A/N: It makes me ecstatic that you liked how I'm ending this story. You guys are seriously the best. Thank you so much!
It was 1934 when my husband left me... alone. Living on the prairie was a dreary existence. No telephone, no radio, only a large majestic bird with whom I shared my feelings. One day when I was feeling low, I said to him, "Oh, bird. You can fly. You can soar miles from this lonley place, and yet you stay. Why?" And apparently, that question rang true, for that afternoon my bird left. And so went my spirit. - The Bird Scene
"Five minutes, guys, five minutes," Sinjin told the group. They were huddled directly behind the back curtain when the fourth performance from the freshmen had begun.
"All right you guys, let's give it our all tonight," Tori said as they stood in a tight circle.
"No matter what happens, just have fun," Andre told them.
"Yeah, let's do this for Sikowitz," Beck added.
"And you guys… thank you," Tori blurted.
"For what?" Cat asked.
"For making this a summer to remember."
They were all glowing. One last round of hugs were given before it was closer to curtain call.
"Two minutes," Sinjin broke up the circle. Tori, Beck and Andre walked over to one side of the back stage, while Cat, Jade and Robbie headed over to the other one. Though before gathering to their spots, Jade held Tori back for a second.
"Vega," Jade got her attention.
"Yeah?" Tori stayed behind.
"I just want to say good job… with all of this. We couldn't have pulled it off without you."
"It wasn't just me. Everyone helped. Even Trina."
"Yeah, but you brought us back together. Like you always do."
"Oh," she chuckled nervously, "is that another thing I do?" Tori was worried.
"Yeah, but that thing… it's not as bad as the other decisions you make for us," she admitted. "When it counts, you always do the right thing. And that's like 90 percent of the time."
"Thanks," she nodded, "means a lot. Especially coming from you." Tori started walking to her side of the stage.
"Don't get used to it," Jade smirked. She turned around when Tori stopped her this time.
"Wait!"
"What?" the Goth girl waited.
"You're an amazing singer and a great actress. Don't let anyone get in your head or bring you down to let you think otherwise."
Jade was slightly flattered, but wondered why Tori would say such a thing. Then it dawned on her.
Tori started walking to her side of the stage.
"Tori?"
She turned back around.
"Yeah?"
"You're not so bad," Jade genuinely smiled.
"Right back atcha," she returned the smile.
So that's the Jade West Beck and Cat were telling me about, Tori thought to herself. She really did have a sincere side. Maybe, just maybe they could start over and do it right this time… as friends.
They took their places at the side of the curtain waiting for their cue. The number ended and they congratulated the freshmen as they walked off the stage. Now all they had to do was have Sikowitz introduce them and then it was Showtime.
"When you're a teacher, it's always a blessing to be able to educate young minds, providing them with nuggets of information that may seem simple now but could prove to be valuable in their future. As an arts teacher, you're privileged to help them in their journey to find success with their dreams and aspirations. And once in a while, you'll find that one group of kids that remind you why you do this in the first place. They'll inspire you and be the reason for your smile every day." Sikowitz speech earned 'awe's' from the crowd. "Now for the final number, this gang – well, they mean more to me than any group of kids I've ever had the pleasure of teaching. And because of them, I want to keep teaching for the next ten, twenty, thirty years."
Hearing those words coming out of Sikowitz's mouth made each person well up. It was heartfelt, and so moving. And it encouraged them at that moment to give this performance and any other performance from then on all they've got. He moved them so much that a certain redhead grew immediate assurance with more than just her simple dreams.
"Robbie," Cat tapped his shoulder.
"Yeah?" he whispered, not wanting to be heard behind the curtain.
"Can I talk to you?"
"Uh, we're kind of going on in like fifteen seconds, but okay, what's up?" he was half listening.
"Robbie, do you really like me?"
"What?" Robbie turned his full focus to Cat.
"Do you like me? Just answer that, please."
"No," he said. Her heart almost stopped beating until he immediately spoke again. "I love you," he laid it out there. He didn't smile, showing her he was serious. Her insides were doing somersaults. "But why are you asking me this?"
"If you love me, then why aren't you doing anything about it?" Cat asked.
"Because if I asked you if you loved me, or to be my girlfriend, it would go against our friend code, remember? We're ok, aren't we?"
"And now for the final number, a performance by Andre Harris, Beck Oliver, Robbie Shapiro, Cat Valentine, Tori Vega, and Jade West to a song written by Andre and Tori, choreography by Hollywood Art's alum and a very special guest tonight, Trina Vega!"
That was their cue.
"Guys, come on," Jade tugged on Cat's arm.
"I'll answer that later," she told him.
"Answer what?" he was growing confused.
"You're question." He still didn't understand. "But, good luck Robbie," she kissed his cheek and the six of them entered on either side of the stage to their first positions.
The music started, and it was time to shine. Here goes nothing, they all thought.
(A/N: This is how I think a collab would play off with all of them singing this song. Also, the italics are general stage directions to hopefully get a mental image of a performance in your minds. I used to dance so I kind of had an image of a routine I created for my team, but I'm not going into much specifics for those who won't understand the jargon.)
Prior to Tori's verse, the guys sat on stools in a triangle set. When Tori began her part, the girls walked up to the guys, following the direction of her and Cat's lyrics.
(Tori)
Oooooooh
Here's to the Mondays
Watching all the cars on the freeway
I ain't got a thing to do
Can I sit here next to you?
And oh oh ohhh
(Cat)
Yeah, I kinda wish I got paid
'Cause my card got maxed out yesterday
Could you give me a shot?
And I'll work with what I got
Not a dollar in my pocket but I rock it like I ain't broke.
You know?
During each chorus, it's a simple and improvised-friendly pairs routine for the six of them. Partners consisted of Robbie and Cat on the right side, Andre and Tori in the middle and a few steps forward, and Beck and Jade on the left side aligned with Robbie and Cat in a perfect equilateral triangle between them.
(Tori, Jade, Cat, Andre, Robbie, Beck)
Oooooooh
Here's to us uh-oh
Here's to us
Ooooooooooh
Here's to us uh-oh
Here's to never winning first place
Here's to crying on your birthday
Here's to every single heartbreak
Here's to us
Here's to us
During Jade's part, girls were on one side and boys on another, mirroring a simple 32-count set.
(Jade)
Here's to the mistakes
Somehow they always drop you in the right place
So, let's go another round
Till the sky is falling down
And we'll laugh at all the shakers and movers
Now who's the loser?
What a joke.
Same chorus routine as the first.
(Tori, Jade, Cat, Andre, Robbie, Beck)
Oooooooooooooh
Here's to us uh-oh
Here's to us
Oooooooooooooh
Here's to us uh-oh
Here's to never winning first place
Here's to crying on your birthday
Here's to every single heartbreak
Here's to us
Here's to us
Simple swaying of the hips while Cat and Jade sing 'nanana's' and Tori and Andre sing the bridge.
(Cat, Jade)
Nananana nananana nanananananana
Nananana nananana nanananananana
(Tori)
I'm a player, I'm a hater
(Tori, Andre)
But I swear you would never know
(Tori)
Cause I got a smile on
I'm an ex-con
(Tori, Andre)
That just got off parole
(Andre)
Could've been a contender, a pretender
Like Brando Play the role
But I'm not so what? And that's just how it goes.
Final chorus is pure freestyle with everyone taking over the stage, covering every ground, getting the audience on their feet, and enjoying the last few bars of the song.
(Tori, Jade, Cat, Andre, Robbie, Beck)
Oooooooooooooh
Here's to us uh-oh
Here's to us
Oooooooooooooh
Here's to us uh-oh
Here's to never winning first place
Here's to crying on your birthday
Here's to all the bad first dates
Here's to every single heartbreak
Here's to raining on your own parade
Here's to showing up anyway
Here's to us
Here's to us
Here's to
(Tori)
Here's to the Mondays
Tori belted out the final line, ending the most perfect final number any of the staff had ever seen and any of the six have ever done, earning a standing ovation. The gang rejoiced, the boys high fiving and the girls all hugging one another. They all ran off to the left side stage and when Cat and Robbie finally got a chance to congratulate each other, he went in for a hug while she went for his face, pulling him towards her and planting a very long awaited passionate kiss on his lips. He was surprised to say the least, but immediately responded finding her waist and holding her close as she did so, taking in the euphoria from the performance and the miracle happening to him. Their four friends witnessed it- Tori and Jade gasping and Andre and Beck fist pumping. When they finally broke the kiss four seconds later, their friends cheered.
"Yeah that's my boy, Rob!"
"Wooo!"
"It's about time Shapiro!"
"Aw Cat!"
"Yes," she breathed fluttering her eyes open.
"Yes?" Robbie was momentarily confused, trying to come down from his high.
"I love you too," she smiled. "And I'll be your girlfriend."
He grinned cheek to cheek and kissed his new girlfriend one more time. Finally, he told himself, I get the girl.
That Night
Departure took about two hours for the last camper to leave the campgrounds. Helen had arranged for the staff to sleep at the campgrounds one extra night, providing one last gathering for them in the cafeteria. Tori and Andre were chatting happily near the piano when Kojak walked up to them.
"I must say, Ms. Vega, that was quite a show. All of you did exceptionally well," he gestured to Andre.
"Thanks Kojak. No hard feelings?" Tori shook his hand.
"No, this is just how the business works. Are you sure you don't want to take my offer?" he asked one last time.
Tori looked at Andre and smiled confidently. "I'm good with what I have," she told him.
"I respect that. Good luck, you two," he nodded and finally bowed out.
"You sure you want this, Tor?" Andre asked her once Kojak walked off.
"I've never been more sure of anything, Dre," she sat next to him on the piano bench.
Andre knew Tori meant it with all her heart and gave his best friend a side hug.
"Tori, Andre! Sing us a song!" Lane requested.
The two best friends laughed and took their spots. Andre started playing a tune that Tori and he loved to listen to. It certainly set the mood for the night and for the rest of their summer – heck, their senior year and beyond.
Let's dance in style, let's dance for a while
Heaven can wait we're only watching the skies
Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst
Are you gonna drop the bomb or not
Let us die young or let us live forever
We don't have the power, but we never say never
Sitting in a sand-pit, life is a short trip
The music's for the sad men.
Can you imagine when this race is run
Turn our golden faces into the sun
Praising our leaders, we're getting in tune
The music's played by the mad men
Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever, forever?
Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever, forever?
Cat and Robbie, the newly smitten couple, took the middle of the dance floor, got lost in the music and in each other's eyes, swaying back and forth to the beautiful melody that filled the room. Seeing that, Beck pulled his girlfriend to the dance floor, near Robbie and Cat and he and Jade did the same. Eventually, other staff members hit the dance floor. From time to time, the couples would look over to their two friends at the piano and they'd all exchange smiles.
"Look at them, so happy," Trina said at a table near the stage. She was asked by Tori, Sikowitz and Lane to stay for the remainder of camp, to enjoy the time as a guest and Trina happily obliged.
"They're always happy. I envy their friendship."
"You're friends with them too, Sinj," she reminded him.
"Yeah, but not as close as they are," he sipped his punch.
"But you've got friends, that's all that matters," she patted his shoulder. They shared a smile and continued watching their friends enjoy their time. Sinjin and Trina knew that they'd be fine for their senior year; in fact, those two would be fine in the real world as well.
It's so hard to get old without a cause
I don't want to perish like a fading horse
Youth is like diamonds in the sun
and diamonds are forever
So many adventures couldn't happen today
So many songs that we forgot to play
So many dreams swinging out of the blue
We let them come true
Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever, forever?
(A/N: Forever Young by Youth Group)
Near the end of the night, Cat and Robbie took their friends to that special spot they shared all summer.
"Wow, you guys have been hogging the best spot in camp all summer!" Tori exclaimed.
"We wanted to be alone," Robbie defended.
"Understandable," Jade accepted.
"This is a legit view though," Andre basked in the perfect view of the lake and moonlit night.
As the boys attempted to throw pebbles below to the lake, the ladies sat on the rock ledges looking past them at the starry sky and the marshmallow moonlight.
"This was a pretty crazy summer huh?" Tori said.
"And it's only halfway through." Jade nodded.
"Yeah. But camp really made a difference," the Latina pointed out.
"It sure did, Tori," Cat patted her leg.
"Look at the boys, they're so weird," Tori laughed.
"Yeah, none of them will get their rock to the lake," Jade rolled her eyes.
"Hehe, silly boys," Cat giggled.
"But you gotta love 'em."
"Girl," Jade playfully glared at Tori saying the word 'love' referring to Robbie, Andre AND Beck.
"Chill, Jade, as friends," Tori stuck her tongue out.
"Yeah, they sure are something," Cat smiled at them.
The boys until now were laughing at their failures and for a moment looked back at the girls and waved.
"I'm so happy to have my best friend," Tori waved back at Andre.
"And my boyfriend," Jade winked at Beck.
Robbie smiled at Cat and waved at her, causing the red head to turn her face as red as her hair.
"What about you Cat?" Jade asked her best friend.
"Robbie's her best friend and boyfriend. She's got the best thing," Tori admitted.
"Well, you're right about one thing, Tori," Cat said. "Robbie's the best guy out there."
"So what is he then?" they wondered.
Cat smiled at the curly haired nerd as he turned around and tried throwing more rocks with his two best friends.
"He's my forever," she kept her twinkling gaze at him.
"Aw," Tori said to Jade.
"Don't ruin the moment, Vega."
A/N: Chapter Song title - Here's 2 Us - The title of this story. This song would have been the perfect send off for the show.
Favorite Joint Quotes:
Andre: So what's the plan?
Tori: I don't know. You're smart, she's mean. Come up with something. (A Film By Dale Squires)
Andre: Play that funky music, white girl.
Tori: You know I'm half Latina.
Andre: Well, then hit it, muchacha. (Stage Fighting)
Andre: Dale gave us credit.
Jade: Even I feel bad.
Tori: We should do something.
Cat: Waffles?
Tori: I like waffles.
Jade: Waffles are good.
Andre: I know a place.
Tori: Off we go. (A Film By Dale Squires)
Jade: We, we gotta get out of here!
Tori: Yeah! Thank you, Catherine obvious!
Trina: What?
Tori: I said thank you Catherine obvious.
Robbie: Did she say Catherine Obvious?
Andre: It's captain obvious.
Tori: Huh?
Jade: The expression is "Thank you CAPTAIN obvious".
Tori: It's not Catherine?
Trina: No...
Beck: Who would Catherine be?
Tori: CATHERINE COULD BE A CAPTAIN! (Survival of the Hottest)
Andre: You guys worried about Robbie?
Cat: Yeah, he called me in the middle of the night last night and just yelled: "What do I do, what do I do, what do I do, what do I do?"
Tori: And whadya say?
Cat: I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know! (Robbie Sells Rex)
Robbie: Well now I feel bad
Cat: It's okay, I like your stupid walkie talkies. (Wanko's Warehouse)
Jade: I got a little makeup on your pillow.
Tori: That's okay. I'll just ask my grandmother to make a new one... if she ever comes back to life. (Jade Dumps Beck)
Tori: Where did you get those standees of Cat?
Robbie: Well, I just... brought them from home...
Tori: Why do you have-
Robbie: I'm a tutor, and I don't like to talk about things I do at my house!
Tori: Does Cat know you have these?
Robbie: No, and don't tell her! (Jade Gets Crushed)
Andre: Dale Squires is taking all the credit.
Jade: And he keeps deleting all my very creative negative comments. (A Film By Dale Squires)
Robbie: I'll play pirates with you.
Cat: No. I don't like the way *you* play pirates. (Gorilla Club)
Cat: That is so tight.
Jade: Tight means cool.
Cat: That is so not tight. (Freak The Freak Out)
Cat: Maybe you're just smelling yourself! Good, right?
Jade: For you. (Freak the Freak Out)
Jade: So you don't wanna be Robbie's date.
Beck: And you don't want Robbie to bring another date.
Cat: Yes! Thank you! (One Thousand Berry Balls)
Jade: Wait, the costume designer was in your dressing room?... Was she cute?
Beck: *He* was adorable. (Beck's Big Break)
Jade: The witch sneers at Dorothy... then exits.
Cat: Oh, my. She spoke her stage directions. What am I supposed to do now?
Tori: Well, you are in a restroom. You could... wazz. (April Fools Blank)
Tori: What time is it?
Robbie: Uh... Almost 3 AM.
Andre: And what time do we have to check into the parade?
Sikowitz: 7 AM.
Robbie: Which means we have to be there in... (checks pear pod) let me do it over again... Uh-
Andre: FOUR HOURS! (Terror on Cupcake Street)
Robbie: You know, this morning, I saw her brushing her teeth here, in the girl's bathroom!
Jade: Why were you in the girl's bathroom?
Robbie: Are we talkin' about Cat or not? (Star Spangle Tori)
Beck: I've missed you.
Jade: So what are you gonna do about it?
(Beck steps forward and kisses her)
(Tori Fixes Beck and Jade)
Robbie: I'm sorry you got kicked in your head.
Cat: Sorry I didn't come with you to the dance in the first place. (Intertwines hands)
Robbie: Is my hand sweaty?
Cat: Yeah... It feels like a fish. (One Thousand Berry Balls)
Robbie: The butterfly was in your left ear.
Cat: I know.
Robbie: But it came out of your right ear.
Cat: It's a miracle! (Tori Fixes Beck and Jade)
Cat: I am so upset.
Jade: Did you try to play pirates with her?
Robbie: No! (The Blonde Squad)
Andre: Where are you goin'?
Robbie: For a... walk in the sunshine!
Cat: Oh, I'll come with you, I love sunshines!
Andre: Hey, are you guys just goin' to get more followers?
Robbie: No...
Cat: Yes, that's right. (The Slap Fight)
Cat: That was so fun!
Robbie: Yeah, maybe we should make out some time!
Cat: Robbie you're so gross! (Tori and Jade's Playdate)
Cat: Robbie, come help me pass out these C batteries.
Robbie: Will I get a hug?
Cat: Maybe
Robbie: I'll take that chance! (Driving Tori Crazy)
Beck: You woke me up!
Sikowitz: Oh, sorry, Beck. Certainly wouldn't keep you awake during my class!
Beck: Thanks, you're the best! (A Christmas Tori)
Robbie: And later if you're hungry I'll make you some spaghetti.
Cat: Would there be meatballs?
Robbie:There would. (The Blonde Squad)
Trina: Okay, you know how some girls say "I only like you as a friend"?
Robbie: Yeah.
Trina: I don't even like you that way. (The Blonde Squad
Robbie: How do girls put on skirts? Do you do it one leg at a time, like pants, or do you jump right in?
Tori: One leg at a time
Cat: I jump right in. (The Hambone King)
Cat: This Hambone battle is really scary.
Jade: We're about to watch two nerds compete by slapping themselves. I think we'll be okay. (The Hambone King)
Cat: Yay! Cupcake Power! Wooh!
Jade: Cat, Cat, Cat?! YOU'RE KILLING ME! (Terror on Cupcake Street)
Jade: Why won't he answer us?!
Andre: Oh you turned it off! You've been talking to an offie talkie! (Wanko's Warehouse)
Andre Harris: I've always gotten A's in music. How does a person go from an A to a D?
Jade West: It happened to me in the eighth grade. (A Christmas Tori)
Jade: You love me again
Beck: Who says I stopped? (Jade dumps Beck)
Robbie Shapiro: Can I tell you a secret?
Cat Valentine: Sure. (Robbie kisses her)