As it turns out, Tori and Cat never went back to class, but they show up to lunch. They're not holding hands or anything, but the way they can't take their eyes off each other and keep giggling is making Robbie sick.

"What is up with you two?" Jade asks, her words cutting and to the point.

Beck looks up from his pizza and joins in on staring at the girls across from him and Jade. Andre does the same.

Cat giggles again, brushing the sleeve of her shirt to her nose. She glances around the table and asks, "What do you mean?"

"Well, Little Red," Andre starts, then takes a sip of his soda before he continues, "you were acting a little upset this morning before first period and then you kinda went all kooky and ran out of Sikowitz's class out of nowhere. And then Tori had to run after you."

"And now you're all sunshines and rainbow and kittens again," Jade says. "What's the beef?"

"I don't know," Cat answers, her eyebrows knitting in confusion. "What is the beef?"

"That's what I'm asking you," Jade says with annoyance.

"Hey!" Tori says a little too loudly, getting the table's attention. She plasters an awkward smile on her face and picks up the salt shaker for her fries. "I want to hear about Andre's trip to New Orleans."

"Yeah, how was your trip?" Beck asks.

"Oh, it was amazing!" Andre slaps his hands together in excitement. "My auntie and cousins showed me around the—"

Robbie tunes him out, chewing on a chip as he thinks about what he saw earlier today. He grits his teeth and his eyes narrow just thinking about it.

How could Cat do this to him? Doesn't she know he's perfect for her? Doesn't she know he's crushed on her since the sixth grade when they went to Hollywood Arts Junior Academy? Doesn't she know he's been here with open arms for her when no one even wanted to take her to that Northridge prom last year?

How could she?

"Robbie."

"Is he okay?"

"Robbie!"

Robbie shakes his thoughts away. He takes in the looks of concern from his friends.

"Are you okay?" Tori asks.

"I'm fine!" Robbie exclaims with a nervous laugh. "Why would you even ask that?"

"Because you're suffocating your chip bag," Beck says.

Robbie drops the bag onto the table. He wipes his hands on his pants.

"Finish your story, Andre," Jade says. She folds her arms across her chest and leans into Beck. "I want to hear about this "magic voodoo stick" your Aunt gave you."

Andre waves her off. "Nah, it's silly. I don't believe in that stuff."

"Jade does," Beck states, picking at a pepperoni.

"Of course you do," Tori says to Jade as if it all makes sense.

"Her family is viking," Cat throws in.

Silence takes over the table as they all look at Cat.

"What'd she say?" Rex asks, laying against Robbie's bag.

Andre rubs his forehead, thinking. "Viking?"

"Wiccan," Jade says, shaking her head. "My mom's family comes from a bloodline of Wiccans."

"So you really believe in magic?" Tori asks, wielding a french fry. She dips it mayo and takes a bite.

"To an extent." Jade closes her lunch container, still leaning into Beck. "I believe it exists."

"Magic doesn't exist," Robbie interjects. "It's scientifically impossible."

Cat splays her hands out on the table. "But we have magicians?"

"Not that type of magic, Cat. She's talking about witchcraft."

Cat gasps, turning her head into Tori's neck. She mumbles, "That's scary stuff. I don't like it."

Robbie watches as Tori places one hand on Cat's back, the other slipping through long, red hair. The brunette drops her head to the girl's shoulders, her lips moving but she's too quiet to hear.

Robbie doesn't think he wants hear what she's saying anyway.

He stiffly turns to look at Andre. "So, voodoo magic stick?"

"Yeah," Andre says, lifting his backpack and setting it on the table. He unzips the bag and pulls out a worn and battered stick. "My auntie says that this stick can make any wish come true."

"You wave it around or something? Like a wand?"

"No, you're supposed to say a wish and then break it." He shrugs. "It's just going to end up on my shelf as a souvenir really."

Jade straightens up in her seat and grabs the item out of Andre's hands, ignoring his "Hey!" She rubs her hands on the stick from tip to bottom, as if trying to get a feel for it. Her body gives a slight shudder and she drops the stick onto the table.

"The magic is freakishly strong in that thing," Jade says darkly. "Gives me goosebumps."

Andre laughs. "It's just a stick, Jade."

"ATTENTION STUDENTS!"

Cat jumps, knocking her head against Tori's.

"Ow," Tori says, grimacing. She presses a hand to her temple.

Cat rubs Tori's shoulder. "I'm sorry!"

"ATTENTION STUDENTS! MY NAME IS TRINA VEGA!"

Robbie looks up at the balcony above them. His eyes squint at the glare that streaks across his glasses from the sun.

"I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I AM PERFORMING A SEQUAL TO MY HIT ONE-WOMAN SHOW, "TRINA!" I TITLED IT "TRINA, AGAIN!"

"Why is she just yelling?" he asks.

"Lane took away her megaphone privelages," Tori says, still nursing her head.

"And yet, she still can manage to annoy the entire population here at lunch." Jade sighs. "I think that's her only talent."

"I WILL HAVE SINJIN HAND OUT THE FLYERS WHILE YOU ENJOY YOUR LUNCHES! THANK YOU! LOVE YOU!"

"Oh, thank God," Jade mutters.

Robbie starts on his chips again when he hears "Sinjin look out!" He looks up and sees Sinjin trip over Trina's foot, the box of flyers in his hands flying all over the asphault. Sinjin falls, but ends up rolling down the stairs. Everyone gets up and rushes for him.

Robbie stands and goes to grab Rex, when his eyes land on the voodoo stick. Without a second thought, or any thought at all, he picks it up.

"I wish Cat had ended up with me instead."

The wood surprisingly snaps easily into two.

"Hey, that's Andre's stick!" Rex calls out.

"Shut up!" Robbie harshly whispers.

He waits for a moment.

Nothing.

Robbie groans and quickly throws the broken stick into the trashcan, picks up Rex, and heads over to the crowd.

Turns out Sinijn came out of the fall in one piece.

"That's so lame," Jade says, shutting her locker door.

"Don't be mean," Tori scolds.

"Ha!"

Tori shakes her head.

"Besides, that was the most exciting thing that happened today," Andre says, putting books into his backpack.

"What's the most exciting thing that happened today?" Cat asks, walking up to the group.

She brushes by Robbie and Rex and stands next to Tori.

"Sinjin falling down the stairs."

Cat giggles. She blushes a little and says, "Not to me."

Robbie always thought Tori's smile was pretty. Now he just wants to cover it up with duck tape.

"I seriously wonder why I hang out with you people," Jade says, grabbing Beck and walking off.

"You know, I still can't believe someone stole my stick."

Cat nods. "I'm sorry, Andre."

"No sweat. I mean, it was just a stick."

"Well, since the day is done, I have to get going," Tori says. "My mom wants me home by three-thirty today."

Andre frowns. "Why?"

"She wants to take the Christmas decorations down before our neighbors come over for dinner."

"Do you think you have time to walk me to my bus?" Cat asks with bashful smile.

Tori grins. "Always."

"Always," Robbie says in a whiny voice, mimicking Tori from earlier.

"What is wrong with you?" Rex asks.

Robbie puts Rex onto the left side of the bed and lies down on the other side.

"I don't want to talk about it."

He rolls over and turns off the light.