Fandom: Victorious

Title: Point of View

Chapter Nine: The Price of Fame

Point of View: Cat Valentine

Dec 24th 2022

"Bitch!" I jump up, fingers clenched at my sides, posture so stiff it sends pain crashing through my neck and shoulders. "Careful, kitty, your nostrils are flaring. Ooh, are the claws about to come out? Can little bitty kitty even scratch with those generic unmanicured chipped cheap nails?"

My jaw clenched with rage in painful spasms. Tiny huffs of air emasculate from my lips which are pressed firmly together. "Isn't it cute, everyone? Baby claws think she can take mamma bear on. Sorry, Lil virgin, you are too fragile and chaste to run with the big kids. The sinners will always shine better than the saints because we play with fire, not halos. Those who dance with the devil will always dance higher."

"Here's another challenge for all my Remheads whoever pops little virgin's cherry and can prove it to me will win a duet with me on my next single and a cash prize of $10,000, oh and bitches if you are going to enter, you better be able to sing. I don't duet with no talented losers. As with my last challenge, DM me the proof. A video of you doing the little bitch."

Uncontrollable shuddering, my knees locked tight together. The room suddenly seems to spin too fast; it sends a coursing rage of nausea tearing through my stomach. Did she post a challenge on social media for boys to have sex with me?

I have a staggering loss of coordination, and my body breaks into a cold sweat. I stumble, staggering, backing up against a wall. "Can she do that, Mom?" Panicked at Remi's challenge, I look at my mom's shocked face. "I don't know, sweetie. I need to talk to legal."

"No need to talk to legal counsel, Aislin." Amanda moves into the room with another woman I don't recognize; she has thick hair that hangs below her shoulders. It's dark brown with a few caramel-colored highlights. Her eyes are almond-shaped and very dark brown. She carries herself tall, almost lean, with a walk producing confidence and authority, and wearing a pair of simple gold hoop earrings that seem to match her heart-shaped lock necklace clinging to her neck. She looks stylish and put-together with a sleek edgy-looking allure. Her dress looks right off the rack of the fifth avenue. I know the gown instantly. It's a Chiara Boni La Petite Robe

Sada Lace-Trimmed Illusion Gown, which, last time I checked, cost over 1,000 dollars. "Let me introduce my boss, Captain Olivia Benson."

"What you just did on social media is borderline illegal. Issuing a challenge to have boys take Cat's virginity is sexual harassment; it violates her civil rights to privacy and respect. Offering a cash prize is called soliciting, which is highly illegal; asking for a video of her being raped is called child pornography, and make no mistake, Remi, what you just did is a form of rape. You are taking away Cat's ability to choose to have sex."

"Well, someone must because she is choosing to be a social disgrace. Jesus, she's sixteen and still a virgin; that is pathetic. I had lost my virginity by the time I was thirteen. You are damaged if you are over thirteen and still clinging to your V-Card." "By eighth grade. It's a competition to see who could lose their virginities first; by junior year, which is the year we are in now, it's how many guys we can sleep with before senior year. Some of the girls at my school can't even remember some of the guys they had sex with until reminded by someone or something else. I know girls who have sex with 30 guys, and Cat can't even fuck one boy. She's a pathetic, no, talented fish; if I were her, I would kill myself from the shame of the stink."

"Jesus Christ, what the fuck do you want from me, Remi! Why are you so cruel? I've never done anything to you! My virginity is mine to give away. You have no right to offer my body on social media!"

The seventeen-year-old hoovers closer, a dark cloud paralyzing my energy panic seizes my inside; what do I do? How can I be safe anywhere? How can she hurt me like this? We're cousins even if we've never been friends; this is a level of betrayal my mind can't comprehend. "Sex isn't supposed to be tasteless, Remi; it's supposed to have meaning."

"Aw, how cute, Cat. I bet you still believe in Santa Clause, you fucking baby."

"No, but I believe in karma bitch. Meet her." I charge, swinging fast and hard, cracking my knuckles on her nose. Remi stumbles back, grabbing her nose and crying in shock and pain. "Ah! Mommy! The bitch hit me!" Remi's back hits Leon, one of our camera guys, who grunts and shoves her forward. "Bitch." He mumbles. "Wh-what the hell, Cat?"

"Katie, you said she wouldn't touch me! The producers put me up to this; it's their idea!" Remi trembles, looking up, and she's immediately met by my fist again. She stumbles, falling on her back. "Karma's a bitch. You should be best friends with her, bitch."

I glance at Katie on her cell phone, talking in a hurry, her back towards me; my stomach is twisted in raw fear and anger. Is Remi saving face by lying about the producers? Why would they tell her to issue a challenge as horrendous as having my virginity sold on the internet?

Am I only a product to them? Avaricious scheme to get ratings higher and create scandal headlines? Do my feelings and safety matter that little to these soulless commercialists?

Hands pull me back voices scream in hurried excitement. "My baby!" "Cut, Stop rolling, call legal!" "Oh, my baby girl. Your beautiful nose! Someone call 911. I want this little bitch arrested! She wrecked my baby's face!"

"What? My face is wrecked. No, my face is my money maker! I can't survive on just my great ass!"

"Why isn't anyone calling 911?" My Aunt Edele screams, holding Remi's face in her hands, trying to brush off her blond hair from the pool of blood pouring down her nose. "I will sue all of you! If someone doesn't call 911!" I'm shaking so badly I can't tell one body from another, but I can recognize voices. "Amanda, what the hell is going on? Why won't you arrest, Cat?"

"Hollywood bullshit; this is why I didn't want Remi involved in show business." "Don't start with me, Amanda; you lost custody in court. I got custody of our daughter, and I won't tell her she can't chase after her dreams, and why are you such a damn hypocrite? You told Remi she couldn't take acting lessons; you didn't want her near a set, but you allowed Mazie to star in a reality show. The worst trash TV of all of them! I

know because I star in one!"

"Ma'am, this is a closed set. I must ask you to leave." I stand here in disbelief, feeling invisible. I am traumatized and sickened by everything which has happened. Amanda is fighting with my Aunt Edele, who has advanced toward my mother, screaming. "Damn, you, this is all your fault, Aislin. If you taught your daughter some bloody manners." Crack my mother's open palm and slaps her sister clear across her face. "don't you dare disrespect my daughter, your selfish money hungry back-stabbing slut, or I will end you."

Angel Dominick, one of the assistant producers, leads me out of the room. I can't speak or walk on my own as visible tremors course through my body, and a sense of vertigo leaves me unable to function sharp painful squeezing clenches my ribs my entire body feels broken.

All the hairs on my arms feel hot, like they have become fire ants crawling all over my body. All my thoughts are shattered and scattered. A feeling of nakedness has taken effect; there's nothing worse than feeling like I am being prompted up on a mannequin left on display for the entire world to laugh at, judge, watch and throw tomatoes at. I have a sense of urgency to flee that supersedes all else. I want to hide away so no one can ask me questions.

I'm ashamed.

"Catarina! How dare you act like that on TV! Your actions are a disgrace; no self-respecting woman shows violence. What the hell are you wearing? You look like a sixth street hooker. You should be ashamed of yourself! Cover up your body!" My dad's voice startles me.

"Me? Why should I be ashamed?" Remi is the one issuing challenges to deflower me; how am I the one who should be ashamed?"

"You dare to blame Remi when you are out here whoring up your body with a dress strippers wouldn't even wear. This proves my point you are too young and immature to understand anything about sexuality."

"I hate you! Why can't you ever support me? What did I ever do to make you so ashamed of me? I follow your rules; I've made myself a social outcast at school all because you can't handle having a daughter! I'm sorry I am such a disappointment to you. I'm sorry Jesus didn't give you all boys but stop taking your frustration about your fucking life out on me! All I ever wanted was for you to love me. Why is that so damn impossible, daddy? I hope I never see you again. I am so sick of being everyone's punching bag!"