A/N: Sorry for not updating yesterday. Family party and was just so busy. The good news is that this, I think, is one of the longest chapters of the entire story. Yup, it's a lot to take in. I'm glad you all liked Crazy Steve because in this chapter, two other special guests will have an appearance :)
"Good morning my little mutants!" Sikowitz creaked while dashing into the theatre. "Today we'll be working on behind the scenes. Now, what does that mean? That you don't get to be on stage."
The freshmen looked at him, shocked.
"…BUT you do have talent," he reassured their sadness faces.
"Uh, Sikowitz… Maybe we should have the guest instructor take over," Andre suggested.
"Ok! I need to have my morning coconut and bagel anyway," he said before jumping out the window. Classic Sikowitz exit. A few seconds later, none other than Dale Squires entered the building.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Jade stopped his tracks.
"What are you doing here?!" Beck demanded.
"Hey relax you guys, I said I was sorry, didn't I?" Dale defended.
"Yeah, after the fact," Robbie stated.
"Look I know you probably hate my guts, but that lady really knocked some sense into me. I mean whoever she was…"
Andre, Jade, Tori and Cat looked at each other and turned away for a moment, not making eye contact with Dale.
"She made me realize I was a bad guy and nowadays I'm doing right and giving people credit."
The six looked at each other, skeptical and unsure if they should believe him.
"I don't know…" Tori started.
"How do we know you're not tricking us again?" Beck questioned.
"I promise, I'm not going to take credit for anything I didn't do anymore."
"Prove it," Robbie said.
"How? What do you want me to do?"
"Eat a cookie without asking for milk."
They all looked at Cat, puzzled.
"What? Whenever I eat a cookie it gets me thirsty for milk," she said innocently.
"Look, I'm only here to help the kids with behind the scenes. I even brought some people to help me."
"Fine. You're good… for now," Jade stated and they agreed.
"Who's here to help?" Beck asked.
Dale called for two people to come in. One petite woman and a one familiar looking young man.
"Guys this is Monie. She's a hair and makeup personnel for many movie sets in Los Angeles. She'll be helping with costume and make-up."
"Yay! I love costume and make-up," Cat exclaimed.
"Oooh I love your hair," Monie commented. The two girls wandered off into la la land about hair and make-up, gathering the students who had the same passion back stage of the theater to learn about proper etiquette for stage shows. Back in the circle, Dale introduced his next help.
"And I don't know if you kids watch Internet shows but this is-"
"Freddie Benson of iCarly?!" Tori said.
Freddie took his sunglasses off and revealed himself.
"Yep. Hey, I remember you guys from Keenan Thompson's party," he pointed out.
"He remembers us! Freddie Benson remembers us!" Robbie exclaimed.
"I'm Andre, the one who hosted Keenan's party," Andre giddily shook his hand.
"Hey man, I'm Beck."
"Hi I'm Jade."
"And I'm Tori."
"I remember you, Tori. Who could forget those cheek bones?" Freddie attempted to flirt but failed.
"Thanks?" Tori didn't know how to answer really.
"And might I say, it's been a year but doiy-ing, you're still pretty," he winked.
"Ok, moving on," Tori was weirded out by the nerd.
"Freddie's here to help with Tech stuff. I'm assuming you're the tech genius?" Dale pointed at Robbie.
"And why would you think that?" Robbie asked slightly offended for Dale's stereotype.
"Why wouldn't he Shapiro?" Jade smirked.
"Fair enough," he said. "But Tori's a whiz at Tech Theater too."
"Pretty and smart? That's hot," Freddie said.
"Robbie, please take Freddie with you right now," Tori begged.
The nerds took a small group of students, along with Sinjin who had been attempting to flirt with freshmen girls, to the back panel above the theater to start their tech lesson. This left Dale, Tori, Jade, Beck, Andre and a handful of students to learn about directing.
A good hour passed and Dale was true to his word. He helped the kids out and gave them genuine advice. Though his slacker side was still the same; his buddy had called him and currently he was outside chatting away on the phone.
Tori and Andre noticed two of their friends were being distant, so per Tori's request, they decided to see what was up with the beloved couple.
"Sup Jade," Andre walked up to her after she helped a few freshmen with playwriting.
"Hey Andre. What's up?"
"Uh… I don't know, what's up with you?" he suddenly regretted approaching her.
"Quit the chizz, what do you want?" she demanded.
"Uh…" he hesitated. Jade figured him out right away.
"Listen, if this is about Beck, it's none of your business."
"What the? How'd you-?" he was surprised.
"Why else would you be scared?"
"Makes sense. But aren't I a friend? What's the matter?"
"You are a friend. And if you know me, why would you ask? Did Vega put you up to this?"
He didn't respond.
"I knew it. Look, it's not yours or Tori's business for mine and Beck's relationship mishaps right now. Leave us alone. And if you really want to be a friend to me, maybe tell your buddy Beck to grow up."
"Dang girl," Andre said.
"Look," Jade sighed. "I know you mean well, but I'm just frustrated. You of all people would understand that we get wonky when there's a lot going on. Thanks but no thanks, Andre. I can handle this by myself."
"Ok, I respect that," he told her.
"And I don't mean to but in to your lives, but you should pay more attention to your little Latina friend more than mine and Beck's relationship. From what I hear, she's been bailing on you lately with no sure excuse."
Until that afternoon, Andre had been giving Tori the benefit of the doubt. Sure they spent their day off together, but what no one saw was Tori's daily disappearances and rescheduling with she and Andre's cd. He'd been patient, but secretly angry, though he was understandable and modest enough not to talk about it out loud.
"It was uh nice talking to you, Jade," Andre said, lost in thought, walking off to the grand piano at the orchestra pit.
Tori tried out her luck with Beck.
"Hey there… buddy," she play-chucked his shoulder.
"What's up?" Beck was unconvinced of her weirdness.
"Nothing, can't I just say hi to my buddy, eh?" Tori chuckled.
"Eh?"
"Yeah, 'cause you're Canadian," she said.
"Ok," he chuckled. "What's up Tori?"
"You and Jade," she sighed.
"Don't worry about it," he suddenly grew serious.
"But-"
"Tori, for real. Jade doesn't like you on most days, so I'm sure your meddling'll disturb her. Just let us handle this on our own."
"I'm just concerned that's all."
"That's real nice of you, but just let us be," he said before walking off.
"Mail time!" Lane stepped into the theater distributing care packages and letters from people's families. Everyone was working in their respective groups contently, Robbie with the techies and Cat with the designers.
"Oh Cat," Lane sing-songed.
"Yes?" She turned around revealing a pretty puppy-faced mask on the current student she was applying make-up to.
"Cute puppy," Lane pointed.
"What?! Puppy?" the boy turned to face the vanity mirror. "I thought we were practicing zombie masks?!" The boy flipped out and walked off angrily.
"Hey Lane, you want me to make you a pretty puppy face? Or a zombie mask?" Cat offered.
"Maybe next time, Cat."
"Kk." She wasn't fazed by it.
"But I do have a care package for you. Special delivery from your Nonna." Lane handed her a mid-sized box. She wondered what it was.
"Hm, I thought I told Nonna not to buy from the Sky Store anymore," Cat told herself.
"So that's where you got your obsession from," Lane said.
"No, actually I got her addicted, hehe."
"Oi. Well, what did she bring you?"
"I don't know… Oh! What if it's bibble! I love bibble!"
"If it's bibble I'm going to have to confiscate it."
"No!" she embraced her box.
"Well, there's only one way to find out," he motioned for her to open the package.
Cat slowly started ripping off the tape and peeked inside. Whatever she saw made her beam with excitement. She tore the package apart and was holding on to two folded garment bags.
"Yay! It's better than bibble!" she cried to her guidance counselor.
"What is that?"
"Pajelehoochos!"
"Paje-what?" Lane was confused.
"Pajelehoochos!" she repeated.
"Ok, well, it's not bibble so I guess you're good. Oh wait," Lane found a note on the floor. "I think your Nonna put a note inside."
"Thanks Lane!" Cat grabbed the note and ran up to the control panel to tell Robbie the exciting news.
"Robbieeeee!" the perky redhead jumped in circles.
"Is she always this… bouncy?" Freddie asked Sinjin.
"Yup. Especially near Robbie. Come on freshmen, let's work the lighting behind the curtains and give these two a minute," Sinjin ordered Freddie and everyone to leave the booth.
"Hey Kitty-Cat, you're looking giddy," he smiled.
"That's because I feel giddy hehe."
"Whatcha got there?" he pointed at the two garment bags.
"Oh! That's what I came to tell you. Look, my Nonna brought me pajelehoochos!"
"What?! That's rad cool!"
"And look, she also gave me a note," she handed it to him. She was too busy opening one bag and twirling her pajelehoocho around in front of her.
"What does the note say?"
"I don't I never read it. Read it for me please?" she asked, still twirling.
Robbie opened the envelope and pulled out the note.
"It says, 'Dear Kitty, hope you're having lots of fun at camp. Don't forget to put some sun block on before you swim. And I thought since you had a hundred of these, I'd send you a pajelehoocho. And I packed an extra one for your boyfriend Robbie since you told me he likes them too. Love, Nonna.'"
After Robbie finished reading, he started growing nervous. Her Nonna thought we were dating? He thought to himself. Cat talks about me? Wait, did she not deny that we were a couple?
Cat at the same time grew wide-eyed, a lopsided grin plastered across her face.
"That means this second one is for you!" she shrieked and tossed it to him. She had completely disregarded the part when her Nonna dubbed Robbie her 'boyfriend' on accident. Or was it?
Robbie didn't bother to bring it up, instead he took his pajelehoocho out of its garment bag and checked it out.
"Can we put them on?! She asked.
"Sure," Robbie said.
They put their pajelehoochos on over their clothes for now, and checked each other out.
"They're pajamas!"
"They're jeans!"
"They're leggings!"
"It's a hoodie!"
"It's a poncho!"
"It's the Pajelehoocho!" they boy exclaimed while throwing their arms out. Cat jumped on Robbie just like she did the night they first wore these suits together and he twirled her in excitement. What was he nervous about? Her Nonna made an honest mistake, Robbie told himself. She may have thought we were dating, but anyone can see that we're just really good friends.
After a minute, Cat left to go show off her pajelehoocho. Freddie and Sinjin came back up to the control panel and took one good look at Robbie before laughing in fits.
"Dude what are you wearing?" Freddie managed to say in between laughs.
"A Pajelehoocho," Robbie said proudly.
"Why?"
"Because Cat likes them so Robbie does too," Sinjin dried his wet eyes from laughing so hard.
"Not true! They're very comfortable," Robbie defended.
"But they look god awful," Freddie held up the poncho part of the suit.
"They're not so bad," Robbie tried reasoning.
"Come on Robbie, just admit it, you like them to please Cat," Sinjin cornered him.
Freddie and Sinjin were waiting on an answer. Robbie looked between them before sighing.
"I admit, I wore it first for Cat, but I really do think they're neat," he confessed.
"See now was that hard to say?" Freddie joked. "Wait, you like crazy redhead?"
"She is not crazy," Robbie hissed.
"Oooh" the boys said.
"I take that as a yes," Freddie joked. "That's adorable. Now that I see it, you two would look adorable together. Actually what am I saying, I thought you two were dating at Keenan Thompson's party. She was the only one who liked your raps and she defended you when you got hurt."
Robbie blushed, remember that night.
"Did you ever tell her how you feel?"
"Yeah but she didn't give him the time of day," Sinjin said.
"Ouch."
"No, we just agreed to be friends. She's my best friend. It'd be weird to date her."
"But it's not weird to kiss her?"
"Wait, they kissed?!" Freddie was taken aback.
"Yup. They ditched their dates to kiss. I mean I was Cat's date, but it's cool, Robbie's date was this pretty Spanish girl who loved my sock puppets," Sinjin told him.
Freddie really wasn't interested in Sinjin's sock puppets, but he was intrigued by the kiss.
"Robbie, maybe you should listen to Sinjin, he seems like he knows you two well enough to sense there's something going on," Freddie said before his phone rang. "Uhoh, it's the iCarly crew. Gotta take this... 'Hello? Hey Carls, what's up? What? Well who let Sam eat her pork chops near my camera?! You left her and Gibby in charge?!...'"
Freddie excused himself and continued to yell at his phone. Since they were alone now, Robbie and Sinjin decided to carry on the conversation.
"Why can't you just admit you like Cat?"
"Because l don't like Cat," Robbie played with his poncho.
"Oh that's right, you love her," Sinjin corrected himself.
"Sinjin, go away," Robbie was annoyed.
"Ok, but I'm just saying. We nerds, no matter how much time has changed, will always get the short end of the stick. Just this once, you're one in a hundred who actually has a shot with someone incredible. Why take the safe route when us nerds have been safe our whole lives?"
Sinjin left that thought lingering in Robbie's mind the rest of the workshop. Deep down, Robbie was afraid to admit or resurface crushed feelings. He was safe in the friend zone, they both were. That's what they agreed upon. But maybe, Sinjin had a point.
After dinner, the gang stuck around the hall to hangout for a bit. Jade and Beck went on a lengthy rant to each other, getting mad at the smallest things, subliminally relating them to their bigger problem.
"I thought you'd be mature about it by now?"
"I am being mature!"
"Really? Getting even is mature? That's so adult like of you, Jade."
"Don't think for one second it's only my fault. You got jealous too!"
"How many times do I have to tell you, I wasn't jealous?!"
"Bite me, of course you were!"
"No I wasn't!"
"Fine, act like a child. Good night!" She slammed the door as she walked off to her cabin.
Beck sat there, stressed and exhausted.
"Beck?" Andre approached the situation.
"I'm tired of this," Beck mumbled to himself before walking out.
"That was awkward," Cat said.
"Yup," Robbie agreed.
"What has gotten into Beck and Jade?" Tori asked.
"Man their relationship is on rough waters," Andre said.
"Water? But they weren't swimming?" Cat was confused.
"It's a figure of speech, Cat," Andre explained. They could tell he was getting fed up as well.
"Oh. Kk," she smiled.
Andre walked over to the piano in the other side of the hall and mindlessly played a few chords. Tori walked over to him and leaned on the piano.
"Hey 'Dre."
"Sup, Tor."
"Want to practice some songs?"
"I don't know, do you have time?"
"Yeah, of course I do right now. Why are you saying that?" she was slightly offended.
"Well the last two times I thought you had time we cut the sessions short. In the past week combined we barely put in 2 hours of rehearsal together."
"Look, I'm sorry Andre, but I'm here now. Let's practice!" she hoped he would stop asking questions and move on.
Reluctant, but still willing to work with his best friend, he sat at the piano. They were about rehearsing 'Faster Than Boyz' when Tori's phone rang.
'Cause I'm movin' faster, faster, faster, faster than boys (boys)
You're basically a disaster, 'saster, you leave me no choice (no choice)
You leave me no,
No no, no no- o-woah.
Yeah you, you've got to g-
*ring*
"Wow, I didn't get to play one full song and your stupid pear phone rings," he says bitterly.
"Sorry 'Dre, I'm just really busy," she opened her phone to view the message.
"Busy with what?" Ditching your best friend?!" he started to raise her voice.
"Look 'Dre, I'm really sorry. Something came up," she said after reading her text.
"What? An egg emergency in the kitchen? A cabin with bed bugs? Trina burning the house down? You're lucky I don't ask questions, but what in the name of gravy are you so busy with that you can't even spend one full hour with me?"
Tori would have responded, but she was torn. She knew she was hurting her best friend by lying to him, but she still had not fully come up with a decision for Kojak's offer. Lately she's been meeting with him and his famous clients, all convincing her little by little to sign with him, though she was always hesitant at the end because in the back of her mind, she didn't want to betray Andre.
"Look Andre, I'll explain everything to you later, ok?" Tori begged him to understand.
"Nah just forget it, practice is cancelled tonight. I'm going to bed." Andre walked out of the room leaving Tori, Cat and Robbie behind.
"I think I better head back. Both my buddies are in a sour mood," Robbie told Cat.
"Just don't get punched in the face, Rob. They're mad you know," Cat patted his shoulder.
"I'll try not to," he smiled at her concern. "Goodnight, ladies."
Robbie left, leaving Cat and a frozen Tori; she still hadn't moved or said anything since Andre stormed off.
"Hello? Tori?" Cat waved a hand in front of her.
She didn't move.
"Look at me, I'm dancing with my arms, weee," she tried catching her attention with her peculiar ways.
"I'm Pajelehoocho woman! Watch me be all bouncy!" she started hopping in circles around Tori.
But she still didn't speak.
Cat stopped bouncing and was about to give up since she couldn't catch the Latina's attention. But she had one last idea.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEP!"
"Ow! Cat! What was that for?!" Tori covered her ears.
"Well it got your attention so it worked!" Cat praised herself for screaming in her friend's ear.
"Sorry," she sighed. Tori slumped on the piano chair. "I've just never seen Andre so furious like that."
"Well, why are you always ditching him?" Cat sat next to her.
"Can you keep a secret?" Tori was desperate.
"Oooh I love secrets! Did you know that Robbie shaves his legs with girly shaving cream?"
"How do you know that? That's gross!"
"Because! When we had a sleep over one time I realized we both use the tropical smelling shaving cream," Cat explained.
"You and Robbie have sleepovers?" Tori speculated.
Oh no, Cat thought. I don't think anyone knew that. I mean, that's how Robbie knew I kept candy in my bra. Which reminds me I need to buy some more licorice and gum drops.
"What's your secret?" Cat innocently asked.
If Tori wasn't stressed enough, she would have kept interrogating Cat, but her friend was offering her time so she tried to let stuff out.
"Say hypothetically, that you get an opportunity to do something that could make you happy right now, but maybe in the long run it won't, for you and for someone else."
"Whaaaa?"
"Look," Tori explained in simply, ""I have this opportunity to follow my dreams, but only by myself. I mean, Andre and I were supposed to make it big together, not separate. I'm afraid of how this would ruin our friendship and relationship."
"So you're scared that Andre will hate you?"
"I'm scared I'll lose him."
"Me too," Cat mumbled.
"What?"
Cat didn't want to tell her about her tangled mess with a certain boy, so she turned it back to Tori. "It's only fair for you to figure out what you want, Tori. If he's a real friend, he'd understand. So why are you scared?"
"Because… what if I'm not going to make it? I was safe and sure to have someone to lean on when it was Andre and I. But on my own? I'll be too scared. What if I did all this for nothing and I had to risk our friendship and relationship for something I did in vain?"
"I don't know, Tori," Cat said quietly. "I really don't know."
"Aren't you supposed to go somewhere?"
"Yeah, I was. But now, I'm not really feeling it."
*ring*
"Trina." She showed Cat.
"I'm going to see if Jade's ok. It's been long enough," Cat said as she got up.
"Thanks for the talk, Cat," Tori gave her a weak smile.
"See you in the cabin, Tor," she waved before stepping out.
Hey Trina
Hey Tor, why the sour puss?
I think Andre and I got into a fight.
Oh, you told him?
Not really.
Then why are you two fighting?
Because Beck and Jade are fighting.
That doesn't make any sense, Tor.
They're fighting causes a lot of tension between us. I'm surprised Cat hasn't fainted yet.
But what does that have to do with you and Andre?
Maybe he got sensitive because of the fighting and lashed out.
No, maybe he really is fed up with your excuses, Tori. Give the guy a break. You are keeping secrets from him anyways.
You think this is MY FAULT?!
I never said that.
You're practically saying it between words, Tri. I thought you were on my side?!
Wow Tori, someone's joined the hostility train.
It's not my fault though. I didn't ask for this opportunity, it was handed to me.
So you're taking it?
No, I didn't say that.
So you're not?
No, I didn't say that either.
So then what is it?
Stop pressuring me, Trina!
Stop yelling at me, Tori!
You're supposed to be helping me!
I'm not your baby sitter Tori. I can't make your big girl decisions for you. You have to figure that on your own.
But I don't wanna. Trina help me please!
No Tori, I can't help you.
(Tori starts to blow her cap) UGH YOU NEVER HELP ME OUT, TRINA! JUST ONCE I WANT YOU TO BE A REAL BIG SISTER AND LOOK OUT FOR ME!
(Trina is speechless)
Sorry, Trina…
No, shut up, Tori. Look, I'm sorry your little perfect world is slowing crashing down, but reality check, you never wanted me around and you always had it better than me. What I would give to have your life and talents for one minute. Don't go blaming your chizz on me. And if calling to genuinely check up on your little sister not because I'm bored or waiting for something leads to false accusations, then I'm sorry that I bothered you!
Wait, Tri-
*Click*
"I deserved that," Tori said to herself.
A/N: Song Title - Bad Boyz - nothing really to do with boys in general, just that this chapter is when the bad things start to take over. Brace yourselves for the coming chapters!