Disclaimer: The Show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.

Memory

Chapter 4 – No traces.

No One's pov

Jade had been home about 3 weeks, when Beck finally threw a welcome home party. Jade, even though she wanted no party, went along with it to please her future husband. Nothing of her memory had returned and 17 months of memories were gone; apparently forever. It was endlessly frustrating for Jade. She felt some days like a time traveler, one stuck in a future that she didn't feel happy with. On the plus side her injures were healing and other than some weakness she was pretty good.

Beck sensing Jade's frustration and anger, thought a welcome home party with family and friends would help her transition. Help her feel right again.

However the only place Jade felt right, was the one bench in the park which she returned to almost every day since she "Found" it.

Tonight Jade and Becks apartment was full of well-wishers. Cat, Andre, Robbie, Jade's parents, Becks family and a few other friends were all present to welcome Jade home.

Even Tori, came but she was late showing up at 10 pm, 2 hours after the party started. She told Beck she had to cover for someone who called in sick to the diner.

Jade spend most of the time not wanting to be there. Most of them asked how she felt or did she remember anything. Most of them made attempts to jog Jade's memories by telling her stories. In some cases they even brought pictures or videos. Nothing worked and all of it looked very unfamiliar to Jade. As the party wore on she found it increasingly harder to pretend to be happy.

At about 11 she realized she hadn't spoken to Tori. Though she had been there for an hour she always seemed to be on the other side of the room. Jade observed that Tori seemed to be in a pleasant mood. Jade half thought that the Latina was deliberately trying to avoid her. Which would be very odd, as in years past she tried to do anything but.

At the moment Tori was standing by kitchen drinking a beer with a look indicating she was thinking about something. Feeling the need to say something Tori Jade made a beeline for the Latina.

"Hello Tori." Jade said with a pleasant smile.

For an instant Tori carefully studied Jades eyes. "Hi Jade."

"You know Vega, You've been here an hour and not once have you tried to talk to me. If I didn't know better I'd say you were avoiding me." Jade said with a smirk.

Tori quickly shook her head. "Not at all. You are the center of attention. I figured I'd get my turn eventually. I'm glad to see you are on the mend."

"Thank you. You know, I think this is the first time we've talked at all since the accident. Hasn't it. Other than that brief visit at the hospital room."

"Yes. I didn't want to be a bother to you. I'm sure you have a lot of adjusting to do, a lot on your mind. That kind of thing."

It was then Jade noticed it. Though Tori's demeanor was casual and friendly, there was artificialness to it. Jade thought how Tori when she spoke was very spontaneous, but in this conversation it seemed like every word she spoke was very carefully chosen. But the thought passed quickly and Jade moved on to her next question.

"So Tell me, what did we do in those 17 months?"

Tori who had practiced her answer at least a 100 times went into her prepared remarks. "Oh. Not much. We hung out a few times. You and Beck had me over for dinner 3 or 4 time's maybe. I'm afraid there isn't a whole lot to tell." It was a bland answer and meant to be that way.

Jade the actress once again sensed the answer, though sounding very convincing, was rehearsed. Jade shoved the ever growing suspicion to the back of her mind and moved on to the next question.

"Perhaps we'll have you over again sometime. When was the last time you were over for dinner?"

Tori appeared to think. "The last time I was here was late March I think."

As she said it, Tori couldn't help but think of the true answer. The last time she was really here.

Flashback.

Tori had been home alone watching TV when he had gotten the call from Beck, informing her that Jade had awoken.

"Good news Tori. Jades' awake." Said Becks happy voice from the phone.

Tori on the other hand felt very much like she was going to be ill, as her heart began to race. "How is she?"

Tori could hear a sigh. "She seems Ok. But there is one thing. She appears to remember nothing at all in the last 17 months. They are running some tests but at least one of the doctors told me she may never recover her memories."

Tori couldn't believe what she heard. "Never? Oh wow. I'm sorry to hear that she doesn't remember anything. I hope she get's well."

"Thank you."

"Beck, I hate to cut and run but I have some friends over and I'm sure you want to catch up with Jade. Just keep me posted."

"Ok. I will. Goodbye."

After the phone had been hung up a look of pain flashed across Tori's face. "All gone…It's all gone. But maybe that's good."

After a moment Tori had a realization, as a sense of panic suddenly gripped her. "Except?

Tori went into a drawer and extracted a key, then headed out. 20 minutes later, Tori was standing in front of Jade and Beck's apartment door. Tori then took the same key and unlocked the door, letting herself in.

"Beck won't be back for hours. All I need is 5 minutes." Tori whispered to herself as she headed towards the bedroom.

In the bedroom Tori made for the closet and went to the side, pulling out lose section of plaster. Behind that was a small space that contained what appeared to be a photo album and a number of other objects. Tori took the various items, a theatre stub, a pressed flower under glass amongst other things and placed them in a duffle bag.

With a sad look Tori opened the photo album. Her eyes went to one of her favorite pictures. It was one of Jade asleep in bed. She looked so peaceful lying there; Tears came to Tori's eyes as the now bittersweet memory came to her mind. That had been after the first time they made love. For a moment Tori took her finger and traced the outline of Jade in the picture before taking a moment to look at the others. Many of the pictures were of Tori, ones that Jade liked. A few of them together in bed.

"Now it's as if it never happened." Said Tori, as she closed the photo album and shoved it in the duffle bag.

Then she took a rag and wiped all the dust from the space as some of the objects had left imprints of where they were.

Hurriedly Tori replaced the plaster panel, what she didn't notice was that she left it slightly misaligned. She immediately took the duffle bag and left the apartment, locking the door on her way out.

On her way to her car she passed a trash can. Pausing, she pulled out the key and looked at it fondly. Remembering the day Jade gave it to her. On those long stretches when Beck was on location filming, that apartment was practically their apartment.

With tears forming in her eyes, Tori tossed the key in the trash.

End flashback.

"No traces" Tori thought as she continued to speak with Jade. She made a point to sound rather uninteresting, taking the time to complain about the creepy customers that squeezed her ass at the diner.

"You'd think the creepy ones would look creepy. Some of the creepiest ones were well dressed. Executive types. One guy who grabbed my ass, it think was a doctor."

The pair spoke some more but Jade quickly grew bored of the rather bland conversation, which she found rather disappointing. Tori was always a much more animated person. After a few minutes Jade excused herself and went to talk to some of the other guests.

It was about 45 minutes later she saw Tori talking to Beck. Jade felt an spark of jealousy seeing the two talking but did nothing. They were merely talking at a party. Jade couldn't help wonder what they were talking about.

Across the room Tori had listened to Becks plans for the immediate future.

"Well I still have the gig on the Cop show starting. I was to start shooting in September but since Jade had the terrible accident they gave me a break and decided to have my characters start in mid-season. I start shooting in January. That will give time for Jade to try and recover her memories here. Hopefully something familiar will jog it."

Tori's eyes diverted to the side for a moment. "You know what Beck. I think the best thing for you and Jade is to just get on with your lives. Don't wait to move to New York. Jade's getting better and I think a change of pace will do her wonders. What if she never recovers her memory then you will have just wasted your time. I say move out there sooner, rather than later."

Beck was somewhat surprised by Tori's insistence they move away sooner. It was rather strange but he could see the logic in it.

"You really think so?"

Tori put her hand on Becks shoulder which sent another spark of Jealousy through Jade, as she was watching across the room.

"I really think so. Just pull up the stakes and move. New City, New sights, New opportunities. You'll both be much better off. Trust me."

"I'll think about it."

Tori put up a finger. "Tell you what. I have a cousin that lives on Staten Island. He can even help you find a place. His best friend is in real estate."

Beck chuckled. "You really seem eager to get us to leave. Don't you?"

Tori flashed a fake smile. "No, I just want you to get on with your happy lives. If you dwell on the past, you may not be able to move forward."

2 hours later Jade was sitting on the couch as Beck picked up the party rubble. The last guest had left some 20 minutes previous.

"Pretty good party." Beck said as he tossed a paper plate in the trash.

"Yeah." Jade suddenly had a thought. "Did you see Tori leave?"

"She said she had to work early and left about an hour ago. Didn't she say goodbye on her way out?"

Jade shook her head, as she felt a stab of dissappointment. "No."

Beck looked puzzled. "That's odd. Perhaps she stayed too late and wanted to get home."

Jade didn't know what to think, all she felt now was an feeling of emptiness. "Maybe."

The next week was uneventful for Jade. She sat at home and wrote while Beck worked on his movie. She would make almost daily trips to her spot. That was the only place she felt right. The only place where that undefined sadness would go away.

One day as she was getting dressed she pulled out a bra and began to put it on. Jade immediately noticed it was the wrong size. It was too small.

"What the Heck?"

"Huh." Said Beck from across the room.

"I don't know. This bra was in my dresser drawer. But it's not mine."

Beck thought for a moment. "You know what. I'll bet someone in the building left a bra in the one of the dryers in the laundry room and it got mixed in with one of yours."

A smirk came to Jade's face. "Unless you're cheating on me. Your lover leaving her stuff in our apartment."

A hardy laugh came from Beck's mouth. "Can't be me. I do it the old fashioned way. I use cheap motels. Maybe it's a lover of yours. Something you're not telling me. Hmm…"

Like a door suddenly slamming shut, Jade instantly found herself not wanting to have this conversation anymore. On top of that she suddenly felt very edgy and tense. "I'll just leave it in the laundry room. Maybe someone will claim it." Jade said as she abruptly left the room.

Glad everyone is enjoying the story. Jade is starting to get suspicous and Tori just wants to erase the past.