AN: I do not own or operate the characters from Victorious. I just keep them alive. Someone else owns them and has already made a fortune from them.

This story takes place in an alternate universe. It doesn't follow my other story arcs. This story will have some violence and bad adult words. If you don't want to read that kind of thing then I am sure there are other fine stories you could read. If you do like stories about strong women who don't take anything from anyone, this story is for you.

If you are a Beck fan, too bad. I despise him and always make him a villain that gets his in the end. Throughout the series he was the weakest written character and really wasn't that good of an actor. My writing might trigger anger by Beck fans. Good! I don't care.

Trust me there will be Jori, but we aren't there quite yet. Enjoy S.M.

Chapter 4: It's Showtime

It was two days later that Jade got a phone call at work from Tori. She had tried Jade's cell phone several times, but they weren't allowed to carry their phones on the floor. A supervisor called her o the office and told her that she had an emergency call from her sister.

Jade didn't have a sister so she knew someone was either pulling a punk on her or it was someone she knew who was in trouble and needed to make sure they got through to her.

She picked up the phone in the break room and took the call. She was surprised that it was Tori. Her supervisor didn't leave. He just hung around listening to her conversation, well that was his plan.

"Thank you Steve. I have got it now. I will see you out on the floor in a minute or two." Jade said dismissing him. He left the room wondering when he lost control of the situation. She never would have taken control like that before she started wrestling. She liked the new found confidence she had.

"Tori, what is wrong?" Jade asked.

"There was a fire in my building. I am okay. I wasn't there. It was my downstairs neighbor trying to make donuts and boiled over the oil and lit up their kitchen. The fire burned through my kitchen floor. I have nowhere to go. Can I crash on your couch for a night or two?" Tori asked with tears on her voice.

"Ya sure no problem. Stop by the store and I will give you a key. Darcy will love having you at our home." Jade wanted to say and I will love it too.

Jade hung up the phone and took a moment to digest the situation for a moment. This was going to be difficult. She was going to have the girl she was crushing on living in her home. This could be tense.

Jade didn't have long to thing this situation over due to a call for assistance in her section. She headed to the home furnishing section to give a woman advice on a dresser that she is looking at. While she is checking her section during the safety sweep she hears a familiar voice behind her. "Do you have anything a homeless person would be interested in?"

"How about a key to a wonderful apartment with a cute kid who lives there?" Jade replied.

"hmmmm let me check my options. Could you throw in the best friend a girl ever had?" Tori joked.

"You are not staying for free. I expect supper on the table when I get home." Jade said.

"What do you have in mind?" Tori said.

"Not to worry I have a slow cooker going. You just have to set the table." Jade smiled at her handing her a key.

Tori hugged Jade and turned to leave. Jade eyes were drawn to Tori's perfect ass. That was when Tori turned to look over her shoulder and said, "Put your eyes back in your head West!" Then she left smiling.

Jade was so busted. She felt like a fool. Now she was going to have to face this at home after work tonight. Why did she have to look at her ass? Why could she not just look at the floor or gone back to work?

When work was done Jade went home to find the table set and Darcy and Tori watching TV and playing Barbie in the living room. "Mommy! Tori came and told Grandma that she was going to stay with me. We are playing so you will have to wait until she is done if you want to play with me."

"Well I think I can wait. Mommy needs to go change you stay with Tori." Jade said to her daughter.

Jade had texted her mother letting her know that Tori was coming and that it would be fine to leave Darcy with Tori. Jade got changed into some more relaxing clothes and looked herself in the mirror. 'What am I doing? She is so hot and now she will be sleeping in the next room. I am such a fool.'

The evening passed quietly as they watched a movie and had a couple of drinks. Jade pulled the bed out of the couch and made it up into something that resembled a bed. She hated to make Tori sleep on the hide-a-bed. They were not a bed they were more like a torcher rack. They must have been invented by evil Nazi scientists and delivered into the world.

After the first night Jade decided that she would move Darcy into her room in her bed and Tori could have Darcy's room as long as she needed it. In exchange Tori agreed to buy groceries and help clean. Darcy was more than happy to have Tori there to look after her and besides she liked sleeping in her mom's bed.

The week wore on and Jade was starting to get nervous. She was going to be in front of a crowd the next night. Tori had come through with a new black and green leotard and Jade had to admit the colors looked good on her. She changed the color of the highlights in her hair to match the green. She might not be the name, but she was going to at least be something to look at.

The next day Tori and Jade had to be at the Union Hall early so that they could set up chairs and get the show ready. When all was set they went back to the dressing room. One of the difference between big time wrestling and local shows are the changing facilities. In the big time like the World Wrestling Union you are in big stadiums and you get real locker rooms with bathrooms and showers. In local shows you might be in an armory or a hall and you dressing room could be anything from a storage room to a tent out back.

Jade put on her new gear and sat down at the mirror to do make-up and hair. Without any word or warning Tori stepped up and started doing her hair. She chatted with the other girls, but acted like this was a regular activity. Jade kind of like it and smiled at her once or twice. She found that it helped calm her nerves.

Helen sat down next to her at the other mirror and asked if she remembered the set up. They discussed the 'hot spots' and the set up for the big finish. Jade learned that 'hot spots' were the moments where there was a break in the action where one of the wrestlers interacted with the crowd. Because she was a jobber she was only going to get two hot spots. Most of them were for Helen.

When Helen was finished she looked fantastic. She had transformed herself into Helen of Troy. She was a heel so her character was based on being vane. She had on a red dress that covered her red top and red bottoms. Her outfit was more like a fancy sports bra and bathing suite bottoms. She carried a hand mirror and was out there to be the best looking woman in the world.

"Don't make her look too good Tori. I am the one who is Helen! Make her ugly." Helen laughed as she got up and headed for back stage behind the curtains.

"Not possible!" Tori yelled at her as she left.

When she was done Tori leaned her head down on Jade's shoulder so their heads were side by side in the mirror. "Are you ready for this?"

"I think so. Too late now if I am not right!" Jade said.

"You are ready. Go get them roomie." With that Tori kissed her on the cheek and went to watch from behind the curtain.

Jade couldn't help but raise her hand and touch her cheek where Tori had kissed her. Then she snapped out of it and got up to head for the ring to get in the show.

She waited behind the curtain. She wanted Tori to be out there with her, but she knew that Tori couldn't even sell programs tonight because Cat didn't want her to be seen injured.

The announcer started with thanking the crowd for not throwing things into the ring and then said, "Our next contest will be a one on one match in our women's division. Your referee tonight is once again is Robbie Shapiro. Our challenger tonight comes from Jeffery City Wyoming, at 5 feet 7 inches weighing 120 lbs … Jade Stone."

That was her cue. Jade came out from behind the curtain and the lights hit her as she made her way to the ring. She did just as she was told. She did not make a big deal out of her entrance she just got to the ring. Once she had mounted the stairs and climbed through the ropes she then threw her arms up in the air to a light smattering of polite applause. She then made her way to her corner and did a little light stretching.

Robbie came over to her and spoke in a low voice under the announcer. "Are you ready? Remember I am here for both of you. I won't let you get hurt. If you forget everything let Helen know and she will carry you through. She will let us know when it is time for the big finale. Have a good show." He smiled at her and made it look like he was checking her wrist tape for some infraction or some unknown rule.

"Ladies and Gentlemen she is the face that launched a thousand ships. The most beautiful woman in the world. She comes from the city of Troy on the Aegean Sea. At five feet eight inches and 115 pounds she is Helen of Troy!" The announcer's voice rang through the building.

Helen came floating down the ramp from the back. She was holding her mirror up making kissy faces to herself and to the crowd. Jade had to admit she really knew how to heat the crowd. When she got to the ring and climbed the stairs she waited and made Robbie the Ref hold the ropes open for her to climb through, all of which incited the crowd more and more.

Helen handed her mirror to a ring attendant, who was one of the guys Jade recognised from the gym. She then stepped to the center of the ring and posed. She turned and posed for the other side of the room as the fans jeered her and called her names. She then grabbed the sleeve of her dress and pulled it away at the Velcro. She handed it to the ring valet and moved to her corner.

Robbie pointed to Helen and then to Jade and then signaled for the bell to ring. At first Jade came out and stalked Helen around a couple of times in the middle of the ring. Then they locked up in the middle to show strength. They broke and as planed Helen pushed Jade after the break and Jade pushed her and she threw herself to the ground.

The crowd went wild. This new comer had pushed down the one they hated. Helen got up complaining to Robbie as the crowd went crazy. She then came at Jade and slung her to the ropes. Jade came off the ropes and ran into a clothes line across the upper chest. Jade went to the ground and Helen was on top of her. Helen grabbed her by the hair and Jade slammed the back of her head on the mat making it seem like she was really getting her head bashed in.

Helen gave her a quick twitch of a smile at the sound the crowd was making and Robbie got in and made her let go of Jade's hair. Jade slowly got to her feet and it was her turn to throw Helen to the ropes. When Helen came springing back Jade tried to catch her in a sleeper hold, but Helen countered and elbowed Jade in the mid-section.

Jade doubled over and that is when Helen brought up her knee in a knee lift and Jade went flying backwards to the mat. The crowd booed once again.

The match went on like this with Helen holding about 70% of the match and near the end Jade climbed the ropes to try and land a hit on Helen and she was grabbed off the top of the ropes and thrown by Helen. Jade had practiced this a lot. She had all kinds of confidence in her flying. She used Helen as an anchor and threw herself making sure she turned in the air to land on her back. When she hit the mat she sat up and grabbed her back to sell the pain. She found that she was right in the middle of the ring, right where she needed to be.

That set up the end game. Helen didn't waste any time she ran over and slipped an arm bar on Jade and leaned into her. Jade was thinking, 'anyone who says wrestling is fake should have Helen put her arm bar on you.' She was great at making it hurt just enough to make you grimace in pain, but not so much that you would have any lasting pain after the match. It didn't take Jade long to tap out giving Helen another victory.

Jade lay on the mat like she was supposed to do. Then she slowly rolled to the edge of the mat and off the edge to the floor. When her feet hit the floor she held her arm and slowly made her way back to the dressing room. This is one of the things that Tori taught her. Leaving the ring to the victor was an art form. Most fans don't even see it happen. They see the end of the match and then suddenly the winner is left in the ring to dance around and claim victory. The loser just seems to vanish.

When Jade made it back to the curtain and the dark, she was caught in a bear hug from Tori. She was more excited for Jade than Jade was. "You did so good. I am so proud of you."

Jade was kind of caught up in it and pushed to the dressing room. Once in the dressing room she took a seat and drank some water. It was over and it hardly seemed like it started. It was all kind of a blur to Jade. Then Helen came in the back and shook her hand. "You were great. You put on a good show. I will make sure I let Cat know. We will see you out there as a name soon. You're better than the school girl here!" She slapped Tori on the back after her joke. "Your girl did a good job out there Tori!"

"Thanks I taught her everything you don't know!" Tori shot back joking.

Jade couldn't hear anything she was on autopilot and all the slaps on the back and handshakes from the other wrestlers were lost in the buzz of her head. All she could hear were the words 'I am so proud of you' and 'Your girl did a good job' repeating over and over in her head. She only wished that she were Tori's girl.

She went and peeled off her sweaty clothes and changed into her street clothes. She would have to shower at home. There were no showers at the Union Hall. It felt awful, but she would get used to it in time. At this point she just wanted to go home, but she had to stay to help tear down the show and she was waiting for that little white envelope from Beck that had her money in it for tonight's show. Once she had that she could call herself a professional wrestler.

It is the best way to put you in your place in this world. One minute you are being cheered on as a hero in the ring and then the next you are plunging a plugged toilet in the ladies room. Somehow Jade couldn't see someone like Derek Jeeter or Wayne Gretzky plunging a toilet in a stadium. I guess that was what it meant to be the lowest athlete in the lowest level of your game.

When the show was over Tori and Jade walked to Jade's car. The lot was almost empty and it looked like they were the ones who stayed too long at the party. On the way home they stopped at Sonic Drive-In Restaurant and got milk shakes to celebrate.

They were careful to be quiet entering the apartment so as not to wake up Darcy. Jade's mom hugged her daughter even though she was still wet with sweat and smelled. Deep down she was still mom and still worried about her little girl getting hurt. Jade had explained time and time again to her when she made this decision that wrestling is like a TV show or a play. I might get hurt, but we train so that the chances are less likely.

"Did you win?" Jade's mom asked.

Tori laughed and could read the frustration on Jade's face. "No Mrs. West it wasn't her night."

"Well one of these nights you will win." She said.

"Ya okay mom. One of these nights." Jade shook her head as she saw her mother out.

"Darcy had a little cough tonight." Mr. West said as she was leaving.

When the door closed and she heard the elevator close Jade pretended to be pulling her hair out and said, "She just doesn't understand the show!"

Tori came over to her and put her arms around her. "Ah poor Jade. No one understands. She just worries about her daughter making a living fighting other girls." Tori hugged Jade trying to make it all better.

Jade closed her eyes and just enjoyed the closeness. As they went to pull apart Jade leaned in and kissed Tori. For a second Tori didn't react. She was shocked and then she decided to go with it and realized she had never been kissed so tenderly before. It started warm stirrings in her body.

Suddenly Jade realized what she was doing and pulled away. Tori just stood there with her eyes closed and her mouth open. Jade turned and mumbled something that sound like 'sorry must shower'. As she ran off embarrassed to the shower, Tori just stood there smiling to herself.

Tori had never played on the other side of the fence. She had never even kissed a girl until now. If you had told her that she would kiss a girl and she would enjoy it, that morning she would have told you to take a hike, but not now. She sat on the edge of the couch and held her arms around herself. What happened? It didn't feel strange. In fact if she had to be honest with herself she liked it. She liked it a lot. Could she like Jade that way? Did she already like Jade that way? What would they say when Jade finished her shower? Tori sat for a long time and the got up and locked the door and turned out the lights. She went to Darcy's room and got changed for bed.

Jade was in a worse state in the shower. As the water poured over her she kept swearing at herself for kissing Tori. Why has she done that? Now she risked losing her as a friend for ever. It was so stupid. She was so stupid. What does Tori think of her now? Would Tori move out? Would Tori talk to her again? She had to say something to Tori when she got out, but what? What could you say?

Jade took her time after her shower. She put on clean underwear and applied her lotion to her skin. She put on a clean long rock and roll t-shirt. Then she looked in the mirror and brushed her hair. After a big breath or two she opened the door and stepped into the hall. She could see a low light, probably the lamp by the bed on in Darcy's room. She stood in front of the mostly closed door for a moment and then she knocked quietly.

"Tori, can I come in for a minute." Jade said in a shaky voice through the door.

"Yes" a very quiet voice came back to her.

When Jade opened the door she saw that Tori was already wearing her t-shirt she slept in, but she was sitting on the edge of the small bed with her eyes down. Jade wanted to turn and run. She just couldn't step through the door way.

"I … ah… just want to ah… say I am sorry. I don't know what came over me. I know you are not…"

"Come over here and sit with me Jade." Tori said patting the bed beside her.

Jade slowly made her way over to the bed and sat down. She was about to start again when Tori cut her off. "Jade? Are you really sorry? Are you sorry that you kissed me or sorry that you were embarrassed?"

"I guess I wanted to kiss you, for a long time, but I shouldn't have done it." Jade said meekly.

"Why not? If you wanted to kiss my why shouldn't you?" Tori asked trying to understand.

"Well you are my house guest and my best friend and you are not gay and…" Jade tried to explain.

"Yes all those things are true, however I have never kissed a girl till tonight so how do I know if I like it or not. To tell you the truth it was a very good kiss. You are a good kisser. I think I liked it a lot. It made me all tingly afterwards. It won't affect our friendship and I really have nowhere else to live." Tori laughed at her own joke.

"What are you saying?" Jade asked rather confused.

"I don't really know myself. I know that I liked it when you kissed me and I hope that I might get more of them in the future. I also know that I really like looking at you. You are beautiful and have a great body. I have enjoyed sex with men, but I am also a bit of a freak in bed and most men can't keep up so sooner or later I leave them. I don't think I am gay. Maybe bi-sexual. Maybe just Jade-sexual. Don't worry about me Jade. I am a big girl. Well I am a grown up girl. I am not big nor do a play a grown up so I know it is confusing." Tori said.

"I am still not sure what you are saying." Jade was still confused.

"I don't either, I am probably just babbling like I do when I get nervous. I guess I am trying to say. I am willing to try something new and try going out with you. You have to remember that I am new to this so I might not be so great at it. You might have to coach me and take things slow. Jade West I would like to be your girlfriend." Tori finally got it out and felt much better.

Jade was smiling ear to ear. "Thank you for understanding and not freaking out on me. I would love to have you as my girlfriend."

"Ah just one thing. You have to take me out on a real first date. I will not let you count Sonic in your car as a date!" They laughed and then remembered Darcy sleeping in the next room.

It was Tori's turn to lean in and kiss Jade this time. It was a far better kiss for both of them. They did not rush and they just enjoyed the moment. It did feel right for both of them. Things were going to be okay for them.

"I think that you should go carry your baby to this bed and I will climb in your bed where there is more room and we will snuggle tonight. Just snuggling Ms. Grabby hands. I don't put out this early in a relationship." Tori grinned.

Darcy didn't even wake up when Jade carried her in and put her in bed. She kissed her daughter on the forehead and covered her up. Then Tori and Jade went to Jade's bedroom and climbed into bed. Being that Tori was smaller she reasoned that she should always be the small spoon in their relationship. With that Jade put her arm around Tori's waist and held her close. It was nice to have a warm body next to her body. It had been a long time.

"This feels right." Tori said before she fell asleep and Jade smiled.

AN: I hope this chapter didn't become boring. Let me know. S.M.