There were never going to be crowds at a reunion like this. Some people wouldn't show and it wasn't exactly like their school was teaming with people to begin with. It was always going to be smaller. But still Tori was impressed at the amount of old students who had returned. Looking out into the crowd, it was a who's who of those in the forefront and background. People who could make or break you in various artistic endeavors. Musicians, actors, directors, set-builders, make-up artists, stunt people, producers, writers, inventors- it was something to behold for sure.

It was strangely… even though. As the school was where all of them got their start. It was a place of respect. Very few were trying to one-up each other. At least while most were still sober. Their achievements were plastered everywhere. On the internet, television, social media. The former students all had plenty of brag about and could be googled fairly easily. This wasn't what tonight was about. The air was electric was excitement of just being…people. Of being graduates from the same place, with friends and faces that hadn't been seen in years. You could play catchup and congratulate your best friend from your high school days- it was pure.

With that realization, Tori felt even more like she didn't belong. Maybe Tori on the in-between of high school and now would have had much to boast to. And more than likely, she would've ignored any looks of annoyance or raised brows, stewing in the adoration that might come from a person or two. That wasn't her now, though. The fake protection of ego had fallen some years ago and left her exposed. That was one aspect of this she was happy about- she wasn't going to embarrass herself like that ever again. The negative side of that though was that she'd have plenty of other ways of embarrassing herself.

Through the sea of faces, she didn't see either of those people from before and looked towards Andre and Cat once more. "Did you know those two people that we walked away from?"

"I think I do. I remember the guy from one of the stunt classes. I think his name is Mason," Andre replied, the drink he had been having moving away from his face. Cat had already finished her's and threw the empty cup in the trash next to the bar. "The girl who had gotten up in your face? She looked familiar but I have no idea on the name now. Didn't get a chance to look at either of their name tags since it all happened so quickly."

"We could name her something," Cat said. Tori felt a smile form and she couldn't help the small, soft laugh that bubbled up. Very Cat thing to say. It wasn't a bad idea.

"What would you name her?" Tori asked.

"Moe," Cat said almost immediately.

"Moe?" Tori asked.

"Moe. Eenie, Meanie, Minie, Moe. Cause she's mean and moe is the closest thing to a name in that rhyme," She replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Andre smiled at this idea.

"Moe it is," Tori gave a nod. "Moe and Mason. Alliteration at its best."

"I had a client who really wanted an alliteration song once," Andre mused.

"Oh yeah?" Tori asked.

"Yeah. He seemed really hooked on the idea of everything having the same sound, but not rhyming. Which I mean, it's his song- if he pays me, I'll write anything. Most people just want music, but some want lyrics too."

"I feel like there's a but coming at the end of this…" Tori leaned in closer with a smile.

"Who's butt?" Cat interjected, also leaning in.

"His butt. Tori's right. He thought he could get a deal: 'I'm using less letters!' He told me. 'It means the lyrics will cost less!' I truly didn't know what to say to that one. Really, just a…strange guy."

"Was it someone we know?" Cat asked.

"No…? No, I don't think so. He was one of the smaller artists I did things for. Did give me a good idea for a song though. Changing chords with the lyrics that the letter matches too."

"What do you mean?" Tori asked, curious. She was following…sort of.

"So let's say the lyrics are…I've got a weight on my chest, it's as heavy as a stone. I've got A- that's the A chord, weight on my Chest- that's the C chord, and so on," Andre explained- his tone was a little excited. This was clearly an idea he had put some thought into.

"Sounds complex. Not in a bad way, but like in a way I couldn't think of," Tori admitted with a laugh.

"You're going to use natural chords? Or is it up to interpretation to be…A minor, C flat?" Cat asked. Sometimes Tori wondered what was going on that head of her's. One moment she is reciting a children's rhyme to give a stranger a name, the next she's following Andre's musical theory idea.

"Could be. Definitely don't want to tie myself down to just whole chords, yeah," Andre replied with a nod, eyes wandering away for a second. Tori glanced in the direction- nothing was over there save for the stairs going up to the skywalk above the cafe. He must have had an idea based off of what Cat said. Someone was going to make a lot of money off of this song, surely.

"Surprised there isn't a slew of paparazzi beating down the doors," Tori mused. The thought had jumped into her head after looking at the empty skywalk. Driving up the road, it hadn't seemed like anyone in particular was waiting or watching. Even if she wasn't deserving of all of the attention, surely someone like Cat would be. Hell, the entire class was worthy of at least an article, if not more.

"I heard they keep the night here a secret," Cat replied. "They only share it with the students, none of the faculty who don't need to know. Some things do slip out from time to time, but they put the plastic over the fences to keep out prying eyes," The former redhead opened up both of her eyes with her fingers, giving her bug eyes for a moment. "They have cameras installed, plenty of people here have security detail on them at all times. I'm sure you've got your own little posse'."

Tori sheepishly nodded, "Now and again, yeah. How did you hear all of this?"

"Robbie told me! He still talks to some of the staff here. He's been back once or twice to give lectures to the newer students."

"Oh. I didn't know that," How long had it been since she had spoken to Robbie?

"Yep. He'll be here in a bit. He texted me he's coming down the road about a minute or so ago," Cat glanced down at her Pear watch quickly and then smiled back up at Tori. "Always good to have a boyfriend on the inside."

"Right-" There was a sudden roar in Tori's ears as the words washed over her brain. "Hold on. You're dating Robbie?"

"Yeah! Did we not tell you?" Cat put a finger on her chin in thought for a moment. "I thought I texted you about it?"

"Oh. If you did, I must have been…at a show or something," Tori quickly replied. In truth, her notifications were completely out of hand. She never looked at the new messages anymore. The startling number of unread spiked her anxiety even more, but the idea that she had waited so long, let them sit on unread for months without a response- she couldn't face that. But she did usually try to at least read Cat's more often than others. Her's, Andre's-...was that it? Were others texting her and she was just so numb to it all? Was she worse than she realized?

"No biggie if I did or not! It's only been a few weeks. Like…ten weeks."

"That's over two months, Cat," Andre observed, seemingly pulled back to reality from the world of his own thoughts.

"How time flies," Cat said with a thoughtful smile.

"Guess you'll need to fill me in on all the details when he gets here. Gotta know how you two ended up like that after all these years. Feels like more of something that would happen back then or never," Tori said.

Cat gave a look of thought, seeming to mull over her words- which was rare. "I was too all over the place back then. I didn't know what I wanted! I thought I did, but clearly not. If I let old me decide, I'd still be binging the Bibble!"

"Binging the Bibble. Sounds like a reality TV show," Tori joked.

"And I'd be the white whale of it! The one everyone wanted!" Cat added with a wide stance, throwing her arms out. Even years later, the same Cat was in there. Tori and Andre laughed at the display.

"You were saying about Robbie, little red?" Andre asked.

"I just mean that I'm glad we let it happen naturally," She replied with a smile and a shrug.

"I'll have to get more info out of Robbie, clearly," Tori teased. "I'll have to shake 'em down for the info," Her accent changed, something out of New York.

"Are you being your cop persona?" Andre turned his attention to her now.

"My cop persona?"

"Yeah. You were always eating bran flakes and had a New York accent. For the method acting thing we do for Sikowitz."

"Oh! Yeah, I guess I tried to blank that memory from my mind. That was exhausting work for so long. Wasn't Jade needing to be a super nice farm girl?"

"She was," Cat nodded. "And I was a 80s comedian, and Beck was British and-"

"Try being a pregnant runner."

"I will pass on that, thank you sir," Tori laughed, joining in with Andre and Cat as they had started on her response.

There was a flash of light. Then another. The initial thought that ran through Tori's head was that the lights from the stage had gotten into her eyes. But when a voice called over the music, she realized what was going on.

"Cat Valentine! Hey! Over here! Is that your new boyfriend?" A man was hanging from the fence, frazzled, his camera in his hand, sitting just in front of his face. It seemed like every head in the place had turned to look at him at once, as the small crowd of former students realized what exactly was going on. A moment later, they also realized that he wasn't alone.

A few more people attempted to jump the fence, scaling and climbing, grabbing onto the top and trying to pull themselves down. But even from here, they could hear the sounds of struggle. It seemed like Cat was right. As one or two of those who had made it began to lose their grip, it was apparent that someone was pulling them off, not just gravity. As more attempted and more failed, the DJ did his best to cover up the noise by turning up the music.

"How could I know

That everything you say are lies about devotion and desire?

And I know the spark inside your eyes

Was just the match I used to set myself on fire.

My mouth's shooting blanks.

Situation's unbearable,

I've gotten vulnerable.

Now anyone is free to waltz right in.

My temple's been invaded

And there's nobody guarding it.

All over this lonely life,

But what's so wrong with being all alone?

Alone's the only way I've ever known."

The soundtrack to a mess of a situation. Most people seemed to just stare in awe of the vultures that were the paparazzi. They hounded her day and night, it felt like. Even after official announcements of breaks, turning off her major social media (her secret personal ones still active), they still swooped in every chance they had. To pester, to peck, to claw at the carcass. There was some pleasure in watching them scramble away from the various security guards. She should call her old head of security, see what she was up to currently. There were some good memories there.

"I said I was sorry!" came a familiar voice, filled with exasperation and a little bit of terror.

"Sorry doesn't undent my car, Robbie!" Came a reply, another familiar voice, one that struck a little harder. Tori turned to look. First she saw Robbie. Her old friend didn't look too changed. Much like Sinjin, he too had cut his hair, filled in more (although Robbie certainly looked more filled in than Sinjin), and changed his glasses to something a bit more modern. He was dressed in a button up, a dark colored tie that was hard to see the color of currently, black jeans, boots and a black bomber jacket. His hands were held up in defeat and apology for the other.

Jade's expression look almost copy and pasted from their days in school together. Tori couldn't help but smile at that- it had been years and yet she was still aiming that scowl right at Robbie same as it had ever been. Her dark hair had a white streak in it now, flowing all the way down to bouncing waves. Her body was adorned in a black dress, a black leather jacket, glittering jewelry, stockings and heeled boots. Though the overall style hadn't changed, the whole look seemed much more adult- like the dress was meant for a night at a fancy dinner, the leather jacket looked like soft leather, her make-up was immaculate, with just a touch of colors around-

"I'll pay for it!" Robbie replied and it broke Tori out of her thoughts.

"Damn right, you will," She squinted at him before stopping a few feet short of Robbie, who was a few feet short of Andre, Cat and herself. "Paparazzi, am I right?"

-

Second chapter up in a few days, woohoo. I wanted to get to the point where Jade and Robbie are there for sure immediately so it wasn't stuck in some weird waiting limbo for readers.

Let me know what you think!