AN: Blargh. I don't feel like writing a really long author's note. All I'm gonna say is keep your eye on this story. It will be multi-chapter and there will be important information at the very very end of this one.
Tori woke up to Beck's lips on her forehead. "Morning, sunshine." Her boyfriend greeted as Tori groaned and rolled over.
"What time is it?" She murmured, not wanting to leave Beck's comfy, warm bed.
"7:30." Beck answered. Tori sighed and rolled out of bed. "But we should leave in like 15 if we want enough time to grab breakfast." She nodded and began getting ready. What she loved about staying the night at Beck's was that since Beck lived in an RV they could just get up and they'd be at school, no transportation necessary.
After breakfast they strolled into school with a few minutes to spare. Right as they walked in Tori heard applause from around the corner. She and Beck looked at each other and checked out the commotion.
Around the corner, a guy and his girlfriend were hugging. Confetti sprinkled the floor and there was a giant sign with the word "PROM?" written in bold colorful letters over the lockers. A dramatic prom invite. And so it begins. Tori and Beck smirked at each other. Since this was Hollywood Arts – a school for the most dramatic of students – the way a guy asks a girl to prom is usually expected to be a large event. Not just large as in in front of a crowd – even the invitation Tori and Beck just saw would be considered a fairly small or casual ask – around here, it's pretty customary to see some extravagant musical number, or skywriting, or a song written specifically for someone, or anything of the like.
They spotted their friends and met in their usual spot. "So, prom," Tori started, gesturing the remains from the dramatic scene.
"Prom is so overrated," Jade remarked, rolling her eyes casually.
"You think so?" Andre asked, an arm wrapped around Jade's waist.
"I LOVE PROM!" Cat squealed, jumping up and down.
"Yeah, prom is fun!" Tori agreed. "Picking out the dresses, getting asked, all the dancing, the fun music, the performances…" Actually, Tori was pretty excited about the performance aspect of prom. At HA, prom is also another opportunity for musical performances by many of the students. And guess who just happened to be chosen as a featured performer this year? This girl!
"Ugh, enough. Prom is the only thing anyone talks about all week before it starts. I'll just be glad when it's over." Jade grimaced at the confetti being swept off the floor.
"Oh, come on, there is no way you can hate prom!" Tori gave Jade a look of disbelief.
"It's true. Jade hasn't been to one prom in her entire life." Beck answered, knowing from his past relationship with Jade. Tori shook off the discomfort that came when she was reminded that Beck and Jade used to be in a serious relationship.
"So you're just not going, then?" She pushed Jade further.
Jade sighed casually, examining her fingernails. "Meh, I dunno. I guess we'll see." Tori repressed a giggle at the look of confusion on Andre's face. Now he probably has no idea whether or not he should ask Jade. If he picks the wrong choice, Jade could be angry at him for weeks.
The bell rang as their cue to get to first period. Tori kissed Beck goodbye and headed for homeroom.
Let's just say from that point on the stress levels were beyond high.
Apparently, today was the day everyone was supposed to write out their "High School and Beyond Plan", basically a summation of everything they were going to do after high school, from colleges to careers down to how many kids they were going to have…okay, maybe not that specific, but it was definitely getting close to that point.
And the teacher just walked around all the desks, crushing students' dreams as she went.
"That won't pay enough for you to make a living…there's no way you'll find a college that has that as a department…Oh, honey, I don't think so…"
To make matters worse, Tori had no idea what she was doing after high school. She had a few colleges picked out and everything, but career-wise, she was completely lost. When her teacher asked Tori what she might like to do as a job, Tori mentioned her dream to go to Hollywood to be a famous singer, and she could tell the teacher was just barely suppressing a condescending laugh.
"Tori, that is an…honorable dream, but honestly, do you realize how many people just like you try to make it in Hollywood? It's near impossible to get even an internship there, let alone a singing career. I'm sorry, I just think maybe you're shooting too far with that one."
Aaaand dreams are now smashed into millions of tiny pieces.
"Have you considered a career in accounting? You're great with math," She gave Tori a slightly sympathetic look and moved on.
Tori slumped over onto her desk. Great. Well, what now? There was nothing else Tori wanted to do with her life, performing was the only thing that was important to her, career-wise.
How was she supposed to have a plan? She was only seventeen! She didn't have her entire life figured out now. Were expectations getting unreasonably high or was Tori just behind in major life decisions?
All this she discussed with Beck after school that day.
"I mean, do you know what you're going to do with your life right now?"
Tori could tell by Beck's expression that he did, in fact. She sighed. "What's your plan?"
Beck reluctantly explained how he already applied to a bunch of schools and had more than enough safety schools, and how he'd already had his majors figured out (major in acting, minor in film making), had a couple employment options, a fallback career, he even has a plan for renting out an apartment in a couple years! Of course. Typical Beck, always being the perfect one.
"Hey, don't feel bad, though," he tried to reassure, rubbing Tori's back. "There are so many kids who have no idea what they're doing with their lives, and you're like, miles ahead of them. You have something you're passionate about, that's huge."
"Yeah, but apparently, my passion is crap because I'm not good enough."
"Okay, first of all, screw that teacher for telling you what you can and cannot do with your life. Second, you're Tori Vega. You realize you're the best singer at this school, right? And this isn't just some public school, this is Hollywood Arts. To be in a school designed specifically for performers and still be the best one out of the hundreds, that's a huge deal. Honestly, Tori, you've got nothing to worry about."
Tori smiled appreciatively and snuggled into her boyfriend. She loved Beck, but he was just so good at seeing the good in everyone that it was sort of hard for him to be realistically cynical sometimes. "That's really sweet, but you're just saying that because you're my boyfriend. But it's okay, I'm not looking for reassurance, really, I'm just venting my freakoutness."
"Would you say that you're gonna 'Freak the Freak Out'?" He joked, raising an eyebrow at his pun. Tori rolled her eyes at Beck.
"You are so cheesy," She teased.
"That's why you love me." He said back, pecking his girlfriend on the cheek. "So, what kind of movie should we watch tonight? 80s? Horror? Romantic Comedy? Disney?"
"You don't think Disney would derail your masculinity?"
"Are you kidding? I love Disney!" His voice squeaked/cracked halfway through this statement, causing him to turn red. Tori kissed his cheek.
"That was the most adorable thing I've ever heard."
"…So Little Mermaid, then?"
"Only if we sing along to every song."
"Duh," Beck replied. This was perfect. Having someone like Beck to have popcorn fights with followed by cuddling, Disney movies, and singing. Tori couldn't have asked for anything better. It was like anything about her life that was stressing her out just melted away simply by being with him. She held his hand tightly as they began belting out "Part of Your World". Absolutely perfect.
Beck's palms were sweating like crazy. No matter how much he tried to reassure himself, it was no use. This was Prom – the one event other than a wedding that girls look forward to nearly all their lives. Of course the dramatic Prom invitation has to be perfect.
I hope I don't get expelled for this… he thought as he put up the last of the hallway adornments. He hadn't exactly gotten the permission from any authority in the school to completely transform the hallways…he also may have not gotten permission to cut class for this whole fancy invite. Beck hoped he could count on his music theory teacher's laziness and that she would mark him present without questioning it.
After checking in with the band Beck made sure Andre, Cat, and Robbie were prepared to help him with his ingenious plan.
"You ready, man?" Andre asked supportively.
Beck nodded anxiously. "Yeah, let's do this."
Beck waited outside the door while Andre went in to Tori's class with some lame excuse about her needing to go to the office.
"Okay, Andre, what is this really abou—"
The second Tori was outside the door, Robbie and Andre pushed her into a wheelie chair that Cat was pushing. Cat turned Tori around to face Beck, who was dressed in a nice gray suit.
All of this in about a single second as Beck nodded to the band behind him. On cue, the strings started up along with the piano and guitars as the opening chords to "Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners began.
"Come o-on, Tori! Come o-on Tori!"
Beck began to sing, replacing every "Eileen" with Tori. Luckily the names rhymed close enough so the lyrics still worked.
Beck danced suave-ishly down the hallway as Cat and Robbie and Andre pushed Tori in her chair, also singing backup.
The hallways were completely decked out – lavish ribbons and sashes striped every row of lockers, silver stars hung from the ceiling, there was a magenta carpet covered in rose petals over which the entire number was taking place.
"Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye!
And we can sing just like our fathers!" Beck sang while luring Tori all over the school, through decorated hallway after hallway…all the way to the main hall.
At this point other classes heard the music and now a crowd was forming to witness the musical invitation.
When Beck and his entourage finally made it to the main hall, he was up to the bridge of the song.
"Come on Tori, too-rye-aye
Come on Tori, too-rye-aye
Now you're full grown
Now you have shown
Oh, Tori"
Now it was not only Beck and his backup singers, but other students from the crowd who knew the song joined in, also replacing the "Eileen's" with Tori's.
There was a huge stage in the middle of the space with a mike stand on it. Beck hopped onto the stage and continued singing to Tori.
The space was completely packed by now, and Tori just sat in her chair at the foot of the stage beaming up at Beck.
"Come on Tori!" he finished, striking a questioning pose. A bouquet of Ranunculus flowers and Gypsophila – beautiful pink, rose-like flowers complimented with baby's breath, in layman's terms. Beck knew Tori liked unique flowers that had a hidden meaning, and Ranunculus flowers signified radiance. An immense banner that read "Prom?" in calligraphy – handwritten, thank you very much – dropped from the top of the stage, and confetti in silver and gold star shapes burst out and sprinkled all over the floor.
The crowd broke out into thunderous applause but all Beck could see was the radiant smile on Tori Vega's face as she nodded enthusiastically and jumped up onto the stage. She wrapped her arms around her boyfriend and pulled him into a passionate kiss. Beck smiled underneath their kiss at the incredible success of his extravagant prom invitation.
Jade watched as Tori and Beck locked lips on a stage in front of the entire school. Gross. Just because Beck and Tori were the power couple of the school doesn't mean they get to parade around the school with excessive PDA. Not that Jade was jealous…of course not.
She really was getting over Beck, though. Yeah, there were always inklings of feelings whenever he smiled at her, but she had Andre now. And Andre was awesome. He was so sweet, and he was so nice to Jade while also putting her in her place once and a while.
But if Andre loved her so much…why hadn't she been asked to prom? Sometimes Jade felt that maybe it wasn't the lingering feelings for Beck as much as it was a want for the cute relationship stuff he had with Vega that she was hung up on.
She wanted that adorable, obnoxious crap, too! Just because she despised it, doesn't mean she wasn't worthy of it! Where was her outrageous prom invitation?
Tori Vega:
Just got the greatest and most wonderfully cheesy prom ask by the greatest boyfriend I've ever had. Yes, BeckOliver, a thousand times yes! (I really hope you read that in a dramatic southern accent).
Mood: Prom-y! \(^u^)/
Beck Oliver: ToriVega: I actually couldn't help but read that last part like it was the dramatic conclusion of a soap opera episode.
Beck Oliver: ToriVega: But southern belle works, too. OH, SCARLETT, I NEVER WISH TO BE PARTED FROM YOU AGAIN. *offers dramatically fancy e-rose* 0-
Tori Vega: BeckOliver: …this is why I love you. Also, I noticed the Gone With the Wind reference ;D
"Okay, how about this one?" Tori asked, twirling around in a long white dress dotted with silver rhinestones.
"I dunno…you look sorta like a bride if you wear white." Cat answered from her upside-down position on the nearby chair. Tori, Cat and Jade were shopping for prom dresses at…Discount World. They actually had really cute dresses, okay? Tori went back into the changing room to put on another one of the many dresses she'd picked out.
"So you think you're gonna get that one, Cat?" Jade gestured to the snowy pink, knee-length dress draped over Cat's chair.
"I think so, I like it! It makes me feel like a princess!" Cat giggled, drawing a mustache on her finger. And so it begins.
Everyone had a date to prom. Beck asked Tori in that super-obnoxious not-even-a-little-but-cute way, Robbie asked Cat a couple days ago by playing "their song" over the loudspeakers and taking over the morning announcements, and Jade…was still completely dateless. How could this happen?! She was appealing! At least, Jade thought she was. Enough was enough. She got out her phone.
Jade (2:04 pm): so everyone has a date to prom now.
Andre (2:06 pm): Yeah, it sure looks that way.
Jade (2:06 pm): like everyone does. even sinjin is taking that one northridge chick.
Andre (2:07 pm): …Jade, are you trying to tell me something? I keep telling you, don't hint at it, just tell me what's wrong.
Jade (2:10 pm): u seriously havnt figured it out yet.
Andre (2:11 pm): Okay, let me rephrase: What did I do wrong?
Jade (2:11 pm): Are you seriously never going to ask me to prom?
Andre (2:13 pm): I thought you said you didn't want to go?
Jade (2:20 pm): You are unbelievable.
Andre sighed as he dialed Beck's number.
"Hey, man…I need your help."
"Let me guess…" Beck started.
"Jade." Both boys said at the same time.
After approximately an eternity of discussing what form of prom invitation would end in Jade not running Andre over with her car, Andre was ready to face his (frankly, usually) angry girlfriend tomorrow.
Jade (1:16 am): Yes.
Andre (1:20 am): But…I haven't even asked you yet.
Jade (1:20 am): Yes.
Andre (1:21 am): So you're saying you don't want me to walk into school tomorrow and perform a romantic song that I wrote just for you, Jade West, in front of the entire school?
Jade (1:22 am): Yes.
Andre (1:23 am): So…just to be clear, this is you. Accepting my unofficial prom invitation. And now you are not going to be upset if I don't propose to you in any dramatic way. I need you to be very specific right now, as I am incredibly exhausted and want to make sure I'm not dreaming this.
Jade (1:25 am): I thought I wanted a big fancy prom invitation, but then I realized that really all I want is you. I just wanna have a good time with my boyfriend at a fun dance okay.
Andre (1:26 am): Well alright then.
AN: And so ends part one of Prom Wrecker! I decided to make a two-parter, because reasons. I wanted to develop Jade and Andre's relationship a little more before I wrapped up the series. I can totally see Jade texting Andre like she doesn't care, trying to play it cool, by using all lowercase and bad grammar/spelling and stuff, but then when she's really vulnerable or honest, she texts really proper.
So this part was more about all the girls getting asked to prom, plus a little establishment for the next couple episodes about how the characters need to start planning their future and stuff. Funfunfun.
Part two will have everyone actually at prom and what goes down. Plus, after prom…and you guys know what happens after prom… (don't worry no M rating, only heavy implying and whatnot).