Happy Veteran's Day to all those that served in the US Military and Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth.
Okay, double posting as this update is two chapters. I hope you enjoy.
YouCan'tControlMe: Thank you. I hope this update satisfies you.
Mkpunk: I'm glad to be back on track with it. You were psychic about it.
I'm not sure if the Vega and the Freddie/Sam hostility was intentional or not. I'll chalk it up to a subconscious decision to write it.
Timing isn't good for Tori, but soon it won't be timing that will be in her way.
Fanfic-Reader-88: Mrs. Vega has a lot of problems as near the end of the series, she really didn't care about her kids in my opinion.
Sam didn't grow as a character by the end of iCarly, which is basically her starting point in this and we all know how S&C ended with how much she really cares about Cat.
Trina may be a pain to Tori at times, but she's not malicious and I don't see her ever really trying to steal a guy from out from under her sister. She does love her.
Challenge King: Holly is a pretty selfish mother in my opinion and it finally blew up in her face. I hope you enjoy these chapters.
darck ben: Thanks.
Twilight Warrior 627: Holly's extramarital thing is subtext, but I took it main text as I did in my other stories. Perhaps there isn't a deeper reason other than she was tired with David? Tori doesn't have anything to apologize for when it comes to Freddie and we'll see if things play out with Sam and Cat.
Also, found out something interesting. If you Muse gets uppity, a blessed wooden stake takes care of her.
Rating: T
Chapter 15
Apartment 316
Venice/Barry Apartments
11811 Venice Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA
Monday, October 8, 2012
Tori groaned and clenched her eyes shut for the briefest of moments when she heard the alarm go off on her night stand. She reached over and slapped her left hand on top of the alarm clock to shut it off then sat up and stretched out her arms over her head and yawned.
She dropped her arms onto her lap and looked to her right to see Trina sleeping peacefully, ignoring for the moment the unfortunate light sweat stain on the sheet due to her 'night sweets', but being momentarily caught off guard with seeing her older sister at all. The weekend's events suddenly flooded her mind and realized it wasn't just a bad dream—at least the part where her family was torn apart, not what transpired between her and Freddie.
The younger brunette bushed those memories away and leaned down and placed a kiss on her sister's forehead then slipped out of bed to start her day since she had classes that morning.
Tori headed out of her room to take a right into her bathroom to get ready for the day. About twenty minutes later, she was out of the shower and back into her room with a towel around her hair finding her sister having rolled over and taking over most of the bed as she continued sleeping peacefully. She snorted out a laugh then headed for her closet and drawers to get dressed for the day.
A few minutes later after hand drying her hair with the towel for the most part then throwing on an old Hollywood Arts baseball long sleeve T-shirt and formfitting blue jeans, she exited to the living room to find Freddie still in his sleepwear already in the kitchen preparing breakfast. She called out, "Morning."
Freddie looked away from the PearPad he had set up on a stand on the lower kitchen counter by the sink to read over the directions for breakfast and directed a half smile to her. He paused in finding her adorable with her outfit and still drying hair that was still a bit wet and stringy framing her face and resting on her shoulders. He quickly collected himself and asked, "Morning. Did you sleep well?"
Tori dropped in a seat at the dining table, taking a second to admire Freddie's physique in his wifebeater shirt and boxers, before answering, "Yeah. Trina isn't that bad of a bedmate, but she did night sweat last night."
She rolled her eyes and shook her head at suddenly recalling the time where she had to be Trina's personal assistant for nearly a week and one of her 'duties' was to wipe down her sister with a sponge at night when she sweat.
The handsome raised a curious eyebrow. "She sweats? I didn't think it was that warm last night. Was the heat up too high?"
"No, it wasn't the heat. She night sweats."
Freddie's brow furled and slightly frowned, somewhat perplexed by her explanation. "Night sweats? Ah Tori… she shouldn't be doing that at her age. Women don't start that until menopause. Maybe Trina should go see someone about that?"
Tori looked on him curious in knowing such information then remembered his mother is a nurse and perhaps starting to experience it herself before he left Seattle. She brushed that aside and sighed, "I'll ask her about it, but I'm not sure how she'll feel."
"I'm sure she'll appreciate it when she knows it is out of love and concern."
"You're probably right. So… what are you up to being up this early?"
"Fixing breakfast for you, so I hope you're hungry. I'm making you an egg-white omelet with mushrooms, spinach and tomatoes left over from the pizza yesterday."
Tori smiled at hearing such a delicious and yet familiar sounding breakfast. She loved the idea of being treated, but she did feel the need to mention he didn't have to do such a thing, "A bowl of cereal would have been fine. I could grab something on my way to class."
"I know, but…" He bashfully smiled, trailing off from his idea.
She got up from her seat and walked to stand beside him.
He cleared his throat and finished, "…I guess I wanted to treat you. I don't know what I can do to help, but I can do this."
"I appreciate it," she answered with a thankful smile.
The roommates' eyes locked with one another, two people sharing the enjoyment with each of their presences. She grinned and leaned in, placing a soft thanking kiss at the corner of his mouth.
He smiled in return and turned his head slightly, their lips meeting. The pair instantly deepened their kiss and Tori reached up with her right hand to hold on to his shoulder while Freddie placed his left hand on her hip.
They softly moaned into each other's mouths just as they heard Trina called out with a loud yawn, "Morning."
The pair pulled apart and ducked their respective faces away from the older Vega sister as she walked into from the hallway and into the living room the living room and stretching her arms over her head.
Trina wiped the sleep out of her eyes, only catching glimpses of the pair, but seeing their sudden bashfulness displayed by their respective body languages she figured she had interrupted something.
Freddie cleared his throat and greeted the older sister, "Morning Trina. Sleep well?"
The brunette with highlights directed a smile to him and answered while making her way to the dinning room table, "Oh, pretty good. It's a soft bed and Tori wasn't too bad."
"Hey. It was my bed!"
Trina lazily retorted with a roll of her eyes, "You could have always taken Freddie's bed. I'm sure he wouldn't have minded the company."
Freddie glanced down at his PearPad to hide his blush while Tori rushed to his defense, "Stop it right there. Freddie is a gentleman and I know he doesn't appreciate you alluding to him doing something improper."
The older sister raised her hands and answered, "Okay, okay, I surrender. I was just teasing. I know I can't be the first."
The former Seattleite turned to the stove with the frying pan and egg to finish preparing Tori's breakfast answered, "Actually, we've been keeping it a low profile. Other than the others, we haven't been advertising that we're rooming together. It raises all those questioned and it would have all those people making all those jokes that you seem to be making."
Trina softly pouted, "I'm just teasing."
Tori ruefully acknowledged, "I know, but others wouldn't, so if you keep insisting to have fun at the situation we're in, could you keep it between us?"
"Fine," the older sister breathed out, a little disheartened she couldn't take her teasing too far.
Freddie moved the omelet to the plate next to the stove then started adding the tomatoes and other additions. "Okay, you can finish this conversation at the table because breakfast is ready."
Tori took a seat across from her sister and moments later, Freddie followed her and her breakfast in front of her. He quickly went back to the kitchen to fetch Tori something to drink.
Trina called out a little miffed at being left out, "Where's mine?"
The handsome teenager from Seattle threw a smile over his shoulder while heading to the refrigerator and answered, "I wasn't sure if you were going to sleep in or not, but this is Tori's usual time to get up, so I knew how much to cook for her. Don't worry though, I have plenty to fix for you."
The older brunette sibling thankfully smiled and uttered, "Thanks, but why didn't you go ahead and fix yourself something?"
Freddie walked back with two glasses of orange juice, one he sat beside Tori's plate as she eagerly dug into her breakfast and the other he handed to Trina. "My first class is a little later in the morning. If it was Tuesday or Thursday, I'd usually be getting ready to head out with her to her first class."
"Her class? Don't you mean your class?"
The computer science major shook his head and casually responded while taking a seat cattycorner to both the sisters, "No, it's Tori's class."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you go to Tori's first class?"
"It's an interesting class and…" He passed a looked to Tori still enjoying her breakfast. "…they're big classes and it is kind of scary for all of us to be alone in them."
"Oh?" She glanced to her sister, cocking an eyebrow signaling she was teasing her baby sister.
Tori frowned midway through chewing, not liking the direction of the conversation as it was just being used as an avenue for Trina to tease her. She finished the piece of omelet in her mouth and turned the conversation back onto her sister, "So, what are you going to do today? Are you going to get a flight back to New York?"
Trina's peppy mood was partially dashed in having to remember why she was back in L.A. in the first place. Her voice reflected that feeling in a bland voice, "I don't know right now. I have classes and I can't miss too many. I guess I can stay another day and hang out with you between classes and fly out tonight for classes tomorrow. I don't see much point in staying and watching the messy divorce that has to be coming because is so hung up on Gary."
Tori tightly smiled and nodded. "Whatever you want to do, I'll support you."
Trina glanced to Freddie from the corner of her eye while looking to Tori to answer, "You could come back with me to New York. We'd take the city by storm, but… you have a pretty good reason to stay."
Tori blushed again while Freddie suddenly got up and mentioned, "I'll go ahead and get started on your breakfast if you want it."
The older sister looked to Freddie's back and replied with a grin, "Thank you. I appreciate it."
The younger brunette gave her sister a scathing look while finishing the rest of her breakfast.
As Freddie started making another omelet, he called out to Trina, "Do you have any plans for the morning while we're gone?"
Freddie moved the omelet to the plate then walked over to them to join them at the table. He looked at the older lovely half-Latino. "You could come with us to class and show how it is here. Perhaps you may want to come back here for Tori?"
Trina flashed him a polite smile and answered, "Thanks, but… I think I'll email my professors and let them know what's going on and hope they understand why I'm not in class—the ones that care if you're in it or not then work on some of what's on their syllabus. I guess I can use your school library…"
Freddie regretfully pointed out, "Trina, it's a three hour difference. It's approaching ten thirty there."
"Jamn it, I forgot. I'll email them anyway and hope they understand."
Tori turned and stood up from her seat to look over the top of the couch at the time on the DVR under the television and confirmed the time. "I get going. I have class at eight," she stated in a near panic and headed to her bathroom to fix her hair and makeup. She was out of the bathroom in nearly record time after curling her now dry hair and a light touch of makeup to head for her room to gather her purse, laptop and other school materials. She was done in about fifteen minutes just as Trina and Freddie were finishing their breakfast.
Tori gave her sister a hug then pulled away to remind her, "Okay, why don't we meet up for lunch at Kerckhoff Coffee House, say noonish? I'll text you when we're out of class."
"Right. That's fine."
The younger sister looked to Freddie and stated needlessly, but did it anyway, "I'll see you in a few hours."
"I'll see you in class."
"Bye," Tori bid farewell with a wave back to the pair then she was out the door.
Trina immediately turned to her sister's roommate and potential boyfriend, "Freddie, can I talk to you about something."
"Sure," he casually answered while starting to pick up the dishes from the table.
She directed her sweetest smile to him and asked, "I've enjoyed teasing you and my sister, but I'm asking you seriously: What's the deal with you and Tori? As in what is really going on between you two."
The handsome former tech-producer asked, "Going on?"
Trina turned her head slightly and narrowed her gaze on him, seeing that she may have to probably cajole the truth from him. "You two kind of hit it off last year when you met and were distance friends until things kind of trailed off between you two… but now you're back and rooming with her, so I want know what's going on between you two."
"Tori already told you: we're roommates and friends."
"Right, that's what she told me, but I'm asking you. There's nothing going on between you two?"
He patiently smiled and questioned, "Trina, why do you want to know?"
She stood up straighter and replied in a firm voice, "I'm her big sister; I have a right worry about her, especially with what's going on with our parents."
"Then let me assure you that nothing's going on. I had my concerns—still have my concerns about rooming with her, but things have been fine between us and it's only temporary until housing can find one of us a place. Once that's done, one of us is gone."
"So you're not interested in my sister?"
Freddie tightened his jaw and studied her for a few seconds, debating if she was laying or leading him into a verbal word trap. He gently probed with a counter question, "Are you asking for yourself or as a go between you and Tori?" It was a redundant question for him since his and Tori's exchanged confession the earlier morning and just the kiss they had shared about half an hour ago.
"Freddie, you've always seemed like a nice guy to me, but don't play word games with me or play with my sister," Trina warned with a stern voice and a warning was exactly how Freddie took it. "She's had plenty of bad experiences with Steven and Ryder."
His voice turned to steel and caught Trina off guard as he answered, "I am not Steven. I watched him do just as much damage in Seattle as he did in here and I was part of the collateral in watching my first love that I nearly died for start a relationship on practically the anniversary of me saving her and her not talking to me about it before she got involved in someone else like she agreed. And careful who you threaten Trina. I'm no one's punching bag anymore, figuratively or literally."
Trina pursed her lips and put on a stern face, almost as if she was ready to go all Vovinam on him despite feeling a rush of sympathy for him over Carly.
Freddie had no desire to get in a conflict with Trina for a number of reasons, so he softened his voice, "Look, I do like your sister, but I'm still coming off a lot of personal obstacles and truths I didn't like seeing after leaving Seattle… the people that I thought I cared about leaving me… and we're roommates. Those two things are complications for the moment in trying to pursue anything with your sister and now with what's going on between your parents, I don't want to look like I'm emotionally taking advantage of her. I almost did that once without realizing it one time."
Trina took a breath and studied the handsome face. He looked like he had an honest one and one that wasn't used to being deceptive. She slowly mumbled, "That's pretty… noble thing to do."
"Well, it's about time I found my ideals again."
The hopeful actress furled her brow, unsure what he meant, but intended to find out in the future.
The pair remained silent as Freddie walked to the kitchen sink to start washing the dishes. Trina stood up from her seat and walked to him to offer, "Do want some help with the dishes before you have to get ready for class?"
Freddie broke into a smile and answered, "Thanks. I wouldn't mind the help."
Kerckhoff Coffee House
Kerckhoff Hall
308 Westwood Plaza
UCLA Campus
Monday, October 8, 2012
Jade had kept an eye on Tori and Freddie in class and she noticed that both seemed to be withdrawn. Actually to be more accurate, Tori withdrawn and Freddie preoccupied keeping one eye on her. Her curiosity was peaked from the pair's behavior more than perhaps actually caring as old habits die hard in regards to Tori. She wondered if there had been some lover's spat between them—before they were actually lovers, but her one-time high school rival didn't seem to be exactly ignoring Freddie, so perhaps it was something else.
As soon as the class ended, the group of friends (Tori, Freddie, Jade, Beck and Cat) headed to the coffee house with Tori in the reluctant lead with her head buried in her phone texting away. The others noticed her behavior and tossed each other concerned looks other than Freddie, who gently took her by the left elbow to lead her in the right direction.
They were a few steps into the coffee shop when Trina got up from one of the table to signal where they'd have lunch and greet them.
Beck was the first to speak and questioned with surprise all over his face, "Trina?"
"Hey pretty boy," Trina softly teased, but it sounded slightly forced, then looked to Jade and Cat.
"Hey," Cat happily greeted the sometimes abrasive teenager.
"Trina," Jade forced out a semi-pleasant voice.
The older Vega sister put on just as forced pleasant expression and answered, "It's nice to see you too Jade."
Tori motioned to the counter and suggested, "Why don't we go ahead and get our food then we can catch up with Trina?"
Jade was about to object to actually having to each lunch with the girl she once described as a 'suckfish', but Beck happily agreed while resting his hands on his girlfriend's shoulders, "That's great idea before the rest of the lunch crowd gets here."
The dark pale brunette eyed her boyfriend with a mild glare, but was not going to argue with him.
They headed towards the counter while Freddie remained at the table so they wouldn't lose it while Tori ordered his meal and over the next few minutes, Jade, Beck and Cat returned one by one.
Tori and Trina were the last in line to get their meals and the shop was getting a little backed up in getting the orders out, so it gave the others a few moments to converse without their presence with Jade immediately taking advantage of it in remarking in mild annoyance towards Freddie, "Why is Trina back in town?"
Freddie took a deep breath then quietly answered, "I'm not sure if I can talk about it."
The dark brunette raised her pierced eyebrow while popping a French fry into her mouth.
Beck sat up straighter in his seat and asked with a concern filled voice, "Is something wrong?"
Freddie cleared his throat and glanced down at his food. "You have to ask them."
The high school sweethearts looked to each other at the same time, exchanging concerned looks about knowing something was up and it wasn't good.
Tori and Trina finally took their seats with the rest, the older Vega wore a sour expression and Tori sitting beside Freddie.
Jade tactfully asked wanting to know get a straight answer instead of antagonizing the Vega sisters regardless of how much enjoyment she found in the past doing so, "So, what brings you back so soon? School really just started and Thanksgiving is nearly two months away."
Tori directed her brown eyes in the direction of the darker haired teenager then she glanced to Trina, asking her permission with a look.
Trina shrugged with a lazy shoulder.
The younger sister looked back to the rest of her friends and answered, "I found out Saturday that our mother is having an affair with our dad's partner. I called Trina that night and she flew back Sunday morning. We talked with our mom, but… it wasn't a productive conversation."
Cat's eyes nearly popped out her sockets, Beck looked floored and Jade instantly put on a figurative mask, unfortunately knowing the eventual outcome of such initial news.
Jade saw from the corner of her eye that Freddie didn't look surprise from the revelation. It shouldn't have surprised her. Tori would have either told him yesterday or he would have simply figured it out with being in such close proximity to her. It did answer why they both withdrawn and distracted during class.
Cat leaned over and wrapped her arms around Trina. "I'm sorry."
The older teenager took a deep breath, not liking Cat touching her.
Fortunately before she could complain, Cat let her go and straightened up in her seat.
Jade gathered her wits and offered her condolences, surprising the sisters, "I'm sorry too. I know… I know what it's like to have parents break up… or are they?"
"We don't know. Dad's so upset that he packed some things and left Saturday and when we confronted mom yesterday, she wasn't too sure if she really wanted to work things out with dad."
Beck whistled and shook his head. He started practically muttered, "That… that just…"
Tori answered with a sour taste in her mouth, "Yeah."
A figurative cloud seemed to fall upon the table as they started their lunch. However, it was soon interrupted with Tori's phone pinged in her pocket, indicating that she had received a text. She reached into her pocket and pulled it out to read over the message. A soft smile formed on her face and she explained to the curious onlookers, "That was Mason. He wants me to head to Neutronium Records for the afternoon and knock out some recordings today."
Trina questioned mild astonishment, "So he's finally paying attention to you again?"
"Yeah and hopefully I can get an album out at the first of the year."
She looked to Jade and offered, "You want to come with me?"
Jade stopped in mid-chew of her burger, surprised by the invitation.
Trina interrupted with a mildly offended tone, "Oh? Jade gets an invite and I don't?"
"I didn't know if you had any other plans for this afternoon than working on your classes you were missing today. You can of course come, but…" She softly smirked. "You want to make another pitch at him?"
The fellow brunette slightly frowned as Tori did have a reasonable explanation for not initially inviting her. "No. He wasn't impressed last time, so I don't see the point in trying again."
Freddie remarked in a curious tone, "I thought you were focusing on comedy not music."
The older sister along with the rest turned curious gazes towards him.
"What? You're really funny. I caught an episode… or five of 'Divertisimo. We do get the channel in Seattle."
Trina's disposition brightened at hearing she had one person that appreciated her acting in her former show. She thought on her possible plans were for the rest of the afternoon and remarked, "I think I'll head back to the apartment and finished up my work."
Cat eagerly spoke up, "Hey, why don't you come to class with me then I can take you to my apartment and you can meet my roommate?"
Trina forced a smile. Cat could really get on her nerves at times and absent minded like a small child, but she was sweet and she did try to include her in things. She looked to the others, but they suddenly looked in other directions while Freddie slightly shook his head.
The NYU student's stomach sank and looked to Cat's hopeful expression. She was probably going to regret this, but she forced another smile and answered, "Sure, why not?"
Jade laughed in a taunting manner, "Oh… you'll get a fine answer to that question."
Trina suddenly looked worried while Cat obliviously giggled and kept on eating.
UCLA Computer Science Department
4732 Boelter Hall
UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Freddie casually made his way out of the computer science building after a particularly boring class in the mid-afternoon. He was feeling overall alright as his studies were at this point were basically review material which was a blessing in disguise since most of his thoughts were occupied with nagging worry over Tori.
His redeveloping initial platonic feelings for her that were moving into something more than just platonic were starting to become a weight on him over the last two days with seeing Tori so… broken. He tried to relieve those feelings this morning with a treated breakfast and that seemed to perk up her spirits until they seemed to drop again during class.
He figured that she might be on a little bit of a rollercoaster emotionally for the next few days or more, but he decided to do all that he could to try to make it less of one and try to keep her up. He decided to head back to the coffee house, hoping to pick something up for Tori to help cheer her up.
He didn't realized how fateful a decision that would turn out for him and Tori.
Kerckhoff Coffee House
Kerckhoff Hall
308 Westwood Plaza
UCLA Campus
Monday, October 8, 2012
Freddie casually made his way up the stairs and back to the second floor coffee house he had been just hours ago. He slipped inside, but paused on his way to the counter when he saw from the corner of his eye a familiar face he had been keeping an eye out. Ryder Daniels was sitting at a table with a homely, but cute girl with black short hair and pale skin and few pieces of facial jewelry that looked like a freshman to Freddie's eyes. He took a sharp breath, trying to push down a flame of anger that ignited in his chest.
The former Seattleite continued on his way to the counter and quickly ordered a small drink for appearances sake then head to grab a small tall table with stools meant for a pair. He kept his eyes on Ryder and the pale girl while pulling out his laptop out of his old workhorse one-strap book bag. He opened up the PearBook and pretended to start on some work, but spied over the top of the laptop on the pair.
He waited and watched Ryder casually laugh it up with the cute girl even though she didn't look as into the conversation. He pitied her in not knowing that she was playing with fire that was only going to burn her, then again her forced smiles might indicated that she wasn't taking the bait.
Ryder finally got up to excuse himself and head for the restroom. Freddie closed his PearBook and quickly slid it into his book bag then through it over his head and shoulder. He followed the older student into the men's restroom.
Ryder walked to a urinal on the far wall and not noticing Freddie had followed behind him.
Freddie took a quick glance to see if anyone else was in the restroom, seeing that no one else in the room with them. He noticed the 'out-of-order' sign hanging on the back of the door. An idea occurred to him and he hastily grabbed it and glanced around the edge of the door to make sure no one was looking in his direction. He slipped the sign out on the hook then closed and locked the door.
Ryder was just walking away from the urinal and going to the counter to wash his hands when he noticed Freddie. He didn't get to greet the younger student as Freddie grabbed him by the collar and shoved him against the wall then whispered in a cold tone, "Hello Ryder."
"Freddie, dude, what the jank?"
"What the jank? The jank is that I was thinking about beating the chizz out of you."
The former Hollywood Arts heartthrob looked wide-eyed at him. "Why?"
"For what you did at the welcoming party for the graduating Hollywood Arts students… you know, that little something special you put in Tori's drink. It's not hard figuring out what you were planning to do after it took effect. It knocked me flat on my back when I got a sip of it instead of her. You put so damn much of it in the drink it probably would have killed her."
The taller and older student blinked and took a few seconds to process what Freddie was saying then frantically asked, "I didn't spike Tori's drink. Are you nuts?"
Freddie grinned, but it wasn't a friendly expression. "Nuts? You didn't think about some revenge on her? She wrote a pretty humiliating song about you. She practically Taylor Swifted you."
Ryder raised his hands best he could with Freddie holding him against the wall and sputtered, "I let go of that resentment a long time ago and if I hadn't, I still wouldn't try anything on campus. Don't you know? All you have to do nowadays is just be accused of something and you'll get you kicked out. We don't have any due process rights anymore for being guys. Did she tell you I did that?"
"No she didn't. She actually thinks you're innocent, but you were around her at least once and you would have a fine motive."
The idea that Tori thought he was innocent was an actually relief to him since he knew he wouldn't be facing any disciplinary board that would railroad him then concern flooded him. "Did something happen to her?"
"No, and you better not spread some bullchizz rumors about it either. I'm the one that got the drink and they found me passed out on the bathroom floor after I accidentally switched drinks with her."
"So they were carrying you out? We thought you were just showing off having Tori and Jade on each arm."
Freddie gave a chilling stare them moved one balled fist on his collar to pressing his right forearm just a little harder against the tall and older guy's throat.
"Dude, if someone spiked Tori's drink, it wasn't me. I swear. Okay, I know I can be one of those guys that uses and loses them, but I don't even sleep with them, least long being a rapist. That's just sick man."
"There are a lot of sick people in the world and they fool a lot of people… sometimes themselves."
Ryder clenched his jaw tightly, clearly offended with the accusation.
Freddie studied the older student's eyes. He wasn't necessarily any expert in judging the deceitfulness of anyone other than Sam. "If you didn't do it then who would? You went to Hollywood Arts, so you know probably most of the people that were there. Which one might have tried such a thing?"
"I don't know. Do you know every single person at your old high school?"
Freddie scowled at the older student's quite valid question then let Ryder go and took a step backwards.
Ryder straightened up and brushed a hand over his jacket to straighten. He idly muttered, "So, you and Tori really do have a thing going on?"
"That's none of your business."
"But it has to be something if you're willing to assault me and risk getting some discipline action against you or simply kicked out."
Freddie surprised Ryder with a smirk. "You tell anyone you want about this conversation and I'll just tell them my suspicions of you… and I'm sure Tori would back me up and what you just told me about how discipline works around here… if I get kicked out, I'll take you with me."
Ryder bared his teeth and gave Freddie a dark glare. "So you're blackmailing me?"
"No, call it mutually assured destruction in case you do decide you want to do something stupid."
Freddie turned and started on his way out, but before he reached the door, Ryder called out, "Have you thought she might not have been the target?"
The younger student stopped in his tracks and slowly turned halfway and looked over his right shoulder. "What?"
Ryder grinned, suddenly feeling better at clearly having the upper hand again in the conversation. "Tori's hot and all, but have you thought that maybe that it wasn't her drink that was spiked? Did you really switch drinks with her?"
Freddie knotted his brow.
Ryder laughed at Freddie's clear confusion then explained, "Come on. You're not a bad looking guy and there are plenty of girls out on the prowl to sink their claws into you. They may like to deny it, but they can be just as horny as us guys and need a scratch."
The former Seattleite turned completely around to face the taller young man while Ryder continued, "It's why I make sure I don't get too close to them and watch my drinks. I had a bad… Wait, how were you invited to the party? Or were you just Tori's date?"
The shorter one of the pair wasn't exactly sure why he answered, but he replied, "Lindsey invited me with Tori when she ran into us a few days before the party."
"Lindsey? Hot blonde? Used to go to Hollywood Arts?"
Freddie cautiously answered, "Yeah, she invited me along with Tori when we met up."
The taller one of the pair glanced away and whistled with a grin instantly forming on his face.
"I take it that you know her other than a classmate?"
"We dated back at Hollywood Arts—"
"And you dumped her?"
"Yeah, I didn't like being used."
"Yet you said you did it to others like you did with Tori? Is that where you learned your M.O.?"
"It's a competitive profession and you have to do what you have to in order to get ahead. Why don't you ask Jade how competitive it is? She got janked over plenty of times by Tori. Hell, I heard she got Tori's arms put into casts for a while to stop her from getting a movie role."
Hearing the former Hollywood Arts student rationalize and justify his behavior then use Tori and what he was sure was a made up story about Jade disgusted Freddie.
"Maybe that's why you should look up Lindsey to find out what happened? She's ambitious in everything she wants and perhaps she wanted you that night?"
"I know what happened: What Tori told me."
Ryder grinned and cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure about that?"
Freddie just wanted to slug him, but he thought better of it only because it would be far more satisfying in proving him wrong. "Do you know where I can find Lindsey?"
"She's still hoping to be an actress, so she's probably at the theater building."
The younger teenager gave him another warning look then turned to head out of the restroom. He stopped just the entrance and called out over his shoulder, "Oh, and leave the girl you're talking to alone."
"I will. She's not my type. I can tell she likes those of the female persuasion."
Freddie rolled his eyes then exited the restroom.
Author's Note: Please carryon with the next chapter.