Disclaimer: The Show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are properties of someone else and not me.

Shock Value

Chapter 4 – School

No One's POV.

Tori and Trina sat in Trina's car in the parking lot of Hollywood Arts.

"OK Tori." Trina said after clearing her throat. "It's Friday, and you're not going act all "I'm depressed cause jade doesn't like me, " Understand?"

Tori nodded.

"Keep her off balance. That's what I always do to boys. Seem to like them one minute, than turn to ice the next. Then show interest to someone else. "

Tori thought for a moment. "What if that doesn't work?"

Trina smiled. "Then I just chase after them till they wear out. OK, let's hit it."

Both Vega girls exited the car and began to walk into the building. Tori was a bundle of emotions. Nerves, depression, hope and a hundred others. Trina had made her pick one of her cuter outfits. It was a shorter white skirt, a large brown leather belt and a denim top. Plus boots to top it all off.

As they were about to enter Trina turned to Tori. "Remember knock them dead, and get me Beck's number once they've broken up." Trina said with a slap to the back.

Tori put on her best, happy but slightly aloof face. Trina did focus much of her time on attracting potential mates and while she had experienced limited success herself, she was never short on helpful advice.

Tori walked in the door, not bothering to look behind her and to the right at Jade's Locker. As she reached her locker, Cat came bounding up.

"HI Tori!" The red haired girl giggled.

"HI Cat." Tori said in an upbeat fashion.

"You're happy today." Cat remarked, though to Tori it sounded like a question.

"You know what Cat, I have no real reason to be unhappy. I said what I wanted to say and I did what I wanted to do. I can't let Jade get me down."

Cat looked briefly behind Tori towards Jade's locker and then back to Tori.

"That's good because, she's glaring at you from her locker." Cat noted.

Tori smiled. "Is Beck there?"

"Yes, but she's ignoring him and glaring at you."

"Perfect" Tori thought.

"Come on let's get to class." Tori said as she shut her locker.

As Tori began to walk away she turned towards Jade's locker. As Cat said, Tori could see the Goth was standing there glaring at her. Beck was standing next to her, saying something which Jade appeared not to be paying attention to.

Tori pointed to Beck. "Uhh…Jade, Beck's talking to you." Tori said before she walked down the hallway.

For an instant Jade turned beet read, before her face paled again. The Goth's face twisted into an angry snarl as she turned to Beck.

"WHAT?"

Walking down the hallway Tori grinned ear to ear. Cat giggled in response.

"Looks like someone's more interested in you than her boyfriend." Cat remarked offhandedly.

"It would seem that way."

"So Tori, what are you going to do next?"

Tori shrugged, "I have no clue, maybe I'll be aloof for a couple of hours and not pay attention to her."

"She'll know you're not paying attention to her, on purpose."

"I think she secretly craves the attention, we'll see what happens."

The first two hours of the day, Tori ignored Jade. She had her in one class of the first two, but sat in the front row so Jade was behind her. In fact, Tori sat two rows in front of Jade. Never once looking back at her intended prey. In the hallway Tori, pretended Jade didn't exist. Granted that was very hard, but she managed it.

However during the day she got a few congratulations from people for coming out. Sinjin asked if Jade's kiss was as heavenly as he imagined it. Tori said it was better, but advised the strange boy not to try to steal a kiss.

"They'd be cleaning up your blood for a week." Warned Tori.

Sikowitz's class was 3rd of the day and obviously the one that Tori almost dreaded most. After her huge stunt of the previous day, Tori could only help wonder what Sikowitz would say or do.

Just before class, Cat whispered in Tori's ear. "I saw Beck and Jade fighting between classes, about an hour ago. Don't know what about."

Tori made a point again to sit in front of Jade, but off to the side this time. Just out of her normal line of site. Tori didn't look at Jade. Beck and Jade were sitting together.

Sikowitz entered as he usually did, coconut in hand. He smiled a Tori and glanced at Beck and Jade then started a lecture on method acting. He spent a good part of the class, talking about, famous acting teacher Lee Strassberg and his acting techniques. The lecture was actually rather dry and the whole class looked like it would be uneventful It was killing Tori to know, if Jade was looking but she didn't want to break.

Near the end of the class he suddenly stopped his lecture in the middle of a story about James Dean.

"I see you kiddies are falling asleep. Let's liven things up shall we. Perhaps not to the degree of yesterday's insanity but we'll certainly try."

Tori momentarily blushed but otherwise did nothing.

"OK alphabet improv. Tori you're up. Her partner will be…" He said with a sip of the coconut.

Instantly everyone in the room looked at Jade, fully expecting her to be called next. Her face quickly formed a scowl and she seemed to tense up.

After a brief dramatic pause, Sikowtiz announced "Beck"

Jade glared at Sikowtiz who shrugged of the death gaze of the Goth. Beck who looked somewhat irritated slowly walked up on stage.

Tori found herself face to face with the rival for Jades affections. He looked irritated and somewhat uncomfortable. Tori was nervous but otherwise, covered it with a smile.

Tori decided, not to make this exercise about Jade. Something told her not to.

"OK Tori, You can start." Sikowtiz said.

"Apples are yummy"

Beck huffed for a moment then tensed up.

"Butt out"

"Uh..OH" Tori thought

"Calm is the way to go." Tori responded.

Beck seemed to tense up more.

"Don't think, I don't know what you're trying to do."

Meanwhile Jade sat there, watching the pair intently. A look of tense anxiety, on her face.

"Eleven is once in Spanish" Tori said, nervously trying to divert the subject.

Beck's Jaw hardened.

"Forget your apology" He spat out.

"Shit" Tori thought.

"God dam it, stop being a Jerk." Tori said standing her ground. Putting Jade on the spot again seemed like a bad idea to Tori. But Beck seemed to want to keep pushing it.

"How can I keep her with your interference?" He barked as the tension in the room went up about a 1000%.

Tori glanced at Jade who was glaring angrily at the both of them, but more at Beck.

Tori's patience gave out and she decided to strike back. "I didn't know you were losing her?" Tori said, trying to appear smug..

Beck seemed to snap. "Jade loves me!" He said pointing to his chest. Though in the way he said it, it sounded like he was trying to convince Tori of that and not tell her that.

Tori never got to say her K word. After a very brief but uncomfortable silence, the next sound was the door slamming as Jade stormed out.

Lee Strassberg was a legendry acting teacher who taught the likes of Marylin Monroe, Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. He was big on method acting.

A shorter chapter but a with some nice tension between Beck and Tori.