August 25th at the West home in Sicily
Breaking news today, long time record label CEO Daniel Wilson arrested today on charges of discrimination and abuse along with Rape charges after recently signed artist Andre Harris discovered he was only signed to deter other labels from signing a local girl named Victoria Melody Vega, he says it wasn't his intention nor his goal to dig up old dirt on the label but once he found it he had to let people know – LA national news
"there is no way they just named me on national news, why would Andre tank maybe his only chance at a music career for me, it doesn't make sense" says Tori confused
"it's quite clear he was trying to do the right thing Tori" says Jade
"it's not making any sense, sure I had a crush on him since I first met him but he's never once shown that he had a crush on me, why would he possibly do this, being a musician has been his dream for years, does he actually care" asks Tori starting to cry
"I happen to know he does Tori, he called me yesterday saying there was going to be some big news and to make sure that you saw it, he knows now how much he hurt you, he'd tried to get you a duo with him but the label said no, at the time he chose his music over you, he wanted this to come out before you saw him again, that it was not right for him to just walk back into your life after how he hurt you, that he should have connected the dots sooner" says Jade
"so like he loves me….. but me and Sadie are in love….." cries Tori
"remember we talked about adding a guy, the first person you mentioned was Andre" says Sadie
"well ya but but…." Cries Tori
"what's wrong Tori" asks Ellen
"it's an adult thing Ellen, you promised you wouldn't eaves drop, where's Hannah" says Tori
"sleeping, she wanted to sleep alone since we stayed up all night drawing and singing" says Ellen
"that's odd" says Cat
"no not really, she has a thing about independence, it doesn't usually last long as she likes cuddling me, something about my hands being comforting, basically she likes it when I hug-cuddle her in my sleep, it's the only thing I can think of that stops my stupid adult brain thing" says Ellen
"to be fair Elle you give amazing hugs, have you seen her place down there yet, remember George said it was ok to look" says Cat
"she's offered but it doesn't seem right, I said we could see if I feel comfortable around Christmas but not till then, I'm afraid looking will override my resistance thing around her and lead to touching which George said was not allowed, I don't want him to take her away from me if I can't control myself, it's hard enough making sure my hands don't wander in my sleep, let alone while I'm awake, I can't risk losing her, you have NO idea how happy she makes me, like I'm not even kidding Cat, when she hugs me I feel weightless, when we cuddle she calls me her strawberry dumpling, like how cute of a nickname is that" giggles Ellen
"you've been going for ice-cream a lot where Robert works, why that place specifically" says Cat
"because it's the closest, also he gives us the extra ice-cream to bring home when it doesn't all fit in the cone without falling off" says Ellen still giggly
"the odd thing is he's lactose intolerant, he's risking a lot working at an ice-cream place" says Cat
"again it's cause it's close, he lives next-door, dad bought it for him, my dad doesn't like me being defenseless,, he says an all girl house would be an easy target for creeps, also that parlor has apparently had a few robberies over the past few years where everything was destroyed and they'd have to start over, Robbie promised them he'd help secure the place for them, little do they know he'll be using his own pay cheques to do that" says Jade
"Ellen you don't realize what Robbie's doing do you" says Cat
"….. he's not a creep is he" asks Ellen suddenly terrified
"there I go again making people scared, no Ellen he's currently kinda sorta living with the daughter of doctor Isabelle" says Cat
"ooh are they together, she's smart" asks Ellen
"again no, don't get me. Wrong she clearly wants to, has told me as such but it terrifies her that none of the people she knows knows him, she has an irrational fear of the unknown, way beyond my own struggles" says Cat
"so because she can't quantify his trustworthiness she won't kiss him but feels comfortable enough to live in the same house as him, is she nuts by chance" asks Ellen hearing Hannah whimper and bolts before she gets an answer
"you know Ellen, despite it being an attempt at being sarcastic might have a point about Alex" says Jade
"she has no record of mental distress Jade, the the eye thing doesn't count as it wasn't genuine mental distress, it was caused by a virus, if she is suffering from mental distress she isn't telling" says Cat
"you'd hide it too Cat you know that, most of the time you hide your struggles" says Jade
"see I don't understand why my parents hate you" exclaims Cat
"is that why you aren't allowed back" asks Sadie
"unfortunately yes, they're convinced Jade will either get me arrested or killed and they refuse to accept the relationship as a result, however as a counter point, anyone who says mental health issues isn't genetic to some degree is clearly lying" says Cat
"there is no defining link Cat" says Sadie
"then explain how my parents spent years and years trying to figure out why my brother and I are different than every other kid, sending us to any doctor willing to access our mental health, then my brother got a Bipolar diagnosis and I got an Autism diagnosis and they to this day say it's a lie, explain that, explain how every doctor affirms the diagnosis and my parents keep saying its not true, how is that NOT a mental health issue" asks Cat
"one example does not make it genetic" says Jade
"oh I have plenty more, I went to pick up my meds yesterday and said my name and the pharmacist started rambling off meds, none of which I take but I know them because some my brother takes, some Uncle Daren takes, some Cass takes and some Ellen takes, all meds to do with mental health Jade" says Cat
"ok that's a point I guess, do you think Alex has PTSD" asks Tori
"why that leap" asks Cat
"it would explain her fear to date Robbie yet also why she feels comfortable enough to live around him, maybe she had an experience like I did with Dean" says Tori
"is that why you often invite Robbie over to the pool, you feel comfortable around him" asks Sadie
"look I have no romantic interest in him it's just he's the only guy friend I can trust right now, granted I'd definitely prefer Andre but still" says Tori
"I'm sure he's coming Tori, it's just a matter of time" says Sadie
"matter of time for what exactly, for him to reject me, there is no way he asks US out Sadie, there is just no way he'd take us both out on dates, it's either going to be me or you, I highly doubt it's going to be both of us" says Tori
"you don't think he'll love us both" asks Sadie
"I don't know anymore Sadie and that scares me to death, like I said before, I'm still dealing with the survivor fear Dean left me with, that includes letting another guy into my life, even one as familiar to me as Andre, I'm open to you about what happened Sadie, I need you to understand my fear on this, just because I want him to be in my life doesn't mean I know how I'll react when that happens, my doctor said I could have a serious mental breakdown, that I could attack him" says Tori
"you have a doctor here" asks Sadie
"yes, Dr. Isabelle hooked me up with one when I told her about my experience with Dean, it's been very helpful, she's told me about possible ways I could react, long story short it's probably best that if he does arrive here that he keep his distance for a bit" says Tori
"well he is coming Tori, why must he keep his distance" says Jade
"because I could cause physical harm to him, I have a bad temper as it is, just ask Trina, my doctor says he could ignite anger beyond my control but that it really depends on how he acts or initiates contact, if he's too forward it could and likely will trigger me" says Tori as Jade's phone goes off
"he just landed and is less than an hour away so if you're going to hide it's best you hide" says Jade as Tori bolts it to her room
30 minutes later as Andre walks in
"hey guys" says Andre
"you didn't bring much, do you not plan on staying" asks Sadie noticing Andre only has two bags with him
"I gave most of it to family, got my grandma into a nursing home where she will be safe, I couldn't in good faith keep the things that record company bought me to keep me silent" says Andre
"did that label really do all the things the news people said they did" asks Cat
"yes, they hated Tori with a passion, as it turn out they have a history of accepting Latina vocalists only to rape them and make them release very sexual songs, all those artists have either killed themselves or been killed as a direct result" says Andre
"so they are responsible for those deaths….., also you never said if you were staying" asks Sadie
"yes they are responsible, my staying is dependent on Tori" says Andre
"actually it depends on you, as it stands Dean left Tori with PTSD, very severe, if you act too confident, aka too much like Dean when being re-introduced to Tori she could break, her and I had agreed that if at all possible you'd be our guy, it's just about you finessing around her PTSD to get there" says Sadie
"so where is she" asks Andre
"you're being too eager there Andre" says Sadie
"believe me I was there after the Dean problem, if I could have been the one to end his life I would have gladly done so, I've cuddled with her on the couch back nearly daily in LA before Cat took over and before I got my record deal shortly after, believe me I know what to say" says Andre
"she's sleeping upstairs, it's the bedroom farthest away from the stairs, please be careful, I'd hate for something to happen" says Sadie
"you have to trust me" says Andre as he heads upstairs
With Tori
"no no get away from me Dean" cries Tori having a nightmare as Andre walks in
"you're safe now Tori" says Andre as he slowly lays on the bed beside Tori
"I'm scared" says Tori still asleep believing Andre is in her dream
"it will be alright" says Andre as he slowly hugs Tori tight and she wakes up
"y-y-you're here… how, why" asks Tori turning to face Andre still groggy
"I'm here for when you're ready to take this next step, till then I can comfort you, I'm here for you Tori" says Andre comforting Tori
"you're different now, why" asks Tori
"a necessary change, revealing that information the way I did, many artists are free from that evil but also now without a job, they paid me to keep quiet about their law-breaking habits Tori, I couldn't let that stand anymore, I didn't know that by accepting their money to get my family out of debt that I'd be hurting you or that they'd make me block you, it was never my intention to hurt you, I'd begged them to let me be a duo with you and they told me that you were just some stupid girl, I'll sleep on the couch here if I have to till you're ready" says Andre
"just hearing you say that calms me down, I thought it was my fault or something I did" says Tori
"you, never" says Andre