Chapter 9 - A Step into the Real World

A/N: Hey everyone, just want to preface this chapter by letting you all know that there's a small time jump for the flashbacks. This is so I can get more of the girls later life in. So in this chapter you'll be seeing graduations and a surprise or two. I also want to say nothing that happens in the final few chapters is for shock value or to wrap the story up quicker. It's just how I planned it out in the beginning.

No POV(Vega House, 10 years ago)

The girls had graduated college a moth prior. Tori and Cat had been planning a party, inviting all of the gang from Hollywood Arts. While the only two to reply were Andre and Robbie, Jade had heard from Beck that he would be attending as well. All four girls had begun planning as soon as they heard back from the guys of the gang. Jade had tried to play off that she was being excited for Trina and the others, which had failed dramatically when Tori walked in on the goth squealing setting up for the party. A few hours before the party the singer had pulled her sister aside.

"So you guys haven't mentioned much about your post college plans", the singer said. "A few months ago that's all you could talk about. Is something going on with you guys?"

"No, it's nothing like that, Tori", Trina replied. "It's just that Jade wanted us to be really secretive until after the party. Y'know in case Sinjin or someone showed up."

"Fair point. Ever since Sinjin got that gig on TMZ he's been exposing all of the possible up and comers in the business", Tori frowned. "You would think that he was above that."

"I know. Him and his cameraman followed Jade and me around all week", Trina shrugged. "Guess you don't know about someone until they start to get paid for what they do."

"Isn't that the truth", Tori chuckled as Trina made her way upstairs. Walking to the kitchen until a familiar voice stopped her.

"So Sinjin pulled a me", Robbie declared as he closed the door behind him. This Robbie was completely different from the one Tori had come to know. He looked to be wearing contacts, had much shorter hair and the thing that stood out the most, no Rex.

"Robbie, it's so good to see you. It's been what two years", the singer smiled pulling the comedian in for a hug. "How's New York?"

"New York is awesome. Very, very busy but nothing compared to LA", he looked around. "Am I the first to get here?"

"Yeah, Andre is on a flight here. He didn't say where he was coming from but he is coming. And Jade heard that Beck is on his way here as well."

"So everyone is going to be in the same room since high school. Maybe I should have brought Rex."

"Would you really want Jade to take a trip down memory lane with him", Tori smiled. "Granted she has mellowed out as much as she can mellow out since high school."

"So I've heard, but is it true that she tried to snip off your professor's ear?"

"Very true. The only reason she stopped was because she knew she'd miss Trina", Tori chuckled.

"Never thought that those two would have lasted this long", Robbie smiled, looking at the pictures that David and Holly had hung on their walls over the years. "All four of you really are happy."

"Yeah, but we all have those days. I mean just the other day Cat and I got into a very heated argument about Brooklyn Nine-Nine", Tori frowned. "It was horrible."

"It couldn't have been that bad."

"She got upset about an episode and then proceeded to call me Santiago for the last few days. All because I agreed that we could all benefit from using binders for certain life situations."

"That's really not that bad, Tori", Robbie laughed.

"Yeah, that's actually pretty adorable, girl", Andre smiled, standing in the doorway. "I'm convinced that you and Cat just can't have a fight."

"Andre, you just said that you weren't landing for another hour", Tori ran up hugging her friend.

"Well to be honest I didn't come alone", he pointed behind him, Beck walking up the driveway with a bag.

Later:

After everyone had greeted each other and settled in; Tori had decided to order pizza. While Jade on the other hand broke out the alcohol. Once Jade had succeeded in getting everyone a little tipsy, she decided to start a game. She proposed a game of 'Two Truths and a Lie'. Which earned whoops of agreements in the room.

"I guess since I suggested it, I'll start", the goth remarked. "Let's see, I have a tattoo of Tawny Walkerblack on my back, I've been drinking decaf since senior year and I have a heavy anime addiction."

"That's easy, its the tattoo" "No, it's the anime" "Nope, it's definitely the decaf", Beck, Robbie and Tori all spoke.

"Shame on you Vega. Spend all this time with Cat, Trina and me and you never noticed that I switched to decaf. The lie was the tattoo", Jade chuckled as Tori took a shot(per Jade's rules) "You're up, Vega.".

"Okay, I have two piercings in my back, I have matching tattoos with Cat and-", Tori was cut off by multiple voices.

"The piercings" "Seconded" "Agreed", was the response from everyone.

"Why is that so unbelievable for me to have piercings in my back? But matching tattoos are more believable", Tori questioned, taking yet another shot.

"That's simple, Vega. I have those exact piercings and I know that you don't have the pain tolerance to get them", the goth smirked. "You're up Canada."

"I'm going to pass", Beck declared. "I have an announcement or two but I don't want to announce it during a game."

"Fair enough", Jade nodded. "Who's next?"

The gang continued to play the game and once it was finished just talked the night away. They hadn't known exactly how long until Holly had come downstairs to leave for work. Once it had sank in to the gang a marathon of yawns had started to make it's way around the room. Tori, Cat, Jade and Trina made their way upstairs. With Robbie leaving to go back to a hotel room he had for the week. Beck and Andre remained, opting to crash on the couches.

Hours later Tori emerged from her room and made her way downstairs. She quickly brought her hand to her mouth to muffle the gasp that tried to force it's way out. There in plain sight on the couch was Beck and Andre, engaged in a heated kiss. As the singer backed away she jumped as Jade who had been standing behind her, had poked her shoulder. The goth quickly covered Tori's mouth and shushed her.

"Vega, why are you creeping around in your own house?"

"Because I just got the surprise of my life."

"Oh, you mean Beck and Andre?"

"How long have you known about it?"

"Since Trina and I had dinner with them on spring break last year."

"What are we talking about", Cat said, walking down the few steps to the landing that Tori and Jade stood on.

"Apparently Beck and Andre are an item", Tori stated.

"Yeah, Trina told me about that ages ago", Cat smiled. "Isn't it nice?"

"Why am I always the last one to know things", Tori whined. "But yes, it's nice and I'm happy for them."

"Well we're glad you guys think that", Beck interrupted them with a smile.

"Yeah, and that means we don't really need to announce it", Andre followed up. "But one of you are missing."

"Trina is still upstairs getting those multiple hours of beauty sleep", Jade smirked. "You know now that we don't have to be up at a certain time for the time being."

"How about we go wake up the beauty queen then", Jade stated.

After getting approval from everyone they made their way back upstairs. Along the way Tori pulled Cat back into their room. While the others continued on their quest to torment Trina, Cat was wondering why Tori had pulled her aside. She didn't have to wonder for long when she turned around to Tori on one knee. Holding a box in her hand.

"Tori, what is this", Cat croaked out.

"Catarina Valentine, ever since I laid eyes on you I felt that we were going to be together for life", Tori smiled with a tear rolling down her face. "I just never knew that my dreams would be a reality. I want you to know that I love you. And if you would do me the honor of spending the rest of our lives together."

"Victoria Vega, we both know to the answer to that question", Cat smiled, tears rolling down her cheeks as well. "Yes, I'll marry you, Tori. I'd marry you everyday if I could."

The girls embraced, as Tori slipped the ring on her finger. She had been saving up since their senior year. Knowing without a doubt that she was going to marry the redhead. As they stood up they finally noticed the claps and camera flashes from Jade's phone. They knew that with friends this close and a love as strong as their's nothing was going to get in their way.

A/N: And that's chapter nine everybody. Next chapter wedding planning, record labels and auditions. I feel like I say it every chapter, but we're nearing the close of this adventure. To those who have sent me prompts, thank you I'm going to take a little break from this and start to write up those prompts. I'm hoping to have the few I have finished by the end of next week. And to those who are just finding out about this, you can PM me prompt or post a review on the prompts post. I hope you enjoy this chapter and I'll see you all next time.