Dog Days of Summer
Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious
A/N:
Chapter 15 (Trouble with Business)
"So they're gone." Tori stared out the screen door with a heavy heart as Cat and Robbie drove off. She saw her friends jump in the car, but now it burdened her their reason for doing so. "I hope I didn't drive them off." She thought they were going to stick together and try solve their problem together. "On my own now. Maybe thinking about someone else means deciding to stay a dog. I don't have to spread my family's filth around. Trina can stop having to defend me or mom and dad, so she can be happy."
"What's the matter young one?" Shadow's voice drifted to her ears like a soft melody, calming her torn spirit. "Why do you feel anyone would be better without you, or you would be better to remain as a dog?" She faced him and shrugged gently.
"I'm not sure. I can't think of any way to become human again, and I don't know how to correct what I messed up. Even if I ever become human again, I know Robbie and Cat won't like me anymore. Not that it matters, I accept they may not. Trina's going to get married, so she'll be happy. She seems to be doing fine regardless, so my stupidity never made her hate me."
"Stupidity?"
"Yes. I know what you were saying. The source of why I was the way I was." Shadow took a seat and moved his lips back into a flat line. "I blame myself for so much. Before Hollywood Arts, I wanted to make my family happy so they would stay together. I thought they were separating the first time because I wasn't being a good daughter, a good sister. Then…I went to Hollywood Arts and I stopped worrying, all the attention I got was a distraction and so I didn't have to worry, but it gave me a big head. I ended up telling everyone I know about all my family's problem, I stopped being a good daughter again and a good sister."
"I see." Tori laid down and moved her head onto her paws. "Are your parents at risk of splitting up again?" She closed her eyes and whimpered at the lurching of her heart. How could she stop it now? Shadow sighed and closed his eyes. "I see. You blame yourself for your parents' marital dispute?"
"When they separated the first time, I tried my best to be good. They got back together and stayed together. I thought I had done something right. I went to Hollywood Arts and now mom's cheating, she and dad fight all the time, and Trina's moved out. How can you tell me I didn't do something wrong?"
"You did nothing wrong. It's a sad thing that happens in human lives. You cannot, should not blame yourself for what your parents do."
"I can't be blameless. I already know that I didn't care enough for my friends of family."
"And that is something you acknowledge that is on your part, it is something that you can deal with and fix if you can. Your parents issue is not your responsibility."
"I know, I just…I'm trying to think of what I need to do to do right." She did want to be human, this was just some muck she was in for whatever reason. There was no clue as to what she had to do in order to change back, so she wanted to at least learn to adapt. "If I can't find a way to change back-"
"Perhaps you should worry less about finding a way and focus more on just thinking about others. Changing will come when you listen to what your heart says."
"Yeah." The doorbell chimed, startling her. She turned her head to the door and saw her father with the two businessmen standing outside. He was once again in full uniform. "Oh no, what's he doing here with them? He gave Trina and Clarence the end of the month!"
"Relax, I'm sure it will be fine."
"No! They cannot lose the farm!" She began barking, earning a scowl from her father. Trina hurried around the corner, urging her to be silent. The woman opened the door partially and flashed a smile at her father.
"Dad, why are you here with these guys? I though you said the end of the month."
"I did, they're asking for one more shot. Plus I needed to get away from the house, I can't stand your mother these days." Trina's lips dipped down and she opened the door fully.
"Well come in I guess. There's someone you should meet, anyway." Trina looked towards the businessmen and flashed a smirk. "You can leave your tagalongs at the door."
The blonde haired man frowned and put his foot in the doorway. "This will be our land soon enough, Miss." David sighed at the man and lifted his hand, asking that he keep quiet.
Tori's ears fell flat and she flashed her teeth at the men. A growl escaped her lips and drew their attention to her. The brown haired businessman scowled back at her and turned his nose up. "Maybe keep your dogs under control this time."
Trina put her hands to her hips and raised an eyebrow at the man. "Want me to punch you in the jaw?" Tori couldn't help but to snicker, though the man's face twisted into a mixture of shock and anger.
He pointed his finger at her and narrowed his eyes. "Now listen here, just because your father is-" Trina snapped her fingers and held up her hand, cutting him off without hesitation.
"I don't give a shit if my dad's a coal miner or the president of the united states of America, I'll talk to you how I want to. I'm not using his status to get by." Tori wanted to scream out in pride and noticed a flicker of a smile on David's face. "And he's my father, so I'll let him in, but you two I have the right to throw out-so you better respect me or you're gone."
"Why you-we are older-"
"Doesn't mean you deserve an ounce of my respect. Grandpa's still alive and this is our home, so I can throw you out if I want to!"
"What right do you have if it's allegedly in your grandfather's name?"
Tori saw Jason walk into the room. David's eyes trailed towards the man and his eyebrows curled upwards. "Actually I was thinking of purchasing the land," Jason interrupted. Trina brightened and rushed over to him, putting her arm around his. That's when David's gaze slipped down to her hand where a ring glimmered in the light. His lips parted and the corner of his mouth turned up briefly.
"And who is this?" Snorted the businessman. Trina huffed and threw her hair over her shoulder.
"My fiancé." Her gaze turned back to her father and she smiled softly at the man. "He just proposed. He's my boyfriend that's in the Marines." Tori's heart fluttered and she hurried over, shocked by Jason's admission. This conversation must have happened when they were in the bedroom, or this was the first he suggested.
"I've got the money to purchase the farm." Jason crossed his arms and stood strong, smirking at the scowls he was receiving. Ignoring the two men, he turned to David and stretched out his hand. "You must be Mr. Vega."
"We've met," David shook his hand and gazed at Trina with a proud expression. "You've told us about him but never that he was in the Marines." David pulled his hand back and nodded to Jason. "Thank you for your service. You're thinking of purchasing the land? You do know that if my dad can't find the deed to sign it over to you, you'll have to pay the city."
"I can make that purchase, I'll just have to get some things in order first."
"Well I know my daughter would be relieved-and I can be done with this headache." He rubbed his forehead and exhaled. "Will you be staying long, Jason?"
"Well I have to go back overseas after this week to get things in order with my Colonel, but I'll be back within the next few weeks."
"Well we hope you can make the purchase," Replied the blonde. "We've had our eye on this ranch for some time, surely we'll be the first to buy it."
"Oh you'll buy it all right," Trina growled, "You'll buy the farm before I'm done with you."
The man looked at her with astonishment and responded gruffly. "You will watch your mouth, you smug little-" Tori threw her head up and snarled just as David cleared his throat and turned to the man. Trina clicked her jaw and started to say something, but David held up his hand to signal her not to say another word.
"Watch your own tone when speaking to my daughter. I'm a father before a police officer, and my daughter can drop kick the both of you without worrying about me putting a stop to it." The dejected man turned his head away and Trina crossed her arms, leaning against Jason. "If you continue to agitate or treat her with disrespect, I will personally remove you from this location. She is right in the statement that you currently have no legal right to be on this land and both she as well as her grandfather have the right to kick you off."
"Whose side are you on exactly?"
"Well aside from being a father, I am on the side of the law. In other words, if you continue to harass my daughter and she orders you off her current property, I will have to remove you."
The other man put his hand to his partner's shoulder and moved his free hand to his chest. "I apologize for my colleague then, he will shut up from this point on."
"Thank you." He shook his head at them and turned around to Trina, sweeping his fingers along his forehead. "So Trina, will you be bringing Jason home to meet your mother? Your sister's still in Italy, so will you be sending her word of the engagement?"
"Most likely, and yeah I want Jason to meet Mom."
Tori was able to relax now that the focus shifted away from the farm, but she could still feel a tension in the air. After a while, she could see the scolded businessman still glaring at Trina with a bitter resentment in his eyes.
It was clear the others could see it too as they were moving uncomfortably while trying to ignore him. Irritated, and with a powerful urge in her bladder, Tori slowly walked over to him. The man turned his head down and raised an eyebrow as she started to squat over his foot.
With a smirk, she turned her head up to him and watched his face pale. "Oh holy shit!" The others laughed as he screamed and bolted out of the door. "Fucking dog!" The man's partner walked out with a sigh and David turned partially and with a chuckle.
"I think this is the first time I have actually liked dogs." He turned back to Trina, gazing apologetically at her. "Sorry about all that, sweetheart." Trina crossed her arms and shrugged.
"Why are you even helping them, Dad?"
"The law is the law, you know that. I have to uphold it."
"It just feels like you're choosing them over your family."
He frowned and bowed his head for a moment. "I am sorry. You know it isn't like that. I don't want you and your grandfather to lose the farm, but it will become public property if you can't find that deed-and anyone will have a right to purchase it." He glanced back over his shoulder with a dejected sigh. "Even if they are a couple assholes." David cleared his throat and motioned towards Jason. "Just remember that does still mean your fiancé has a right to purchase the land too."
"If grandpa finds that deed, then Jason won't have to purchase it."
"Right. Try not to worry too much, alright sweetheart? Everything will be just fine."
"I hope so."
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