Disclaimer: Victorious and it's characters belong to Schneider's bakery. I own only what I create. I make mo profit off of these stories.
:}
Jade would remember the experience of the premiere for years. It was the first, and only experience the entire tour where she'd gone to an event, with Tori, without having to play any other roll then just being Jade. From their walk past the red carper, cause they weren't nearly important enough to deserve treading on it's sacred threads, to waiting in the theater for the starts to finish making their entrances and sit down, she never once had to be security. Enzo managed to get them out to the lounge area for drinks as the stars and celebrity guests showed up. The security at the theater was top notch, only allowing her and her semi-brother to get near Tori when Trina told them it was okay. She then tried to take a position near by, in case of trouble, but even Enzo seemed to know that was ridiculous. "Sis, they got this. I've counted maybe a hundred cops out there, in their suits from Sears that scream sucker. Look, we're covered. I doubt anyone would try chiz with that much cover here." She just rolled her eyes at the obscure joke and continued to look around.
Jade did manage to get a couple of words with Tori, but only just, before Robbie Shapiro made his entrance. He was, naturally, on the red carpet, telling the press that "I've known Tori a long time. Do you think, as a friend, I wouldn't be here for her. Of course I would. Tonight isn't about her secret orientation, which, news flash, isn't even news any more. It's 2020. We're an open society now. No, this is about her movie, which reminds us that while she's America's girl next door, she's also a mega talent who deserves all the praise she's gotten. Now, if you don't mind, I've been told that tool Beck Oliver is here tonight, and I need to know if he rents his dates by the hour, or the day."
Jade was in the background, just inside the theater, when Robbie Shapiro gave his interview. 'Robbie Shapiro, star of Robbie Shapiro presents Robbarazzi.' She reminded herself. She then mingled, trying to look out for anyone armed, only to have Enzo escort her back to the VIP section.
"Beck cleared things up. We're gonna hang with him for a bit. Then, the movie." He told her. "By the way, is that Cat chick seeing anyone? She's kinda on the small side, but she's definitely cute, and I like em like that."
"I think I heard something about her getting married." Jade replied, feeling a bit awkward talking about Cat's love life. 'We don't hang out any more. I only know from when I worked for her, over a year ago.'
"Jade, how many pictures have they taken of you yet?" Beck asked, pointing at the numerous photographers about. It felt like an odd question, but she knew Beck might just be comparing notes. Part of the reason for being here, for him and for Tori, was to have their picture taken.
"None." She replied. "I'm thinking even this dress isn't enough to get the perve photographers attention."
"Nudity would do it, but otherwise, there are girls here in less, showing more, and getting nothing. The press is after celebrity stories, not the random nobodies who managed to talk their way into the premiere." The actor explained. "But come, we have some work to do." He led them to the plane blue wall someone had scribed the name of the movie on, over and over, used by the press for a lot of their interviews. With Ashley by his side, and Enzo in toe, it was Beck's turn to be interviewed.
He answered a few basic questions, like who his date was, what label he was wearing, stuff like that. Along the way, he assured the press that his date was just another girl he was seeing, and not a prostitute. "I don't pay for companionship." He reminded them. "But speaking of paid companionship, or at least friends on my payroll, I managed to do a solid for my man, Enzo here." He gestured to his friend. "Not only did I get him tickets, but his hot date, who's actually his step sister, is the smoking hot bodyguard Tori Vega has been using on her international tour. Again, not a prostitute, but someone I've known since childhood, who is here because we're friends, and Enzo is practically her brother. Yea, I'm into family like that.""
Jade was caught in the headlights of an onrushing train, thinking of how she could kill her one time boyfriend and not spend the rest of her life in jail. She had to push past her embarrassment, rage, and other feelings to hear whatever it was Beck was saying. "You see, Zoe here wanted some family time, and the only time Jade has off is when Tori's at an event like this. So I got them tickets, and here they are. See, proof that I'm not feuding with that micromanaging harpy, Trina." He gave his patented smile, only to hesitate for a moment. "Sorry, Jade likes her boss. But, we should mingle." He gave another wave, and pulled them away from the press and back into the party.
"What the holy chiz was THAT all about!" Jade seethed, her glare digging hols in the wall behind Beck.
"It achieved a couple of goals." Beck replied. "First, you said no one was taking your picture, and this changed that. Now, we both know there have been plenty of photos taken of you, one's where we can see who you are, when you're working for Tori. Problem is, the press wasn't caring about them. This will change that. Second, I threw gas on the fire of my feud with Trina. Pretending to make nice, while insulting her, should get the press speculating. And you were with me. That brings us to the last point, which is going back the first. Your picture is gonna be circulating now. No under cover work for you, Missy." His smile broadened as he wagged a finger at her, and Jade wanted to bite it off.
"When Trina hears about this.." She threatened.
"Sorry, I cleared it with Trina while you and Enzo here were looking around." The actor gloated, smirking. "She approved, providing I did it her way. I kinda did." He shifted. "Look, you're changing careers, and we only have a few months to create some buzz. I'm just helping everyone. I made sure they knew you were spending family time, so the press will have to work to claim I'm sleeping with you. And, this adds buzz to the premiere story. Not sure how this translates into people buying tickets, but my publicist insisted it will. So, now you can enjoy the rest of the show, cause the press is gonna wanna take your picture."
After that interview, Jade did manage to relax and enjoy her fantasies about skinning Beck alive once the premiere was over. It was obvious, even as the vain actor came around to their side of things, he would never want peace with Trina. It was probable he didn't want peace with Tori. He just wanted a controlled war. 'And it wasn't like anyone planing something against Tori won't know what I look like.' Jade reasoned.
But, freed of any obligations beyond avoiding the sleazy photographers who now wanted her picture, Jade was able to let go and have a drink. One drink of Champlain to help her relax before the movie, and then a lot of celebrity watching. This premiere was A-List, with many of the biggest names in Hollywood attending.
Later, she enjoyed the film, but had to agree with the critics who would later point out that the writing wasn't up to the talent, and even Tori's adorableness wasn't able to make the character likeable. The music, as expected, was the high point of the movie, with Tori carrying it off with a polished professionalism that the original only achieved through auto-tune. However, without the computer enhanced reality, Tori could add a rawness to the sound that touched people in a way Ginger never did.
Afterwords, there was a party, one which Tori managed to get Jade invited too. It was only an appearance, however, since they'd be performing the very next day, and everyone felt they needed their rest for the show. But it was at that party where Tori cornered her bodyguard.
"Jade?" Tori said, blocking the blue eyed girls escape. Jade wouldn't get out without causing a scene.
"Yes?" She asked as nicely as she could. 'Does she know about Beck's little stunt? Did she approve? I doubt it, not since Trina likes to give her deniability in this kind of situation. Maybe she's just mad cause I was with Enzo all night?'
"I was wondering, what'd you think of my movie?" The megastar was fidgeting, shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other. Her attention was riveted to the raven haired girls face, waiting with a held breath for the answer.
"I liked it." Jade assured her. "Now breath." She teased. 'Oh my gods, was she nervous? Was Tori actually nervous I might not like her film? I mean, who doesn't remember Ginger chizzen Fox? And to hear her singing the songs, wearing the cloths, dancing on those stages, it was almost magical, even though I've seen her perform hundreds of times on tour. But her charisma, her allure, it pops on the big screen. She should be seen like that more often. And I think this was her first leading roll. Now that she has the time… OH HOLY FUCKING CHIZ, THAT TRINA'S PLAN!'
Tori relaxed, but didn't pull away, watching Jade's internal freakout. "Something wrong?" She asked.
"Trina's brilliant." Jade said, her eyes open in wonder. "She's set you up to transition to a mega movie star, so you can earn more money for less work. Or maybe she's just planning a series of pay per view shows in lieu of touring. Either way, this movie was her showing you can be a star, get you the biggest paychecks."
"So, is there a story here?" Robbie asked, cutting off any further exchange.
"Yea, singer likes to corner her bodyguards until they admit they liked her movies." Jade said, letting the sarcasm drip.
"Not yet?" The gossip asked. "Okay, I can wait. And Jade, congratulations on your audition with Phillip Monroe. Hope it works out for you."
"You know about that?" Jade asked.
"His last name is Monroe?" Tori asked.
"Look, unless your about to make out, in which case please do. I always carry a camera for just such an emergency." Robbie flashed his most devilish smile. "But unless thats the case, I think Tori here should rejoin the party."
Back at the house, as she was getting undressed, Jade thought about her evening. 'I was a guest.' That thought went through her head, over and over. 'I wasn't needed at the theater, so I could relax. It was, weird. I'm not against it, an evening of fun. Kinda off, how many people tried to take my chizzen picture, but otherwise, it was fun.' She sighed. 'Cinderella, the balls over, and it's time to get back to work.' She forced her mind away from the possibilities that she could wind up going to more parties and premiers and events like that, cause it was too weird an image to consider. Even after everything that had happened that day, Jade was focused, convinced, that being a bodyguard was her life.
The next day was just like any other day of the tour. Jade was with Tori through the morning, when they hit a couple of interviews, then off to visit family before heading over to the venue for that evenings performance. "So, how many for tonight?" Jade asked.
"Sixty thousand, due to zoning limits." Trina said, smiling. "But we've filled it up. Of course, the luxury seating is for the winners of the police auctions, but hay, we did a good thing, right?"
"I'm just glad she gets to sing in front of her home crowd." The blue eyed girl said. "Funny, I expected more people."
"It's a sellout." The manager scolded her. "Now, you go guard her body. And, our parents are here tonight. Be nice."
The raven haired girl smiled. "Yo, Ron, Bill, I found out there's a wrestling school not far from here. If your still interested, you can sigh up, see what they wanna teach you."
"You mean learn part time?" Bill asked. "Yea, we should look into that."
"Or you could focus more on learning your jobs, and stay with Tori." Andre added. "Sorry, Jade, but their paid more then most wrestlers will ever make. But us, we're growing. Between Tori's new career plan, and the fact that Trina's taking on new clients, we're gonna need more people. If they wanna learn something, let them learn how to be leads, so that they're the one's calling out orders when the shit hits the fan."
"Whats this about Trina taking on more clients?" Bill asked.
"Her plans for Tori won't involve her traveling so much, so she's expanding." The black man said. "Gonna use everything she learned in managing Tori's career to build her empire. One mega success is enough to give her a lot of cred in that field. I'm expecting great things for anyone who can prove they have talent she can sell."
Jade gave him a dirty look, pulling him to the side. "You know about Phillip?" She asked.
"That his last name is Monroe? Yea, Tori told me." The head of security said, smirking.
"You know what I mean." She shot back, but was smiling.
"Of course I knew about that. Trina and I have been talking, and we agreed to a few things." He said, still smirking. "We agreed that Tori would want you to have your shot, and that you may have the talent to pull it off."
"Just as long as Tori's safe, I'm in." The female bodyguard reminded him.
"Just a couple of months left, and we're done." Andre emphasized. "Maybe four months. You good for waiting that long?"
"They'll pass quickly." Jade replied.
"Now, you've met her mother?" Dre asked.
"Yea, interesting woman." Jade said. They'd had lunch with her parents, and Tori took her mother shopping while her father went back to work.
"Good, cause someone needs to show them around back stage, and your free until the end of the show. So, go." He ordered her.
"I so walked into that one, didn't I?" Jade groused, but she walked back to the stage managers station to check in with Trina. "Boss, I was told Tori's parents were here. Maybe I could show them around?"
"Naa, just stay with them in case they need anything, and we'll call you when it's time for Tori to get off stage." Trina said. Then to the Vega's. "Mom, Dad, if you'd follow Jade here." A subtle reminder that they were her parents too.
"Mister and Misses Vega, if you'd like to come this way, there's a lounge where you can watch the show on a big screen." Jade gestured for them to follow.
"Um, does it get other channels?" David, the Vega's dad, asked. Jade had been introduced earlier, but she was just the bodyguard, and so they'd politely ignored one another. "There's a kings game on tonight, and I was interested in seeing how they'd doing."
"Oh, well, lets see what we can do about that..." Jade replied as she led them into the lounge. "Lets see how it's hooked up." she said, more to herself, as she started looking at the monster television in the lounge.
"It's hoked up to the stadiums feed." Holly, the girls mother, said. "Let me have a look."
"You're good with electronics?" Jade asked. She'd stepped aside so the older woman could take a look.
"I used to be the personal assistant to a man who'd made his fortune in electronics." The elder Vega woman explained as she started looking things over. "I learned all kinds of things about electronics, mostly the stuff a tech would do like setting them up and testing them, cause he'd pay me more if I knew that shit." Her hand went up to point at her husband. "I know David, I swore. How many times will you if the kings are losing?" She'd never stopped looking at the controls. "Anyways, I got good at this stuff, and now I'm the one who sets the electronics up. I enjoyed knowing that stuff. Only problem is, it makes my husband feel like less of a man."
"Hay, I'm secure." He protested. "My only problem is you always tell them that before I can tell my joke."
Holly glared at her husband. "That deliberate. The jokes not funny." She spat.
"How do you know that?" David shot back. "It may be in bad taste, cause it's a bit bigoted, but it's still funny."
"Trust me, you don't want to hear it." Holly stressed.
Jade sighed. "Okay, but if it's really bad..."
"I was just gonna say she learned as part of her charity outreach, teaching young lesbians required skills." The police officer said. "What? Not even a curtsey chuckle?"
"And your married to him?" The bodyguard asked holly.
"In his defense, he's a giving lover." The older woman replied. The hockey game appeared on the screen. "Oh good, now we can pretend he's not here. So, Jade was it? How do you like working for my girls?"
Jade made what conversations she could. 'Why do I get stuck with parent duty?' She wondered. "You know, I'm just the help." She tried telling Holly.
"Tori's become attached." David remarked without looking away from the game. "So she introduced you. Jade, I'm thinking your not much of a hockey fan."
"I'm from New york. Our relation with sports teams is getting wazzed at each other for following one losing team or another." She explained.
"I'm not into sports either." Holly said.
"Thus losing that essential connection with her lesbian students." David added.
"I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that no one thinks thats funny." Jade said. "Especially with Shapiro telling people Tori's gay."
"Yea, he was always such a weird, if nice, boy." Holly remarked. "I'm not happy about the rumors he's spreading about my Tori."
"Even if they might be true." David added. Then feeling his wife's glare, he added "Hay, I said might. Might. I'm okay if she is, or if she isn't. Either way, I'm good. Okay? We gonna drop it and just watch the game. Sheesh, I almost missed the bench clearing brawl cause of your judging me."
"Um, not to make too big a point of it, but your not gonna watch the show?" Jade asked.
"We get to see her sing all the time." Holly assured the raven haired girl. "David and I, we're here to support her before she flies out tonight. We wanna see our girls before they leave us again. After all, how else can I guilt them about grandchildren?" Jade made reasons not to talk about that last joke, feeling it was far too close to home with Trina's plans.
After the performance, Tori and Trina made their goodbys to their parents, promising to spend more time with them once the tour was done. Then the entire crew headed over to the airport, taking a late evening flight to their next show. They'd try to sleep on the plane while thinking about what was going to happen in this, the beginning of the last pert of the tour. There was a strange sense of both anticipation and sorrow as they saw the end of the tour slowly starting to crest the horizon. But mostly, they were looking forward to being home again.
Jade found the rhythm was back to normal, if normal included Tori running hot and cold on their relationship. The tour started in the safe for tourists part of Mexico, then played their way down the coast to the tip of Argentina. Each show was the same, one big production for the whole country, and Tori enjoying her fans behind the layers of security that made sure everyone was hands off. The local promoters seemed almost fanatic about keeping Tori safe.
Between shows, they saw a few sights, enjoyed the local foods, and a couple of times, a small core flew back and forth to the U.S. so Tori could continue to promote her movie. And through it all, Tori would go to Jade for something, but pull away, reminding them both of their awkward relationship, before Jade could really give the pop star what she wanted. In between they flew back to the U.S. for Tori to do interviews, or appear on shows, or attend some function or another to help push the movie.
It was their third trip back to the United states, and the one flight they'd be making to New York, when things got complicated again. "So, you're from here, right?" Tori asked.
"Yep." The bodyguard replied. She watched as Bill walked along beside them, making sure that no one accosted them in the air port. "But we won't have much time for sightseeing. We have thee interviews and a performance to make. God, two morning shows? Really? I get the late night stuff, but two morning shows?"
"I wanted to do the daily show, but Trina said we'd have to wait. It's not the A-list for promoting movies." Tori lamented. "Besides, my costar already went on it. We're covered, save for these shows I agreed to do. And hay, their a couple of big ones on the list, right?"
"Yea..." Jade's mind screamed that something was wrong. One of the passengers on their flight seemed to have been watching them just a bit too intensely. The bodyguard had discreetly pulled her phone, pretended to make a call, and took a picture of the guy over her shoulder. Then she sent it to Andre, hoping he would know someone who could run it, maybe find out why the guy was staring. She didn't get a response until after they'd landed.
"Car's here." Bill said, pointing at the driver holding a sign. It read "TORI VEGA"
"No." Jade said, stopping them cold. "Cat told the company to use my name, not Tori's" She saw the question on the singers lips. "Your name draws too much attention. Let me see whats going on. Bill, stay near Tori. Kasey, have the airlines have someone snag our bags. Make sure they get everything, and use video chat to confirm."
"That'll cost a bit more." The assistant remarked. "But I'm guessing, given whats going on, it's worth it. I'm on it."
"It'll also save us time in baggage claim." Jade said. "I swear, who's idea was it to fly commercial?"
"Tori's." Kasey said, but kept her voice down, so as not to further disturb the bodyguard.
The blue eyed girl walked up tot he chauffeur, phone to her head, making a call. "Cat, Jade here. I thought you were gonna meet us at the airport."
"My flight got delayed." The business manager complained. "I'll be there as soon as I can. In the meantime, look for the driver with my name. He's the one taking you to the hotel. I know I said I'd use your name, but then I kinda figured we'd ride together. However..." Jade was standing in front of the driver now, seeming to ignore him as she finished her call. She wasn't listening to Cat's explanation of how her flight had been delayed, focused instead on what was about to happen.
The driver looked past Jade to the pop star. "Miss Vega, if you'd come this way, we have a van waiting." He waited for her to look confused before adding "Your manager felt it would draw less attention."
Jade turned to look at Tori. "Bill, take Tori to the VIP waiting area, and I'll be there in a moment. And Bill, none of you leaves unless I or Cat is with you, got that?"
The big guy nodded, and walked the superstar towards the waiting area. It was usually reserved for people getting onto a flight, but sometimes someone on the priority list would need a place to wait for a cab.
The driver looked concerned. "Miss Vega, what am I supposed to tell my dispatcher?"
"Tell him that this is chizzin Manhattan, and a limo is about as common as a delivery van." The raven haired girl drawled before snagging his arm. A second later, the taser shocked her, dropping her to her knees. That was when the man tried to run. But while Jade may have been stunned, near helpless, she certainly wasn't alone. This was a major airport, and seconds later, police appeared from hidy-holes around them, taking both people into custody.
Jade was in custody for a good half hour before someone believed her about the threats she'd told them her client was facing. Like most major airports, this one had it's own police force, people who were trained to handle what the TSA couldn't. The blue eyed girl had been interrogated, her story checked out, and then the drivers story was checked out as well. Jade had no idea if she was facing charges for grabbing him, cause that is technically assault, but it would be worth it if it led to the apprehension of the guy trying to get Tori. The Police told her they'd release her, but not before asking why she'd risked everything to grab him. "I wasn't just gonna let this guy pass, then wait for him to try again. I needed him detained. We have him for impersonating a limo driver, and carrying a taser into an airport. Both are illegal, right?"
The detective in charge sighed. "No, neither are illegal. However, we did get him to confess to planning to take miss Vega to a place other then her hotel, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping is a crime. You, however, can't just go around grabbing people. We could charge you with assault."
"Fine, as long as my client is safe." The blue eyed girl assured them.
"You're guarding someone famous, right?" The airport security guard asked.
"Tori Vega, and I was brought in after the last attempt to kidnap her, so yea, I'm a little jumpy." The raven haired bodyguard informed the airport police officer.
"So you thought this guy was a potential kidnapper, and didn't want him getting away to try again, right?' The officer clarified.
"Cause he had the wrong sign, and a van." The blue eyed girl confirmed. "Look, I just need to use my one phone call to get my client safely to her hotel, maybe get another bodyguard for her, then you can lock me up."
"As I said, we'd sweated him out, got him to admit his part in the conspiracy." The officer said. "So we're not gonna be pressing charges. Just, be careful, cause he only had a delivery location, and nothing more. They're probably planning on trying again. Anyways, you can go now." They proceeded to release her.
Jade walked towards the VIP lounge, escorted by airport security, only to find Bill looking for her, escorted by a porter. Bill spoke first. "According to Cat, someone called, claimed to be a part of our group, and canceled our ride. The service didn't ask for a conformation number or nothing, just canceling our ride like it was no big deal. Anyways, Cat said she knew of someone else who was coming into New york about the same time, and they had their ride. She arranged it so we're riding with them to the hotel."
"Where's Tori?" Jade asked. "Tell me you didn't leave her alone." That was always her first concern. Panic started to rise in her mind as she looked around for either Tori or Kasey.
"No, she's with someone." He assured her. "In fact, it's someone she knows. I'd even say trusts, maybe."
"Then why do you look like your expecting me to rip your balls off?" The girl bodyguard asked, her glare as deadly as ever. While revealed that Tori was with someone, the singer sometimes had a strange definition of who she could trust.
"It's Robbie Shapiro." Bill admitted. "Hay, I don't know what Cat said to her, but Tori insisted we go with him when he showed up. I'm just supposed to take you to the car."
"Fine." Jade replied, as she planned to kill her friend. The porter took them to limo parking, where they were expecting to find their ride. Security seemed happy just to have Jade off their hands.
They arrived at the car in time to see a porter loading their luggage into the back. Some man she didn't recognize tipped the porter, then stuck his head into the car for a moment. As they got closer to the vehicle, that man was walking back into the airport. "Tori had better be in the car, and unharmed." Jade heard herself threaten Bill. The sound of one man gulping was her only reply.
She opened the door to peek inside, and was greeted by her pop princess's excited voice.
"Jade, you'll never guess whats happening in just a few months." Tori beamed.
"It can't be you losing your chizzing mind, cause that obviously already happened." Jade growled. She glared at the paparazzi blogger. Still, she knew this was her ride, so she slid into the back seat, next to Tori, making room for Bills large frame
"Cat and Robbie are getting married!" Tori seemed unbelievably happy, like she was ready to pop out of her skin happy.
"Wait, you?.. And Cat?..." The raven haired girls mind was turning to mush. "How? I mean, aren't you two…?"
"I" Tori held the vowel with too much pride, "Introduced them. They've been kinda dating since then. That'd make it what, five years now?"
"So she was your spy?" Jade accused, snapping back to the present.
"She was my spy, but not the leak." The gossip corrected. "Honestly, I only wanted to tag Beck, break the two of them up. I wanted Tori here to be honest with herself, maybe find real happiness. I mean, I was her friend, the only one besides Trina who could tell that she was faking being happy in a relationship. I knew he wasn't giving her the love she needed. I know, I told you I wasn't her friend, and for the purpose of my goals, I'm not. However, I'm in New York cause kitty Cat wants us to consider getting married here, so I'm looking at a few places. Was gonna do it with her, but she's not going to get here until she has to be with your guys."
"So the guy you sent back into the airport…?" Jade asked.
"Kinda your replacement." Tori said. "He's the guy she's using in New York when she's here. A bodyguard slash guide. He'll make sure she gets to the hotel okay."
"Let me guess," Tori turned on Rob, "She made the reservations, so you and her have adjoining rooms, right?"
He blushed in response, letting them both know she was right. "And your okay with this?" Jade asked, glaring at Tori. "I mean, even if we can believe him, and I don't know if we can, it opens up a whole load of worries. Like Cat knew all the details of your travel arrangements, what hotels you're staying in, that kind of chiz. If she told Rob, who knows who else she was blabbing too?"
"JADE!" Tori scolded. "Robbie may have tried to hurt my career, dragged my name in the mud, and insinuated I was gay at every turn, but he's still my friend. I believe him when he says she was HIS spy. Spy's can be very loyal. Lord knows the guy I had in his office was."
:}
So, we know a bit more about whats going on, and the kidnappers have once again reared their ugly heads. But we also had the grandeur of a movie premier, and the true purpose why so many celebrities show up to them, to be seen. We even had a glimpse of the Vega parents, with Holly ignoring her husbands of color jokes, and David more interested in the hockey game then his daughters concert. But they did get to spend some time together before everyone headed out.
So, thoughts, comments, ideas? Who was surprised that the bad guy waited this long to strike? What do you think their next plan is? And why send a van? Also, whats up with Beck?
Thanks for reading.