A/N: Thank you to Gunner3284 and FurryFriends143 for your help and support. Your reviews help me, and made this chapter better than it originally was.

Disclaimer: I don not own VicTORIous or any of the characters. I only own the characters Jace and Carlos.

Chapter 2

As Tori and Carlos walk out of Sikowitz's class to go to lunch, Tori stops by her locker to exchange her books for the second half of school.

"So, how do you like Hollywood Arts so far?"

"Not bad. Everything's a little different to me. Going from public school to a performing arts school is a bit of a shock I guess."

"I know the feeling."

After Tori closes her locker, Carlos looks over at her, making sure she's done before he talks again. "Ready to eat? I'm curious about what the lunch room here is like."

"There is no lunch room. We eat outside. Hey, I gotta ask." She says quietly, grabbing his arm briefly to get his attention. "Are you sure we're related? I mean, I honestly don't remember meeting you before."

"I'm sure of it. When I moved here a few days ago, your dad was at my mom's house talking to her. He saw me and, after a few seconds, asked if I was really the little kid he saw almost fourteen years ago. I said yeah, considering I moved in with some other relatives when I was three due to something or other, I never bothered to ask. Mom showed him pictures of me throughout the years to show how I've changed."

As they walked away from Tori's locker, she led them outside to where they eat lunch. She led him to where everyone gets their food.

"Huh." Tori said after Carlos told his story. "So that's where he went after work a few days ago. Anyway, this is the Grub Truck where we get our food. This is Festus," she says pointing out the guy inside. "who makes the food and gives it to us."

"What do you want buddies?" Festus says to the two students in front of him.

"I usually don't eat lunch, no offense. It's just a force of habit. How much is a bottle of water? I need a drink."

"$2.00 for the water, buddy."

"Make that two, and I'll have a turkey on wheat with lettuce, tomato, and light mayo."

"You got it buddies. $7.50 then."

After they pay for lunch, Tori leads them to the usual table, Jace already sitting beside his cousin, with Cat to Jace's left, André beside her. On Beck's other side is Robbie and his puppet Rex, and Jade. Tori sits beside Jade, much to Jade's dismay, and Carlos sits beside his cousin, next to Jace.

"So," Jade says as soon as Carlos sits, "how did you two get in? Jace here seems pretty talented, from what Beck was saying earlier. I haven't heard about what his skill is though, or yours Carlos." Jade says, the last part with a bit of a smirk to Carlos.

"Well," Jace starts before Carlos has a chance to say something to Jade. "I sing, dance, and act. I got in by singing 'Resistance' by Everlife. I don't know about Carlos, considering his audition was a different day than mine and he refuses to tell me." He says while looking at everyone at the table. "I'm not much of an actor though. I do it on occasion to work on improving it."

"Your turn, Vega's cousin." Jade says, using her usual taunting voice.

"Do I even want to know why she said it that way? You know what, never mind. My audition was the same day, yes I lied to you Jace, you'll live." Carlos says before Jace can say anything, giving him Jace a slight smile to joke at him. "I sing and act a little. I sang 'Missing' by Evanescence for my audition. I didn't sing as well as Amy Lee, obviously I don't have her skill, but I do like the song, even though it's a calming song. As for acting, if anyone is wondering, I only got into it because of Jace here needing someone to run lines with every once in a while. I liked it, so I stuck with it, as it were."

After everyone ate, questions are asked to Jace and Carlos to get to know them a little more. Everyone was surprised to learn that Carlos seems to have the same glare as Jade, due to him getting Jace to stop dancing in his seat by just looking at him briefly. That got Jade's interest a little, and decided to question him a little on it herself.

"Wow, one look and Jace shuts his mouth and sits still. Nice trick male Vega. I'm surprised someone related to Tori and Trina have a bit of a dark side. Where'd you develop that little skill?"

Before Carlos or Tori could respond to Jade, the bell rings to signify the end of lunch. Before everyone left for their afternoon classes, Beck asks if anyone wants to hang out this weekend. Carlos was the only one to say no, without giving a reason, avoiding the eyes of everyone, particularly a raven-haired girl.

After a few days, Friday finally arrives. A question that was on everyone's minds since Monday, finally gets asked during lunch by Robbie.

"Hey, where do you live Carlos? Beck said that Jace is living with him at his parents house, but Tori says she doesn't see outside of school."

"Yeah, I've wondered that myself. I see you drive away after school, not really saying anything to anyone, but you never told me where you live." Tori says after Robbie's question.

"I stay at an apartment a few miles away. I prefer living alone, not relying on others as much. Besides, can you really blame me for wanting to stay away from Trina? Tori says she sings at home a lot now, and when I had dinner with them Tuesday night, she kept trying to sing. I'll stick with my small apartment, thank you."

When Carlos says this, everyone starts laughing, much to Trina's dismay, who overheard the story from the table close to where everyone else was sitting.

"Excuse me, my singing was not that bad. My voice is exquisite, thank you very much. Now, if you all will excuse me, like I care anyway, I have an audition to get ready for, so ha!"

After Trina walks away, André looks at Carlos and says, "You made the right decision with your living arrangements. I had to practice with her two years ago, and it was awful. Tori kept me from going insane by giving me someone else to talk to. If she left me with Trina, I don't know what I would've done. I feel sorry for Tori everyday."

As everyone laughs at this, the bell rings to end lunch. Changing his mind from his decision on Monday, Carlos looks to everyone and says that he'll join up after all. André offers to pick him up when he picks up Tori, so there are fewer cars to worry about and keep track of, so Carlos agrees and tells André that he'll be at the Vega's house after breakfast, to hang out for a bit before getting picked up at eleven. Once again, Carlos doesn't look towards Jade, something Jace and Beck notice, but don't say anything.

A/N2: Please review and comment. Every little thing helps. I don't know when I'll be ready for chapter 3, but hopefully it won't take too long.