Chapter 7 - College Days
No POV(12 years ago):
"I never knew how difficult college would be", Cat yawned tossing her bag and books on the kitchen table of the dorm that she shared with Tori.
"Did Mr. Garrison lecture you guys about stage direction too", Tori asked.
"No, but he claimed that no one would wear my costumes; no matter how desperate they were", the usually peppy redhead groaned as she plopped down on the couch.
"Don't listen to him, Cat. We both know how great your costumes are. He just thinks he owns the department because he's been teaching there for years."
"Yeah, you're right. I just don't understand why he still teaches if he ridicules us all year", Cat sighs. Snuggling up against Tori.
"I know. I was hoping we'd learn something from him, rather than just the material from the books. But I don't think he's actually been in the business like he claims", Tori states,
"I've never heard of him until we started here a few mon-", Cat didn't get to finish her sentence as they were interrupted by a door opening and slamming.
"I hate that man. I hate him so much", Jade shouted, Trina walking in with her.
"Garrison get to you guys too", Tori asked.
"No, just Jade this time. Said he'd rather use her scripts for keeping his fireplace warm than actually read them", Trina explained.
"He's the worst teacher I've ever dealt with and there was that month we had to deal with Dickers when Sikowitz was gone on one of his trips", Jade sighed. "I may kill him before Winter Break. He's testing my patience."
"Don't worry there's only a few days left until we get a much needed break from him", Cat smiled. "But he is one aggravating person. He makes me want to have Bibble again."
"Oh, we are so not going through that again. Not after last time", Tori exclaimed. "You got so hooked on Bibble in Seattle that we thought you were going to need rehab when we got back."
"I wasn't that hooked on Bibble", Cat stated rather unconvincingly. "Okay, maybe just a little hooked."
"Cat, it was so bad that Vega and I had to drag you out of the store", Jade chuckled. "I'm just glad that their mom got it on camera. Because we're going to make you watch that whenever you have Bibble cravings."
"Fair enough", Cat huffed sitting back and crossing her arms. Earning a laugh from the other three girls.
After the girls finished teasing Cat about her Bibble problem; they decided on heading out to get some food. When they were out, Tori and Cat snuck off to finish their Christmas shopping. Ironically they only needed to get gifts for Trina and Jade. Everyone had been skeptical about Trina dating Jade in the beginning. But almost a year later they were pleasantly surprised seeing the changes not only in Trina's life but in Jade's as well. Trina had become more about life than the material things that were in it. While Jade had tried to keep her attitude in check(previous burst of anger aside). The couple was leaving the store when they had noticed Andre coming out of the store with a few gift wrapped items.
"Wonder who he's buying that for", Tori whispered. Pulling herself and Cat into the nearest store. Which happened to be a Victoria's Secret.
"I know. He said he got everyone's gifts weeks ago since he's going out of town for the holidays", Cat tapped her chin. Deep in thought.
"It's going to be weird not having Beck and Robbie here. But Andre being out of town is going to be even weirder",
"Yeah, it's just going to be us, Jade, Trina and your parents this year", Cat stated. Looking around she had noticed what store Tori had pulled them into. Turning to Tori she started to twirl the ends of her hair. "So want to look around for a bit. I saw this red lace set that I've been dying to get for our 'Sexy Saturdays'"
"Sure, we've got to be quick though. We have that assignment that's due on Friday to finish", Tori smiled. Keeping her lust about Cat in red lace filed away for now.
No POV(present day):
"I'll be honest I was ready to drop out of college before Winter Break, so was Jade", Cat yawned leaning against Tori.
"Yeah, so were Trina and I. The only reason we decided to stay was that we didn't think it was fair for our girlfriends to stay and endure if we weren't willing to"
"I guess the universe wanted us to all stay together", the redhead hummed as Tori started to play with her hair
"Who knows where we'd be if we didn't all stay together. We made Garrison's lectures less stressful than they were."
"I know one thing that would stay the same."
"And what would that be, babe?"
"You still landed the hottest costume designer in the history of the business", Cat giggled. Letting out a yelp when Tori playfully pulled on her ear.
"More like you landed the hottest singer the world has seen."
"Someone's Jade is starting to show", Cat giggled.
"Well you were the one who suggested that I wrote my last three albums with her and then I ended up getting cast on that show she was writing on", Tori replied.
"To be honest it was a suggestion from Trina. I didn't even think about having Jade being your co-songwriter."
"You know when we were back in college I didn't expect them to last. You know because of Jade and her bucket list. But Trina seemed to like when she'd joke about it."
"Tori, not to burst your bubble but Trina helped her cross off most of that list in their first year of dating. I mean they talked Carly Shay into that threesome Jade always brought up when we were in Seattle that same year."
"Ew, I didn't need that image in my head.", Tori closed her eyes tight trying to shake the image from her head.
"If it makes you feel better they decided to scrap the celebrity one. Jade said that there are too many people we knew in the business now."
"That doesn't really help, but thanks for trying, kitten."
"Anytime Tori', Cat chuckled.
No POV(12 years ago):
It was a hours before Christmas Day. Tori, Cat, Jade, Trina and Mr. and Mrs. Vega had been drinking eggnog(a Vega family recipe according to Holly). No one could sleep since it had been forever since they were able to sit back and relax without school work. Holly had broken out the wine during dinner and another bottle after dinner. Letting the girls know that they were to be responsible drinkers when they were in their home.
"So girls, how's college?"
"Do you really need to ask Mrs. V", Jade answered. "We were on our way here as soon as we got out of that place."
"Yeah, mom that Garrison teacher of ours is worse than the teachers we would have to put up with at Hollywood Arts", Tori chimed in.
"Sounds like you guys have the short end of the stick", Mr. Vega spoke up. Slurring his words slightly. "At least you're only there for another year."
"And we couldn't be happier to be honest. He ridicules Tori's singing and acting, he destroys Jade's scripts and he rags on the costumes Trina and I design", Cat sighed as she took a big gulp of wine.
"Cat, think of it as us paying our dues", Tori said.
"Yeah, what she said, Red", Trina smiled. "Besides you and I both know that we nail those costumes every time. Jade never writes a bad script. And Tori rarely ever fails at anything."
"I suppose you all are right", Cat smiled. "But Tori did fail at one thing."
"And what would that be, Cat", Tori asked with a raised brow.
"Well, you did fail to catch on to any of the signals I was sending your way when I was crushing on you."
"To be fair you didn't notice any of mine either."
"You two are too much sometimes. Trina and I slept together a few times and decided that we enjoyed each other too much to just walk away", Jade stated bluntly. Earning a smack on the arm from Trina and raised brows from everyone else. "It's true though."
"Maybe, but you didn't have to say that with my parents in the room."
"Oh, your parents knew ages ago. Your mom caught me half naked in the kitchen getting coffee. So I told your mom what we were doing."
"Care to comment, mom?"
"Young love is a beautiful thing as long as you're safe about it", Holly laughed. Everyone else joining in the laughter.
As morning approached, the group had changed from eggnog and wine to coffee and hot cocoa. Cat had made everyone wait until the sun had started to become visible before they started to pass out presents. Once the redhead had given the go ahead, Tori pulled a long box from her bag. Covering Cat's eyes before handing it to her. When she pulled back her hands at immediately opened it.. The box contained a locket with both girls picture on the inside and one side was bright silver and one side was red. Tori had told her that it was so she would always shine even if they were miles apart. Trina had done the near impossible on the other side of the room. She had made Jade West cry. Not out of sadness but pure joy. The older Vega had managed to get her hands on the original Scissoring film reels. Jade couldn't speak for what felt like hours. But when she finally spoke, she thanked Trina and threatened everyone else to never speak of it. Everyone laughing once again.