AN: Hello my dear readers and welcome to another installment of this story; I hope that you've all had a good week.
As always at this point I'd like to thank everyone who read and reviewed the previous chapter and answer some of the points that were raised.
Challenge King - thanks, I'm glad that you liked it.
Darck Ben - likewise.
Fanfic Reader 88 - yes, Jade crossed a line a little there; she may not be too popular with the Vega clan right now.
Pbow - yes, three points from a girl Victoria's size is a lot, even if one considers her to have closer to ten pints than six. The school, and Sikowitz in particular, does seem to have an issue with favouritism of certain people, which is far from ideal.
SeddieHeartLand - thank you and I'm glad that you enjoy the interactions.
Thanks and I hope that you all enjoy the next chapter.
Chapter 39: Prom Wrecker
Valentine residence, Hollywood Hills
Sunday, 15th May 2011.
Jade pulled up her car on her best friend's parents' driveway; she blew out a long breath and swept a hand through her jet black hair. The girl drummed the fingers of her other hand against the steering wheel for a few moments as she deliberated her approach and finished rationalising her thoughts.
Finally the gothic teen collected herself and got out of the car, making her way to the front door and knocking; a few moments later Cat's mother answered.
"Hello Jadelyn," she smiled at her daughter's long-time best friend, then frowned slightly. "Cat didn't say you two had plans… in fact, she said you two weren't talking at all on Friday night."
"No, that's right; I just needed to see her and talk to her about it all."
The matriarch asked as she opened the door wider to admit the teenager. "She had quite the story about how she ended up playing Tori's part and you weren't happy about it."
Jade had the grace to look a little embarrassed. "Yeah. I uh… I just wanted to see her and talk about it a little."
The girl in question arrived at the foot of the stairs. "Hey mom, who was at the door? Oh hi Jade!" she greeted her friend happily with a warm smile, one that slightly surprised the darker-haired junior as she expected a somewhat more hostile greeting, having turned her away the last time she wanted to talk.
"Hey. Look, I'm sorry about Friday night," she began; Cat gestured upstairs and the two girls headed to her room to get a little more privacy.
"It's ok," Cat shrugged as they ascended the stairs, "you were upset about me taking a part you thought should have been yours."
"Yeah," the gothic girl agreed uncomfortably. "But it wasn't your fault," she admitted, "I wouldn't turn down a chance to perform and I can't expect you to pass up that sort of chance, an opportunity to get yourself recognised either. Freddie says you killed it," she added with a smile.
"Freddie would say that," the redhead's eyes glazed over slightly and her expression became dreamy as she thought about her brown-haired boyfriend. Jade waited as patiently as she could for her best friend to say something else; after a few seconds it became apparent that nothing else would be forthcoming.
"So, just like that, you're forgiving me?" She was a little surprised.
"You're my best friend, of course it's all good," Cat smiled happily. "Unless you'd rather I punched you in the face like I did Tori," she added mischievously before worry crossed her face as Jade's smile faltered. "I was kidding," she added hurriedly.
"No, it was just you mentioning Tori," Jade explained. "I texted her earlier, asking how she was and apologising, saying I wanted to come over and do it in person but needed to make sure I'd be well received. Y'know, rather than her dad or maybe even Trina trying to hurt me over what happened to her. She hasn't replied."
"Tori will be good," Cat insisted. "She won't bear a grudge."
"I know, you're right," she nodded. "So, do you want to hang today or are you busy with Freddie?"
"No, we didn't make any plans for today," she disclosed, "so if you want to hit the mall or something we could," the shorter girl suggested.
"Sure. Come on, I'll buy you some red velvet cupcakes," Jade cracked a smile; Cat squealed with delight and hugged her friend.
Hollywood Arts High School,
Los Angeles, CA
Monday, 16th May 2011.
Freddie had offered Cat a ride to and from school; the girl happily accepted and spent the journey discussing the events of the previous day and how much fun she had had. She suggested that Jade had enjoyed it as much as she did, which Freddie privately doubted, though he was happy that they had spent the day together and that there were no hard feelings on either side between the two best friends.
"And that Jet Brew guy was still giving her the eye," Cat explained as they had pulled into the parking lot. "But Jade just took her coffee; she didn't go back to see him."
"Maybe she's just a bit uncomfortable," Freddie pondered aloud as he parked up, "with everything that's gone on with her, perhaps she doesn't want to start anything."
"It's a shame though, I don't like to see her lonely or… or feeling awkward when we're so happy together."
"I know, because you are the sweetest thing," he smiled, leaning over to kiss her. One kiss became two, two became several before a heated make-out session threatened to begin. It was only averted when a small knot of spectators began to assemble outside the car and began to hoot and cheer at them. They separated and looked around, a little embarrassed, at the crowd they had drawn. It began to disperse as they gathered their belongings and got out of his car, heading into school.
The couple, having arrived in the main hallway, spotted Tori; she was peering round the corner by some of the lockers.
"Hi," Cat called happily.
"Hey Tor, good to see you back here after the weekend," Freddie smiled.
"Shh, not now. Look," she grinned briefly to acknowledge his greeting but gestured towards what she was looking at; the young couple turned to see André kissing a girl.
"Whoa, daddy," Freddie grinned.
"André has been working on his new little girlfriend over there for, like, ten minutes," the brunette explained.
"So we're not the only ones getting some action – and being watched," Freddie whispered conspiratorially; Cat began to dissolve into uncontrollable, slightly embarrassed giggles as she rested against him. He wrapped an arm round her waist and idly rubbed her midriff through the thin material of her pale blue dress. Tori, meanwhile, pulled a slightly puzzled face, wondering what Freddie had whispered to make Cat react in such a way.
"So, after school, I was thinking we could maybe..." the dreadlocked teen they were 'spying on' began after he and the girl came up for air.
"Yeah, that sounds great," she agreed distractedly and they began to kiss again.
Jade spotted the trio and, figuring that now was as good a time as any to begin talking to Tori and making amends with her over what had happened, she walked up to them.
"Hi guys."
"Hey Jade," Cat waved at her friend but turned her attention back to André's little show; the gothic teen decided to see what they were all watching.
"Okay, is André trying to swallow that girl?"
"No, I think they're just kissing," the redhead explained, causing the other three to simultaneously roll their eyes.
"Look, Tori, I'm sorry about…" the dark-haired girl began.
The half-Latina cut her off. "Sorry you almost killed me and Robbie or sorry you failed?"
"Sorry about what I did, all of it," she ignored the barb. "Look," she sighed, "I was pissed about the play and I took it out on the wrong person. I was wrong to do that."
"Yeah? Well sorry's not going to cut it right now, Jade – not after what happened to me last weekend," Tori surprised the other three by flat-out refusing to accept the other girl's apology; they briefly traded surprised, and in Cat and Freddie's case sympathetic, looks before Tori spoke up again. "Oh, here he comes," she spotted André heading in their direction; the feud was briefly forgotten as all eyes turned to the musician. "Here he comes. Don't let him know we were watching him."
"What's up?" the dreadlocked male asked with a smile as he joined the quartet.
"Nothing much," Jade shrugged.
"Just hanging, you know, glad to see Tori on her feet again," Freddie added.
"We were not watching you kiss that girl," Cat insisted with a smile.
"Cat!" the half-Latina snapped.
"It's all right," the boy grinned, "I hope you all enjoyed the show."
The red haired girl's phone beeped suddenly and she pulled it from her purse (her short dress didn't have pockets, though it did have Freddie's attention).
"Oh, it's my dad," she informed them.
"Did he get me the stuff?" Jade asked excitedly.
"Yeah. He says he got you the clown costume, the power drill and twelve gallons of blood."
"Wow. Where'd he find twelve gallons of fake blood?"
"He knows a guy," the little teen shrugged.
"So, should I ask why you want blood, a drill and a clown suit?" Freddie asked as they began to walk through the school.
"It's for that live performance I'm doing," his best friend poked him gently in the ribs. "I told you about it already."
"Yes, but I think Cat was distracting me at the time," he defended himself; Jade rolled her eyes as the redhead laughed again, fluttering her eyelashes at him. "So, what's it about again?"
"A clown and a parachute that doesn't open."
"What's it called?" André asked her; she handed him a flyer. "'Clowns don't bounce.'"
"They don't," Freddie observed.
"No, they don't do that," the musician agreed.
"Come to the show and you'll see why," the gothic girl grinned; Tori was continuing to steadfastly ignore her.
As the group reached the staircase they spotted Robbie; as usual he was sporting Rex, the latter was wearing a tuxedo.
"Well, it's your fault for partying too hard," his handler told him.
"Ohh," the puppet groaned.
"What's up, Rob?" André asked.
"Oh, hey," he greeted them. "Tori! Good to see you up and about – and thanks again for Friday."
"You're welcome," she smiled before shooting a sidelong glance at Jade and narrowing her eyes a little; the gesture was not lost on any of them.
"Ohh," Rex complained again.
"What's wrong with Rex?" Cat asked.
"We went to the Northridge Prom last night."
Freddie winced slightly at the disclosure; Cat and Jade turned to him and looked cautiously at him. Tori followed their gaze and wrinkled her nose a little in confusion. She frowned at the feeling of being out of the loop on something.
"Ohh, those Northridge girls," Rex added, providing a welcome distraction. "I feel like a Prom bomb went off in my head. Ohh. Ohh. And I have a stomach virus."
Robbie leapt to his feet; as he carried his puppet towards the bathroom he was shouting, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no."
A thought suddenly occurred to the newest student in their year group. "Hey, when is our Prom?" she asked.
"We don't have a Prom," Jade replied simply.
"What?" Tori was astounded.
"Proms are stupid," the black-haired girl snapped; Cat looked as if she disagreed while Freddie just wished someone would change the subject entirely.
"I love Proms," the brunette protested.
Without thinking, Jade snapped, "Which makes sense, 'cause you're you and Proms are stupid."
"Oh, great to see how sincere that apology really was," Tori countered.
"You rejected it; that's not my fault," Jade shot back.
"Whatever!" Tori threw her hands up and walked off. Freddie and Cat looked miserably at one another while Jade hid her concerns under a mask of defiance.
Black box theatre
"What are we going to do?" Freddie muttered despairingly; he and Cat had snuck into the vacant theatre at the start of lunch to enjoy a little quiet alone time, hoping that this time it would be without an audience (ironic, given where they were attending school); however they were both distracted, and troubled, by the worsening relations between two members of the group.
"I think we need to talk to Tori," the redhead reasoned. "Jade did apologise to her and knows that she screwed up. I guess it's just going to take some time for her to get over it."
"Yeah," her boyfriend agreed. "I just really don't want to get caught in the middle of it all if their friendship falls apart over all this."
"What would you do?" she asked softly.
Without hesitating he replied, "I'd side with Jade. We've been friends for so long and… and I trusted her with all the Lindsey stuff even when I couldn't tell anyone else."
"Including me," his girlfriend pointed out, failing to keep the hurt tone from her voice.
"Yes," he agreed, a hint of remorse in his voice, "for the reasons we've already been over, I decided that I couldn't confide in you. But back to those two, if it really comes to it, I owe it to Jade to stand by her."
"Me too," Cat agreed, "we've been friends since kindergarten; I just don't want to lose Tori as a friend though."
"I know, Cat," he pulled her into a tighter cuddle; she responded by wriggling into his lap and resting her head on his shoulder. "I know," he repeated in a softer voice. The two spent the remainder of the lunch period in companionable silence – though it was a little less comfortable than the ones they were used to (not that Cat was particularly good at the 'silence' part at the best of times) and not the 'alone time' that they were really hoping for. Finally the warning bell sounded and the couple left the theatre for their next class.
Sikowitz's classroom
"Another wasted hour," Freddie complained as the lesson ended and he led Cat towards the classroom door; he was surprised that Tori remained in her seat while the other kids were all preparing to go.
"Go on, I'll catch you all up," she urged; the brown-haired teen shrugged and left the room with his girlfriend.
"So we're really dropping his class?" she asked softly.
"I am," he confirmed, "in fact I might go and see Helen right now," he added thoughtfully, "so if you want us to be in the same class then I guess you are going to have to as well."
"It's a shame, he's funny," the girl smiled.
"I don't like the guy and I've learned pretty much nothing from him all year. On top of that he's passing me over for performances – you as well until Friday night, and that was only because he didn't want Jade in the play," he reminded her. "I want a teacher who will actually give me some opportunities, particularly now my movie's coming out soon and I might be in the thoughts of the studio – or one of the others, and I don't think I'll get them from him."
Cat nodded, accepting his points. "Let's visit Helen then." She tugged on his hand and made for the Principal's office.
While the couple were making their case for a new teacher in senior year, their existing one was conversing with his favourite student.
"Wait, what do you mean there's no Prom at Hollywood Arts?" he asked Tori.
"There isn't. There's never been one," she repeated what she'd been told.
"You're sure there's never been a Prom here with coyotes and a big pile of burning tires? This doesn't ring a bell?"
"No, certainly not while I've been here anyway... and I don't think that stuff happens at Proms."
"Hmm. Wait, why are we talking about Proms?" he asked.
"Because I want to have one, here," she explained.
"Oh. Well, you need to talk with the head of student activities."
"I am," she pointed out, "right now." He looked around, expecting to see somebody else stood behind them. "Sikowitz, you're the head of student activities."
"Really? I thought I was relieved of that duty after the whole ping pong episode."
"Well Helen said you were still in charge. So can we have a Prom?"
"Yes," he confirmed.
"Yay. Thank you," the brunette was happy.
"But..."
"Aww," she feared the caveat.
"It's got to either be," he consulted a calendar, "this Saturday or... last Tuesday."
"This Saturday? But that only gives us, like, a few days to get everything ready," she protested.
"Then you best hurry," he told her simply.
"Okay. Okay, okay. I can do this," she tried to control her breathing. "Just a couple of questions... "
"Please, later. I really need to take my grandmother to the hospital," he told her.
"Oh, sure. Okay, I'll get on with planning," she left the room without another word.
Main Hallway,
Tuesday, 17th May 2011.
A delighted Tori had rushed home to begin planning the Prom now that she had secured a time and a location. The brunette had put a post on The Slap asking for ideas and suggestions as she began to put everything together. Having encountered Freddie the next morning she was eager for his input. Having been at work the previous evening and then taken Cat to the movies, this was the first he had heard of the event… not only was he not too keen on going to a Prom at all (though he know his girlfriend would love it), he immediately spotted a sizeable problem.
"You're planning to hold it in the Asphalt Café for this Saturday night?" he asked in surprise. "Tori, Jade's performance is on Saturday night in the Asphalt Café."
The girl smiled maliciously. "Not anymore."
"What do you mean?" he asked in confusion.
"I mean, I asked Sikowitz and he says we can have the Prom in the Asphalt Café on Saturday, so we are."
"Jade is going to be pissed when she finds out," he pointed out cautiously.
"She deserves it for trying to screw me out of my part in Steamboat Suzy and, y'know, putting my life in danger."
"She apologised, didn't she?"
"Oh, and that's supposed to make everything ok is it?" she snapped at him.
"Tori," he asked nervously, "are you really sure you want to fight with Jade?"
"She started it with what she was pulling last week," the half-Latina singer insisted.
"Tori, you're my friend – a good friend but you know that I think of Jade as a sister. Cat is her best friend. If it really comes to picking between the two of you, I don't think you'll like the decision that either of us make," he warned.
"I'm not going to let her get away with what she tried to do, Freddie," the girl countered.
"She's apologised," he repeated, "more than once, but you're not willing to accept it?"
"Right now? No. I want her to know what it feels like to have someone screw with your plans, your life and see how she likes it."
Annoyed at his attitude and his lack of support for her Prom, she walked off huffily; Freddie pinched his nose and sighed in frustration. He shook his head and headed off himself, looking for Jade.
Black box theatre
Tori sat by the stage, having called an impromptu gathering after school to get ideas together. André and his girlfriend, still liplocked, were in attendance, as were Cat, Robbie, Eli, Sinjin and a few other students, who sat watching and listening.
"All right," the half-Latina called, "I created this little computer model of the Asphalt Café," she gestured to the screen she had connected to her Pear Book and was using to illustrate a provisional layout of the event.
"Where we eat lunch," Cat supplied.
"Yes, thank you Cat," Tori didn't feel the need for the contribution from the dizzy girl.
"Are we gonna talk about this Prom or what?" Rex heckled.
"Okay. Since you mentioned Prom, a lot of people have told me they don't want Hollywood Arts to have a normal Prom. So the first idea I came up with is we call it a Prome. Right?"
There was a general murmur of agreement from the group. "It's innovative. I like it."
"It's really stupid," Sinjin dissented; Tori threw him a filthy look.
"Yeah, Prome. You're a genius. Now, get on with it. I had a burrito for lunch," Rex added.
"Thank you, Rex," she snapped testily. "Now, decorations. Any ideas for a Prome theme?"
"Okay, okay. What if..." Cat chuckled, "Okay. What if the theme was like, space pirates, you know, from outer space?"
"Look, we only have a few days to put this Prome together, so we need a simple theme." While Tori liked the girl's originality and innovative ideas, she felt they were impractical given the short timeframe.
"Balloons are fun," Robbie suggested.
"My father owns a rubber factory," Sinjin supplied.
"And they have balloons?" Tori sought confirmation.
"Oh, yes," he confirmed.
"All right. Good. Now, André, you and I will book the band, which will play up here. And... André!" she called, demanding the boy's attention as he and his girl continued to kiss and ignore the surrounding conversation.
He briefly broke the kiss. "Mm. Yeah, yeah. Rubber band sounds good," he muttered distractedly before returning his focus to his girlfriend.
"Okay," Tori gave up and moved to the next point on her agenda. "Now, next, we should probably talk about... oh," she interrupted herself as Jade stormed into the theatre; a worried-looking Freddie followed her.
"Hello, Jade," she began as innocently as she could. "Did you wanna join the..." Jade curtailed her greeting by striding to the front and slamming her pear book shut.
"You just had to have your stupid Prom this Saturday night?" the mean girl challenged.
"We're calling it a Prome... and, yes, it was the only date we could manage."
"I was supposed to do my performance this Saturday night. Now, Sikowitz says I can't 'cause you booked the Asphalt Café for your stupid Prom."
"Prome," Tori repeated. "Get it right!"
"Cancel it," Jade demanded.
"No," Tori refused, "you are not gonna get your own way over this Jade, no matter what stunts you try and pull this time."
"No? You're not gonna let me do my performance, even though I already had the place booked?"
"No," her rival folded her arms over her chest.
"Okay. All right. Have your Prome. But know this... you're gonna wish you didn't." She turned on her heel and stormed out.
"Freddie, did you hear what she said?"
"Yes," he confirmed, "and I did warn you."
Tori shrugged and continued making plans.
Main Hallway,
Wednesday, 18th May 2011.
"Hi Freddie," Tori greeted him.
"Oh hey," he smiled back, closing his locker and drawing up to his full height as he stood.
"Look, I know you're not thrilled about the date of the Prom, the venue, Jade's reaction and all that but… I really need help from a lot of people – and I was hoping that you'd be willing to."
"Sure," he acquiesced. "You're right, I don't like what you're doing to Jade over this, Tori, but…" he shrugged, "what's done is done, you're my friend and I'll help you out with it."
She gave a half-smile as gratitude mingled with concern over his complaint and criticism.
"So, who's your date going to be? Jason?" he assumed as they walked together towards their next class.
"No," her face fell. "That all kinda fell apart after his parents got back from vacation and he moved back to be with them. I don't have a car so couldn't go to see him, he was busy so couldn't always come to see me. He's a nice guy but it just… fizzled," she concluded sadly before grinning as she caught him making a few furtive glances around the mostly deserted area. "Speaking of dates, looking for Cat?" she teased.
"No actually," he dropped his voice, "I'm trying to avoid her right now," he admitted.
"Why?" she asked in surprise; she grinned and poked his bicep gently. "Seriously, Freddie, I think you can take her."
"That's kinda the problem." In response to her confused look he elaborated, "She's going to want me to take her – to the Prom… Prome, whatever."
"And you don't want to?" She knew of his reservations, given his loyalty to Jade, but still, hearing this level of negativity towards the event surprised her.
"Not really."
"Why not?"
"I don't like Proms."
"Why not?" she repeated.
"It's personal," is all he would say, slightly to the girl's chagrin; she frowned again behind his back because there was definitely something that he, Jade and Cat knew but that they were keeping from her.
Asphalt Café.
Jade dropped her lunch on the table and swung into her seat; she spared a disapproving glance to the former Seattle native before managing a better attempt at a smile towards his girlfriend.
"Why aren't you being nice?" Cat asked softly.
"Because… you're helping Vega with her stupid Prom!" she snapped at the brown-haired boy. "After what it means for my performance, you're helping her out."
Freddie closed his eyes and sighed, shaking his head fractionally. "Jade, the Prom is happening; whatever you or I feel, say or do, nothing is going to change Sikowitz's mind in picking Tori over you – yes, again," he accepted as the black-haired girl opened her mouth to snap. "Look," he continued softly, "this isn't easy for me… us," he amended, gesturing to the adorable redhead sat beside him and sporting an equally concerned expression, " – being stuck in the middle of this feud that the two of you are having but my friend asked me to help her with something and me saying no wouldn't benefit you at all in getting your performance put on again, so I said yes."
Jade looked mutinously at him and flung her sandwich back into its box.
"Jade," she gave him a piercing look, "if it comes down to a straight choice between being friends with her or friends with you, I will pick you. I'm asking you not to make me make that choice though."
At a loss for something to say but suitably mollified as to not leave the table, Jade picked up her lunch and took another bite.
"So, will you two…" she asked cautiously, after a few moments of comfortable silence, "will you be going to the Prome?"
"I hope so," Cat piped up, "I mean, I really want to but if you don't…" she tailed off as she turned to her boyfriend.
"I know you want to," he replied, "and I don't want to disappoint you but…"
"It's going to bring back some memories," Jade observed.
"It already is – from the moment Robbie mentioned the Northridge one – Northridge of all places," he added bitterly, closing the box containing his half-eaten lunch and sliding it away from him. "Just the thought of it…"
"I'm sorry for bringing it up," Jade was surprisingly conciliatory.
"It's not your fault – just another thing that's screwed up in here," he gestured to his head; Cat drooped her head sadly. "I've lost my appetite I'm afraid so I might just head to the library and do a little study for finals. I'll see you later," he kissed his girl's cheek and stood up, picking up his lunch and dropping it in his bag as he walked away.
"He's still messed up," Cat whispered morosely.
"And we're running out of time," Jade observed.
"I'm confused," the redhead found the statement somewhat strange.
"What I mean is," her best friend began to explain, "it's been over two years now and Freddie still can't move past it. He's better, you've done a lot to help him," the girls shared a smile, "but if he's ever to fully put this behind him, I think only one person can help him do that – and she graduates in a few weeks."
"You want him to talk to Lindsey?"
"Want? No," she shook her raven locks, "what I want is to just drown her." Cat half-smiled; she wasn't sure if her best friend was joking or not and realised that she didn't much mind either way, "but it's what maybe needs to happen; for him to have her explain why she did it, their break-up, for them to work through everything that happened between them. I don't even know that it will help, but nothing else has fixed him so, at this stage, what do we have to lose?"
"Hmm," Cat nodded thoughtfully; it occurred to her, though she didn't want to annunciate it in her friend's presence, that a similar sort of détente may be needed between Jade and Tori, to thrash out everything between those two girls before relations got any worse. "So how do we make it happen?"
"That I haven't thought through yet," Jade admitted.
Valentine residence, Hollywood Hills
"Good evening Freddie, how was work?" His girlfriend's mother greeted the smiling boy as he called around having finished his shift.
"It was pretty good, thanks. Busy enough that the time went quickly but not too crazy. Is Cat upstairs?"
"Yes, she's in her room."
He nodded to her and made his way upstairs, spotted his girl hunched over her desk, knocked gently on the bedroom door and leant against the frame.
"Oh hey, come over here," she urged, bouncing to her feet and flopping down on her bed. He slipped off his shoes and tentatively cuddled up next to her, capturing her lips in a soft, sweet kiss.
"Hey you," he smile afterwards.
"Hey," she returned. "So, are you ok with everything? I mean… after lunch, and talking about the Prom and all that?"
"I will be," he attempted to reassure her; it didn't work and her scepticism shone through in her eyes. He cupped her cheek and gazed deeply into her soft, unusually attentive eyes. "Ok, the thought of going to a Prom doesn't fill me with a warm and fluffy feeling and, in truth, I'd probably rather not go but…" he added hastily as her face fell, "I know how much it means to you, Cat, how much you really want to go and I will happily be your date to the Prom." She began to smile, though the concern still shone through in her gaze. "I guess I need to separate the event from the outcome and figure out a way to add to the happy memories rather than dwell on what came after."
"Happy memories?" Even when talking about the aftermath, Freddie had never gone into details of the Prom itself that he and Lindsey had attended.
"If we'd gone our separate ways at the end of the night, it would have been one of the best nights of my life – instead of the all-time worst," he elaborated. "Looking back on it, the whole event was really good fun – once I got over my shyness about asking all these older, often taller, girls to dance with me. I can think back on it now and I really enjoyed the Prom itself but… what came after really soured it for a long time."
"It would do," she agreed with a sympathetic nod. "But are you sure that you want to go? I mean… we don't have to if you don't want to."
"I want to take you to the Prom, Cat," he insisted, smiling at his girl. She squealed happily, flung herself on top of him and kissed him exuberantly.
Main Hallway, Hollywood Arts High School.
Thursday, 19th May 2011.
"Trina, I am not hacking The Slap and rigging the vote – NO!" Freddie insisted. "Besides," he added with a smile, "if I was going to do that, don't you think I'd make Cat and I the queen and king?"
"I guess," she grumbled. "Hey, Sinjin," Trina called to the other tech-savvy boy once she thought Freddie was out of earshot; he wasn't.
"Oh, hey."
"So, listen," she turned on the charm. "I totally deserve to be Prome queen, right?"
"Um, okay," he agreed awkwardly.
"And I'm sure I'm gonna win. But since people are voting online, I was thinking that you could help, you know, make sure I win?"
"What are you saying?" he asked.
"I want you to hack into the slap and rig the voting," she explained for the second time today.
"I'll do it, if you'll be my Prome date," he offered.
"Gross!" she complained.
"I know," he conceded sadly. "But at least you'll definitely get to be the queen."
"All right," her revulsion came second to her desire to win.
"But I want the full experience. You have to stay near me and talk to me and maybe share a laugh," he bargained.
"Deal." They shook hands; Trina quickly recoiled in horror. "Eww. What is this?" she gestured to the detritus on her hand.
"It was meatloaf," he replied; she wiped it off on her Prom date's shirt. Freddie raised his eyebrows and thought about how best to deal with the situation, grinning as a plan came to mind.
Asphalt Café.
"You're really going to the Prom then?" Jade asked in mild surprise; she and Freddie had shared a class in the preceding period and now sat eating their lunch while they waited for the others to join them. The girl had thought Freddie would want to stay away, for the reasons he and Cat had discussed the previous night.
"Yeah. Cat and I talked last night and, while the thought still does bother me a bit, it'll be a wonderful night with a wonderful girl," he finished with a smirk, before dropping it a moment later. "How about you? Everything alright with you after the last few days?"
"Yes," she insisted. "I was wazzed off – I still am after losing my shot at a performance, but I'm ok. There are no new marks," she insisted.
"That's good," the relief was evident in the muscular teen's voice. "So what are your plans for Saturday night?"
"I dunno, maybe come down and enjoy the Prom… sorry Prome," she exaggerated the name of the event.
"Really?" he raised his eyebrows. "I'd have thought it the very last place you'd want to be given everything that's happened."
"No, I have a feeling that it's going to be a fun and memorable night," she grinned.
"Jade," he cautioned, "Cat is really looking forward to this. I don't want her to have a horrible night," he pleaded.
"She won't – not if she's with you anyway," she added teasingly.
"So are you coming alone," he asked, still suspicious but hoping that she didn't have anything bad planned and wanting to change the subject, "or do you have a date?"
"Nuh, no date," she pulled a slightly sour face. "What guys ever talks to me? You – with Cat. Beck – with Alyssa. Hey will they be there?"
"I don't know," he shrugged. "I'll ask him tonight when I see him at fencing. Or… you could ask him yourself now," he noted, seeing the long-haired actor among the group of teens walking towards them. Jade frowned slightly at the thought so he pressed on, "I guess the only other guy could perhaps be André – but he's busy with his new girl still, so that just leaves Jet Brew guy," he finished with a smirk; Jade glared at him but he held her stare confidently.
"He likes you, he makes good coffee, he probably gets a staff discount there. What more could a caffeine addict want?"
Jade broke out into a grin. "When you put it like that, it does sound good. Maybe I should talk to him."
"Talk to who?" Cat asked, taking a seat between the two; Beck sat on Freddie's other side and Tori moved in next to him, leaving Robbie to sit between the feuding girls.
"The Jet Brew guy," Freddie supplied.
"Oh, the one Jade's in love with?" his girlfriend asked happily; Beck and Tori both jerked her heads to stare at the pair while the raven-haired girl looked daggers at her.
"Cat…" she began threateningly.
"Oh right, you got upset about that – I remember now," she chuckled weakly.
"You've got a new guy?" Beck asked supportively. "That's great!"
"No, I haven't but he does give me the eye when I buy coffee, so I might just have a little chat with him."
"You should," her ex-boyfriend encouraged, "it would be great if you found someone who made you happy."
"Like Alyssa does for you?" she challenged lightly.
"I like Alyssa," he agreed, realising that it was the first time they'd really talked about this sort of stuff since their split; the conversation at the end of Spring Break, when she thanked him for his help getting them out of Yerba, had been rather more strained and they hadn't dealt too much with one another since then. "We'll be at the Prome together; I hope you and your new guy are as well," he encouraged warmly.
"He's hardly my new guy," she dismissed, then turned to Freddie, "but I will talk to him tonight and see if he can come along – at least for a bit of it; I don't know what his hours are on a Saturday."
Her friends nodded happily.
Benson residence, Hollywood Hills
Saturday, 21st May 2011.
Having just finished his shift, Freddie headed home for a quick shower and to change into his tuxedo before he picked up Cat. Most unusually, Marissa began to simper as he descended the stairs and appraised him.
"Look at you! Freddie, I'm so proud of who you've become," she declared.
"Thanks, mom," he was slightly surprised by her praise and general attitude of support, but began to dare hope that she was finally beginning to cut the apron strings for him a little.
"It's just a shame that Cat isn't here." This remark from his mother definitely surprised the teenager. "So I could get some photos of you two together. I'm sure her parents will take some?"
"I'd imagine so," he confirmed, figuring that if his mother was reacting this way, her parents would be completely over the top in their reaction.
"Can you ask them to give me a copy of some of them?" she pleaded.
"Of course," he smiled.
"Well, you don't want to be late picking up your date," she commented, taking a seat again in the living area.
Freddie turned towards the door and then paused. "Mom? Are you ok?" he asked with a trace of concern.
"Of course I am, what do you mean?"
"I mean… I'm going to my Prom, it's Saturday night and you're sitting here alone," he noted sympathetically, taking a seat next to her. "It's my senior year next year, then it'll be college and I might be moving away, who knows?" he shrugged. "I just don't like the thought of you being alone."
"Are you trying to find me a man Freddie?" she asked, almost laughing.
"I guess so," he shrugged again, "like I say, I don't want you to be all alone mom. There's nobody at the hospital that takes your fancy?"
"Nobody that isn't terrified of me," she observed, again beginning to laugh.
"Sounds like Jade; nearly all the guys at school are too scared and gutless to talk to her."
"You don't need to worry about me Freddie," she hugged her son, "but if it makes you feel better I'll try and talk a little more nicely to some of the men that I see at work."
"Thanks, mom," he kissed her cheek and got up. "Well, I've given Cat time to be fashionably late now, so I'd better go."
"Have a nice time," she called after him; he turned back with a wave and a smile before leaving the house.
Valentine residence.
Freddie pulled his car up into the driveway of his girlfriend's home; he got out and rang the doorbell.
"Freddie," Mr Valentine greeted him.
"Hi sir, I got talking to my mom; still, it gives Cat a little more time to get herself ready."
The patriarch laughed. "She and my wife are still up there; they should be down soon."
In fact it was around five minutes before Mrs Valentine came downstairs; she greeted her daughter's boyfriend and announced that the girl was on her way. Freddie eyed the stairs nervously; involuntarily his mind flew back to the night when he waited for Lindsey to emerge in her Prom dress, how beautiful the blonde had looked in it, how the evening had been. He tried to force himself back to the here and now before he could linger on returning to her home afterwards; fortunately he was assisted by a high-pitched, excited voice calling, "I'm coming down now."
He smiled broadly as the little redhead appeared; she was grinning nervously, waiting for his verdict. He thought she looked stunning in her light pink dress and he told her so, earning himself a hug and a kiss from the girl.
"Photos!" Mr Valentine announced, producing his camera.
"My mom would like a copy of some of the ones you take of us, if that's ok," Freddie noted.
"No problem," he agreed and the pair posed, separately and together, for a few shots before leaving.
Asphalt Café
The Slap Mobile
ToriVega: THE PROME IS READY! I think. I hope! ARRGGHHH! I'm NERVOUS!
Feeling: Festive
The first of the students had arrived; Tori, wearing a lovely, dark pink dress, walked around the venue surveying everything; she consulted her list. "Okay. Lights? Done. Band? On the way. Decorations..." she looked across and raised her loud hailer to her lips. "Sinjin, do not lick the balloons!"
The dirty blond let the inflatable go. "Be free," he wished it on its way.
"Hey, André," she began, "will you go check the..." The half-Latina looked over and saw that, once again, his lips seemed glued to his girlfriend's. "André!" she called through her loud hailer.
They pulled apart. "Ooh, sorry," he apologised, then turned to his girl. "Why don't you go get us some punch?" Instead she tried to kiss him again. "No, no, baby. Punch first. Please," he insisted.
"Okay," the girl grinned, "keep those lips warm."
"Oh, I will. I'm gonna do that." He turned to Tori and, in a low voice, muttered, "I'm getting sick of that girl."
This immensely surprised the brunette. "Then why are you always kissing her?" she asked him.
"She won't stop," he complained. "I keep trying to talk, listen to music, get to know each other better, but to her, I'm just a pair of sweet, buttery lips."
"Aww," she consoled.
"Hey, who's your date?"
"I never got one in the end," she said sadly. "It never worked out with Jason and then I was so busy organising everything. Well, maybe I can just dance with you and..."
"Yup," he agreed.
"... Freddie, Beck, Robbie and..."
She was interrupted as Jade, in a dark turquoise dress and wearing long, black gloves that reached almost to her elbows, walked towards them. "Well, hey there, Promers," she greeted them with a wicked smile.
"Uh, what are you doing here?" Tori asked in worry.
"Well, I didn't have anything else to do," she shrugged. "You got my performance cancelled so here I am at your Prome."
Freddie and Cat, meanwhile, had just arrived. Freddie parked his car in the grounds and smiled as a long, stretch limo pulled up by the café.
"No prizes for guessing who paid for that," he noted with a grin, being proved right as the driver helped Alyssa Vaughn out of it and then Beck followed her from the car.
"That is a legit car," his girlfriend agreed.
"Maybe for senior Prom," he shrugged; Cat laughed.
"Maybe if we all pitch in we can afford a couple of seats in it," she noted.
"Well, it's nice to dream," he laughed. "Hey Beck," he called to the actor. "Alyssa," he nodded to the socialite.
"Freddie, Cat. Hey," the long-haired actor greeted them amiably. "Looking forward to a fun night?"
"I hope so," the red-haired girl agreed exuberantly.
The gentlemen offered their arms; their girls took them and they headed towards the dance floor.
One most people had arrived, Tori decided that it was time to set things in action; unfortunately for her, Jade had the same idea. As the brunette stood on the gantry, in front of a large, electronic screen proclaiming, 'First ever Hollywood Arts Prome' in huge lettering, she announced through a speaker, "Okay, everyone. Gather around. Welcome to the first ever Hollywood Arts Prome."
The crowd cheered and applauded; Sinjin attempted to put a hand on Trina; she slapped him off.
"Okay, okay, the band will be here soon. But until then, if you haven't voted for Prome queen and king, you still have time," the younger Vega sister explained.
"Yes. Remember to vote 'cause anyone can win," Trina encouraged.
"Just use your phones to go to The Slap and remember, you can only vote for one queen and one king, so..." Tori was interrupted as the screen died and some of the lights went out. "What's going on? Okay, guys. It's okay. It looks like the electricity went out, so just relax until I..." She was cut off again as some of the audience began to scream due to what looked like a horror movie appearing on screen. "What? What? Oh my God," she wailed.
"Hey, hey, what is that? It's freaking everybody out," André complained as he, and his girlfriend, rushed up to join Tori.
"I don't know," the brunette admitted. She spoke into her loud hailer. "Guys, guys, give me five minutes to work this out. I am so sorry..."
"I don't like this," Cat complained.
"Don't worry; I know what's happened – and how to fix it. Just give me a minute," he gave her a peck on the cheek and headed for the school building.
"Bye, have fun," she called after him happily.
"See you later." He made his way inside.
A smiling Jade joined the teenagers on the gantry. "Hey, Tori. How's your Prome going?"
"Turn on the power, turn off that freakish video, and then go home," she demanded.
"And miss the rest of this Prome? No. I think the fun's just begun," the black-haired girl grinned.
"Yeah, well think again, 'cause there's not gonna be any more of your stupid little pranks."
"Oh," Jade smirked. "Then you better tell that shrimp in your bra." The girl turned and walked off.
"Shrimp in my bra?" She dug into her cleavage and removed it. "How did she do it?" she asked André.
Cat had been close enough to the incident to overhear them; she thought back on Freddie's reaction to some of the girls' interplay, shook her head and muttered, "Nah!"
Meanwhile the gathered students continued to complain about the movie. "It's horrible! Turn it off!" they demanded.
Now shrimpless, Tori cornered Jade near the punch table. "Jade, are you done with your little sabotage game?" she asked tersely.
In her 1940's actress voice the mean girl mocked, "Done with what little sabotage game?"
Freddie walked up to them and informed Tori, "Hey. I found the projector and killed the crazy video. The lights will be back on any second..." as they came back on.
"Oh, good, good," she smiled at him then turned to her nemesis. "Take that, you freakdemon!"
Jade glowered at the pair; Freddie sighed, pinched his nose and looked from one girl to the other. "People are here to have a good time, and that was freaking them out," he explained wearily.
Tori raised her trusty hailer and announced, "Okay, people, this Prome is back in action so..." before she spotted Robbie. "Oh, hey," she beckoned him over. "Did you call the band and find out why they're late?"
"Yeah. Their manager said you called and cancelled them," he explained.
"What? No, I didn't cancel the band," the girl protested.
"Uh-oh," Jade mocked, again adopting her southern belle voice, "looks like Tori Vega's Prom has turned into one big boobity-boo." She smirked and walked off; Freddie shook his head.
"Prome," Tori called after her in annoyance.
"I'll talk to her," Freddie told her, resting a hand on her arm, "I really want Cat to enjoy tonight. Hopefully I can get through to her."
"Thanks Freddie," the girl smiled. "If you can't then I'll try and find a way."
André's girlfriend had found him at last. "Here's your punch," she handed him the plastic cup.
"Oh, thank you," he took a single sip before she snatched it away.
"That's enough," she told him and they began to kiss again.
"I'm uncomfortable," Robbie observed and walked away.
Main Hallway.
The Slap Mobile
Freddie Benson: Hey JADE – WHERE ARE YOU?! I need to talk to you!
Feeling: Frustrated.
Freddie finally tracked the girl down by the drinks machine; she was draining a can of Wahoo Punch. "Hey," he greeted her softly.
"Hey," she returned in an annoyed voice.
"I love the dress," he observed.
"Thanks," she laughed.
The boy leant against a locker. "So how much more are you going to do tonight?"
"I still have a couple of things to go," she returned calmly.
"Really?"
"Great," she snarled, "so much for saying I'm a sister to you, that you'd have my back and that you'd pick me. When it comes to it you're on Mary-Sue's side instead."
"No," with some effort he kept his voice calm, "I just hate being stuck in the middle like this. It's not fair and I don't want to have to choose a side – and I really don't want Cat to have a horrible night."
The thought that her actions were upsetting her best friend caused the girl to pause. "I tried to make peace with her," Jade's tone had turned more conciliatory, "she refused and then she got my performance cancelled." She pushed off with her arm and stepped away from the vending machine.
In a soft voice, Freddie agreed, "I know, I know. But Jade, if you keep this tit-for-tat going then it's never going to end and you and Tori will be at war for another year at least – and I don't like the idea of that."
"So what are you saying?"
"One of you needs to call a halt to things. You screwed something of hers up, she screwed something of yours up and now you're taking your turn again." Jade bit her lip thoughtfully. "Are you gonna stop?" he asked thoughtfully.
"Nah, I'm still pretty thirsty," she grinned and took another sip from her drink can.
"Please Jade," he begged, "call it off for the rest of the night so Cat and I and everybody else out there," he made a sweeping gesture towards the outside of school, "can enjoy their Prom night."
The girl's attention was caught by a couple of new arrivals as she looked over her friend's shoulder. "Doug, over here," she gestured.
Freddie turned to see what she was looking at; he palmed his head in horror at the sight of a grown man in nothing but a diaper, accompanied by a short man with a boom box. "Oh my God," he groaned.
"You Tori Vega?" the diaper guy greeted her excitedly.
"No but..." she began, before taking a look at Freddie and then a deep breath as she absorbed his words and his plea. "No and I'm sorry you've had a wasted trip; I'll pay you what we agreed but I won't be needing you tonight." The guy looked disappointed but he and his friend turned and left.
"Thank you Jade," Freddie smiled; Jade forced herself to return it.
"I'm not sure this is over but... we'll see on Monday."
He broadened his smile. "Come on, let's enjoy the rest of the Prom." He offered her his hand, she took it, and they headed outside.
"So, did you bring a date in the end?"
"Uh kinda," she explained. "He's showing up around nine-thirty. What time is it now?"
"Just after. Oh, there he is," he let go of her hand and gestured to the Jet Brew employee, looking a lot smarter in his tuxedo than he usually did in the uniform he wore in the mall. Cat was standing nearby and talking nineteen-to-the-dozen at him; he looked more than a little relieved when she spotted Freddie and waved at him.
Despite the lack of a band, some music was playing over the café's sound system. "You, you, you intoxicate me,
you, you, you, you caught my mind," as a number of couples, including Cat and Freddie, Beck and Alyssa and Jade and her date, began to dance the night away.
One of Freddie's unspoken objectives of the night had been to avoid Lindsey (expecting, of course, that the girl would be there for what would be her senior Prom). Finally he did spot her dancing with one of her fellow seniors but, as soon as he did, and they briefly made eye contact, he turned to Cat and carried on dancing with her. Eventually during the dance their positions changed so that Cat's eyes met the blondes; the redhead sidled just a little closer to her man and started dancing a little more provocatively, somewhat to his surprise but he was happy enough with it and accepted a little kiss from her. Lindsey turned away sadly from the spectacle and tried to focus on her own date.
"Shall we get out of here soon and have a little time in private?" Freddie asked after a couple more songs.
"Yeah, people are already starting to leave so it'll be winding down soon. Anyway, it's not like people will vote me as queen, is it?" she commented.
"Oh, you never know... actually," he corrected himself, "I do know because Sinjin hacked the website."
"Really?" she was surprised by the revelation.
"Yeah. He's good but," he gently and playfully tapped her nose, "I'm better," he smiled.
"So what are you going to do about it?" the girl pressed; Freddie shrugged.
"Let him have his moment," he looked over at Sinjin and Trina standing awkwardly together. "He may not get this opportunity again." Cat looked a little confused but nodded along happily.
"Hey, hey," André called.
"What now?" Tori snapped; her mood was at an all-time low with the shambles of an evening.
"Lots of people are startin' to leave," her friend observed.
"Why? It's not even ten o'clock!" she complained.
"They're mad 'cause there's no band, there was a freaky video..." the dreadlocked teen's girlfriend began the list.
"Okay, fine. Whatever. Everyone could just go. Jade wins," she shouted miserably.
"Oh. Excuse me. This Prome isn't over until you announce Prome king and queen," her sister reminded her.
"Good point. You guys wait here," Tori ordered.
Jade waved to some of the departing people. "Bye. Sorry the Prome was so lame. We can only blame Tori. Drive safe." She may have stopped her sabotage but she still took some perverse pleasure in the other brunette's woes, slightly to the concern of her date.
"You guys, everybody, please wait. Don't leave. Look, I'm sorry that the Prome hasn't gone so great. But before you all leave, I'd like to announce our Prome king and queen, who you all voted for on The Slap."
Trina led the cheering and applause. "Yeah. Let's hear those winners." She whispered to Sinjin, "You sure I'm gonna win, right?"
"It hurts that you doubt me," he told her.
"Okay," Tori checked the result, frowned and then looked up at the expectant crowd. "And Hollywood Arts' first ever Prome queen is... Trina Vega!" She was stunned by the result but had to declare it.
"YES!" her sister celebrated.
Tori checked the other winner; this time she really couldn't believe her eyes. "And Hollywood Arts' first ever Prome king... Sinjin Van Cleef!"
"What?" Trina was horrified.
"What?" Sinjin was amazed.
"You made yourself king?" she accused.
"No, I swear, it never occurred to me to do that."
Cat saw her boyfriend smiling broadly as Sinjin staggered forward in a daze to receive his crown. "You did that didn't you?" she alleged lightly.
He adopted a cocky, confident tone. "Like I said, he good, me better."
Cat giggled and then kissed him.
"Cat, Cat?" They were interrupted as Tori scampered towards them during the coronation ceremony. "André and some of the others... Freddie will you help? They're putting an impromptu band together," she explained. "See if we can still salvage this."
"Sure, I'll help," he agreed.
"What do you want me to do?" The redhead asked.
"I was thinking you and me could sing. You know, the one we've been rehearsing in class these last couple of weeks?"
"'kay 'kay," she smiled happily.
"How about extending an olive branch to Jade?" Freddie suggested.
"Yeah, no! I don't trust her not to ruin it," Tori declined.
"She won't, she loves performing too much," he insisted, frowning with disappointment at Tori's attitude.
"I'm not taking that chance." The brunette grabbed Cat's hand and led her up to the gantry; Freddie's shoulders slumped a little more but he followed them and joined his musician friend and the band he had put together, picking up the guitar he had been learning to play and noting that André must have hand-picked for him. "Okay. Let's rock this Prome. Move it!" she declared joyously.
"Come on. Yeah," André looked to the others and struck up the tune.
"I call you up when I know he's at home," Tori began, "I jump outta my skin when he picks up the phone.
Why can't I tell if he's lookin' at me?
Should I give him a smile? Should I get up and leave?"
Cat joined in and the two girls continued, "I know it's strange, I don't know what I'm thinkin'.
But is it wrong if I see him this weekend?"
Tori briefly continued alone, "I really hope I can get him alone, I just don't, don't want her to know."
Cat backed her again. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-eh, my best friend's brother is the one for me!" The little cupcake lover eyed Freddie and grinned as the significance of the words suddenly hit her.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-eh, a punk rock drummer and he's six-foot-three."
Freddie looked up at the sky in concern as he heard a thunder clap and it began to rain.
"I don't want to, but I want to," the girls continued, "I just can't get him outta my mind and..."
"It's raining," Freddie called, mindful of the electronics exposed to the elements.
"I know," the dreadlocked teen agreed.
"Should we stop?" Tori asked them, then turned to the crowd below. "Or you wanna keep goin'?"
"Don't stop. Never stop. Let's hear it!" the crowd demanded.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-eh, my best friend's brother is the one for me," Tori and Cat began again, "b-f-b,"
"OH!" the crowd called.
"b-f-b," the girls repeated.
"HEY!" the teens added.
"My best friend's brother, my best friend's brother."
"WHAT?" the band joined in.
"I try to think that I might be his type 'cause when you're not around he's not acting too shy." Freddie smiled as he saw Jade and her date dancing through the rain; they were surprisingly close to Beck and Alyssa and he could have sworn that the former couple both smiled as they made eye contact.
"Sometimes I feel like he might make a move,
is this all in my head? I don't know what to do.
I know it's strange; I don't know what he's thinkin', but is it wrong if I see him next weekend?
I really hope I can get him alone, I just don't, don't want her to know…
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-eh, my best friend's brother is the one for me!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-eh, a punk rock drummer and he's six-foot three.
I don't want to, but I want to; I just can't get him outta my mind.
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-eh, my best friend's brother is the one for me.
b-f-b, b-f-b.
my best friend's brother, my best friend's brother."
"'Cause he's such a dream," Tori continued as a solo,"and you know what I mean...
If you weren't related!"
Cat joined in again, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-eh, my best friend's brother is the one for me!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-eh, a punk rock drummer and he's six-foot three.
I don't want to, but I want to, I just can't get him outta my mind.
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-eh, my best friend's brother is the one for me,
b-f-b, b-f-b.
My best friend's brother, my best friend's brother.
B-f-b, b-f-b,
my best friend's brother, my best friend's brother."
The crowd applauded enthusiastically at the conclusion of the song; the two girls waved, as did the band, milking the applause. Unfortunately the rain was intensifying and it really was getting dangerous; also people were beginning to run for cover, with more joining them as it became apparent that the makeshift band wouldn't be performing again.
"So, what do you guys want to do now?" Tori admitted defeat as she watched the rain cascading down from the safety of the school building.
"Well André and his girl have gone so I think Cat and I were just going to enjoy a little alone time." The redhead nodded at her boy's suggestion. "I know my mom would love to see you in your Prom dress," he enthused, "and if she isn't still up then we'd have the living area to ourselves for a little while before I took you home."
"Oh, ok, sure," Tori was a little disappointed that they wouldn't be hanging with her but she understood their desire to be alone – and the on-going awkwardness from their being caught in the cross-fire between her and Jade. The brunette found herself beginning to wonder if the feud was really worth it, or whether she had now made her point.
Benson residence, Hollywood Hills.
Marissa was still up when her son and his girlfriend got home, since they were a little earlier than they had been expecting. While she admired the dress, she declined to take any photographs given that they were both still a little rain-soaked from being outdoors. The nurse in her took over and she found Cat some dry clothes; they didn't quite fit the girl but meant that she wouldn't catch a chill from sitting in her wet dress. Freddie changed as well and the couple then sat together on the couch, though they kept their affection to a minimum under the matriarch's eye.
"Well, I'm going to bed," she announced unsubtly, after a few awkward minutes. "I'm glad you enjoyed the night, even if it ended too early. Don't be too late getting her home Freddie," she kissed him goodnight and went to bed.
As soon as she was gone, Cat pounced on her boy and they began to kiss, enjoying the freedom that privacy afforded them, and they spent a very enjoyable half-hour or so in one another's company before the girl received a text asking her what time she would be home, which they took as a hint that the night should end.
"So," she asked as they drove back towards her home, "what are we going to do about Jade and Tori?"
"Good question," he complemented her. "I think we need to get them to talk somehow. But I'm really not sure how; them having a screaming match in class, or at lunch – that won't help anyone."
"Well," she giggled, "I do have one idea."
Main Hallway, Hollywood Arts High School,
Monday, 23rd May 2011.
"Morning Jade," Freddie greeted her.
"Hey," she smiled genuinely at him. "Did you and Cat enjoy the rest of your evening?"
"We did," he grinned back. "Want the deets?" He set his plan in motion.
"You're volunteering them?" She was surprised, wondering exactly what was going on.
"Not here," he dropped his voice and offered his hand; she raised her own and he gently took her wrist, leading her to the janitor's closet.
"Ok, we're here. So spill," she challenged.
"Yeah, not just yet." Her confused look was answered, to a degree, when suddenly two more girls joined them; this time it was Cat dragging a reluctant Tori into the closet.
"What's she doing here?" Tori and Jade asked in unison; the couple smiled and leant, side-by-side, against the door.
"You two are going to talk," Freddie informed them.
Cat giggled before adding, "And we're not letting you out of here until you're friends again."
The two brunettes, one natural, one dyed black, turned to one another, beginning to size one another up.
Jade broke the uncomfortable, tense silence. "I apologised for what I did last week. It wasn't enough for you. You screwed my performance so I screwed up your Prom." She took a deep breath. "I really am sorry for putting you in the hospital like that. I didn't think my actions through, I blamed you for what Sikowitz had done and I really am sorry. If that's not good enough for you then I don't know what else to say or do."
"I'm sorry too Jade," Tori's voice was tinged with shame. "For the way I acted in wrecking your performance. I just… I wanted you to experience how you made me feel with what you did."
"So did I," the gothic teen piped up.
"Friends?" Tori asked hopefully; Jade cracked a smile.
"Friends," she agreed, wincing slightly as Tori pulled her into a hug but she acquiesced and wrapped her arms, maybe a little too tightly, around the other girl's back.
"Yay, it's all happy!" Cat leapt on the two, adding to the hug. Freddie smiled at the sight, hoping that everything might just work itself out.
AN: Thanks for reading; I hope you enjoyed it.