AN: Hey guys :) wanted to say thanks for all the reviews. Just pure awesomeness! Shout out to James888 for the muse comment- I needed that. Idk why but it totally made me laugh. This one's for you buddy. And to answer your question, yes, the last part in italics is part of the letters. TBC stands for To Be Continued.
Secondly I just want to say that I'm making a lot of crap up as I go. I've never been to Los Angeles, I'm just a small town Texas girl. I've been to Alaska tho. Pleasant people. So how could I possibly know details? Don't h8 fellow Californians you think we all ride horses, drink moonshine, and listen to Dolly Parton ;)
Third, I've seen maybe three episodes of Zoey 101 in my lifetime. So if the characters seem OC, now you know why.
Disclaimer: I seem to forget this bit a lot -_- I don't own Victorious or Zoey 101. They'd be a lot more like The L Word if I did. R&R cumpadres!
People surprise me sometimes. They do things no one would ever expect. They're unpredictable in their predictability. A wise man once said, " I'm dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly it's the honest ones you have to watch out for, you never can predict if they're going to do something incredibly stupid." That man happens to be a fictional character in a Disney movie but truer words were never spoken...
There were days when Tori just wanted to throw in the towel, call it a night, and go home. There were days when she didn't even think she could make it home. Sometimes life's blows hurt more than any punch to the gut and they left her just as breathless. She was a good person. She went to church twice a month, volunteered at the local soup kitchen, visited her parents every Sunday for lunch, contributed to charity. She didn't honk at people manically for cutting her off in traffic or flick off the people that honked at her...
"Quinn?" She called softly, getting her eccentric friend's attention.
The nerdy brunette looked up from her salad. "What's up?"
Tori sighed, unable to meet her eyes. She felt guilty for some reason she couldn't place. Maybe it was because she was supposed to be having lunch with her boyfriend. Instead she ditched him for Quinn and Zoey (who had yet to show up.)
"I'm an okay person right?"
Quinn set down her fork, chewing on a piece of lettuce as she contemplated her friend. "What do you mean?" She asked carefully. She knew Tori was down in the dumps because of her incredibly insensitive boyfriend. The last thing she wanted to do was put her down.
"I don't kill people, I don't steal. I don't cuss. A lot. I've never been in a fight and I've always listened to my parents. I'm a good person, right?"
"...Well yea. I guess."
"Quinn!" Tori groaned, shoving her own untouched food away. She wasn't all that hungry anymore. Her thoughts were getting the best of her.
Quinn mirrored her actions. "The way I see it, Tori, is like this. Not killing, not stealing, not lying? These are things that are expected of people. Why should you be praised for something you're supposed to do in the first place? Now, going to the nursing home to sing for people their families have all but forgotten, volunteering your Saturday nights to the orphanage to take the kids out to a movie? Well that makes you better than a good person." She finished with a smile.
Tori smiled a little. Leave it to Quinn to spin it nicely for her. She appreciated her friends. Now more than ever. She needed someone to tell her she was doing something right. One thing in her life had to be right.
Things were getting drastically worse where it concerned Dustin. For every step they took forwards they ran back twelve. It was no secret Dustin cheated on her a year ago. Every one and their mother in LA found out before she did and it hurt. He betrayed her trust without a second thought, without any consideration to how it might affect her. Affect them. He called off the affair as soon as she found out but she shouldn't have had to force him to do it. He shouldn't have done it in the first place.
He was trying harder now. Even went above and beyond on Valentine's Day this year. But something just always felt wrong. When he was home he was as sweet and charming as he'd ever been. But he was hardly there now. There was always some excuse as to why he couldn't come over. Meeting, detention, after school duty, lunch with the supervisor, grading papers. There was always something.
Quinn studied Tori. She'd known the girl for five-six years now, since Freshman year at PCA college where they'd also met Zoey and Dustin. She'd never seen Tori look happier than the day Dustin asked her out. She'd also never seen her look sadder than she did now. Grabbing her cellphone she quickly scrolled through her messages and sent back a quick reply.
Maybe we shouldn't tell her. She looks miserable as it is.
If we don't tell her now he'll just keep doing it. I busted him last night with some girl at The Wood.
Quinn gasped, eyed widening at this new information. They'd only just broken up his last affair three weeks ago!
You're kidding me! Who was she?
IDK Some chick named Emerald or something like that. She tried to deny it as soon as I showed up. Anyway I should be there in a few minutes. I think we should tell her.
It will break her heart.
Quinn bit her lip when several seconds passed and no reply came. That must be Zoey's way of telling her to drop it. She shoved the phone back in her purse. "That was Zoey. She said she'll be here in a few minutes."
Tori nodded unenthusiastically.
It was weird, dating her best friend's brother. Had been since they started. But somehow Zoey always managed to surprise her. Every time she and Dustin got into a fight Zoey would comfort her, when ever he stepped out of line Zoey put him back in his place. Zoey had been the one to break the news to her about the cheating, she was the only that chewed his head off for it. Every one always said dating your best friend's brother was a big no no but that wasn't the case here. If anything her relationship with Dustin was better because of her.
"So why'd you freak?"
Quinn choked. Tori ran over and gave her a few pats on the back. The brunette cast grateful eyes at her and downed her glass of sweet tea. "Wh-what?"
"Why'd you freak when Zoey text you?"
"Oh! There was a sale. 30% off of all shoes. We missed it though. It was yesterday." She lied. Lately she was always lying to her unsuspecting friend. About Dustin. About Zoey. It sucked. It hurt. If Tori ever lied to her she would be crushed and yet...
"That's a shame. I could use some shoe therapy."
"-You're kidding? His sister?" Quinn and Tori turned towards the shrieking voice. Two girls were standing at the take out bar talking animatedly amongst themselves. Tori made a face, there was something oddly familiar about one of the girls.
Quinn scoffed. "Some people huh?"
Tori continued to stare. After a moment she turned back to Quinn who had resumed eating her salad. "Yeah. Some people."
~~C.O.A~~
"-then his sister comes back inside and says, what ever you two are doing it stops right now. You're not the first girl he's cheated with. He always ends up running back to her."
Cat's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "You're kidding? His sister?" She shrieked. Her hands flew up to her mouth along with Jade's. Several patrons turned to look at her. She flashed them a sheepish smile.
"Jeez, Cat," Jade snarled, dark brows drawn and mouth screwed up in a frown, "Tell all of fucking LA why don't you?" Her hand dropped from her friend's mouth.
"I'm sorry, Jade," she said sincerely, "That's just- I mean wow. Talk about an interesting night."
Jade chewed her bottom lip. She knew the air headed girl meant no harm. She was just excitable, that's all. Besides, it was the hardest thing in the world staying mad at Cat. Especially with those big brown eyes. She was like Mort from Madagascar. Try staying angry at that. Impossible.
"There's more." In an instant bubbly, eager Cat was back. She rolled her eyes in good nature.
"Spill."
"Well Zoey forgot to grab the letter she tossed at Dustin. So I snatched it up before leaving and I... well I sort of read it." She added the last part quietly, looking over her shoulder to make sure no one else was listening.
Cat look horrified. "Jade!" She cried, "That's a class c misdemeanor! You can get fined for that!"
Jade just about had a heart attack. She glared at the nosy customers looking their way. "Shit, why I am your friend?" She lamented. Cat had practically announced to the whole store that she was a petty criminal.
Cat smirked at this. "If you get thrown in jail, I'll make sure you're treated nicely."
Jade groaned. Little things like this made her lose hope in the world. How on earth had anyone agreed to let Caterina Valentine become a police officer? What kind of idiot was in charge of the hiring process? Probably Sikowitz.
"Kill me now."
"Later," Cat dismissed with a wave of her hand. "So? What did the letter say?"
Jade pulled out a twenty dollar bill and paid the unremarkable man at the register. She pocketed the change and handed one of the carry out bags to Cat. "I'm not going to tell you."
That didn't go over well but she let it drop. For the moment "So what are you going to do now?"
She shrugged snatching up a few extra sugars from the dispenser. Much to the cashier's dismay. She ignored him. "I don't know. I guess I'm going to mail it back to her."
"You should tell her what a sleaze her boyfriend is. Honestly what is it with guys these days? They're so stupid."
"Yeah, right," Jade snorted, "why would I write her? I'll just send her stuff back. This is none of my business."
"Ahh! But you made it your business the second you lied about that letter belonging to you. Besides, there's some poor girl out there right now that thinks you're having an affair with her boyfriend. Why not set the record straight?" A slow grin crept up, "Who knows? Maybe she'll be so thankful that she'll drop that no good boyfriend of hers and come running into your arms."
Jade felt her face grow ridiculously hot. "Fuck you, Cat. Let's go."
Cat chuckled, following her friend through the patio. She noticed a very pretty brunette looking in their. More accurately, Jade's way. She smirked. Jade was as oblivious as ever.
~~C.O.A~~
Quinn raised a questioning brow at her friend. Tori hadn't stopped shooting glances at the two girls since they'd first spotted them. Eventually she stopped trying to get her attention, settling for watching her watch them.
They were very pretty. Displeasingly so. They looked like models or movie stars. Maybe they were. Not like she kept up with every rising star that seemed to pop up every other month.
"Do you know them?"
Tori heard Quinn's question but she was too distracted to answer. There was something so painfully familiar about those two girls and it just kept nagging at her. Her eyes followed the pale brunette. She had to be the most gorgeous woman she had ever laid eyes on. Every thing about her screamed perfection. Right down to the most outrageously green eyes on the planet. It made her self conscious.
She'd never thought of herself as overly pretty. She had long, dark wavy hair, big eyes, and high check bones working in her favor. Her body was okay. Slender. Thin. It was what guys liked. It was nothing like that girl's whose curves filled every stitch of her baseball tee and faded jeans. She was the type of girl Dustin would fall for easily.
Green eyes... The proverbial light bulb lit up! That girl's name was Jade West. She worked at the hospital she volunteered at. No wonder she seemed so familiar, she'd seen her every Friday morning for the last three months. They'd never exchanged more than a quick glance or an "excuse me" down the hall. Funny how she never realized how pretty she was until now. It was probably the bubble gum pink scrubs- anyone who could pull off looking good in those things must be a God.
Suddenly she caught herself meeting the eyes of the redhead who flashed a knowing smirk. She quickly turned around and found Quinn staring at her with a curious look on her face.
"Um, sorry. What was that?"
"I asked if you know those girls."
"Not really," She said around a sip of water, "The brunette works at Children's Rehab. I thought I recognized her."
"So she's a therapist? Not some kind of super model?"
Tori scrunched her face. "I guess. A super model?"
"She's very pretty." Quinn explained. Her face lit up. "Zoey!"
The two brunettes greeted the blonde with a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. The three sat down, smiles all around.
"Have you guys been here long?" Zoey asked, already scanning through the menu. "I'm sorry I'm late, traffic was a nightmare."
"It's cool. Quinn stuffed herself as usual."
"I resent that."
The three friends laughed and giggled throughout their lunch. By the time they were finished with desert and drinks it was two hours later and Tori found herself in a better mood than she had been in weeks.
"So, got plans with Dustin tonight, Tori?" Zoey ventured. She internally cringed. Way to kill the mood.
She froze. "Uh, no. No not really. Why?"
Zoey shrugged. "You tell me."
'Shit. So she found it.' She set her drink down meeting the familiar clear eyes of her five year friend. She liked to think she knew her friends as well as they knew her but apparently that was a mistake on her part. "You took the letter."
"I found it-"
"You went through my desk." She corrected, her voice strained. "How could you?"
Quinn shot Zoey a questioning glance. The blonde looked torn between being pissed and ashamed.
"Tori I didn't-"
"Did you give it to him?"
She bit her lip. "No. I threw it away." She lied. Not like anyone would be the wiser. Dustin hadn't read the letter. But she had.
Tori seemed to calm down a bit. She shook her head as if reassuring herself. "I said some pretty messed up things in that letter."
"I read it..." She admitted, a hint of aggression in her voice. Her brother was the two timing asshole but Tori was the one apologizing? "There's something I need to tell you."
"Zo-" Quinn started to interrupt, the look on Tori's face tore at her insides. But the blonde quickly cut her down.
"She has a right to know, Quinn."
"K-know what?" Tori inquired even though the sudden bout of nausea told her she already knew what she had to say. She closed her eyes, willing the stinging to go away. It only got stronger until the tears started flowing. "Tell me, Zoey." She rasped.
Zoey exchanged a look with Quinn. The brunette shook her head in disappointment. Tori had a right to know! Even if it was for her own selfish reasons...
"Yesterday I found Dustin having coffee with some girl." Silence. The noise of the LA traffic and commuters hardly registered. "I don't know if he was—you know- but they seemed to be getting along very well. He got pissed when I found them. I'm sorry."
Tori hardly heard any of her words past "having coffee with some girl." Her heart almost literally jumped into her chest nearly choking her. This news hit her like a ton of bricks, like a Mack truck, like a freight train going full steam ahead.
Dustin and some girl. Dustin and some girl having coffee. Dustin. Cheating on her. Again. Making a total complete fool of her. Making a mockery out of her love for him. Taking her trust and driving it into the ground the way he'd done before...
She gathered her things and shoved them into her purse. "I have to go. Thanks for lunch, Quinn."
Quinn hopped to her feet, moving to her side. "Tori wait! Don't go. Come spend the night with me. We can watch horror movies and pig out like we used to in school."
Tori flashed her a shaky smile. "I just want to be alone right now. But thanks." She gave Zoey a long hard look. She looked upset. "Thanks for telling me, Zo. I'll see you guys later."
Quinn watched the Latina practically run away from them. She waited until she disappeared around the corner before laying into Zoey.
"That was screwed up."
Zoey frowned, arms crossed over her chest. She refused to meet her gaze. "What ever."
"No, not whatever! That's our friend that just ran away crying because you couldn't keep your mouth shut."
"So I should let my asshole brother get away with what he did? Is that it?"
"You know this isn't about Dustin-"
"It's always about Dustin. He cheated on her, Quinn!"
Quinn scoffed. "He's cheated on her numerous times. You've never told her. Why now?... You're out to get her aren't you?"
Zoey's mouth hung open for a second before she shut it. She took a fifty out of her pocket and tossed it on the table. "She has a right to know." She left quickly, leaving Quinn seething on the patio.
~~C.O.A~~
I read your letter.
No.
"Nice Jade. Make the poor girl think you're some psychotic stalker." She hissed. She grabbed the sheet of paper and crumbled it tossing it over her shoulder into the canister. Her eyes danced over Dustin's would be letter. She pressed the tip of the pen against the sheet.
I found this letter at a cafe. I opened it to check for a phone number. I'm returning it to you.
"Lame much?" Another paper wad into the basket. That was the eleventh one. How hard could it be to write a damn letter? It didn't require a genius. So why was it so hard?
Your boyfriend is a lying, cheating sack of shit. And his sister is bi-polar. Thought I'd return this letter to you :) Signed, Jade.
If she was trying to come off as an asshole she was doing a banged up job. She blew out a long breath. She should just put a stamp on the envelope and send it back. There was no real need to give her name or anything else for that matter. It should be enough just returning it. This was all Cat's fault. Putting stupid ideas in her head. This was the 21st century. People went online to make friends or hooked up with total strangers at the clubs. Only those 68+ still wrote letters.
Them and Dustin's girlfriend...
Snatching up the piece of paper that had haunted her for the better part of the night (and day) she brought it up to her face and began to read. Just like that the pen was flying across the paper, as if it had a mind of its own. Word vomit at its best.
No matter how crowded that room is, there is ALWAYS someone listening. I'm listening.
AN: Okay so this might be kind of random but I really want to know. What is the funniest/dumbest pick up line you've ever used/heard? Go ahead, tell me. The funniest one will be featured in one of the upcoming chapters.
I'm from Texas, want to straddle my saddle?