Where Paper Flowers Lead You
Hi, I know that I'm Always Right There is still in progress. Sorry.
But I remembered that I wrote this a few months ago. I looked it over, tweaked some things, and it might have a little potential. But I want your opinion. Read this if you can, and you don't have to be all "OMG loved it" or anything, but don't be all "I hate this so much. You have no shot as a fan fiction author." Constructive Criticism is fine though, as always.
So, Karen is my second OC in A fanfic, but my first OC in a Victorious fanfic. Hope you like her! Yes, she's kinda darkish... But just wait till the next chapter and it might be explained or something.
I guess she has a Jade-ish vibe (like the "don't care attitude"). But I'll try to develop her character better as this goes on (If you guys want it go on anyways)
Long Plot: (SPOILER... kinda anyways. lol)
Karen is diagnosed with depression, which is becoming harder and harder for her to deny. When she realizes she has a power that can let her travel just by thinking of it, she meets perky Cat Valentine, who isn't as perky as everyone thinks. Cat introduces her to Robbie Shapiro, who Karen automatically realizes is undeniably in love with Cat.
She asks him about it, and he admits that she's right. He winds up pouring himself open to her, and explains how much trouble Cat puts him through. Karen reluctantly admits that she has problems similar back home, but she can't tell them to Robbie.
He then says that she can trust him, and she begins crying, considering someone said that to her but didn't care about her anymore. Robbie gains empathy for the fourteen-year-old and promises he'll be there for her, since no one was ever there for him and he knows how it is.
A friendship sparks between the two, and also between Karen and Cat, as she begins to learn that Cat isn't exactly who everyone thinks she is, and that Robbie & Jade are the only other people that know.
With two new friends, can Karen succeed in escaping her depression? Or will she be forever stuck in her field of paper flowers?
And yes, the title is inspired by the song "Imaginary" by Evanescence- which I don't own.
I also OBVIOUSLY don't own Victorious.
If I did, then... well, I have no idea xD. DISASTER WOULD STRIKE! just kidding.
Karen's POV:
I look in my hand at the tiny pink capsule with the white and black bands around it.
How could I have forgotten to take it?! That's why I've been crying. I'm not myself.
But that's a lie. I am myself. More so now than anytime that wretched pill is in my system.
I hate this. Being diagnosed with "depression." So what? Who expects me to be a normal kid after having Regina as a sister? That's just asking for a mental case of a teenager.
She has brain cancer, and is physically 16, but acts like she is still 3. She has fits and everything.
The worse part? My parents totally don't understand my situation. They just think this can be all magically fixed with meds. Not the case. If anything, the medicine makes everything worse. It makes me feel abnormal and screwed up in the head.
I roll my eyes as I swallow the stupid pill, knowing I'll get another lecture if I don't take it.
They just don't understand. I'm more creative when I don't take my medicine. As weird as it is, my creativity sparks at night. I get anything- paper, PearPhone, laptop, and scribble down/type my ideas... And try to understand my messy writing/typing the next day.
They'll never understand. The only person I can open up to doesn't even give a shit about me now. Yeah I know, bad language- I don't care.
I hate talking about him. I can't even say his name without disgust in my thoughts.
He was acting like he was my best friend the past few years, when I was going through harder stuff with Regina than normal. But now when I need him the most, I'm air to him. Basically nonexistent. It hurts. Bad.
I can't even look him in the eye without hatred gleaming across my face.
So naturally, I seek for help from anyone else. But he IS my help. He's always been the one that I can tell everything to. But I can't now.
My first non-human-connected go-to is to listen to music.
As soon as I discovered Evanescence, I knew things were going to be different. The music was so, intriguing. And some of the songs describe what I go through in my head.
And then I heard the song "Imaginary." I call it "Paper Flowers" though.
Words can't describe how accurate that is about me. The whole reason I still watch cartoons, is to create a false world of innocence and carefree things that I can live in forever.
But like isn't like that. Life is cruel, heartless, and evil.
And I can't escape to that world anymore. Because every waking moment of my life, I breathe and see him. I can't get away. It's almost as if he knows what he's doing, and he's taunting me with his smirk.
I hate him. But a part of me won't let go of how I used to… like him. Possibly love, but I am still fourteen.
I close my journal and roll my eyes as I pop my ear-buds on. I log into my PearBook and search for the song Paper Flowers (Imaginary). The only thing that I can still hold onto in my world.
~~Victorious~~
Robbie's POV:
I'm sick of it.
They all know that I can feel their stares and hear their snarky jabs at me.
The worst part? They don't really care.
Of course I'm talking about the assholes at Hollywood Arts. Aside from my small group of friends, everyone hates me.
I should be used to it, but it hurts.
And the only person that even cares is Cat.
Which isn't a bad thing, considering that I really love her and all, it's just... She hurts me so much. Not intentionally of course. She's too sweet for that.
She just, dates so many guys, and expects me to comfort her every time. Then she goes to the next boyfriend. And the next. And the next.
It never changes.
I know no one else cares about me. But I still get self-conscious. Everyone knows I'm just a scrawny, nerdy seventeen-year-old. I keep a rubber band on my wrist to snap myself when I'm mad but don't have to courage to do something about it. I know, it's bad. But it's easier to hide than anything else would be.
I sigh as I literally drag myself out of bed. I look at the box that holds Rex. Since people always call me the freak with the puppet, I keep him at home now.
I splash cold water on my face, looking at my ugly appearance. I want to smash the mirror. But then I'll get "hurt" and mom will get all worried.
Not to mention Cat. She'd get all freaked out and give me a million pink Band-Aids. But that's just how she is. Sweet and innocent.
I'd rather her be innocent and sweet than a trashy bitch to be honest.
I just don't know how I'm gonna make it through today.
~~Victorious~~
Cat's POV:
Oh my God! How is it 7:30 already! I have to get ready, and fast.
I rush into my bathroom and don't waste anytime to shower. I just brush my red velvet hair and hope it's enough. I don't even have time to put it up!
Since it's warm outside, I get to wear a pretty pink mini-dress with white flowers all over it. But I don't wanna be "dirty" heehee- cause it doesn't even have straps- so I wear a white sweater.
I hastily slip into my white flats as I go into the bathroom to do a quick check-up. No time for make-up even- phooey- I have to just put my vanilla strawberry perfume and shiny lip balm on, but I have lip stuff in my bag, which I swing on my shoulder as I run down the stairs and race out the door.
I barely get through the double doors as the five-minute bell rings. I didn't run much, but I am tired, since my little legs can only carry me so fast.
"Cat! Where have you been? Class is starting in five minutes!" Tori immediately asks me before I can even catch my breath.
God, why does Tori have to be so freaking annoying sometimes?
"Tori I can't talk, I'm tired and-" I calmly start to explain.
"Hey Lil Red!" Andre appears next to Tori, and I inwardly roll my eyes.
Not you too...
I groan, but I meant it to be in my head.
Tori and Andre look at me in confusion.
Crap.
"Are you okay?" Tori asks me curiously.
"Yeah I'm fine. Just... Tired." I make my excuse as I go to class.
"Must be that time of the month." I hear Andre mutter.
Slap!
"Andre!" I hear Tori scold said musician. Must've been the cause of the slap noise.
I run into class, but then wonder why I was so worried. I forgot that Sikowitz is always late to class.
I see Robbie and my face immediately lightens up from my annoyance at Andre and Tori. "Hi Robbie!" I smile, wasting no time seating myself beside him.
He smiles at me. "Hey Kitty Cat!"
God he's so cute.
I sit in his lap and gently kiss his cheek. His face reddens but only slightly, like I only notice it. I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him tightly. As I feel his cheek get hot against mine, I get the feeling that people are staring at us. Robbie hates being stared at.
Oh well. Let them stare. I know they're staring at me. But I don't give a flipping fladoodle right now since they all pretty much hate me anyways.
They've made that clear by the insults they tell me everyday as they sneer.
As surprising as it would seem to them, I'm NOT stupid. Robbie says I'm far from it. He's too sweet... And too cute. But back to the point, heehee...
They call me everything in the book. Redheaded ditz. Basket case. Dumb bitch. They just love watching me suffer.
The worst is that my dad left us when I was seven, so my mom began drinking due to a mixture of my brother's problems and him leaving us for some brunette meanie. She is almost always wasted. And she yells at me in protest to every soothing thing I say to her. She even hits me! But I still tuck her in bed like she did for me until Daddy left. I call him Daddy still because I never got a chance to call him something different...
"Kitty?" Robbie snaps me out of my thoughts. As I come back to reality I realize that I'm bawling my eyes out into his chest, gripping his shirt like my life depends on it. "Are you alright?"
I sniffle. "I-I'm sorry. I zoned out and… A-and…"
I don't have to say another word. I've gotten like this before around him. He leans into my ear and soothingly whispers, "You thought about your Daddy?"
I nod, burying my head into the crook of his neck, falling asleep as he rubs my back in circles.
When I wake up I'm in the nurse's office. I immediately sit up, knowing that Robbie isn't here. And I start crying.
Ms. Mae- the nurse- rushes in the room. She's a pretty woman in her late twenties. Long light brown hair, and kind-hearted. I'm surprised she's not married. She treats every student at Hollywood Arts like her own children. Even Jade! We all have a soft spot for her. Well, Jade at least doesn't hate her. "Caterina, sweetie what's wrong?"
"W-where's Robbie?" I stumble my words as I look at her with pleading eyes.
Understanding spreads across her features.
Almost everyone knows how close Robbie is to me.
"Right in here. I told him to go back to class, but he refused."
I waste absolutely no time rushing through the door she gestures too. I find Robbie sitting in a chair in the nurse's office. I run over to him, hop into his lap, and hug his neck tightly as the tears begin to fall.
"Shh… It's okay Kitty." He rubs my back soothingly.
"What happened?"
"Well, after you fell asleep, Sikowitz came in through the window, and asked me to take you to the nurse after Jade had rudely explained that you 'had a nervous breakdown and fell asleep.'" He makes air-quotes.
I giggle. "That's Jadey for ya."
He smiles at me.
I snuggle into Robbie, overcome with a need for his touch and comforting words.
It seems like he understands when I settle into the crook of his neck.
"Robbie? Cat? I love you both like the children I never had but if any other faculty saw you now you'd be in trouble." Ms. Mae speaks as I immediately get up from my seat on Robbie's lap and look down at the floor as Robbie blushes.
"Ms. Mae, I wanna go home." I tell her.
"Well, I can arrange that. Let's see... Your home phone is-" she flips through her binder of student information.
"Wait!" I yell, and she looks at me. "I need to go to Robbie's house."
Ms. Mae opens her mouth to speak, but Robbie speaks first.
"Ms. Mae, she has problems with her mom. You know..." He does the one-shot alcohol gesture. "Remember?"
Ms. Mae nods. "Oh, right. Okay then, I'll call your mother Robbie."
"Wait!" I can't help but yell again. "I need Robbie to come with me."
"Cat..." She sighs exasperatedly. "I know you two are close, but Robbie has schoolwork too, and-"
"It's fine Ms. Mae. You can just ask Jade to bring our work to my house, right? And she's really upset now, and my mom isn't going to cut it. She needs a friend." Robbie interrupts her again, and I smile to myself.
Ms. Mae looks from me to Robbie, and knows she can't change either of our minds. "Okay. I will call your mother to let her know the circumstances." She picks up the phone and dials Robbie's home phone. Once she hangs up, she smiles at us as she hands us two green slips. "Alright, you're free to go. Feel better honey."
"I will." I nod. We give the slips to the office lady and leave as we silently walk down the hall.
"Thanks for taking care of me." I quietly thank Robbie as I take hold of his hand.
"No problem Kitty." Robbie answers as he squeezes my hand.
We reach his truck and he helps me in, hands placed securely on my waist. I shiver from his touch but pretend I'm just cold as I wrap my arms around myself.
Apparently I fall asleep on the ride, because I feel Robbie place his hand on my bare leg and gently kiss my cheek. "Wake up, Cat." He whispers in my ear.
I blink my eyes and turn my head to its side to face him. "Hi." I smile, kissing his nose and giggling at his reaction.
Then a mischievous glint flashes in his eyes.
Oh no. What is he gonna do?
He answers my question as he unbuckles me-, which makes me hesitate to breathe-, and wraps his arms around my waist as he lifts me out of the car. "I don't care if you're 'sick'- I'm still doing this." Robbie smirks at me as he runs up to the front door. I have to wrap my legs around him to make sure I don't fall out of his arms.
He removes one hand from my waist, unlocks the door, and swiftly opens it.
I giggle in protest as he comes in, still refusing to put me down. He starts chuckling, obviously enjoying this.
His mother hears us laughing. "Yeah sure, 'Cat's sick and needed Robbie to come.'" She calls out as I giggle more and Robbie walks up the stairs.
When we reach his room, it's open, so he just walks in and carefully places me on his bed and closes the door. He also locks it, but I pretend not to notice, knowing he's just embarrassed of his mother.
I quietly breathe in his scent, which the room is full of, and look up at him with a pretend angry face.
"Cat? You're not mad are you? I was just playing. I-"
My look changes to mischievous, as I grab him and pull him into his bed and tickle him mercilessly.
I giggle at his discomfort. "C-cat! Please… st-stop. C-can't. Breathe."
I stop, and lay down next to him. "Thanks for staying with me." I smile as I hug Robbie's side.
"No problem." He smiles back and puts an arm around my back.
We stay like that for what seems like a while, but is actually only thirty minutes. My arms start to get hot from my sweater, and my feet are feeling uncomfortable in my shoes. I sit up and take my sweater and flats off. "I was hot." I explain to a very confused Robbie.
I resume my place next to Robbie as I wrap my arms around his neck.
"Are you tired?" He asks me softly.
"Mmhmm." I murmur as my eyes begin shutting from half bliss, and half tiredness.
"Well just get comfy and rest okay?" He gently speaks.
"Kay-kay." I murmur, taking his words literally and practically am on top of him, but to his side.
I can tell he's nervous but okay with it as I feel his hands on my waist and soft lips on my forehead as I fall asleep.
~~Victorious~~
Robbie's POV:
Cat is so cute when she's asleep.
And no I'm not stalking her. That's something Sinjin would do.
She happens to be asleep, lying on top of me. Apparently when I tell her to get comfy and rest, "comfy" on her terms, means, "lying on top of Robbie".
It does tickle having her breath hit my face. I could totally kiss her if I wanted to.
But I could also totally ruin everything between us. Like I thought I did last time.
So I don't bother with that.
I just turn my focus on studying her. I can't help it! She's right here in front of me. I gently trace her jawline, and she shivers in her sleep as her hand moves to that spot, but... It touches my hand, and she sighs with a smile as she laces her fingers with mine.
Um, did I miss something?
Since when has Cat ever recognized my touch in her sleep?
Well, come to think of it I've never seen Cat asleep before. At least, not right in front of me. Literally.
I squeeze her waist gently, and lean my head back.
Then someone's eyes blink innocently open.
"Hi." She sounds raspy. She was out for two hours.
"Hey Kitty." I smile back as I whisper.
She feels my hand on her face and looks at our intertwined fingers curiously. "How did that happen?"
"Don't ask me; you're the one who did it in the first place." I tell her.
She blushes. "Sorry."
"It's fine. I thought it was cute." I smirk at her. Cat's face gets redder.
So, was it good? Bad? You wanna throw a pie at my face?
Let me know in the comments. I'm working on a second chapter incase anyone wants me to continues this. I mean, I'm also updating my first Victorious fanfic sometime later today, but it depends on what crappy homework and stuff school is making me do xD
I don't know about juggling three stories at once, but I'm gonna try.
Obviously, I'm Always Right There is my first priority. Then for second and third, idk. Whichever you guys favor.
If you read this, please leave a review! If you aren't like, a writer-ish person, then you may not know, but you get a really nice feeling when someone takes the time to review one of your stories, y'know?
Lol, anyways, hope you liked this (possibly-turning-into-an-actual) story!
Love you guys!