The Bright Side of Tragedy
Chapter 1: All for Kicks
A/N: You'll need to know this to figure it out. During the ABC Improv bit, It'll look like this: Jade, Tori, Cat, Robbie.
Jade's POV
"... And so, in 1956..."
God, it goes on like this forever, every damn day. Blah, blah, films, blah blah plays, blah blah coconuts... I love this class, and... Well, yes, okay, I love Sikowitz, he's like an uncle who can't let go of the past. But, come on. Who cares that The Ten Commandments was the highest grossing movie in '56 anyways? That's not gonna help us in "...-nut's empty..." movies. Unless a prospective funder or something asks what movie grossed the most in 1956 and we need to answer correctly to get their help, but what's the-
"Jade!" "WHAT!"
"... ABC Improv. Pick three others, except for Beck, he'll be buzzing you when you fail- ""When?" Gee, thanks." "WHEN YOU FAIL... Oh, that was it. I'll be back, I need coconuts!"
Aaaaaaand he's gone. "Kitty Cat, Vega, Robbie. Andre, setting, Beck, letter." "I'll admit there was some bite when I spoke to Beck. I can't control it. We broke up, but... I have a few.. fewhundreddozen.. jealous bones in me for him.
"Q." How random, 'Dre. "Robbery. Robbie's the robber." Hah, I get it. Clever, Beck.
"Cat, go."
"Quick, someone! Robbery!"
"Robbery? Shit!"
"So.. Who and where's the robber?"
"That'd be me... And I'm here! Everyone on the floor!"
"Haha, I just got it, Robbie. Robbery! Hehehe!"
"Eeeeehhh. Out, Kitty Cat."
"Aw, phooey."
"Uh, what the fuck! He just shot Cat!"
"WHERE?! Where'd he shoot me?! Oh, my God, am I dying?!"
"N... No, Cat, that was us improving you being out."
"Ohhhh, hehehe!"
"Very not cool, dude!"
"Why would I care about cool? I want money!"
"X...Tremely rude, asshole!"
"... Eh, I'll allow it."
"Damn right..." "Eeeeehhhh."
"HEY!"
"Sorry, Jade."
We never got to finish, because Helen came crackling over the PA. "This is NOT a drill, children! There is a man with an assault rifle at the pre-school next door, please, stay in your class rooms until we give the all clear! I repeat, this is NOT a drill. Anyone not in class rooms, get to the nearest room! NOW!"
"Awesome, I gotta see this creeper!" When I turned to the door opposite the stage, I was suddenly face-to-face-to-face with Andre and Beck. "Eh, sorry, Jade. We know you're tough, but this is stupid, even for you.," Andre warned. They underestimate me... Unfortunately, Vega and Shapiro blocked the door by the stage. 'LEast they're weaklings. So I thought, because when I tried to shove through, Robbie shoved back, and then something that can only be compared to a glue covered rag with shards of glass stuck to it hit my face. Vega slapped me. Victoria FUCKING Vega FUCKING slapped me!
"I'm so, so sorry, Jade, but I had to knock some sense into you. You'll get killed. You are NOT Supergirl!" I didn't react or say anything at all, just turned to the window Sikowitz went out and opened it. But then something clung to my waist. It was Cat, trying incoherently to tell me to stay, she was bawling her eyes out, what little mascara she wore staining her cheeks. I don't know what it is, but... I may be the Ice Queen of Hollywood Arts, but even I'm not evil enough to ignore sweet, innocent Cat. So, I stayed. But, I haven't played any good pranks lately... Vega will pay for this.
Tori's POV
I can't believe I just slapped Jade fuuuuuuu-uuuuuuh-reakin' West. I'm dead. Or, hey, maybe not. Maybe she'll see that I was looking out for her. Ever since Divertisimo, we've been a lot closer, even she mentioned it. Her exact words were "I guess... I do.. See you s a friend. Barely. Like a friend who cracks really dumb jokes and is just BEGGING to by smacked." It's better than nothing.
So, we all waited, Robbie was off in the corner reading, The Shruggers were talking amongst themselves, Jade was comforting Cat and Beck and Andre were playing Go Fish. I was texting with Trina in her Costume Design class.
But, why would someone bring a gun to a PRE-SCHOOL?
Someone who's sicker than Robbie. - Trina
Not cool, Treen. You know he's just lonely.
Ehhhh... You know, cut that mop off his head and get rid of the specks and he might actually be a decent catch. Oh, and that stupid fucking puppet. If "Rex" makes an offhand joke about my boobs again, I'm gonna crucify him to the first L on the Hollywood Sign. - Trina
Dude, whoa. Bit specific, don't you think? And a bit... Jade-y.
DON'T EVER COMPARE ME TO GOTHY MCGOTH. - Trina
Aw, come on, she's been... Tollerable lately, hasn't she?
To you maybe... - Trina
The PA crackled to life again, after about 90 Hellish minutes. "Alright, children. It's lunch time, but you can all go home after lunch. The woman has been arrested." Woman? Well, crap, didn't see that coming. I was the first to speak up out of our group. To Jade.
"Jade... I..."
"Save it, Vega. I'm not mad. If I'd left, I don't think Cat would've been okay, so... I thank you. But you still slapped me. So I WILL make you pay for that. But I'm not mad for you stopping me."
"Oh, thank God. Friends again?"
"... Barely."
We did our little "friend-gesture," after. Which was a simple fist-bump. We're not at the hugging stages yet. Next I spoke to Cat, and.. Really the entire gang.
"Hey, you guys wanna go to Karaoke Dokie for lunch? Dad got a huge bonus for helping in the capture of the Inglewood Strangler, so he gave Trina and I each a couple grand for allowences this month. So, my treat?" There were a chorus of agreements and we headed off in two cars. I drove myself, Jade and Andre, Beck drove Robbie and Cat. We agreed we'd come back for our left cars later. I promised to let Jade use the AUX Cord and the song that came on, was... Interesting...
My legs are dangling off the edge,
The bottom of the bottle is my only friend,
I think I'll slit my wrists again,
And I'm gone, gone, gone, gone
My legs are dangling off the edge,
A stomach full of pills didn't work again,
I put a bullet in my head,
And I'm gone, gone, gone, goooone
"Wow. Holy shit, that's conflicting." Oh, yeah, I curse like a sailor out of school. Weird respect thing, I guess.
"What's conflicting, Vega?"
"This song! It's so.. Cheery, but depressing. It's both amazing and horrible."
"That about sums up HU for you."
"H... U...?"
"Oh, for Christ's sake, Tori. Hollywood Undead."
"Oh, I heard of them. Sorta, grunge metal mixed with rap, rock and sometimes pop?"
"See? Andre knows. More Black Metal, but pertty much. Here, Vega, something more up both our alley's, I think:"
Oh, God, I'm scared.
...Mz. Hyde...
In the daylight, I'm your sweetheart,
Your goody-two-shoesprude is a work of art,
But you don't know me,
And soon you won't forget,
Bad as can be, yeah, you know I'm not so innocent
Better beware, I go bump in the night,
Devil may care, we will last for life,
And I know yoooo-oooou, can't resist me,
'Cause I know yoooo-oooou, are so addicted,
Boy you better run for your life,
Welcome to the nightmare, in my head
Oh, God!
Say hello, to something scary,
The monster, in your bed,
Oh, God!
Just give in, and you won't be sorry,
Welcome to my other side,
And now it's Mz. Hyde!
I can be the bitch, I can play the whore...
Wow, this song sums Jade up amazingly... But she wasn't lying, it's awesome.
"Who is this?"
"Halestorm. The woman singing is Lzzy Hale. Like 'em?"
"I do. Andre?"
"Yeah, I've never been too big on bands with female lead singers, but-" We were both glaring at him, now. "-It's just not my thing, more power to 'em, BUT... They're pretty good."
"Good save." The next song that came on surprised me...
Here I am, once again,
Feelin' lost, but now and then...
I breathe it in, to let it go,
And you don't know where you are now,
Or what it would come to if only somebody could hear,
So when you figure out how, you're lost in the moment, you diiiiisappeeeeear,
"... Jaaaaade, did you record this when I filled in for Trina?" Holy shit, my grin hurts.
"No." Aaaand it's gone. "But someone did, and I DO like your voice, so... I downloaded it off SplashFace." And it's back."
"Awww, Jade, that's sweet."
"Oh, please, I like your voice, not you." Sghe was smirking when she said it, so I new she was playing. We pulled into Karaoke Dokie a few songs later, noon hour traffic in LA is a bitch. A 5 minute drive took about 20. But it must be going worse for the others, we're hear first.
Jade's POV
That was fun last night, but now it's payback time. I got to school a half hour before everyone, Sikowitz let me in when I told him I wanted to study in the Library. I stopped off at Vega's locker and broke in. Child's play. Ooh, I gotta watch those movies later! Anyways, I was really here to pull my prank. I put a gun in Vega's locker. Not a real one, just a movie prop, but it was metal, had real parts and whatnot, it just couldn't fire bullets, even if it were loaded.
I waited in the downstairs girl's bathroom until I heard the 15 minute bell ring, and came out, telling a security guard that I saw something in her locker. Sure enough, he demanded she open it, she obviously hadn't gone in it yet, which was the road bump in my plan, if she found it and recognized it as the Revolver that killed Brandon Lee, that I bought at a Hollywood Prop Auction a couple years ago, I was screwed. And there it was. I could see SHE recognized it immediately, but the guard did not, and dragged her to Helen's office.
I waited for Vega to come back with a slap on wrist, but what actually happened made my heart stand still. Sinjin interupted Sikowitz's class, screaming, "Tori's on the roof, she's gonna jump!" We all ran out the doors to see it for real, her mascara ran like a motherfucker, and she was shaking. I asked someone what the fuck was going on, and was told that she got kicked out for the incident, Helen wouldn't even let her explain, said it was way, way too soon to make jokes like that. She was also going to have criminal charges and that could keep her out of any similar school, and make most record labels think twice before hiring her.
As I was processing this, I heard Trina in the front screaming, Tori had jumped. I was a bit behind Trina, so I shoved her aside and jumped... Everything went black, but I knew it'd be okay, even if I died, because she didn't.
A/N: The songs referenced here were, in order, Bullet by Hollywood Undead, Mz. Hyde by Halestorm and, obviously, Make it Shine by Victoria Justice and the VicTORious Cast.
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'Til next time. :)
