Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and other associated trademarks are property of someone else and not me.
This chapter is much longer then the others. I just want to remind everyone this is a Jori story. Let me know what you think!
Tori's POV
I get my supplies all together. Today I have my first day of classes, I am actually pretty excited to start school. I have been walking around with just one crutch the past week but I am going to class for the first few days on both crutches just so I get used to walking around on my own.
"You ready to go?" Trina asks from the doorway.
"Yeah I am." I say smiling. I walk down the stairs following Trina down the stairs.
"Are you excited for you first day of classes?" My mom asks me as I enter the kitchen.
"Yes I am." I say smiling grabbing my coffee putting it in a travel mug.
"Are you sure you are going to be okay hanging around the campus while Trina has her other class today? I will come pick you up if you need me to." My mom asks me as I mix everything in my coffee.
"Yeah mom I will be fine, maybe I can meet some new people this way, plus it is nice to be out of this house.
"Well call me if you change your mind." My mom gives me a kiss on the cheek and Trina as well before we walk out to Trina's car.
"I'm sorry you have to wait around on campus while I have class." Trina says as we drive to school.
"It's okay really. I am just happy to get back to a somewhat normal life." I say looking out the window.
"Do you know if Jade is going to be in school or not?" Trina randomly asks me.
"Uh I don't know. I haven't really talked to her in a few days." I say.
Since Jade left a month ago we texted sometimes but even through the text it was awkward. She didn't know if she would be finished with her scenes by the time school started or not. It's been a few days since I talked to her so I never found out for sure if she would be back or not. Despite all the nightmares I have had and the memories I still miss Jade. She was there for me since I woke up for the coma and I know it can't be for some game or just guilt.
"Oh, I thought you guys were talking?"
"She has been really been busy with all the filming stuff so she doesn't have much time to talk." I lie.
"Well that's too bad, I hope she gets back for school, I miss her being around all the time." Trina says and I just shake my head. I miss her too but I don't want to admit it and I am still worried about seeing her again.
We keep the rest of the conversation on the way to school away from Jade thankfully. We pull up to the building, which is where my class is. I make sure I have my folder with the classroom number.
"Okay you have all you stuff you need?" I nod at Trina.
"I'll see you after class, I'll meet you in the cafeteria." I say walking towards the elevator. My class is on the 3rd floor. I walk around for a few minutes before I finally find the room I need. As I go to open the door a cute guy comes and open it for me.
"Thanks." I say smiling before walking into the classroom
"Your welcome." He says smiling. I go and find an open desk. The cute guy that opened the door for me sat near me.
"I'm Ben." He says.
"Tori." I say giving him another smile.
The professor came in a few minutes after and started talking the syllabus. The class was rather boring just the professor talking about what we would be learning. I gathered my books and headed down to the bottom floor.
I walk out of the building over to the building next to it where the cafeteria is. I decide to grab some food while I wait. I try to figure out how to grab the tray with my crutches. Guess I should have just brought one.
I manage to get the tray to the register so I can pay.
"Do you want some help?" I look up to see Ben.
"Yes please that would be great." I say smiling slightly embarrassed.
Ben grabbed my tray for me from the register and carried it to a empty table for me.
"Thank you." I say sitting down. Ben sits down across from me.
"Your welcome." Ben smiles at me before opening up his burger. "Do you have any other classes today?"
"No, I just came here to eat and wait for my sister to get out of class so she can take us home, I can't drive right now."
"Oh that sucks that you have to wait around here, it's kind of boring. I have another class that's in an hour so it's not worth it for me to drive back home just to turn around and come back here. Last semester I had to hang around for an hour and half before class started and it does get boring."
Ben and I sit and chat until Ben has to leave and go to class, Trina I know will be at the cafeteria any time now since her class ended a few minutes ago.
"Thank you for keeping me company, it was a lot better than trying to read for class." I say smiling when Ben gets up to leave.
"Oh your welcome, we will have to do it again sometime." Ben says with a smile walking out.
"Who was that?" Trina says suddenly appearing at the table.
"Oh that was Ben he was in my class today. He helped me out today because I couldn't carry the tray." I say getting up from the table.
"Oh, well you ready to go?"
"Yeah I am." I say getting up grabbing my bag.
I follow Trina to her car and get in. I decide to check my phone seeing Jade sent a text asking about my class today. I tell her it was boring but nice to be out of the house. She then tells me she won't be back for at least another week. I try to ignore the sadness it brings.
When we get home I go up to my room to start some of my reading I have to do and read up on my online classes.
After reading for a while I decide to go down and play some piano. I stare at the folder holding the piano music that Jade gave me. It's been sitting besides the piano since the day Jade gave it to me. I still haven't listened to the cd or tried playing any of the songs. I sit down at the bench and pull the first piece out. It doesn't look familiar to me.
I slowly start playing the treble clef part. I slowly make it through the first line not recognizing the song. I play through the first page of the piece slowly missing a few notes here and there. I slam the keys out of frustration at having to learn piano. I get up from the piano and walk to the couch turning on the TV.
I wonder what is on the cd, but at the same time I am afraid. I shake my head watching the TV show that's on.
"Are you ever going to listen to that cd?" Trina asks.
"I don't know." I say just paying attention to the TV. I sit watching TV before I notice Trina out of the corner of my eye bring over the cd to the stereo we have in the TV.
"What are you doing?" I ask standing up.
"I think we should listen to it." Trina puts the CD in.
"What are you doing Jade?" I hear my voice ask.
"We are recording this song. We need it for class in a few days. Come on Vega, get over here and play the top part." Jade says teasingly.
"Fine." I whine out. "This isn't even for my class Jade." I say I hear shuffling.
"Then you are being a good friend Tori."
I hear a piano song start playing. It sounds familiar to me I can't believe it.
"Jade that is mad world, you did not write that song."
"Are you absolutely positive?" Jade's voice asks. "Okay here, I'll teach you this song, and you better remember forever or I will be extremely hurt."
I hear Jade tell me where to put my hand teaching me the song slowly. I get up from the couch and walk over to the piano and search the folder and find the sheet music. I find the sheet music and put it on the stand. I look through the notes briefly before I start playing. I realize as I am playing without reading the music anymore.
"Oh my god. Trina I remember how to play this song!" I say excitedly. I again play the song excited that I remember it from memory.
"Oh my god Tori that is great!" Trina says excitedly walking over to me giving me a big hug.
On the CD there are other songs Jade teaches me. After I hear them play and find the sheet music for each song but I realize that a few of the songs I just remember from memory.
"I don't know how this is possible but I just remember these songs. I am not even thinking about where I have to put my fingers it's like they are just doing it on themselves. This is amazing Trina I feel like I got my piano playing back." I say happy tears burning my eyes.
"I'm so happy for you Tori!" Trina says hugging me again.
Later that night when my parents get home from work I happily play the songs I remembered. They both tell me how proud they are of me.
After I play a few songs for my parents we sit down to eat and decide to watch a movie. I go to bed shortly after the movie happy with everything that happened today.
Two weeks goes by before I get a text form Jade saying she will be home later that week from her movie part. I didn't tell her over a text that I listened to the cd and remembered how to play the songs. I wanted to show her when she got back.
"Hey Tori." I hear and turn around to see Ben.
"Hey Ben." I smile at him. I am finally walking around on just my one crutch, which makes it a lot easier for me to carry my tray to the table. Ben follows me sitting down across.
We make small chat while we eat talking about favorite types of movies and music and things like that.
"So this is forward and I know we have only know each other a little while but can I take you out for dinner and a movie Friday night?" I just look at Ben for a few minutes. Do I want to go out with him? He seems like a nice guy and he is cute but do I really want to date him? It is only one date; maybe he can help me get over Jade. Dating a guy won't disappoint my parents.
"Yeah, that sounds like fun." I say smiling.
"Alright, well what is your number?" Ben asks taking out his phone. I give it to him and he calls me so I can save it.
"Well I got to get to class, I'll text you." Ben says giving me a smile walking out of the cafeteria.
The rest of the week goes by slow. I have to admit I am pretty excited to go out with Ben. It will be nice to go on an actual date. Maybe it can lead somewhere.
I walk out of class on Friday and go to the cafeteria to wait for Trina to get out of her class. I grab food and sit at the table. I wonder if I will see Ben.
"Hey Tori." I whip my head to see Jade standing by the table. She has her normal smirk. She looks good. No Tori you can't think like that.
"Jade I didn't know you were back." I say getting up to give Jade a hug. I can't help but be excited to see Jade. I have missed her the past month despite the memories I have had. She can't be doing this all to use me right?
"I got back late last night and had class early today. What are you doing here?"
"Oh I have to wait for Trina to get out of class."
"Oh, do you want a ride? I am about to leave I was just grabbing a coffee because they actually have really good coffee here."
"Sure that would be nice." I say. It is almost like the whole time before Jade left didn't happen.
"So how was the movie filming?" I ask as we walk back to Jade's car.
"It was amazing. A lot of work and long days but it was worth it I can't wait to do another one. I talked with the director a lot when I wasn't in the shot and he liked a lot of my ideas I have for some scripts I started. I got his business card and everything to contact him when I have the script finished." Jade said looking really excited.
"I'm so happy for you Jade." I say happy for her. "Do you want to come in for a little bit?" I ask when we get to my house.
"Yeah sure." Jade follows me into the house. "So what have you been up to the past month and a half?" Jade asks sitting on the couch. "I see you are down to one crutch that is pretty exciting."
"Yeah I feel my legs getting stronger." I say walking into the kitchen getting Jade and I some coffee. She finished her other cup on the way home. She really does have an addiction.
"That's good Tori. Have you been practicing piano a lot?"
"Here is your coffee, now sit here, I want you to hear something." I say ignoring Jade's question.
I sit at the piano nervously. I start playing mad world for her. I see out of the corner of my eye Jade get up from the couch and walk to the piano.
"Where's the sheet music?"
"In the folder." I say smiling shyly.
"You memorized it already?" Jade said with a smirk.
"No I remembered. I listened to the cd and when I played the song form the sheet music I just could play it. It was like my hands just knew where to go." I say not helping the smile that forms on my face.
"That's amazing Tori." Jade sits on the bench giving me a tight hug. "Tori, I am still so sorry about how I reacted that day at the pond. I just I didn't mean to snap at you the way I did or call you Vega." Jade says sadly looking down. "The truth is Tori, I." My phone suddenly rings interrupting Jade.
Jade picks my phone up handing it to me.
"It's Ben."
"Hello?" I say answering the phone.
"Hey Tori. What are you up to?"
"Just talking with a friend. What about you?"
"Just got out of classes, so does 6 pm tonight work for dinner and then a movie afterwards?"
"Yeah 6 is good for me, I will send you my address." I say into the phone.
"Okay. I'll see you at 6."
"Bye Ben." I say hanging up the phone.
"Ben is a class mate of mine." I say when I hang up the phone. Jade just nods.
"It's good you are meeting people, are you going out with him?" Jade asks curiously.
"Yes, he asked me to dinner and a movie tonight."
"Oh that's good Tori." Jade says smiling. "Well I got some homework to take care of. Have fun on your date tonight, you'll have to let me know how it goes." Jade says getting up from the bench.
"Jade what were you saying before?" Maybe Jade really doesn't have feelings for me.
"Tori I care about you, you are my best friend and I don't want anything to get in the way of that. I hope you can forgive me for my reaction before." Jade looks in my eye with sadness.
"Yes I can. I didn't say it before but thank you for the gift it was really sweet."
"Just remember me when you are famous." Jade says with a wink. "I'll se you later Tori." Jade walks out the front door.
I go upstairs and shower and decide what I am going to wear on my date later. When I get out of the shower Trina is home.
"I saw Jade came back today." Trina says sitting on my bed.
"Where did you see her?" I ask grabbing a shirt.
"She was walking out when I came home, told me how you have a date tonight?"
"I do, with that guy Ben you saw me with at the cafeteria a few times."
"He is cute." Trina says getting up from the bed.
I finish getting dressed and dry my hair before just relaxing watching TV. I have some time to kill before Ben will be here to pick me up.
"Hey Tori, you look great." Ben says when I open the door when it's finally 6.
"Thank you, you look nice too." I say smiling shyly. I follow Ben out to his car. He runs to the passenger side to open the door for me I give him a slight smile.
We go to a nice Italian restaurant close to the mall then go and see this new romantic movie that came out not too long ago. After the date Ben kept up like a true gentlemen and walked me to my door.
"I had a really good time, do you think I could take you out again next weekend?" I smile at Ben because he seemed really nervous.
"Yeah, I'd like that."
"Okay, well good night Tori." Ben hesitates for a moment before leaning forward and giving me a brief kiss.
That was my first kiss since I woke up, and since I don't remember really anything before the accident it's basically my first kiss again. I hate to think it but it was kind of boring. I felt nothing. I just smile at Ben saying goodnight going into the house.
"How was the date?" Trina asked as I got into the house.
"It was nice, he took me to that Italian place y the mall and then we went and saw that new romantic comedy 'The Butterfly.""
"Oh that's nice." Trina say with a smile turning back to the show that was on TV she was watching. She seemed like she really didn't care about the date at all. This was my first official date since I woke up it was a big deal.
I just shook my head at Trina and walk up the stairs with the help of my crutch. When I get into my room I play with the idea of texting Jade about my date. She's my best friend right? Before I even get the chance to Jade sends me a text.
'How was the date? –Jade'
'It was good, he is taking me out again next weekend. – Tori
It's still al little awkward with Jade after the almost kiss and me having the bad memories of Jade but I am trying to not think of that girl and just focus on who she has been the past few months with me.
'That's good, I'm happy for you. – Jade.'
Jade and I text back and forth for a little bit longer before I decide to get some sleep.
The next morning I get up and make my way down the stairs. It is starting to get a lot easier to walk with my one crutch. I grab myself some coffee and make myself a bagel. I have no plans today so maybe I can stop by and see Jade. Since the accident she has always come here I have never gone to her house. I send Jade a text asking if she is doing anything today. Trina even offers me a ride to Jade's later because she has to go to her hair appointment.
Jade said she isn't busy later so we decide to go get food. Trina tells me that's a good time because her appointment is at 2 so she can drop me off at Jade's a little earlier to save her the trip..
After I shower and get ready Trina says it's time to leave so I hop in the car with her as we make our way to Jade's. When we pull up to Jade's house it gives me that weird déjà vu feeling I have been getting in certain situations but no memories. I walk up to Jade's door in time for the door to open and reveal a guy. I have no idea who he is.
"Oh hi." The guy says. I wonder who he is, I don't think Jade has a brother not that he looks like he would be her brother at all. He has light brown hair, darker skin than she does and green eyes.
"Hi." I say.
"Tori, what are you doing here?" Jade asks walking up behind the guy with her purse and keys. "I thought I was coming to pick you up?"
"Trina gave me a ride to save you from having to go out of the way to get me." I say feeling embarrassed I just showed up.
"Oh okay well thanks, I was just about to leave to get you, um Tori this is Christian. Christian this is Tori."
"Nice to meet you Tori." Christian says smiling at me. "Jade I'll call you later." He says smiling leaning forward and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"So is that your boyfriend?" I ask when he gets to his car as I follow Jade to her's. I try not to let my disappointment show through. Jade didn't like me that way but I have Ben and want to ignore my feelings because I can't have them for Jade.
"Um no he isn't, not yet. We just started hanging out so it's nothing yet." Jade says as she starts heading to the mall.
"Well that's great Jade." I say glad she is driving so she won't see my fake smile.
"Yeah we went for coffee today that's why he was there when you got there. I figured I would tell you about it today." Jade says and I just nod.
"Well I hope it works out for you Jade." I say looking out the window as we continue our ride to the mall.
I shouldn't be upset. I have Ben, and I can't want Jade like that. I freaked out when I thought we were going to kiss and I can't be gay anyways. I need to remember what my parents would think.
