Tones of Deceit

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N:

Chapter 2 (A Hidden Agenda)

How long must Tori have known of any connection between Beck and her friend from another school? Jade couldn't let the question flee her mind. Yet, this was not even the most intriguing of questions that plagued her.

The other question regarded Trina, and what Ian had been about to say when Tori cut him off. Did Trina have a boyfriend? Jade could hardly believe such a thing, especially when Tori so frequently told the group how her sister was too crazy to have anyone care about her. The claim of insanity usually was backed up by how Trina acted.

"I don't know," Cat said aloud while sitting next to Jade at the cafeteria table. Robbie was on the other side of her, slowly nodding his head. "Robbie says what he remembers of that thing you had him do…Trina was acting like a cop herself."

"A cop, you say?" Jade arched an eyebrow and tilted her head. "You don't think it's possible for her to be an actual cop?" She laughed off the thought, but instantly stopped. In California, you had to be eighteen years old to be a cop, and Trina had just turned eighteen. Tori was sixteen, going on seventeen; but neither girl seemed like they would be candidates for police work even with a cop dad. "There's no way."

"She's coming around less and less," Robbie pointed out, "But you know something else that I kind of always thought was strange?" He leaned forward and wagged a finger briskly in the air. "I've seen Trina eating shellfish before without ever having a breakout." Cat turned her head and Jade leaned back slowly. "When I was taping them, one night, she was eating shrimp with her mom."

"But she's deathly allergic." Jade curled a finger over her chin and turned her gaze downward. "I remember when Tori auditioned, she had a swollen tongue and everything. Right? I mean, she could've been going into shock."

"Have you ever seen her carrying around an epi pen?" Cat mused. Sure, it was possible to overcome an allergy, but Jade had not heard of such cases occurring very often. "But what's the point? Why does it matter if she's allergic to shellfish or not?"

"I'll tell you why." She leaned forward and planted her palm firmly on the table. "Because it suggests yet another lie, another cover up, and for what? Why would she go to any length to fake a food allergy?"

Robbie hummed thoughtfully and tilted his head to the right, his eyes drifted away towards the sky. "It got Tori on that stage. She would never have auditioned or come to Hollywood Arts without that incident." He moved his head upright and his heavy brow creased. "But the question was never answered, how and why did Trina get into the school? She doesn't seem as interested, she can't sing-"

"That we know of." The pair looked at Jade like a deer caught in headlights, confused by her remark, clearly. "I mean, what if everything we know about them is a lie? Why go through the trouble? There's no reason to hide who you are, unless you don't trust someone."

There was more to it all as well, they didn't necessarily see Tori every single day or hang out with her every single day-outside of class, that is. Hanging out with her was closer to once or twice a week, usually on the weekend. Tori had other classes too; but she seldom spoke of them.

Even when Trina was enrolled at Hollywood Arts, she didn't appear to have any classes she was attending. Of course, Hollywood Arts was used as a side school for some students, Jade knew this, yet neither of the Vega sisters expressed that they were going to another school during any other part of the day.

"Even Tori refers to her old school as such," Jade muttered aloud, "You don't suppose she still attends?"

"It's possible." Robbie trailed off for a moment and leaned to the right a bit. "I mean, if you remember Sinjin, he used to come to Hollywood Arts from another school each day. It's really close to a lot of schools, like Sherwood High and Bransfield Middle. Those schools are literally within walking distance of HA."

"Northridge too," Cat added while motioning a finger in the air. "Hollywood Arts's big rival. You can't forget about them, they hate us."

"Not sure why."

"They think we're not a real talent academy." Jade laughed one time and crossed her arms. Northridge kids called them posers, they were a primary school with a strong arts program-unlike Hollywood Arts which served as a secondary school for some students that wanted to attend a talent academy rather than just an elective class. Sherwood High had a large science and technology base, so students there usually kept to themselves. They also looked down on Hollywood Arts thinking of them as a lesser intellectual school. "In fact, most of the schools in the area look down on Hollywood Arts for whatever reason. I mean, we have core curriculum for full-time students. So, I don't see what the problem is there."

Robbie leaned back in his seat and casually draped his elbow over the back rest. "Honestly, Jade, most people that come here get a taste of wanting to be famous and talk to the Principal, who may let them focus primarily on their vocation of choice. Not very many from this school have become famous though. Not for lack of trying, though some-like Trina-tried too hard."

"What if it was fake?" Jade leaned forward, her elbows bending on the surface of the table as she curled her hands underneath her chin. Cat and Robbie gave her concerning glances, as if to ask the very question that was on her mind. "But why would she fake it? Why would any of them fake anything? Then, if Tori were indeed attending a different school full-time, why wouldn't she mention it? She acts as if she's here all the time."

"I mean, it's never come up Jade. We only see her in the noontime hour for lunch, and then Sikowitz's last period. Sometimes after school during rehearsals for whatever play is going on-and we don't even see her every day during lunch period. So, if she's at another school, it's possible; but like you said, why would she say nothing?"

Cat picked up a white paper cup with a lid and a straw, she sipped on the straw for a second before setting it back down. "Maybe she doesn't want us to know? You could just ask her, all this sneaking around behind her back isn't helping, and if anything, it would serve only to alienate."

"She's got a good point." Jade snapped her gaze back to Robbie, who was shrugging his shoulders. "I mean even Beck and Andre aren't giving much time to all this speculation. So, they're not bothered by anything, they have better stuff to do with their time than trying to figure out the whims of Tori Vega."

Jade rolled her eyes and groaned at him. "Yes, he wouldn't be bothered by a friend that talks literally nothing about her life or her family." She started to raise her voice and slapped her hand into the air. "I just met some guy at Tori's house that she knows from her other school and he started to claim Trina had a boyfriend." Cat dropped her jaw and Robbie folded his arms neatly across his chest.

"You know what? Maybe she does. So what?"

"So that means it's another thing we never knew, Robbie."

"It's not like Trina is incapable of having one. I don't even think she's all that crazy as she acts. Honestly, she scares me a little." He whistled softly and closed his eyes. "I still remember that beating she gave us when you guys took off with Tori to that karaoke place. The girl is fierce underneath all that powder and flair." He coughed into his hand and looked over at Cat. "But I do think she has a boyfriend, if I remember when I was doing all that spying that one time…"

Cat looked over to Robbie and Jade gave him a suspicious glare. "You know something?"

"Yeah. When I was caught, I was caught by Trina." He started to shake. "She was in the backyard on the phone, sitting on one of those folding lawn chairs that reclined."

Jade leaned back, trying to visualize the scene in her mind, putting herself in Robbie's shoes. She could picture it down to the nervousness Robbie said he was displaying at the time.

There he'd been hiding out in the bushes along the back fence, his camcorder in hand. He was crouched low and wearing dark green clothing to blend in with the bushes on this starry night. The moon reflected off the family pool, creating an almost otherworldly glow.

Trina sat in the lawn chair, wearing nothing but a grey t-shirt with spaghetti straps and long, loose pants. Her eyes were fixated on the stars and silvery clouds above as she cradled her phone with her right hand. "Wish you were over here," Trina spoke, "Beautiful nights like these remind me of our first night camping out in the woods."

Robbie started to turn, hearing a strange rustling sound nearby. He smiled when he spotted a small squirrel running along the edge of a nearby maple tree. "I know, J. You've got to help your uncle out sometimes, even if you do think he's a whackjob." She chuckled softly. "I don't know why you don't try to get along with him, I mean he's letting you stay with him for the time being."

Trina pursed her lips and looked out towards the shrubs beyond the pool. It was a quiet night, even the wind was still. Robbie was trying to hold his breath in as much as he could, because with his asthma and allergies, the dirt and leaves were not doing any wonders for him. All he wanted was Trina to go back inside so he could make his escape for the night.

The squirrel began to make its way towards him, looking around for any potential food. The closer it came, the more he began to shake. "No," he whispered to the creature, "Back up." The squirrel stopped and rose on its hind quarters, its tiny nose twitching in the air.

Robbie waited patiently, watching as the squirrel returned to its search. Through clenched teeth he swept his hand at it, trying to shoo it off. In doing so, the animal turned around and scurried off, kicking dirt up into his face. He twitched and felt his lungs enlarge in his chest. "Shit." He closed his eyes and tried to cover his mouth with one hand, hoping to block the sneeze that was about to come.

Fortunately, the sneeze was fall, but he wound up falling against the fence and came down on a pile of sticks that snapped underneath him causing him to let out a startled yell. His eyes grew large and he looked out, seeing Trina rising from her chair.

Sweat formed on his brow and he began looking from the left to the right. "Hang on Jason, I heard something." His breath caught in his throat and he immediately questioned how successful he might be trying to scale the fence behind him. It was flat wood with a pointed top, so there wasn't anything to cling to that would allow him to propel himself over. "No, I don't need you to come over. Help your uncle finish his stuff, I can handle this situation."

Trina shut off her phone and pushed it into her pocket. Robbie looked out with a gasp, watching as she slowly walked along the edge of the pool. Her eyes were narrowed and she bore a stern expression on her face. "Is someone out there?" She clenched her fists and studied the bushes.

He'd almost been caught a couple times before, so he was sure some members of the family suspected they had somebody watching them. Or at least, Trina suspected. He knew she did because she was always studying the grounds whenever she got home. There was a time when he lost the case that held his camera, and another time when he lost a shoe when bolting from the front yard as someone was driving up. Both occasions, it was Trina that discovered the lost item.

"I'm not cut out for this stalking shit," he thought to himself.

To the left of the backyard was a wooden shed. Trina opened it up, revealing an assortment of yard tools and other objects. She reached in and pulled out a long metal pole. Robbie's eyes grew wide and he watched as she began to poke and whack the bushes that ran along the perimeter of the fence.

"I know someone's back here, so you better show yourself."

Trina moved slowly and meticulously, swinging the pole hard against the bushes. It was almost predatory, and Robbie was certain he'd be dead if found out. With each step she took, his heartbeat thumped, and the closer she came the hotter he felt.

Finally, when she was almost directly in front of him, he threw his hands over his head and leapt into view. "Stop, please!" Fear was coursing through his veins and he saw Trina with the pole raised high above him. His eyes clenched shut and he turned his head away. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't hurt me."

"Shapiro? What the hell? You're the one that's been following us around?"

He dropped to his knees, tears fleeing his eyes. "Yes. I-I just wanted to see what you guys were like that's all." Trina hummed softly and brought the pole to rest on her shoulders.

"Well knock it off, asshole. We're a private family. You're friends with Tori, if you want to get to know us, talk to her." Robbie opened his eyes and nodded fervently but started to pale when he saw the direction of Trina's gaze. She was looking at an object resting by his feet; it was his camera. "You've been taking pictures?"

"Um…"

She bent over, gently picking up the camera. As she flipped it open and started to go through it, he could see the rage building in her eyes. "You've been filming us? We're not here for your amusement."

Without missing a beat, she chucked the camera high into the air and gripped the pole like that of a baseball bat. Robbie's eyes grew large and he let out a shrill scream as his expensive camcorder came falling towards them.

Then she swung the pole, and with a deafening crack, the camera splintered and flew out of the yard. "My camera!" He clapped his hands over his mouth and heard a growl that struck fear deep into his heart.

"Now get the hell out of my yard before the next thing I break is you." Her words were low and menacing, and not without promise. He wasted no time scrambling to his feet and running for the gate, never once looking back as he was almost certain she would give chase. "Sick fuck."

Jade returned her thoughts to the present moment as Robbie's story trailed off and Cat let out a slow whistle. "Someone has anger issues," remarked the redhead. "I wonder if she's involved in baseball."

"Really?" Robbie's voice fell flat and his eyelids sank halfway as he stared seemingly through Cat. "That's what you got out of all that? Baseball? Yeah, I'm pretty sure Trina has possibly played sports at some point in her life." He crossed his arms and let out a heavy sigh. "Now I have no doubt that Mr. Vega feels like his family is safe when he's gone, or why he didn't feel like Trina was threatened when we were messing with her that one time…"

"Yeah how did that end?" Jade tilted her head, recalling the experience he was talking about. She didn't know much of it, just what Beck admitted to. "Beck told me you guys were playing her for her own con job and started to fight over her."

"Yeah, and one of us grabbed her at some point to restrain her, I think that was the point when it all went downhill." Jade raised her eyebrows.

"Oh?" She leaned forward, smirking despite her own anger which still remained from when Beck told her about the incident. "That was when it went downhill?"

Robbie cleared his throat. "She called her dad downstairs, we told him she was just acting nuts and he kind of laughed it off. Though, he did kind of give her this look like he really wasn't all that worried." He sighed heavily and began to shake, as though recalling a painful experience. "Then she started putting the pieces together, her whole façade and demeanor changed. She told us what she had done was all an act, part of a persona she put on and that it was an idea drafted by her sister. Said that we had about three seconds to leave the house before she kicked us out herself…"

"Okay, so then you left? Right?"

"Well…" He rubbed the back of his neck. "Andre started to not take her seriously, laughing at her and saying they were just playing her too because they wanted to teach her a lesson. So she said she'd teach us a lesson."

Jade moved her hand over her eyes and groaned, remembering the unexplained bruises that he had on his back a few days after the night. "So what exactly happened next?"

"Andre put a hand on her shoulder and that was it." Robbie extended his hands, waving them outward in the air, his eyes wide with regret and remembrance. "Lights out."

"So, she was already pissed and he touched her right after she threatened you guys."

"Yeah, she grabbed his arm, twisted around, and yanked him onto the ground. Beck tried to subdue her to calm her down, and she proceeded to punch him, grabbed his shoulders and twisted him around, then kicked him hard in the back between the shoulders."

"You guys should've just left. I mean, you guys had no right to even be doing what you did, and then lying to her father like that?" She crossed her arms. "I can't say that I sympathize with you three at all, and Beck's my boyfriend."

Cat nodded, agreeing. "Kind of got what you deserved, actually. I mean, she did tell you guys to leave and then you kind of kept messing with her. She was already plenty pissed…and wasn't this after your whole stalking thing?"

"Yeah." He wiped his hand down his mouth, his thumb and forefingers trailing the corners of his lips. "I did try to warn the guys not to mess with her after the whole thing with her dad, and said we ought to just leave. I could see she was angry, and I mean she told us then and there that she faked everything."

"Faked 'everything'?"

"Yeah, the whole crazy chick thing, acting like she was into Beck and everyone else, wanting to be this big time celebrity. She said right there, on the spot, none of that was how she felt at all. It was all a persona, a character she pretended to be for a time. At that point she stopped talking about what she'd been doing and told us to leave the house. I was ready to go when Andre became the dumbass."

"I don't remember you coming out of that night with any scrapes," Cat remarked with narrow eyes. "Just what happened to you?"

"I didn't provoke her further and was closest to the door." He chuckled nervously. "In fact, I was holding it open when she yanked the guys up by their backs and shoved them out. All she had to do to me was glare and I was out."

"Probably the best move," Jade acknowledged thoughtfully. After all, any further provocation would not have ended well for any of them. She was a bit taken aback by the stories of Trina's rage, however. It was a side of the girl none of them had really experienced with her, and it made her wonder what the reason behind that anger was.

Even with the girls, Trina never came close to harboring that anger. No, it was only the boys that earned her ire and aggression. "I hope you three learned from that experience." Robbie nodded.

"We have vowed to stay the fuck away from her and leave her alone, because none of us want to die. Not that I think she'd go that far, but we certainly don't want to get her there."

Jade rubbed her right hand over her left and brought her chin down atop of them, humming with consideration. "Still it all intrigues me even more. It bothers me, not knowing anything about them. What are they after? Why is Trina so angry, why does Tori not tell us whether or not she's actually attending another school? Why do they put on personalities that aren't their true nature? What is their agenda?"

So we see Trina has a lot of wrath and is probably ferociously protective of her family. Tori also seems to have a few skeletons in her closet. Yes, the whole family is secretive; but what is their goal? What is their game? What will Jade do once she finds out, or how will the family react?