Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious...but I do own...nothing.
Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 1
I'm Professor Vega
There's nothing Tori loved more than art. Ever since she could remember she found herself lost in all different types of drawings and paintings. The way an artist could express themselves through visuals fascinated Tori beyond ways she could ever explain. She knew that through those paintings and drawings there were stories and she was able to read them and she also wanted to express her feelings the same.
At only 7 years old Tori won her first award for a drawing she did of a little girl like her sitting by a tree and painting the scenery around her. By the time she hit middle school her painting and drawing awards doubled. Her secondary school was so impressed with her drawings and paintings throughout the year that she was sent to an arts high school in LA. This is where she earned her first global art award. When Hollywood College of Arts heard of this, they were eager to have Tori as a student in their school. They sent her a letter simply asking her to attend their college and if she accepted, the college offered a full ride scholarship. Of course Tori was thrilled and she accepted the offer and the opportunity of a life time.
Tori soon fell in love with her college. She loved and was loved by all she encountered. The college loved her art so much, they even went as far as making sure one of her paintings got framed and hung in the art museum that was connected to the school. Tori had learned so much and made her college her home that by the time her four years were up and she graduated, she didn't want to leave. Expressing to the school how much she loved it there and how bad she wanted to thank them for all that they've taught her, she asked if there was anything that she could do to hang around for a bit longer. The half Latina wasn't quite ready to say goodbye. And yet, to her luck, a job as an Art in Drawings Instructor was in immediate need due to the old instructor leaving on short notice. Overjoyed, Tori took the job of teaching without a second thought. There was nothing better than teaching other people what she's learned throughout her art years.
It's now been two years since Tori took the job as a college professor. Teaching others how to express themselves through art has become a huge priority in her life. She's never felt more at home.
Tori's POV
RING RING RING
"Okay, okay there's the bell." I say to my last class of the day as everyone stands and starts to pack up their things. "Hey! Remember class, quiz on Friday! And I don't want to hear those groans. You guys better be glad I warned you. Next time it may be pop." I say pointing around the room as I receive smiles and shrugs.
I walk over to my desk and start to gather my own belongings before a familiar voice causes me to close my eyes and shake my head.
"Hey Professor Vega."
I sigh as I zip my bag and put it on my shoulder before turning with a lifted brow. "Yes Wendell?" I ask crossing my arms.
"How about you and me, dinner tonight, my place. I got that smooth-"
"Goodbye Wendell." I say smiling and waving dismissing him from my desk. The boy never quits. He's been trying to hit on me since the beginning of last school year, yes I said last. He was in my Art in Drawing I class. The boy can draw, granted, but he didn't need to sign up for Art in Drawing II. His major doesn't even consist of drawing.
He frowns like a puppy as he backs away. "Why you gotta be so rudeee? Don't you know I'm human toooo?" He sang as I roll my eyes again.
"That song is so outdated. Get out of here. Study. See you tomorrow." With that he winks and was the last of my students out of the door.
And I'm not rude. I'd never date a student of mine. Yes, some may be my age and some older, and yes, some may be charming, but one; that's very unprofessional of me to do and two; I'm enjoying being single.
Fixing my bag on my shoulder and grabbing a folder of ungraded work, I walk over to the lights, switch them off and leave my room locking it behind me.
"Hey, Professor Vega!"
Smiling, I turn to see Rodger, he is now a good friend of mine and was my professor back when I was a sophomore here.
"Hey Rodger. How are you today?" I say as we start to walk side by side.
"Oh I'm good sweetheart, how about yourself? You look very energized for the end of the day?"
"I'm doing well thanks. And do I? I feel good. This year is going to be a good one. I know it's only been a couple of weeks in, but I can feel it. I love all my students already."
He reaches out to pat my back. "You're a tough one Vega." He says walking to the left to catch the elevators. "Hey I'll see you around. Take care and keep working hard."
I smile and wave. "I will."
"Oh, oh and Tori! Mrs. Donald wants to see you in her office. She said something about not being able to get ahold of you earlier because of your classroom phone. Sounds urgent."
I roll my eyes. "They still haven't fixed it. Do you know what she needs?"
He steps into the elevator before turning to me and shrugging as the doors close. Rolling my eyes a second time I just smile to myself and turn in the direction of the museum that's connected to the college where her office is located. That's one huge thing I love about this school; that the best art museum in town is connected to it. I can come and go whenever I please and it's just footsteps away.
Walking down the hall that leads to the museum, I spot what looks to be a student sitting in the middle of the hallway on the floor with a notepad in her lap. By the way she'll look at the wall and then back her pad as she scribbles away, I would guess she's coping the drawing hanging on the wall above her. Walking closer I can see she is indeed coping the drawing and I would say in much finer detail.
"Hey, you may not want to sit there. When the bell rings for evening classes you'll get trampled." I chuckle as I slowly walk pass her but she doesn't acknowledge me in any kind of way. The expression on her face stays glued as she keeps on drawing as if I didn't speak to her, yet alone around her at all. Shaking my head, I proceed into the double doors that lead to the museum.
"Hello Kristi. Is Mrs. Donald in her office? She wanted to see me?" I ask walking up to Mrs. Donald secretary.
She looks at me as she stops typing on her computer. "Oh Tori." She cringes a bit. "You just missed her. She had an emergency she had to get to but she did tell me to ask you if you remember and ASL from what was on your résumé?"
I smile a bit confused as I put some of my hair behind my ear. "Um…yeah? I know sign language. I have a little cousin who is deaf, so that's why I took the class then. We still talk like every other day. Why does she ask?"
Kristi shakes her head. "Oh I'm not sure on details, but she should be back in tomorrow a bit later since she's left early today. I'll make sure to let her know. I'm sure she'll catch up with you as soon as she is back in her office." She smiles before turning back to her computer to finish her work.
"O…kay. See you." I shake my head to myself amusedly. Mrs. Donald always has something weird up her sleeve. I wonder what it is this time?
Walking back through the museum and out of the double doors, I come back in contact with the girl still sitting on the floor and still working on her picture.
"Hey that looks really good." I say stopping to stand over her shoulder and admire her work. "When did you learn to draw so well?" I ask moving over a bit.
She doesn't answer me immediately, but she does stop her drawing hand and then looks up straight ahead before slowly looking over her shoulder. "Go away." She says in a sort of weird deep off pitch voice. She doesn't look up at me or say anything else. She simply turns back around and continues on her work.
A bit insulted, I fix my bag on my shoulder and continue down the hall and out to my car. "Little brat." I say under my breath. Who sits in the middle of the hallway on the floor anyways?
Sighing and shaking away all thoughts of the day, I drive home in peace.
The next day arrives fast and I find myself already screwing up the day by spilling coffee all over the break room's desk and onto unknown papers. "Please don't be important, please don't be important." I whisper to myself as I flip the papers over only to reveal them blank.
Giving a sigh of relief, I start on a new cup of coffee. Good thing I have almost 20 minutes to spare.
Stepping into the hallway with my morning energizer, I make my way through the semi crowed hallway to my morning class and there outside my door on the floor was the same girl that sat in the middle of the hallway yesterday evening.
Shaking my head I speed my stroll so I could figure out who she was. Maybe she's lost or something?
"Hey there. Can I help you with something?" I say as I unlock my door and then look down at the girl who sits staring at a sheet of paper like she's ignoring me.
"Hello!" I say taking my hand and waving it closer to her face. She then looks up at me before standing to her feet and holding out the sheet of paper to me. Taking it, I look over it to see it was a schedule, but there was only one class on it, which is mine.
"Okay so you're a new student?" I say reading over the paper waiting for a response, and when I didn't get one I look up to see blue eyes staring hard into my lips.
Lifting my brows, I lower my head to catch her eyes. She slowly looks into them as she just nods.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" I say opening my door and walking inside with her following behind.
I make my way over to my desk where I sit all my belongings down along with my coffee as I look over her schedule again. "Jade West, says that you transferred from Monzzart? I've never heard of that. Is that a school here in L.A.?" I say as I lean against my desk and look over to her.
She just stares at me for a moment before turning and putting a piece of hair behind her ear.
"Okay, so you don't talk?"
"I just want to learn art." She says in that same weird…accent that she spoke rather rudely to me with yesterday.
"Where are you from?"
And she doesn't answer. She simply reaches out to take her schedule back and then walks to the back of the class and takes a seat without another word.
"Okay, I get it. You don't talk. You express your feelings through Art and you want to learn how to do it better? I get students like you a lot. I'll be happy to teach you how-"
"Oh Professor Vega! So glad I caught you before class."
Turning to the door I see my boss, aka Mrs. Donald walking in with an envelope in her hands that she hands to me as she puts a hand on my back. "Tori, I need a really big favor of you." She says looking hard into my eyes.
I just nod. She's always been there to help me, of course I'll help her with anything. "Of course, what is it?"
"There's a new student that will be joining your class today. Her name is-"
"Jade?" I say smiling.
"Yeah, how did you know her-" She stops in the middle of her sentence as I point toward the back of the classroom where Jade sits scribbling on the desk with a pencil. "She won't talk. So I don't really know much-"
"She's deaf." Mrs. Donald blurted out as I drop my pointed finger.
"Sh…she's deaf?"
"Yes, that's why I say this as a favor. She's a really smart girl Victoria. I've looked over her records. She can read lips like a pro and she can talk pretty well when she wants to. Her drawings are phenomenal, you have to see her work. The girl is very talented and her father has paid great money to make sure she got into this school. All she wants is to learn better art and how to express herself in it. I remember that you knew sign language so that's why I choose your class for her. You don't have to go out of your way to do anything, her father expressed that he wants her to be treated like any other student, but I'm sure you may have to work with her just a tad bit. How do you feel about it?"
I just stood with my mouth open a bit before I just shook my head and shrug. "I guess I can do it. She's just like another student. I'm sure I can teach her well."
Ms. Donald then winks at me as she pats my shoulder. "You've always been my fav. There's a bonus for you in that envelope. Email me if you have any problems. Have a good day Professor." She says before turning to exit the room.
I just simply nod as I look down at the envelope in my hands before setting it down on my desk. Turning over to where Jade now sits, I catch her staring at me sideways. I smile making my way back to where she sits.
"My apologies, I did not know you could not hear me. My name is Professor Vega."
I watch as Jade straightens in her seat with lifted brows. "So you can sign. I was told I may have a teacher that couldn't."
I smile. "I'm pretty fluent in signing. Class is about to begin. Would you like to sit closer to the front? I'm sure you'll be able to see much better from there."
Jade shakes her head. "No. I can read your lips fine from here. Do not sign to me in front of the class. I'd appreciate if you treat me like any other student. I learn just like anyone else would."
"Of course you do Jade. I wouldn't think otherwise. Don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it."
I then hear the bell sound as I start to hear the voices of my students walking through the door as they converse amongst themselves.
"The bell just sounded. Class is about to being. Welcome to Art in Drawings. It's a pleasure to have you in my class."
She just nods at me before she turns to her bag and I turn to walk to the front to start getting ready for the beginning of class before a simple, "Hey!" stops me in my tracks.
I turn back around to the small voice to see Jade staring holes into me. "And do not introduce me. I hate that."
I just side smile and nod again before I turn and continue to the front.
"Hey Professor, how lonely was last night without me there by your sid-"
"Good morning to you too Wendell. Now have a seat we have a lot to go over in class today." I say as I reach my desk and start to pull out materials for the day.
Class went by smooth as always. I taught a bit and then passed out journals. I told them every day before class is over we'll draw a picture. Any type of picture that expressed what they felt that day and how it's a big part of their grade. Every now and then I would look back to see Jade looking a bit confused as to what was going on or maybe what I was saying, but I knew that was all my fault. Already forgetting the specialties of my new student, I did not always make my lips visible to her as I spoke. Most of the time my head was turned.
The bell finally sounded for the dismissal of class as everyone else packed up and started to head out, I watch as Jade stayed very focus on her drawing in her journal.
Smiling softly, I make my way down the aisle to her seat where I put out a hand on the end of her desk. Seeing it, she immediately looks up at me.
"Class is over." I say aloud to her before crossing my hands in front of me. "I'm very sorry, I forgot to make sure you could see me speak. It won't happen again.
She just looks around before shaking her head. "It's fine, it's not that serious." She signs before closing her journal and stuffing it in her bag before standing to her feet.
"You draw so well. Where did you learn how to draw like that?"
She throws her bag on her shoulder before signing back. "I started drawing when I was just a kid. It was my way of speaking perfectly. There was so much that I took in with my eyes and I needed a way to let it all back out, so I drew what I was feeling. I mean, well that was before I learned to speak."
"I've heard a few words from you. Why don't you talk more? You were quick to tell me to go away yesterday. The picture you were drawing as amazing by the way." I smile.
I watch as her eyes go big. "Oh my bad. I didn't know that was you. I just don't like to be bothered when I'm drawing. I kind of use it as an escape." She signs not answering my first question, but I just nod.
"Well, I'll see you in class again tomorrow?"
She nods. "Hope so."
She then walks pass me and out of the door as I smile to myself. She's going to be an interesting student. I'm looking forward to getting to learn a little more about her.
So that's the beginning, hope you guys liked it? Comment and tell me what you think.
