Notes to Reviewers:
InfinityForever7: I'm glad you liked it, even with the insane length :) I decided to keep the chapters sorta long, but not quite as long. For example, My word Processor measured the last chapter like 6-7 pages, this one is 5 with author's notes and etc., 4 with just the story.
HeavenlyAngel34 & xBettiolx13: I'm glad you liked it :)
Authors Note: So I decided to experiment with POVs. I often shy away from them because all of the best books I have read have not been from any body's point of view, and although I don't want to copy-cat these authors, I try to pick up tips from reading their books. But, I thought I would try some POVs because I may find I like this style better. PLEASE let me know how I do with it. This is an experiment, and y'all are my guinea pigs :)
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN VICTORIOUS.
Tori's POV
I opened my heavy eyelids at the sound of my alarm clock. Ugh, I hate waking up. I shouldn't be complaining, though. Hollywood Arts starts a good bit later than other schools. That means time to stop at Starbuck's for coffee almost every morning. The sun was streaming through my skylights into my room. I love this room. It's a refurbished attic. I have my own bathroom, which is great because Trina hogs the bathroom downstairs in the morning. The room is spacious, so I have plenty of room to dance. I toss my legs over the side of the bed and reach for my phone. "1 new message from: Beck Oliver," the screen reads. I tap to read the text.
"Wonderin if U want 2 meet me n Kelly Starbucks 4 breakfast," it read. Breakfast with Beck and Kelly? I'm totally in. Kelly is awesome; I really want to get to know her better, and Beck is probably the most down-to-earth of my friends, a nice change of pace when your best friend is a sort of ditzy girl who dies her hair the color of red velvet cupcakes and is obsessed with Sky Store, janitors monkeys, candy, the color pink, prison gangs, cupcakes, costume design, baby lambs (even though I keep trying to tell her there's no such thing; a lamb is a baby sheep), ice cream, emoticons, and kazoos. Beck's also a pretty good looking guy.
"Totally. Wen do U want 2 meet?" I texted back.
"How bout we pick you up in half an hour?" Beck responded.
"Cool, C U then. :)" I rushed to get ready. "What should I wear?" I asked myself. I decided on a pink, ruffled skirt, a lacy gray tank top, and a thin, darker shirt on top of that. Converse were on my feet, my hair was pulled into a messy bun, and silver jewelry was on my fingers, wrists, ears, and around my neck. I did my makeup, brushed my teeth, and got my school stuff together. Then I checked the time. 8:24. six extra minutes. I opened my laptop and went to , where I updated my status.
"The sun is shining, the sky is blue,the grass is green, and coffee is coming soon. :) MOOD: Happy."
The doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" I yelled as I shoved my laptop back into my backpack and hurried down stairs. Too late. Trina had already gotten the door, and Kelly was the one who came to the door. This probably wasn't going to end well.
"I can't believe I'm actually meeting you, Kelly! You know, I'm a better singer than Tori. Here, listen to this: Whoooooooooah! Livin'-"
"Trina! Down!" I yelled. She stomped a three inch heel boot on the floor. She could be really immature sometimes. Scratch that. Most of the time.
"Toriiiiii, I was singing her my audition! She a professional. She could-"
"She could be leaving with me right now!" I exclaimed. I shoved past my squawking sister and out the door with Kelly.
"I'm sorry about Trina," I said.
"Don't worry about it," Kelly said with a casual wave of her hand. We climbed into the car, where Beck sat.
"Hey," I said to him.
"Hey," he said back. We drove for about fifteen minutes before we reached the magical land called Starbuck's. I ordered an iced coffee with whipped cream and chocolate sauce and a muffin, Beck got a cappuccino and coffee cake, and Kelly got a hazelnut frappuccino and a breakfast sandwich on a croissant. We found a little table in the corner. Beck and I read over our lines for our one act play again, while Kelly listened to a voice mail on her phone.
"Hey, you guys in the corner! Turn around!" someone said. We all turned to see a camera flash a few shots and then the guy ran out. Kelly rolled her eyes.
"Don't the paparazzi have something better to do?" Kelly grumbled. We finished our breakfast before we headed out of the shop. Kelly got back in the car, and Beck and I walked the rest of the way to school. It was only a few blocks. When we walked in the front door, we went to our lockers and put our stuff in there, and then headed down to the prop room. The prop room was a large room filled with costumes and well, props. We found what we needed; A bright wig, some coconuts, and a ring of keys. We grabbed a cart and put a trash can and cleaning supplies on it. We also grabbed a collapsible cage that had been part of the set to some play long before I started coming to HA. I pulled on the red wig.
"Hi! I'm Cat! I love candy!" I said with a grin. Beck smiled and shook his head. We took the props down to Sikowitz' room, and stashed them in the corner with the other props that fellow students had collected for their one-act plays. The bell rang. We took our seats as classmates filed in. Jade shoved past me to sit next to Beck, shooting me an irrationally angry glare. Whatever. Cat ran in and sat net to me. Andre and Robbie sat near the front. We waited. And waited. Finally, our teacher ran in.
"Drive by acting challenge! You are all people with bad sight and hearing.
"What? Where are you?" Robbie yelled.
"Speak up! I can't hear you!" Andre yelled back.
"Why is there a baboon telling us what to do?" Jade yelled.
"Baboons? My dad says my cousin Jesse is half baboon-" Cat started.
"Can someone help me find my hearing aids?" Beck yelled over cat.
"I will if you help me find my glasses!" I hollered.
"Okay, that's enough! Now, let's get to those one act plays. Andre and Robbie, you're up first!" Sikowitz said excitedly. They shrugged and ran up on stage.
"Sir, I can't seem to find my pet. Have you seen it?" Robbie asked.
"No, but little boy, I can get you one for Christmas if you're good!" Andre replied. He put on a prop, a Santa hat.
"You're not Santa Claus! But please, help me find my pet! He is a pink alien. His name is noodles," Robbie said.
"Of course I'm Santa! The tooth fairy came to my window and told me so! And there is no such thing as aliens!" Andre replied, annoyed.
"Then how do you explain the ship that-"
"Shut up, Robbie! This is one of the most boring plays I've ever heard!" Sikowitz interrupted.
"But can we at least finish it?" Robbie asked.
"Nope. Next, Cat and Jade!" Sikowitz yelled. The two boys sighed and went back to there seats. The goth girl and the bubbly red head went to retrieve their selected props. Cat wore a straight jacket, and Jade tucked something in her boot. Cat ran on stage.
"They're after me! They're after me!" she screamed.
"What's a pretty young thing doing at the zoo at midnight, wearing a straight jacket?" Jade asked.
"They want to drag me back... there..." Cat whispered.
"Don't worry, I won't let them hurt you," Jade said. Cat sighed in relief. "Because I'm going to make sure you never hurt again," Jade said.
"How?" Cat asked.
"By killing you now!" Jade screeched. She pulled out a fake knife and "stabbed" Cat with it several times. Then she got up, and walked away laughing. Cat sat up.
"End scene!" she exclaimed. The class clapped nervously.
"That was interesting, but... disturbing... you wrote that yourself, didn't you Jade?" Sikowitz asked. I think he was considering sending Jade to Lane, the guidance counselor's office.
"I did," she replied, and sat back down next to Beck.
"Hey! Can somebody get me out of this thing? Cat called out.
"Nope, Tori, Beck, show us something not disturbing or boring!" Sikowitz said. Cat squeaked as the teacher dragged her to the aisle, and sat her on the floor. I grinned. This would be nothing like the other two skits. I put on the wig, and waited for my cue, while beck took off his boots so he was bare foot like our crazy teacher. Beck set up the cage. He grinned at me, then put on a serious face, and went to his starting position. He whistled a tune and went over to the cage.
"Ah, coconuts," he said, staring into the cage at the fake coconuts. He looked around, then took the cart, and let himself into the cage, and picked up one of the faux drupes. I walked on stage, looking around as if my artificially red head was stuck way up among the clouds. I turned towards the cage.
"Oh, monkeys!" I squealed. I ran up to the cage. "Oh! And a janitor too!" I ran into the cage. I could hear my classmates chuckling at us poking fun at our sweet classmate and quirky teacher. "Sir, Mr. Janitor? My name is Cat. I love janitors! Can I have your autograph so I can add it to my Janitors' autographs collection?" I said.
"I'm not a Janitor," Beck whispered.
"Oh my gosh! An impostor! I'm calling Tori's dad! He's a cop!" I yelled.
"Shhhhh, Cat! It's me! Your improv teacher! I would never be a janitor! They terrify me!" Beck whispered.
"What's that supposed to mean?" The real Cat yelled from her place on the floor. I ignored her.
"Oh, you're just playing dress up?" I asked, now whispering too.
"No, I just wanted these beautiful drupes," Beck said, admiring the coconuts.
"Sikowitz, those aren't real," I said swaying back and forth in a very Cat Valentine like way.
"Good Gandhi! I've been duped!" he exclaimed. I screamed.
"Cat you're scaring the monkeys! Quick, get out before they start chewing us!" Beck said pushing me toward the door.
"Here, monkeys! Run free," I told the imaginary monkeys as I opened the door.
"What did you do? One grabbed the keys! We're trapped!" Beck exclaimed.
"Oh no! I hate being trapped," I wailed.
"Stop your squawking! It's your fault!" Beck scolded.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I exclaimed.
"Why did you let the monkeys out?," Beck asked.
"You said 'Get Out', so I helped the monkeys get out!" I said. Beck shook his head that we walked out of the cage.
"End scene," Beck said.
"I cannot in good conscience give you a good grade," Sikowitz said sternly, once everyone was done clapping. I was shocked.
"Why?" I asked.
"You mocked my love of the drink known as coconut milk!" he exclaimed.
"They really didn't," Robbie butt in.
"Beck was imitating you. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery," Andre added.
"I will take that into consideration. Perhaps I will give you a good grade in bad conscience," said Sikowitz. "Now! Let's talk about the next upcoming play here at Hollywood Arts! We will be doing A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. But! With two twists! One: You will NOT audition. I have decided to assign roles to you." We waited.
"What's the other twist?" Andre finally asked.
"What other twist?" Sikowitz asked.
"You said there were three twists," Jade piped up.
"Oh yes! The second twist is that I tricked you! There are only two twists!" Sikowitz said with a grin. We all nodded slowly.
"So what's the third twist?" Beck asked.
"I'll get to that in a moment. The play has four lead roles; Hermia, Helena, Lysander, and Demetrius. Jade will be Helena, Beck will play Lysander, and Tori will be fair Hermia. Sinjin will be Demetrius." Beck and I nodded.
"Wait, I have to fall in love with Sinjin?" Jade screeched.
"Yes. Andre, you will play Theseus, the ruler of Athens who is engaged to the Queen of the Amazon," Sikowitz said.
"Who's my beautiful Fiancé? I hope it's that hot girl, Carmen-"
"Nope, Trina Vega will be playing Hippolyta: Theseus's lovely bride," Sikowitz said matter-of-factly.
"Boy, and I thought I had it bad," Jade said with a smirk. Andre pouted.
"Robbie, you are going to be Oberon," Sikowitz.
"Who's that?" Robbie asked.
"Oberon is the King of The Fairies," Sikowitz answered. Jade snickered.
"Do I have to wear tights?" Robbie asked, concerned.
"Any more whining and I will make sure they are pink tights!" Sikowitz barked. Robbie's moth snapped shut. "Anyway, Cat will be playing your wife, Titania."
"Yay! I get to be a fairy! Do I get a unicorn?" Cat asked.
"No, but you get to fall in love with a donkey," Sikowitz responded.
"Phooey. Hey, can some one help me out of this straight jacket?" Cat asked.
"No. Anyway, third twist. All the members of Vox Populis will be performing in the play. They will be the troupe of traveling actors, and Eli will play the sixth member," He said, excited. I glanced over at Beck, he caught my gaze and smiled.
"Do I have to do this play?" Jade asked.
"Why do you ask?" Sikowitz responded.
"I hate Vox Populis with a passion," Jade said bluntly.
"Well, you don't have to do it, but if you don't, you will get an F for the semester if you don't participate," Sikowitz said.
"I'll do the stupid play," Jade grumbled. Beck smiled and kissed her temple. A pang of jealousy stabbed me. I buried it down, though. The bell rang. We all got up, and I released cat from the bondage of the straight jacket. My friends and I filed into the hallway. I went to my locker, and opened it. I needed some more lip gloss.
"Tori!" I whirled around. There was Cat. "You and Beck are in a picture on the Starlette Magazine site!" Cat exclaimed and she held up her extremely sparkly phone. I squinted at the picture. It was the one taken this morning with me, Beck, and Kelly. Then my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when I saw the caption: Does Kelly Vashti Have A New Man? Rocker Caught on Breakfast Date With Mystery Boy." This was not good. I found the article on my own phone, grabbed Beck's arm, and pulled him aside. "Take a look at this," I said, handing him my phone. Beck froze when he saw the headline.
"Not good," he muttered.
~.~.~.~
Cat skipped down the hallway, when she saw Jade coming out of the girl's bathroom.
"Jade! Look at this!" She exclaimed and handed her the phone. Jade squinted at it, then her eyes widened, and she threw the phone against the wall.
Author's Note 2: So the plot has finally come together! Like I said, the POVs were an experiment. I'm pretty sure I like it better narrated. It was still kind of fun to write :) I also wanted to say thank you to every one who subscribed to this story, favorited it, or wrote a review. I want to tell you the stats:
Hits: 180
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Reviews: 3
It may not seem like much, BUT, here it is compared to my most successful story before this. It's called "Reunion and Rebellion", and it has six chapters, where as this one has one, (well, two now) and the first chapter was published 6-18-11, and Siblings and Secrets has been up for about 24 hours.
Hits: 129
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Reviews: 7
Wow! Thanks guys, so so so much :) I can't express how good this feels :) *Gives Hugs To Fans* Please keep reviewing, I love you guys :)
Rock On, Dudes and Dudettes!
LOVE, Bethany