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

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Chapter 11 - All gone.

Jade's POV

The rest of lunch was eaten in what I describe a s pleasant silence. When the check came I grabbed the bill and paid, as promised.

After that we walked home and neither of us said anything. I just kept wondering what Tori was thinking. What she possibly thought of my little moment of embarrassment. As always she plays her cards close to her chest and I simply didn't know.

"Thank you Jade. That was very nice." Tori said, as she hung up her coat.

"You're welcome Tori. Just my way of thanking you for your hospitatlity."

For a moment she seemed to lower her head, looking as if she were about to say something. Instead she nodded and headed into her room.

Feeling full, I laied down and spent the rest of the day relazing and watching TV. Tori spent some time her room, then went grocery shopping, before heading off to work.

Though little was being said, a lot of the tension seemed to be gone.

The next day, Tori spent most of the afternoon in her room. I was tempted to ask her if she wanted to watch something on TV with me, but I still get the impression she's not ready.

The next couple of days were work days, we both worked our jobs and at night I helped her make dinner. We seem to talk just a bit more now while we're doing it. We stick to safe subjects of course.

I've thought a few more times about that kiss with Barbie. I usually, just push the thought out of my mind, but like a weed it always springs back up.

Wednesday was one of my rare weekdays off, so I took the liberty of sleeping in. I was woken up by the sound of Tori's rather plain ringtone.

Hopping off the couch I looked around and spotted the phone on the table by the front door. Tori must have forgotten it. I couldn't complain that someone was calling to early, as it was just after 11:30.

I could have ignored it, but decided to be nice and answer the phone. I could then leave Tori a message. Part of me was just being nosy, I'll admit.

"Hello" I said as I answered the phone.

"Jade, what in the hell are you doing answering Tori's phone." Snapped Trina at the other end.

"Relax Trina, she mistakenly left her phone behind. I was just going to take a message "

"You listen to me Jade. You're just dam lucky, she lets you stay there at all. But just because she lets you stay, doesn't give you the right to touch her things."

It was obvious at this point that Trina was majorly pissed at me.

"Look, I'm sorry."

"Since when are you sorry about anything Jade." Trina practically screamed as she tore into me. "All you ever do is cause pain, pain and misery and now your back to cause my sister even more. You're just damn lucky, I'm in California, otherwise, I'd drag your ass out of there myself and toss your worthless carcass out on the street."

In the old days, I'd just blow off anything the elder Vega said, but today her words seemed to sting. With each harsh word, I felt a bit more of my defenses fall away.

"Why don't you just crawl back to Beck and leave my sister alone. You probably drove him to drink, you probably drove him to all this. As I said, all you ever do is cause misery and pain. You're incapable of anything else. The only reason he may have ever hit you is that you brought it on. You caused all of this. "

That last bit crashed down the last of my defenses and as tears welled up in my eyes, I sobbed.

"NO I DIDN'T!"

"YES YOU DID YOU WORTHESS SKANK! I JUST WISH MY SISTER WOULD HAVE NEVER MET YOU. SHE'D BE HAPPY NOW! BUT ALL YOU'VE DONE IS RUIN HER LIFE AND CAUSE HER PAIN." Trina screamed.

I choked back yet another sob. "I needed a place to stay."

"Jade, just let my sister live her life, she can't with you around. Please, just go."

That said, the elder Vega, hung up the phone.

No One's POV

With her defenses gone, Trina's last verbal assault, all but destroyed Jade.

The Goth still holding the phone, mentally broke down and collapsed to the floor in long painful sobs.

Some hours later, Tori arrived home. All day since she left her phone at home, she felt at a loss without it. Not to mention she had missed her weekly phone call from her sister.

Something felt off as soon as she entered the apartment. The lights were off which was odd, as Jade had the day off and as far as Tori knew, had no plans.

Tori then simply assumed that Jade had unexpectedly gone out.

But when she flipped on the lights, she could see Jade lying motionless on the couch.

Again something felt off and walking over she took a closer look at Jade. She was lying on her side, eyes wide open and bloodshot, as if she had been crying She didn't move, nor did she say a word. She looked almost catatonic.

This wasn't right at all, so she shook Jade gently.

"Jade"

"Your phone is on the table by the door. I answered it, I shouldn't have. I'm sorry." Answered Jade in a heartbroken voice.

"Jade, who did you talk to?"

Jade didn't answer.

Having a bad feeling she knew who was responsible, Tori hurried to her phone and looked at the call log. Sure enough, around 11:30 was a short phone call from Trina.

Tori huffed, promptly went into her room and dialed her sister.

"Hello" The elder Vega answered.

"Trina, what in the hell did you say to Jade!" Bellowed Tori.

"I just gave her a piece of my mind that's all."

"Piece of your mind, she's practically catatonic. WHAT IN THE FUCK DID YOU SAY"

Hearing her sister meant business, Trina relented. "I told her she was a worthless human being, she brought her abuse on herself, all she ever does is cause pain and I told her she should just leave!'

"YOU BITCH!"

"I had ever right to say what I said after what she did to you."

"No you didn't. For the first time, in over a year and a half. I'm starting to feel like a person again. Able to look myself in the mirror again, able to make a difference this time. She was getting better, I was getting better and you fucked everything up."

"Oh get off that Tori, you don't owe her anything. Forget what you did 3 years ago. So stop worrying about it. It's in the past."

"I can't forget it and leave Jade alone!" Snapped Tori before hanging up.

Coming out of her room, Tori looked to Jade who was still on the couch. Her first instinct was to just hide in her room, as she always did. She knew however, it would only add further weight to the guild she already bore.

She hated the guilt and she hated herself for what she had done.

"If I don't help her, I'll not only lose her, but myself as well." Thought Tori.

After taking a moment to gather her thoughts and plan her next move, Tori stepped forward and knelt down by the couch.

"Jade, how about we go out for dinner. My treat this time."

Jade sighed. "No thanks."

"Come on. Look, I'm sorry Trina said what she said. She had no right to say any of those things. I chewed her out."

"I deserve it." Muttered Jade.

Tori quickly ran her hand's through her hair. "No you don't."

Jade didn't respond and after a moment of silence, Tori looked at her untouched piano.

"Do you want to know why I don't play music."

Tori thought she never be able to speak of it, but seeing Jade in such a depressed state, somehow made it easer.

Only then did Jade move, slowly getting up.

Looking even sadder, Tori walked over to her keyboard and hit a single key. "This is the first time I've sat here in over a year and a half."

"What happened?"

"Have you heard of Ace decade?"

"Who hasn't. He's the mega powerful music executive/producer/manager. He works with some of the very biggest names in music. They call him…"

Tori finished the sentence. "Mr. Music."

Still looking down at the keyboard, Tori hit a another key and began to tell her tale. "I was in my 1st semester of my sophomore year of college at NYU. I was majoring in music and of course writing songs and sending out demo tapes to the record companies. I lived and breathed music. I thought of it all the time."

From the couch Jade listened intently, taking note of the fact that Tori was struggling to even speak. This was obviously something extremely painful for Tori. For the moment, Jade forgot her own problems.

"Much to my surprise and delight, a demo tape I had sent to his record company caught his attention. He invited me to his office gave me the royal treatment and said he loved my demo. We talked about music for almost an hour. He's in his late 50's so he's been in the business for many years. At the end of that hour he said he wanted to sign and manage me."

For a moment Tori seemed overcome with emotion. "I thought I had made it. I really did."

"You don't have to tell me Tori. This is obviously upsetting you."

Now crying, Tori continued. "He said he'd have the contracts written up and believe me the deal he offered was huge. A multi record deal with him producing me. He also invited me to a party at his penthouse where I could meet lots of industry people, make contacts. As I said, I thought I'd made it. He even said he'd send a limo for me."

Tori wiped a tear and took a moment to compose herself.

"I put on a nice dress and went to the party. It was a lavish party with lots of producers, record execs and several huge names in the music business. He introduced me to a few and showed me around his nice place."

Jade could hear Tori, now crying even more. "In the course of the tour he showed me his bedroom. He said the view was great. The next thing I know he closes the door. I turned and see him began to loosen his tie. Having a bad feeling, I asked what was going on. He told me in no uncertain terms that if I wanted a record contract, I needed to have sex with him right then and there."

"Bastard" Hissed Jade.

"I told him no, that I wasn't going to do that. He simply frowned and told me to immediately leave. He of course said, there would be no record deal. Like it was nothing, he straightened his tie and left to rejoin his guests."

"Then what?"

"I started to leave, but I was so upset. So upset that my hopes had been dashed that just as I got to the elevator to go down, I turned around. I then marched back into the main party area and found him. He happily was mingling with his guests. Before he could say a word, I slapped him in the face and loudly called him a disgusting excuse for a human being. I remember how the whole party atmosphere seemed to vanish as all a strange hush fell upon the room. Soon every person in the room was staring at us. He turned red with embarrasment then seemed to silently fume in anger. I then marched out and went home."

"Good for you."

"No, it wasn't. I soon found that the demo tapes I was sending out, were coming back unopened. People in the music business I tried to contact would never call me back. 3 weeks later, I was hit with a restraining order. He claimed I was harassing him and was ordered to stay 200 yards way. I didn't do anything of the sort. More than that, I found out from a girl in one of my music classes, whose father worked for a record company, that he blackballed me."

An incredelous look appeared on Jade's face. "What?"

"He told everyone in the business, producers, record company exec's, everyone, that I was mentally unstable and if anyone even dared to speak with me, he would not have anything to do with them. Nor would he allow any of his clients to have anything to do with them either. You need to remember, he's literally one of the most powerful men in the music industry. I not only rejected him, but embarrassed him as well. So in return he saw to it, that I would never be able to work in the music industry, ever."

Tori stood up, now looking utterly devastated. "All I've wanted to be was a pop star, a singer, it's been my dream since I was a little girl. And now it's all gone…all gone."

Jade without even thinking got up and went over to Tori, who now as too upset to even speak. Jade felt terrible for what had happened to Tori. She wanted to make it right, make Tori happy again but she couldn't.

All she could do, was to put her arms around the sobbing Latina and hug her tight.