A/N: Hello again! Here's what's going to be the last chapter. I do hope you enjoy this. Beginning is one year after they graduate. The beginning to end is sort of a surprise. If you're good at predicting things though, I bet you'll soon figure it out. Enjoy!
Part Four: Life Goes On
Cat POV
I walked down the hallway of the studio, my dress moving with the draft behind me. I wore a pink bow in my hair with a bit of black, to remind me of Jade. I held in my hands the papers which had on it what I thought might be good for a new song. It was called "Put Your Hearts Up".
"Cat!" called my manager, peeking out from the recording studio. I smiled and ran up to him.
"Read it!" I squealed, thrusting the papers into his empty hands. He scanned through it, his smile widening as he continued to read.
When he finished, he looked up at me and smiled.
"Let's try this a little backwards. You go record the song a capella, and we'll add music afterwards. Wanna try that?" he asked. I smiled and nodded.
I walked into the recording studio and put on the headphones, so I could hear myself.
"One, two, three, go!" said my manager and began to record.
I took a deep breath and began to sing.
Jade POV
"Emily!" I called into the set of the movie, as I walked through the "front door" to "my sister's" house.
Tori, or Emily I should say, appeared on the stairs moments later. She put on a shocked look and ran down the stairs, then hugged me.
She held on tightly as the script had requested.
"I gotcha," I said quietly and rubbed "Emily's" back. "I'm not leaving you."
In the movie, Emily and Melissa's parents had been killed in a car crash, and Melissa, who couldn't deal with the pain, left Emily when Emily was only 18 and just getting out of high school, yet she promised she would come back one day. This was a "5 years later" scene where Melissa comes back to her childhood home, hoping Emily is there, which she is.
Tori and I hugged each other for a long time, and I whispered things like "Its ok" and "I'm here" and stuff like that like the script said.
We finally let go.
"Thank you," Tori said.
"For what?" I said, sitting on the couch on set. "For leaving you?"
"No," said Tori, "for coming back."
I sat silently for a moment.
"I keep my promises, you should know that," I said quietly.
"I know, and thank you. Just thank you," said Tori, sitting down next to me again.
We were silent for a while.
"Wanna watch a movie?" I asked.
"I'll go get the popcorn," said Tori, getting up and heading into the kitchen part of the house set.
"Don't forget the-" I began.
"Extra butter? I know," she said. I smiled and laughed.
I leaned into the couch.
"And CUT!" said the director.
"Do we need to do another take?" asked Tori, walking back into the living room part of the set.
"That was perfect. That's a wrap guys!" said the director.
I smiled at tori. She had become my sister, there's no denying it.
Andre POV
I sat in the back of Jason Derulo's recording studio. I was in the same building as Cat but I wasn't supposed to go see her. I understood, but it was hard to know she was here and not see her.
I heard her voice filling the studio next to me. I closed my eyes and listened for a while to her angelic voice that I loved so much.
I started to hum in harmony, but not too loud.
Suddenly Jason walked in.
"You really miss her don't you?" he said. I smiled and nodded.
"Well maybe next time you see her you can sing this song to her," he said, handing me the song we were going to play.
I played the chords and he sang.
Beck POV
"Now," said my teacher, " we have a special guest professor all the way from Hollywood, California."
I perked up at this, thinking it could be Sikowitz. I knew the chances were small, but I could still hope.
As the professor walked in, I gasped.
Ever heard of the saying, it's one in a million chance? Well this time, I actually got that one chance out of a million.
"Beck?"
I smiled as old Sikowitz walked up to me and shook my hand. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.
"So good to see you my boy! Tell me, have you any coconuts?" Sikowitz asked. I couldn't help but laugh when he asked that. He hasn't changed a bit.
All the other students stared at him, wondering if he was serious or not.
"Don't be alarmed. This is my acting teacher from high school. He's great, trust me," I said. Sikowitz smiled.
"Today we will start off with the alphabet game, is everyone familiar with that?" asked Sikowitz.
Everyone looked confused.
"Beck, would you mind explaining?" asked Sikowitz. I nodded and stood up to explain.
Robbie POV
"So the fisherman said to the fish-" I began, knowing Rex would soon interrupt.
"Shut UP already!" Rex said, right on cue.
"Rex! You're killing my jokes!" I said, getting a slight laugh from the bored audience. They always start out bored, but when Rex gets rolling, they can't breathe from laughing so hard.
"How can I kill something that's already dead?" cried Rex, using one of his favorites from high school when he was really mean to me.
The crowd started to laugh now, and Rex went on.
5 Years After Graduation
Tori POV
Jade and I sat on the couch in our apartment, watching old episodes of our favorite TV show, iCarly. Ever since the movie, we had lived together. We were working on two separate movies now of course, but we still lived together for simplicity. We decided on Chicago; halfway between LA and New York. Kind of.
"I'm hungry," said Jade, her voice only a bit deeper than it had been in high school. She had gotten slightly taller, and her skin tone had darkened up just slightly. She was looking quite good.
"Well go get something from the fridge," I said, laughing slightly. I brushed a lock of brunette hair out of my face.
"I want to go out to eat somewhere though. We always eat at home," said jade.
"You sound like Trina," I teased. Jade slapped my arm playfully.
"Can we please go out?" Jade asked.
"Since when does Jade West plead for Tori Vega's approval?" I asked.
Jade stopped for a moment and smirked.
"You're right. Get up, let's go," she said, grabbing the keys off the counter. Her chains on the side of her black skinny jeans jingled.
We headed out to the car.
"How does Golden Corral sound?" she asked.
"Sounds good," I said, getting in. Jade started up the car, and we headed out.
Robbie POV
"Where do you want me to set up?" I asked the waitress. I was going to do a show at a local restaurant in Chicago area. It was a nice city to be in.
"In front of the drink counter would work, if that's enough room," she replied, pointing to a place I could go.
That area was reserved for my show tonight, and tickets were paid for up front at the register.
A part of me was wondering if I might see Jade or someone here tonight. I don't know why I expected that. Who knows?
The only person I had really been in touch with is Cat. She's still in LA though. I had no clue where everyone else was.
I set a stool in front of the drink counter and sat down, looking at the view I'd be seeing. It seemed nice.
I waited anxiously for people to come in and sit down so the show could get started.
Andre
After 5 whole years of waiting, I was finally going to get to walk into that redhead's recording studio.
I was always in either the studio next to her or the one across from her or down the hall from her, but I finally get to be with her.
Granted, we were in Chicago, so it wasn't really her studio, but you get it.
I was doing backup piano and vocals for her new song.
I walked into to her recording studio quietly, then searched the room for her, trying to make sure she didn't see me.
She was sitting in the part of the room with the microphone, behind a wall with a glass pane and a door. It was dark on the other side of the glass where I was, and where her manager was sitting.
He turned and saw me, and I motioned for him to be quiet. I listened to lil red sing.
"What's she singing?" I asked.
"Just a random cover, she isn't really going to do anything with it. She was waiting for you to get here," he said quietly and waited for her to finish.
I smiled.
She stopped singing and opened her eyes, and I could tell she screamed.
She threw open the door and flung her arms around my neck, and I hugged her back.
"Oh my god I missed you," I said. I felt a tear land on my neck.
"What's wrong?" I asked. She pulled away with tears in her eyes.
"I just missed you so much…I'm so happy!" she cried, and I hugged her again.
We held on for a while longer.
"Dinner at Golden Corral?" I asked. She smiled.
"I'd be delighted," she said. I smiled too.
We grabbed the keys to my car and headed out.
Beck POV
I was now living in an apartment by myself (for now) in New York. I was in Chicago for a few weeks though; my first job was going to be guest starring on a show called Shake it Up. I may not be an amazing dancer, but I can dance.
I sat in my bedroom, looking through some old pictures. I had an album on my phone that I kept and haven't deleted one photo yet. I also had notebooks, short films…a lot of stuff from Hollywood Arts that I could reflect back on.
I was scrolling through the 2000 some pictures on my phone when my stomach growled, and I suddenly became more aware of how very hungry I was.
Sighing, I put away the notebooks and stuff and locked my pearphone, then headed to my truck. I decided to go to Golden Corral, thinking maybe I'd see one of my college friends. They loved to eat there.
I pulled out of the driveway, and when I turned on my radio, I heard Cat's single "Rollercoaster" come on. I smiled.
6:15 PM, Golden Corral
Jade POV
We pulled into Golden Corral and turned off the radio. I could smell food cooking, and my stomach started to growl, eliciting a giggle from Tori. I rolled my eyes and smiled slightly.
We walked into Golden Corral. I saw an old beat up car in the corner of the parking lot, and I smiled as I remembered how Beck had tried to fix Robbie's convertible…only to have it taken by robbers on the run. I stopped thinking about Beck and Robbie, for sadness overcame me.
"What can I get you to drink?" asked the man behind the register.
"Wahoo Punch," tori and I said at the same time. I laughed.
"Alright, and would you like to buy tickets for the ventriloquism show tonight?" he asked, handing us cans of Wahoo Punch.
"Sure," said Tori. I was about to say the same. I loved ventriloquism because it reminded me of Robbie.
We paid and headed into the reserved section of the restaurant. A puppet sat on a stool in front of the drink counter.
As I looked closer, I realized something.
"T-tori," I said, not believing it was true at first.
She turned to me.
"Does that…is that Rex?" I said in disbelief.
Tori looked at the puppet and gasped.
We walked up to it to get a better look. It was just like Rex.
"Rex?" I said, knowing that he couldn't talk unless Robbie was there. For some reason I still said his name.
Obviously, Rex didn't answer.
"God, I wish this puppet could speak without someone's hand shoved up his back…" said Tori, the desperation to see our friends again seeping in. I could see it in her eyes.
"He's not a puppet! That's an offensive term!" said a way too familiar voice.
I turned toward the voice and there stood Robbie Shapiro.
I ran up and flung my arms around him.
We held on so tight that I could barely breathe.
He hugged Tori and we finally spoke.
"I missed you so much!" I nearly yelled.
Robbie laughed.
"Really? Couldn't tell," he said. His voice was deeper now. I liked it.
"I see Rex has taught you a few things," Tori said, nodding towards the puppet.
Robbie went and sat on the stool and put his hand in Rex's back.
"Yes I have," Rex said. Same old Rex voice, I thought.
"So, how's life been?" asked Robbie.
Tori and I went into a detailed description of everything that had gone on.
Cat POV
Andre and I pulled up to the restaurant. We had been singing the single that we were going to record soon, and it sounded amazing, even without the piano backup.
"Ready Lil Red?" he asked, using my nickname. I smiled and nodded, which caused him to smile.
A truck pulled in next to me really quickly, and I screamed. I was about to get out and the driver could have hit me!
Andre stormed out of the car and went to chew the man out. I followed cautiously.
All anger was gone as I saw who stepped out of the truck.
Thick, luscious hair, as Jade had once said. Thin. Olive skin.
"BECK!" I cried, flinging my arms around him. I didn't know how or why he had suddenly appeared up here, at the same time as us. But I wasn't about to question it.
He held on tight, then kissed my cheek.
"Beck, my man!" Andre said after Beck let go of me. They hugged for a moment.
"What brings you here? Oh my god…I can't believe I'm seeing you again!" Beck said, just as shocked as me.
"Lil Red and I are recording her next single in the studios up the road! The LA studio is closed for reconstruction, and the nearest good one was here. How about you?" asked Andre.
"That's great, I can't wait to hear it! I'm here because I'm guest starring on that one Disney show Shake It Up," Beck explained. We smiled and nodded.
"Well all that matters is that we're here now," I said, my smile never leaving my face. I could have cried from joy at that moment. I didn't though.
Beck and Andre each took one of my hands, and we headed inside.
Beck POV
I walked inside Golden Corral, Andre and I both holding one of Cat's hands.
"Hello there! What can I get you three to drink?" asked the man behind the register.
"Wahoo Punch," we said at the same time. We all laughed quietly.
"Seems popular tonight. The host of our ventriloquism show and two young actresses asked for the same," said the man behind the counter. We smiled.
"Ventriloquism show you say?" asked Andre.
"Yep. Tickets are 2.50 each, and there's a reserved section for it. Do I need three tickets for the show, Mr. Harris?" asked the man, who must have recognized Andre. Andre smiled.
"I think so," said Cat.
"Three tickets, Ms. Valentine," said the man. He handed the tickets to her which we would have to show to get into the reserved section.
He handed the drinks to us, and I paid for the three of us. Andre and Cat protested, but I didn't listen.
We walked up to the section where the show would be held. We presented our tickets and went to sit down.
Jade POV
Robbie, tori, and I were still talking when I heard familiar voices.
I turned around, and I scanned the area for people I knew.
I didn't see anyone, so I turned back to Robbie and Tori.
"…so now, Jade and I are staying here," finished Tori.
"Wow. That was VERY detailed," said Robbie chuckling.
We laughed.
"How about you?" I asked.
He went into a detailed story as well.
About halfway through, I saw something in his face change. It was good, it was like a candle that had died down was relit. He slowed down talking.
"Everything ok Rob?" asked Tori.
Suddenly arms snaked around my stomach. My breath hitched and I closed my eyes, and I was frightened as to what was going to happen next.
"Hi."
Wait a second. I know that voice.
I opened my eyes and turned my head.
And there behind me stood Beckett James Oliver.
I gasped and turned around, then flung my arms around the smiling boy.
"Oh my goodness," I said, breaking off in tears. I wasn't sad, of course not! I was just so happy that I was crying.
Beck hugged me tightly, and I buried my head in his shoulder.
I hugged him as though I was never letting go again.
When I finally pulled it together, we pulled apart.
"Why…how…?" I asked, trying to find words to say. He laughed.
"Guest starring on Shake It Up. You?" he asked. He moved a bit of hair out of my face. Just like the good ole days.
"Living with Tori here in Chicago. Half way between home and New York, you know?" I said, catching my breath.
He smiled.
"This is…amazing," he said. I nodded.
He let me go so I could see the others.
Cat Valentine strode up to me. She wore a pink bow with a black center. The one I had given her.
I tried to say something but I couldn't.
Cat flung her arms around me and held on tight.
"I missed you so much. So much…" I said. I felt her shaking.
"I missed you too Jade," she whispered. She rested her head on my shoulder.
We pulled away a few minutes later.
"Me and Andre are working in the studio just up the road on my new single," she said, just before I could ask what she was doing in Chicago.
I laughed.
"I'm living with tori. Chicago is half way between home and New York, two places where we could very well end up having to go to anytime," I said. Cat smiled and nodded.
"This is so great! I mean… who would have thought that we would all be here tonight?" asked Cat.
"It's fate," said Andre.
We all smiled and went in for a group hug.
It felt like I was in high school again. The gang was finally back together again. Finally.
"I don't know how I survived five years without you guys," said Tori, her voice thick. I put a hand on her shoulder, trying to help her calm down.
She drew in a shaky breath. I had to do the same.
"The gift of a friend is something that once its given, its with us forever. The reason we survived is because we carried that gift around with us all these years," said Andre. We all smiled.
He went and sat down at the piano in the corner.
He started to play the song "Gift of a Friend" by Demi Lovato.
At that moment, I noticed how many people were there. There was at least 100 people there. Good. The more the better, I thought, smiling.
"Sometimes you think you'll be fine by yourself
Cause a dream is a wish that you make all alone," sang Cat.
"Its easy to feel like you don't need help
But its harder to walk on your own," I sang.
"You'll change inside,
When you realize," sang Tori, and Andre let there be a musical pause before we went on to the chorus.
"The world comes to life, and everythings alright
From beginning to end when you have a friend by your side
That helps you to find
The beauty you are when you open your heart and believe in," all of us sang together.
"The gift of a friend," sang Robbie by himself.
Everyone around us started to clap.
We laughed and bowed.
"So Robbie, how about that show?" said Cat. Robbie smiled and walked onstage.
He sat down with Rex and started to introduce himself and Rex.
Andre POV
I sat in my seat next to Cat and Beck. Tori and jade sat on the other side of us three, and there was an open spot for Robbie when he got done with his show.
We listened and smiled and laughed at him and Rex's act. It brought back memories.
that night turned out to be the best night I had had in five years.
- The world comes to life, and everything's alright
From beginning to end when you have a friend by your side
That helps you to find
The beauty you are when you open your heart and believe in the gift of a friend-
-THE END-
A/N: So what did you think? I know this was SOOO long, but if you stuck out, I love you very much, haha
Reviews are appreciated! My next story on the way is a Harry Potter/Victorious crossover, which I am starting as soon as I finish typing this authors note.
See you again soon!