AN: Hello everyone; I hope you've had a good week and are looking forward to Easter. I certainly am. Welcome to the latest chapter of this story, which will cover Christmas for the gang. As always at this time I thank everyone for reading and reviewing last time.
Challenge King – yes Freddie needs to get some sort of help; he's not too willing right now, maybe that will change or maybe there is somebody out there that he will ultimately feel able to talk to. As for Beck keeping Jade in line, how the others react will be interesting; maybe they'll agree given the problems of the last chapter or maybe they'll think he goes overboard. Who knows?
Fanfic-Reader-88 – yes it was a strange decision from Mr West but, according to Jade's Slap post that's what he did. As for Marissa, she has to behave herself because Freddie's shown he's willing to leave – and crucially there's somewhere he could go if she reverted to her crazy self.
Agent-M – yes families will always have their dramas, particularly over a holiday time.
Guest – thank you, let's hope we see the pairing again soon.
Pbow – Cat's child-like behaviour, and her regression on the show, are a curiosity; there are certain writers who have theories that your supposition is correct (that it's linked to her brother's condition) and certainly something Lane could explore the next time they meet.
Chapter 10
Valentine Residence, Hollywood Hills, California
Wednesday, 23rd December 2009.
Cat sat cross-legged on her bed hugging her plush giraffe, the one that Freddie had bought for her at the zoo during the summer before they had started at Hollywood Arts, tightly against her chest; with her parents preparing to take her brother to Idaho and the fact that they would be out of her life for the foreseeable future the little red-head felt that she needed something familiar to hold onto right about now. She loved her grandmother (or 'Nona' as she called her) but it was still a fairly dramatic upheaval that she, and the whole family, would be going through over the next few days. They had yet to leave but already the childlike teenage girl was longing for her parents' return.
"Hey honey, are you ok?" her dad asked after rapping softly on her bedroom door and looking around it; much as the elder Valentine may often wish that his daughter talked a little (or even a lot) less, it was disconcerting for him to see her so quiet and withdrawn, quite the opposite of her usual self.
"I guess," she said a little morosely, "it's just going to be weird not having you guys around and living with Nona; it's a little bit longer of a trip to and from school. I dunno, I guess I just don't want things to change," she finished with a small shrug.
"I know sweetie," he said, entering her room, sitting next to her on the bed and slipping an arm around his daughter, "but we need to do this for your brother. We're going to miss you too but hopefully we'll be back in about a month. It'll fly by, you'll see."
She nodded, more in an attempt to make him feel better than herself, something that wasn't lost on the older Valentine.
"Look," he said, drawing his wallet from his pocket and pulling out a few bills, "why don't you go out and do something fun; maybe take Jade along with you and have a girls' afternoon out? That'll cheer you up."
"Thanks daddy," she smiled at him and accepted the money that he proffered. He left the room and she wriggled her phone from the pocket of her skinny jeans, placing a call to her best friend.
"Hey Jade, want to go somewhere this afternoon?"
Green Meadow Mall, 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles
The two teenage girls met outside Cat's favourite smoothie place; she offered to buy Jade one but the gothic girl opted instead to hit the Jet Brew stand across the court and get herself a coffee. They sat at a table with their drinks, each lost in their thoughts before Jade spoke up.
"So what's bothering you Cat?" she began without preamble.
"You know I told you my parents were taking my brother to this 'special' hospital in Idaho?" The other girl nodded her confirmation of knowledge of the recent development. "Well it's just that they're going in a few days and I'm really going to miss them while they're away."
"You'll be staying with your grandmother though, won't you?"
"Yes, and I love my Nona, I do; it's just… not the same," she finished balefully.
"Well we'll all be around still," the dark-brunette attempted to console and encourage her, "you'll still see everyone at school, probably be able to hang with us on a weekend and maybe a little on a night before you have to go back there. They'll be back before you know it," she smiled.
Cat looked far from convinced, choosing to take another sip of her treat instead of answering her friend; Jade tried again.
"So what do you want to do this afternoon if it's your daddy's treat?" she asked with a slightly forced smile.
Cat thought for a moment before brightening. "I want a make-over!" she cried happily. "Let's go to the salon and get pampered; come on," and she seized her best friend's hand and dragged her, extremely reluctantly, to the beauty parlour.
Why did I let her talk me into this? Jade asked herself while Cat sat giggling gently as one of the girls curled her hair a little; the red-head decided that she wanted to try a new look for Christmas and wanted to see how she would look with a different hair-style. The mean girl eventually acquiesced to her friend's insistence that she try something while they were there; she settled for a head massage (which she had to admit, once it was underway, was extremely nice and relaxing) and a manicure, though she insisted on them leaving her black nail polish intact while they did it.
"See, that wasn't so bad was it?" the child-like teen asked playfully as they left a couple of hours later.
"It was ok," the brunette reluctantly admitted then, seeing her friend's expectant face, amended, "it was a really nice way to spend the afternoon," and furnished the shorter girl with a smile. "Thanks Cat, I did enjoy it," she conceded, bringing a giggle from the now curly-haired teenager.
They spent a little more time walking around the stores and talking before going their separate ways.
"Hey sweetie," Mrs Valentine called as she arrived home. "Wow, I love the new look," she complimented as she admired what her daughter had had done to her hair.
"Really?" the girl smiled.
"Absolutely, it really suits you," her dad echoed his support.
"Ooh, curly Cat," her brother piped up before lapsing back into silence and studying the back of his hand.
"Well I'm glad you all like it," she told them as she sat down and joined them in the living area. "Thanks daddy," she whispered and grinned at him; he smiled back at her and patted her hand gently.
Benson Residence
Thursday, 24th December 2009.
"Good morning Freddie," Marissa greeted her son civilly as he arrived in the kitchen.
"Hey mom, how are you today?" he returned in a relaxed tone.
In truth the Benson matriarch was very happy; she had her son back "where he belonged", even if the cost had been a few of his demands about the way she behaved around him and what he could eat. He still had not forgotten about the chip, and it had been an underlying source of tension between them since his return home a couple of weeks earlier (he had decided, once Beck was off his crutches and ready to reclaim the RV, that his mother had suffered enough and he managed to negotiate some acceptable terms for his return, including access to various television channels, a promise not to embarrass him in public and, crucially, an apology for implanting the chip; she had been reluctant to give him the apology, as it implied wrong-doing, but he was adamant and ultimately she had caved).
Beck had visited him on the Saturday evening following Thanksgiving to let him know that he'd be moving back in the next day; he suggested that his friend come inside to speak to his parents about staying there going forwards. He did so but informed them that he would also be contacting Marissa and seeing whether the two of them could clear the air at all; he didn't voice the feeling that, now that he wouldn't have the RV and the total freedom and privacy that it afforded him, maybe it was time to move home and see what concessions he could extract from his mother. The Oliver parents understood but reiterated that he would be welcome there for as long as he wanted to stay, and for a peppercorn rent; he told them that he was grateful for the invite – and the alternative – but that he needed to speak to his mother and see if he could resolve things with her.
"I'm fine thank you. Are you looking forward to Christmas?" she asked stiffly; they were still talking a little formally and things were not back to the way they had been in the past – Freddie suspected, and in a way hoped, that they never would be that way again now that a line had been drawn in the sand; tick baths were certainly a thing of the past for him.
"Definitely," he smiled. "I get my little present for me later on today as well," he added nonchalantly, having reserved this final bombshell for her.
"And what would that be?" she asked, curiosity mingling with concern about what his 'present' could possibly involve.
"I'm getting a car," he said calmly, enjoying the look of shock and horror form on her face at the thought. "Mom," he attempted to placate her a little, "I got my permit months ago and I've been taking lessons since I started working. I can afford it so I'm getting a car; it gives me some more independence and it's some freedom for you as well because you don't need to take me places – I can get around on my own."
"I don't like it, Freddie; it can be so dangerous on the roads…" she began before her son cut her off.
"Mom, if you really believed that then you wouldn't drive and you definitely wouldn't drive me anywhere. I'm getting a car this afternoon," he stated with finality and reached for the cereal box. It was unnecessary for him to add the threat and if you don't like it then I can always move out again. "I think I'll have some bacon after this," he added conversationally as he poured milk (they still only had 1% as that was all that Marissa would buy) over his bowlful.
"Whatever you think," she force-smiled through strongly gritted teeth.
"Do you have to work today?" he asked curiously, deciding that it was best to change the subject for now.
The Benson matriarch confirmed that she did, although only until around 3. "I'll be back in plenty of time for us to go to your aunt Millie's for supper before we go to church," she hoped that he would still be going with her to these events given his new demand for more independence and a 'longer leash' from her.
"Sounds good," he nodded before adding, slightly cruelly and with a broad smile and innocent voice, "shall I drive us tonight?"
Marissa floundered a little for an answer, finally settling for, "That would be nice, Freddie."
She left for work, her son beginning to regret what he had offered, not because of any feeling that he had behaved cruelly towards her but because he wasn't sure about the idea of having her sat next to him commenting on his driving all evening. What's done is done, he shrugged.
After finishing a leisurely breakfast and with no plans for the earlier part of the day he called Eli.
"Hey dude, how's it going?"
"Pretty good," his sandy-blond friend replied, "how about you?"
"Great. I pick up my car in a few hours."
"Awesome! What did your mom say?"
"As little as possible," he laughed. "So anyway, are you busy today?"
"We head up to San Francisco around five," he informed him, "but once I've finished packing I'll be free for the afternoon."
"Want to hit the mall for a couple of hours then before I go and get my wheels?"
"Sure, see you there around eleven thirty?"
Green Meadow Mall, 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles
The two boys met at the mall's Food Court, opting for a slightly early lunch to begin their hang-out time.
"So how did your mom take the news about your car," Freddie's friend asked curiously, drawing a smirk from the Seattle-born.
"She wasn't too happy," he disclosed, "but she knows that she really doesn't get a choice in the matter anymore so she has to live with it."
"Things really have changed with her then," the sandy-blond remarked in surprise.
"Definitely; moving out for those few weeks was the best thing I could ever have done. It's forced her to be a lot more reasonable around me, that's for sure."
"I still thought she might have said something more about a car though," he noted.
"She expressed her displeasure and concerns but she knows if she pushes it too far I can always leave again and she does not want that to happen," Freddie shrugged. "So she has to accept a lot more from me. Obviously there are still lines that I can't cross – nor would I want to," his brain automatically harked back to the night of the Prom, and the morning after, causing him to shudder at the memories, "but we have a much more 'normal' relationship now, though it's taking her a while to get to used to it."
"Sounds good then, particularly that you were able to patch everything up," Eli commented approvingly; despite what he knew of Marissa both first hand and from Freddie's anecdotes he had been raised with the utmost respect for his parents and automatically felt, therefore, that kids should be with them if at all possible – it was something that he had debated with Beck in the past over his living in the RV on his own. The two had had to agree to differ on that point. "And has she mentioned the…" he tailed off and patted the back of his head awkwardly.
"Only when I wanted an apology for it as a condition of moving back; I think she hopes to sweep the whole thing under the carpet and forget about it. Easier said than done if that's the case."
Eli nodded and returned to his meal; Freddie did likewise and the two ate in silence.
"Ok, where next?" Eli asked when they were done.
"Oh that's an easy one," the Seattle-born replied, just a hint of surprise in his voice, "we go and see André," he gestured in the songsmith's direction as he spied their mutual friend; it was a chance meeting as he hadn't expected the dreadlocked boy to be there.
"Hey André!" he called from across the mall; the boy turned in their direction and smiled as he saw his two friends.
"Freddie, Eli, good to see you guys. What are you doing here?"
"Just hanging," Freddie answered with a shrug, "killing a bit of time before I get my new car later on. How about you? I wasn't expecting to see you here."
The talented musician nodded; he felt a little envious of his friend.
"Oh I needed to pick up a couple of things for tonight and…" he dropped his voice and glanced around shiftily, "I'm hiding out away from my grandma; she's driving me nuts."
"Is she that bad?" Eli asked curiously, leading to André embarking on a lengthy description of the woman's troubles and issues; Freddie nodded sympathetically at his friend's lament.
"Do you want to tag along?" the ex-iCarly tech producer offered, "we're just going to walk round a few stores until I have to go for my car and Eli heads for San Fran."
"Sure thing," André accepted the invitation and the three boys roamed the mall for a few pleasant hours before going their separate ways.
Used Car Dealership, 1201 N Fairfax Ave, West Hollywood
Freddie entered the showroom and office area, looking around for the person he had been dealing with since agreeing to buy a car here. He smiled at the sight of the employee; the man waved to him and hurried over to greet him.
"Hello Freddie," he began, shaking the teen's hand. "Are you all set to pick up the car?"
"Yes sir," the boy replied, patting the leather folder he carried under his left arm, "I have everything right here; insurance number, bank draft, my permit's in my wallet," he withdrew the item from his pocket and followed the worker to his office, emerging from the building a few minutes later with the keys to his first vehicle, a small Toyota. It's not much, the boy thought as he pulled out of the dealership and headed for home, but it will do for what I want right now. Contrary to what he suspected were his mother's fears he negotiated the short journey back via the sparsely occupied roads without any life threatening incidents, pulling into his house's driveway and parking up. He grinned broadly as he locked the car after getting out, a little giddy at the prospect of the extra freedom having his own wheels would afford him. He glanced at his watch, noting that it was a little after 3. Mom will be back soon, he thought.
Right on cue he saw his mother's car dawdling up the street; the boy decided to remain outside by his own vehicle so that he could greet her on her return. He waved casually as she turned into the driveway, pulling into her usual spot and working hard to keep the frown from her face at her smiling son stood leaning against his 'death trap' as she viewed it.
"Hello Freddie," she greeted him tersely as she exited her car. "So this is it then?"
"Yep, my very first car," he confirmed with a grin. "She runs pretty well, though of course it was only a short drive back here." The former iCarly tech producer stood patiently while Marissa walked around the car staring intently at it as if to bore out a problem with it using her eyes. He rolled his own a little and called from behind her, "Mom, if you're concerned then we can take it this evening when we go to Aunt Millie's, hopefully that will convince you that everything is fine with it."
His mother looked far from convinced but nodded reluctantly at her son's determined expression.
Valentine Residence.
Cat had withdrawn to her bedroom as her parents discussed their plans for the next month or so and began the arduous task of preparing their son for the upheaval ahead of him. They were busily packing his things, along with plenty for themselves given that they expected to be away for around a month; it was another reason not to take their daughter along – there simply wouldn't be enough room for everyone in the car given that they were driving so as not to have to have a rental car for the whole time that they were up in Idaho. The youngest Valentine, meanwhile, was busy with her own packing; although it wasn't essential that she had everything (given that she could easily collect a few things after school if she found that she had forgotten something important) she wanted to be packed and ready to go in plenty of time so that the final day or so before her family left would be a little less stressful. It took her a little over an hour to fill a suitcase with the majority of her clothes and a couple of other bags with the things she thought she would need in order to live her normal life in her family's absence.
"Hey cup cake," her mother's voice called from the doorway as she placed the bags in a pile near the foot of her bed, "you've packed to go already?"
Her daughter shrugged and swept a few wisps of red hair from her face. "I thought I might as well; this way if I've forgotten something I still have time to put it in before I go."
"Good thinking," Mrs Valentine said encouragingly. "Cat," her tone changed and the cup cake-loving girl turned to meet her gaze, "are you going to be ok when we've gone."
"I'll be fine," she insisted, "I love my Nona and I'll be fine living with her until you get back." The teenager surprised herself with her vehement insistence, given how concerned she had been about the whole thing when she first learned of her parents' intentions. Both mother and daughter wondered exactly who she was trying to convince more with her statement, though neither pressed the issue other.
"Ok then," Mrs Valentine commented instead, turning and heading to her son's room to carry on getting his things together.
Beck's RV, Oliver Residence.
Beck lay on his bed, resting his knee; it was just about back to normal but he was still taking things easy until the New Year, when he was looking to begin his fencing again. He wasn't alone, Jade lay next to him partaking in an increasingly heated make-out session. He ran his fingers gently along her hand, enjoying the soft feel of her skin and the smoothness of her nails and silently praising the manicurist who had worked on her the previous day. He left her hand and sought out her waist, wrapping his right arm around it and rolling onto his back pulling his girlfriend on top of him as he went.
Jade was enjoying the contact and private intimacy but began to feel just a little uncomfortable at where exactly this was leading (especially in mind of how badly Freddie had been affected by having sex before he was ready for it) and shifted her hands to pin her boyfriend's arms, gently but firmly, lest he think about taking things further. Any awkward conversations, however, were headed off by a knock on the trailer's door and the sound of Mrs Oliver's voice calling through it.
"Beck? Are you ok in there? Don't forget we're having tea soon before we head up to see the family."
The boy groaned as he recalled the plan; Jade silently thanked anybody who was listening.
"I guess that's my cue to leave," she commented as she eased herself off his bed; a glance in a mirror led to her trying to straighten her hair and clothing a little before coming face to face with her boyfriend's mother. She turned to Beck and smiled at him. "I'll see you when you get back?" He nodded and confirmed as much as she retrieved a package from her bag, which she had left by the door. "Something for you to open in the morning," she whispered, giving him a quick kiss; they were going to exchange presents 'properly' on his return but she had picked up an extra little something for him this year.
"Thank you," he smiled. "I uh… I have your gift here," he tapped the wardrobe, "but I thought we weren't doing this until later."
"We are, this is a bonus," she half-joked. "Merry Christmas Beck."
"Merry Christmas Jade," he smiled; she returned it and left his home, greeting his mother cordially as she passed her; once she had walked out of the drive and out of the line of sight of anyone who might be watching her she let out a deep sigh and ran her hand nervously through her hair.
Millie Benson's home, Los Feliz
Freddie's fears over how his mother would react to his driving proved well founded; the Benson matriarch seemed fearful throughout as they traversed the roads, cautioning him over potential hazards both real and, far more often, imagined. The brown-haired teen had kept his cool – just about – during the drive over; he had been approaching breaking point though by the time he pulled the little Toyota up outside his aunt's house.
"You go ahead, I'll get the gifts from the trunk," he told his mother in a generous tone; in reality he just wanted his mother to receive the full Amanda effect and only have to suffer the aftershock himself.
The plan worked to perfection for the fifteen-year-old; he came bearing gifts and managed to avoid his 'icky' cousin by carrying the bags over to the spruce tree in his aunt's living room and spending a few minutes unloading them all and sorting them into individual piles before returning to the entrance hall to remove his outdoor coat and shoes. Only then did he have to deal with his family, doing the rounds quickly before grabbing a handful of peanuts and taking a seat next to his mother – and ignoring her disapproval for his pre-dinner snack.
Millie had prepared a wonderful roast beef dinner; Freddie was thankful that she didn't share her sister's paranoia when it came to meals and cooking. The boy dug in eagerly and gratefully, thoroughly enjoying the food she had prepared and smiling to himself as his mother picked a little at her own meal, clearly having a very different opinion of the fare that had been served up.
Once everyone had eaten their fill (Freddie made sure to thank his aunt graciously for the meal, earning him an approving smile from the woman of the house) they retired to the living room for an enjoyable and sociable evening. Amanda tried to engage her slightly older cousin in conversation as much as she could; he answered politely enough but he himself tried to engage other family members in conversation as often as he could and feeling slightly relieved by her lament that the boy and his mother would not be joining them again the following day; the two had opted to have a quiet Christmas together as they continued to figure out a new equilibrium in their relationship.
Around eleven o'clock the family began to prepare to head to church together. Freddie loaded up his and his mother's gifts from family and put them in the back of his car, accepting the admiring praise of his aunts (and cousin) as they looked at his new purchase; it was something else for his mother to look decidedly unhappy about.
"Ok, we'll follow you," he told his host. Millie nodded, got in her own car and led the small convoy to her usual church.
'Nona's' house, 6829 Camrose Drive, Los Angeles
Friday, 25th December 2009.
Cat, her parents and her brother arrived at her grandmother's house where they would be celebrating Christmas this year. The red-haired girl had elected to take the majority of her things with her, having woken up this morning and decided that she may as well stay behind when the rest of the family went home and get the move over and done with a day or two earlier than she needed to; the elder woman was happy to oblige her granddaughter for a couple of extra days and the whole family knew that it would make things a little easier for the rest of them in trying to prepare for the trip to Idaho.
"Thanks for doing this, mom," Mrs Valentine said, snatching a private moment in the kitchen with her while they prepared the family meal. "It really gives us peace of mind knowing that you'll be taking care of her while we're away."
"It's not a problem; I love little Caterina and I'm more than happy to have her stay here while you're away. I just hope it works out for Frankie at the hospital," her voice dropped and lost some of its happiness at the thought of the troubled late-teen boy while her daughter sadly nodded her agreement of the sentiments before pulling her into a quick hug before turning her attention back to the family's Christmas lunch. The two worked in harmony, talking when necessary but mostly content to conclude the preparations and cooking in silence.
"Ok, everybody," Nona called as she walked through to the dining area with a tray full of goodies, "time to sit down and dig in." Her daughter followed behind with a similarly laden tray and began to doll out food onto her own children's plates.
The first course was an enjoyable time for the family; Cat's brother was suitably focussed on his meal as to not cause any problems or disturbances, though his sister watched him cautiously throughout and smiling, albeit nervously, as he continued to eat. She distractedly ate her own appetiser at the same time, oblivious to the concerned glances that the adults were exchanging.
Things degenerated during the main course as the boy's patience and attention thresholds were reached and passed; he caused an all-too-common scene at the table before being led away by his mother to settle down. Nona saw the look in her granddaughter's eyes and reached across the table to squeeze her hand gently, causing the red-haired girl to look up at her and give a weak smile.
He was suitably settled by the end of the meal to participate a little in the opening of the last few presents in the household; Nona had wanted to exchange her gifts during the day rather than having them opened in the morning without her. Cat was happy about this as it allowed her to open a couple more presents this afternoon. What she had kept to herself was the one little box she still had to unwrap that sat in the cases she had deposited in her new bedroom; the cupcake obsessed girl grinned at the memory of receiving it a few days ago and preoccupied herself with wondering what it could contain.
After a couple of hours in which coffees were consumed, the family talked about trivial things and, at Cat's insistence, played a couple of party games the Valentine parents were ready to go, though it felt strange for them to be leaving without their youngest child.
"You take care now," Mrs Valentine whispered as she pulled the girl into a hug, "we'll see you before we leave and we'll be back before you know it." She kissed the girl tenderly, as did her husband before the three departed with Cat looking sadly after them as they drove away; she waved one last time as the car rounded a corner out of sight before turning and going back inside her new home and into her grandmother's comforting arms.
"Why don't you start making that room your own?" Nona suggested.
"'kay 'kay," the girl nodded with a small smile and headed for her new bedroom to begin unpacking. She soon came across the little package in one of her cases and smiled as she read the gift tag; Cat, Merry Christmas from Freddie x.
She took a short break from unpacking and her smile widened as she unwrapped her last present.
Green Meadow Mall, 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles
Monday, 28th December 2009.
"So your parents have gone then?" Jade asked sympathetically; she had had to wait a little while for Cat's arrival at her home, as her friend had a longer journey there from her new residence, before the pair had headed to their favourite 'hang' spot, the mall.
"Yes, and my brother," she amended softly. "I just hope it all works out and they're home soon."
"They will be," Jade reassured her, though she resisted the urge to give her hand a brief squeeze.
"So what are we doing today?" the shorter girl enquired; all she knew was that Jade had invited her to come to the mall with her. She was happy to do so but was unsure of the other girl's reasoning.
"I'm getting a present from my dad; I know he'll hate it as much as last year's, if not more," Jade grinned wickedly.
"What are you going to get?" Cat asked as the brunette made her way towards the tattoos and piercings parlour.
"I'm getting my nose and eyebrow pierced," she replied casually.
"But your mom said that you couldn't, just as we were leaving," the red-head reminded her unnecessarily.
"Yeah well she's not here now," Jade observed in an unconcerned tone.
"Don't you think she'll freak? She did when you got the tattoo."
"Hey, why don't you go get a smoothie?" her friend suggested, losing patience with talking to the girl and handing her a five dollar bill.
"'Kay 'kay," the child-like teenager smiled happily, all other thoughts banished from her mind as she headed for her favourite store, jingling her keys distractedly in her pocket as she went and smiling as her fingers brushed the engraved unicorn key ring that had been Freddie's little gift for her. Jade shook her head at her retreating friend before turning and making her way into the parlour.
It was around an hour later that she was done and her new pieces of facial jewellery were safely ensconced in the freshly pierced holes. Jade went in search of her friend, finding her still sat with a smoothie; from the look of the table it appeared to be the red velvet-haired girl's third.
"Hey," the brunette called, causing her friend to turn around.
"Oh… hey," the shorter teen pulled a slight face at her friend's visage.
"You don't like them?" the gothic girl sounded a little affronted.
"Uh, they're just going to take some getting used to," Cat replied delicately. "Why did you get them anyway?"
"Mom said I couldn't and they'll upset my dad," she shrugged.
"But why…"
"C'mon, let's go and see what sales some of your favourite stores have," Jade encouraged, seizing the other girl's wrist and dragging her off; the brunette felt disappointed with her reaction as she was hoping for a little more support and admiration for her expression of individuality. While she was grateful for her honesty she would have appreciated a little white lie and a little support from her.
West Residence
Jade returned home with a slight feeling of trepidation; the more she thought about it the more she felt nervous about the way she had openly defied her mother's orders about not getting the piercings. Her luck was out as Mrs West was sitting in the living area watching TV as her daughter came through the door.
"Hello Jade, how was your afternoon with… Cat?" she tailed off as the light caught the metallic additions with a give-away glint. "What have you done?" she demanded in a cold voice.
"I got my nose and eye-brow pierced," the younger West fired back with bravado.
"When I specifically told you that you couldn't?"
"Yeah," she shrugged.
"You're grounded for two months and no allowance for three." Jade's jaw dropped at the severity of the sentence; her mother shrugged. "Two weeks and no allowance for a month didn't get the message through to you, maybe this will," she finished coldly.
"Two months?" her daughter echoed. "I can't see my friends away from school for two months?"
"No, no friends, no Beck, no nothing outside of school for two months. Maybe then you'll learn to listen to me. Oh, and I'll have your phone too for the duration," she added as an afterthought to the teenager's horror. Jade saw the steely look in her mother's eyes and knew that it wasn't up for debate; she reached into her pocket and handed the device over.
"I'm going to my room," the gothic girl grumbled, "I'll be down for dinner."
"Ok," her mother waved her off nonchalantly, though she reflected as she did on just how tiring parenting a rebellious teenager was becoming.
AN: Thanks for reading; I hope you enjoyed it and please don't be shy about reviewing and letting me know what you thought.
For any of you who read my 'Freddie Goes To Hollywood' story and aren't aware, the sequel has begun. It's called "Here's To Us" and can be found in the Victorious section, or by visiting my profile page. PD.