Disclaimer: I do not own anyone or anything from Victorious.

Hey, guys! If this is your first time reading one of my fanfiction, just know that this story is a sequel to my first story "Things I'll Never Say." For my veteran readers, welcome! I'm super excited to write this piece for you guys so I hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter One

A bloodcurdling scream filled the room as Tori cowered behind the pillow, desperately hoping for the scene to pass. On the TV screen, a panicked woman ran as a dark, ominous shadow trailed behind her in hot pursuit. It was double-date night at the Vega residence. On one couch sat Tori and Beck, while Jade and Cole occupied the other. This was their second double-date night since Jade and Cole had become an official couple over a month ago. The transition and shifting of dynamics had been awkward at first, but Cole quickly won the trust of Jade's friends with his good sense of humor and easygoing personality.

Tori glanced around and noticed that she was the only one hiding behind the throw-pillow. Feeling her tremble in his arms, Beck tightened his embrace around his girlfriend and smiled.

"How are you holding up, Tor?" he asked with slight amusement in his voice.

"I'm fine!" Tori blurted, flinching as another scream pierced the air.

"Stop being such a baby, Vega," Jade sneered, throwing a handful of popcorn at her frightened friend.

"I'm not being a baby!" she protested, dropping the pillow to swat away the buttery projectiles.

All of a sudden, Tori caught a glimpse of a gruesomely disfigured apparition appear on the screen. She screamed in unison with the protagonist in the movie and hastily thrust her face into the pillow once more. Much to her relief, the closing theme song soon began to play and the credits rolled up on screen. Beck grabbed the remote and quickly switched the TV to cable mode, prompting Tori to come out of hiding.

Jade groaned. "I despise predictable endings."

"I'm sure you could've written it better, babe," Cole said teasingly as he bit off half of a black licorice stick.

She frowned disapprovingly at her boyfriend. "How could you eat those things?"

"What? Everyone likes black licorice."

"You're the only one I know who likes chewing on sugar-coated tires."

Just then, a promo commercial for Global Studios' annual Halloween Fright Nights came on. It portrayed a screaming crowd of people running out of an eerily daunting haunted house. Images of ghosts, goblins, monsters and demons flashed on the screen as Tori fought the urge to bury her face into Beck's shoulder. The commercial ended with a bloody display of the remaining dates for the terrifying event.

"Looks like next week is the last week for Halloween Fright Nights," Beck observed.

At that moment, the bright gleam of an idea flashed in Tori's eyes.

"Hey, why don't we all go next weekend?" she suggested with an optimistic smile. "It's only a four-hour trip from here. Plus, it's Halloween next Friday. It'll be the perfect time to go!"

The room was decisively silent as everyone shot Tori a questioning glance.

"Tori," Beck started, gently patting her knee. "Halloween Fright Night is like every horror movie come to life. No offense but you barely sat through this one without having a heart attack."

Tori rolled her eyes indignantly. "So I startle easily. That doesn't mean I can't survive one Halloween Fright Night."

"Have you ever been to one?" Cole asked.

"No."

"Then you won't survive," Jade bluntly stated.

Tori sighed in exasperation and shot up from her seat on the couch. Determined to convince her friends that she was not a coward, she pensively paced around the front of the room.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you guys were too scared to go to Halloween Fright Night," she said with a sly smile.

Jade snickered and crossed her arms. "You're kidding, right?"

"Then let's go!" Tori exclaimed imploringly. "Come on, it'll be fun! We can even ask Andre, Cat and Robbie to come. I know Andre's been wanting to go."

Jade and Cole exchanged uncertain glances, while Beck narrowed his eyes curiously at Tori and wondered what incited her sudden thrill-seeking initiative. But upon seeing the genuine enthusiasm in her soft brown eyes, Beck turned to Jade and Cole and nodded agreeably.

"I wouldn't mind taking a weekend road trip," he said with an affirmative smile. "Guys?"

For a moment, Jade looked at Beck as if trying to read his thoughts. Though they were no longer a couple, Beck and Jade managed to remain good friends after the initial unease of being exes had passed. In fact, they found themselves bickering less and agreeing more than they used to in their past relationship. After some time, Jade turned to Cole with a casual shrug.

"I'm in if you're in," she said, leaning into his embrace.

Cole smiled boyishly and said, "Yeah, I'm game."

"Yay!" Tori clapped her hands excitedly, and then ran over to Beck to give him a peck on the lips. "Then it's settled. I'll text the others tonight."

"Great," Jade said in a sarcastic tone. "We'll make sure to pack an extra set of diapers."

"Jade," warned Cole as they both got off the couch. "Play nice."

Tori crossed her arms defiantly and said, "It's okay, Cole. Just make sure you get the heavy duty kind that Jade likes."

Jade stared at Tori for a moment as if trying to find a smart comeback. At length, she simply shook her head in mild exasperation and made her way to the front door as Cole followed closely behind. Though Jade would never openly admit it, the rivalry she felt towards Tori had long subsided to a sense of respect. It would even be safe to say that she secretly considered Tori to be one of her closest friends.

Before stepping outside into the crisp autumn air, Cole waved goodbye to Tori and Beck. "Thanks for having us over."

"Anytime," Tori said as she leaned against the door and waved. "See you guys later."

As soon as they were gone, Tori joined Beck on the couch to watch a late-night sitcom, hoping that the slapstick humor could relieve some of the spine-chilling sensation that lingered from the movie.

Later that evening, Tori walked Beck out to his car as he was about to leave. They stood out in the driveway for some time, wrapped in each other's arms and kissing beneath the warm glow of the streetlamp nearby. Beck always enjoyed kissing Tori; but he especially enjoyed it when he could taste a hint of her vanilla-flavored lip gloss in his mouth. With great effort, he finally pulled away and gazed affectionately into Tori's eyes.

"So," Beck started, gently tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "Tell me why you really want to go to Halloween Fright Nights."

Tori shrunk under Beck's probing gaze. He knew that she hated horror movies, and that the only reason she agreed to watch the movie tonight was to make him happy. Her willingness to be a considerate and open-minded girlfriend was one of the things he adored about her. But too often did he find her making unnecessary sacrifices for his sake.

Tori let out a quiet sigh. "I just want to prove to everyone that I won't chicken out at the sight of someone in a monster costume."

"Tori, you know you don't have to prove anything to anyone. Besides, I think it's kind of cute that you get scared."

"But, see, I'll be so much cuter when I'm brave," Tori said with a playful smile.

Beck chuckled and held up his hands in surrender. "Alright. I guess I'll have an excuse to put my arms around you when we're walking through those haunted houses."

"Beck, you never need an excuse to put your arms around me."

And with that, she grabbed the collar of Beck's shirt and pulled him in for another steamy kiss.

Mmm…steamy vanilla-flavored kisses. Beck is a lucky guy, lol. Please don't hesitate to review!