Yes, I am aware that it has been forever and a day since I updated last. Lucky for you guys, I already have the next few chapters written out. They should be up soon.

I must say, I am a little disappointed. Four reviews? That made me a little curious. Did you not like that last chapter? I can only assume so. The lack of feedback didn't exactly inspire me to write more.

I don't wanna be a review whore and beg for them or require a certain amount before I post the next chapter, but a simple "love it," or "hate it" would suffice. I'm not asking for a five hundred word essay on what you liked about it and why.

With that being said, what goes on? How's everybody's summer been and shit? Me? Oh mine's is cool. I'm supposed to be in school now, but for some odd reason my school has a hold on my account and wouldn't allow me to register for any classes so I don't think I'll be able to start until the spring semester which is cool for me, I'll just be tryna find a job. But you don't care so, let's get to the story, shall we?

Tori's POV-

This week has been great.

Amazing, actually.

I am sitting in my least favorite class of the day- R&B Vocals- listening to Ms. Grant give us the outline on our next tedious project that will be worth half of our final grade. Normally, I'd be grumpy and counting the seconds until the final bell rung, but I have been floating on cloud nine all week.

Even my friends have noticed my change in attitude. Cat asked me this morning if I'd eaten any bibble, as if that would explain my bubbliness. Of course, I told her I was just extremely happy with my relationship with Andre and she gave me a hug, saying that she was happy for me. But seriously, when isn't she happy?

Hmm… Let's see; when you kissed her boyfriend, when you promised her that blonde or redheaded, that Evan guy would still like her. Shall I continue?

Who asked you?!

Robbie's girlfriend Allisyn told me that I'd been glowing, which would've been a compliment had she not asked me if I was high two seconds later. When I told her no, she asked me if I would like to be.

I know why you're glowing, you dirty slut, my inner voice sing-songs, winking at me.

I can't help but feel a little giddy. Yes, Andre and I have been doing that quite a lot lately. It's the way we connect. Sure we talk and go out like any other couple, but whenever we're alone and we're together it's just mind-blowingly amazing! I never had a connection like that with Danny. It was never real love. It was just…a crush? Maybe infatuation, but whatever it was, it couldn't hold a candle to mine and Andre's intimacy.

"Now, I have a special treat for you all," Ms. Grant blabs as she passes out the rubric for our project. "One of my students from my advanced vocals class is going to perform his piece from his semester project. It was one of the best I've heard in years. So just chat amongst yourselves until he gets here."

With that being said, all of the juniors got into their little cliques and shit.

When I transferred to Hollywood Arts I missed taking some required classes for my grade level. During my sophomore year, I had to take some freshman classes and in my junior year, I had to take a few sophomore classes and so on and so forth. Because of this set back, I wasn't allowed to take R&B vocals until this year, which is why I'm not in an advanced class.

Unfortunately for me, this means I'm stuck with all of the whiny underclassmen. Don't get me wrong, most of them are really talented, some better than me. But they tend to act immature and childish. Most of the girls are gossipy and rude, thinking that people should kiss the ground they walk on.

The guys are more into their instruments, a little more hardworking, but I have heard Devon- one of my classmates- singing a song about tits during our free time.

Shrugging, I took my songbook out of my bag. Might as well get started early…

"Who do you think it is?" some redheaded girl with a nose ring asked.

Another redhead with glasses and really big boobs shrugged, looking into her compact and fixing her shirt to show more cleavage. The slut… "I hope it's Beck Oliver. He sings, right?" I snort under my breath.

The day Beck willingly signs up for a singing class will be the day Cat stops telling us disturbing stories about her brother.

Not that I don't think Beck is a good singer, but he's really serious about his acting. He only sings if a role he really wants requires him to do so. Plus, he tries to stay away from any classes that are bound to be predominantly female-based for obvious reasons.

"Nah, the only time I've ever heard him sing was freshman year when he sang with Vega," a blonde girl said, her voice lowering when she said my name.

Nose-ring redhead sighed. "She's so lucky. I'd give my left kidney to sing with him." The other girls laughed, nodding excitedly in agreement.

It'd almost be adorable if girls weren't constantly swooning over Beck. I mean, my crush on him is long gone and he's one of my closest friends, but the way people fawn over him is irritating- not that he can help it.

"You know who else is fine and can sing his ass off?" Blondie asked, looking back and forth between both girls. "Andre Harris, the John Legend of Hollywood Arts."

Heh heh. That's a nice one. I'm keeping that.

Now a normal girl would be jealous, but what can I say? My man is fine, he can sing his ass off, and the girl's got good taste. As long as she stays in her place, I don't have a problem with her complimenting him.

I look back down at my book, done eavesdropping. I don't normally listen in on their conversations unless they mention my friends.

"Doesn't he go out with Vega?" Nose ring's voice asks.

And I'm eavesdropping again.

"Yes, yes I do," a deep, masculine voice joined in the conversation. My head snapped up to see Andre smiling politely at the girls, his guitar case slung over one of his broad shoulders. "Best month and a half of my life," he added looking up at me and winking.

If that didn't start a tingling sensation between my legs…I smirked and motioned with my finger for him to come over to me.

He smiled again, turning back to the blonde girl. "Ladies." He nodded and started walking in my direction, removing his guitar case from his back before leaning down to peck my lips.

Closing my book and putting it back in my bag, I turned my body in my chair so we were sitting opposite each other. "What brings you to this side of the hallway?" I joked.

Andre's free period was across the hall in Davidson's room. When he's not teaching Tech Theatre, his room serves as a study hall.

"You don't know? I, the John Legend of Hollywood Arts, have come to serenade a very special lady in my life."

I think my insides just melted. "Aw, you're so sweet," I beamed, leaning into to kiss him again.

Andre smirked. "Yeah well, she's giving me extra credit so…" he trailed off.

"Dre!" I whined, leaning back and punching his shoulder.

Andre laughed, lifting his hand and resting it on my neck. "Hey now! Now's not the time to get physical."

I pursed my lips. "Bite me, dick."

Andre raised an eyebrow and captured my lips with his, his tongue immediately sweeping across my bottom lip before he trapped it between his teeth and bit down. Hard.

"Dre! That hurt," I whined, my fingers caressing my bottom lip while I put on my best pout.

"Aw, pobrecita." He laughed in a mocking tone. "Want me to kiss it better?"

I giggled, pushing his shoulder. "Fuck you and your kisses!"

"Just say when and where," he quipped, removing his acoustic from its case. "Until then, Ms. Grant, I'm ready."

She looked up from her podium and gestured to the stool in front of the class. "Good. Class, this is Andre Harris. He's the senior from my advanced class I mentioned earlier. He's a paradigm of one of the possible ways to complete and present your project," she explained as Andre made his way up in to the stool in front of the class. "Andre, you may begin anytime."

Andre nodded. "Hey you guys," he greeted that class with a small, salute-like wave. "I'm gonna sing a song called 365. I wrote it last year, but I revised it not too long ago and this is the newer version," he explained before strumming the beginning chords of a song I was familiar with. This version, however, I'd never heard.

Monday, I wait outside your door

Tuesday I sing you this song

Wednesday I bring you a red, red rose

Took you to your favorite spot

Huh.

Seven days a week every hour of the month

You're the only one that I really want

Gotta find a way just to make you say

Gotta find a way just to let you know

I will try everything to make you come closer to me

Baby 'til you believe, it's not just a phase

How can I get it through? You're the one I can't lose

I'll try 365 days

365 ways to get to you, yeah

To get to you, you, you, you, Tori

Aw, he rewrote the song for me? Well, he did say he came to serenade a special lady in his life.

I probably look like a dummy with this giant shit-eating grin on my face throughout the rest of the song. One of the girls in the group scoffed almost every time he used my name in the song, but I didn't care.

Jealous bitch!

When Andre was done, the whole class clapped and I stood up to give him a hug. "Judging by the big Kool-Aid smile you're giving me, I'm gonna to assume you liked it?"

I nodded, pulling back to kiss him chastely. "You're definitely getting some tonight."


My boyfriend is the cutest thing when he's sleep. I snuggle closer to him and kiss him before turning over and trying to go to sleep as well. Andre's arm snakes over my bare stomach, pulling me closer to him, while mumbling something about his grandmother spilling oatmeal in his car again.

I suppress the urge to giggle because I don't want to wake him up, and I close my eyes.

...But this was getting boring. I'd been trying to go to sleep for the past thirty minutes, and I'm not tired. In fact, I was oddly energetic, so I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Andre, and put on my undies and his shirt. I crept out of my room and made my way downstairs.

The house is going to be mine for the next few days, thank God! My mom and dad are on their third honeymoon in Venezuela, so they'll be gone until next week.

And as for Trina, she's been one of the select few in her Broadcast Journalism class to attend this expo in Fresno. Even though Trina can't sing and is a mediocre actress, she seems to have a real talent for this, so I'm happy that she's doing well.

I make my way into the kitchen and grab a bottle of vitamin water and stand in the entryway, searching the room for something to do while Andre rests. My eyes fall on the piano and I immediately think of my project.

Lucky for me, I'd already been working on a song before she even assigned the project. I could just use that; all I have to do is finish it. I walk over to the couch where Andre and I dropped our things in a hurry to get to my room.

Looking through my bag, I fish out my song book and a pen, and then make my way to the piano bench. I set the book up on the music stand and start to play.

It wasn't long before I'd gotten though over half of the song, only stopping to make adjustments to the lyrics and writing down the different chord progressions along the way. There was just this one part that I've been stuck on- the bridge.

"Excuse me if I'm sounding crazy, but you've been the one I've been hoping and waiting for. Searched all around but there's nobody else in the world that loves me like you do…" I sang for the billionth time. "Searched all around, but there's nobody else in the world that loves me like you do…Can I- No! I can't explain…no! Let me explain how…fuck!" I cried exasperatedly, banging my fists on the piano.

"The piano is your friend," a familiar masculine voice mumbled in my ear. Even in my sour mood, it managed to bring a small smile to my face. "Don't hit it."

Huffing, I leaned back against his chest, taking in his scent. Andre always smelled good. Like Old Spice and something that was just…Andre.

"Do you want me to help?" he offered, his arms circling around me while his chin rested on my shoulder.

As much as I wanted to say yes, I found myself shaking my head. I'd been writing this song for weeks. I was almost done. I'd be cheating myself if I let him help just because I was a little frustrated.

"No, I'm almost done. I just have to come up with a bridge." He released me to come around and sit next to me on the piano bench.

"I have the words in my head; all I need to do is unjumble them so they come out right."

Andre snickered. "Unjumble?" He smiled, leaning in to kiss me. "You know that's not a word, right?" I nudged his arm playfully with my elbow.

"Okay. Okay. Let me hear what you've got," he requests, gesturing towards the keys.

Shrugging, I take a deep breath, running my fingers over the keys until they found the right placement.

Give me just a minute- just a second

I've gotta get it off my chest

Ain't a competition when you're in it

Let you know that you're the best.

My fingers flew over the keys expertly. I'd played this song so many times I could play it in my sleep.

And if I never told you, baby

I really do appreciate it

Keep on like you do, and I'll always be true

Because no one I know ever made me feel

Like I could be dreaming cause you can't be real

And it makes, makes me so happy

Yes it makes, yes it makes me cry.

And I know you're looking at me probably thinking why but…

Andre's hands start to mimic mine on the keys an octave higher, adding a little flavor to it as he hummed background vocals. He never ceased to amaze me with his talent. I'd only been playing for maybe 30 seconds and he'd already picked it up. But then again, maybe he'd heard me while he was upstairs.

Excuse me if I'm sounding crazy but you've been the one I've been hoping and waiting for

Searched all around but there's nobody else in the world that loves me like you do…

I stop singing but continue to play out the chord progression I'd composed for the bridge. Andre stopped playing because it was unfamiliar to him and I closed my eyes, trying to put in order the words in my head. Momentarily, I stop playing, take a breath and begin again with the words a little clearer.

Let me explain why I'm acting this way

You're all that I need so don't ever change

Andre picks up the pen I have on the piano and writes the lyrics that I've just sang. "Sounds good, baby, keep going," he encourages, so I restart the bridge, but the words escaped me.

Let me explain why I'm acting this way

You're all that I need so don't ever change

Your love…Um…shit!

I'm about to lift my hands and bang the piano again when Andre grabs one and kisses the back of it, instantly calming my frustration.

"Baby, you got it. Just tell me where you're trying to go from here," he says calmly.

I instantly recognize the voice as the one he uses when he's trying to placate his bat-shit grandmother. Oddly enough, I don't feel offended because I know he's not trying to patronize me.

"In my head, it builds up, and then it modulates and returns to the chorus. I just need that one last line…" I say, talking with my hands to emphasize my point. Andre nods in understanding, waiting patiently for me to sort out the lyrics in my head.

The song is obviously about Andre and how he makes me feel. I started writing it before we got together, not too long after the scary movie incident. I was trying to come to terms with the way I felt about him; it was so foreign. I literally felt like I was going crazy. I close my eyes and try to draw some inspiration from the events of the past month and a half.

The love taps, the flirting, how safe I feel in his arms, the intimacy, how I feel when were together, all of it. It makes me feel so free, so light like I'm floating…

That's it…I resume playing the bridge.

Your love takes me higher, higher, higher…

Oh excuse me if I'm sounding crazy but you've been the one I've been hoping and waiting for

Searched all around but there's nobody else in the world

Baby nobody's ever loved me like you do and I'm so mighty, mighty glad about it baby…

Andre begins clapping and cheering as if he were in an audience, instead of right beside me. "That's an amazing song. You did your thang, baby." He wraps his arms around me and kisses the side of my neck.

"I had an amazing inspiration."

That is all. I wrote like four different chapter threes. None of them were alike so I just took a little bit of each of them and smushed them together. Next chapter is where the story picks up. This is where we get to the expeditious part.

The song Tori "writes" is called Excuse Me by Jasmine Sullivan if you're interested.

Beta-ed by bandgrad2008. Thank you so much ma'am! Until next time- Regina(: