Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious.
Chapter 13
My dear old friend, take me for a spin
Two wolves in the dark, running in the wind
I'm letting go, but I've never felt better
Passing by all the monsters in my head
The following morning Tori was wide awake two hours before her alarm was supposed to go off. One thing she appreciated about Jade was that she slept through anything and her getting dressed didn't disturb her friend.
As she slipped on a simple orange cardigan over her knee-length black dress she heard the vibrations of her phone going off on the nightstand. She inwardly sighed as she knew who was calling but didn't try to pick up the call.
"What am I doing," she muttered to herself as she looked at the screen before placing the phone in her pocket. She slipped on her black flats before exiting her room.
She began to collect her paperwork off the couch and coffee table and placing them in her bag.
"Hey," Andre's voice startled her. She looked up from her paperwork to see him standing in his doorway, a confused look on his face.
"W-what are you doing up so early?" she questioned as she stuffed her papers in her bag.
"I wanted to ask you the same thing," he said as he walked into the living room. "You are never awake this early in the morning. You have about maybe another hour before you would wake up for work. So why is it almost six and you look like you are ready to leave?"
"Well that's cause I am," she said as she grabbed a hold of her purse. "I wanted to get to the school early to work out some things."
"Things you can't do here?" he questioned, walking towards her.
"Yeah," she nervously cleared her throat. "I can't do it here."
He gave her a confused look but nodded. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. "I would have driven you. I really hate the idea of you traveling alone so early."
"I didn't want to be a bother," she told him, smiling.
She hoped the smile would be enough to distract him. He frowned at her words and shook his head. "You are never a bother to me Tor," he gently cradled her face with his hands. "Never ever."
"I know," she softly responded. "I'm taking a taxi so don't worry."
"Good," he nodded once more before releasing his hold on her.
She missed his touch the moment he let go and she wondered if he missed having that connection with her.
"Alright," she said walking towards the door. "I'm leaving now. I'll see you later tonight."
"Text me once you get to the school so I know you've made it," he said as she opened the door.
"I will," she called out as she closed the apartment door behind her.
So one of the worst things about early mornings in the city is the lack of cabs. She wouldn't be so lucky to see a yellow cab this early in the morning in her neighborhood but thankfully one was at the corner the moment she stepped foot outside her building.
The car drive was short, which was unfortunate for her seeing as she was nervous and second guessing the idea of actually doing what she was about to do. All she wanted was for the drive to be longer so she could have more time to herself. Before she knew it the taxi had arrived at the Dean & Deluca on Broadway. She handed the driver a twenty-dollar bill, not caring for the change she stepped out of the cab and bidding the cab driver a goodbye.
"Six years and you look even more beautiful than the last time I saw you," That voice sent shivers down her spine but not the good kind. She sighed before turning to face him.
Tori turned around and stared stonily at her past love. "Six years and I thought I would have the luck to never see you again," she told him.
He chuckled amused. "Well I wasn't the one who requested this meeting. I was surprised you wanted to speak to me after all this time. I don't think the courts would approve of this meeting. I think I have a restraining order that I'm breaking to see you."
"Well I don't think you care much for that restraining order seeing as for the past six years you've attempted to speak to me on several occasions," she said. "So really I don't think you care for the law."
"You missed me," he teased. "Didn't you?"
She glared at him, unimpressed. "Don't you dare," she told him. "I didn't miss you one bit."
He took a step towards her, she instinctively took one step back. "Don't," she warned him.
"Oh come on Vic," Parker smiled at her, that stupid smile that she fell for all those years ago. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm better now."
"But I'm still a victim of your abuse," she stated. "I still go to therapy because of you."
"And I go to therapy because of you," he told her. "Seriously, if we are going to play the blame game can we do it over some delicious coffee and some fresh pastries."
"I think we need something stronger than coffee for this discussion but coffee will have to do and we do need to talk Parker. How did you even get them to open Dean and Deluca earlier than usual?" she asked.
She walked towards the door entrance, where the manager stood smiling. "The owners are old family friends, go figure. So I just told my dad that I needed a favor I just didn't tell him that it was for you, just told him that I was trying to fix things with an old friend. He made a phone call and well here we are."
"Very well," she inhaled, savouring the smell of the freshly brewed coffee as she walked into the shop. "Let's do this," she told him as she took out her cell to text Andre to let him know that she was okay.
"She's late," Andre said, looking over at Jade who tore her gaze away from the TV screen to look back at him.
"She's an adult," Jade explained. "Who can stay out as long as she feels like because she's an adult."
"It's just not like her to stay out without notifying me," Andre reminded her.
"Shut up," she snapped at him. "Nothing happened to her. It's just a little after six. Get worried when it's almost one in the morning and she hasn't shown up."
"But she-" he began but was silenced by the look she gave him.
"Shut up and watch the show," she pointed at the screen.
He stared at the screen not saying another word. Knowing that if he said anything else it would start an unnecessary argument with Jade.
Just as the show went to commercials the apartment door opened. He looked back and watched as Tori walked into apartment smiling sheepishly and in her arms she held a bouquet of peach roses in her arms.
"You're late," Jade stated as she looked back. "With gorgeous roses. Gift?"
"Yeah," Tori said, he noted the slight blush that appeared on her cheeks. "From an old friend."
"Oh," Jade muted the TV and stared at Tori enthusiastically. "You have a new admirer?"
"No," Tori stammered out as Jade gave her knowing look. Andre glared at Jade before turning to face Tori.
"I think you do," Jade said, smirking as the slight blush on Tori's face deepened.
"No," Tori protested. "I just saw him for the first time in a long while this morning and well he sent me these. Doesn't mean anything."
"Sure it doesn't," Jade said before looking at Andre. "Looks like you have some competition."
He rolled his eyes at Jade. "I'm only interested in Alana," he said. "If some guy wants to give Tori flowers than good for Tori. Maybe she can move on."
Jade frowned at him and he looked at Tori who set her bags down on the couch next to him. She wouldn't meet his eyes and stared longingly at her flowers.
"Not with him," Tori declared as she set the flowers down on the coffee table.
"Why not?" he asked. "He clearly is interested in you. You must like him enough to accept those flowers."
"They were delivered by the florist to the school," Tori explained as she walked towards the kitchen. "Couldn't really deny them."
"You didn't deny liking him," Jade piped up. He looked over as she gave him a pointed look.
"What are you doing?" she whispered to him as they heard the kitchen water running.
"Encouraging her," he answered, truthfully. "Why should I be in a relationship and have her suffer."
She groaned. "You'll regret those words," she told him as Tori walked back into the living room with a vase in her hands.
"I don't like him," Tori told Jade as she sat the vase in middle of the coffee table.
"You say this now," Jade said. "One day you'll call me with the great news. You would have forgotten this asshole," she pointed at Andre, who scoffed at her words. "And fallen for mystery dude. What's his name?"
Tori visibly stiffened at the question. "That's not important. What's important that I hope you guys decided on where we will be going tonight. I'm hungry, I just had frozen yogurt for lunch."
Jade glanced over at him, nodding towards Tori. "What?" Tori questioned as she placed the roses into the vase.
"You just haven't been yourself lately. Your eating habits have changed," Andre explained. "We are just concerned for your well-being."
"I-I," Tori looked between Jade and him. "I just haven't felt like myself lately. Nothing to be worried about though."
He gave her a doubtful look. "I'm fine you guys," Tori said.
"Are not," Jade said, getting up from the couch. "I'm going to freshen up. We'll go out to eat and we will discuss your bullshit lies."
Jade walked into Tori's bedroom before Tori could respond. Tori looked over at him shocked.
"You believe me?" she asked him, hopeful.
He scoffed. "No," he said as got up from his spot. "I'm going to go change and we will discuss this later like Jade had not so nicely put."
She frowned at his words but didn't say anything, she just nodded before he walked into his room.
As their taxi zoomed down the Westside Highway, Tori felt the buzz of her phone in her clutch. She looked over at Jade and Andre who were discussing the latest Quentin Tarantino movie that had come out a few weeks ago. She hadn't seen the film but Andre had with Mark a few weeks back and apparently Jade saw it with Robbie and Beck.
She pulled her phone out and sighed once she saw who had texted her displayed out on her screen.
"You okay?" Jade questioned, looking over at her.
Tori smiled, nodding. "I'm fine," she said, hoping it was convincing enough. Which apparently it was as Jade and Andre continued their discussion of the gory film.
She glanced back at the text on her screen. Hope you enjoyed the flowers Vic. Once I saw them they made me think of you. Hope to see you again soon, Parker.
Maybe she had made a mistake in reaching out to him but she felt the need for closure and yet their conversation earlier this morning didn't feel like it had closed any gaps. More than anything she felt like she could spend more hours talking to him, which she probably would have if she didn't have to go to work. She sighed out loud once again as she got lost in her thoughts.
"Alright, what's going on?" Jade asked and Tori glanced over.
She shook her head. "Nothing," she said. "Just a lot of thinking. Not the good kind to be honest."
"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours baby?" Andre asked. She smiled at his term of endearment but couldn't help but wonder if he had used the same term to address Alana.
"Nothing you guys have to worry about," she said, hoping that her words would reassure them. "I'm just tired, thinking of the trip and if I should set up a lunch with my mother."
"I wouldn't waste any of my time with that woman," Jade sneered.
Andre turned to face Jade. "Yeah well she isn't your mother," then he turned to face Tori.
"As much as I agree with Jade, I do have to say that if you think it would be best to just have a quick-lunch with your mother than you should."
Jade rolled her eyes. "Holly is a selfish whore," Tori looked at Jade wide-eyed, stunned by her friends blunt words.
"Hey now you-" Andre began but Jade cut him off. "I can say what I please about that woman. She isn't my mother," Jade told him.
"She's right," Tori softly said. "My mother is a selfish woman, I wouldn't call her so much a whore but she's selfish. At times she was a good mom but most of the time she thought of only herself."
Jade smiled at Andre before turning to face Tori. "You should see her if you want," Jade said. "Curse her out if that's what your heart desires. Just don't allow that woman to see how much she hurt you. No tears Vega."
"I wouldn't allow it," Tori said, grabbing a hold of Jade's hand and giving it a squeeze. "You can come with me if you can. It'll be good to have someone there. I would say I would take Trina but Trina refuses to see her ever."
"Just let me know and I'll clear my schedule for you," Jade said.
"I'll go as well if you need me to," Andre offered and Tori smiled.
She nodded. "Thanks."
"Do me a favor act like a normal person and eat a real meal," Jade told Tori as they took their seats. Tori frowned at her Jade's words, yes she had been picky the past few days but she did say she was hungry.
They had decided to let Andre select where they would eat and he had chosen a bar and burger place in the Meat Packing District. Tori had eaten a handful of times here before with Andre but this was Jade's first time.
"Don't worry about that," Andre said before Tori could respond. "She loves the burgers here, no matter what she wouldn't be able to resist ordering one."
So that was his plan, she thought as she eyed the menu. "He has a point," she said.
"Told you," Andre said. Tori didn't have to look up to know that Andre was smugly looking over Jade.
"I think I'll just order a chocolate milkshake," Tori said as she looked up from the menu.
"Maybe we can share an order of cheese fries," she suggested.
"What burger will you be getting?" Andre asked, placing his menu on the table.
"None," she stated.
Jade glared at Andre. "I thought you said you were hungry," Jade stated as she turned to face her, her gaze softened as she studied her.
"I am," she responded. "I just think a milkshake and the fries will do."
"You have to eat more," Andre said, looking over his menu. "Just order a classic burger and see how much you want to eat from there."
"It'll be a waste, seeing as I don't want to eat it," she argued but she could tell that from both Andre and Jade's faces they weren't going to budge.
"Just try," Jade proposed, almost pleading with her.
Jade's tone of voice, the concerned look on her face angered her. This was not what she wanted when Jade how found out about her depression. She didn't want to be nurtured, she wanted her best friend to just be there, to understand.
"Stop it," she growled at them. Their eyes widened, surprised.
"Stop what?" Andre questioned, clearly confused.
"Stop treating me like a child," Tori ordered and Jade raised a brow at her friend.
"Maybe if you stopped acting like one we wouldn't do so," Jade remarked and Tori let out a low audible gasp.
Tori glared at them both before standing up. "You know what, I'm better off alone right now," she told them.
Andre groaned. "Sit down," he told her as he pointed to her seat.
She scoffed at him. "No," she said, grabbing her purse.
"Sit down," Jade ordered and Tori rolled her eyes. "Vega don't make me hurt you."
"Oh shut it," she told her. "Don't bother following me. It was nice spending time with you two but I can think of better company than you two right now."
"Doubt it," Jade scoffed.
"You have no idea," Tori said before walking away from the table, ignoring Andre as he called after her.
So she didn't have many friends in New York and especially any that she could call to meet up with her at such a late notice. But the moment she left the bar she knew exactly who to call that would meet up with her no questions asked.
"Twice in one day Vic," Parker said, walking up to her. "You said you didn't miss me but I'm starting to think you really did."
"No," she glared at him. "I just needed company, someone to hear me out."
"Where's Andre?" Parker asked, confused. "Shouldn't you be going to him for these type of things."
"You don't even know what I want to talk about and you are already assuming that Andre would be the best bet for this," she said, teasingly.
"I was just questioning things," he told her. "I feel like I'm being set up for something but I just can't stay away from you."
"Don't be an idiot," she motioned for him to follow her into the restaurant. "You aren't being set up for anything."
"Yeah, I am," he told her as they followed behind the hostess that led them to their table.
After she had called him, she had just wanted to go sit down somewhere and just chat for a bit but he had questioned if she had eaten at all. She confessed to him that she hadn't, so he suggested that they meet at her favorite Thai food restaurant in the city so they could talk while they ate.
"What do you mean?" she asked as they took their seats, their table towards the back of the room, a more private area for quiet conversations.
"I think you are setting me up once again to fall for you," he said, just as the waitress came up to their table.
She felt her face heat up at the confession. "I-I, we, it's not like that," she sputtered out.
He smirked at her as the waitress greeted them and told them the specials for the day. She tried paying attention to what the waitress was saying but Parker just kept smiling at her and she felt like a lovestruck teenager once again.
His smile was dazzling, he could always get her to do anything with that smile.
"Do you guys want to order your meals right now or do you want me to give you more time?" The waitress asked.
She looked down at her own menu, uncertain of what she wanted. "We need more time," Parker spoke up before she could.
"Do you guys know what you want to drink already? Or no?" The waitress asked, looking between the two of them.
"Two ginger ales," Once again Parker spoke up for them.
"Very well, I'll be back with your drinks and to take your order," the waitress said before she walked away.
Tori shook her head at Parker. "You're doing it again," she told him, glancing over her the menu.
"Doing what?" he asked.
She looked up from her menu. "Ordering for me," she said. "You did that when we were together, I hated that."
"Oh," he sighed. "I thought you enjoyed that back then."
"I didn't," she confessed. "At first I thought it was cute, you knew what I liked but then you didn't even give me a chance to try new things. To speak up for myself, I hated that. You already abused me in the privacy of your home and then you controlled my life outside it."
He frowned. "I'm sorry," he said.
She could hear the sincerity in his voice, the look in his eyes showed just how sorry he truly was. "I know you are," she said. "It happened, I just let it happen for too long."
"Don't let the past overshadow the future," he softly said, a hint of pleading in his voice.
"Parker," she warned. "You and I have no future, you know that right?"
He nodded, his frown deepening. Seeing that look on his face tugged on her heart-strings.
"We can be friends," he suggested, hopeful.
"Yeah," she agreed, he smiled and she couldn't help but return the smile. "We can take things slow. As much as you hurt me, you were one of my best friends."
"And you were mine as well," Parker stated. "I put you through so much and I do know what I did was wrong. You were this amazing woman, I became possessive, controlling. Something in me had snapped, the need to want have you all to myself was too much. I hurt you so badly, I knew it was wrong but it felt right knowing no matter what I did you stayed. There are not enough apologies I can offer, flowers I can send you, hugs I could give you to show you how truly sorry I am. I'll try my best to show you how changed I am."
Her vision blurred as she felt the tears well up in her eyes. "Let's not do this," she pleaded. "I can't have this conversation with you in a public place. It's been years since what happened, happened but the memories are still there. Still thinking about it hurts so much. You hurt me more than you can ever imagine. I loved you so much, you hurt me physically and mentally. You treated with so much disrespect, I felt like nothing at the end of our relationship. That last night we were together you just-"
"Vic, I- I can't even say anything that would justify that," his voice cracked and he cleared his throat, she knew he would cry there with her if given the chance. "That last night, I lost it completely. Ever since I met you, I just knew there was one guy I could lose you to."
She didn't even have to wonder who the guy was, she knew it back then as Andre was a constant argument for them. Parker always loved accusing her of sleeping with Andre.
"Andre?" she questioned. "I didn't see him like that, not back then."
"Yeah exactly not back then," he said. "You would speak so highly of him. He was your best friend, no threat at the moment but I knew there would be the day that you would see him in a different light. I noticed the looks he would give you at times though it wasn't obvious, he was a good friend to us both. Always kept his feelings to himself but I knew."
"I didn't see it," she truthfully responded. "I didn't know of his feelings until a few months after the trial was over. I was in such a horrible place and there this guy was, loving me, always loving me, supporting me. I wanted to die and he wouldn't let me. He saved my life so many times Parker, he deserved me more than you ever could."
"I-I know that," he admitted, she could tell it hurt him to say those simple words.
"Here we go," their waitress appeared placing their drinks on the table. "You guys ready to order?"
Tori cleared her throat. "Yeah," she said, looking at Parker who nodded, he motioned for her to go first.
After placing their food orders they sat in silence, their minds wondering back to their previous conversation.
"So you said back then." Parker spoke up breaking the silence.
She looked over at him confused. "Hmm, what?"
"You said back then you didn't see Andre like that," he said. "So I'm guessing things have changed now."
"Yeah," she admitted, worried about his reaction.
He smiled, that smile genuinely surprised her. "Does he know?" he asked.
"Yeah but I don't think he gets how in love I am," she confessed. "For years I've deflected his advances, making sure he knew he was friend zoned and now I regret it."
The smile slipped from his mouth with those words. "Oh he has a girlfriend?"
"Yeah," she sighed. "They just started dating not too long ago."
"But he knows you love him?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yup," she sighed.
"What an idiot, he finally gets the girl but he selects someone who probably will not be able to love him the way you do," he scoffed.
"Try telling him that," she said, digging through her purse and pulling out her phone. "No really tell him so maybe he'll get a clue," she held out her phone to Parker.
"I don't think anything your abusive ex-boyfriend tells him can convince him of anything," he told her.
"Yeah you have a point," she said, setting her phone on the table.
He took a few sips of his soda as she stared at her phone.
"So why are we here?" he asked.
"Hmm," she looked up, startled by his words.
"You said you wanted to talk," he motioned between the two of them. "So let's talk. What happened?"
"I don't know if we have enough time to go through this story," Tori said before taking a small sip of her soda.
"We do," he told her. "I'm here for you. So talk."
With those simple words she felt at ease with him, something she hadn't felt in years with him. Something she only truly felt at the beginning of their relationship. The words flowed out with ease as she told him about what's happened in her life the past few weeks. She talked about Andre, Andre and Alana, Jade being in the city and what had just occurred just two hours beforehand with her best friends.
He listened intently, he didn't speak and just let her talk. She noticed the moments he wanted to reach out to her as her voiced cracked and when the unwanted tears escaped her eyes. She furiously wiped at those tears, not wanting to look so vulnerable.
She even questioned if he had anything to say but he just told her to just let it all out and then he'll tell her how he felt. Their meals had arrived as she was talking but he didn't touch his plate as she summarized the rest of the week for him.
"So this is why we are here tonight," she sighed nervously. "I talk a lot I know, at least I kept the details short."
Parker chuckled at her words. "I just realized something," he said.
Her eyes widened. "What's that?" she asked, confused.
"Well," he drawled out as he took a sip of his drink. "Actually I realized a few things."
"Alright so these few things would be what?" she questioned, curious about the playful smile on his face.
"I missed hearing your voice," he confessed, stopping her movements as she reached for her fork.
She stared at him as he continued. "I missed hearing you ramble on about the things that bother you, to hear you ramble on about the things you believe in or just something you love. Also the following isn't something I just realized but it is something I hated since the moment you first cried in front of me. I hate seeing you cry, I hate myself for being the reason you cried back then and still do. The way I treated you, the pain I caused you, how much I hurt you still haunts you. Maybe one day you'll be at ease but right now you are hurting yourself and those around you because of me. I'm sorry, truly sorry for that."
He cleared his throat as he picked up his own fork, staring down at the dish before him. This surprised her, this was not the Parker she fell in love with years ago.
"Parker," she reached out, placing her hand on his.
Her action stunned them both. She swore up and down he would never be allowed to touch her and now she was the one reaching out to him.
He looked up surprised. "Yeah?" he questioned.
"I'm healing," she told him. "Yes you hurt me so much, yes I'm still hurting. But this is something my therapist and I have always discussed before, I've held myself back for too long. I've hurt myself in so many ways throughout the years. There were moments were I gave up but that was my doing. I'm trying now."
"I wish-" he began but she cut him off.
"Don't. There are a lot of things we could wish for. A lot of things happened between the two of us. You are to blame as much as I am. I was in a relationship with you. An unhealthy relationship, I could have left you countless times but I didn't. I could have asked you to get help but I didn't. I'm sorry that it took you going to prison for you to get help but I'm glad you turned yourself around."
"Honestly I deserved to go to prison after that night," he softly spoke as she removed her hand from his. "Those few years were not enough to be honest."
She didn't say anything because until a few days ago she had felt the same way. Now she was just unsure. "It's okay for you to agree with that statement, that night I destroyed you," he said.
"I'm just confused," she told him.
"Why?" he questioned, leaning back in his chair.
"Until just a few days back I would have said those same words. I hated you so much for what you did to me but now after talking to you earlier today and now I'm not sure what I feel for you anymore," she said.
"I understand," he sighed. "Though I think I complicated our lives when I messaged you on The Slap yesterday. I truly didn't expect you to answer back or to even agree to meet up with me."
"Well trust me I didn't even believe it myself after I messaged you back," Tori picked up her fork, realizing she had neglected her meal for too long. "I'm starved," she added before taking a bite of her sticky rice.
"Eat," he encouraged. "I'll talk for a bit now."
She just nodded as she took a bite of her chicken. "So I treated you badly in the past but that doesn't change that I am your ex-boyfriend. So talking to you about Andre doesn't ease me seeing as he was one of the main reason we fought a lot of the time," she placed her fork down. "Eat," he gestured for her to pick up her fork once again but she just shook her head.
"Go on," she said before taking a sip of her soda.
"Very well I say just give it time to let things play out with Andre and Alana. Just give them time, as their relationship continues and progresses than Andre will have a better understanding of his relationship with her. He'll get to see if Alana is truly who he wants or just that no matter what you are the one," he explained.
She smiled. "You make a valid point. Jade had actually suggested doing the same thing."
"Smart if you follow through with it," Parker leaned forward to grab his cup. "Honestly show that you are level-headed enough to let him be. You are letting him be happy even though that happiness isn't with you but that speaks volumes of the woman you are now."
"I guess so tho-" she began.
"Don't," Parker interrupted her. "Eat your meal. You have to enjoy it while it's still warm."
She nodded, as she picked up her fork once again. He took a sip of his soda and smiled.
"You know it's kind of hard to give you advice about your love life," he said after a short moment of silence.
She looked at him confused. "I guess it would be weird seeing as I put you in prison and now we are talking like nothing ever happened," she rambled. "My therapist would probably kick my ass if she found out about this. I mean you treated so badly and now here we are having dinner like two old friends. I am mental."
"Vic," he tried to interrupt her but to no avail she just kept on.
"I mean if Andre found out he'll probably lock me up in my room until the end of time and then also your safety would be in jeopardy. Jade would probably try to hurt you as well after she kicks my ass back to Cali. Did I tell you I plan to move back there this summer? I mean I just made the decision the other week but I feel it in my gut that it is the right one, you know? That feeling when something just feels right no matter what anyone else can say or do. You just know."
"I know that-" he was interrupted by her once again.
"You ever think of just moving away from this? I mean I basically ruined your life here but you are rich enough that you can move anywhere and just start a new life. It would be great wouldn't it? No judgments just a fresh slate. I don't know what -"
"Tori!" he exclaimed.
She stopped confused by his outburst and the use of her nickname. "You called me Tori," she whispered.
"Excuse me?" he asked.
She cleared her throat. "You called me Tori," she spoke up.
"That's your name right?" he questioned, bewildered.
She nodded. "You just never called me that," she told him. "I was never Tori. You always called me Vic or Victoria never Tori," she added as a look of realization dawned on his face.
"I apologize for that," he said softly. "I tried to change who you were to better fit my standards and my ways. You just let me do as I pleased that it was easy. As our relationship progressed I do know I was dating Victoria and not Tori. I think after a while I stopped seeing Tori and now I get it. Now I want to get to know the real Tori Vega, well if you would allow it."
"We will see," her voice cracked. "I, it's just that this is so much, too much. And I think we could make it work and at the same time every bone in my body is telling me to run as fast as I can away from you."
"I understand," he said.
"I hope so," she said. "This is so unhealthy and I should not be having any forms of communication with you but I can't help it."
"Maybe this should be our last time seeing each other," he suggested and she quickly shook her head, suprising them both.
"No," she sputtered out. "I think this is okay. A bit of healing for us both. I mean this won't be a daily thing. I don't even know."
"We'll take it one day at a time," he added on and she smiled.
She nodded and then glanced down at her phone that vibrated on the table. The screen lit up revealing Jade's name.
"Pick it up," he motioned towards the phone.
She picked up the phone and glanced at him. "You sure?"
"Yeah, she's probably worried about you," he said as he picked up his own fork. "I'll just eat."
She nodded as he took a bite of his meal and she swiped at her screen.
"Hello," she softly said.
"Finally jeesh," Jade exclaimed. Tori heard the sigh of relief that Jade let out and the guilt quickly settled on her chest.
"I'm fine," she told her.
"I hope so," Jade said. "I was worried."
"Why?" she snapped.
Parker looked up at her confused. "Vega I swear to it all you better watch your tone with me," Jade snapped back.
"Why were you worried?" she asked once again. "We have fights, we ignore each other for hours and then we make up. That's the usual."
"Well," Jade drawled out.
"Honestly just save it for when I get home," Tori interrupted her. "I am eating dinner right now."
"Take a pic and send it to me and then maybe I'll believe it," Jade playfully said but she knew that she meant it.
"Alright, I'll text it and I'll see you when I get home," Tori said.
She ended the call as soon as she heard Jade's goodbye.
"Well aren't you a delight on the phone?" Parker mused as Tori took a picture of her meal.
"Andre and her have annoyed me with the you need to eat more bullshit," Tori said as she sent Jade the text.
"Because they care and love you dearly," Parker stated.
Tori rolled her eyes. "I know," she smirked. "I have work in the morning but a few drinks wouldn't hurt."
Parker shook his head. "Oh no. You better mean non-alcoholic drinks," he said.
"I mean I think we need to have some real drinks to loosen us up," she said, motioning their waitress over.
"Don't you dare," he warned her but she just smiled at him.
"Like you would ever tell me no," she gave him her best dazzling smile and saw how quickly he melted.
She still had it.
She clumsily walked through her apartment door a little after twelve. Immediately she spotted Andre and Jade sitting on the couch, both looking at her.
"Have you been drinking?" Andre asked.
Tori giggled as she slipped off he cardigan. "Yes I have father," she told him as she tossed the cardigan towards the couch nearly missing Jade.
"I even ate a whole meal all by myself," she added, annoyed.
Andre groaned. "Well aren't you an overachiever," Jade hissed at her.
Not caring for the smart comment she walked past the two and towards her bedroom. She really needed a nice long shower and to clear her head.
But of course she didn't get any privacy, she soon heard two sets of footsteps as they followed behind her.
"Who did you have dinner with?" Jade asked as soon as she walked through the door.
Tori sighed as she threw herself on her bed. "An old friend," she told them as Andre grabbed a hold of her feet.
She was going to tell him to get off her but didn't as she realized that all he was doing was taking her shoes off for her.
"Same old friend from this morning?" he asked.
"Maybe," she smiled at him as he rolled his eyes.
He lightly rubbed her feet. "Do you like him?" he asked.
"I don't," she softly responded.
"Can he be a potential love interest?" Jade asked.
"He can't," she shook her head vigorously. "I can never love him. I'm suppose to hate him but I can't even do that. I like spending time with him and it's not suppose to be like this. I'm not suppose to even want to spend time with him and enjoy it but he's here now and I don't want him here but I don't want to tell him to leave because it feels right."
"Who is this guy?" Jade asked as Tori got up on the bed. "What's his name? Where do you know him from?"
Tori just shook her head. "No, it doesn't matter," she told them both as she reached behind to unzip her dress.
"Vega," Jade reached out to her, grabbing a hold of her waist. "Come down, I'll help you take off the dress."
"I can do it myself," Tori protested moving out of Jade's grasp. She stumbled a bit before falling back down on the bed.
"Tori, stop moving," Andre said grabbing a hold of Tori and pulling her up.
She just sighed as Andre settled her down on the edge of the bed. Jade looked on amused.
"Vega, what's the name of the guy you met up with?" Jade asked.
"Why does it matter?" she growled at Jade.
Jade made a face, clearly annoyed. "Because as much as you hate it I care. This dude has you all worked up, you come home drunk from an outing with him so I'm worried," Jade snapped at her.
"Oh," was all Tori said before standing up. "I need to take a shower."
"What's his name?" Andre asked as Tori walked towards her bathroom door.
"Doesn't matter," Tori said as she unzipped her dress, letting it fall down and it pooled around her feet.
"I think it does," he responded. "There is only one person in this world that you hate and it isn't even your mother as badly as she has treated you the past few years."
She froze. "Don't you dare," she warned as she turned back to face him.
Jade gasped and Tori realized that this was the first time that Jade actually got to see her scarred mutilated thighs.
"Then tell us his name," he demanded.
"Fuck off," she said before turning back around and storming into the bathroom.
She slammed the door shut and locked the door before he could get to it. Honestly she knew she should have just kept her mouth shut while she's this intoxicated but everything just comes out.
Her bathroom door knob jingled as she heard him continuously try to muse her to open the door. She didn't want to hear him or see him. All she wanted was a nice long hot shower and to try to forget that as Parker left her in front of her building all she wanted was to feel his lips against hers.
A/N: I'm back. I apologize for the delay in updates. I'll try my best to update more often. So now let me know what you thought of this chapter. Did you guys like it? I hope so. Please Review.