Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious.

Chapter 1

I'll pick up these broken pieces 'til I'm bleeding
If that'll make it right

He had kept an eye on her all night. Watching over her as she flirted with countless guys, more so as the guys flirted with her and she reveled in the attention. From the moment they've both arrived the guys have kept buying her drinks, so much that he has lost count of the amount of drinks that's touched her hands this evening. What annoyed him most was to watch her dance with those guys, as more than anything he wished he was the one dancing with her.

Though earlier she had tried to pull him off his chair to go dance with her but he denied her, he refused to do it. He didn't want to be pulled into her little game. She had a hunger for attention, something that he always gave her willingly but not tonight. Not while she enjoyed getting all the attention of those random guys.

When he denied her he noticed the change in her eyes, just visible for a few seconds before she put on her mask again. But he knew what he saw, he saw the real Tori Vega trying to break through.

"Your loss," she told him before walking away not sparing a look back. The moment she reached the dance floor, some dimwit was already pressing up against her and she greedily enjoyed the attention, grinding against the stranger.

From his spot in the VIP lounge area, he continued to study her movements. For about another hour after that he watched her dance with numerous guys, she never danced with one for more than two songs. That was her limit, she never gets attached. He liked that, a lot. She never leaves the club with any of those guys. He was the one who took her home, to their home.

"Alright," A voice from beside him says. He is the one to ignore side conversations so he pays no mind until he feels the light tap on his shoulder. "Why come to a club if you aren't going to dance?"

He glanced over to his right to look over at the blonde who made herself comfortable taking a seat next to him. Gorgeous, he thought as he gave her a once over.

For a second he glances back down to the dance floor, assuring that Tori was still there. "Taking a night to relax," he said looking back at the blonde once more.

She nodded, smiling. "You sure it doesn't have anything to do with the brunette you've been watching?"

He shook his head. "She's my best friend," he finished off the rest of the rum he had nursed for the past few minutes. "Just watching over her," he added.

She scooted over a bit, pressing their thighs together. "Why watch over her?" Her left hand resting on his thigh, her fingers drawing light patterns. "When you could be having fun with me." She was enticing, she was drawing him in and he knew if he played along he could get lucky this evening.

He could lie to her, he could lie to himself, they could go back to her place and have meaningless sex. A one night stand, no feelings involved, no heartache. Better yet they could have a quickie in the club's bathroom. He wouldn't have to pretend to be interested, they both would get off and they would just go their separate ways. She could be the release he needed but he knew better, he couldn't just be that person, not tonight.

"I'm sorry," he pushed her hand off his thigh. "I'm not interested."

She bit her lip, desire in her eyes. "The way you stared at me when I first sat down says otherwise," she placed her hand back on his knee, leaning forward.

He gulped, startled by her proximity. She smirked, noticing his reaction. "I'm Alana by the way," her lips hovered his, brushing her lips lightly over his.

"And I'm Tori," And just like that the spell the blonde had over him was broken. He sprang back, looking over to his left as Tori approached. "I'm ready to go. Now," The emphasis on the now and her aggravated look, he knew she meant it.

He nodded than looked back over to Alana. "It was nice meeting you Alana," he said as he began to take out his phone from his pocket. But before he could even get the words out and ask Alana for her number, Tori was pulling him up by his arm.

Tori gave Alana a once over, the disapproval clear on her face. "Yes, yes, it was probably a pleasure but we must be going now," Tori said before letting out an irritated sigh, placing her hand into his. She began to walk away, tugging him along not caring to allow Alana to respond back.

Although Alana was a beauty she was nothing compared to his Tori. He allowed himself to be pulled along as they walked towards the exit of the club. Once outside the cool New York City night air greeted them. He glanced at his watch, just a few minutes after two.

"You could have at least let me get her number," he muttered as they began their short walk home. They lived just ten minutes away from the club, walking home was tradition and sobered them up a bit.

"She wasn't your type," she said quickly, no hesitation.

He rolled his eyes at her response. "According to you, who's my type?"

"Brunette," she paused, smirking in his direction before continuing. "Brown eyes, gorgeous smile, beautiful melodic voice."

He didn't respond back, her words stung him just like she knew they would. She knew how to play, she knew she was describing herself. Just by the look in her eyes, he knew she had been jealous. She loved the attention he gave her, the undivided attention. So no one was to mess with that.

The rest of the way home they just walked in silence. He didn't once glance over at his best friend but he knew she walked confident. She was proud that she could silence him. She knew by his silence, that he was thinking about her and only her.

They both had dreamt of stardom and yet, it wasn't so easily obtained. Though they both wanted to focus on making music and getting discovered, their parents had forced them to attend college after high school. Angry at their parents for not understanding, they both decided that moving across the country was punishment for them.

When they both found out that they were both accepted into NYU, they argued the case to their parents on how much better it would be if they shared an apartment instead of dorming. Their parents pleased with their decision of their school choice agreed, paying their rent for over six years. For over five years they studied hard, their dreams of stardom taking a back seat as they reached their goal of obtaining a degree.

Now he has a Bachelor's in Business with a concentration in accounting, total snooze fest to him but the income he earns working for a Fortune 500 makes his and Tori's lifestyles so much better. She earned her dual Bachelor's and Master's degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in English, now she taught English in a public high school in Manhattan.

They still lived in their small but adequate two bedroom apartment, nestled in the upper west side. Their parents and friends weren't stunned at the news that they wanted to stay in New York, they barely wanted to fly back to California anymore. New York was home.

She purposely leaned on him, as he fished his keys out of his pocket. "Come on Tor," He said walking into the building. "Let's get you to your bed."

"Yes baby," Her left hand reaching ahead holding on to his left bicep. Her hand absentmindedly rubbing up and down his arm as they waited for the elevator. "Get me into bed."

"Tori," He warned, he knew that tone. She was flirting with him, "Don't."

She didn't say anything but smirked at his reaction as they stepped into the elevator.

Their eyes met as the elevator ascended, the short elevator ride was silent. He needed the silence. Andre hoped that she didn't say anything, praying that she would just walk into her room and shut the door behind her.

But no, he knew it. She had other plans for him. The moment she stepped foot in their apartment, she began to unzip her black dress. He let out a sigh as he locked the door, praying for the strength to resist her temptation. Turning back around he was now staring at her bare back as the dress slowly slid to the floor.

He licked his lips knowing what was to come as she slowly turned around. She stood in front of him, unabashed as he stared at her. All she was wearing was her black lace panties and black patent leather high heels.

"You look hungry," She teased, giving him that knowing look. She played with his emotions, she knew the power she had over him. He allowed her that power.

He didn't say anything, both just staring at the other not breaking eye contact. He didn't have to look, he knew that body well. He knew every inch of that body. Even though they've never slept together, Tori was never modest about her body. Countless times as he walked into the apartment to find her lounging on the sofa with only her panties on.

They never addressed his need for her, just like they didn't acknowledge of her knowing of that need. Her teasing, her touches, her want for him was never spoken about.

"Andre," Her voice broke and with that he noticed the welled up tears in her eyes. This was the Tori Vega he knew. Her hands subconsciously resting in front of her thighs.

He broke their eye contact away, glancing down at her thighs. Her placement of her hands no use in her attempts to cover her scars. She was confident when she flaunted her body around the apartment, wearing almost nothing but there were moments that the broken girl appeared.

She hated those scars. Each one of those scars represented her pain, her broken heart, how easy it was to take a blade to that skin.

"You're beautiful," He told her, his tone of voice soft and full of affection and love.

She didn't respond but he knew her answer. She didn't think she was beautiful. That's why he allowed her nights like this, the endless drinking, the dancing with strangers because she needed an assurance that he just couldn't give her.

Slipping out of her shoes, she held her hand out to him. He walked towards her placing his hand into hers, their fingers intertwining. No matter what he will always be there for her.

She guided them over to her room, he followed because really he had no choice not that he would choose any other.

There was no attempt to turn on the light as she stepped into the room, "I'm tired," she said pulling him towards her as she took a sit on her bed. His hand reached for the switch on the wall, illuminating the room with light.

He resisted the urge to walk straight into her arms and instead pulled back. "You should sleep," He went to pull his hand away but her hold on his tighten.

"You should tuck me in," She requested in a flirtatious way, yet he knew that she meant nothing by it. She had tired herself out.

He knew the respond he would give but pretended to think it over not wanting to show her how much control she really had over him. "Okay," he responded and she released the hold she had on his hand.

He could barely see the small smile that graced her lips but he knew it was there. She stood up so she could place herself under her comforter.

Pulling up the comforter, he placed a kiss on her forehead. "You really are beautiful," He whispered to her.

"Stay with me," She requested, he couldn't say no to that. He doesn't think he'll ever have the strength to say no to her.

He nodded. "I'll be right back." He responded exiting the room, walking towards his own room.

Changing out of his clothes and into a pair of his pajama bottoms, he didn't like sleeping in shirts plus Tori said she liked seeing his muscles. Who would deny the beautiful girl that? He brushed his teeth quickly before heading back to Tori's bedroom.

She stared at him as he walked in and turned off the light. He walked around the bed, getting into his side as she lifted the covers for him to get in.

He didn't move but she did the moving for him. Pulling his arm, guiding him to move closer to her. She turned over so that her back was against his front, he placed his arm securely over her waist.

Had they slept in their separate beds sleep might have not come as easily as it did, seeing about just five minutes had passed and Tori was fast asleep. Andre thinking of his Tori as he finally let sleep take over.

A/N: So what do you guys think? Please review. I'm so excited for this story. In future chapters the self harming will be addressed, their past development and we shall see what happens between the two in the present.