Title: Rebound
Author: Jonathan
Rating: M (covering my bases this time)
Chapter: Two D
Category: Robbie/Tori
Spoilers: Post 'Bound' and 'Unbound,' sit will follow season 2 canon.
Summary: Sequel to 'Unbound.' Tori and Robbie thought everything was going to be okay, but was it really? More issues arise.
Disclaimer: Victorious is owned by Dan Schneider, Danwarp, Nick, Viacom
A lonely redhead sat at the foot of the steps one late Friday afternoon within the walls of Hollywood Arts.
A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she gazed upon the students making their ways to and from their next classes. Her brown eyes watched as they idly talked about random trivia as they continued to stroll. But as she did, she didn't make much effort to leave her spot.
The truth of the matter was that today was truly an off-setting day for the young Cat Valentine. While it was a usual start; between her brother and her parents arguing and her hiding underneath the bed, trying to block out the much drawn-out conversations, she still had the feeling that everything was worse than what it really was.
When she thought about, nothing had been the same for her. What truly started this downfall of optimism was the departure of two of her closest friends: Robbie Shapiro and Tori Vega. Two people who were actually the only ones who saw Cat as someone who was not as bubbly as other people thought.
They were the two friends that actually valued her opinion when it was needed. True, her other friends did too, but Tori and Robbie were the ones who went that extra mile; and thus formed the closer friendships than any other of the Hollywood Arts friends. And when she thought about that, she couldn't help but feel more lonely.
When she thought about how everything between the group fell apart, she couldn't help but realize that Tori and Robbie were important to the whole group, and not just her.
With them gone, she noticed that the group was falling apart. Andre wasn't as focused and wasn't as committed to his craft. The songwriter truly wasn't up to par without Tori and Robbie. And while Jade was pretty content that Tori wasn't around, she still wasn't the same. It was almost as if she lost the one person who truly pushed her buttons. Yes, Robbie did push her, but without Tori, Jade didn't feel as challenged… and that was what she enjoyed. Jade enjoyed the competition, and without Tori, she wasn't acting as forceful as before.
Another factor of Jade's downfall was the break-up with Beck. Cat didn't know much about the specifics. But from what she did hear, it had something to do with Jade and Beck meeting up with Tori and Robbie during their date…
Yes, their date. The coming together of Tori Vega and Robbie Shapiro. Don't get her wrong, she was happy that they did find each other, and being together; trapped in Yerba, she could see how the two of them would become involved. But… truth be told, inside, she didn't like that happening. There was a part of her that wished that Tori and Robbie didn't become a couple. Simply by the fact that with them together, her chance to get involved with Robbie dissolved even before it began.
Robbie Shapiro was always one friend that she felt she could cross that line. To take the friendship and move to romance. She couldn't help but relieve all the close calls where Robbie was one step away from becoming her boyfriend. Cat always that Robbie would always be around; waiting for her call; waiting for her to wake up and ask him out on a date.
But… ever since he and Tori were trapped together in Yerba, she lost that chance, and now that that was true, she didn't know where to turn. Her friendship with Robbie (and Tori) was in jeopardy. And she didn't know how to try and fix what she, and what her friends lost.
Cat Valentine truly felt alone.
That being realized, Cat finally got to her feet and let out a sigh. She looked around her, still watching as the other students were still walking through the halls of Hollywood Arts. So, she began to tread through the sea of people herself. Only to find her way to her next class with Mrs. Yonders.
As she began to make her way to the History class she soon bumped into someone…
"Hey, watch it Cat."
Cat turned around and looked at the person she ran into. "Sorry..." She turned back around and started to make her way to the class.
"Hey…" The person she bumped into called out. She watched as Cat turned around. "What got into you?"
"Nothing…" She said, slowly.
"Cat?" She called out again.
Looking back at her, "What Jade?"
Jade looked at her, confused. "What's up with you? You're acting more chizzed out than usual." The redhead shrugged, "Ok, seriously. You're acting…"
"Yeah…"
"I dunno. Down…?"
She glared at her, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Hey." Jade pointed back. "You're the one that's acting all not like you."
"And you're not?" She asked.
Jade slammed the door to her locker and approached the redhead, "What do you mean by that? I'm not myself?"
"I'm not the one who broke up with Beck." She told her.
Jade glared at her, "Are you trying to tell me that you like Beck?"
"No." Cat answered back. "I'm saying that ever since Tori and Robbie left…"
"Yeah? What about them?" She asked her. "If you're saying that they forgave you too, then I'm done trying to figure out what's your deal."
"I haven't talked to them since last week." She told her. "When they practically shunned me and Andre."
"Ok, then go talk to Andre. It's obvious that only Andre would be the one that you want to talk to." Jade told her. "Seems like you two are getting close anyway."
"I'm not getting close to Andre." Cat told her. "I'm not getting close to anyone." Jade looked at her, "That's the problem, Jade. When Tori and Robbie left, it hasn't been the same. And I don't think it ever will."
"Well, good." Jade said. "Because now with them gone, the school is better." She told her, her voice low, almost as if she was trying to hide the feelings she was really feeling.
"If you think this is better, then you're wrong." Cat told her. "This is much worse. And I think that now that you and Beck aren't together anymore, you don't know how to act." Cat approached the dark haired woman. "With Robbie and Tori gone, with Beck not your boyfriend, you're truly by yourself, and you don't know how to deal."
That being said, Cat walked off, leaving a confused Jade in her wake.
Class came to an end and Cat left the class rather fast. At this point in the day, all she wanted to do was go home where she knew the only place that would calm her down was underneath her bed.
But to get there she had to walk. With her car in the shop, she couldn't really depend on her parents right now, and that only left walking as an option. Namely because she couldn't count on anyone of her friends to give her a ride.
She made her quick stop the locker and took out a few books. All she had to do was put them away, and then she could leave.
"Hey, Little Red."
Cat sighed. She wasn't in the mood right now to talk to her friend.
"Word around the school is that you yelled at Jade."
Cat closed her locker and looked upon the eyes of her friend, Andre. "We just had a disagreement." Cat told him. Her voice harsh.
"Disagreement?" He asked. "You told her to she didn't know how to deal."
"I'm not wrong, am I?" Cat questioned back.
"Cat… I…"
"And don't try to get me to calm down." She told him. "You've been off too." Andre looked at her, shocked. "You've been giving me grief. And now, you want to see and make it better? How does that work?"
"Cat, what the fudge is wrong with you?" He asked. "When have I ever given you grief?"
"You mean you don't remember yelling at me for not making sense?" She asked. "Or, how about when you claim that my eyes weren't open?"
"Cat… I…" He attempted again.
"I'm not in the mood, Andre." She announced. "I'm going home."
"So… you're bailing?" He questioned.
Cat just stared at him. Not because he wasn't having a problem with her, but because he used that question. She looked at her friend, "That's what you're asking me?"
He looked at her confused, "Well… I…"
She glared at him, "I can't believe you're asking me if I'm bailing." She took a step closer, "Robbie and Tori were right. You're not acting like a friend."
And then Cat left, leaving an equally confused Andre in her wake.
A person then watched as Cat left Andre and made her way out of the door. He shook his head, not believing what he just saw. Cat needed someone to talk to, and it was obvious it wasn't Andre or Jade. That only left one option.
Beck had to go find Cat.
TBC in Chapter 3
Uh oh. More drama. And who thought we were done with Hollywood Arts? Honestly, who thought that? Look for more in chapter 3.
And remember, what follows next canonically is 'Inbound'. If you haven't read it, then do so now. After 'Inbound', chapter 3 of Rebound starts.
Hope you liked it. And let me tell you, this took a long time to 'write out. I hope I treated Cat alright. I'm not too sure on it. Hope I did ok. And thanks for reading.
Please review.
