While Tori was sitting she happened to pick up an entertainment magazine and started reading an article about Andre's tour. She was pleased to read that it was a huge success so far, but sad when she read about the dancer's fall last night that resulted in her injury and loss from the line-up, Tori leaned back in her chair and smiled for a moment, realizing that within a few hours she would be together with Andre again and they would finish his first US tour together..
Tori looked up and there was a girl sitting next to her staring at the article in the magazine, Tori followed back her line of site and realized that the girl had been looking at the article about Andre and the Tour.
Tori: Hi there
Girl: Hello
Tori: Are you reading about Andre Harris?
Girl: Yes
Tori: Do you like Andre's music?
Girl: Oh yes, I think he is great
Tori: Me Too. Where do you live?
Girl: in Topeka Kansas, I was just here for the day getting treatments at USC Medical Center
Just then a woman walked up
Woman: Now Annie don't you go bothering this young woman. I am sorry if she is annoying you miss.
Tori: Oh no she is fine; we were just talking about Andre Harris
Woman: Oh, Annie loves his music, she found out he was in Topeka tonight and wanted to go so badly but with her illness and all there is just no way.
Tori: I am so sorry, what is wrong with Annie?
Woman: She has cancer growing in her brain, and it is non operable. The doctors have been treating her at USC but chemo and radiation don't seem to really be holding it. You wouldn't know how sick she is by looking at her; she is a brave little girl.
Tori: that is so sad. Listen my name is Tori Vega and I would like to keep in touch with Annie. Can you give me your address and phone number?
Woman: Sure I guess, that is so sweet, most people we start talking to just want to get away as fast as they can. My name is Laurie Grove, I am Annie's mother.
Tori: It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Grove although I wish the circumstances were different. Listen what are you and Annie doing tonight?
Laurie: Nothing, her treatment and the plane trip is all the excitement we can plan in one day.
Tori: Ok, nothing may come out of this so don't say anything to Annie but I am going to try to get her to the concert tonight.
Laurie: That would be so wonderful if you could.
Tori: I am going to try. But in any event I hope you don't mind if I keep in touch with Annie.
Laurie: That would be lovely, she has so few friends.
Tori: Well she has one more now...
Soon the flight boarded and Tori was enjoying the first class seat she had been given. She was excited at seeing Andre and performing again but she was also thinking about her new friend and what she could do to help her.
The slight to Topeka was short and Tori deplaned to find a man standing at the end of the concourse with a cardboard sign that said Tori Vega.
Tori: Hello I Am Tori Vega
Mick: Hi Tori I am Mick Chambers Andre's road manager. I thought I would come down in person to get you and then get to the hall to rehearse. You may even get to meet Andre very soon.
Tori: I am so looking forward to that!
Mick: Great lets go get your luggage and get out of here.
They picked up the luggage and made their way to the parking lot and got into a black Escalade for the drive to the hall. When they arrived Mick led them into the building and up onto the stage.
Mick: Tori this is Janet and Mary the other two backup singer/dancers on the tour. Get to know each other and then, girls run Tori through the steps and songs, ok.
Janet: Sure thing Mick, we will take good care of her.
Tori: Do you think we will meet Andre soon?
Mary: He should be by pretty soon now, but don't get your hopes up.
Tori: What do you mean?
Mary: The word is he has a girlfriend in LA so he never even thinks about anyone else. So if you have hopes of anything happening between you two forget it.
Janet: Ok let's run through some of the dance moves and look over the music.
For the next hour the girls worked on the steps and the vocals for the music in the show, Tori found it all coming back fairly easily and by the third or fourth time through she was very comfortable.
Mary: Tori you have been holding out on us, girl.
Tori: I have?
Mary: Yes, you have had some serious training, you picked up the choreography like you were doing it every day and your voice is great.
Tori: Good training from high school.
Janet: Well you are going to be just fine tonight, don't you worry about a thing.
Tori: You really think so? I want to do well.
Andre is coming
Janet: Oh, here comes Andre, you get your chance to meet him.
Mick and Andre walked onto the stage; Andre had his head down reading a note.
Mick: This is our newest recruit Tori, This is Andre Harris, Andre this is Tori Vega.
Andre looked up into the grinning face of Tori Vega and in less than a second had her in his arms and was kissing her.
Janet: Wow, this one may have a chance with him.
Andre: I can't believe this, what are you doing here?
Tori: I signed with the agent this morning and here I am.
Andre: Oh folks, just so everyone understands, this is Tori Vega my girlfriend from LA. We both graduated from Hollywood Arts high school and she is an accomplished actress singer and dancer. Tori how are you doing here, do you have time to come out to dinner?
Janet: She sure does, she picked up everything very quickly.
Andre: Super, then let's go
Tori: Great, there is something I want to talk to you about.
Andre Tori and Mick went next door to an elegant old restaurant. They ordered a wonderful but light meal and started discussing the day's events. When Tori told her story about meeting Annie and Laurie there was not a dry eye at the table.
Andre: We should really do something nice for her.
Mick: Like what?
Tori: I have an idea. I have her address here, what if we drive there in the limo and pick them both up and bring them to the concert. You can let them sit onstage and make a big deal of it and then after the show we bring them home. I don't think they would ever forget it.
Mick: Ok what is the address?
Tori handed him the note.
Mick: Ok, here is what we do. Andre, you and Tori take the limo and pick them up. I will stay here and make sure everything is ready. There should be enough food backstage for them if they are hungry and drinks if they are thirsty so don't sweat that.
Andre: sounds good to me let's go
Mick took care of the check and Andre and Tori made their way to the limo. Tori gave the driver directions and they took off.
Andre: So you have had a busy day.
Tori: Yes both worth it, first to be seeing and working with you and second for being able to help this little girl.
Andre: You are going to make a great mother some day, the way you love children.
Tori: Wait until you see her too and tell me you don't love her.
Driver: Andre we are here.
Tori: You wait in the car; I will go and get her.
Tori got out and walked to a quaint little cottage in what was once a nice neighborhood but has slipped some in the economy. She knocked on the door and a surprised Laurie answered.
Laurie: Tori, what are you doing here?
Tori: Well I told you I had an idea that may or may not work. It looks likes it will work. Get Annie we are all going to a concert!
Laurie ran inside to get her daughter. She came back in seconds and Annie stared up at Tori.
Annie: Tori did you come to visit me?
Tori: Better than that Annie I came to take you to Andre's concert this evening!
Annie: You are kidding, Tori, are we going there in that?
She points at the limo.
Tori: Going to and coming back from it.
Annie: Wow, do you think there is a chance I might get to meet Andre?
Tori: Oh I can pretty much guarantee that Annie.
They walked to the car and Tori stepped back to let Annie get in first.
Andre: Hello Annie, Tori tells me that you are a big fan of mine.
Laurie got in next and was shocked to actually see Andre Harris there talking to Annie.
Laurie looked at Tori
Laurie: Who are you?
Tori: Tori, just a friend you made at the airport today.
Laurie: Just a friend could not have done all this for us.
Tori: Well I may have left out a few details. Andre over there is my boyfriend, and I was flying out today to meet him and to fill in for one of the singers and dancers in the show.
Andre: Tori told me and my manager about you and so we decided to make this happen.
Laurie just had tears in her eyes now.
Laurie: You are unbelievable to do all this for someone you don't even know.
Andre: Yeah but Annie is a big fan right?
Annie: Oh you bet!
Andre: So it's not like you are a stranger.
Laurie: This is all just so wonderful I can't believe it.
They closed the doors and the driver began the trip back to the hall. All the way back Annie was sitting next to Andre and talking to him about things... Laurie was pretty much stunned and Tori was smiling.
The driver pulled up to the hall and they walked in the back door and to the rehearsal hall, next to the main hall.
Mick came over to join them as they walked in.
Andre: Mick this is my special guest Annie and her mother Laurie, get them good seats off stage and make sure they have everything they need
Mick: You got it Andre. Come right this way folks and we will get you settled in. Tori, can you get ready with the girls and Andre places buddy.
Andre: Ok everyone; I need a special effort for our special friends tonight, Ok?
The house lights dimmed and the curtain lights came up and the show was on.
For the next 2 hours they ran through their songbook and everything worked to perfection. Even the new girl background singer/dance seemed to be really going for it.
Two hours and 2 encores later they folded the show. Andre and Tori took an exhausted Annie and Laurie home and then joined the cast for a brief party before retiring to Andre's hotel room.
Tori: Wow you were right; Beck's house is nicer than the hotel rooms.
Andre: Cheer up in about an hour you won't notice.
Tori: You mean because I will be lost in your arms and time will stop.
Andre: More like your adrenaline will wear off and you will crash.
Tori: You sure can kill a mood.
Andre: I am a realist.
Tori: You just have not had a good reason to stay awake after a show before, but now that I am here there is some motivation.
Andre: You now you could be right about that I may be starting to feel a second wind. Just in case it is, what do you have in mind? Tori? Tori? I hate to say I told you so, but…
Andre snuggled up next to his sleeping girlfriend and was soon asleep.