Tori Vega had done something that you usually only read about. For five days she had helped her older sister Trina rehearse for her part in Hollywood Arts Big Showcase, an extravaganza designed to highlight the singing, acting and dancing activities of the students of the school. Then, on the night of the show, her sister was unable to perform; and Tori was pressed into service. In a moment out of a classical novel, the unknown girl was able to step up and deliver a stellar performance that brought down the house.
If this were truly a novel, the heroine would have no doubt met Prince Charming ant the end of the performance and been swept onto his horse to ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.
In real life, however, Tori Vega is still a minor and required to attend high school.
In the wake of her performance and the accolades of the audience and cast alike, Tori agreed to abandon her former high school and enroll immediately at Hollywood Arts.
Today was the first day at the new school. Tori was, nervous, as anyone would be starting a new school in mid-semester, especially one which now demanded that she not only read and right but sing and dance and act also. Luckily, sort of, her older sister was a student, and could show her the ropes and help her around her first day. That almost worked, until a friend of Trina called her away to inspect another student's new hairstyle, leaving Tori standing in the middle of the hallway.
Tori was desperate to find her first class, and looked around for someone to help her. She spotted a petite girl with bright red hair coming down the stairs and got her attention.
Tori: excuse me, but could
Cat: Oh hi, you're Tori right? You were so good in the big showcase!
Tori: Aww, thanks.
Cat: My name is Cat
Tori: Oh, like the animal.
Cat: What's that supposed to mean!
Tori: (a little rattled) Nothing, I love cats.
Cat: So do I, they are so cute…
Cat walks away, leaving Tori standing with her mouth open, wondering what just happened.
A boy with dark bushy hair carrying a puppet came through the front door, and Tori decided to try again.
Tori: Excuse me….
Robbie: Hello, (He looks her up and down quickly) female, yes can I help you?
Tori: Can you tell me where Mr. Sikowitz' class is?
Robbie: Uh, yes, you go north about 30 paces
Rex: Paces? The girl is nor a pirate.
Robbie: This is none of your business.
Rex: Sikowitz, down the hall, hand a left at the water cooler, second door on the right.
Tori: (a bit confused, getting directions from a puppet) Thank you
Rex: Whatever it takes, cupcake.
Tori gives Robbie a scathing look, but he motions that he didn't say anything and points to Rex.
Tori walks away.
Tori finds what she thinks is the correct room and enters. She puts a few things on a seat and turns around, with her head still down reading the direction sheet. A tall slim dark hayed boy walks in at that point carrying a cup of coffee and Tori walks right into him, being so intent on her reading.
Tori is embarrassed and flustered, especially when she sees that the person she bumped into is quite a handsome young man. She uses her sweater and starts wiping the coffee off the boy's chest.
Tori: I am so sorry, here let me help…
Beck: That's alright really..
Tori: No I spilled your coffee on you,( she is rubbing harder now)
Beck: I think you may be making it worse.
Just then the door opens and a girl walks in. She is dressed in dark clothes, has a piercing above her eye and blue green streaks in her hair. She looks at the scene unfolding in front of her and is clearly not happy.
Jade: Dude, why are you rubbing my boyfriend!
Tori: I accidently spilled coffee on him..
Jade: Get away from him!
Beck: Relax, Jade. Beck kisses Jade, attempting to diffuse the situation, but it is clear that she has marked Tori at that point.
Tori is relieved to sit next to Andre, a familiar face from the rehearsals at her house and from the big showcase.
In walks a short balding man with wild clothes and no shoes. Tori has a flash of recognition because she remembers seeing him outside and giving him two dollars because she thought he was homeless.
The odd little man put sown his knapsack and stand on the stage at the front of the room.
Sikowitz: There is a big fire in the hallway!
The students begin to run around and panic.
Sikowitz: Just kidding! Now that I have gotten you all loosey and goosey we can get started.
Tori looks at Andre: Is he the teacher? Andre nods.
Sikowitz: First off, I want to introduce a new student, Tori, And I want to thank her for her gift to me of $2.00, not necessary but much appreciated.
Tori nod to the rest of the students.
Andre: Why did you give him $2.00?
Tori: I thought he was homeless!
Sikowitz: We are going to continue our discussion of group improv, Tori are you familiar with improv?
Tori: Yes and no
Sikowitz: What does that mean?
Tori: No.
Sikowitz: Al right, improvisation is acting without a script. The actors make up the lines and the action as they go along in the scene. Any questions?
Tori: Yes, I just..
Sikowitz: Ok, Jade you will be captain for this exercise, pick your actors.
Jade: Cat, Eli, Beck, and Tori.
Tori looks shocked at the mention of her name, but Andre motions for her to go up on stage.
Sikowitz: Ok, now that the actors are ready we need a place, Robbie?
Robbie: Home!
Rex: Real creative.
Sikowitz: Ok , home and we need an event.
Andre: Big News!
Sikowitz: Andre no one is interested in looking at big nudes.
Jade looks at Sikowitz and rolls her eyes.
Andre: Big News
Sikowitz: Oh, Big News, well that's different. Ok home, big news.
Jade to Tori: Why don't you go and wait in the hall?
Tori: um, ok
Sikowitz: Action!
Beck walks onstage.
Jade: Oh hi honey, how was work today?
Beck: Um, I got fired?
Eli and Cat: Oh no!
Eli: Our daddy is a loser!
Jade: That is ok, I have something that will make everything all better. I went to the animal shelter today…
Jade walks over to where Tori is and brings her onstage.
Jade: (continues) and brought us a dog!
Tori: That's right, I'm the new family dog, woof.
Jade: Sikowitz! Will you please explain to this amateur that dogs can't speak; and they don't walk on two legs.
Sikowitz does not respond.
Jade: Sikowitz!
Sikowitz: Oh, sorry Jade, I was just sucking the juice from this coconut. It's true Tori, if you are going to play a dog, be a dog.
Tori gets down on all fours.
Eli and Cat stand over her and pet her.
BecK; Can the dog sleep with us?
Jade: No honey it can't.
Beck looks very disappointed.
Jade joins Eli and Cat in stroking Tori's hair.
Jade: Oh, I think this dog has bugs in its fur.
Eli and Cat jump back: Ewwww.
Jade: That's ok, I read in the Internet that coffee is good for bugs in dog's fur.
Jade walks over to one of the other students and takes his ice coffee.
Beck: I don't think…..
Andre: Jade!
Jade stands over Tori and pours the coffee on her head. The liquid is bad enough, but then the ice cubs fall and hit Tori before dropping to the floor.
Tori is wet and upset. She has been humiliated by Jade in front of her new classmates and feels like running away and not coming back. Suddenly, the words of Sikowitz come ringing back into her mind, "If you are going to play a dog, be a dog". Tori quickly spots one of Jade's shapely calves and bites it, hard!
Jade: Ow, this dog just bit me!
Jade tries to walk away but trips and lands flat on her back. Tori leaps onto Jade's chest and with her mouth inches away from Jade's throat, growls, long and menacingly.
Jade's eyes grow really large with real fear now, wondering how crazy this new student really is.
Jade: Somebody get her off of me!
Cat and Eli cower in the corner, but Beck suddenly gets an idea and stands next to Jade.
Beck: Heel, Tori, Heel.
Tori looks up at Beck and slowly gets off Jade and sits up next to Beck. Beck reaches down and pats her head.
Beck: Good Tori, good girl!
The class erupts in applause and laughter,