A/N: Sorry no time for shout outs….I just wanted to post this chapter tonight real quick before I go to work tomorrow. I PROMISE i will shout out reviews next chapter….scouts honor.

Just to let you know…here comes another drought. NO…don't panic…not another 6 months…but probably until next weekend at the earliest…the weekend following that more probably.

Regardless, I am back in the country now for the foreseeable future…so…this story will continue and conclude in a rather timely fashion if everything goes according to plan.

One last thing…an indirect shout out.

Yes…I admit I am of the male sex last chapter in the A/N. Thank you to all of you who complimented me on the fact that even though I'm a guy I have managed to make this story romantic.

I try lol….anyways…here's another chapter to hold you over…I hope you like it.

Please read, and review…and let me know what you think.

Thanks. Trim59

Roses

Chapter 11

What the hell is wrong with you?

"Tori…I mean it…I love you." Andre whispered, his bottom lip shaking as every attempt the young man made at her front door to gain entrance into her house or her heart was refused.

"I would have believed that Andre…before you and Cat…but I can-"

"But you were the biggest reason I went out with her!" Andre exclaimed, pleading with Tori with his eyes. "How am I supposed to feel when the girl i'm in LOVE with tells me…hey…date me best friend."

Tori let her head hang a little bit, realizing that her own stupidity may have been a larger cause for Andre's actions that she would admit to herself. Looking up at Andre and realizing his entire body was soaking wet, along with his clothes, Tori felt bad as she watched Andre put up his hand to block the rain from his eyes. Furthermore, Tori had a legitimate fear for Andre's health when she noticed his hands were shaking and the way he shivered in the cold.

"Please…just come in…before you catch pneumonia…"

"No…" Andre said, shaking his head.

Her hospitality getting thrown back in her face caught Tori off guard. "Fine," Tori said with some agitation, "Be stub-"

"I'm not coming in," Andre blurted out, cutting Tori off. "Not until you actually want me to…not just because your afraid I'm going to get sick."

Quiet fell between the two teenagers as the sadness on both of their faces grew by the second. Shaking his head, Andre said one thing before turning around and starting towards his car on the side of the road. "It's too late…if you actually loved me too…I ruined it."

"Wait Andre…" Tori said as she followed closely behind Andre, her voice giving out as the sadness she had been trying to overpower with anger finally won out and she started to cry. "Please!" Tori exclaimed, finally getting Andre to stop right when he was reaching his driver side door.

"I'm sorry!" Tori sobbed, "This is my fault! I'm blaming you because I'm mad at myself. I'm the one that told you to date Cat…I made out with Robbie…just because I was jealous that you were with Cat!"

Andre fought back against his own emotions as he listened to what Tori was saying.

"I've just…I've always thought you were perfect. Too perfect!" Tori exclaimed, having to be as loud as possible for her cracking and sob riddled voice to be heard over the rain. "Deep down I thought you were too good for me…I held you too such a high standard…I'm the one with imperfections…I kissed Cat's boyfriend…I kissed Robbie…I don't know why I could even try to hold the fact that you kissed Cat over your head…while you two were going out... because I told you to!" Finally finishing what she wanted to say, Tori wrapped her arms around herself as she broke down into deeper sobs.

Before Tori knew it, Andre had covered the ground between his position next to his door and met her at where she was standing a few feet behind his trunk. Wrapping his arms around Tori as tightly as he could, Andre could feel Tori's body loosen up and melt into his as she continued sobbing. She still felt horrible, but before she knew it a warmth and sense of well being overflowed her senses as she felt Andre's muscular body hold her so tightly it was if he was trying to save her from the entire world. Nestling her head between Andre's chin and his forehead, Tori repeated over and over again the same thing. "I love you."

Moving his torso a few inches away from Tori while he kept her in the embrace, Andre waited for Tori to look up and meet eyes with him. Once she did, Andre replied with the same three words. "I love you." Tori let more tears, although these ones were caused by a different emotion, run down her face as she rested her forehead against Andre's and brought her left hand up to her neck. Her entire body was now shaking, but it wasn't because of the rain or the frigid temperature of the night time. Moving back a few inches, Tori felt butterflies as she felt Andre's arms slide down until his hands were gripping her by the sides of her waist firmly. Slowly, they both narrowed the distance between their lips as they both closed their eyes.

With less than an inch separating their lips, both Tori's and Andre's eyes snapped open as they turned their heads towards the sound of a loud horn. Next came the sound of screeching tires as everything seemed to slow down. Snapping their heads back to look at one another, Tori's heart sunk as she saw Andre mouth the words, "I'm sorry." In a flash, Andre used his hands on her hips to push her away with as much force as he could. Actually going into the air about half a foot, Tori landed in a sitting position in the grass next to the sidewalk on the side of the road as she watched in horror. The car continued to approach, now almost completely sideways as the driver trying to jerk the wheel away from them only made the situation worse.

Tori watched as the side of the car pinned Andre against his own car. She watched as Andre's upper body and arms flailed from the momentum of the car slamming into him, making him look like nothing more than a crash dummy. Tori watched as the car bounced off Andre's, and spun and came to a stop in the middle of the road. Tori heard everything…all at once. The sound of the tires, the sound of the collision, the scream of pain that shot out of Andre's lips, the sound of everything smashing and breaking: Andre's car, the other car, and Andre's body. Tori closed her eyes for a split second as everything had overwhelmed her senses. As soon as she reopened her eyes, Tori's entire body began to shake due to what she saw.

Bits of debris and metal laid scattered around Andre's body. The sight of Andre's car was horrible as the trunk had been smashed in far enough that it was almost into the back seat and not existent. There were even a few pieces of random debris that landed near or directly next to Tori. However, the worst thing she saw…by far…was Andre. Laying there motionless, his body collapsed on top of one arm as his other arm was wrapped loosely around his torso from the way he fell, tears streamed down Tori's face as she saw Andre's eyes still open…and gazing off in her general direction.

"NOOOOO!" She screamed louder than she had ever in her entire life, sprinting over to Andre. Lifting his body up, Tori rested Andre's upper body on top of her knees which were on the ground. Not sure what to do first Tori placed her hand on his face to see if he was responsive. Next, she tried to examine his whole body. Finally, she did what she had secretly feared the most…placed her hand firmly against his neck to try to get a pulse. Not breathing, Tori threw her head down against Andre's chest refusing to believe it. After a few seconds, Tori turned her head so instead of having an ear against his chest she merely had her face buried against his torso as his body muffled her crying. Again, she screamed, "NOOOO!" as she wrapped her arms as tightly around Andre's body as she could.

There was no pulse. Andre was dead.

This had to be a dream. No…more like a nightmare.

Andre was dead.

ROSES

It had to have been almost twenty minutes since they said anything, the newly formed couple enjoying cuddling on the living room couch as they intertwined and played with one another's fingers. For once, Cat was glad that his parents often worked late and there was always a couple nights a week where she didn't see them once she got home from school. Blushing internally, Cat mused about how the fact she always had the house completely to herself a couple nights a week could really come in handy.

Robbie noticed that for the first time in a while, Cat had her eyes looking up at him as she rested her head on his chest. Looking down, Robbie smiled back at Cat as he leaned down and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "Hey,"

"Hey," Cat replied in an innocent tone as she giggled and scooted herself up on the couch. Once she had readjusted her body, and was now sitting beside Robbie instead of laying on him, she started conversation. "Hey…Andre barely said goodbye…he left in a hurry."

"Yeah," Robbie said with a chuckle afterwards. Playfully rolling his eyes, Robbie continued, "Where do you think he went?"

"Home…hopefully…" Cat replied, looking out the window. The rain had finally slowed down, but there was still a slow drizzle that could be heard against the roof and added to the mood of the dimly lit living room. "Did you see how tired he was?"

"Yeah, I don't think he slept last night…after our fight and all." Robbie said with a slight frown on his face. The short lived fight between his best friend and himself had been squashed, but Robbie still felt bad for the way he had screamed at Andre the previous night. "But don't worry…I bet he went home to sleep. Maybe give his mind some time to rest and think of the best possible way to fix everything with Tori."

Cat nodded, showing some worry on her face for their close friend. "I hope so…we should have gave him a ride…he shouldn't have been driving in this weather with how tired he is."

Feeling bold, Robbie tried to smoothly lace a fluff name he had wanted to call Cat for a long time in their casual conversation. "I don't think anyone should drive in this weather baby. But…it's only like a 5 minute drive back to his house…or…like a 10 minute drive to Tori's…"

Cat gave her boyfriend a skeptical look as Robbie held his breath.

"I hope he took the 5 minute drive home and is sleeping right now. I have a feeling Tori might let him have it before she breaks down and starts devouring his face." Cat let out a giggle at her own joke. "He's definitely going to need his rest."

Robbie felt giddy but decided not to show it. He had successfully called Cat "baby" and she didn't even notice or slap him. Not that she would have, they were now dating. That's what couples did, right? Regardless, Rex would have been proud of him. "So…you pretty much think that they are going to turn out like we did?" Robbie asked, wondering about Cat's previous statement.

"Yeah," Cat exclaimed, giving Robbie a look as if to say "duh". "They are so totally in love."

Robbie didn't reply, but only smiled at his girlfriend. Cat's face lit up and she shyly looked away from her boyfriend. Not noticing she was doing it, Cat bit her bottom lip in a seductive manner as she looked back up at Robbie. Sliding closer to him on the couch, Cat wrapped her arms around Robbie's neck. "Just like us…"

Without a word, Robbie nodded before bringing Cat back into another passionate kiss.

ROSES

"NOOOOOO!" Tori screamed, instantly confused as she looked around at her surroundings. The first thing her brain processed was Trina, who was standing outside Tori's room in a bathrobe. Snapping her head to her right, Tori read her clock which said 5:47. Still dazed and not completely with it, Tori turned her head back to look at Trina with her mouth slightly agape.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Trina exclaimed as she put one hand on her hip. After a few seconds, Trina let out a loud scoff and walked out of sight.

Tori killed two birds with one stone; wiping away the tears from her face as she wiped away the tiredness from her eyes. Before she had finished, she heard the water in the bathroom come on and knew that Trina was about to get her morning shower. Letting out a giggle with some sadness still apparent, Tori swallowed back hard as all the negative emotions faded away and a new sense of hope replaced them. Turning her body to look out of her window from her sitting position in bed, the smile on Tori's face grew even bigger. It was a beautiful sunny day.

It was a nightmare.

Andre wasn't dead.