A/N: Warning, this chapter starts with a flashback. Thank-you for your support as always, I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Victorious.
Chapter Six: Undeveloped.
It was graduation day. They'd all decided to go out for one final meal at Nozu before they descended off into life after High-School. Cat had her hair curled and clipped so that none of it fell in her face and she was wearing a purple dress that contrasted well with her red hair. Jade wore a black dress with a red belt in the middle and her hair fell to the sides; it was still black back then with red hair extensions, flowing along with her wavy hair. Tori had decided to dress simpler, she wore a blue flow-y dress with short sleeves covering her shoulders and her hair was carefully placed in a bun. Andre, Beck and Robbie of course wore suits.
"I'm really going to miss all of you" Tori said, trying her best not to cry.
"Awe, Tori" Andre said, putting his arm around his best friend and patting her back. Tori wiped away her slightly tear-stained eyes and looked up at her friends.
"Don't cry Tori, or I'll cry" Cat chimed in sadly. Tori put on a smile.
"Sorry" She apologized. "Have we all ordered?" Tori asked. Everyone at her table nodded and she reached into her bag for a camera.
"I want a picture of all of us" Tori stated. Jade groaned except from the remainder of the table who seemed to cheer.
"I'll take it for you, Vega" Jade offered.
"I want you in it Jade, so how can you take it and be in it as well" Tori pointed out.
"Besides it's our graduation and I'm guessing I won't be seeing you until we have a reunion?" Tori added.
Beck took Jade by the arm and led her behind the table, Cat stood beside Beck with Robbie next to her and Andre placed himself next to Robbie. Tori handed a waiter her camera and made her way next to Andre. The waiter took the photo as they all shouted "Cheese".
"Thank you" Tori said as she took back her camera and they sat back down to eat. After the meal they all walked out quietly to the car park. No one said a word, they all seemed sad. Even Jade looked sad, it was like the end of era.
"Well, I guess this is where we say goodbye" Tori started to cry as they got to where Beck's car was parked. Beck forced a smile.
"Tori don't cry" He said patting her on the back. Jade rolled her eyes.
"Just hug her you idiot" She said. Even she wasn't going to deprive the two of a goodbye hug, they were friends after all. Well Beck and Tori were…
Beck hugged Tori as she cried into his shoulder. She wiped her eyes as she pulled away. Beck turned to face Andre and hugged him too. Tori was left with Jade as Robbie and Cat were hugging thinking they wouldn't see each other again.
"Jade" Tori said, not sure what else to say.
"Vega" Jade responded. Tori looked at Jade and into her eyes for a brief moment before opening her mouth to speak.
"I'll miss you" was all the words that Tori could say as a lump was caught in her throat. Jade's expression was confused for a second before sorrow filled her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I made your High-School years so well… un-bearable" Jade apologized.
"You didn't" Tori admitted, giving her a weak smile. Without thinking Jade rushed to hug Tori and they stayed there until Beck cleared his throat. Tori was crying again by the time they pulled apart and since Beck had said his goodbyes to the others during Jade and Tori's goodbyes he was ready to leave. Jade didn't feel the need to say goodbye to Cat because she knew she would see her again.
"Before you go" Tori interrupted them on their way to the car.
"Can I have more pictures" Jade rolled her eyes but agreed. Tori took a picture of Beck and Jade together then asked Beck to take a picture of Her, Cat and Jade. Then she wanted a picture of Robbie, Beck and Andre.
"I'm done now" Tori confessed, putting the camera away and she let Beck and Jade get into his car. As they drove away Tori caught a glimpse of Jade, she was crying too. Andre, Tori, Cat and Robbie all filed into his car and they drove away also.
After that day Tori had left the camera un-developed scared she would break down in tears if she looked.
"Hey Beck" Jade greeted her Ex-boyfriend when he came to her studio on, saturday to meet her for lunch. Beck gave her a short hug and they headed outside.
"How are you?" He asked, concerned.
"Well... You know, as well as to be expected" Jade sighed.
"What does Tori think about the whole situation?" Beck asked, Jade shrugged.
"I'm not sure" Suddenly Jade felt guilty for not knowing what Tori's feelings were. She'd spent a lot of time with her over the previous week yet she didn't know.
"You must be stressed though?" Beck wondered as they reached the place they were having lunch at.
"Not really" Jade replied, what did he mean?
"Well I'm sure you've got a law-suit going on?" Beck quizzed as they sat down at their favorite table. Jade looked at him in confusion.
"That's strange, the Jade West I knew... Would have screamed the place down as soon as she found out... This Jade I assumed would at least file a law-suit" Beck stated. Jade thought about it carefully before replying.
"Your usual?" A perky waitress asked. Jade and Beck both nodded in agreement before returning to their conversation.
"It didn't cross my mind, truth be told" Jade admitted.
"What about Tori? Does she want to file a law-suit?" Beck asked, clearly he thought someone should.
"I honestly don't know" Jade sighed.
The waitress handed them their coffees and Jade watched hers swirl with deep interest.
"Don't you think you should? I mean your in this together, you should know what she thinks... at least?" Beck asked, Jade contemplated his question.
"I know you're right..." She started.
"I'm always right" He joked.
"How's that wife of yours?" Jade changed the subject. Beck rolled his eyes.
"She's fine, she's pregnant actually... but don't change the subject" Beck said. Jade sighed.
"I don't really know where to begin" Jade admitted, sadly.
"So... about suing the hospital?" Beck asked.
"I'm not so sure Beck. I don't want it to turn into a war... I don't want Jennifer thinking I love her any less" Jade explained.
"She won't think that, Jade. I really think you should consider it. I mean it might help... There's probably some anger in there somewhere" Beck said as the waitress handed them their food.
"Can we talk about something else now?" Jade groaned.
"How is Tori?" Beck asked. Jade smiled without meaning to and Beck caught her.
"She's good" Jade told him taking a bite out of her sandwich.
"Are you two getting on?" He asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Yes, we are actually" Jade told him.
"So your wife's pregnant?" Jade asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah" Beck smiled. "But I wasn't supposed to tell anyone, she's scared it will jinx it" Beck admitted.
"Cindy is so superstitious." Jade said, smiling.
Sunday morning Tori decided to run a few errands. Alex was going to be out all day with her friends from school so she had a full day to herself. Tori stepped into her car and drove to the nearest photography shop and asked them if they could develop her old camera. The sales assistant looked it over and nodded.
An hour later Tori was standing with the camera in one hand and the graduation photo's in the other. She stepped back inside her car and looked through the photo's. She didn't cry like she thought she would and in one of the photo's she noticed something she hadn't before.
It was a photo of Jade, Tori and Cat. Jade was in the middle and through the corner of her eye it was clear to Tori that she had been looking at Jade with a weird expression on her face. One she couldn't detect. Cat was smiling proudly at the camera and Jade's hand was inches from Tori's as if maybe, they'd briefly touched before the photo happened.
"Hey, Tori" A voice jolted her out of her daze and she turned to see Jennifer standing outside her car smiling.
"Hi, Jennifer. What are you doing?" Tori asked, rolling down her window.
"Just shopping" She said, gesturing to the bags she had in her hands.
"Oh, what did you buy?" Tori asked. Jennifer opened the passenger door and sat inside. She showed Tori the contents of her shopping bag. She's bought a new pair of shoes and a dress, and a bracelet.
"That's pretty" Tori complimented.
"Thanks" Jennifer smiled.
"Do you want me to put it on for you?" Tori offered, Jennifer nodded and held out her hand. Carefully, Tori unclasped the bracelet and put it on Jennifer's wrist.
"So what's all this stuff for?" Tori asked.
"I've got a victory party next week for my Field Hockey team" Jennifer explained.
"When's the game? I'm sure you haven't won yet" Tori asked.
"The day before, if we lose... we barely ever do... then it's a 'At least we have cake' party" Jennifer explained, Tori laughed.
"You can come if you want? And Alex" Jennifer offered. Tori smiled.
"Hey! Is that my mom?!" Jennifer asked when she saw the picture of Jade, Tori and Cat on Tori's lap. Tori nodded and handed her the pictures.
"Wow, you guys looked so young back then!" Jennifer said.
"I'll have you know young lady that we are still young now, Thirty-Eight isn't old" Tori protested.
"Sorry... but you all look so happy" Jennifer said, flicking through the pictures.
"Yep, that was the last time I saw your mother" Tori admitted.
"Do you want a lift home? I'm going that way" Tori asked. Jennifer placed the pictures in the glove box and put her seat belt on.
"Sure, Thanks" She replied as Tori started the engine.
"Thanks for giving Jennifer a lift, Tori" Jade said. They were standing outside Jade's house.
"No, problem... what are you doing on Monday?" Tori asked, walking back to her car and leaning by the drivers side.
"I don't know yet, why?" Jade asked. Tori fiddled with her hair.
"It's just I'm going to see Andre's daughter in her play at school... did you, Patrick and Jennifer want to go?" Tori wondered, nervously.
"Yeah, we'll make an appearance... Text me the details" Jade said. Tori nodded and stepped back in her car. Jade followed her and Tori wound down the window so they could speak for longer.
As Jade got closer Tori remembered something. In the way that she stood there looking at her and talking about something Tori wasn't paying attention to. Her stomach did somersaults. She'd had that same feeling in High-School at the time Tori had thought it was fear but now she knew it was something much more than that. Was she crushing on Jade West?
"Hey, is that the graduation photo's? I never got to see how they turned out" Jade said, noticing the photo's on the passenger seat that her daughter had been looking at throughout the car ride.
"Yeah, I developed them this morning" Tori admitted, picking them up and handing them to Jade. Jade looked through them with a smile round her face.
"I miss my black hair" She sighed, heavily.
"Me too" Tori admitted. Jade raised an eye-brow. "You're hair always looked so perfect" Tori said, blushing.
"Well thanks, Vega" Jade responded, handing her back the photo's.
"So, I'm off... I'll see you tomorrow then?" Tori said as Jade backed away and she pulled the window back up and drove away.
A/N: What did you guys think? I'm trying to build up to a relationship and I hope you haven't lost interest? Soon, there will be one though... Let me know in a review .. :)