A/N: Hey my readers! It's been a while since my last update. The inspiration bug finally bit me, and I was able to complete this story in two days (or one and-a-half-day), so here's another one from me. Either this might be a one-shot or a multi-chapter story, we'll see. Hope you like.
Also, is it Rori? Rade? Rorade? Other? Read on to find out!
Disclaimer: Victorious belongs to Dan Schneider.
Chapter One: New Beginnings
By GallaudetLurker
Robbie Shapiro feels nervousness course through him as his bespectacled eyes takes in the towering facade of California State University, Hollywood, ergo with several buildings of various designs and sizes that dot the large campus from what he can see, from the relative safety of his old Chrysler convertible.
Taking in a deep breath to calm himself, and licking his chapped lips, Robbie nods once to himself before grabbing his backpack and registration packet, and getting out of the car, his legs all but feeling like jello as he stands on the asphalt of the university's large parking lot.
He glances at the trunk, where several of his luggage and stuff are stored there. He'd have to move them into his dorm later, something that he isn't looking forward to. Normally, he would live off-campus and live with his parents, but they forced them to live on-campus under the not-so-subtle threat of expulsion from home. It doesn't help that the university had a series of rules requiring freshmen to live on-campus for the first year.
As he hitches his backpack onto his shoulders, Robbie finds himself wishing he has brought Rex along. The wooden puppet that he has christened a best friend, however his tendency to mock and harass and taunt him, would make for a comforting presence.
But, Robbie thinks to himself as he takes his first tentative steps toward the monster of a university building that is waiting to consume him, he has left Rex home for a reason. After what seemed like an eternity, and after much effort, Robbie has come to a realization that he doesn't need to use Rex as a clutch in life.
In a way, Rex has become something of an albatross that has severely hindered Robbie in elementary, middle, and high schools, especially when it comes to having a social life. Robbie needs to make a clean break from his old life, to change himself hopefully for the better.
That doesn't mean he would cut Rex off completely, of course. Robbie would continue to spend time with Rex whenever he's not at university.
As he nears the school, Robbie feels his hands begin to tremble, his legs definitely turning into jelly, and his stomach twisting and churning in his guts. His throat constricts ever-so slightly as his mouth turns dry.
It's all so new to him, he doesn't know what to expect. And that's what makes him feel even more nervous. Robbie does his best to contain his ever-growing sense of trepidation as he crosses over from the parking lot into the university's wide campus, his sneakers peddling on the concrete pavement abutting freshly-mowed grass.
At least a dozen of students, men and women of varying ages, sizes, and looks, who are completely and utter unfamiliar to him, are going about their businesses on the campus. Robbie wonders of whether they are new to the school, like him, or seasoned students who has spent at least a year, or more, in the school. But he has no idea.
It takes a while for Robbie to successfully locate the correct building that he is supposed to go for the general registration part of the freshman orientation process that he is required to attend before he can attend classes.
He takes another breath for the umpteenth time in yet another futile attempt to soothe his quivering nerves, as his feet take him seemingly against his will toward a large building that looks like an gymnasium-it is one, if the sign 'Wood Field House' is any indication.
As he passed through the open doors into the gymnasium, Robbie's mind frantically whirls around one thought-scratch that, two thoughts: how was he going to do all this, and what was he getting himself into?
A glance at the slightly-crumpled registration packet in his twitchy hands reminds him once again: he was to create his class schedule for his first semester and to register for courses in that aforementioned schedule, among many others that included touring the dorm that he was to reside in for the first year.
The gymnasium is crowded with what Robbie assumes are freshmen students just like him. So these people that he has seen earlier are not new to the school, Robbie faintly muses to himself as he gets into line.
"Hi! Are you new here?"
Robbie nearly drops his registration packet as he jolts from the feminine voice that has suddenly manifested out of nowhere. He turns his head to face the source of the voice - and feels like he has died and gone to Heaven right there and then.
Standing in front of him is one of the most beautiful girls he has ever seen in his short life. At the risk of sounding like one of these tired cliches he has read in stories and seen in movies, the girl is, to put it, simply gorgeous. Her wavy light-brown hair cascades down her high-cheeked face, accentuating it perfectly, down to her shoulders and stops somewhere in her chest area. Her warm chocolate eyes gazes up at his brown orbs, making him feel tingly all over for some reason. She is wearing a pair of jeans and a pink blouse that not only showcases her smooth tan skin, but also emphasizes her cleavage a bit.
Midst his blush, Robbie struggles to move his paralyzed tongue to properly form words, his mind befuddled not only at the fact that the petite Latina girl was mind-blowingly beautiful, but that she has even said 'Hi' to him, something that no girl up to that point of his life has come close to even pretend to do that.
"Uh...um...uh..." Robbie stutters and stammers, inwardly cursing himself for his deep-rooted inability to talk to beautiful girls. "Um...uh...H-hi...y-yeah I'm new..." He manages to make the last part out in a mumble.
Great. The first time a girl, and a gorgeous one at that, says 'Hi' to him for the first time, and he has already screwed up his chances with her by getting all tongue-tied like that. Why couldn't he be smooth with girls like these jocks at his old high school used to be-
To his surprise, the girl giggles.
"My name is Tori Vega, and I'm a junior here. It's nice to meet you." She says with a grin as she sticks her hand out for a friendly handshake.
"Uh...my name is...um...Robbie Shapiro." Robbie manages to force these words out of his mouth, his heart still beating nervously. "I-it's nice to meet with y-you too..." He reaches out, hesitatingly, to take Tori's hand.
What surprises him is that as soon his hand makes contact with hers, he feels a jolt of electricity shoot up his arm, leaving behind a small tingling feeling. Robbie feels like he could faint right there and then.
Without missing a beat, Tori continues on: "I've volunteered to help out new students. You look lost here, so I figured out that I could help you out with the registration process. Would you like that?" Here's that heart-warming smile again. Like Robbie's ever going to say no to that.
He nods, mustering a small nervous smile. "Y-yeah...I'd like that." At this, Robbie realizes that this is the longest conversation that he have had with a girl so far in his life. There's a first time in everything, he surmises.
Tori smiles once again before she takes the registration packet from him and grabs his wrist. "C'mon, let's go over there." She says as she guides Robbie through the crowd to one of the few vacant tables set up near the front of the gymnasium. Robbie doesn't object to this, not at all.
At the table, Tori helps him plan out his class schedules for the semester, inputting the required courses that he would have to take in his first year. Robbie is still befuddled how nice and generous this girl has been to him so far. Out of the hundreds of freshman students around him, she had chosen to help him out. Him, when she could've helped that pimply-faced boy next to him or anyone else.
Before Robbie could delve into his thoughts any further, Tori opens her mouth. "What are you going to Major in, out of curiosity?"
"Uh..." Robbie has absolutely no idea of what he's going to Major in. Is he required to declare his Major right there and then? But he don't even know what Majors they offer here, or even if they would be right for him! Robbie finds himself begin to hyperventilate.
As if sensing his thoughts, Tori speaks, "You don't have to declare a Major this year, so don't worry about it. You're supposed to do that in your sophomore or junior year, at the latest, so you have plenty of time." She gives a reassuring smile. "I was only curious, that's all."
Robbie nods mutely as he feels himself begin to calm down, feeling a bit foolish for panicking like that.
"Oh." He says simply. A curious thought hits him. "Um...what do you Major in?" He inquires.
"I'm a Theater and Performance Studies major." Tori replies with a smile. "I absolutely love to perform, I've always loved it ever since I was little. If you like theater, you should give it a try sometimes, and if you find that you're in that, you could Major in that. Just saying, but if you do decide to do that, we'll see a lot more of each other in the future." Robbie could see that Tori is blabbing a bit, and he finds it adorable when she blushes a bit upon realizing that.
"Sorry...I tend to do that sometimes." She says with an embarrassed smile. Robbie finds himself begin to smile.
"It's okay." He says.
Silence descends upon the two of them for a while as Tori helps him to finish the rest of the paperwork. However, Robbie doesn't help but find his eyes drifting down to her...chest area as an unsuspecting Tori has her head down to the papers in front of her. He finds his cheeks begin to grow warm as he soaks up the space created by the convergence of the two soft mounds that are encased within the blouse, and in extension her black bra as indicated by the straps he could see beneath the said blouse.
As he continues to look on, Robbie finds to his embarrassment and discomfort that something is stirring in his lower groin, beginning to lengthen and harden within the confines of his jeans.
"Wow! You got one of the highest scores in the entrance exams!" Robbie snaps back to reality at Tori's abrupt exclamation, diverting his eyes just in time as she looks up at him, a slightly amazed expression on her face. Robbie feels his blush begin to intensify as he chuckles nervously. "Really...?"
"Yeah! In fact, you got in the top ten! Not a lot of students here can achieve that, not even the seniors. Congrats." Tori says with a grin, a tone of admiration in her voice. Mentally willing the swelling within his jeans to dissipate, with some success, Robbie goes with a "Thanks, I guess...", feeling a bit heartened from the kind words coming from such a kind girl.
Tori beams before she goes back to the papers, giving them a final scan before nodding. "The papers are all done, you shouldn't have any problems." She says as she straightens the papers out before putting them in the packet. "But if you do have any, let me know, okay?"
"Okay." Robbie nods.
"All right, I'm going to give the packet here to that guy over here." Tori gestures to one of the guys working at a computer at one of the tables in front of the crowds of students. "You will get your class schedule and your ID card." She gestures for him to follow her to the guy that Tori has indicated earlier.
"Hey Tori, who's the newcomer?" The guy, in his late twenties or early thirties, says as he looks up at the two of them.
"Hi Danny, this is Robbie. He's starting his first year here." Tori says as she gives the package to Jerry.
"Cool." Danny grins as he takes the package and begins to check it over. "You'll like it here, kid. Names's Danny, nice to meet ya." He doesn't shake Robbie's hand, but Robbie is nevertheless surprised by the friendliness of the guy of whose kind would've stuffed him in lockers or pantsed him or subjected him to a swirly in the restrooms had he been at his high school.
"Likewise." Robbie says simply. Danny punches in a few keys and several moments later, he gives Robbie a ID card and schedule. "Welcome to California State University, Hollywood, or the Wood as we call it." He says with a smirk. Tori rolls her eyes as she leads Robbie away from Danny's table.
Robbie's eyebrows furrows in confusion. "The Wood?"
"It's just a play on the school's name." Tori says with a roll of the eye. "It's quite popular around the school, though I personally don't like it. But anyways, it seems you're now all set and ready for classes."
"Y-yeah, I suppose so." Robbie says. "Um, thanks for the help and all that."
Tori smiles. "Anytime, Robbie. If you need any help or just want to hang out, let me know. Oh, and before I forget..." She says as she gets out a pen and a small sticky note and scribbles something on it.
"I don't normally do this, but here's my phone number." Tori says as she gives him the note containing her name and phone number.
Robbie is overcome with surprise and disbelief, his heartbeat accelerating a bit, and his stomach churning, as he holds the note in his hands. Not only has a beautiful girl, a species that had long been foreign - and even hostile - to him, properly introduced herself, but she had actually bothered to help him out with the registration paperwork, even complementing him in the process. And to top it off, she had ever given him her phone number!
And all in the space of a single morning. Rex would be proud of him.
"Um...thanks." Robbie manages to speak out. "I'll keep hold of it, just in case I get lost around here or something."
Tori laughs, which is another first for Robbie. Although Robbie had a good sense of humor, many girls never laughed at his jokes. He has lost count of how many girls had given him a blank gaze before walking away or mocked him in a humiliating way.
"You're funny, Robbie. But yeah, it's a big place but you'll get used to it. I'd give you a tour, but I have to help another student." Tori says as she places a hand on his arm, sending a tingling sensation on the area where her hand makes contact. "But we'll see each other in the times ahead."
Robbie nods. Tori gives another smile.
"See you later, Robbie. It's nice to meet with you once again." With that, she disappears into the sea of students and Robbie finds himself alone.
His heart still beating in his chest, Robbie looks down at the note.
'555-219-1993
- Tori Vega'
His lips curls up into a small smile as he begins to make his way out of the gymnasium. Perhaps his first year at university wouldn't be bad...
What he doesn't notice is a pair of glaring blue eyes that trails his departing back like a predator as he leaves.
A/N: Hm, now that I think of it, I think I'll end this right there and then just to torture you. Or maybe not. Like I said, we'll see. Heh.
And yeah, I totally made up the university.