Disclaimer: I do not own Victorious
Tori's POV
"Hey, Tori." I feel someone shaking me. I get up and look to see Jade in a tank top and Hollywood Arts sweatpants. "It's time to get up." She says before going under my bed and pulling out a bag.
"I had an alarm set for 8," I said, looking over at my alarm clock. It was 7:30 in the morning. "What are you doing up so early?"
"I had to go to my house," Jade said, pulling out a matching pair of bra and panties.
"Oh my God. Is he coming?" I shot out of bed, realizing it was graduation day. Jade confronted her father, and I wasn't there for her.
Jade took several deep breaths before looking at me. "Yes, he is. As much as I wanted to rip the ticket up right in front of him, I invited him." She says with a conflicted look.
"What happened?" I asked.
"I went there and asked him what you want for me. He told me he only wanted what's best for me, and I called bullshit on it. I asked him what he thought it was, and he told me to be like him. That's when it got a little personal," Jade rubs her arm nervously. I have a feeling that the talk with her dad was way tougher than she's letting on. "I told him why he would want me to be as unhappy as he was. Just because he feels empty doesn't mean I have to. If he wants what's best for me then he'll let me be my true self." Jade lets out a long sigh after telling me the story. I don't think she noticed that she was shaking. It must've been hard to keep her emotions in check all day. I walk to her and give her a soft kiss on the cheek.
"You won't regret it. Trust me" I give her a small smile before I head to the bathroom to get ready. I expected to be more excited for today, but I couldn't stop thinking about Jade. I just have this feeling that she needed me this morning, and I let her down. One of the biggest decisions she'll ever make, and I wasn't there for her. How did I screw this up? After a long shower, I put on some shorts and a plain white t because we still had a lot of time to get ready. I went downstairs with Jade and Trina to see my mom in the happiest mood she's ever been in.
"Congratulations, you two." My mom gives me and Jade huge hugs.
"There's my special graduate," My dad says as he hugs me. "And there's my daughter-in-law." He says before hugging Jade. Jade turns red instantly. I covered my face to hide my blushing, but my dad already noticed. "What? We already know it's gonna happen." My dad says, walking towards the dinner table.
"Jokes aside. Let's all have a nice breakfast together. I made my special chocolate chip pancakes." That made me and Trina race to the table to grab the first pancake. My mom's chocolate chip pancakes are the best breakfast food on the planet. Gordon Ramsey couldn't make pancakes this good. I hear Jade laughing in the background as she watches me and Trina act like kids again. "They're always like this whenever I make them. Welcome to the family Jade." My mom says, giving Jade another hug. Jade takes a seat next to me as we enjoy this breakfast. This was the best breakfast I've ever had with my family. Everyone was so happy. I could even tell that the thought of her dad wouldn't bring Jade's mood down. This was just the perfect morning. After our fun breakfast, we all went upstairs to get ready.
"Are y'all wearing your cap and gowns now or later?" I sent in the group chat.
"I'm waiting until I get there," Cat responded. Everyone follows suit and agrees to not wear their cap and gowns until we get to the stadium. After 30 minutes of getting ready, we were finally about to head on our way. We all took my dad's new Toyota Highlander. I'm still mad he got rid of the Chevy Equinox because he said he'll give it to me after he gets a new car. My dad owes me a huge graduation gift. It was a long car ride because of where the Hollywood Arts decided to have graduation. Most of us thought we were going to do it in a famous LA theater because we are performing arts students. Instead, the school decided to have the graduation at the new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. It was the last place either of us would guess to have our graduation, but the building is beautiful. When we got there, we were guided to the parking lot with a sign that said, "Graduates and Parents of Graduates." Before we walked to the stadium, my parents wanted to take as many pictures as possible.
"Hey guys, I'm going to go find my mom," Jade says after one last picture.
"You need me to come with you?" I ask
"No. She shouldn't be too hard to find. I'll meet you at the check-in point, Ok?" Jade says.
"Ok" Jade gives me a quick peck before she goes off searching for her mother. "You guys ready to head in?" I ask my family
"One more picture." My mom said. I roll my eyes at what could be the 50th picture we've taken. After that last picture, at least I hope it was, we finally walked towards the stadium. I may have been more eager than I thought because I was a few steps ahead of my parents. Trina was the only one who kept up with me.
"Let's make this walk special," Trina says when she finally catches up to me. Trina pulls out her PearPhone and starts playing Make It Shine. I began to tear up thinking about how much this song has done for me. It got me into Hollywood Arts. It kept me in Hollywood Arts, and it's even on my locker. Make It Shine is the most important song I've ever sung at this school. We finally reached the gate, but the check-in point for graduates was in another concourse. "You go ahead. I'll wait for our parents." Trina said.
"Ok sis, see you later," I said, entering the stadium. I took my time walking to the other concourse. This was the most beautiful venue I've ever seen. I don't watch football as much as my dad, so I won't be in here often. However, I could see myself selling this place out for a concert. They say this place can hold 100,000. One day, over 100,000 people are gonna be screaming my name during a concert in this stadium.
"Hello, Tori." A familiar voice snaps me out of my daydream. I look up and see Mr. West walking towards me.
"Oh. Hey Mr. West." I speak.
"Congratulations." He says as he hugs me. He then just walks off to find a seat. That was weird. He's always cold to me whenever I'm near him. I'm guessing since he knows my father, he feels obligated to be nice to me. I let it go because I have no time to think about him. I'm about to walk across the stage with my friends. I'm one step closer to a new life and following my dreams. I continue my walk through the stadium still thinking about how cool it would be to headline here. This is going on my bucket list. I finally reached the check-in point where Cat, Robbie, Beck, and Jade were already there.
"TORI! WE FINALLY MADE IT!" Cat says, giving me a huge hug.
"I KNOW CAT! I'M SO EXCITED!" Robbie then comes in, and we are all in a group hug. Jade wasn't in it since I'm the only one she allowed to touch her, but she couldn't hide her smile. She was just as excited as the rest of us.
"Wait. Where's Andre?" I got a confused look from everyone. I call him, but he doesn't pick up. "No answer. I hope he's Ok. I don't want him to miss it."
"Maybe he's having trouble getting his grandma out of the house," Jade says. It makes perfect sense. Andre is the type of guy who would want his family here. "Don't worry about it, Tori. He'll be here." Jade says, grabbing my hand and leading us to our seats.
No One's POV
Michael West is taking his time walking through SoFi Stadium. He always had a soft passion for architecture and engineering. For every great aspect of the stadium, he can't help himself to notice the flaws in the building. As he finally reaches the area where the other families are sitting, he notices his dear friend. "David Vega.". He gives Vega a strong handshake, but Mr. Vega doesn't reciprocate the grip. "Come on, officer. I know you can give a better handshake." Michael West jokes.
"We need to talk." David Vega says sternly
"About what?" Michael West responds with a confused look on his face.
"Jade is living with us…"
"Oh. You want me to come get her. Don't worry, she'll be out of your hair by the end of the day. I thought she was at that Oliver kid's house." Michael West thought the conversation was over.
"You're not allowed to see her." Michael West grew visibly frustrated, but he knew he couldn't raise his voice here.
"You're gonna stop me from seeing MY daughter. What gives you the right to decide what I do in my fucking family?" Michael is close to snapping. David Vega stands there, not intimidated at all by Michael's anger. He sees the resemblance between him and Jade. Both struggle to handle emotions.
"Well, she's 18, so she doesn't have to be home," The officer says sarcastically. Michael wanted to say something, but he needed a moment to calm down. He started walking away, but David continued, "And my daughter is in love with her."
Michael stops in his tracks and takes several deep breaths. "What did you just say?"
"My daughter is in love…"
"And you're just gonna allow that?" Michael cuts him off. "You don't agree with that crap either. How are you Ok with this? We can break them up." Michael is beginning to rant.
"Because she's, my daughter. The goal of a parent is to make sure their kids are happy and safe. Tori is happy and safe around Jade. If that's the case, then however I felt years ago does not matter. If you can't do the same with Jade, then there's no reason why you should see her." David Vega explains. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to watch my daughter and her girlfriend go get their diplomas." David Vega goes to find his seat, leaving Michael to think about how he treated Jade.
Graduation is about to start. As Tori and her friends take their seats, they notice Andre running towards them as fast as he could. "Andre! What took you so long?" The Latina asked.
"Grandma." The one-word answer is met with understanding from the group. They each gave the talented musician a quick hug as he took his seat next to Beck. Helen takes the stage as the Hollywood Arts Commencement Ceremony begins.
Hello everyone, and welcome to this year's Hollywood Arts Commencement Ceremony. For many of the parents here, they've never been to a ceremony such as this one. No, we don't have to sing before every graduate takes their diploma. The difference is in the messages. Many graduations talk about how these kids attack the future by being doctors, principals, and officers. This group won't live such lives. The kids at Hollywood Arts change the world in their way. From making music that captures the listeners. From creating films that bring people together. From putting on plays that make everyone see the beauty of the world. That's the impact these children will have on the world. We serve, save, and protect people in ways people don't understand. Through the performing arts. Where we speak to the person who needs help emotionally. Where we put the messages that people are too scared to say on TV. Where we push the lines of reality and art to make people think about the world. That's our future, and it's inevitable. Be prepared for what these kids can do. The Tony Awards, Oscars, and Grammys will have a lot of these kids there. Our future is inevitable. Our future is now. It's time to reward possibly the most talented group in this school's history with their diplomas. Let us begin.
Tori's POV
This was the most fun I've had with my classmates that didn't involve singing or screaming. We all screamed at the top of our lungs for each other. We've all been through so much that we all deserve a standing ovation. When my name got called, everyone erupted. I'm used to having a crowd cheer for me, but this feels so different. It's the last time I'll experience this at Hollywood Arts. I feel sad but happy at the same time. One chapter of my life is ending while a new one is beginning.
"Congratulations, Tori." A familiar voice said while I was walking back to my seat. It was Jade's mom.
"Thank you, Mrs. West," I say back to her. After the last group of names was called, Sikowitz took the stand to give the closing remarks.
Hollywood Arts is not a traditional school. Ironically, we'll end today's ceremony with a tradition. To all the graduates, at the count of 3, we will move our tassels from the right side to the left. 1...2… WAIT WAIT WAIT! I SAID WAIT. THERE'S BEEN AN ERROR. ALLEGATIONS OF CHEATING ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I KNEW THOSE SONGS WEREN'T ORIGINAL! NOW WE'LL POSTPONE THIS after you guys realize I'm kidding. On a serious note, 1...2...3.
We all moved our tassels meaning we officially graduated from Hollywood Arts.
"WE OFFICIALLY DID IT!" The red-headed girl screamed at the top of her lungs. She gave each of us a tight hug. "PICTURES! LET'S TAKE PICTURES, GUYS!". We all took several pictures together before heading towards the stands to find our parents. I and Jade walked together hand in hand towards the crowd.
"Jade." We look over and see Jade's dad walking towards us.
"Hey, Dad," Jade said nonchalantly.
"Let me get a picture of you two?" Jade looked over at me in confusion. I didn't know what to tell her. We just decided to take a picture. Jade put her arms around my shoulder while I wrapped my arm around her waist. "Got it." Jade's dad said with a thumbs up. "Tori, to be honest with you, I did not care who you were." Jade looked like she wanted to kill him. "Let me finish, I realized that I was wrong for that. I do not know much about you, but I know your father. If you're anything like him, then I know you have a lot of qualities I respect. Qualities that I want every person to have and qualities I wish I had of my own. I know you're loyal, honorable, respectful, and you have the drive to do what you believe is the right thing. Because of that, I know you're perfect for Jade." Mr. West hugs me. "Take care of her kid." Mr. West lets me go and walks away.
"Dad." Jade runs over to her dad and gives him a huge hug. "Thanks." They let go and go their separate ways.
"You must've gotten through to him," I say, taking her hand.
"I don't think it was me. Feels like someone else talked to him." Jade tells me. It's hard to say if she's right or not. I wasn't there to hear what she told him. Also, I don't know who else knows about us and had the time to talk to him. We'll probably never know who got him to change his mind about us. The only thing that matters right now is that he did. After a long search, we finally found my parents.
"Congratulations, you two." My parents say before giving me and Jade hugs.
Mrs. West then comes over to greet us. "Congratulations, Daughter-in-law." She says to me
"MOM!" I've never seen Jade look so embarrassed.
"What? It's pretty much confirmed by now. I'm just giving a blessing." She tells her daughter. "So, I know you want to spend time with her, so I and Daniel are going to leave. I'll see you later tonight Ok."
"Ok mom, see you tonight," Jade says to her mother as she leaves.
"Well. What's next, you two?" My dad says. I looked at Jade for an answer, but she was just as undecided as I was. "You know what? There's this Asian buffet not too far from here. Let's have a nice dinner to celebrate our graduates."
"Sure," We both said in unison. The drive to the buffet was smooth. I've never been to this part of LA before, so I was enjoying all the neighborhoods and local businesses that are in Inglewood. A lot of them look very new. Must be because of the new stadium. When we got to the buffet, I pigged out. It was some of the best food I ever had. It was miles better than the food served at Nozu. My whole family agreed that we'll try at least one thing new since we are at a buffet. My dad was the only one with good taste because he was the only person who enjoyed what he picked. I tried to eat some octopus, but I couldn't get past the first bite. It's awful. We ate about 130 dollars' worth of food, and it was worth it. After our dinner, we went home. The day wasn't necessarily over for me and Jade. We still had to help her pick up some furniture at JCPenney. We got home around 3, so we decided to relax for a little bit since we didn't have to be there until 6. When it was time to go, I decided to wear some shorts, a tank top, and a sports bra. I already dressed up earlier today, and I wasn't going to be there a second time.
"Hey, you two." Mrs. West said, giving each of us a hug. "Ok. We're getting this etagere. I'll get the glass shelves, you two carry the frame to the van."
"Yes, ma'am," Jade says, "Can I ask you something?" Jade says nervously.
"What's wrong sweetie." Mrs. West is still focusing much of her attention on the glass shelves.
"Why did you tell dad about me and Tori?"
"I didn't. HE KNOWS!?" Mrs. West almost dropped her shelves on the floor. "Oh my God, Jade. What did he say? What's he going to do?"
"Don't worry mom," Jade cuts off her mom's panic attack. "He's ok with it, from what I could tell. That's why I thought you spoke to him."
"That's odd." Mrs. West says with a look of confusion. "I haven't spoken to your father in several days." Jade couldn't believe what she just heard. Someone helped her, and she had no idea who it was to thank them.
"Don't overthink it. Just enjoy it while it lasts. Now help." Mrs. West said, snapping Jade out of her thoughts. The Goth agreed that she wasn't going to find out who talked to her dad by standing there. She'll probably never figure out who helped her. Jade decided to let it go and help her mom as promised.
A/N: And there you have it. My longest and most-read story has finally been completed. Thanks for reading.