Autumn Leaves

Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious

A/N:


Chapter 28 (Christmas Joys and Sorrows)

The Christmas season came around and the city's gangs were still spiraling out of control. Chief Warren's health was still on the decline and the Scrapperz were still constricting their grip on LA while their 'fearless' leader was nowhere to be found. There had been assassination attempts on almost every gang, including the Knights, some drug factories had blown up, along with popular meets. The city was running scared, and David was getting to the point of aggravation.

Trina studied the barren trees in the park. Jesse was somewhere in the park, jogging on one of the trails. There were Knights on guard all over the lot, but she didn't notice them. Winter was the harbinger of death, she still considered it to be, and the bare trees of the park were a fierce omen for her. Of course, the bench she was sitting on was the very bench next to where Sinjin had passed away in her arms.

"Coming by," she heard Jesse and looked up to see him jogging past. Her lips curved into a smile and she slowly shook her head. He was showing off at this point. She felt strange with him, and as they discussed already, they both had these strong feelings geared towards each other. Brought up by their close friends, of course. They both still pined for the loved ones they lost, so they accepted and acknowledged that there was a particular bond of respect between them, but no romance would happen for them. No matter how much one might want, and for Trina, she did want to feel like someone cared about her that much, loved her that much, but she wanted that person to be Sinjin. No matter how close Jesse came to being just right for her, her mind was stuck on Sinjin. Maybe it wasn't a good thing, maybe it was, either way she respected him for his own boundaries as he did for her.

Eventually their friends and the members of the gang decided to give up on trying to pin them together, but at the same time, they would refer to them like they were an item when they weren't. She'd sometimes hear Jesse referred to as 'Katrina's guy' or even herself referred to as 'Jesse's woman', 'the boss's girl'. They found it hilarious.

"You've jogged that corner about eight times now, you don't need to announce yourself!" Jesse threw his head back and laughed.

"Sure I do."

"Just finish the jog…I'm sick of sitting here!" She opened her book and grumbled at the pages. She wasn't sure why she was torturing herself, it was the first time she'd been to the park since the incident with Ross and Sinjin. They were waiting for her father to finish his shift at work so they could head on over for a Christmas celebration. Tori, unfortunately, wasn't able to come to LA due to her classes and due to not wanting to be around on the chance that Beck would try to show up. "Fall and Winter, I hate both seasons."

"Trina." Vivian's voice pulled her attention from the book. She smiled as her friend walked over. Vivian was sporting a new haircut and wearing a matching red sweater that went well with her blue pants. "Didn't think I'd see you here."

"Me either. Sit down! How's it going?"

"Good, I guess." Vivian took a seat beside her. Immediately she sensed something wrong. She watched her friend gaze at the cloudy sky. "I have, um, news. Jesse's around somewhere, right?"

"Yeah, he's been jogging for a while. What's up? You know you can talk to me."

"Yeah…" Vivian leaned back on the bench and set her elbows over the top. The forlorn expression was almost too much for Trina to bear. She wanted to tell Vivian to smile, laugh, do something other than looking depressed. "Trina. I'm moving." Her jaw dropped and her heart came to a stop as Vivian looked towards her.

"Moving? Where? Why!"

"Florida. I um…found out my grandmother needs someone to look after her. She can't afford a nursing home, and I really don't want anything to happen to her." This was upsetting, but she understood the necessity. Sometimes it was best to do what you had to, and maybe it was for the best. She still couldn't get the thought of Tiffany's death out of her head, so she definitely didn't want to see that happen to Vivian. "You and Jesse have each other to take care of, so it isn't like you'll need me." She started to protest, but Vivian held up her hand to keep her quiet. "And I know you two aren't 'together', together, but you get what I mean. You and he are compatible as friends so you look after each other. Well, I have to look after my grandmother."

"Yeah, I understand. I just…wish it didn't seem so sudden." Jesse started to jog back around. He spotted Vivian and came to a stop. Trina looked up at him with sorrowful eyes. "Vivian's moving to Florida to take care of her grandma, Jesse." Jesse frowned and slowly nodded. He did seem to be saddened by the news, but Trina knew he wasn't the type to keep someone from leaving.

"I guess you have to do what you have to do." He walked over and smiled sadly. "Will you keep in touch?"

"Mhm, I will."

"I don't think anyone can really replace you on the team, you know." Vivian set her hands on her thighs and flashed a tiny smile.

"You'll find someone." Vivian rubbed her neck and breathed in slowly. "Besides, is stressful dealing with this war." Vivian was one of the lucky ones, then. She was able to leave and be safe, but then, could they really be sure she'd be okay? The Scrapperz knew her, if she was spotted, they'd go after her.

"Would you like me to be with you till you move?" Trina asked. "Those Scrapperz might see you. I don't want to think something will happen to you."

"I appreciate that." Vivian reached over and hugged her, patting her gently on the back. "I'll make it just fine. I don't want to put you in that position. I'll ask Davis to escort me to the airport. You and Jesse should enjoy your Christmas with your dad."

"Wait. When do you have to leave?"

"A couple days. I'm trying to pack up all my things and get down there for grandma as soon as I can. It will be good to get there, I won't lie. All the stress with the Scrapperz, the Cravens, and every other gang out there gunning for us and Sangre is just too much."

"I understand that," Jesse remarked, "You're free to go just as long as you don't forget your friends." Vivian laughed and hugged both of them once more.

"I'd never forget you guys." She checked her watch and stood up from the bench. "I do have to go. I was just out for a walk, knew I might as well tell you now than later."

"Give us a call when you're ready to go, we should throw a proper going away party for you."

"I'll do that." With that, Vivian started to walk away. Trina felt her heart sink as Jesse sat down on the bench and shook his head. She didn't want to see her friend go, she honestly wanted to run after her and beg her to stay.

"Why does it feel like we keep losing friends?" Trina asked curiously. Jesse raised an eyebrow and Trina bowed her head. "I don't know. I just…I don't want her to go."

"Yeah, but it's better this way for her. She deserves it. She's lucky if she can get out of this life. You should follow her footsteps too, you know. Find a way out of this." He hung his elbows over the bench and Trina quickly glanced at him. He was completely serious, but she didn't want that. She was content staying at his side if she had to.

"Jesse, you're my only friend at this point."

"Doesn't mean you have to be a part of a gang."

"Well, you've been telling me that for months, and I've been telling you I'm too far deep into it."

"I know." He swept a hand in the air and shook his head. The deeper into this life one dug, the harder it was to get out. "I know it's hard to get out for the same reason we have a shit tonof soldiers following us around this park."

"Yeah. Recognition. Even if we tried to leave the gang, to start fresh, someone out there…"

"You don't have to say it." It was still sore for both of them of course. Every gang in the city wanted a piece of the Black Knights, just as they did El Sangre and the Cravens. If the leaders tried to leave, they'd take it as a sign and put out a hit on them.

"It's not like we're staying in because we have to…it's fear…" She didn't want anything to happen to her father, to her sister, to herself or anyone close to them. "Davis might take Vivian to the airport, and that's good, because any gang that spots her will go after her. So…you can't possibly ask me to leave the gang, because I'm not going to. At least…not as long as you're still a part of it. There's nowhere else for me to turn, either."

"I know, I know. I haven't been bothering you about it for a while, I just…I guess it's on my mind." He looked off to the side and lowered his voice to a state she almost couldn't hear. "I don't want anything to happen to you. I'd rather you be safe. Find a way out and live your life…"

"I wish. I'm too far down this hole." She checked her phone and smiled tenderly at a text message sent to her. "Dad's off work now, we should start heading over for dinner."

"Why am I coming along again?"

"Because he likes you…"

"I swear to god that man is going to think we're dating."

"Pretty sure he already does." She pushed the phone back into her pocket and Jesse groaned loudly, letting his head fall back onto the bench. "Oh get over it, it's frustrating for me too, but I'm used t it now."

"I am too, it's just annoying." She watched him get up and start for the car in the parking lot. Her heart quaked as she thought back onto Sinjin. What would he want her to do? She was young, so sure she wanted to love again, but she'd never imagined her heart going to anyone but Sinjin. Even now, she didn't want to give her heart out even though Sinjin was no longer around. "You coming or what?"

"Huh?" She snapped herself back to reality and looked to Jesse's car. He was standing by the door, waving for her to come. "Sorry." She pushed herself up and ran to the car, looking back at the park once more. "Tell me we won't have to come back here again. Thought I could handle it, but I can't."

"Yeah don't worry, we're done with the park."

"Great."


So Vivian's moving now, hope she will be safe in Florida. Maybe other gangs won't go after her, once she's gone we really won't know. Your thoughts on the chapter