Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious ir any of it's characters. No money is made.
:}
Their return to the U.S. was a bit different then many people would expect, since they had a brief stop in Hawaii before heading over to the South American leg of the tour.. It was simply that Hawaii was closer to Oceania then South or Central America, so they'd planned to do a small tour of those islands at that time. Tori would play on three islands, Hawaii, Oahu, and Maui. It was also the next break on their world tour, giving the crew an extra three days in Oahu.
"I'm so looking forward to the time off." Tori gushed. "I was thinking of chartering a boat and sailing around the islands."
"I don't sail." Jade said calmly, dressed in her more professional attire. Since Trina's talk with Tori, all the security agents had been asked to dress professionally.
"Doesn't matter, Trina won't let me." Tori whined. "Nothing that risky until after the tour. I'm not allowed to go para-sailing, or surfing, or anything that might inhibit my ability to perform."
"So no dating jerks." Ryder said, smiling. He was expecting an eye roll, but instead he got a strange, forced, over the top laugh, like Tori was trying to act amused. "Okay, I get it, too soon, but you don't have to mock me. I know my sense of humor isn't for everyone." The bodyguard pouted, but then broke into a half smile. "Seriously, we're here to have fun, so why don't you just relax and enjoy. You can do the more active stuff later."
"Our hotel has a private stretch of beach." Trina said. "You can lay out there, tan and relax, swim, whatever. It's a sheltered bay, so you won't be dragged out to sea. And maybe, if we have the time, we can go snorkeling at Hanauma bay. It's crowded, but one of the best places for safe snorkeling."
"That would depend on who's turn it is to accompany me when I head out." Tori said. "Andre or Jade, fine, but Bill and Ron, not crazy about having them snorkel next to me." Her smile hid the idea that she might have offended one of her security people. But she didn't need to worry, they understood who her friends were.
"Lets get to our hotel and settle in." Andre recommended. "We don't have the days off until the end, and I wanna get there as soon as possible."
"Okay, folks, this is just like the Caribbean. We fly in, do a show, then relax until the next flight out. Tori, try not to get too sunburned. And Jade, maybe we can find some white paint to keep that skin of your healthy?" The manager said, smirking.
Jade rolled her eyes, but didn't say anything. It was an old joke. They were on the bus to the hotel, and everyone was ready for the next few days. Almost as important, they were back in the U.S. While it was the islands of Hawaii, it was technically home, so many of them wanted to just relax. That, and American television. Trina was floored by the number of people who wanted an on demand option for their hotels, and so they found one that offered a cable package including a fair number of shows covered by the cost of the room. Add in the spike in internet usage, and her cast was gonna catch up on a lot of their programs.
As the buss bounced along, Jade slid up to Andre. "Saw someone on my two, but they look to be heading the wrong direction now. Probably just a lookie loo."
"Stay alert, but just for the normal stuff." Andre instructed. "Maybe a bit more, given the number of folks here on vacay. But it's a closed environment, so I'm thinking we'll probably be safe from our mysterious stalker for a bit longer. South America, thats where I'm expecting trouble. Well planned out trouble. So I'm thinking we take on more security, as planned, and hope we can figure out their next move first."
Trina had asked to speak to her sister about business, something they'd been doing more and more over the last couple of days. "Tori, I need to talk to you about something." The older girl said. "I got a call from Robbie. He said that Beck pulled out of judging a beauty contest in Vegas over the weekend. Not sure why Beck would have withdrawn from that kind of paid weekend. That is, unless he was worried he couldn't control himself."
"Hay, I was engaged to that guy." Tori protested. Jade, for her part, stayed quiet. Then again, she was trying to give the sisters space.
"Have you been following the news lately?" The manager asked. "Beck gave himself a couple of months to supposedly mourn, then he started making up for lost time. Boy's been seen with a list of lingerie models and B list celebrities. He's embraced the bad boy image, to a point, and was scheduled to act as a judge for the miss Vegas Showgirl contest. No idea why he'd pull out of a commitment that would not only help his career, but put him around so many lovely girls who'd willing to have a fling, once they were eliminated from the contest. I think he's up to something."
"What else did you learn from Robbarraze?" Jade asked. This was starting to boarder on security, as well as affect her on a more personal level. Now she was involved.
"Thats the thing, as I said, I got a curtsey call from Rob just a few hours ago." Trina reminded everyone. "He's worried. Shapiro thinks that Beck hired himself a private eye, someone to figure out who spilled the beans on what happened way back at the American Voice auditions. Who knows what Lucy let slip, since she'd love to have the exclusive on whatever messy story came out of Beck's inquiries."
"Great, now I have to worry about Beck AND some stalker who's planning on kidnapping Vega here for who knows what purposes." Jade griped.
"Jade, when we get back to the states, assuming the label believes us, we'll see about adding more men to the security details. Just local off duty cops. That should help us out. And besides, I think we'll know better then to go chasing after one guy." Trina assured her. "You know, the idea you and Andre have been pushing on me."
"I spoke to a contact I have back home, a police officer in New York." The bodyguard said. "Had him do me a solid and get his hands on whatever he could about the guy you captured the day they almost got Tori. Guy said he was a merc, hired for one day, one job. Guy Ryder shot was the head guy for that team. I know, from what my contact told me, there was someone above, as well as probably one, or even two, drivers. Someone had to put the delivery truck in the way. So, I'm thinking, when this guy, assuming it's a guy, but when he strikes again, we'll be facing a different hunter looking for whatever bounty is being offered. That means different tactics. I'm assuming that we'll be walking into a trap they've been planning for months, probably in South or Central America. I've been speaking with Andre…."
"Then keep speaking to him." Trina cut her off. "And while your at it, speak to him about something formal. Our next stop is L.A., for the premiere of The Ginger Fox Story, starring Tori Vega. I want you there, near by. I'll find a way to get you in the show and keep you near Tori."
"You do that." Jade said. "So, Tori, should we go get ready?"
"We have time, and I want this show to be perfect. Let me talk to Trina here, then I'll join you for the meet and greet with the fans who're here." The singer hesitated. "Maybe we could look into another one when we hit the venue?"
"We'll see." Jade assured her, walking out of the room.
"Okay, Treen, I've bee thinking about your whole Ryder situation..." Tori started.
"Only it's not your business." The older sister said. "I don't owe you any kind of explanations. However, in the interest of letting my sister know where I am, I've been thinking a lot about it too. Part of me wants to ignore it, take the hit, and move on. Another part wants to wait until we have about two months left in the tour, you know, the high stress run towards home, and conveniently lose my birth control. I'd stop taking the pill, but I have a more long term solution in, and that'll take a visit with a doctor to remove."
"Y-Your thinking of having a child?" Tori stammered. Her sister could see her starting to vibrate with excitement.
"Yea, I've been thinking of micromanaging another life." The manager said. "You know, give you some room to breath. But first, we need to get past the early shows. Thing is, I never wanted kids before the day Jade told me Ryder might be smitten."
"Oh, he is." Tori cut off any possibility her sister might have more to say. "A player like him, and after speaking to the dancers and crew who've been around for a while, I don't think he's been playing the field in a long time. Hell, Beck's hit on more of the girls then he has. My fucking dancers."
"Go, meet your fans." Trina pushed. "Don't keep Jade waiting."
"Let me know the moment you've made up your mind." The younger sister insisted as she headed out the door.
"Sorry, Tor, but the moment I make up my mind, I think there's someone else who's got the right to hear it first." The older girl said softly. "Ryder, what the hell did you do to me?"
The three shows in the Hawaiian islands were all fun experiences for the tour. In addition to playing for her local fans, who she absolutely adored, Tori also had a lot of tourists. Those tourists were the unusual mix of people who happened to be in the islands anyways and just wanted to catch the show, and a few diehard fans who'd traveled all the way out to Hawaii for her performance. There was even a couple of contest winners who had been flown out, put up in a nice hotel, and even got to meet her before the show. Tori was amazed about that group, since the contest wasn't her, or her managements, idea. It was put on by one of the promoters back on the mainland, a drawing from people who'd attended one of her earlier shows, and sponsored by a local car dealership. But for those fans, she made it extra special, signing shirts and in general letting them know how happy she was to meet them.
Tori also made sure she knew all her options for public appearances, showing up at as many as she felt would be fun. Fans got to see her, enjoy her gratitude, and even hear a joke or two she'd picked up along the way. She'd insisted on stopping by the military recreation center on Oahu, as well as visiting pearl Harbor. She loved giving back to the military.
Her time on the radio only involved one mildly embarrassing incident, wen a DJ asked her if he could hear her bodyguard sing. Tori took a moment, spoke with Jade, admitting she'd recorded the blue eyed girl back when the bodyguard finally sang for her, and asking permission to play it for the radio audience.
"I really don't think this is the time for me to be showing off." The blue eyed girl said. "I mean, that song, the one you recorded, I'm not so upset about you having it as the thought you might be sharing it, so thanks for not sending copies around to everyone."
"Just to Trina, and she's already heard you sing." The pop princess assured her. "But my fans, they wanna know what you sound like. So pleeeease? I mean, it's for my fans, and we only have a few moments while the commercials play, and maybe that song..."
"I really don't think this is appropriate." Jade protested.
"Than maybe we'll sing together." Tori offered. "One of my songs, or something you like. Just, they deserve to hear you sing. It's been all over the papers, and sooner or later, someones gonna break in and record you in the shower, just to hear." Tori's hand was up. "I know you don't sing in the shower, but do you really want your privacy violated because someones that desperate? I know the stalkarazzi, I know what they'll do for a story, and the longer you hide this from them, the more likely they're gonna try something just to know what the dealeo is. So sing with me?" Puppy dong eyes shook the raven haired girls resolve to the core.
"Okay." She sighed. "But a couple of conditions. First, it's one of your songs, and you do most of the singing. I'll do a verse. Second, I don't want everyone back on the tour asking me to sing for them. I'm not the singer. Third, the station, their responsible for security while I'm singing with you. Got all of that?"
"On it." Tori cooed. "Lets get the song cued up. I think we'll sing 'Take a Hint.' Jade, I'll let you know your parts…"
Jade was less then thrilled at how many words her part of the song had, but somehow adjusted like a pro. Tori noted that her bodyguard was in even better voice then the last time she'd sung. 'Must have inspired her to practice…' She thought, and couldn't help but smile like an idiot. She resolved, once again, to help her bodyguard find a shot at her one time dream.
Jade hated how she'd given in, allowed herself to become part of the story. Deep inside, she just knew she would never hear the end of it. 'Now how do I blend into the background?' Yet, despite a live performance on the radio, Jade's singing would take time to filter out to the world.
Tori and her people also attended a birthday party, but only cause she'd give Jade and Trina advance notice. The blue eyed girl planned it out with Andre well in advance, sending Bill with a van to pick up the boy and his friends and take them to the backstage area to enjoy the fun. After those mini adventures, it was time for them to relax in Oahu, on the beach in Waikiki.
Tori and her crew were anxious for some beach time. While they could always use Waikiki, it was important to them to have privacy, so they chose instead a stretch of beach that was kinda private. A short ride would take them there, allowing the pop princess to relax and unwind. Only one problem presented itself. As they were making their way down to the bus they'd chartered to take them to the beach, they saw someone they'd thought they were done with..
"Hi babe, you miss me?" Beck said with an evil smirk on his face. Some blond girl was hanging off his arm, and he had his own security near by. One bodyguard and a hand full of old hangers on, most of whom knew Jade by sight.
"Dude, is that Jade?" One of the guys said. This guy looked like the kind of musclehead often found on the Jersey show.
"It's cool, Enzo. It's cool." Beck said to his old running buddy. "Jade, the guys haven't seen you in a while, wanted to say hello. We've been back running together since I had to make my own way, these last few months. I figured it'd be nice to have some of the old gang around me. And guess what, some of these guys really needed a fresh chance at life. So, they have their passports, their duties around me, and now I have an entourage. So much has changed, for all of us, in just the last year alone. Anyways, if I go over and say hi to my other ex, you gonna do something about it?" His smile said challenge, but he knew this was more of a poke at her.
"Beck..." Andre's voice was a warning, low and intense.
"What? I'm just here for the beach." The handsome boy said. "Look, Tori, I know there's a lot of bad blood between us, but I'm really here to bury the hatchet. I kinda have a favor to ask you, and I wanted to clear a bunch of chiz up first. So, why don't we load into my limo, and follow your bus to the beach. Jade, I'll even let you ride with."
"I'm not sure about this." Andre started.
"What do you want, Beck." Tori added. She was a long way from the fawning teen who'd fallen for him, or the desperate for love girl he'd been abusing before she'd broken it off with him. Now all she felt for him was anger, hurt, and a desire not to be alone with him ever again. Still, a part of her missed him...
"Half your boys ride with our crew on the bus." Jade said. "Vega, I think we should hear him out." Her eyes had been on the bodyguard, the only professional looking person among Beck's crew. She'd noticed that not only was this someone she didn't know, but behind those dark glasses, he seemed to be begging for her to do something, anything, to avoid trouble.
"Beck, what the hell do you want?" Trina asked. She'd come running as soon as someone told her he was there.
"I suppose we should have your manager there too." Beck said, smiling. "But we won't have enough room unless I send some of my boys on your bus. You know, in case she decides to blow Ryder. By the way, way to go Ryder. Scoring the boss lady. And she's a looker."
"Lets just get going." Jade cut in. "Enzo, nice to see you. You remember what'll happen if your hands slip to where their not supposed to go, right?"
"Good to see you too, sis." The boy replied.
"Sis?" Tori asked.
"Not by blood." The blue eyed girl quickly explained. "But his own family was kinda nice to me. When my parents ignored me, they took care of me. We kinda became siblings. In spirit."
"Oh." Tori said, looking confused.
"Okay, lets go." Trina informed her people. "Ryder, Jade, you're with us."
Beck, Enzo, the blond girl and Beck's bodyguard got in the limo, along with Tori, Jade, Trina and Ryder. The others all loaded onto the bus. Trina told the driver where they were going, and the two vehicles started down he road.
Only once they were moving did one of them speak. "Oh my chizzing god, it's Tori chizzing Vega." Enzo squealed like a girl. Beck just rolled his eyes, knowing his man had held it in as long as he could.
"Real smooth." Jade remarked.
"On the other hand, he makes a great personal trainer slash guy to have my back in a fight." Beck said. "Now, Tori, Trina, the reason I'm here is my private detective found something out."
"I don't care what you think you know, your not getting back with Tori." Trina cut in. Her eyes held a warning not to cross her.
"Who there, mama bear. Not what he was looking for. What he found out was that the guy who was behind the kidnapping attempt on Tori here might have been someone living in the goods old U.S. of A.." Beck said, enjoying being a step ahead of her for a change. It was easier now that he didn't have her watching his every public move to make sure he wasn't screwing up Tori's image. "Look, after DirtNow released it's hit piece, I hired this guy to look into where they could have found out about the American Voice incident. As you can guess, I had my spy in Jade's camp, so I knew she wouldn't tell." He nodded towards Enzo. "But as I was doing that, someone sent me an anonymous thumb-drive with a message on it. Guy was there, dressed like an Arab, with a mask to hide his face, going on and on about how I wasn't man enough for a woman like Tori. It occurred to me that this was probably the schmuck behind the kidnapping attempt. You remember, the attempt that put a knife wound in Dre's back. Realizing that, I repurposed my investigator to finding who was behind that message. I even got Lucy to agree to help look into a couple of leads. Hell, I'm indirectly getting that tool Shapiro to use his uncomfortably talented nose for news to help find this guy. And you know what we've discovered so far? He's probably living in the U.S."
"We'd figured the last part out." Jade said. "Otherwise, there were places in Europe, and especially Africa, where he'd have tried again. We figured, Andre, Ryder and me, that this guy hired someone to act as a go between, hire the help and everything else. And we also suspect that the guy Ryder shot was either the go between, or the head guy of the snatch team. So now, our mystery guy will have acquired a new team, possibly even a new face. We're planning on being ready."
"Bet you didn't know what Shapiro found. Wazzbag figured out that this guy is a fake Arab. Just a day or so ago." Beck added. "My person in his camp said he was watching the background, and saw just enough middle eastern paraphernalia to hint at an Arab, but thinks it's more decoration and less useful, like he wants the image. Also, the head wrap thingie, thats supposed to be wrapped around the face in case of a dust storm, so why wear a mask in addition? That says to me that this is someone who can pass as middle eastern, has a lot of money, but isn't really interested in being more accurate to the lifestyle of an Arab. You know, guys more into the mystique, that Arabian knights chiz."
"You know, not everyone from that region is Arab." Enzo said, drawing glances from everyone else. "What? I read. There are multiple ethnic groups, some of whom look like the rest, but don't identify as Arab, or Persian, or whatever."
"Anyways," Jade continued, trying not to smirk and roll her eyes at her kinda brother. "So this guy is playing at being some kind of rich middle eastern type, and using his cash to try and snag Tori here? Why? I mean, it's a major risk. It almost made more sense him being part of some rich extended family, and just being the kind who assumes he gets whatever he wants."
"Whats your interest in this, Beck?" Trina asked.
"He challenged me. Mocked my manhood and called me a baby dick." The actor replied. "And he didn't have the guts to do it right to my face. That, and the way you've handled the breakup is starting to feel like a good choice for my career. Just, Trina, I'm thinking our feud needs to be a bit more controlled. I'll survive the whole American Voice scandal, since I'm not really a singer. But we both know you could be feeding that loser Shapiro a lot of dirt on me, and I'd be swimming upstream in scandal. That, and I found out that," his voice shifted to sound as snooty as he could, "Phillip," his voice shifted back, "Has a personal issue with me. Turns out, he won't hire me cause one of my date and dumps was his friends kid. So I'm thinking you did keep your word and try to help my career."
"You pissed off Phillip?" Trina asked. "But, he scouts potential action stars for a couple of very connected agents. I need to fix this.."
"Not now." The bad boy cut her off, again. "Right now, we're talking about what we're gonna do about this stalker Tori has. I for one aim for him to fail, cause as far as I'm concerned, he doesn't get chiz. My P.I. will continue to work with Lucy and that hob knocker Shapiro to track this wazzbag down, while you continue with the tour, and we all find a way to spin this so I, and you, look good. I get to see this jerk janked up, taken to prison and if we're lucky, janked up again. The best part is, nothing I've done around this is gonna hurt my career. Even I can see to that. But I will need something to calm down my publicist. I need back on the guest list for Tori's movie premiere. It'll make it seem like my skipping out on Vegas was a good idea to my manager. Of course, my publicist thought the whole beauty pageant judge thing was a dumb idea, and told me so. I'm not telling her that I agreed, so I'm gonna need something with a red carpet that will make me look good. You know, your movie."
"And you'll want your buddies on the list too?" Trina asked. "No can do. I'm not even sure I can get all my own security into the premiere."
"I'll take care of some of it." Beck replied. "Jade will take Enzo here, cause she'd be on the job anyways, so he could be there for me. And then, it would help ward off Rabbarazi's attempts to link those two together. And we know there won't be any distractions, cause their practically family."
"Goody." Jade's voice was monotone.
"If you can get the tickets, I'll have Andre and Ryder there as support." Trina agreed.
"Now, lets get to this beach already." Beck said, looking at his driver.
"Five more minutes." The driver replied.
"So, truce?" Tori asked.
"More like a managed feud." Trina said, but extended her hand to Beck. He took it and they seemed to come to an agreement. "Lets hope that everyone stays within the limits of this deal."
"It's a truce of convenience." Beck pointed out. "I may still have feelings for Tori here, but I've never felt freer then I do now. And let me tell you, it feels good to be seen with various hot women who worship me in all the right ways."
"Nice of you to be so open." Tori said, looking at the blond girl.
"Oh, Sophie here understands the score." The actor said, smiling. "We're not even exclusive. But being with me helps her get noticed, while I get a hot babe on my arm. Also, she'll tell you I'm every bit the man in bed. Of course, you knew that too, didn't you. I bet you never find more of a man, unless Shapiro is right and your nailing Jade here." He acted like it was a joke, but the statement made half the people in the car feel less like they wanted this truce.
They then went quiet, not bothering one another for the remainder of the trip. The only sounds were Beck talking to his lady, Enzo explaining something to Jade and Trina calling Cat in LA. "Cat, things are changing, and we need Beck to get a couple of tickets to the premiere of the Ginger Fox Story. Also, Jade's kinda stepbrother will be in town, and we'll want a couple of tickets for him. Gives us an excuse to have Jade there, just in case."
"So anyways, no Arab prince would be allowed to just kidnap a celebrity." Enzo was saying in the background.
"On it." The perky girl said. "So, Beck's in Hawaii, huh? Someone told me he was there, and this pretty much confirmed it. So, what kind of offer did he give?"
"You see, their fine about buying love, concubines and chiz, and one middle eastern prince has playboy centerfolds among his harem." Enzo continued.
Trina chose to be subtle, despite everyone in the car knowing what she was about to tell her business manager. "Beck has as much to lose as we do if the guy behind that kidnapping attempt tries it again. So he's here offering to help. Says he has someone in Robbie's camp and everything."
"Wow, I wonder how much they know?" Cat said. "I mean, do they have anything juice on Robbie?"
"But the royals, in that part of the world, the ones with lots of cash, they're not big on spoiling their special relationship with the west." The Jersey boy droned on.
"No." Trina assured her. "But if they do, I'll fill you in, okay?"
"Yea, thanks." Cat said. "Look, I'd better get moving if I'm gonna get you those tickets you want. I mean, we're days away from Tori's big movie starring debut, and now I need to scrounge up four more tickets? I'll need all my wild skills for that. So, I'll call you when I have them. Bye."
"So by a kinda gentleman agreement, they'd be the first to react if someone could blame something like that on one of them." Enzo continued.
"Bye." Trina replied. "Cats' working on the tickets."
"Lets hope she get them." Beck said. "I mean, she hates me. Just look at the way she looks at me every time we're in the same place. I used to think it was jealousy, cause I was with Tori, and she wanted to be with me. Or Tori. I could never get a good read on her. I have no idea what kind of loser is her type, since she just doesn't like me. But I know now it was hate."
"So no, it couldn't be an Arab prince, cause they have too much to lose." Enzo finished. "Thats what I think, anyways." Jade just nodded, and continued watching her ex and her charge, in case something happened.
"Cat doesn't hate anyone." Tori said. "And I think she's been seeing someone for a while now. She probably didn't appreciate your hitting on her when my back was turned." The singer was now almost out of her seat. "Don't deny it. I know they didn't tell me everything, but you were in L.A. when I wasn't, and I'm betting you made an attempt." Jade's arm was out, to help restrain her charge if necessary.
"Which is why I'm thinking she's gay." Beck said, causing even Enzo to roll his eyes. The car went silent again, as Tori fumed and Jade tried to comfort her. Trina and Beck glared at one another, but there was less animosity now then there was before. Trina felt Beck was still a tool, but he was working with them.
:}
So Beck is back. And he has both news, and some personal beef with whomever the stalker is. I wonder, should they trust him? And he's running with some of the old gang, people Jade knows.
So thoughts. Just review, and let me know what you thought about giving Jade some family, kinda.