Victorious

Your Star

Part Nine: Death and Afterword

It had been three days since Jade had given birth to her still born child, and now the entire group was going through tough times, coping with Jade's loss. Things had changed a lot in the past few weeks, but they were assured that by this point that it could not get much worse.

Robbie and Trina were sitting at Trina's apartment when Cat walked in. "Ha, is Tori here yet?" She asked.

"No not yet." Said Trina.

"Oh, I came to say good-bye, I mean I'm not leaving until tomorrow, but I wanted to be sure I saw everybody before then." Said Cat.

"I'm gonna really miss you Cat." Said Robbie.

"And I'll miss you too." Said Cat as she hugged him. "Trina, I'll miss you."

"Ya, I guess I'll miss you too." Said Trina. Cat shook her hand. Trina pulled her in and hugged her. "Cat, oh, we've been friends for years, and now you're leaving, I'll miss you." She said.

"Thanks Cat, I know this whole thing is awkward, but, good luck, with you and Robbie, I hope you'll be very happy together." Said Cat.

"Thanks Cat, good luck with your career, see you next summer." Said Robbie.

"Thanks, I gotta go, see you tomorrow." Said Cat as she left.

"I'm gonna miss her, and I guess so are you." Said Robbie. "That hug..." He started.

"That was just a sudden, spur friend thing, I hope." She said. "I hope this gay thing's not contagious." Said Trina.

"How do you think Jade's doing?" Asked Robbie.

"We'll find out soon, Tori's coming over, she's moving in, wants to see what they'll be dealing with." Said Trina.

"Won't this be kind of, weird, you know, with us, and them here?" Asked Robbie.

"Don't worry, they'll be all the way across the apartment, we won't have any problems." Said Trina.

Tori walked in. "Ha, I think I saw Cat, was she here?" Asked Tori.

"Du, I mean yes." Said Robbie.

"So, this is your apartment, it's nice." Said Tori.

"Thanks, you and Jade'll be in that room, on the other side of the living room, it's small but you'll like it." Said Trina. "I hope you'll be happy here."

"We will be, thanks for letting us stay here, I mean with Jade, she won't be able to work, and I can't afford the apartment, I..." Started Tori.

"Don't worry about it, Trina's perfectly happy doing this." Said Robbie.

"Ya, and I really do, it's not just one of his jokes." Said Trina. "So how's Jade doing?"

"Oh, not too good, it's been three days and she's no better than she was in the delivery room, this is really hard on her, she might have to look into some kind of therapy." Said Tori.

"I hope things will get better for her, I mean, after all you've been through, and then this, it's just not easy for us." Said Robbie.

"No it's not, I'm sure it'll get better soon, I hope." Said Tori.

"I will, calm down." Said Trina.

"Okay, I gotta get home to see Jade, I'll be back tomorrow, see you then." Said Tori.

"By." Said the two as she left. "So, Trina, when do you think we'll be able to..." Started Robbie.

"I don't know, at least a few more minutes, I put some tea on the stove, eh it can wait." Said Trina as she began to kiss Robbie.

At Tori and Jade's apartment, Tori had just gotten back. "Ha Jade, how's it going?" Asked Tori.

"The same as when you left, what did you assume?" Asked Jade, sourly.

"Jade, I know it's hard, but it's been three days, maybe, we should look into, some kind of therapy." Said Tori.

"Therapy, I don't need therapy, I know what my problems are, I don't need anybody telling me what my problems are." Said Jade.

"Jade, it'll help you." Said Tori.

"No it won't help me, nothing can help me, I'm not having trouble, dealing with all these things, the baby, it's, this life, the life I've been struggling through for the past seventeen years, and especially the last six months, we try, and we try to make things work, but something always comes along to ruin it, I don't know if I want to continue with this." Said Jade sadly.

"Jade, you're under a lot of strain, you're not thinking straight, sure, maybe the past few months have been kind of hard, but it'll get better, it can't keep like this forever, things will smooth out soon, I promise." Said Tori.

"Oh I believe you, but it's after that, that's what I can't stand anymore, the way things get better, it seems like it's getting easier, then it turns around again, just to get worse than it was before." Said Jade. "This life, it builds you up, and then it tears you down again, gives you false feelings of, security, and happyness. It's like, some kind of, shape shifting monster, it seems to get better, but it never does, and it's killing me, it's killing me inside, I can't stand it." Said Jade.

"Jade, calm down, things can be tough at times, but it's not worth taking extreme measures, sometimes, it seems like it's not worth it, but it is, sooner or later we'll catch that break, I'm just not sure when." Said Tori.

"That's the point, we don't know when, or even if it will happen, for all we know it could be years, or it may never come, what about that?" Asked Jade. "It almost makes me laugh, thinking, we could be waiting around, year after year, hard times and hard times, then one day we die, and it's never come, is that what our lives are going to be, what's the point of going on?" Asked Jade.

"Jade, I, I do, I don't know, I just don't." Said Tori.

"That's it Tori, we don't know, I'm tired of not knowing, being uncertain, I want to be sure of something, sure of the results of our actions, just once." Said Jade.

"I know Jade, but, I don't know what to say, we'll start moving in with Trina tomorrow, you want to be alone?" Asked Tori.

"Yes, just, be alone, think things over, thanks Tori, you're a real friend, I wish all this would be better, if just for you." Said Jade.

"Thanks, by Jade." Said Tori.

"By." Said Jade as she layed back on her bed. "Hu." She sighed.

Robbie was all the way in Las Angelas, going home from talking to his agent. "Hu, who would have thought that the twenty minutes of film I made didn't get me anymore publicity, how am I gonna find a job now?" Asked Robbie to himself. Suddenly a strong wind picked up, and Robbie saw a twister outside. "Ah! Twister, what do I do, what do I do, ah!" He yelled. He jumped out of his car, and hid in his ditch. The twister picked up his car. It passed. "Hu, that was close, wow, my life flashed before my eyes, makes me realize what's really important, I think I have an answer." Said Robbie as he headed for his car. "Dammit!"

"That night at Trina's apartment, Tori was talking to her. "Jade seems really depressed, what should I do?" Asked Tori.

"I don't know, you've been able to get through everything that's happened before, but maybe she feels that that's all it's ever going to be, treading with no progression." Said Trina. "I just don't know."

"Well, what if, we thought of something to make it all better, she always wanted a daughter, we could adopt a daughter, that's what we could do, I could talk it over with her, that might solve all this." Said Tori.

"Maybe, talk to Jade, see what she says." Said Trina.

Robbie burst in through the door. "Trina, hi, Tori, get out!" Yelled Robbie.

"I'm out." Said Tori as she left.

Robbie slammed the door behind her. "Trina, I was almost killed by a tornado." Said Robbie.

"Ya I saw it on the news, I thought of you." Said Trina.

"Ya, but when that happened, I thought, what's really important in life, because we're not going to be here forever, so we might as well live, right now." Said Robbie.

"Great idea, can't wait for life to come to you." Said Trina.

"That's right, so, Trina, I know we've only been together for, two weeks, but I've never felt the way I feel with you, and I think I always want to fell like that, don't you?" Asked Robbie.

"I, I guess, Robbie..." Started Trina.

"Wait, I think we should make it happen, you feel it, I fell it, what do you say?" Asked Robbie.

"Uh, this is so fast, I do..." Started Trina.

"Great, here, I picked this up on my way here, thought it might look good on you." Said Robbie.

"Robbie, wait. There's no need to be rash, I mean we feel like this now, won't we feel the same in a few years?" Asked Trina.

"If that's true, why wait years, when we could spend those years together, living, like we should?" Asked Robbie.

"I, Robbie, I, guess, but, now, I..." Started Trina.

"Why not?" Asked Robbie.

"I guess you're right, if, we could have a good thing why wait for it, alright, let's do it." Said Trina.

"Alright." Said Robbie. The two sat on the couch.

"So, this is really going to happen, finally?" Asked Trina.

"Guess so." Said Robbie. "We're gonna be so happy together, years and years, this is great." Said Robbie.

"You're right, guess all of what we've been through has been worth it, glad we stuck to it." Said Trina.

"Me to." Said Robbie as he kissed her.

At the house, it was nearly midnight when Tori got in. "Jade, Jade are you up?" She asked. "Jade, I'm sorry I'm late, I was with Trina, an, Jade?" Asked Tori. She walked into the room, and saw Jade lying, asleep. "Okay, night Jade." Said Tori. She went to sleep on the couch, to not disturb Jade.

Jade lay awake in the bed, looking in Tori's direction. "Hu, ha." Sighed Jade.

The next day, Tori was drinking some coffee when Jade walked in. "Hi Tori." She said.

"Jade, hi, how did you sleep?" Asked Tori.

"It's been better, but what does that matter now?" She asked.

"Jade, I know, but I think I have a solution, something that'll make this all better, something to make us all happy, why don't we adopt?" Asked Tori.

"Adopt, I've always wanted a daughter, yes, it would make me feel better, for the moment, one moment doesn't matter, we'll still have to face all the others, I don't know if I can anymore, it's a fine idea, thank you." Said Jade.

"Jade, please just consider it." Said Tori.

"I've been considering, a lot for the past three days, maybe when I find time, I will, or maybe not, I'm not sure yet." Said Jade.

"Okay, I'm going out, to see Trina and Robbie, I'll be back at noon, Jade, think about it." Said Tori.

"I will, by Tori." Said Jade.

"By." Said Tori as she started to leave.

"Tori." Said Jade. She went up and kissed her. "Tell Cat I said good-bye, and good luck." Said Jade.

"I will." Said Tori.

"And, tell Robbie, and Trina, I said hi, and, just, that they've been great friends." Said Jade.

"Yes." Said Tori.

"And, thank you, for all you've done, you've been a great friend, and I love you, like I've never loved before. The times we've had together were the best of my life. Thank you, for that, and, I hope you'll be very happy, don't give up, it's out there for you, thank you." Said Jade.

"Thanks, Jade." Said Tori.

"I love you." Said Jade as she kissed Tori.

"I love you too, by Jade." Said Tori.

"By." Said Jade. Tori left. Jade went to sit down. "Hu." She sighed, looking up at the ceiling.

At Trina's apartment, when Tori arrived, her and Robbie were there. "Ha guys." Said Tori.

"Tori, I'm glad you're here." Said Trina.

"Why?" Asked Tori.

"We're getting married." Said Robbie.

"What, really, all of the sudden?" Asked Tori.

"Ya, we figured, why wait for life to happen, we're going to start living in the present, so, we're doing it." Said Trina.

"Well, that's great." Said Tori. "Is Cat here, I didn't miss her did I?" Asked Tori.

"No, you didn't." Said Cat as she walked out of the bathroom.

"Cat, did you hear..." Started Tori.

"Yes, I did, and, I want to be happy, but, I'm just gonna go, and maybe when I get back, I'm sorry." Said Cat. "By Tori, wish me luck." Said Cat.

"Good luck, by Cat." Said Tori as she hugged Cat.

"Thanks, by Robbie, Trina." Said Cat.

"By." Said Robbie. He shook her hand.

"By Trina." Said Cat. She shook here hand, and hugged her.

"Ah, thanks Cat, good luck." Said Trina.

"Thanks, I gotta get going, tell Jade I said by." Said Cat.

"I will, she told me to tell you the same thing." Said Tori.

"Thanks, see ya." Said Cat as she left.

"By." Said the group.

"I'm gonna miss her." Said Tori.

"She won't miss us." Said Trina.

"Oh well." Said Robbie.

At the house, Tori walked in. "Ha Jade, Jade, I saw Cat, she said by, Jade?" She called. "I, I saw, Trina and Robbie, they're getting married, really, they, decided to get married, isn't that great, Jade?" She asked. "I, was thinking, we could find a hall, we could make it official, I don't know, if you want to, we could get married, what do you think, you don't have to know right now just think about it." Said Tori. "Jade, Jade!" She yelled. "Where are you, Jade?" She called. "Where are you?"

Later at Trina's house, she was with Robbie, making tea when the phone rang. "Hello, hi Tori, what's wrong?" Asked Trina. "What, really, oh, Tori, don't wor, I don't, Tori, I, we'll be right over, sorry, by." Said Trina as she hung up.

"What's going on?" Asked Robbie.

"It's Jade, she's dead, she hung herself, Tori found her, we have to go, come on." Said Trina as she picked up her bag.

"Ah, bu..." Started Robbie as he headed out.

Later that night, Tori was sitting in the house, on the couch, as Robbie and Trina helped clean out Jade's things. The door bell rang. "No, I got it." Yelled Tori as she answered the door. "You're Laura Brown." Said Tori.

"Yes, I'm Jade's mother." Said Laura.

"Come in." Said Tori as she let her in. "Sorry you had to come out, on such short notice, I found your number." Said Tori.

"That's fine, I caught a plane." Said Laura.

"So that's the monster?" Said Trina.

"It's a terrible thing Ms. Vega, to outlive you're whole family." Said Laura.

"I know, Jade's father is dead." Said Tori. "She, was talking, about, life, and, not wanting to go on, but, it never crossed my mind, I didn't..." Started Tori.

"Oh, it's fine." Said Laura. "We never ask for these things to happen, they just do, we can't control it." Said Laura.

"I, never realized, how fast it could happen, five hours ago she was alive, then I came back, and she wasn't." Said Tori.

"Yes, life is a delicate balanace, it's there one minute, then, the next it's not." Said Laura. "I learened myself, we cannot live in the past, we have to, take life as it comes, live in the moment, every moment, don't let life pass you by." Said Laura.

Tori sat there for a moment. "Thank you for coming, I'm sorry, for your daughter." Said Tori.

"Thank you, and, good luck, I know what she meant to you." Said Laura. She got up and left.

Robbie and Trina stopped to stare at her. Tori walked into her room. She sat on the bed, looked up at the sky and sighed. "Hu!"

It had been five years since that day, Tori was living in Las Angelas, Trina and Robbie had been married for five years now, and Cat had met her husband at their wedding, they got married, and were now married, but it was not going well. Tori was at her home, alone, she never found anyone else. It was a small apartment, she had the money, but she didn't care for a place bigger than she had, for one person it was just fine. She had made a career of her singing, it had happened a year after Jade died, she made it happen. She made life work for her, she didn't live in the past, she often visited Jade's grave though, just as a reminder of the great times that they had. The past cannot be revisited, but the memoried are what she seeked. Without the memoried Jade died in vain. She lived them day and day again, knowing that she was the glory of Jade's life, and she always took pride in that, knowing without her it wouldn't have been worth while. That is why she went back, that's only why. Besides that, the past was the past, she lived in now, for that's all that matters, is the now, is your life, what you make of it. Life is yours to make it, it's your life, your dreams, your star.

THE END

Citations go to: Boris Yeltsin, Tynkerbell2356, DramaHunny101, NothingPersonnel, and SeddieShortBus