Disclaimer: I don't own.
:}
In Los Angeles, Cat had called the studio and got the extra tickets she'd reserved months ago, back when she was making contingency plans. She usually released those tickets a day before the show, or gave them to a local radio station for contests. But today, her constant contingency planning paid off. 'And I have a pair left over, in case I want to see the movie myself. I just wish I could take a date.'
She made another call, and barely had time for the phone to ring before a very familiar, and male, voice answered. "Cat, Baby, whats up?"
"Rob, Beck's with Tori and Trina in Oahu, and I think Trina mentioned something about the guys who tried to grab Tori." She informed him.
"I've been working with Lucy on that, and I know she's been sharing intel. with Beck." The on line gossip said.
"Beck also said he has a mole in your operations." The redhead warned.
"No, he just thinks he does." Robbie replied. "I know about Steven, and the spy you know is worth more then no spy's at all. But right now, we're on the same side. We're all about catching that guy who tried to hurt Tori and seeing him go to jail."
"Yea, I'm gonna miss this job." Cat lamented. It felt like it came from left field.
"And why would you give it up." The boy asked. He knew how her mind worked sometimes, and was ready to head off any deviation before it wandered into dangerous territory.
"Cause we're getting married next summer." The petite girl reminded him. "And I doubt we'll be able to hide our relationship after Trina finds out. And don't say she won't find out. I'm planning on asking her to be one of my brides maids."
Robbie sighed, stifling a chuckle. "Cat, darling, of course she'll find out, and thats why she'll keep you. First, like I said, the spy you know. But second, and this is important, you've never told me anything I couldn't find out another way. Mostly you helped me keep track on an old school friends activities. Besides, Trina has no one but herself to blame for us being together. I mean, she did introduce us."
Cat smiled. "I have things to do, cause of the movie and stuff. But I was wondering, would you like me to smuggle you a ticket?"
"I already have one." The gossip blogger said. "Lucy made sure I'd have one. But if you decide you want to go, I could pretend to be forced to sit next to your, hold your hand?"
"Maybe, if you cook me something special tonight." Cat sugested.
"I'm almost done with work today." Rob was thinking aloud. "I could go to the market, get us some fresh trout. How's that sound."
"Fish guts in my kitchen, smelling things up for tomorrows breakfast?" Cat griped.
"Okay, Trumans has fresh Trout steaks. I could get us some, make you a dinner fit for a queen, and then who knows what we'll be in the mood for?" Robbie tried.
"Okay, but when we going to bed, no playing pirates." The business manager said. "Even though we're together, I still don't like the way you play it. Now, if you don't mind, I have a lunch I can't avoid. And get condoms."
Back in Hawaii, the group was enjoying the morning beach air. Beck and his crew were vastly outnumbered, so they were on their best behavior. Bill and Ron both were rocking their swim gear, showing off their huge physiques and talking up the ladies. Beck's crew were also enjoying the sun and beach. Only Jade and Trina were preoccupied by other thoughts. Jade was watching everything, trying to stay alert just in case something went wrong.
Trina was watching Ryder. 'Do I really want him in my life? I mean, he's been there for ten fucking years, but do I want him in all of my life? Kids? Could he handle being my husband? Or would he be the wife? Why the fuck am I lost in this shit? I'm supposed to be the mastermind. Plotting Tori's next big move while laying on a beach. It's why there's a router in the bus, so I can stay on top of everything. Hell, when I relax, I like to have someone watching in case I'm needed. Do I really have time for kids?'
Beck was also preoccupied, spending a lot of his time watching his ex. The blond girl he'd brought along tried to get his attention, even almost losing her top. But that just brought Bill rushing over to offer his towel until she could get her top straightened out. Sophie thanked him and went back to trying to get her boy's attention from his ex. "You wouldn't know if there was a nude beach somewhere where we could just relax?" She asked.
"That works a lot better before we've slept together." Beck said, still watching Tori. "Excuse me, I need to talk to someone." He practically blew her off, standing up to go speak with someone who wasn't her about someone else who wasn't her.
"If you wanna try swimming, I'll keep an eye on you." Bill offered. She just gave him a look of disgust. "I understand, Beck's good looking. It's just, you know this is temporary at best. Don't put yourself in an uncomfortable position for something thats just not gonna happen."
Sophie looked over at the large man, and tried to figure out his game. 'Everyone's out for themselves, so whats he hoping to achieve?' She wondered. "Thanks." She drolled, not bothering to hide how little she cared about his kindness.
Beck had made his way over to Trina, sitting down next to her. "You see it too?" He asked, trying to be as neutral as he could.
"See what?" She asked, pulled from her own inner turmoil. She still kept her eyes on her Pearpad, trying to look like she was doing something other then watching her sister, or Ryder, or anyone who was now causing ripples in her once controlled world. A world that only Beck's actions had marred this much in the past.
"Don't lie to me." The actor demanded. "Is Tori nailing my ex?"
"No." The manager replied. "Tori claims she's not into girls, despite what you or I may think we see. And believe it or not, this is her toned down behavior."
"I said don't..." He started through clenched teeth. "Wait... Y-you knew... And you've already spoken to her about it?"
"You sound surprised." The older girl said.
"Mostly that you'd admit this to me." Beck said.
"I'm not gonna lie about her behavior, not to you. Not when you've already seen it." The olde girl said. "But only cause I've already heard this from Andre. But, FYI, Tori's in denial, and Jade's not interested, so I'm staying out of it. I've messed around with her love life enough as is."
"Oh, Jade's interested." Beck said, his voice wobbling slightly. Trina's eyes finally shifted from her pad to the actor. "Look at her, working overtime just to be working. I know this beach is probably as safe as anything, and if someone wanted to hurt Tori here, they'd be facing her whole tour. No, Jade's on the clock to avoid whatever feelings she's having."
"How would you know?" Trina asked. "Before Bermuda, you hadn't seen her in what, ten years? She's changed a lot, even been tempted by a girl. She told me about a one night stand she had after a cage fight. Not important, just, she said she wanted more..."
"I'm betting that was right before she told you she didn't know how to ask for it." The actor said, a smirk crossing his face. "But your right, I don't know her as well as I used to. But I know someone who does." Then he shouted down the beach "HEY ENZO!"
The personal trainer had just recently come out of the cove, and was showing off his still wet body to a couple of the dancers, flexing and posing. The moment he heard his name, he looked over at his boss. "WHAT?" He yelled back. Beck motioned for him to come closer, and the Jersey tough guy ran across the sand to where his boss was sitting. "What?" He asked again.
"Look at Jade and tell me what shes thinking." Beck instructed.
"Like I can read minds." The personal trainer said. "If I could do that, I'd be in Atlantic City, earning my keep by reading what the other guys were holding."
"Just tell me what you can see, if anything, just by watching her." Beck instructed.
"What am I looking for?" The follower asked.
"If we told you that, it kinda eliminates the reason for asking you." The handsome boy said.
"Okay, okay, calm the chiz down." Enzo griped as he looked at his not quite adopted sister. "So, who's she crushing on?" He asked, still looking her over. He'd barely been watching a second, and already read that much.
"What makes you think she's crushing on anyone?" Beck asked. He wasn't bothering to hide his smirk, cause his man was looking the other way, and he wanted Trina to know just how much he already knew. 'It feels good to be ahead of her, even if it's only in spirit.'
"After you broke it off with her, she got all hurt and gun shy. Then, the next few encounters didn't exactly go her way. Did you know, when she was cage fighting, she nailed a groupie?" Enzo said, not noticing how Trina gave Beck a quick raised eyebrow. "Girl actually thought that a groupie was after something more then a quick thrill. But by then, she'd been messed up by love, and was looking to hurt people. Just, you know, the whole cage fighting bit. Not the romance, which she's chiz at." He had to keep looking back at Jade, while trying to give Trina and his friend slash boss his attention. It made it hard to see a lot of what was going on, focusing instead on the pretty faces.
"She was different before?" The manager prompted.
"Ask Beck here. She pretty much told him they were dating, even threatened to toss any girly girl who tried to move in on her turf into the sewers." The Jersey boy reminisced. "But she was always like that. Like how she joined our family. Her mom, she was lost when Jade's dad up and left. I think he believed that Jade wasn't his, or something like that. Anyways, when her dad would come by for the kids, he'd take the others and leave Jade. Her mom would use that time to go out and party, so Jade kinda had to fend for herself. Since my parents didn't kick her out the first time, back when she was about seven maybe, so when we let her stay and eat, she stated showing up at our place for meals all regular like. And when the authorities were less then useless, we just kinda kept feeding her when she'd come by. Our relationship developed from there."
"Ouch." Trina said. "Tough life."
"Tough girl." The boy replied. "You know how she learned to fight? One of her moms boyfriends worked at this big dojo, and put her in classes to help with her temper. Two black belts, as well as a lot of cross training, and she still had a temper. But after the other shit she's been through, she's learned a lot of self control. Too bad she's so busy trying to avoid her crush, cause it's making it hard for me to see what you're hoping I…" There was av sharp intake of breath, followed by a stifled squeal. "Oh my loving chiz, she's crushing on Tori Vega. Did you see the way she forced her eyes off miss Vega's ass. Not that I blame her, thats a mighty nice ass..."
"Trina here is Tori's sister." Beck said.
"Then you understand, she has a nice ass." The boy said, not missing a beat. "Not that yours is bad, cause wow. It's just, she has a nice tight ass, and it looks good on her frame. And the way she's teasing sis, wagging it in her face..."
"I think thats enough." Beck cut him off.
"Okay boss." Enzo said. "Wait, you were trying to figure out if she was still holding a torch for you, weren't you. I totally get it, if she weren't practically my sister, I'd hit that. But boss, Beck, you hurt her. I'm amazed she hasn't tried something drastic, and violent, against you. Then again, she's done wonders with her anger issues."
"Why don't you go back to winning the hearts of some dancers." The actor suggested, and his personal trainer was off and running. "On the other hand, he's a surprisingly good personal trainer." That seemed to be his fallback defense at having his old friend around.
Trina's head was in her hand. "Great, now I owe Andre ten bucks." She groaned.
"So, your really gonna just let them figure this out on their own?" The actor asked.
"Don't you dare go using this against either one of them." The manager growled.
"I'm not the one." He replied. "Not any more. But I do kinda owe her enough to want to help."
"Tori, or Jade?" Trina asked, giving the boy her full attention for a moment longer. But he didn't answer, and she didn't press the issue.
Trina sat with Beck for a while longer, watching his blond girl try to get his attention, and only succeeding in drawing Bills, until the manager felt it was time to deal with her next problem. She got up, shouldered her beach bag, and walked over to where Andre was resting after going body boarding, carrying her Pearpad. "I kinda owe you some money." She opened.
"Nah, you always pay me on time." He said with a shake of his head. "Unless it has something to do with our girl over there."
"According to Beck's personal trainer, who's practically a brother to Jade, she's seriously smitten with Tori. Only problem is, she's both too professional to do anything about it, and too scared of being in a situation she can't control to bother to take the risk." Trina said, sitting down next to him. "I'm not sure what our next move is." She put her pad in the beach bag.
"Phillip." The head of security said. "She's gonna be with you when you take a meeting with Phillip, and you can have her show off her stuff. Maybe do a screen test. If he likes her, then she'll be doing movies, and making enough that she can date Tori."
"Only she won't." Trina emphasized. "I listened to Enzo there talking about how Jade's been for the last couple of years, and it's not good. We need to do something, but I'm not surer what."
"What happened to staying out of Tori's love life?" Dre asked.
"Not always an option." The older girl replied. "Look, I have a bad enough history with romance, and it's becoming my bane. I just need to know whats the right thing to do here?"
"And you think I know?" The security chief asked. "My own dating history is worse then Tori's. I have trouble holding down a relationship. One of the reasons I love being a bodyguard is I can be around such interesting and fun people, and don't have to be the center of attention. If I were, you'd know I trade in girlfriends faster then George Clooney. But it's all good, I'm more in love with the idea of being in love then the actual act. Once the initial infatuation wears off, I kinda lose interest. So being a bodyguard, traveling, seeing the world, it fits where I am right now. I'm in no hurry to change any of this. Plus, Tori's gonna need me to make sure her home is all safe and stuff, as well as take care of her when she travels."
"You ready to train a whole new team?" Trina asked, changing subjects. Both of them wanted to help, but had no idea what to do.
"Yea, I've been thinking about our needs, but if I'm honest, we need a lot more flexibility going forward..." Andre said, going off on what he intended to do.
The stay in Hawaii was peaceful after that, with Beck making a point of staying in a different hotel and keeping his distance. They resumed their feud, only this time managed by Trina, as well as Beck's publicist. It helped, once word leaked that Beck had been put on the list for Tori's movie, reportedly by one of the studio's executives. That one move made Beck look to be positioned for bigger, better things. Tori, for her part, was assigned the roll of being above it all, still yearning for someone but over Beck. Trina would be the other half of this feud.
Then, all too soon, everyone was loading up for the next leg of the flight, and a stopover in Los Angeles. It was the reason they didn't get a longer rest stop, so Tori could attend the premier of her movie, and do a little press.
"You up for this?" Trina asked her sister. "From this moment on, every press conference we do is about the film. We continue to tour, but you'll be flying back to the U.S. for a few talk shows along the way. And Jade, after we finish with the premier, you'll be with her every step of the way. Those interviews will be a prime opening for someone to try and take her, away from the majority of her security."
"I spoke with Andre, and the studio, and we'll have extra security provided by them." Jade replied. "But your right, we'll have to be extra careful. The last thing we need is for her to be taken on my watch."
"Thats the spirit." Tori added. "So, whats the first thing everyone else wants to do when we get to L.A.? Me, I'm planning on going home."
"Thats right, Jade here's never been to your place." Andre chimed in. "Tori has a place in the hills, bought it years ago. Her sister has the place right next to it. While the others will be enjoying their time off, maybe even going home, we'll be resting it up at Tori's place."
"We also have the movie, and a show." Trina scolded them. "This way, we won't have to have another show here at the end of the tour."
"We're planing on ending in New York." Tori pointed out. "I have a place there too. Just an apartment. But you'll see it when we get there."
"So, a show?" Jade asked.
"Night after the premier." Trina filled her in. "Then we pop down the coast to Central and South America, going back up the other side. Once we're done there, we fly up to Canada for a tour across it, ending in Alaska. From there, select dates across the U.S. for the next one hundred and twenty days until we're back in new york. A more leisurely tour. After the end of the tour party, we fly home, and your contract will have been fulfilled."
"Sounds like you can't wait to get rid of me." Jade joked.
"Mostly, for me, it's a month off, straight, before I start my next project." Tori told her. "So, lets get this going. Jade, stay close, I wanna show you all the sights."
"Except I have a lunch meeting tomorrow with Phillip, and I can't take Ryder." Trina pointed out. Then she addressing the hurt look on the mans face. "What? He's doesn't like players, and lord knows you were a player once. So, I take Jade, do the meeting, and we're back in time for the premier. Everyone has fun, we rest up for the concert the next night, and we're off to central America."
Sighing, the tall mean spoke. "I get it. Not even on the guest list for the movie. Jade is, but not me. The guy who's been with your for ten long years." Ryder's face broke out in a smile, unable to keep himself from laughing.
"Yea, glad you didn't go into acting." Trina said, smiling.
The flight was relaxed, and then they faced LAX with a calmness that spoke of how used tot his airport they were. The crew separated their bags, sorting some for later use, while sending the majority to either the arena, for the costumes and such, or to a carousel waiting for the members of the tour. From there, for the first time in over a year, they went their separate ways, with everyone agreeing to meet back at the arena in time for the show. One bus took those of the tour who weren't from the Los Angeles area to their hotel, while Tori loaded her people into a limo. Once everything was set, they drove off into the city of angels. Not once, during the entire time at the airport, did anyone look the least bit nervous. And the group, despite the long flight in from Hawaii, was rested and ready to see home again, even if it was just for two days.
Tori and her entourage got to the pop stars house, and immediately Jade felt overwhelmed. It was over seven thousand square feet in the Hollywood Hills, with seven bathrooms and a view of the city. "I have a pool, a jacuzzi, even a private air conditioned sound proof practice room, and they have a bunch of places for me to store bottles in it." Tori explained, looking ready to show off her beautiful home.
"Sounds like a wine cooler." Jade said, but Tori just smiled at her with a strange look on her face.
"There's a guest suite that we use as a security hub." Andre said, saving them from an awkward conversation.. "It's a gated community, with security of it's own, so we're cool."
"And the boss lives right next door?" Jade wondered.
"Yep." Andre said.
"Her place is smaller, with fewer bedrooms, but she has an office there too, and often works from home." Tori said.
"So we'll see Cat there" The blue eyed girl asked.
"Probably, but Cat has her own place, with her own home office, as well as an office we use in town." The singer informed her.
"Let me show you the important stuff." Andre said, showing the other bodyguard around. "This is the room I use when we're here. Bill and Ron share another room. But, as you can guess, thats only when we're on tour. When she's home, we have our own places. Still, here, we have all the comforts of a very modern home, build on a generous lot, with full city views."
"The view of the city is lovely at night." Tori started. "I remember, when I got this place, thinking of how it would be to make love while looking at the city. Then I went and told Beck, and wouldn't you know it, the only place on gods green earth he didn't want to nail me doggy style was here in my bedroom. I'd have even settled for a side view, turn my head and bam! But no, somehow we always did it so he had the view."
"Just a thought, don't use that story in any of your interviews." Jade suggested, smiling. "I'm gonna go talk to the boss lady, see where she wants me sleeping tonight."
'I know where Tori wants you sleeping.' Andre thought, then scolded himself for such improper thinking. 'Tori, please, for the love of god, figure this Jade thing out, so I don't have to worry about saying the wrong thing.' He silently begged.
Jade wandered over to the one door in the fence along the side of the back yard leading to another home, and through it to a less modern, more classic home. Ryder came out to greet her. "Jade, good to see you." He welcomed, acting like he hadn't seen her in ages. "So, what'd you think of Tori's place?"
"Vega's place was nice, if kinda huge. I mean, wow, how much space does she need?" The New Yorker said. "And it sounds like she converted he wine cooler into a practice room."
"She did." The tall bodyguard said. "Way back when they bought their places, Tori was touring that one, and saw the glass doored wine cellar. But when Tori saw it, she slipped inside and sang a few notes, but no one heard her. The insulation they'd used to help keep the room at a constant temperature was functionally soundproof. So when Trina next saw her, she was gushing about the practice room, when it was really a wine cellar. But that was one of the reasons she bought it. Another was the place next door, this one, was also for sale, so Trina would be near by if she needed her. We had that door installed, as well as upgraded security, and vala, we have the Vega compound."
"So she still doesn't know it's a wine cellar?' Jade asked.
"I think she always knew." Ryder assured her. "But she doesn't drink that much wine. So for her, it's a practice room."
"So, where am I sleeping?" The blue eyed girl asked.
"Trina has a room ready for you." Ryder said. "And wants to go over something. I'll let you get to it, while I go over tomorrow with Tori."
Jade walked into the house. "Jade, I'm getting worried." The older girl said as soon as she was in the living room. "It's been occurring to me, if they have a spy in our organization, they'd know about all our planned stops, right?"
"Sounds about right." Jade agreed.
"Then we're in danger of a snatch attempt while she's promoting this film." The manager said. "I'm thinking of canoeing her promotion tour.'
"That depends, whats the planned tour?" Jade asked.
"Just a couple of major, nation wide talk shows." Trina said, glancing at her pear pad.
"I'm guessing one or two in Los Angeles, and another one or two in new York?" The bodyguard guessed.
"We have the late night shows to think about, Colbert, Kimmel, O'Brioan, couple of others." Trina assured her. "Then we have a couple of the morning shows. Thats about it. But we'll be flying her in and out of both cities about a half a dozen times for the scheduled interviews."
"Great, lots of opportunities for them to make a move." Jade said. "The only good, we only have two cities to worry about. Two huge metropolitan areas with millions of people. No problem at all."
"Glad you agree." Trina chimed in. Then the manager opened her mouth, but didn't say anything. A second later, she tried again and this time managed to make a sound. "I was gonna say something, but it's better if I don't."
"About?' The blue eyed girl urged.
"I was going to try and help Tori with her love life, but I think it's better to just stay out of it, let them figure things out for themselves. That way, your not caught in the middle." The older girl explained.
"Yea, about that, I know I should have kept my mouth shut about Ryder. It was never my business." Jade admitted.
"But I'd made it everyone's business, without asking anyone." Trina explained. "So yea, it was the right thing to say. Now, I've been thinking about what you'd told me, about how Ryder is smitten, and I see it now. I totally do. And trust me, once I figure out what I want out of things, He'll be the first to know. Until then, yea, that time it worked. And the lesson is, sometimes we get stuck in our own assumptions, and don't move. You broke me out of my own assumptions. Now, no matter what I do, it'll be my choice, not me just going with the flow."
"Good." Jade said, but she still felt very awkward. "So, whats on the agenda for tomorrow? Us, I mean."
"We'll be heading over to a meeting with Phillip at about nine in the morning. Our meeting is at ten, but he's always running late, so we'll probably be waiting around for a while. Then, we'll be talking going to lunch, and talking again. We have him until two thirtyish, but shouldn't take that long. However, I'll need one more thing from you."
"Okay, what?" Jade asked.
"I'm thinking of backing one of his personal projects, and I'll be wanting to see how it plays out." Trina informed her. "Maybe you could act out a scene or two for us? I won't get the script until that moment, so it'll be a cold reading. But we'll see how it flows, and you can give me an idea if this is a project worth going for."
"Really?" Jade asked.
"What?" The manager somehow looked innocent. "You told me you trained as an actress, and we're not looking for perfect, just an idea of how things will flow. Maybe, if you feel uncomfortable, we can have you show off some of your mad martial arts skills to break the ice."
"If I didn't know better, I'd swear you were showing me off to a director you know." The bodyguard said, looking warily at her boss.
"Don't be ridiculous." Trina assured her. "He doesn't do casting for his own movies. That would be absurd."
Jade was a bit unsure, but agreed to go along with the switch, cause there was just that air of truthiness about the whole argument. Besides, she was just the hired help. 'I just don't like the idea of Tori not having me there if things go sideways.' She worried. 'I mean, Ryder and Andre are professionals, but I still want to be there, watching her back.'
:}
So, we now know who the spy was, but admit it,, you all saw that one coming, right? So what are your thoughts on Beck's discoveries about Tori and Jade? And what about Tori's Home? I loved the idea of her converting the wine cellar (Technical a room, in many of these places) into a practice room. And what will happen with Phillip? So many questions, and we still have a nightclub to hit.
Review, and I'll see you next time.