Estrangement

Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious

A/N: I'M BACK! So here you go. The trip was great, and it inspired me to write a story based off of it, I was thinking of who best to use in the situation because it's like a self journey thing, and Tori would be best. Anyway, IF that story occurs I'll let you know, it would be great. Moving on, enjoy this chapter (as well as pariah's chapter uploaded). Good to be home.

Chapter 6 (Turning Tables)

"Do you think she'll try to contact us, Jade?" Tori threw her luggage on her hotel bed and watched as Jade fell back onto the other one. "I mean she doesn't exactly have my phone number." Jade was the one thinking that Trina would contact her if she wanted to, and that was the key, was it not? "I mean what are the chances of her willingly calling us?"

"Either way you're doing good. You just have to be patient. She's your sister, she will come around eventually." Tori put her hands to her hips and stared skeptically at Jade. How the hell did she honestly think after twenty years, Trina would just 'come around'. "The thing you have to keep in mind Tori, a lot of people go through with their families what you're going through. Estrangement isn't uncommon, and reconnecting takes time and work. Most importantly, however, as with all relationships in general, it takes patience."

"Are you seriously getting all counselor on me?"

"It's my job. Of course, the hard work and patience might be a little impossible for you." Tori narrowed her eyes as Jade pulled her laptop from under the bed. "Speaking of my job, I still have a schedule…" The woman looked to the hotel table and rushed over. "Thank god all my clients can use Skype. It is not easy to leave on short notice."

"You want me to leave while you talk to your client?" It was the general consensus. Confidentiality was always important. Jade pointed to the door as she fired up her computer. Taking a deep breath, Tori made her way for the door. "Give my phone a ring when you're done."

"All right." She left the room and made her way to the hotel café. She still had all Trina's money with her, as Jade was the one who paid for the room. Tori didn't want to spend the hundred dollars, not because of any pride issue, but it was the first thing Trina gave her in such a long time. Whether she was trying to get rid of her or not. It was hard not to still feel something for her sister. Though seeing her nieces for the first time was like a hurricane building inside her. She wished that she could have seen Trina's son. They all probably thought she was pathetic.

As she took a seat at the café table, her phone started to go off. Hopeful that it might be her sister, Tori grabbed the phone and put it to her ear. "Hello?" It wasn't Trina that responded, it was Holly, whom Tori was a little angry at now. It wasn't so much anger, as it was jealousy.

"Tori my grandchildren are amazing! I never thought I would get the chance to see them." She rolled her eyes and dropped her head to the table, groaning in reply. She could hear a boy and girl laughing in the background, which caused her some amount of sorrow. "Rachel and Daniel are so energetic! Megan is also very responsible for a teenager. I'm so glad that I can get to spoil my grandchildren."

"If I knew you'd be this happy with a grandchild, I would have adopted a child a long time ago." She could not deny the joy in her mom's voice. For the first time in years, she was able to picture a glowing smile on Holly. "Anyway I've not talked to Trina much about your situation, I did say that you lost your job…but I haven't told her about your still wanting to be a singer. Although, I think she figures it."

"Figures it?"

"She asked if you were still chasing that dream. I did tell her we were having financial difficulties, but that we weren't here because of money. I'm not sure if she believed me or not, since she didn't say."

Tori curled her fingers inwards on the table and stared down at her pale knuckles. A frown spread out on her face as she sought an opportunity to speak with Trina. Yet, she feared it would only end in a shouting match between the two girls. "What is she doing now?"

"Um she is talking to her family doctor…the one that usually sees her, her husband and kids…she's trying to get me an appointment for today." Tori rolled her eyes once more and glanced away angrily. That was supposed to be her job! She was happy for Holly, extremely so, but she couldn't help but to feel a little jilted. How was it fair that Holly got a chance? Maybe because she was old and more needy than anything. "I asked her if she's thinking of talking to you."

"And?"

"She's still thinking."

"How long is she going to be thinking?!

"By the way she wants to know your relationship with Jade."

"Relationship?" Why did people assume they were together? Even at bars, they were mistaken for being together. Neither of them were lesbian, so they were often correcting everyone. "We're best friends, and have been good friends since school. What is Trina's beef there?"

"Well she just remembers Jade from her, um…'bitchier' days, dear. So she might assume you two are up to something and she might be a little suspicious of you coming around her family now."

"Are you kidding me with that, Mom?"

"She hasn't trusted us in a long time, so I don't blame her. I told her you two weren't up to anything, but she still seems to be angry with you."

"Oh whatever…have you seen her husband yet?"

"Trina says he gets home in another hour. He teaches at the university, so he still has classes late into the evening. I think we're going to have dinner when he gets home, then hopefully to the doctor so I can get my medication."

"Rachel and Daniel are pretty young…dad only got to see Megan, didn't he?"

"Yes, but I think he was happiest seeing his granddaughter. I wish we would have gone with him, but we didn't. I think you were busy with this concert or something, I don't remember." She started to tear up, thinking back and trying to recall this concert. All she could remember was her dad flying off to New York to see his daughter while Holly had to stay back with Tori, who begged her. She tried to beg her dad to stay behind and support her, but he chose not to, and she got angry with him for it.

"Yeah I-I hardly remember it myself." She felt terrible about it now, not that she was one to admit to it. "I guess she still considers me estranged. What am I going to have to do to prove to her that I actually want to be here?"

"I thought you didn't? You fought coming here tooth and nail until we actually had to be here."

"It wasn't that I didn't want to be here, it's just that I wanted to-" She heard Trina's voice in the background and stopped to listen. She couldn't hear much, just that Trina was heading to her meeting and got an appointment for later. Everything quieted around her as her focus went to Trina's voice. In her heart she could feel a great sense of longing, a need to be accepted, as if she were now the sister seeking acceptance. Wasn't she? "How the roles reversed..."

"What was that, Tori dear?"

"Nothing! Just…" Her face tensed and tears started to burn her eyelids. "Just thinking out loud. I guess. It's funny. Now she's the successful one and I'm the one that has nothing…and I'm the one that wants her approval. Karma's a bitch, a mom. Just saying."

"Unfortunately. I think you could have done anything you wanted to accomplish if you hadn't been so fixated on that fantasy of yours. Remember you wanted to be a veterinarian before you went to Hollywood Arts? You and your best friend ever…"

"Courtney. I-I wonder how she's holding up. Megan said they got their dogs from her, so I know she's at least a rescue worker." Before Hollywood Arts, she and Courtney were the ones that did everything together. They were the ones that followed their older siblings around, annoying the living hell out of them intentionally many times, and they were the ones getting in trouble during science lab while showing up all the other boys. They wanted to open up a kennel together, they wanted to be veterinarians together. Hell, Sinjin had been emancipated from his mother and took Courtney in when the woman moved away, so he was the one that put Courtney into Hollywood Arts, at her prodding. She wanted to see Tori, to hang out with her again, and Tori blew her off to be with her new friends. "God she must hate me now, Mom…"

"Why's that?"

"Because I did something no best friend should ever do. Blew her off and replaced her." Tori groaned loudly and dropped her head to her table. "Jesus Christ, I feel like I'm going to end up having to become one of Jade's damn clients."

"I thought you were."

"Mom!"

"Well…There is a benefit to having a counselor as a best friend and here to support you, sweetheart. Not only does she never tell anyone else your secrets and problems, she's got the experience and know-how to help. If anyone can get you and Trina talking again, it's her." That was ironic, thinking Jade could possibly help her and Trina. However, Holly could be onto something there. Trina would never sit down and talk to her alone, it had to be Jade!

"You don't think she's a little biased?"

"She's a guidance counselor, no matter how biased they feel, they can't afford to be biased."

"True." Jade was known to be awfully blunt to her clients, as she only told them the truth and not what they wanted to hear. If anything, Jade would be capable of helping in many ways. "Do you think it would be good to try and get in touch with Courtney, mom?"

"I don't know. I was surprised she stopped coming around back then…"

Used to be, Sinjin and Courtney always came to hang out together with the Vegas, but this was before Hollywood Arts. Courtney and Tori would go on and on about what the next big issue in science class was, or how cute a certain animal was. Sinjin and Trina would often sneak off and do their own thing, so many times the younger pair would go off to find them. When Tori went to Hollywood Arts, Courtney stopped coming around because the one time she did was when all of Tori's other friends were at the house. They pretty much sent Courtney away without meaning to, by commenting on how she was Sinjin's geeky little sister, and Tori was unable to defend her.

"That was my fault, Mom…what if I could make amends with her?"

"I don't know, talk to Jade, she's your best guidance now." She smiled when Holly started laughing. "Anyway, Trina's gone off to her business meeting, she should be back in half an hour to an hour. So the kids are calling me, they probably want to hear more stories about their grandpa Vega."

"Okay mom. I'll let you get back to your grandkids…"

"Love you honey."

"You too, Mom…" Tori hung up the phone and swept away her misty eyes. She looked over her shoulder towards the hallway leading to all the hotel rooms. She took a deep breath and glanced away. "She may be right…I probably should just talk to Jade about this. She always knows what to say…" Even if she didn't listen half the time, because who really listens to their therapist? Jade still could help comfort her at least, and surely would have some idea of what to do.

I think I'll give you guys the next chapter, just because it has been 18 days now. Let me know what you've thought of this chapter.