Chapter 19

Tori's POV

"Yay, another week of school." Jade checks herself in the mirror as Beck pulls her car into a spot and shuts it off.

"You act like you don't go to an awesome school. Besides, don't you get to go get the tots today?" I say climbing out of the backseat with my bag.

"Yeah, about that…"

"Jade, what did you do?"

"Nothing."

"Jade." Beck warns.

"I'm dumping the other two and taking out Blake. Already got the okay, his teacher seemed relieved."

"I wonder why. When do you get him?" I smile my thanks to Beck as he holds the door open for us.

"I leave a few minutes before lunch."

"Tori!" Cat runs up to us. "Can we talk?"

"Sorry Cat. I…I have to go ask Lane something."

Cat's POV

I watch as Tori all but runs down the hall without a backwards glance. Turning to Jade and Beck, I smile. 'Uh oh. Jade looks mad.'

"Hi Jade, Beck. Whatcha doing?"

"What did you say to Tori the other day?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"We'll be right back." Jade looks towards Beck as she grabs my arm. Pulling me into the janitor's closet, she locks the door after it thuds closed behind us. "In the car at the beach. What did you say to upset her?"

"Tori didn't tell you?"

"One."

"Not the counting again!"

"Two."

"Sandcastles."

"Three." I perk up. Always my favorite number. I see the glare and sigh.

"Fine. I told her I know you're dating."

"Why?"

"I thought it was a good thing. We could talk about you but she got mad and ran off before I could stop her."

"We're not ready for people to know and what do you mean talking about me?"

"Umm…about how good a kisser you are." I smile at her. "Is Tor a good kisser? I bet she is. Can I kiss Tori? You can be there."

"NO!" Jade snaps then takes a breath, "You're not kissing Tori. Anyway, aren't you with Robbie?"

"I don't know. One day we're makin' out, the next he's letting Rex be mean to me."

"Have you talked to him or just kissed him?" I grin big at her. "Cat, you have to talk to him." The bell sounds and I look around.

"Hello?"

"Go to class Cat." Jade says, unlocking the door.

Jade's POV

Cat heads to class and before I can step out Beck is pushing Tori in. "You're going to be late for class." I look at the latina.

"I got Sikowitz to write a note saying he needs her this period." Beck tells me closing the door.

"Why'd you run from Cat?"

"I didn't want to talk to her." Tori crosses her arms defensively.

"Hey," Beck wraps his arm around Tori's shoulders. She stiffens for a second before relaxing. "Why didn't you want to talk?"

She looks over at him. "Really? It's Cat. I'm surprised the whole school doesn't know yet."

"I told her we're not ready for people to know."

"Like you mentioned not to tell anyone about you picking your nose?"

"I was not." I pause taking a calming breath. "She won't say anything. The whole reason she brought it up was to gossip about me." They both look confused. "She wanted to talk about how good I kiss." I smirk at Tori's snort. "Wanna find out?"

"No, I want to get to class."

"You have a free pass and you want to go back?"

"His class is hard."

"Whatever." Tori slides out from under Beck's arm and heads towards the door.

"She asked if she could kiss you."

Turning she asks, "What did you say?"

"I told her no. You're ours. No one else is allowed to have you." She nods and heads out the door.

Tori's POV

Sitting down next to Beck I open my salad and mix my dressing in.

"Tori, can we talk?" I look up at Cat, my fork paused half way to my mouth.

"Let the girl eat. Bad enough she looks like a strong wind will take her down." I've never been happier to have Rex around. Shooting Robbie a grateful smile I bring the fork to my mouth, missing the hurt look Cat shoots him though.

"Hey," Andre smiles as he sits down. "Guess who's DJ-ing the hottest party this Halloween."

"You." Jade drops down in the empty spot beside me. A second later Blake sits beside her.

"Yep and I got invites. Who's goin'?" he looks around the table excited.

Cat leans closer to him and mock whispers, "You see the kid too right?"

"Yeah Little Red." they both stare at him for a minute. "So you going?" he finally looks at her.

"No can do. I'm going to a party with my brother. His Doctor holds one every year for all his clients."

"It's cool. Robbie, Rex?"

"I'd love to but I'm judging a North Ridge costume contest." Rex answers. "Love me some North Ridge girls." Andre nods along with Rex.

"I can go." Robbie offers.

"No you can't. I told you. No more going out on Halloween by yourself. Look what happen last year. You embarrass me."

"What? I already had a costume, why did I need another one? Besides this isn't a costume party."

"A pear, Robbie."

"Wait, you wore the pear suit last Halloween?" Andre shudders at his own memories of the suit. "And it is a costume party. No fruits allowed. Tori?"

"Sorry, I'm passing out candy." I say between bites.

"How about after?" I shrug and steal a glance at Jade.

"Right, candy." Cat winks at me and giggles.

"Jade, Beck, you're not going to leave me hanging right?"

"Yes."

"We have plans. Sorry."

"Oh yeah, the scary movie marathon." Robbie says. "You guys do that every year."

"They don't watch movies man; it's just an excuse so they can have-"

"Okay!" I cut Rex off loudly. "Looks like everyone has plans."

"I can go." We all look at Blake.

"Sorry man, teenagers only."

"We'll see." he narrows his eyes.

"Won't you have candy to steal or something?" Jade asks.

"Won't take me all night."

"I'm getting a soda." Jade says standing. "Stay here."

Taking another bite of my salad I feel the bench move. Looking to my left I see Blake has taken Jade's spot. "What?"

"How you doin'?"

"Hungry you?"

"Doin' better now." He looks me up and down. Turning I share a look with Beck. 'Is this kid for real?' "So do you like Russia?"

"Never been there."

"Got a boyfriend?" I pause.

"No."

"Want one?"

"Sorry, I only go for guys taller than me."

"So hit you up in a few years?"

Shaking my head I stand and look at my friends. "I'll be in Sikowitz's class."

"Hey wait up, I'll go with you." Robbie grabs Rex and meets me at the trash can. "Who is that kid anyway?"

"Jade is using him for her web show."

As we open the door the first bell rings. "Robbie, Tori, great!" Thanks for volunteering."

"Volunteering?" I ask taking a seat.

"For my new play of course."

"I don't remember volunteering?"

"First two through the door."

"Hey!" We all look to the side where a kid named Tyler is sitting. "I've been here for five minutes."

"Oh hush." Sikowitz scolds. "You're not star materiel."

"You think I am?" Robbie asks.

"Maybe I should wait for Beck." Sikowitz glances towards the door.

"Hey!"

"What's it about?"

"A prince locked in a tower. Tori, you get to save him."

"Could be fun." Robbie smiles. "Do I get kissed awake?"

"No one said you were asleep." Sikowitz looks thoughtful, "It could work though…"

"New idea or find someone else." 'There is no way I'm kissing Robbie.'

"Okay, my second idea. Robbie, you're Tori's father who spends the entire play trying different ways to wake her from a coma."

"Who's in a coma?" Cat asks sitting down beside me.

"Tori is." Sikowitz jumps onto the small stage clapping his hands as the second bell rings. "Let's practice our improv. Robbie, up on stage. You too Tyler. Tyler stole your lunch. Go!" Turning Sikowitz makes his way to the back of the room. He pauses when he sees Beck, Jade and Blake walk in. Leaning over to Andre he asks, "You see the kid too right?"

"Tori!" Cat whispers. "Can I see your hand?" I glance at her out of the corner of my eye. Not seeing the harm I hold out my arm and go back to watching the stage where Blake, Robbie and Rex are improving.

"Dude, your zipper is down." Robbie looks down before turning away from the class to fix it.

I feel something cool slip around my wrist and I look down. "Cat!" I yank my arm back only to have hers follow. "What did you do?" I question not believing my eyes.

"We're handcuffed." She giggles. "Now you have to talk to me."

"You couldn't have just asked?" I tug on the cuff.

"I tried. Now you can't run away from me."

"Cat." The bell rings and she stands up pulling me with her.

"I'm here happy? Now can you please take these off?"

"We haven't talked yet."

"Then talk."

"I'm sorry."

"There is nothing to be sorry for."

"Yes there is, you're mad at me."

"I'm not."

"Yeah-huh."

"I wasn't mad at you. I was...I was just surprised. I thought we were doing a good job at hiding it."

"So you, Jade and Beck?" Cat wiggles her eyebrows.

"I really don't want to talk about it."

"What? Why?"

"It's still new." I say remembering what Jade told me earlier.

"What about you and Beck?"

Knowing she's not going to stop until I give her something, I sigh. "We kissed the first day I was here. Remember?"

"That doesn't count. I mean since you started dating." She bounces excited. "When? Where? I want details woman!"

"We haven't kissed. Do we have to do this now?"

"What? Why? And yes, unless you want to have a sleepover."

Before anything else is said the door opens and Jade comes in. "There you are. We've been looking for you for the past ten minutes."

"We're having a slumber party tonight."

"No, we're not."

"But..."

"No." Cat pouts.

"I don't know Vega, a sleepover could be fun." Cat hops up and down as I glare at Jade.

"Fine. We'll have it at your house."

"Yay! I love Jade's house!"

"Wait, you've been to Jade's?"

"We're not going to my house."

"Then have fun at Cat's without me." I go to cross my arms only to be stopped by the cuffs. "Cat! Take these things off!"

"Slumber party?" She pouts.

"Jade?" We both look at the Goth and she rolls her eyes.

"Fine. Cat, the key?" She holds her hand out.

"Key?"

"Cat, tell me you have the key to those."

"Wow, this closet sure is nice this time of year." She refuses to look at us.

"Cat!" She jumps. "I won't ask again. Where did you get these anyway?"

"My brother's room."

Jade and I share a look. "Was there a key with them?"

"Nope." She pops her P.

I sigh. "Great, now I'm stuck like this." I hold up the arm with the handcuffs are on.

"It's not so bad. Uh-oh."

"What uh-oh? There better not be an uh-oh." Glaring at Cat, I try and stay calm.

"I have to waz."

"Hang on." Jade pulls out her phone and texts someone.

"Tell them to hurry!" Jade's phone buzzes and she looks down.

"Come on. We'll meet them by the lockers."

"Who?"

"Beck and Robbie."

"Why?"

"So Robbie can pick the lock."

"Really?"

"Yep."

Surprise! I got froggy and went ahead and did the last chapter tonight. I have no more typed up so it'll be a few days until the next one is up but hey, it'll be the first new chapter in years! See you then!