Disclaimer: I do not own Victorious

Chapter 12: Gone

Jade P.O.V.

"So does this mean you won't be around anymore, Jadey?" Cat has a sad smile on her face that causes even my chilled heart to clench in pain.

"Yea, that's what moving means Kitty Cat."

"But I don't want you to leave." Her voice quivers. Tears stream down her otherwise flawless face, triggering tears to fall down my own. "I don't know what I'll do without you Jade." She hysterically throws her body onto mine. I cradle her small frame and assure her that everything will be alright.

"I'll be able to visit sometimes. We can talk every night too." I'm trying my hardest to be optimistic, I really am, but no matter how hard I try I still know that I'm lying; and so does Cat. She's known me long enough to realize that optimism isn't a characteristic that should ever be associated with me. She also knows how I am about keeping promises.

"When are you leaving?"

"Saturday."

"But….that's so soon." She looks up at me with shining brown eyes. "That's only…", like a child she counts to three using her fingers. "..three days from now."

"I know that." Her small form shakes within my grasp and I hold onto her a little bit tighter in the hopes that I can make it stop. "I'm so sorry Cat. I never wanted this to happen. I fought so hard to stay, but my father simply won't allow it."

"Why doesn't your mom say anything? She's always been so nice and she loves you."

"Cat it's not that simple." I shake my head. I'm not certain if I'm trying to rid myself of the horrors I've witnessed considering or simply tell the red-head no.

"It is that simple!" she screams. She pushes herself out of my grasp with all her might, which isn't much but it still hurt; emotionally of course. "She should be fighting for you! She should give a damn!"

"Cat, calm down." I reach for her but she steps out of range. "Cat…please? I understand this is tough on you, but please I need you right now." I plead with her. Cat and I have always had a strong connection that has allowed us to get through some pretty shitty times. Whether it was drama, withdrawal, or family troubles Cat and I had each other's back. Nothing came between us or was too much for the other to handle. The red-haired ditz was my best friend through it all.

"Fine." Cat sits down next to me on her bed and crosses her arms over her chest. She's pouting but I know she's just trying to take it all in. I don't blame her, especially because I'm barely able to process it all myself.

"So when are you going to tell Tori?" She asks out of the blue. Her voice is small and barely above a whisper.

"I can't tell her Cat." I've already made up my mind not to tell Vega about the move. She has so much on her plate already and I don't think I should add to it…..Okay that's total bullshit. I have no clue why, but that seems like a just reason to keep the whole move to myself.

"You have to tell her, Jade. You can't keep it a secret from her." Cat looks at me with furious, but pleading eyes. The tears have made her eyes an angry red and I'm stunned by the emotion etched into her face. "Jade this isn't something you can hide! You know what you mean to Tori; think about how hurt she would be if you just disappeared!"

"I don't know shit Cat! Everyone keeps talking about how Tori and I have this emotional connection but did anyone think to ask me where I stood! I don't want Tori and she sure as fuck doesn't mean anything to me and I don't mean anything to her! It's fucking bullshit that everyone is putting their nose where it doesn't belong." I scream at Cat. My face feels like it's engulfed in flames and I can hardly breathe because of how angry I am. Cat's face is stagnant and surprisingly free of tears. I've screamed at her in the past and she's normally a wreck, but on this occasion she's perfectly calm.

"Are you done?" She quirks one eyebrow and watches me with keen eyes.

"I….I do-." My words escape me as my throat swells. I can feel the tears coming and it hurts...everything hurts so damn much. Cat wraps her arms around me and I completely lose control. "I can't do this Cat. I can't! It hurts so damn much and I know it's going to hurt even more if I have to say goodbye to her." The tears flow, unstoppable and turbulent just like the storm in my mind and heart. "I'm such a fucking liar. I care about her so damn much Cat. Tori means the fucking world to me but…I can't."

Cat simply nods and holds me as I cry.

Tori P.O.V.

"Hey kid." Trina says as she slowly opens the door, just enough so she can stick her head through.

"Hey Trin."

"Mind if I come in?" She asks with a smile.

"For some reason I feel like it doesn't matter if I say yes or no, so I'm just going to say yes." I know Trina well enough to know she wasn't going to take no for an answer, nor would she have stayed outside even if I begged her.

"So this is what you do with your free time; lay on your bed and throw a ball into the air?" Trina asks. Normally I would have been angry with her for sounding like a condescending bitch, but for some reason she sounds more concerned than anything.

"It's just one of those days." I launch the ball into the air just to prove my point. "Did mom send you up here?"

"Pfft, why would you think that?" Can't a big sis-"

"Stop lying. We both know you aren't here because your big sister instincts kicked in." My words sound harsher than I meant for them to be, but in all honesty I don't really care. I'm not typically that mean, even to my own sister.

"Mom said you wouldn't talk to her and that you refused lunch and dinner. That's not like you, especially since none of us have actually done anything to piss you off." She sits down on the bed. It dips a little…I don't like it; she's messing up my throws. But I'm not going to say anything.

"I'm not hungry." I sound bored.

"Any peticular reason why? Does it begin with a J?" I should have seen this coming.

"Jade has been the source of many of my problems for almost three years now, so what do you think?"

"What did she do this time?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Yea nothing. As far as I know, she's done nothing." That's literally all I can say. I have seen or heard from Jade in days. She hasn't shown up to school all week and apparently the only person who's had any contact with her is Cat, but even the red-head was able to keep her lips sealed.

"So basically you haven't heard from her? But aren't you two like best friends or something?" Trina's voice is laced with genuine confusion and I can't help but smile at how naïve she sounds.

"Jade and I have never been best friends." The ease by which I just said that should disgust me. I should feel sick to my stomach because I know I'm lying through my teeth, but at the same time I feel as though truth is laced throughout my words. What kind of best friend just drops off the face of the earth without notifying their counterpart? How could Jade just drop me without a single word?

"Stop being so cynical Tori. Obviously you and Jade are in love with each other and are besties. Everyone can see it."

"Way to be a bitch Trin." I seethe. "Like you know anything anyway."

"Look all I'm saying is that whatever you two shared was more complex than either of you realized. Since I'm unbiased in all this I'm going out on a limb and saying that your relationship with Jade was one based on love; interpret that as you will."

"Trina you know I don't fall in love. I do flings…Jade and I weren't even that." I say in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Then why are you spending all your time moping around. Tori you can't tell me that Jade was nothing." Trina eyes lock with mine and all I can see is concern in her dark chocolate eyes. "Jade may have been a bitch for most her life, but she was different with you; we all saw it. And we all saw the change in you. Hell even dad notice and you know how clueless he is. " She chuckles lightly, but the situation remains serious. "Look maybe you should stop calling and start moving. Go to Jade's house, see what's going, then yell at her for leaving her before y'all make up and make out."

"Trina I don't think that's a good idea…nor is it realistic." Jade doesn't like surprise visits, in fact I think she hates them more than she hates the color yellow. "I can't just show up at her house because I want to. Jade doesn't take kindly to unexpected visitors."

Suddenly Trina is up on her feet with her hands on her hips.

"Get up." She demands.

"No!"

"This is your own fault." She stands there for a few more seconds before she launches at me. She wraps her arms around my frame and hulls me up onto her shoulder.

"Trina put me down!" I frantically hit her back In the hopes that a little bit of pain will cause her to let go.

"Just shut up Tori. We're going for a ride."

Trina P.O.V.

Tori didn't say a single word during ride to Jade's house. She was probably burnt out from trying to fight me earlier. I'm not going to say that she didn't put up a good fight, but obviously I'm the stronger sister. Tori seemed distant too; more than usual. Typically, Tori has a spark about her that is infectious and gets everyone's attention. It's one of her best qualities, but it seems to be missing. She's more like a soggy mop now that Jade's pretty much ignored her existence. Of course most people can't see it behind Tori's bullshit façade, but I'm her sister….It's my job to see past the smoke and mirrors.

"You've been sitting in the car for ten minutes. When are you going to get out and go talk to Jade?"

"There are no cars in the driveway. No one is home." Tori replies.

"How can you be so sure? They could have put them in the garage." I offer, hoping to bring some optimism to the situation.

"Jade doesn't use the garage. If she was here, her car would be in the driveway."

"Tori….I literally can't even deal with you right now. Can you please just knock on the door to see if anyone is home? Maybe her mom will be there or something."

"Will you take me home after I prove you wrong?"

"Maybe if you ask nicely." I counter. Tori's ballsy, but I won't put up with her shit. "Play nice and I'll let you lock yourself back in your room, be a bitch and I'll kick your ass."

"Fine. Thank you for driving me here." Tori responds with a sick smile. "I'll be back in a few."

"Way to be optimistic, Tori." I mutter as she exits the car. "I can't believe her sometimes." I watch her march up walk way and ring the doorbell. She waits a few seconds before turning around to walk back to the car. Instead of letting her in, I lock the door and roll down the window a bit, just so she can hear me.

"What the hell, Trina? I did what you asked so open the door." She demands, a stone cold frown set on her face.

"Umm I don't think you really tried, so take your skinny butt back up there and ring again. Check a window too. If you can make sure no one is inside then we'll leave."

"Trina…open the door." Her voice is low and dangerous, but it doesn't even phase me.

"No."

With an exaggerated sigh, Tori finally gives up. She marches back up to the house with an unnecessary quantity of attitude.

"Look in the window Tori." I call out after here. There's no way I'm going to let here leave before she actually tries.

She follows my instructions without hesitation and just goes straight to the window. She peers into the window for a few moments before turning around. Slowly she walks back to the car. Something seems off with her; I can see it in her face.

"Tori, what the fuck? You didn't even try." I yell out. She doesn't say anything but as she draws closer to the car I can see the tears streaming down her face. I open my door and rush to her side. "Tori what's wrong? What happened little sis?" My tone is caring as I hold my fragile sister.

"No one's there." She looks out me with lost eyes and a ghost-white face. "There's nothing there."

"What do you mean?"

"They just left." Any blood that was left in her face drained and she broke down in my arms.

A/N: I'll be updating as soon as I can. Until next time-

-JKJOKER