Disclaimer: The Show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.
You promised me forever.
Chapter 11 – Collision Course
No One's POV.
"Thanks for hanging with me Tonight, Trina. I haven't had much time recently to talk with you."
"It's nice to see you've been keeping busy, with Jade being gone." Trina said.
Tori nodded. "I've been working extra hours at The Coffee Bean. Save up some extra cash."
"That's good. So when is Jade coming back?" Asked Trina, as she took a bite of pizza.
Tori smiled "Just under 3 weeks."
"How is she doing?"
"She's doing ok. We talk by Skype usually a couple of times a week."
"How does she like being in this big movie?"
"She likes it a lot. Her part is really small, but she has been a production assistant. She's been assigned to help the assistant director. She's been trying to learn everything she can about the movie making process. Mostly, just by watching and asking people questions. While the other extra and bit players are trying to talk to the big stars, Jade is usually talking to the lighting guy to see how he lights the set or is asking the set decorator questions. Stuff like that."
"Sounds fun, I heard she's made some friends out there."
Tori's eyes narrowed, as the smile quickly vanished from her face. "Yes" Tori said through gritted teeth.
"A bit jealous are we?" Trina said with a raised eyebrow.
"Imagine my surprise while I was eating dinner and watching the entertainment news on TV, to see my girlfriend leave a London nightclub with actress Natalie Hart at about 1 in the morning." Tori said sounding very irritated.
"Isn't she one of the stars of the movie? I loved her in that TV show. "Harrison's Point." That was my favorite young adult soap."
"She is one of the stars of the movie. She got to talking on the set with Jade one day and they hit it off." Tori said tersely.
"You don't sound happy that she's made a friend."
"Not one who is known to be bisexual and very pretty with long black hair. So as I said, imagine my surprise to see my girlfriend leave a club with her on the entertainment news." Tori said, as her eyes trailed off to an odd mark on her living room wall.
Trina looked over and saw the half mark – half dent in the wall. She then looked back at Tori. "I was wondering what's the cause of that mark."
"It was caused by a plate being thown at the wall, with great force I might add. That is how surprised I was."
Trina's eyes momentarily bugged out. "I take it the next thing you did was call Jade."
Tori made an odd smile. "I Called her at about 3 in the morning her time, woke her up and screamed at her for 5 minutes."
Cat cautiously asked. "What did she say?"
"Jade apologized profusely, and said after shooting a rather long and difficult sequence the director took the whole cast out to an exclusive nightclub to reward them for their hard work. She explained that the press made a big deal out of nothing, and the press didn't mention that 3 others from the same group were leaving at the same time as they all came in the same car. She said they are just friends, and her heart belonged to me."
"You don't sound convinced."
"I told her I believed her, and she can have friends. But I warned her, that they had better stay just friends or to not bother coming back." Tori said bluntly.
Trina finished off her pizza and put a reassuring hand on Tori's shoulder. "Don't worry Tori, Jade loves you and in three weeks you get her back."
For a moment Trina saw an expression on Tori's face, like she didn't quite believe that.
"Until her next project" Trina heard Tori mutter under her breath.
Not wanting to let that pass without questioning it, Trina interjected. "What project?"
Tori looked momentarily embarrassed. "It's nothing" She said, trying to be dismissive but becoming somewhat agitated.
Trina deep down, knew her sister was lying and kept pushing. "I don't believe you."
"Just forget it Trina." Tori said, knowing that Trina was seeing through her act.
"No Tori. Something is bugging you and it's more than just Jade being gone." Just by watching Tori slowly become more agitated, Trina knew she was onto something.
Tori got off the couch and began to pace back and fourth.
"Come on Tori, something's eating you. I'm you sister you can talk to me." Trina pleaded.
Tori stopped. "At least someone noticed." Tori said cynically.
"Noticed what?"
Seeming to relent, Tori just fell into a chair. "All Jade does is work. She's got a double major; she's always working on student films. She's doing extra projects. She goes for auditions."
With each word, Trina noticed that Tori seemed to become more and more upset. Spilling out, like some dam had burst inside of her. Her words were full of anger, frustration and despair.
Now very upset, Tori stood up and began to pace again. "I work too, I have a major I have a part time job. But I'm here sometimes. I try to make time for Jade. I try to plan things only to have to cancel them. Does she try to make time for me?"
Tori paused letting her final words hang in the air. Trina could see Tori's face almost distort in anger. "Fuck NO" Tori almost screamed as she grabbed a glass and flung it at the wall where it exploded like a bomb.
"Finally the summer comes and what does she do, runs of to Fucking England. Can I say No? No I can't. She wants to be a film maker and actress. I can't stand in the way, she'll leave me. But she's never…" Tori ranted furiously.
Tori just seemed to breakdown at this point, as she seemed to sink to her knees sobbing. Trina was horrified. She knew Jade was busy but had no idea it had affected Tori this badly.
Trina rushed to her younger sister, and helped her up back onto the couch.
"I'm loosing her" Tori sobbed tearfully.
Trina put her arm protectively around Tori. "If she's too stupid to realize how wonderful you are that it's her loss. Maybe you should consider moving on."
Trina never liked Jade, and frankly could never figure out why her sister saw in her. She found the Goth to be uncaring, self-centered, possessive and mean. Granted Trina was used to people calling her self centered, but she considered Jade to be truly self-centered.
"I don't want to move on, I want Jade!" Tori sobbed.
Trina huffed in frustration. "Have you talked to her about this? Her being busy all the time and never having any time for you."
Tori lowered her head and spoke softly. "No."
"This is messed up Tori. I'm not sure which is worse, Jade ignoring you, or the fact that you won't say squat about it."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry Tori, Do something. I know she helped you out when Ryder raped you, and I'm glad she did. But in my opinion, she's treated you like shit ever since. You need to speak up or get out." Trina said, somewhat exasperated.
Before Tori could speak, Trina started to speak once again. "I have half a mind to speak…"
Tori cut her off quickly. "No Trina, don't. Stay out of it. This is my problem, I'll handle it."
Trina looked at her sister with doubting eyes. "You're my sister. I love you. So I will respect your wishes, and I will stay out of it."
Trina after a brief dramatic pause, then said "For now."
3 weeks later
Tori waited expectantly in the main airport terminal, clutching dozen roses in her hand. After 10 long weeks of being alone, Jade was coming back.
With each group of people coming up out of the terminal, Tori eagerly looked for Jade.
Tori glanced at the clock. It was 8:49 AM. Jade's plane arrived at 8:30 so she expected the Goth at any second.
After a few more seconds, Tori glimpsed in the midst of a crowd coming up the terminal someone with Jet black hair.
Tori's heart skipped about several beats with anticipation. She stood on her toes to try and catch a better glimpse of the person.
After a few more agonizing seconds the crowd dispersed a bit to reveal a tired looking Jade West. She was walking slowly, looking a bit Jet lagged with a green carry on bag slung over her shoulder.
Tori had to resist the urge, to run straight through the security checkpoint and grab Jade.
"Jade" Tori called out barely able to contain herself.
Tori then could see Jade look up and notice her. Jade quickly smiled, waived and started to move much faster. Tori moved quickly to the exit of the security area and waited for Jade to go those last few feet.
Even though she looked dead tired, Jade ran the last 20 feet or so. Jade then happily leaped into Tori's open arms.
Without missing a beat, Tori pulled Jade in for a kiss. With passion and longing, Tori crashed her lips into the Goths. For the first time in 10 weeks Tori felt alive, literally being able to feel every nerve in her body firing all at once. She smell of the Goths shampoo was intoxicating.
Jade responded to the kiss by hungrily devouring Tori's kiss, making a humming noise as she did. Instantly Jade ran her tongue across the Latinas teeth, desperately begging for entrance.
Tori happily granted permission, and their tongues tenderly caressed each other in a sensual dance. Tori felt a tingle as Jade slipped her hands around her neck, and pulled her in even closer.
For a few moments they remained in the kiss, forgetting the rest of the world even existed.
Finally Jade broke the kiss and smirked. "I take it you missed me."
"Very much so." Tori said softly, not even trying to disguise her feelings.
"I missed you too Vega. Come on let's get my baggage and get home. I'm exhausted."
"Oh I almost forgot, these are for you." Tori said, holding out the dozen roses in her hand.
Jade took them and smiled. "Thank you honey. They're beautiful."
They started to walk to the baggage claim, when Jade asked. "So, what's the big news you told me about?"
Tori's smile grew even wider.
"I was at work last week when this guy in his 40's comes in. He asks if I was on the platinum music awards a few years back. I said yes. He says his name is Miles Freeman, and he is an executive for Vandal records. He said he remembered me and really liked my voice. He said they were interested in possible signing me. I have a meeting set up for this Thursday."
Jade looked happily astonished. "Wow Tori, that's incredible. I haven't heard of that label, are they new?"
"They are a smaller record label, but they have some very popular acts under contract. Miles hinted that the company itself was going to expand or get bigger. Something like that, he was very vague about it. I'm planning on cutting my hours at work while I record my album. It's hard to record an album, when you're tired out."
"It's about time someone noticed your talent. I'm actually more talented. But it's nice someone noticed yours as well."
Tori looked at her wrist as if a watch was there. "Incredible, you went 3 whole minutes without insulting me." She said in a rather sarcastic fashion.
Jade simply smirked and kept going to the baggage claim.
"So is our place still there or did you burn it down?"
"Other than the dent/mark on the wall, it's all pretty much as you left it."
Jade gave Tori a curious look "And may I ask how the dent/mark got on the wall."
"It was caused by a flying, plate thrown with great force." Tori said, her words slightly flavored with annoyance.
"You threw a plate against the wall. Why?" Jade said with a raised eyebrow.
"I saw my girlfriend on the entertainment news, leaving an exclusive nightclub with a pretty and known bisexual actress." Tori said somewhat icily.
"Ohh. That. I recall you called me at 3 in the morning and screamed at me."
"And how is your girlfriend?" Tori said, while giving Jade an almost glacially cold glare.
Jade bit her lip and stopped walking. She quickly took Tori's hand and looked her dead in the eye.
"Tori. I love you. She was a friend, nothing more. I swear to god."
Tori nodded, seeming to accept Jades explanation. "I can't help but get jealous."
"I understand Tori, believe me I understand. She said she actually would like to meet you. She's actually going to be helping me with my next project."
"Next project?" Tori said cautiously.
Jade perked up at this point. "That was going to be my surprise to you. I was invited to enter the Hillman film competition."
"I haven't heard of it?"
"It was started by this movie producer, Charles Hillman years ago. Every year, 6 young film makers whose work has been noticed by the judging board, are invited to make a film. Each entrant is given a 2000 dollar budget to work with. The winner gets a 50,000 prize, and their entry gets shown at the Rocky Mountain Film Festival. That's one of the biggest film festivals in the country." Jade said in a rather excited fashion.
Tori suddenly had a sinking feeling but covered it with a smile. "That sounds like a huge opportunity."
"Oh my God, is it ever. Previous winners include a virtual who's who of movie directors. They liked my student film "Blood on the Rook" that I made last year. So they invited me to enter. I mentioned to Natalie, and she said if she was not working she would play a small part for nothing. Just think I get a budget and a big TV star for my movie."
"So you can't use one of your student films?"
"No, they have a very specific theme they want. Every year it's different. This has to be separate from my films I make for film school."
"When do you start production?" Tori said as that sinking feeling got worse.
"Well I found out about a month ago, and have I already started on my script. I worked on it between takes, while I had time to kill on the movie I was in. I will get my check for the movies budget around October 1st. I hope to start principal photography soon after. That means I have to start on my semester project film for my film class right away, instead of waiting like I usually do."
"That's really great. I'm so glad you got this opportunity." Tori said, lying through her teeth.
Tori hated the thought of Jade taking on another project. Just like before, Jade was running off to do another project leaving her at home. Tori thought that at least she planned to work less while recording her album, so she would still have time avaliable. But once again Tori simply felt like she had no choice. Tori knew, that Jade really seemed to be excited about this competition and this was a spectacular opportunity. On top of that the thought of Natalie being Jade's friend made Tori uneasy.
Jade took Tori's hand again, and gazed into the Latina's eyes. "Come on, I'm exhausted. I want got get home, so can rest up and ravish you. My body aches for you so badly."
Tori smiled, but for her it felt very much like a bittersweet moment. She had Jade back which made her happy, but once again Jade was back to ole grind much to Tori's dismay.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Things are certainly getting tense, aren't they. Please review.
