybe some jewelry is she's really upset. Always works for your mom."
"I don't know. I think it might be for the best." I told him. Honestly, I don't want to get back with Jade and I don't think she wants to get back together with me.
My father stared at me for a second, "Wait a minute, you guys broke up?"
"Yeah, I guess we did."
"Jade, is a great girl."
"I know, I'm just not sure if she's the girl for me," I said honestly.
"You guys have been dating since Kindergarten."
"So I keep hearing."
"But you love her, don't you?"
Do I love Jade? "Yes! I do, but I just think it might be good for us to take a break, you know?"
"Maybe not right now, Elizabeth West is gearing up to take her company public, and I've been cornering her for months to let me handle the deal."
"Well then you should take it," I said to him, I didn't really see the connection between this and me and Jade.
"I will get it, if you just help me out a little bit."
Now I get it, he's using the relationship he's forced me into to make business deals, and he doesn't see any flaw in it whatsoever.
"What?" he says, "You love her, she loves you, it's just a rough patch, that's all. You don't give up just because things are hard. Not in business, or if your family is depending on you."
There it is, the whole "your family is depending on you" crap. More like the "do as I say or I will not call you my son" crap that got me into this whole mess.
Andre Pov:
"How do you know its Miss. Vega's if you didn't read it? And if you're not a guest in the hotel what were you doing here?" the receptionist asked me. Is this guy serious? I thought, I had already explained to him at least ten times that she dropped it and that I was here meeting a friend.
"What?" I said, "Uh look, when Prince Charming found Cinderella's slipper, they didn't accuse him of having a foot fetish."
"And you're Prince Charming?" he asked. "Look there's Miss. Vega now. Tori! Do you know this young man?" he inquired pointing to me.
"She doesn't know me," I told the receptionist, "no one knows me. It's cool, it's fine."
In the meantime she had walked over to the desk and said, "From last night right? I'm sorry about that." Tori Vega was talking to me, Tori Vega remembered me. It was a dream come true.
I blinked a couple times before I stammered out, "You remember me?" To which she nodded. "She remembers me," I informed the receptionist in utter disbelief.
"He claims he found your cell phone," he told Tori as he glared at me.
Tori took one look and sighed in relief, "Oh thank god, you found it." As she turned around she saw her mom and greeted her with a "Hey mom."
"Oh Tori," her mother cooed, "guess what I got for you, a dress for Kiss on the Lips, I saw the invitation on the nightstand."
"Oh I'm not going to that." Tori's not going? I thought everyone was going.
"What? What do you mean you're not going? Jade's throwing it," her mother said.
"Um, see the problem is, um, by the time I got the invitation I, um, actually already had plans?"
"Plans with whom?" her mom deadpanned.
She stuck her thumb at in my direction as she said, "My friend," and flashed me a pleading look.
I turned around to face the infamous Holly Vega as I stammered out a "Yeah, hi, nice to meet you Mrs. Vega. I'm Andre, Harris-Valentine."
She gave me the once-over before turning back to Tori and asking, "What are you and Andre Harris-Valentine doing?"
"We, uh…" she turned to me again.
"We're going to a concert," I informed her as I realized I had one of my dad's concert flyers in hand and showed it to her.
Her mom seemed transfixed as she questioned, "Lincoln Park?"
"Yeah, Rolling Stone named them one of the top ten forgotten bands of the nineties."
"Woo!" exclaimed Tori with as much enthusiasm as she could manage, "I'm a huge fan," she confessed to her mom.
"Mmhmm," I agreed.
"Well this party would've been the perfect opportunity for you to announce your return, but I guess I'll just keep the dress for myself," Holly Vega said before leaving. Thank god she bought it.
"Thank you," said Tori.
"Yeah, it's not a problem really," I told her.
I turned to leave before she startled me with a, "So pick me up at eight?" I hadn't thought she was serious when we were fooling her mom.
"You really want to go out with some guy you don't know?" I asked her.
"Well you can't be worse than the guys I do know." She turned around, her wavy brown hair blowing out behind her as she walked away.
Jade Pov:
"Thanks for meeting me," Robbie said while I stabbed at my sushi with my chopsticks. We were at Nozu, my favorite sushi restaurant. "Look Jade, I really hurt you." Understatement of the year I thought. "I know that, and I want to fix it."
"Really?" I asked him, "And how are you going to do that?"
"I'm going to put everything in the past. I'm not going to see Tori again, or even talk to her." As if that would fix anything. But I suppose I would have to "forgive" him anyways, since when I told my mother we broke up, she threw a fit, and told me how Robbie was such a good guy, who came from such a respectable family. Blah blah blah. "It'll be like she doesn't exist."
I swallowed my bitterness as I said, "I think that's a good idea. Let's not mention it again." I also didn't want him to find out I had slept with his best friend, but we were technically broken up, so he shouldn't care right? On that topic there was Beck. Beck, who made me feel a million different emotions when I woke up in his arms this morning. But I guess it wasn't meant to be. I sighed at the thought.
"That's it?" he questioned, not believing it to be that easy, "because you were pretty upset last night, I mean, should we talk about this?"
"There's nothing to talk about," I told him firmly, "I overreacted, if you say it's in the past, it's in the past." Thank god for my acting skills, or I would have never been able to have this conversation in the first place. "I'm sure you have no feelings for her anymore," as I spoke these words, I lifted my gaze up to his, challenging it. He didn't break so I continued, "I just feel bad for Tori, I mean she really missed you. What time's the limo coming?"
"Eight."
I looked over at the watch on my wrist, "I've got to run," were the last words I spoke before my departure, leaving him in his stunned stupor.
Porter Pov:
"Holly!" I exclaimed, "Are you looking for some art to match your furniture?"
To this she just replied, "Why is my daughter going to one of your concerts?"
I didn't know she was coming, "Cause we're awesome," I told her.
She turned on her heel to face me as she said, "With your son."
Andre's going to my concert with Tori Vega? Wow good for him. "Andre scored a date with Tori."
"Mmhmm," she said crossing her arms.
"Well our kids were bound to meet. It's a small island."
"Are you sure it's not some ploy you're using my daughter to get to me now that your marriage is in shambles?"
"How do you know about Abigail?" I questioned furrowing my eyebrows.
"Like you said, small island."
"Oh I get it," I said as I turned around, "you hear about Abigail and used your daughter as an excuse to start something," I turned back to face her.
She scoffed and replied, "Yeah, haha, in your dreams."
"But you are in my dreams Holly, and one particular one recurs, it's the one where I find you in the back with a nine inch nail bug, with your shoes and your earrings and your tranquilizer. Oh wait, that actually happened," I said innocently smiling at her.
She chuckled, "No need to re-hash details of decades past, so I moved on."
"Yeah, you switched up rock stars for billionaires."
"You think you're so cute, washed up band, crappy so-called art gallery."
"Well," I started, "not all of us have settlements from multiple divorces to sustain us."
"Just stay out of my life Porter," she requested before leaving, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor as she walked out of my life once again.
Cat Pov:
"You're going out with Tori, and I'm going to Kiss on the Lips," I told my brother as we checked ourselves over in the mirror in the foyer, "who said this family wasn't cool?"
"Hmmm, listen, I don't want to be late, but good luck lil' red," he said as he ruffled my hair and walked out the door.
"Oh my god, my daughter's a woman," came my dad's voice from behind me.
"Dad you could just tell me I look nice instead of making this a sermon on the passage of time."
Tori Pov:
"So, I'm a little undressed aren't I?" I asked Andre as we walked to his dad's concert. Honestly, he wasn't a bad guy; he was actually kind of cool.
"I don't really have a problem with your appearance," Andre said, "hey, come on, I want you to meet one of the guys in the band." He pointed to one of the guys setting up. Was that his dad? "Tori, I'd like you to meet Porter Harris, dad, meet Tori." Oh so it is his dad. I gave him a quick smile.
"Tori Vega," Andre's dad said as he stuck out his hand. Andre gave him a questioning look as to why he knew what my last name was. "Oh, hehe, I don't know how I knew that," he said awkwardly, "nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," I replied.
"You guys are early," he stated.
"Yeah I may have slightly over budgeted for travel time," Andre said. I just smiled awkwardly. His father excused himself and left when one of his band members came for him.
"So you took me to meet your dad on the first date?" I inquired.
"So this, this is a date," he said. Well of course it was a date. I just laughed. "Well I guess I should've worn my loafers then, I dressed down a little bit."
Cat Pov:
This party is awesome! I was talking to this really hot junior, Ryder, and I think he likes me. I squealed inwardly.
"Let's go and talk somewhere quietly," he said taking my hand and leading me somewhere. I followed along of course, thinking it was just talk. Boy was I wrong.
He grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses and I rescued my purse before letting him take me up a staircase. Where did it lead? Oh well, I guess I'd only know if I asked him. "Well this is definitely quieter, but do you actually know where we're going?"
Still holding my hand, he spun me around to face him. "Here looks pretty good." Staring into my eyes, he leaned towards me. Wait? Was he going to kiss me? He said he just wanted to talk!
"So, you said you wanted to talk," I told him as I laughed awkwardly and titled my head down. "Um, what did you want to talk about?" Oh I have a bad feeling about this.
He pinned me against the wall as he began kissing me. His lips didn't feel very good against mine, and his mouth tasted like alcohol. I guessed he sensed I wasn't very into it as he stopped and said, "I'm sorry, let's just start over."
Well great, if he could just lead me back to the party so I could go home, that would be nice. "We can start over at the party," I said smiling hoping he was buying it.
Guess not, I thought at his next words, "No, its nice here, have a glass of champagne, then we can talk." Now he was trying to get me drunk. I remembered I'd brought my purse with me. Yes! That means I have my cell phone! I fired a quick text to my brother as Ryder was preoccupied with pouring me champagne I had no intention of drinking.
Andre Pov
The date with Tori was awesome. I thought she was just another gorgeous rich socialite, but boy was I wrong. She was genuinely nice. So nice, unlike the rest of the Upper East Siders who wouldn't give me the time of day. I held open the door for her, because that's what my grandma taught me to do. "My sister was right," I started, "you are nice."
She sounded a tad offended as she replied with, "You asked me out on a date and you didn't think I was nice?" But her tone was teasing.
We started walking down the stairs, our hands brushing. "No, I just thought you were hot. And technically, you asked me out." Laughter came out of her mouth at my comment. I loved the sound of her laughter, it was so beautiful.
"Oh, I see, so sensitive, tortured, soul boy is actually superficial."
I was about to come back with a witty retort as my phone beeped with an incoming text message from Cat. "HELP. EMERGENCY. NEED YOU. C." Were the words that flashed on the screen of my Samsung. I didn't think much of it because she probably just broke a heel or something. Another text came "4 REAL PLEASE. U KNOW RYDER?"
"Who's that?" Tori asked.
"It's just my sister, she's at that Kiss on the Lips party, you know. She's having some problems with this guy Ryder," I told her, "I'm sorry I have to go."
"I'll go with you," she offered, seeming genuinely concerned.
"No, no, that's okay."
"Listen, if it's Ryder, it's not okay." Why would it be not okay if it was Ryder?
Andre Pov
We took a cab to the party. Luckily Tori knew where it is so she gave directions to the driver. When we arrived, I was stunned. I was never invited to parties, so I didn't know what one looked like. There were neon lights flashing in all directions, the music was blaring as loudly as it could from massive speakers, and teenagers were grinding against each other on the dance floor with odd colored drinks in their hands. "I'm going to do a lap okay? Look for her," I told Tori before dashing off to find my sister and this Ryder dude.
"Yeah, okay," she replied before craning her neck to look around the bodies of the kids on the dance floor.
Tori Pov
After Andre left me, I was increasingly aware of all the whispers.
"It's Tori."
"Oh my god."
"She's really here?"
"Is that her?"
"Everyone said she wasn't invited."
"Do you think Jade knows?"
"You'll never believe it."
Jade Pov
"Tori's here?" I heard my minions say in unison.
I couldn't believe it, how dare she show her face here! "What is she doing here? She wasn't invited!" I exclaimed pushing my way through all the drunken teens towards her in a fury.
I didn't realize Robbie was on my trail until he spun me around and asked, "Jade, come on, are you really going to kick her out?" Why would he care? He's not supposed to be speaking to her anymore! Did he invite her?
"Did you invite her?" I asked him.
"What! No, I told you."
"Do not talk to her," I commanded, throwing in a glare for good measure.
I glared at Tori for a good while, before stalking off, head held high, minions behind me. Hopefully, she got the message.
Cat Pov
"No, no!" I pleaded. Ryder had me pinned against a wall-like structure on the roof with my hands behind my back. I was desperately pleading with him to get off of me as he ignored my pleas and groped my breast through my dress while attacking me with kisses. This was not how I imagined my first high school party would be like. Hopefully Andre got my message and is coming to my rescue now.
"Hey! Jenny!" Andre shouted bursting through the door with Tori at his heels? Oh, that's right; he was on a date with her. I hope I didn't interrupt it, but if I did it was for a good cause.
"Ryder! Get off of her!" Ryder let me go at the sound of Tori's voice and I fell into my brother's protective arms. He passed me off to Tori who comforted me with soothing words.
"Son of a bitch!" Andre cursed as he pushed Ryder.
Ryder pushed him right back and said, "The hell is your problem? It's a party. Things happen. Who are you anyway?"
"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm in your class. My name is Andre Harris-Valentine, and that is my little sister!" Andre punched Ryder in the face. I didn't know he had it in him, I guess he really does care about me.
"Don't you ever touch her again!" Tori yelled angrily as we left the party.
Jade Pov
"She better not show her face again," I spoke aloud as I watched her get into a cab with Cat and some guy who looked like a loner.
"I'm actually hoping she does," Beck said from beside me. I glanced over my shoulder at him with a questioning look, but dismissed it as he took my hand in his and dragged me over to the dance floor. A warm tingly feeling spread through my body when he pulled me close to him as we swayed silently to a slow song.
Spotted: Tori making a heroic exit from J's party. Too bad for her there's school on Monday. So until next time. You know you love me, xoxo, Gossip Girl.