A/N: I am now introducing Part II with this Chapter. Sorry it took longer than intended to post. I had to go over the drafts scattered all over my notes and my bags and my closet and my bed and maybe my bathroom too…or not. Yeah. This story's all over my room.
Oh and, I'll try to make the next chapter better. "Somewhere in the Middle" is my favorite Dishwalla song after all.
Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious.
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II
Somewhere in the Middle
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Look at Me, Tori—er—Skye
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Perhaps, love is the most impressive thing. It can make people charge at the most vicious beast with an army of one, forgive the seemingly limitless sinner or destroy an entire city – all for love.
Take Tori and Jade, for example. They—
Actually, love has nothing to do with what's going to happen in the moments to follow – not yet and not in reality, at least.
For now, we talk about Language.
Yes. We talk about that method that uses a set of symbols or words that people make the most of in order to communicate. In a more specific sense, it's like a pipe that strives to connect two separate ends. However, like any existing concept, Language has its facets, dimensions, categories or whatever it is people decide to call the way they experience this phenomenon.
A couple of hours earlier until this very second, Tori Vega had been dealing with the concept, but only at the most basic and popular level – language as per culture or geographic-relation.
Spanish to be exact. She may have Hispanic roots but that doesn't really rule out the fact that she might have a hard time writing about it.
It was now ten in the evening and the script was finally finished. She had just read through nearly three-hundred pages – including annotations, character preferences and translations for the lines she had written in her native dialect.
'Mireme, Skye' were the last words scribbled on the last page of the script she held.
Look at me, Skye.
It was Jade's idea to put a little extra effort on the already demanding assignment. At first, Tori took it as just another one of the other girl's tricks to give her a hard time, but she eventually came to thinking that Jade had been pretty weird the entire night. Well, weird because she was out of her usual weird.
The half-Latina had thought that it may have been something she ate – or perhaps, she genuinely meant Pineapple.
Tori stretched her feet and arms both in relief and satisfaction. This was just the first draft of the script, but she was just thankful she could finally sleep the next five to six hours out.
The youngest of the Vega household lets out the first happy sigh of the night and turns to her bed, looking at it like it is her road to heaven.
'Why, hello there,' she mumbles as she jumped in and tangled herself in her sheets, 'I missed you dearly, bed. You make me so happy.'
Tori stretched her limbs further into her sheets and, ever so slowly, her eyes closed. She takes a ridiculously deep breath with an equally ridiculous smile on her face and just before she could let it go, that suddenly nasty Tri-tone of her phone went off.
Her eyes open and her supposed sigh turn into an audible groan. 'Hateful people! Only hateful people do this to peace-loving individuals! Why?'
Her arms fly up above her head, flailing them in annoyance. She lifts a leg and uses the momentum of its fall as her force to sit up. She continues to mumble about those hateful people and their nation led by Jade West as she rambles to her study desk.
It was true. Only hateful people bothered her self-proclaimed peace-loving character for the Contact Name of Brazilian Brewery is now displayed at the center of her Pear Phone's screen.
It's obviously Jade. Tori decided to change the West girl's Contact Name after several months of leaving it as simply Jade West, and Brazilian Brewery, she had thought about a couple of hours ago, was the best embodiment of the paler girl's conceit. She always thought Brazil's coffee beans are simply the epitome of coffee.
It is nothing short of unusual to get messages from Jade West – messages that made sense, that is.
Now, at this very point of Tori Vega's life, she experiences a little deeper look into Language. This dimension could best be described as "exclusivity". This aspect includes inside jokes and information only people who share exclusive experiences would understand.
'La noche es fría y feroz.'
The night is cold and fierce.
Tori held back a smile. She sees the image of Tuck, love interest to the lead, Skye. He was supposed to hold Skye by the chin at this point and show her how deeply concerned he had been from the very moment he figured he was in love with her.
It's a very sweet gesture for Tori, but really, Jade is far from sweet. No, she's not – or it's just Jade had an entirely different definition of sweet.
This is probably the reason why another text message immediately followed.
'This is LA, Vega. Like that would happen. Tuck that smile in.'
"That" happened to be Tuck, almost pleading for a smile from Skye, who had thought that she lost all purpose in life.
Oh, but Tori is definitely smiling now. She shook her head. She was about to shut the other girl up with a text message that simply said thanks, when the Tri-tone alert went off again.
'Are you asleep? Slacker.'
Tori rolls her eyes. She dips her finger on the screen, by the backspace symbol to delete the smiling emoticon and the initially nicer word she had typed on the text space and replaced it with a sarcastic remark.
'Yes. I dream of scissors held by a Hispanic, a mean girl and hateful crowds pummeling each other right this moment.'
Jade doesn't reply.
Tori shifts her weight on her other foot, feeling suddenly guilty for some reason. She waits for another minute and the reply doesn't come.
She sighs, deciding that it was for the better. As much as she liked showing Jade that she isn't to be picked-on all the time, she just wanted sleep. So, she drags herself to her bed and slumps back to the pale yellow sheets, taking her phone with her.
She stares at her Pear Phone, waiting for the last minute to pass before the screen automatically locks itself. She sighs and finally closes her eyes.
And then comes the Tri-tone alert.
Hateful people!
'So, are you in bed yet?' says the Brazilian Brewery.
'Jade. It's almost eleven in the evening. What do you think?' says the "peace-loving" creature.
'Look out your window.'
All signs of sleep suddenly leap out of Tori's system. She reads through the other girl's message once more and finally decides that it was real. Her eyes were wide open now. She throws her phone on her bed and lunges for the window with a furrowed brow.
'How?' she mutters under her breath. It didn't sound like she was annoyed or agitated.
She searches the now quiet neighborhood with her eyes as she held the curtain back. Her right eye threatened to do the twitching thing out of the confusion Jade is causing. She hurries back to her bed and fumbles on the panel of her phone as she unlocks it.
'I don't see you.'
She watches the four words pop into a new speak bubble just on top of the text space and she immediately regrets doing so. She knew that it was what Jade intended to do –
You know – pull her out of bed, get on her nerves.
On another known part of LA, Jade West had just burst into a fit of laughter. But actually, no. She's Jade West after all, so, she simply smirks at Tori's reply.
From the moment she sent the first text message, she had thought that she was using Language to get a message through to Tori Vega – that she was just trying to tell The Hybrid (as she had decided to name her on her Pear Phone just a couple of minutes ago) that nothing changes from this night's events.
But really, she mainly wants to test how the words "The Hybrid" would look like in a little round-edged rectangle at the center of her phone's screen, indicating "Text Message".
Based on the first text message and until probably the one she is about to type, she'd be using the same patterns of speech and interaction. This is a check. She'd be using the same amount of sarcasm – check. She'd be using the same intention of annoying Tori – check?
There was an existing but in this equation.
Conceivably, if their current conversation is read by anybody else, nothing was particularly special about it – it is all in the same Jade-Tori Language.
And just maybe, that the but is this conversation being exhibit Exclusivity.
'You actually got out of bed. This should be fun.'
Even if she is districts away from Tori Vega, she could practically hear The Hybrid grumbling, which she is actually right about.
'Real mature,' types Hybrid.
'Thanks,' answers Brewery.
Silence.
Hybrid smiles to herself, so does Brewery. They both turn to lie on their sides.
'Thanks again, Jade. I'll see you tomorrow.'
The paler girl takes a moment to look at the message at the center of her phone that also indicates those absurd set of words she had picked for the sender. She doesn't even notice how she was still smiling.
As soon as the screen darkened a little, she taps the screen. She decides to send one last text message for the night.
'Funny. I thought you wanted to see me now.'
'Goodni~ght.'
Connotations aside, that Brazilian Brewery must be a really happy place right now.
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Harvey's Advance Script Writing Class is a torture chamber and a big bore. Not entirely though. All that has to be done to enjoy his class is to read through all his reference materials, do homework and finish the first draft of the scripts he assigned.
Take Tori Vega for example. She is currently sitting confidently on her seat, front row, smiling ever so widely as she listened to Antoine Harvey's nonsense.
Regardless of the lacking amount of sleep she had, she is undoubtedly happy, lines from her script running through her head at certain occasions. Yes, proud she is – up until the school bell rings, indicating lunch. Unbeknownst to her skippy little head, the darker branch of the Language Family Tree has begun creeping its way into this chapter of her life.
Tori sweeps her bag off the floor and was ready to step out of the door when Harvey calls her name. She turns around, smile still plastered on her face.
'We need to talk.'
'Uh, sure,' she shrugs her shoulder and walks the isle between the armchairs, towards her teacher, who looked nothing but stern. 'Yes?'
Harvey offers a rather sarcastic smile and looks momentarily at the floor like the script he prepared was written there somewhere.
'So,' he began, to which Tori smiles sheepishly, 'impressive script – not to mention you put extra effort there.'
'Well.' Her ego couldn't be anymore inflated now.
'and since you're so good, I want you to bring this script to life-' Harvey leans on the desk behind him and reaches for an undeniably thick stack of papers – Tori's script. '-mid semester.'
Tori's smile immediately fades. Those words that leapt out of her teacher's mouth, she believes, is the mother of that Evil Language family referred to earlier. She is a fusion of sarcasm and euphemism. Maybe she could be called Sarcaphemism. The half-Latina hated her already.
'Mr. Harvey?' she asks, suddenly feeling lost, 'I thought everybody will be presenting at a much later part of the semester.'
'Yes, everybody else will be,' Harvey confirms with a nod. He turns Tori's script to the very last page and holds it out to her, 'but since you're so special – not you. No, no.'
She didn't understand – until she takes the script in her hand and reads a tiny set of scribbled words on the lower right-hand corner of the page.
Antoine Harvey eats pants.
By now, that bitch, Sarcaphemism, just gave birth to a different kind of evil in that Medical Institution called Tori's Head. The youngest Vega felt more than pleased to name the spawn.
Tori doesn't curse, but she decides that it should be called, #$%.
Both her eyes twitch. Her feet itch to dart for the door and hunt down the person who owned that penmanship.
Jade West.
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The search didn't last long. In the hall, Vega immediately spots West, who is looking bored as ever as she shoved some of her books into her locker. Just before she could shut the locker close, Tori marches toward her and shuts it for her – with extra force.
Jade's eyebrows raise for a moment.
Now, this here is Body Language. People tend to use them more often than any other type of Language, especially if the said people were old enough to feel tentative about their next response. Take this for example:
'This is some new way of showing gratitude, right?' Tori's right eye only twitches at this statement. Jade smirks. 'I like it.'
'This is serious!' Tori suddenly snaps.
'I bet it is,' Jade confirms sarcastically.
And if there is anything with Body Language that made it particularly interesting, it's how a single movement or set of movements could be defined differently by people. Like how Tori could take some things that Jade does as nonchalance but is actually uncertainty to the other girl.
The paler girl pulls out a gum from her purse, places it between her lips and begins pulling it in as she chews. 'What's your mosquito bite about now?'
'Antoine Harvey eats pants,' Tori shifts her weight to her other foot and crosses her arms across her chest. 'Doesn't that ring a bell?'
Now, Jade smirks. She had actually forgotten about that little statement she doodled on the page. She honestly thought Tori would get rid of it.
'Wow, you didn't see it?' Jade looked like she is genuinely surprised and like Tori was really just stupid, which is really a look she had always given the half-Latina after an insult.
'No, and now, you're helping me cast the lead roles!' Tori demands. She pulls out the script from her bag and hands it over to Jade.
'Excuse me?' Jade slightly tilts her head.
'No, I will not excuse you!'
Tori's eyes narrows as she waits a little more for a response from Jade. She actually expected West to say no as she despised taking orders from people – but she doesn't. Somewhere in that bored mask, there's definitely something else.
Tori grabs Jade's wrist and practically dragged her across the hall. As busy as the students of Hollywood Arts always seem to be, some of them actually stopped to see the unusual sight.
Once upon a time, Jade did the dragging.
The duo comes across Beck, who raises both his arms to stop them.
'I'm supposed to take my girlfriend to lunch!' he calls out as they practically ignore him.
'You're girlfriend is mine for now!' Tori answers without looking back, but she stops, turns to Beck and adds, 'and she's not eating lunch!'
She darts a glare at Jade, who happened to reciprocate the look with an equally piercing one. Tori doesn't falter. 'Yes, you heard me right!'
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The two girls practically bickered throughout lunch period. Progress was minimal to none.
However, after some intervention from the rest of the gang and after hearing Tori's predicament, they helped go over what was needed for the casting. Cat and Andre actually even volunteered as stand-ins for the Skye and Tuck roles, while Sinjin made a post for an immediate call for auditions on The Slap.
After class, everyone was in the Black Box Theatre; Robbie and Beck manned the queue of auditioners, Cat and Andre were stand-ins and Tori and Jade were the judges.
Oh and, Tori didn't starve Jade. Although she intended to and Jade didn't really seem to care, after about half an hour of judging auditions, the half-Latina noticed how the other girl chewed on her nails.
Tori wasn't sure what that edition of her Body Language meant but she had Sinjin buy a Turkey sandwich from the Grub Truck. She could be even scarier than Jade sometimes but she just isn't evil – or that evil, Jade thought then. Honestly, she was almost impressed until she saw the sandwich.
Currently, Tori is slumping on her desk with both her hands on either side of her head. A significant amount of time had gone by and she hadn't seen anyone she liked without being even a little doubtful.
'But that's not the point!' Cat, or Skye, screams with her hands balled into fists on her sides. She pants, apparently tired from arguing with the auditioning Tuck. He is honestly a good-looking boy with dark hair and prominent eyebrows. But with the silence wrapping the Judge's desk, he is apparently another smoked ham.
'Look at me, Skye,' the boy, who was apparently nicknamed Jester by his own mom, held Cat at both her shoulders, then he reaches for her chin after a moment's silence.
Tori didn't like him from the moment he stepped in the theatre. He seems so unsure about what he was made to do and even if this is a forgivable element of an audition, his narcissism just reeked. He constantly reaches for his hair, keeping his bangs from his face.
The youngest Vega puts down her writing hand and marked the boy's name off the list.
'Okay!' Jade suddenly screams. 'Next!'
No one came in. She growls and slams a hand on the table. Tori jumps from the thud, making her look down at Jade's obviously throbbing hand. She would ask if that hand hurt but, in a second, it occurs to her how pain is welcome to the paler girl.
'Send in another fool!'
Tori rolls her eyes at the remark. She massages her forehead, hoping to get rid of the stress. She then moves her hand to her nape, but before she could rub there, her head tilted enough to notice Jade's hand again. It is but a flinch away from touching her right hand. She shakes her head as soon as another auditioner came beaming at them.
This time it's a female and a real pretty one at that. Brunette locks extending to her shoulders, lean figure and sun-kissed skin.
'Hi,' she says, maintaining her smile. 'Daphne.'
'Hey, Daphne' Tori greets back with a light wave and a smile – a gesture that Jade finds herself groaning at. 'You're auditioning for Skye obviously. We provided a couple of lines on the post so just start whenever you're ready.'
'So, she'd be standing-in for Tuck?' the girl asks, referring to Cat, who seems nevertheless enthusiastic.
'Uh,' Tori cranes her neck around the Theatre for Andre. She would have searched a little more but Jade just had to stretch her right arm and glance at a non-existent watch on her wrist a little too obviously. 'Fine. Just do it with Cat.'
'That's me!' Cat greets as she assumes position.
Seconds of silence passed then Daphne began talking. The girl knew her lines but that accent she tries to adapt just isn't working.
Both Jade and Tori raise eyebrows out of loss for hope, but the girl isn't too bad if they just had ear buds. Watching her is comparable to viewing a masterpiece of a movie that's been poorly dubbed. So, they decide unanimously that she deserves a couple more minutes.
And when the fifth minute hits, Cat reaches for Daphne's chin. She looks deep into her eyes and offers her the warmest smile she could.
Almost at the same time, Jade and Tori find themselves straightening at the motion in front of them.
'Look at me, Skye,' Cat says in a slight whisper. She takes a step closer towards Daphne.
Jade suddenly felt the need to clear her throat, so she does, making Tori flinch like she was caught doing something illegal. This slight movement brought the two judges to their further discomfort as Tori's pinky brushed Jade's.
They both react with the touch, forgetting whatever was happening in front of their desk.
Tentatively, Tori turns her head toward Jade, pausing a slight second for a couple of times in the process.
Jade would chew at absolutely anyone's nerves right this point like she always did the moment she found herself trapped in an awkward situation – with Tori, that is. But she couldn't. She gulps the lump in her throat and slowly reciprocates the other girl's gesture.
Body Language is truly fascinating, but right at this point in both girls' lives, it's officially the most complex thing in the world of communication.
"What are you staring at" or simply "what" would have just done the trick. However, no matter how many fitting words there are for this particular situation – that probably anybody else in their predicament could have thought of – the only sets of words that formed in their heads were their own twisted labels for the other.
Right this moment, Brazilian Brewery and The Hybrid just makes so much more sense than "Jade" or "Tori" could ever do.
'Uh—your hand,' Tori struggles for the right words and to both their relief, Jade thought faster.
'CUT!' she screams, making Tori snap her attention back to Daphne and Cat, who were both staring at them expectantly.
'We finished about two minutes ago,' Cat points out.
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A/N: Hey guys. I wish I could write longer but it would be out of the entire concept of the chapter so I'll have to move the whole awkward stage to an entirely different chapter. Thanks for continuing to read. I LOVE YOU ALL DEARLY!
DramaHunny101
True! This pairing is just out of words fun and complex both to write and read. Thanks so much for reviewing but most of all, for reading. It means so much to me.
fruitloopsmademegay
And continue it I shall, I shall copy your review in a post it and slap it to my bedside wall. thanks so much!
xXLordOfInglipsXx
Thank you! and sorry for the late post.
Black-Love-With-M.M
Glad you liked it. I did have fun writing that chapter. I hope you'd like this as much.
BabyDavid
Thank you so, so much for appreciating the story. I give every chapter my whole concentration. I write for many reasons and among them is you, my readers', and the love.
AlphaTeam101
Thank you so much Alpha. I'm glad you see how the cogs of this story, it's one of the reasons I give so much effort in writing each chapter. And I totally loved the game analogy for I am honestly a game-addict myself. Role Playing Games to be exact. In fact, I came into writing because of the Final Fantasy games. Anyway, it would really be an honor if I have you read until the end of this story.
ChaseLehrman
To be honest, the first time I played the game with my friends, I was the one who had the least things guessed. Because you are supposed to reveal after the time span of the entire game. But anyway, I am deeply relieved and thankful that you find them in character, it's hard work really. And all this pay off with these kinds of reviews. thanks so much!
AliasSpyCrazy
Haha, to be honest, this game just knocked the noodles out of me the first time I played it as I mentioned in my shout-out for ChaseLehrman. But thanks for reading and reviewing, my friend. I hope I see your name 'til the end, that will make me feel truly honored as well.
bandgrad2008
Ahehehe. I updated, but not as fast though. I am sincerely thankful that you appreciate the story. Thanks again so much!
Dani2606
Ugh, I hate homework too. They're the whole reason I couldn't update as early as intended. ahaha. Excuses. Anyway, I do apologize for the long wait. There aren't as much moments in this chapter like the previous but I just tried to make them a little deeper. Oh and there's this really cute video on YouTube now that just embodied their bickering – I think it's Victim of Love or something.
Thanks again for reading and reviewing. I'm glad I saw your name here again and I wasn't in anyway not brought to smiles by your review. I don't really mind how you write it, as long as its from the heart.
Little Miss Charlie A
Thank you, thank you, ma'am. You remain a guest in this corner in cyberspace.
Project Heeee
Oh gosh, I do hope I don't give you hypertensions. If anything, you warm my heart with the reviews and they really show how you understand the heart and the nooks and crannies of my story. I'm just very glad that you "get it". I have always treated my writing as an art, and at this instance, I hope I made you equally appreciate my work. I write for you people and all the hard work I put into it is for you. Haha, perhaps, this is just as dramatic as your review.