So I'm back, you know the drill by now, I apologize for the delay between chapters and say I'll hopefully change that next time but next time it's the same thing lol, but regardless I'm here now and I hope you enjoy.

*No P.O.V*

"It's been a whole week" Tori thought to herself standing in front of Cat's locker, staring at it, every locker at the school was individually designed to allow students to express themselves and Cat's was no different, it had a red rose in the top corner that she would change every week and always be sad when the previous flower had died, but since she hadn't been in Tori took the liberty of changing the rose for Cat, that's actually what led Tori to her locker in the first place.
The rest of the locker was a collage of pictures, some of Cat and her friends, some of Cat performing, some of others performing, a picture of her stuffed animals here and there, just a nice way to take a trip down memory lane, or for those who didn't know her, to get an understanding of the kind of girl Cat was, someone who liked to share experiences with her friends and loved ones, I mean there was even a picture with Trina safely behind the plastic cover.

Tori looked over the pictures of herself amidst the memory collage, the first picture she and Cat had taken the night after Tori's first day at Hollywood Arts, she and Cat had really hit it off and went to Cat's house to continue the conversation, that's when Tori remembered how bright and colorful Cat's room was, she had been there so many times she could remember every little detail, but now she was just hoping that when she went back the door would be open and Cat would be waiting there.
Tori looked at another picture, Cat beaming the biggest smile she could possibly have, hugging Tori who looked a little less pleased, with cake all over her face, that was the time Cat planned a surprise party for Tori, and the "surprise" was a face full of cake, Tori giggled a bit remembering how she was scared when everyone yelled "SURPRISE" or how shocked she was when Cat suddenly hit her in the face with a full cake, or how good it tasted, it really did taste good.

She stood for a while going over other pictures of other memories she had with Cat, one on the plane to Yerba, and we all know how that went, a picture of Cat and Tori singing together, that was probably her favorite, Cat said it was her favorite picture with Tori too, the time they all got so hung up on Beck's Canadian friend that they were fighting amongst themselves and constantly forgetting plans made with the boys, but eventually they saw sense and sang them a song to make up for it, which was rather hard to say no to when you think about it.

"Where are you Cat..." Tori thought aloud to herself.
"I'm right here!" Tori heard that all too familiar high pitched voice filled with happiness behind her and turned around with a huge smile only to be disappointed when she saw it was Jade instead, smirking proudly.
"Why would you do that?" Tori asked, clearly angry, "relax Vega it's just a joke, but you have to admit I do a pretty good Cat right?" Tori sighed and looked back at the locker, "why hasn't she come back yet? its been a whole week Jade..." Tori trailed off looking at a picture of herself with Cat and the others from that time they went to the beach, sure it didn't start very well but it ended perfectly, they all had fun as the sun went down and on the picture Cat had wrote "the best day of my life with the best people in my life... and Trina"
"She'll be fine Tori, you have to stop worrying" Jade tried to reason but Tori didn't seem to want to hear it, "are you going to her house again tonight?" she asked and Tori nodded.

"Why are we all at Cat's locker?" Andre asked the pair of girls as he came over, followed by Beck and then Robbie.
"Tori's worried, again" Jade said, putting emphasis on the word 'again'
"Tori come on, she'll be okay" Beck said giving her a reassuring shoulder squeeze, which was of course met with a disapproving stare courtesy of Jade, "you going over to her house again after school?" Andre asked and Tori nodded, feeling like she wanted to cry, seeing what was a moment of her cherishing the memories she shared with Cat to having it all shoved aside by others, if only Tori knew that's how Cat felt all the time, disregarded.

"Well, I'm coming with you" Andre said surprising Tori who's eyes lit up as she looked at him, "really?" he nodded and Tori hugged him, giving Andre the perfect opportunity to look over her shoulder at the locker, immediately he saw the same picture Tori did before when they all went to the beach, remembering how Cat had run off to use the bathroom and the rest had wound up trapped in an RV slowly dying because of the rapidly increasing temperature, and also remembering how relieved he was when Cat opened the door, not only because it meant they were finally out of the over sized oven but because Cat had come back and it meant she was alright.

"You guys aren't the slightest bit worried?" Andre asked between bites of his sandwich, looking at Jade, Beck and Robbie.
"Well, I'm obviously worried I just know Cat's a big girl, she can handle herself, she'll be okay" "how can you be so sure though?" Andre asked giving Jade something to think about, the other boys sat silently both thinking exactly what Jade was, what if she wasn't okay?
"She's taken time off school before, we all know she's a sensitive girl, it could be nothing" "but what if it is?" again Andre's question gave them all something to think about.
"You think we haven't been trying?" Jade asked taking out her phone, "look, I've texted her over and over because I'm worried, of course I am! we all are! just because we're not walking around like we're waiting for the police to find a body does not mean I'm not worried!" Jade was fuming at Andre as she went through countless text messages to Cat.

"You sure you're not coming with us?" Tori asked Robbie as they headed for the exit, "I can't I have to help my Grandmother" "again? I know she's an elderly but how problematic can one be?" Tori asked with a little chuckle, "you'd be surprised, I'll see you tomorrow" he said as they went their separate ways, Tori met up with Andre who was waiting outside and the pair headed over to Cat's house.
"See? her bedroom light is on, its been on every time I've come here" Tori said as they approached the house, knocking on the door.
"Oh, hello again Tori, back for another try?" Mr. Valentine asked her, Tori sighed a little as she didn't like how humorous he was toward the situation, it was his daughter after all.
Once again though she was let in along with Andre and the pair headed upstairs, stopping outside the door that had "Cat's room" on it, wondering what was on the other side.

"Cat, its me again... Tori" she sighed knocking on the door, hoping that she would hear Cat's voice, or at least some movement, but nothing, she pressed her ear against the door and knocked again "Cat I'm really worried about you, please tell me you're okay" but again it was silence.
"Cat she's not the only one..." Andre started giving the door a few knocks "we're all worried, me, Tori, Beck, Jade, Robbie, everyone at school, all the teachers, your parents, my parents, Tori's parents, I could go on and on, we all want you to be okay Cat" yet still it was silence.

Tori slowly put her hand on the door handle and considered the options, she knew Cat hated people barging into her room and Tori had done exactly that before when Cat was mad and it just made things worse, but at the same time Tori would take an argument with Cat over not hearing anything from Cat, at least then she'd know she was okay, and alive.

She exchanged a look with Andre and gripped the handle "Cat, if you don't talk to me... I'm going to open the door..." Tori said once again knocking the door, holding onto the slim shred of hope she had left, but still it was silent.
"Okay Cat... I'm coming in" Tori held her breath and went to turn the handle, but the door was locked, effectively ruining that idea.

*Cat's P.O.V*

"Its been a whole week..." a whole week since I walked out of my school, went home, packed a bag, went to the airport and got on a plane, and it had been one of the best weeks of my life, I mean there were a few ups and downs, every now and then I'd get nervous and scared that I was alone and I'd want to go back but gradually I was getting better at dealing with them and I was embracing this new chapter in my life more.

I'm in the elevator heading down to the lobby, like I said it's been a week and that's how long I paid for right? so I'm guessing this is the bit where I tell you I managed to come up with the money and I have my plane ticket in hand and I'm off to the airport to go home right? no, that isn't what's happening, not every story has a happy ending.

Honestly I had no idea what I was going to do, I had toyed with an idea in my mind and I did still have some money, but not enough to get home, but maybe I'm not planning on going home?

I mean... I am still scared, I have woken up in the middle of the night and cried because I miss my home, and my friends and my family but they are all part of the reason I ended up in this position in the first place so why would I just want to go back to it? would it all just magically change? again, not every story has a happy ending.

My time in London however had been wonderful, I had seen so many great things, I had met so many great people, Derrick in particular who had been such a help, he would always be the one to bring my breakfast up in the morning, and ways always the one bringing lunch and dinner too, if I were eating at the hotel that is, sometimes I'd eat elsewhere like at a restaurant, or buy some fish and chips from a local "takeaway" at least that's what British people call it, and the sights too... Big Ben, The London Eye, Tower Bridge, and so many more, even something as simple as an old phone booth was magical to me, and it was so cool to see new things and learn new things too.

And of course I had been trying to find work to help me come up with the money to get home, but the more I tried to find a job, and the more I went to an interview only to be told I was "too young and inexperienced" the more I weighed up other options.

The ding of the elevator snapped my thoughts and as soon as the doors opened I had the idea planted firmly in my mind, it was the choice I was making and I wasn't going to let anyone stop me, its kind of like when you can't decide on something so you flip a coin and while the coin is in the air you immediately know what you want, that's how I felt, as soon as I had little to no time to think about it it became clear to me.

"Hi Cat, is this is then are you off?" Derrick asked as I went over to the desk, I had learned a lot about him while I was here, I mean he was handsome obviously but he was like ten years older than I was, and he had a girlfriend anyway, and even had two kids, I had the chance to meet them too and they were just how you'd expect his two sons to be, just little versions of him.

I don't know what I was expecting, would I fall madly in love with a hotel worker, get married and have kids and spend the rest of my life in London? seems a bit out there even by my standards, but I was glad I had met him and I was happy he was at such a wonderful place in his life.

"No, actually I was hoping I could pay for another week?" I put the money down and could clearly see the surprise in his face
"Really? I thought you wanted to go home?" "I did, and I do, but I've still got a lot to learn, I'd love to spend some more time here" "and what about when that week ends?" "well, I've been trying to find work, hopefully I can by then" I explained to him, he nodded and paused for a moment, "tell you what... if this really is one hundred percent what you want, I'll let you stay for the month but don't tell anyone okay?" WOW! this was even better than I had hoped it would go, that would give me so much time to work everything out, surely I could find a job by then.

"Really? thank you so much" I said happily, "my pleasure, you've come a long way from the sobbing girl who was pleading to go home just a few nights ago" he laughed a little and honestly I did too, I was glad that was behind me.
"I'm just heading out for a walk I won't be long" I said turning to walk out "enjoy, and I guess I'll see you soon since you're not going anywhere anytime soon"

I turned and headed for the door with a smile on my face, I was getting stronger, I was becoming independent, I was beginning to tell myself I didn't need home rather than just question it.

And as I walked out the door I let my thoughts become words.

"I'm never going back"

Well... Well... Well... what is Cat thinking now then? will this be a good idea? will it be a bad one? how will she get home with no money if she decides in the end that that is what she wants? will Tori and the rest of her friends ever find out just where she is?

I hope you enjoyed and I hope to bring another chapter to you soon