Estrangement

Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious

A/N:

Chapter 15 (Gone Shopping)

After a long and stressful day of work, Tori made her way to the market where she could get to work on her groceries. She was exhausted, and not entirely sure how she was going to carry her groceries to her room. Thankfully, the apartment building was literally across the street from her, which meant Trina may have been thinking well when she placed her there. Or, she was thinking well when she first moved there herself.

"Just the bare essentials, but I'm going to need cleaning supplies…" She grabbed some Lysol off the shelf and looked around for any other cleaning utensils she may need. There wasn't a whole lot she could do now, and she understood that. Hell, getting on her feet wasn't going to be easy. She may hate that it wouldn't be easy, but she was still going to do whatever it took to rise to the challenge.

It was difficult to shop with a clear mind when her mind was still on various things that she wanted badly to get off her chest and talk to someone. Then there were things she wanted to talk to Trina about, things she wanted to ask and wanted to be there for that she missed out on. There were things she was sorry about, things that she couldn't stand. Facts that angered her, downright enraged her to the point of wanting to grill certain people over, such as Robbie.

What was surprising was this was really the first time she'd ever been so furious at her former friends over something they'd done to Trina. She couldn't really fault them, and Trina had done well moving on and really making an impact out of her life. Perhaps having a miscarriage was what really made Trina so hard of a worker, that she was just one person who put all their energy into work to escape tragedy.

"Okay, Milk…" She gawked at a price in the dairy section. "4.50 for a gallon of milk? Sweet Jesus!" Her eyes flew to the smaller quarts of milk where a carton was marked at 2.50. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed the cheaper milk and tossed into her cart. "Just going to have to make it last." She was itching to look for coupons now, so that at the very least she'd be able to make discounts. "I'll have to look around, maybe get them mailed to me or something, if possible."

She started to turn the cart around, and without looking, crashed it into a nearby cart. "Sorry!" She looked to the driver of the cart and felt her heart stall. There was a man with soft blue eyes gazing back at her. His blonde hair had a natural spiked look to it and he had a stubbly goatee and a handsomely chiseled face. A tuxedo covered his broad shoulders and firm looking arms. The man looked to be about a year or two older than Trina, close to Sinjin's age. She nearly forgot that she'd just crashed into him, and now, she felt like a fool for staring. "Oh god I'm sorry, I was just focusing on trying to stay in my budget and then-" Her voice rushed her apology, but he cut her off with a warm, milky smooth tone.

"It's alright, you're fine, relax. You act like you haven't shopped before."

"Oh! No I have, I um…I have." She tucked her hair behind her ear, her cheeks turning bright red. She closed her eyes and quickly shook her head. "Um sorry, I'm Victoria. Tori, for short. I just moved here, working at the gym down the street."

"I'm Zack, Zackary for long." He smiled at her and she started to laugh. He pointed over his shoulder, "I'm a manager at a hotel down the street. So you're new?"

"Yeah, just moved, don't have a whole lot so I'm planning my grocery list around a pretty tight budget. It's hard to stay within a hundred dollars when you're actually trying to buy all the things you need."

"That is true." Zack rubbed his chin and looked towards her cart. Tori studied his hand and smirked to herself when she didn't see a ring around his fingers. "You know, I don't usually help people I don't know, but if you need anything extra I might be able to help. Depending on how empty your cupboards are."

"I literally have nothing. No spices, no cookware, no cleaning supplies, no breakfast, lunch or dinner…I have nothing at all." She looked to her near empty cart and took a deep breath. "I guess if you felt compelled to help out…maybe you could help out? That is, your girlfriend might not appreciate it." Zack started to laugh and shook his head.

"I'm just buying for myself. I don't think my ex wife would care."

"Oh? You're divorced?"

"Yeah, about ten years now. I'll be happy to help you out." She felt bad for bringing it up, but then, ten years was a pretty long time by the sounds of it. She'd take his help, then she'd call Jade up and spill about this man to see what she thought. "Soon as I can find my son, he ran off again…"

"No I didn't!" A voice called out. Tori's eyebrows rose and her heart skipped a beat as a young boy came running from a nearby aisle with a jar of mayonnaise. He looked to be about twelve years old, which meant he was two when his parents divorced. She started to smile as the boy threw the mayo into his father's cart and turned to her with a bright grin. "Daddy's always forgetting something, he had mayonnaise on the list!" Zack rubbed the back of his neck and chuckles softly.

"Alex, I didn't forget it, I hadn't gotten there yet." The boy looked just like his father, but with a bowl haircut. He had the same bright blue eyes and a cute, round and freckled face. Zack sighed and looked to Tori. "This is my son, Alex. I've got sole custody…"

"Who's the pretty lady, Daddy! Who?" Tori blushed again and closed her eyes, grinning at the boy. She wasn't surprised to find Zack had custody, it seemed men were getting custody of children more frequently these days.

"Someone I've crashed into, I'm afraid."

"I'm Tori, your dad's going to help me out a little with shopping." Alex grinned and at her and quickly grabbed his father's cart, pushing it away to lead them on. Tori followed after him and Zack walked beside her, watching his son closely. "So you've got custody? What happened to the mom, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Maya moved away after the divorce, didn't even bother with the custody battle. I don't think she wanted him…she hasn't come around. Probably due to my brother. Long story."

"Don't feel like talking about it, huh? Don't blame you."

"Eh, family. That's all I can say. Sometimes it's better just to get away from them and keep them from affecting you." Tori frowned and slowly nodded. She wasn't going to press matters, but she did feel bad for him. It sounded like his brother must have screwed up somehow, especially if it caused a divorce. "Haven't seen him in years it seems like, he's not seen Alex since he was born, of course, I can't say I'm upset over it. I don't need Alex being influenced by his uncle."

Zack pushed his hands into his pockets and smiled as they walked onward. She didn't know why, but she felt a strange connection to this man. "You know, I'm going to need some help carrying all the groceries. I know you have to get home with your son, but-"

"Ah I can help if you're not too far."

"I'm in the building right across from here."

"Ah, well that's not a problem, I'll be more than happy to help. I'm sure Alex would enjoy seeing some new area."

After the shopping, Zack kept his word about helping her and was able to help pay for the majority of her items, so she didn't end up spending more than sixty dollars on her own. She felt guilty because he had paid about two hundred, and that included his own items. He insisted that it wasn't a problem, but she wanted to pay him back somehow. Unfortunately she wouldn't be able to do that until she got her paycheck.

Since he didn't have anything that needed to be put in the fridge, they decided to sit at the table while Alex watched some cartoon. "I really appreciate the help," Tori stated for what seemed like the millionth time to her. "I um-I think my sister's trying to teach me not to rely on other people so much, so I swear I'm going to pay you back."

"Hey, it's all right. I don't need to be paid back. I work for the Tipton family, they pay me enough."

"Believe me, the way I used to be, I probably wouldn't even want to pay you back. I'm just…trying to find some middle ground here since I'm reconnecting with my sister and all that." Zack leaned back in his chair and raised an eyebrow as his eyes drifted to Alex.

"Tell you what. If you're really wanting to do something to pay me back and all, then maybe you could look after Alex on Saturday for me? He's always running through the hotel, and we're having some important guests over at the hotel, and I can't find a babysitter for Alex on short notice."

"I'd be happy to!" Granted she didn't have anything to entertain the boy with, but at the very least, she could look after him for Zack. She leaned against her hand and looked to the boy. "How long have you lived in New York for?"

"Just about all my life. The hotel manger before me gave me my start, made me his apprentice." Zach took a deep breath and slowly shook his head. "The man passed away about three years ago. Gave him a hard time growing up, my brother and I, and everyone thought I'd be the one ending up in prison. After high school, I just wanted a job, and he took me under his wing. I owe everything to him."

"He sounds like he was a great man, and a hard loss." Zack folded his arms over the table and slowly nodded.

"It was. I think it hit everyone pretty hard. He uh…he had lung cancer. Was a fighter, brave man, but he was only fifty-nine." Tori's heart broke for him, but she was happy to see the man probably making his mentor proud. Zack started to chuckle as he sat upright. "He worked for London's dad, and now my boss is London herself. Can't say I ever imagined that to happen, I guess stranger things have happened."

"Well, at least you're making your mentor proud, right?"

"Hopefully." Zack pushed himself up and cleared his throat. "I think it's time to head out, I need to get Alex to bed."

"Okay, and thanks again for your help. I think I have plenty of food to last me at least until my next paycheck."

"Not a problem. I will see you on Saturday." Zack moved over to the couch and smiled as Alex laughed at the cartoon. "Are you enjoying the show, son?" Alex laughed once more.

"Yes!"

"You know I hate to pull you away, but we have to get home."

"Aw man!" Zack picked his son up, chuckling as Alex put his head down on his father's shoulders and closed his eyes. "But I'm not tired or anything."

"Tell you what, Kiddo. Saturday, I'll drop you off here with Miss Tori and she'll let you watch all the cartoons you like."

"Really?"

"Yes, but you'll have to finish your homework first."

"All right. Fine." Tori admired Zack for being a single father. He told her that while his son was as smart as anyone else in school his age, Alex had an issue where he still acted a little younger than his actual age level. It wasn't something that hindered his development, and many thought that Alex would grow out of it in a few years. That being said, Zack was definitely a busy and devoted father, and of course, a hard worker.

She became lost in thought as Zack left the apartment with Alex. She turned her attention to the cartoon on the television, it was some action related cartoon. As she flipped off the television, she took a deep breath and lounged on the couch.

"Seems like everyone I run into has had to work hard to get ahead in life…" She looked up to the ceiling and started to smile. "I may be starting to see what you're getting at, Trina. Think I can't make a connection? Think I can't commit? Just you wait and see…I didn't come all the way out here for nothing…"

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