Disclaimer: I Do Not Own VicTORIous but the OCs are mine.
(A/N: This Chapter has been revised. Read again if not read previously for changes in the story and an easier read due to editing.
This is an AU VicTORIous fan fiction. I was going to make it a completely different story altogether but changed my mind because fanfiction is cool. I might upload this same story but as an original with no ties to VicTORIous on Wattpad, my username is the name: StarsAndDesires. Anyway I'm just trying this thing out, I had a dream and that's where most of this came from, an awesome dream that I hoped I could carry out and share in this story. This is a Jori fic as well as a fic between some of the OCs I created, it isn't strictly Jori and may just take a completely different path but read it, you never know. You might like it. It will be a multi-chap and I hope you guys enjoy this story. Read & Review guys, I want to know what you think and if you like it and even if you don't. Constructive criticism is helpful but please don't be rude.)
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"Mom, where's the box with my swimsuit?" I shout rifling through one of the moving boxes on my bed.
"It's over here in the kitchen hon!" My mom says walking in with a large brown box in her arms a moment later. "Here you go." She says placing it on my bed. She sighs swiping her arm across her forehead and takes a seat next to the box.
"Thanks." I say a small smile on my face as I turn around and place some folded clothes in a dresser draw. "Is it okay if I go out? Go over to Cat's?"
"Sure, honey. Just be careful okay?" She says placing a hand over mine. "I don't want you getting hurt."
"I will, I promise. She only lives one house over…don't you think it's weird that that huge mansion is right next to this tiny little house." I ask her whipping around to face her leaning on my dresser.
"Yes, but it's affordable, so I don't question it." She says smiling before getting up.
"I wish her mansion was affordable." I whisper under my breath. My mom breathes out a laugh shaking her head on her way out.
"Well sweetie, we can't always have what we want now can we." She says walking out leaving me alone in my room.
"Yeah." I put the rest of the neatly folded clothes on my bed in the dresser and put my bathing suit on under my clothes before making my way next door. I walk to the front gate of the house and press the bell outside. "Who is it?" I hear a voice ask too distorted to recognize through the speakers.
"Uh- Tori." I say before the gate clicks open and I walk down the front path to be greeted by Cat's older sister Kate who in my opinion is a spitting image of Amanda Seyfried, although no one in their family seems to see it. Kate finds the idea flattering and always takes it as a compliment.
"Hey Tori." Kate says smiling at me as she greets me with a hug before walking me down the pathway leading up to the mansion.
"Hi Katie." I reply walking by her side
"You're never going to start calling me Kate are you?" She says still smiling
"Uh, sorry Katie- Kate. I meant Kate." I say shaking my head as I stumble over my words after making the same mistake. She laughs and I can feel my cheeks start to heat up and turn a bright shade of red.
"It's okay" she says still smiling "I'll allow it. But, only for you." She looks up at me and pokes my cheeks in jest. "Aw, you're so red. You haven't changed at all have you?"
"I hope so." I say, my voice barely above a whisper. As we reach the front door Kate steps in before me leading me to the back of the house. I look around the mansion seeming almost foreign to me after not stepping foot into the home for months. I look around reminding myself what it was like to be here when Kate's voice snaps me back to reality.
"Cat has some of her friends over out back in the pool." She says handing me a towel that seems to have appeared out of nowhere. "I'll be outside in a few."
"Okay, thanks." I say as she pushes me out the sliding back doors revealing their olympic sized outdoor pool and a lounge area under the shade of the house. It looks almost exactly the same as the last time I'd been here with a few pieces of furniture moved here and there. I place the towel on the couch in the lounge and walk out towards the pool. I see Cat and a few other people I don't know wading in one end of the pool talking. Two guys and one girl, all very attractive one of the guys is built, with broad shoulders, distinctive muscles and short dark brown, almost black hair and very handsome, his chiseled jaw looked almost sharp enough to pierce the skin. The other just as handsome but features not as distinct. His skin tan, his face could only be described as that of a pretty boy. His hair long, brown and wavy hair. I found him mesmerizing, his figure slimmer than the other guy and not as broad, with just as much muscle but in a smaller frame. The girl on the other hand is one of the most beautiful girls I've ever seen, slightly tan as though she had been kissed by the California sun, slim with very admirable curves, definitely more than I possess. Her hair black and wavy, going down to her shoulder blades and a pearly white smile that I think is absolutely dazzling. She is without a doubt one of the prettiest girls I have ever seen. I start to walk over to them but change my mind, nervous to approach this new group of people and start to walk back over to the couch.
"Tori! Tori, where are you going!?" I hear Cat call behind me from the pool and turn around.
"Uhm, I uh, I was going to get something to drink and uhm...find Kate." I lie.
"Well I'm right behind you, Tor." I jump startled by the sound of Kate's voice from behind me.
"Oh. Well, I'm still thirsty so I'll just go get a drink." I turn away and quickly walk into the house
"Okay, what's going on with you?" I'm surprised to hear Kate ask, unaware that she had been following behind me. "You're acting strange."
"Nothing I just- I don't know anyone and I- I don't know." I say looking down at the floor away from Kate.
"Tori. Tori, look at me." I sigh and do as she tells me. "Just because you don't know them doesn't mean you won't have fun. Cat is your best friend and you've been practically a part of this family your entire life, you should feel comfortable. Go out there and have fun okay? You'll be fine." She says bringing me in for a hug. Kate and I were never close but she is exactly what I need right now and her words are the only reason I even dare walk back outside. I walk back out into the lounge with Kate trailing behind me.
"You coming to Join us Tor!?" I hear Cat scream as soon as I'm in her line of sight.
"Yeah, just a minute" I shout back as I strip down to my bathing suit. Kate stands beside me waiting for me to change. I fold my clothes neatly and put them on the couch under my towel. I sigh and before I get the chance to take a step Kate takes my hand in hers and leads me to the other end of the pool where Cat and her friends are.
"When did you two get so close?" Cat asks teasingly.
"We didn't" I say removing my hand from Kate's but turn around to shoot her an apologetic smile. She smiles and rolls her eyes at me before jumping into the pool. I sit on the edge letting my legs swing back and forth in the pool until I feel a tug and suddenly I'm submerged in the chlorinated water. I swim straight up my head popping up a good three feet gasping as I push my hair out my face and open my eyes. I see Cat and Kate snickering another five feet away and send a ton of water splashing in both of their faces. They both just continue to laugh almost uncontrollably before swimming back to me and where their other friends are. We only stay in the pool for about another half hour talking to each other, me spending most of my time speaking to Kate and Cat splitting her attention between us and her group of friends, neither of the two groups ever merging or even formally introducing ourselves. I'm mid-sentence when I hear Cat start to speak "I'm thirsty, why don't we get out and get some drinks." Cats heaves herself out of the pool, her friends and sister following suit, as do I not wanting to be left alone. We all make our way back to the lounge area and take a seat. Cat's mom comes out about a minute later with glasses of lemonade and a pitcher.
"Hey Tori, good to see you!" She exclaims putting the tray down in the middle of the glass table before going back inside.
As I grab a glass I notice the dark haired girl staring at me. She doesn't say anything but she has this penetrating stare as if she's looking into me instead of at me. I avert my gaze but it doesn't do me any good.
"So Tori, you and Cat have known each other a while right?" She asks but it doesn't really sound like much of a question, more like a challenge.
"Yeah" I say nodding at her. "We've been best friends since we were maybe two."
"That's right." Cat pipes in from her spot on the couch. "She's the best friend a girl could have too." she says looking at me grinning from ear to ear.
"You live around here?" She says again relaxing into her seat.
"Yeah" I answer again keeping it simple.
"You don't really look like you belong here. No offense." Her words immediately make me regret not searching through the boxes at the house to find something nicer to put on and even worse for neglecting to do my hair. I hadn't been expecting to see anyone but the Valentine family and Cat and I have seen each other at our very worst.
"Jade, be nice." Cat scolds "Just because you don't know her doesn't mean you have to be mean, she's my best friend."
Jade ignores her and continues staring at me. I look away and laugh nervously looking over to Cat for assistance.
"Is she always like this?" I ask her and receive a nod and roll of the eyes in response. I look away and try to find another mean of escape, trying anything to escape her curious and invasive gaze. "I need to go change." I say spewing out the first thing I can think of.
"Me too actually. Why don't we all change and come back." Cat suggest. I pick up my clothes and walk inside the house and make my way to one of the bathrooms and quickly change before going back outside where I'm greeted by no one other than the dark haired girl, Jade. She takes a sip from a glass that clearly contains a substance other than lemonade. I glance down to the right of her seat and see a bottle of flavored vodka next sitting to her.
"So princess, you like to swim?" She says her tone a bit warmer than before but still threatening.
"Jade leave the girl alone, she doesn't want to be bothered by you." I hear someone say and I spin around to see the built dark haired boy with the chiseled face.
"Oh, piss off Jackson. It's just a question. I'm not trying to scare her, not anymore." My eyes widen but I quickly reign in my surprise as I turn around just in time to see her tear a burning glare away from him and smile at me warmly. "So, do you like to swim?" she asks again getting up making her way over to me, as I instinctively take a couple steps back.
"Yeah, kind of." I say looking at her as everyone else comes out to the lounge area. "I should probably go." I say holding my wet bathing suit in hand starting to walk away.
"Aw, so soon? Stay a while Princess." Jade pipes up from behind me. I turn around and walk back to where I had previously been sitting, Jade taking up her possessions and moving to sit beside just as Kate walks out and takes a seats on the other side of me.
Everyone returns to the lounge after a couple of minutes and time passes by as everyone joins in on pleasant conversation. Several different conversations take place Kate, Cat and I reliving old memories as the other three speak on another subject altogether. As Cat and I laugh as Kate retells the story of when Cat and I flooded their bathroom I hear throaty laughter erupt from Jade next to me and her hand lands on my knee as though making a home there. I glance over at her to find her completely engrossed in her conversation as though she's not even aware of what she's doing. I look away and choose ignore it as I listen to Kate continue the story before I feel Jade's fingers start to trace patterns on my leg. It tickles but I pretend not to notice although completely baffled by what is occurring next to me, unable to tell why she's suddenly taken a liking to me that seems a little more than just friendly. I pivot my body away from her and her hand draws away allowing me to properly pay attention to the story although I managed to miss half of it in my distraction. I turn all of my attention to Kate although I already knew the story and could retell it myself a thousand times over, but I love she tells stories and could listen to tell them over and over again. Only a scarce few minutes pass before I feel Jade's hand on me again, this time over my hand as she lightly traces patterns that slowly move up to my forearm. I look over at her and her eyes meet mine and smiles at me and shrugs. I draw my hand away from her immediately, she looks away from me and goes back to her conversation. At the end of Kate's story I stand up from the couch and make my excuses. "I should probably get going. I still have some things to unpack."
"Let me walk you home, Princess." I hear Jade say standing up next to me.
"Jade, you're pretty drunk, I don't think you should be going anywhere." Jackson says sternly as he watches her stumble a little.
"Okay, then I'll walk you to the front door. Let's go." She says hooking her arm through mine. "You're very pretty Tori, has anyone ever told you that?" Jade asks smiling at me and I can feel a chill go down my spine "No." I say a blush making it's way up to my cheeks.
"And it's cute when you blush." She tells me poking at my cheek and I dip my head down avoiding her gaze my blush deepening. She laughs at my embarrassment and takes another sip from her cup, which I'm pretty sure she refilled before leaving the lounge. "So Tori, how long have you been here for?" She asks her gaze never leaving me.
"A couple of days. I just moved here, I used to live about an hour from here."
"Hmm, well Princess, now you live two minutes away, that means I'll see you more often." She says smiling at me again.
"Yeah, it does." I say smiling back nervously before thanking her as we reach the front gate.
"Goodbye, Tori." She says smiling at me again before walking away. "Bye" I reply almost too quietly for her to hear. "Tori, wait!" I hear someone yell and a pitter patter of feet just as I reach the gate. I turn around and see Jackson making his way over to me. "I figured I could walk you the rest of the way home." He says with a charming smile brightening up his face.
"Uh- sure. Why not." I says as we start to make our over to my new home.
"If you live so close, why are you going home so early?"
"It's our first couple of days in the new house. I'm trying to be helpful and make things easier on my mom I guess."
"Tori, you're 17 live a little, have some fun. I'm sure your mom can handle herself." he says, "I'm sure she appreciates it but come on, she doesn't need to keep you from having any fun."
"Well I like to help and I'm new to this neighborhood. Sort of." I say shrugging. "and how do you know I'm 17?" I ask, my eyebrows raising in curiosity.
"Cat." Is his simple reply. "And if you and Cat are best friends weren't you here pretty often, both you and your mom should know this neighborhood at least a little bit."
"I see and she does but I don't know. She grew up here so I guess you could say that but this way she also won't get worried."
"Well I'll give you props for being responsible but that's about it." He says laughing.
"Yeah, yeah, don't make fun, but this is me so I'll see you later. Bye. Jackson, right?"
"Uh yeah, it's Jackson." He says waving as I step up to my door. "Hey, Tori?"
"Yeah?" I say turning back to him.
"Sorry about Jade back there, she can be a bit… something. You'll hang out with us again sometime, won't you?"
"Yeah, sure I'll think about it."
"Okay, well if you're interested we're all going out tonight. We're leaving Cat's around six, consider it?"
"I will. Bye Jackson." I say as I turn around and walk into my house. "Mom? I'm home."
"Tor? you're back so early" She questions walking out the kitchen and across to the living room.
"I just thought I'd come home and do some unpacking." I tell her taking a seat at the island table.
"Oh, honey, you could've stayed out later. We have forever to finish unpacking."
"I know, but I just wanted to get a head start but Cat and a few of her friends are going out later and they invited me to come, they're leaving Cat's house around six, can I go?"
"Sure hon, just don't stay out too late and be careful. You can spend the night at Cat's as long as her parents are okay with it."
"Okay and I'm always careful mom."
"I know, but I worry sometimes."
"Yeah. I know."
I slide off the chair and head to my room to see some of the boxes gone and bed cleared and freshly made. I smile to myself thinking and scream a thanks to my mother. I take a towel out of my closet and place it over my pillow then release a deep breath collapsing onto my bed. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and take it out to see I've received a text from an unknown number.
From:323-475-6931
Hey Princess, it's Jade. Jackson said he invited you to hang with us, you coming?
Received: 3:27pm
I look at my phone confused but smile to myself reading the text happy that Cat's friends are taking a liking to me, some more than others, before saving her number and typing out my reply.
To: Jade
How'd you get my number? And yeah I think so. Sounds fun.
Why do you keep calling me Princess?
Sent: 3:29pm
I put down my phone but her reply comes almost immediately.
From: Jade
I like that name for you, it seems right. Don't you think? Princess. I stole your # from Cat's phone and what do you mean you think so? You've got to, come on Princess.
Received: 3:29pm
I smile again rolling my eyes just reading the first sentence and think about what I want to say before writing her back.
To: Jade
Why would you want my number? And okay, I'll come but you have to pick me up from my house around 5:30/5:45. and trust me when I say I'm no princess.
Sent: 3:31pm
I hit send and don't even bother setting my phone down as I know her reply will be quick.
From: Jade
Only a princess would demand an escort. How else was I supposed to text you and I wanted your number, so I took it. I like you princess and I'm going to make sure you know it. Catch you later ;).
Received: 3:32pm
I laugh and roll my eyes at Jade's text before putting my phone away and take a nap for the next hour. I set my alarm for four-thirty so that I'd have enough time to rest and make myself look presentable to go out later. I have a long night ahead of me that I most definitely need to be ready for.