AN: Thanks to those who've reviewed. SirRay – fair point about the possibility of legal action over what was on the site. However, the offending video was taken down and deleted, and with Freddie thinking about how best to deal with it, the thought of suing really wasn't in his mind.

For the first time we're going to be looking at the story from Tori's PoV. We've also "caught up" after Freddie's reminisces of how he got to this point in the story, so it will be written a little more in the present tense rather than exclusively in the past as in previous chapters. Incidentally I'm working under the assumption that the kids can attend Hollywood Arts for their college career as well (otherwise with the age of the characters in series 1 the show only has a lifespan of 3 years).

Awww I hate Wednesdays, Freddie works on a Wednesday evening so I won't be seeing him. I arranged with André to work on the songs I'd be singing in the play instead. Freddie's also managed to get himself a few extra shifts these next few Saturdays when I've got these detentions with Dickers. The first few I get to spend the day in the delightful company of Jade. It's likely to be a question of him closing the door and seeing which of us is still breathing when he returns. The plan is that I'll head to UCLA after detention and we'll spend the Saturday evenings hanging. We'll probably chat tonight when he gets home, maybe tomorrow too - or get together if neither of us are too busy. Friday night we're planning to hit Karaoke Dokie. I've already told Freddie that he has to sing. But before all that I still have the next few days to survive. We spent most of Sikowitz's class in the black box rehearsing. His advice became more and more random as he drank from his ever-present coconut but I thought it went pretty well overall. Beck and I have been cast as lead male and female, Jade also has a fairly major part and she and I have a duet to sing in the second act, so maybe practising that will keep her from trying to hurt me on Saturday.

The afternoon passed smoothly, I had my directing class in the afternoon. Fortunately I don't have to put on a play until later on this semester, due to my acting commitments. I've also been told it's time to take costume design. I'm not sure I have the creativity, or the imagination, that Cat does, but trying to think of a few designs will be quite good fun. Making the outfits will be tricky, though I guess I could ask my mom to help me out with it, and I'm sure Cat will give me plenty of inspiration and assistance whether I ask for it or not. I'll also pick Freddie's brain a bit, there were some fairly outlandish costumes used on iCarly from time to time so he may be able to help me out.

I went to find André after class finished. He was talking to Beck and Jade by their lockers. Surprisingly Jade looked rather happy to see me – far less scowly or glarey than usual. The guys went on ahead while I organised my bag and locker for the day. Jade was still by my shoulder, a small smile on her face.

"You're smiling, should I be worried?" I asked.

"You're not happy to see me smiling?"

"I'm just not used to it."

"Well, things can be a bit calmer now. You're not competition anymore."

"Huh?" I asked, wondering what she meant.

"I was always worried that you were trying to attract Beck. Maybe it was stupid of me, but the way you acted around him for your first couple of days here made me think the worst. But now you're in the same boat as me – you've got a guy, so we both need to keep our eyes on them and make sure those single girls don't try anything with them – especially for you with college girls hanging around Freddie all day."

"I don't think too many girls hang around in his class." I countered. "And I don't worry about him. He's proved himself loyal and trustworthy over a long period of time. I trust him completely."

Jade gave me a look that I couldn't quite read. Sympathy? Incredulity? Pity? Contempt? I have no idea what the look meant, and I didn't care to find out – so I changed the subject quickly.

"When should we practise our duet? I'm working on some of the songs with André tonight, and I'm seeing Freddie tomorrow and Friday night – maybe it could make all those detentions you dragged me into a bit more productive and work on it then?"

"Don't blame me for all of it Vega!" she charged. "One of them, yes, is on me – the rest was you talking back to Dickers."

"Whatever. Anyway, practise on Saturday?"

"Sure. Not like we'll have anything better to do all day."

And with that we left to catch up with the guys and leave school for the day.

The evening practise with André went well. It would have been easier without Trina interrupting every few minutes with her latest dramas, latest crushes, latest diva fits – the usual stuff you have to suffer during life with Trina. We relieved some of the tension with me singing lines from my song in blues, R&B and classic rock style and soon André and I were falling about laughing. Some day we're going to have to video these and post them on theSlap – I'm sure they'd be well received. We wrapped up around 10, I felt that I was pretty comfortable with most of the songs – we didn't bother with the duet, I'd work on that with Jade and André could practise the score for it later as well, but all the solos were sounding good. We still had 3 weeks before opening night so there was no hurry. About 5 minutes after André left I'd made myself a cup of cocoa and was getting ready to head to my room when my cell rang – it was Freddie.

"Hi hon, you got off work?" I asked.

"Yeah, it's lucky they opened a store on campus, it means I can be back at the dorm in no time."

"Cool. I guess it makes sense having a tech store on campus – all your fellow students looking for supplies, or needing to get things fixed after the legendary frat parties."

"Well, I'm sure I'll see the fall-out from some of them as the year goes on. So how was your practise tonight? Getting there with the songs?"

"Yeah, André and I worked together on them for a few hours tonight – I think I'm good with most of them, except the duet. Jade and I will be practising that in detention this Saturday."

"Something to look forward to then," he noted drily.

"She was actually ok today – except for when she was trying to make me paranoid by reminding me that you're surrounded by college girls every day – just like the ones you turned down at the party on Monday" I finished, wanting to show that I didn't distrust him at all.

He laughed appreciatively. "I only have eyes for you Tori" he said simply.

We chatted for a little longer, comparing notes on how our days had gone and made plans to meet on campus the next day before saying goodnight and I quickly headed to my room, before Trina could throw another tantrum.