And this story has a new character. Thank you, Vampire Diaries, for giving us the sassy, obnoxious, obsessed-with-projects You'll-Know-Who. I just needed a certain type of sidekick, and no one from Victorious could cut it :)

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'Victoria Vega, call me back this instant! You have three singles to record and a shitload of scripts to look through!'

'Tori, is it something I did? Please call me, I'm getting worried.'

'What's going on? Where are you? Is it Jade-related? Of course it's about Jade. I swear I will dislocate her spine one day.'

'I am seriously one voicemail away from calling the cops, so you better answer me or I'm going to imagine your bruised corpse dumped somewhere in the dessert. Oh, right – been doing so for two days! Either call me back or FBI's coming your way.'

I breathe an exasperated sigh after listening to the last voicemail my agent left me. Currently, I'm torn between two thoughts: 'if I'd known she'd turn out to be such a control freak, I wouldn't have hired her', and 'who the hell am I kidding, I hired her specifically because she's a control freak and now I must suffer'.

The screen lights up again as I slide my finger across it to find 'Caroline Forbes' in my contacts. My hand hesitates as it hovers above the phone, and with another heavy sigh I press the call button.

Caroline answers on the first ring.

"I'm so ready to kill you right now!" The blonde screeched, making me wince at her shrillness. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"

"Care, please," I mumble tiredly, and immediately there's silence on the other side. Caroline obviously picked up on my mood, and now she's cautiously weighing her options and possible questions.

See, Caroline's not just my agent. She also happens to be my best friend, and I still can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad one.

"I knew it was that… that skank," she mutters angrily. At least the volume noticeably decreased. I'm thankful for little things like that. "What did she do this time, because I really can't think of anything she hasn't done before, which, subsequently, once again makes me question just when are going to tell her to go to hell."

I blink as I try to process the flood of information Caroline supplied me with, all in one breath.

"How do you even know it has anything to do with Jade?"

"Cause Jade always has everything to do with anything bad in your life, duh," she states sassily, and I can just picture her light green eyes rolling up as she says that. "Seriously, Tori, when are you going to open your eyes an-"

"I broke up with her."

The other line is quiet for a second before it practically bursts with Caroline squealing.

"Finally! Whatever compelled you to even consider going out with that disaster is now over!" She gasps then. "We have to throw a party!"

"Please tell me you're not about to celebrate my break-up."

"Uh, no, I can't do that because I'm not a compulsive pathologic liar unlike a certain ex of yours." God, Caroline and her attitude. "You have no idea how exciting it is to finally be able to call her your ex."

"Your excitement over my pathetic love life is disturbing," I informed my hyper agent, closing my eyes as I slid against the wall to the wooden floor.

"Honey, you don't have a love life per se since what you had with Jade wasn't love by a long shot."

Sure, Care. Let me just lie down so you can continue to kick me.

"Look, I don't want to talk about it," I said, exhausted by this conversation. "I just called so you won't organize a nationwide search party, and also to inform you that I'm taking a vacation."

"But… details, Tori! And wait, how long a vacation we're talking here?"

"Two weeks tops, and I'm not giving you any details."

"Two weeks?! Tori, are you aware what- look, I get it, trust me, I do, but you can't do that to me! First you disappear for a week, leaving just one vague e-mail, then you send a totally random text, and go MIA again for four days! I was almost eaten alive by the studio!"

"Care," I just say pleadingly, rubbing my temples as another headache approaches.

"…Fine," she grumbles after a beat of silence. "But I'm getting those details from you."

"Not over the phone."

"Sure, be a teasing bitch." She's quiet again before continuing, in a much softer tone than before: "Look, to be honest, I don't give a flying crap about the studio and the work. It's you I care about, and if you need anything else… I'm sorry I overreacted just now."

"No, I'm the one who should be apologizing. If I could get back to work right this moment, I would, but… I just- I can't, Care," my voice breaks at the end as I will myself not to break down in sobs.

"Hey, hey, don't you shed one tear over that bitch," Caroline berates me jokingly. "And no need to apologize, either. You know I live for this stuff, that's why you hired me."

"Thanks, Care," I smile into the phone.

"We're cool. Well, we'd be even cooler if you doubled my paycheck, but no pressure."

For the first time in almost two weeks, I let out a small laugh.

"I'll think about it, but you know I'm not the one who decides on your salary."

"Whatever. I was planning on quitting anyway so I would be able to be your best friend full-time and not have to jiggle it with being your agent."

This time, I do let out a small sob.

"Tori…" Caroline breathed out pitifully, causing another sob to leave my chest. "Tell me where you are, and I'll bring tons of ice-cream and bad chick flicks, okay?"

I shake my head, fully aware that I have to form actual words, but not being able to do so.

"…No, I'll be okay," I take a deep cleansing breath, fighting with the coming meltdown. "Just give me two weeks. I'll be okay," I say the last part to myself, forcefully, angrily.

"I'm one call away," Care warned me. "If you need me, just call me, and I'll be there. Even if you ran away to Europe and Japan or whatever. I'll put the ticket on company's bill anyway."

I giggle, feeling somehow lighter than before, and that reminds me once again why Caroline is still my best friend despite my occasional desire to strangle her.

"Deal," I state into the phone before hanging up and taking a look around. Typical hallway on a typical second floor of a typical suburb house. If I look outside, I will be greeted with a green yard, white picket fence and rows of other houses, identical to the one I'm in now. If Caroline does come over, she won't be spending a small fortune of company's money on a ticket. Mystic Falls, Virginia is not that far from LA, although I'm fairly certain Care wasn't going to take the three-day drive I went through.

Small towns are good at one thing: hiding from the outside world. Especially when you're an aspiring celebrity. That's what I had in mind when I drove. Other points for Mystic Falls: my late Nana left me a house there, and I never told anyone about it, with the exception of my family. Seeing as no one's been ringing my doorbell the whole day, I guessed they didn't fess up about this place as my possible hideout.

Another cherry on top of this rather depressing sundae is me being able to visit coffee shops without constant harassment. Yes, I love my fans, and yes, I'm not that famous for them to be piling up on me, but right now I doubt I'll be able to handle even a simple polite hello, because I am that shattered.

The kettle I forgot on the stove wails indignantly, and I hurry down the stairs to turn it off, only to be left astonished as Jade does it for me.

"…Am I dreaming again?" I ask out loud, frowning in confusion as she turns at the sound of my voice.

"So you're still dreaming about me? Good to know," she gives me a crooked smile, placing the kettle on the counter. "You have the kind I like?"

"I'm sorry, what?" I let out, still stupefied at her showing up out of nowhere and being completely at ease after I pulled 'get some-get gone' routine on her.

"Coffee. Do you have the one I like?" She questioned again, looking through my cabinets. "Guess not, you probably didn't have the time to shop since you got here – this morning, I'm assuming?"

"How did you even find me?" I rub my temples again, sitting down on a wooden chair as Jade goes about in my kitchen, surprisingly fitting in with her casual leather jacket and jeans. A mug with steaming liquid is placed in front of me, and I automatically raise it to my lips, sudden burn awakening me from the stupor.

"I read your Nana's will a long time ago," she shrugs as if invasion of privacy is the most natural thing in the world. "Was looking all over LA for you before I remembered about this property. By the way, Caroline doesn't send her regards and wants me to burn in hell."

"I know, I just got off the phone with her," I reply neutrally, sipping at my tea. "This isn't coffee."

"Yup. I figured with all the nicotine you've been consuming, your heart doesn't need caffeine to join the self-destruction party."

"I don't think you're entitled to make such decisions," I rebuff coldly, standing up to pour some coffee. "I'm also happy to inform you that tea contains a lot more caffeine than coffee."

Strong arms around my midsection cause me to pause mid-pour as she gently nuzzles my neck, breathing me in. Thank God I showered as soon as I got here.

"I never said I was smart," Jade whispered in my hair. "You're the brain in our relationship. I'm just…" the aforementioned arms turn me around and lift me up, placing me on a counter with feet dangling in the air. "…muscle," she finished smugly, kissing up my neck to my lips.

"Jade, no," I push at her shoulders, but she doesn't listen, reaching my mouth and pecking it with soft kisses. In a moment of temporary insanity, I respond, before pulling away and sliding from the counter. "No," I repeat, stronger this time. "Jade, I left for a reason."

"I know, and I understood my lesson," she replies, taking a step back when she sees I need some space now. Wait, what did she just… "I can't live without you, Tori," she whispers, raising a cautious hand and resting it on my cheek, a thumb stroking the skin. "I feel like I'm drowning. Just come home with me, please."

"You think I'm teaching you a lesson?" I ask incredulously, shoving her arm from my face.

Her expression reflects confusion as I quietly seethe in anger.

"But what's this about, then?"

"Jade, I left you," I say slowly. "This isn't some kind of manipulative diabolical plan to make you fall in love with me. I'm done, actually done."

"Make me fall- Tori, I am in love with you," she tries, stepping closer to me, but I already shut down, backing away from her, putting my hand up as a shield.

"Don't. Just stay where you are."

She looks truly heartbroken at that.

"Tori…"

"No, Jade, you have to listen to me!" I shout, losing my cool. "I'm gonna put it in words since you have trouble taking a hint. I'm breaking up with you- no, I already broke up with you. We're over, do you understand? I'll even create a Facebook profile just so I can put 'single' in my relationship status, maybe that way you'll finally get it." Man, Caroline would be so proud of me if she heard that one.

"I didn't agree to it," she says dangerously low, her jaw locked in growing anger.

"I'm not your wife," I state. "I don't have any divorce paper for you to sign, sorry. You just have to deal with it."

"Oh," she replies in her trademark manner, nodding her head. "I just have to deal with it. Sure. Cool. Awesome, fucking amazing," she smirks brokenly. "So I don't have any say in the matter, huh?"

"I'm not going back to you," I whisper. "You can say whatever you want. But I'm not getting back together with you."

"You mean right now?" As I keep silent, she grows restless. "Tori, please tell me you mean 'right now'."

"I can't do that," I finally croak out, hugging myself.

She suddenly slams her hand on the table, making me jump in fright.

"Sorry, I… Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." Jade lets out a shaky breath. "But I'm not accepting that. I just can't."

"You have to," I shrug. "Because I made a decision and I'm not backing down. I just can't do it any longer, Jade. I can't constantly worry about you partying your life away, I can't keep walking in on you with someone else, and I can't be just another prize in your collection. There is only so much hurt a girl can take before she breaks," I conclude, my voice hollow.

She just looks at me with all the hurt and guilt in her eyes. I will myself to look back even though everything inside me screams to turn away.

"I know I'm the reason of everything bad happening in your life," she whispers, unknowingly – or knowingly – citing pretty much all my friends. "I know I should walk away from you and never see you again for the sake of your sanity. I know, but I am physically not able to do it."

She's near now, clouding my judgment with her fresh and spicy scent, and I surrender. I'm weak. Pathetic.

"I can't let you go because it hurts so damn much to lose you," her husky voice whispers as her forehead comes to rest on mine. "Because I'm so in love with you I can't function without you near. Even when I was out there, with all those girls," a pain shoots through my chest, sharp and sudden, "it was always you. I was, or I am just too fucked up to be a normal girlfriend, but I will try my hardest for you, Tori," she's begging now, I hear it in her desperate tone.

"Not even two weeks ago you were parading your whores around me," I whisper back, opening my eyes to watch as she recoils in shock at venom in my voice. "And now I'm supposed to believe I'm your one true love. Sounds plausible to me, Jade."

She goes to say something, but I don't give her a chance as I speak up again.

"I don't believe you. I generally don't and can't trust you, and I know you understand why," she cast a glance away, biting her lip as she silently agrees with me. "And right now… Right now I'm sure I'll never be able to trust you even again," I finish, and she crumbles under my words.

I probably should feel happy, or avenged, or content that finally she's the one hurting for a change. I don't. I'm numb, empty inside, and in a way that makes me happy. At least I stay a somewhat decent human being throughout this drama. Or I simply lost the ability to feel anything even remotely close to happiness. Probably.

"You want me to leave." She's not even asking. She's stating a fact, one that we both know is true.

"I need time to sort out my thoughts, and your presence isn't helping."

She's nodding. She's moving. She's leaving.

And then she's back, her hold caring and careful as she gives me a slow goodbye kiss, the affection tightening my chest.

"I'm sorry," she breathes, her eyes gazing into mine. "But I'm not giving up on us. I don't deserve you, but I will become the one who does."

With that, she pecks my cheek, eliciting a soft whimper from me as she pulls away, smiling before shutting the door.

This is such a mess.

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