Dog Days of Summer
Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious
A/N:
Chapter 17 (Leap of Faith)
Jade hopped up on the back seat, gazing out the window as Cat drove to the parking lot to where her apartment was. She'd been running through various scenarios in her mind on how she was going to not only win Cat over but let Cat know that she needed to look at Cleo a little more. If anyone could talk to Trina about the possibility of Tori being a dog, it would be Cat-and Cat would be more apt to believe in the possibility of something so weird as a curse.
Though more importantly, it was the roommate's warning Jade wanted to utilize. Sam was the one that said not to go near Madame Fontane for whatever reason, so she needed to get Sam to talk about what happened so she could confirm the possibility of this curse being truthful.
When the car stopped and Cat opened her door, Jade immediately jumped between the seats and bolted out of the door. She wound up brushing against Cat's leg, startling the girl. "What the-Artemis? First Rover, now you? How did we miss you a moment ago?"
Jade barked once and Cat started to scratch her head. She looked into the car and turned it on, frowning at the gas tank. "Too low to drive back out to the farm. I'll have to wait until we get paid to take you and Rover back." She turned the key out and crossed her arms. "What were you thinking jumping into my car? If Trina found out you and Rover disappeared, she'd probably organize a searching party."
"I imagine she and Clarence wouldn't like losing animals." Knowing where the apartment was, Jade ran for the door. Cat walked after her with a heavy sigh and opened it up. When Jade entered, the first thing she saw was Sam on the couch with her laptop. The woman looked up and scrunched her face at Jade. "Hey Sam. Strangest thing, Artemis and Rover both hopped into the car today."
"Then where's Rover?"
"He left with Robbie. Robbie decided a German Shepherd would be good for tracking Ophelia. I hope they find her."
"I'm sure they will."
"I hate that Robbie goes hunting in there all the time. Now that Ophelia got lost-it feels even worse." Cat removed the purse strap from her shoulder and sat beside Sam. Jade stared inquisitively at Cat, curious over the word 'hunting'. She never pictured Robbie as a hunter, but then, she really didn't know the guy all that much
"Just relax, Cat. It's going to be fine." Sam moved her hands behind her head and leaned back in the couch. "So it's true, Trina's engaged?"
"Yeah. She and Jason have been together a while now, as you know. Robbie and I think it's about time." Cat looked towards the kitchen and ran her hand over her knee. "Has anyone eaten my fudge treats yet?"
"Nope-I keep saying you make those things way to chewy." Jade sniffed the air and let her eyes drift towards the source of a chocolaty smell. On the counter was a tray full of strange looking fudge pieces. Sam set the laptop to the side and walked over to the counter. "I've been wanting to throw them out for a while now."
"Not happening." She stood back to her feet and Jade hopped onto the couch behind her. "I still can't get Robbie to try them. I don't know why."
"Maybe because he knows how hard it is to actually eat and swallow these things? You want to get back at those people at your school, feed these to them." Jade raised an eyebrow and made her way towards the computer. On the other side was a notepad and pen, and on the screen was a word document.
"Alright," she whispered, "I think I've got this." The setup was perfect. However she was curious now as to why she thought to go this route rather than do this with Trina's laptop. On part, she was aware it would be more believable with someone who may have something to do with Madame Fontane.
She took the pen into her mouth and glanced at the girls in the kitchen before hovering over the laptop. She'd have to choose her wording carefully because it wasn't as though she could type a full sentence
"Okay, first I will type the woman." She carefully slipped the pen over the keys, pressing down when she found the F. As she continued to type the name, the pen would tremble as though it were a flimsy leaf in her mouth. She didn't know how long it took to write out Fontane, but she managed to get it done without many errors.
The next name was easy, with only four letters to worry about. She struck the 'dash' key and typed out Tori's name, followed by 'Cleo'.
She breathed in around the tip of the pen and glanced to the screen with a frown. Jade realized that this was Cat's realm, after all, and she was going to have to trust the girl to be receptive enough. Her cynicism towards the group might keep her from not wanting to do anything at all.
"One last thing to type out…" This was a phrase, which she hoped to have enough time to type out. Jade went through to type about Tori's self-blame over her family's marital problems stemming from some event in childhood, and that it was imperative that Trina talk to her.
"Dude what is the dog doing on my laptop?" Jade's eyes widened and she threw her head up, dropping the pen on the notepad. The girls walked over and grabbed her off the computer; she could only hope what she'd put down was enough.
"I think she was trying to type something," Cat picked up the drool covered pen and turned her head away with a retching noise. Sam swept her computer up with a laugh and looked at the screen. Her eyebrow shot up and her hands froze on the edges.
"Holy shit she did type something. How in the hell-" Sam paused and Cat took a seat next to her. "How would that dog know any of these names?" Jade smirked with pride and laid down between the two girls' legs.
Cat leaned over and peered at the computer. "What's going on?" Jade glanced up to see the surprise in the girl's eyes. "So what does that mean? Tori went over to Madame Fontane and got turned into Cleo or something?" Jade's grin turned to a frown when she watched Cat's face change into laughter. "As if."
"I don't know, Cat. I had a friend associate with that woman once, and they were transformed because they were rude or something." Sam swept her fingers along her forehead and closed her eyes. "Didn't I tell those three to stay away from that shop?"
"Well if they got turned into dogs or something, good riddance I'd say. Who needs 'em?" Jade blinked several times and turned her gaze away. She could feel her words choking the breath from her.
"Why don't you shoot me while you're at it," Jade muttered. Sam moved her hands over the keyboard and twisted her lips
"Looks like Artemis wants to get some message across to Trina about her sister." Cat took a long pause before snapping her fingers.
"If it's accurate and they were changed into dogs or something, then who or what did Beck and Jade turn into?" Jade watched the girl's head turn towards her and her lips change into a scowl. "Really? If that's the case, be glad I know Trina would not be happy about losing one of the dogs. Still. Get the fuck off my couch. I'd throw you out back but we don't have a fence."
Jade perked her head up then jumped off the couch. She spun around and looked up to Cat, tilting her head to the right. When she met the girl's eyes, she saw a look in her eyes that she swore could kill anything they touched. "Okay, so you're probably not going to want anything to do with us in the future, but put aside your bitterness for a chance." She jerked her head back and let her lower jaw drop. "I can't believe that just came out of my mouth."
"Why don't we just call Trina," Sam suggested with a shrug. "She can swing by and pick Artemis up and probably get Rover from Robbie. In the meantime, I could explain to her about Madame Fontane-but you realize how crazy it'll sound."
"As crazy as a dog typing out a message?"
"Yeah. If there's something wrong with Tori, don't you think Trina would want to know?" Jade laughed joyously, grateful for Sam. Cat probably wouldn't even bother with it if Sam wasn't there to suggest. "I would want to know if something was going on with Melanie."
"Yeah…I would have thought they'd left on that plane. Trina did say she wasn't getting any messages from Tori-so who knows. Robbie and I just assumed Tori was being too uppity to send anything to her family."
"You never know. You still know so little about her. I mean, do you even know how she views her family?"
"Badly. All she does is talk shit about them. I'm amazed they haven't disowned her like mine." Jade raised an eyebrow and watched as Cat stood up and moved for the phone on the kitchen counter. "The only one that gives a damn in mine is my brother overseas-the rest don't like Robbie so they don't approve of our relationship."
"I wish Richard would get back from overseas, it'd be nice to see him." Sam put her heels up on the coffee table and grinned at Cat. "Makes me a little jealous of Trina." Cat flashed a smile and tapped her nails on the counter.
"I'm sure he'll be home soon enough. He's not happy with our family right now, neither is Nona. For obvious reason." Cat picked up her phone and began dialing a number. "I'll let Trina know the dogs are over here…You can explain to her about that Fontane lady if you want."
"I may as well. She might laugh, but whatever. She'll probably also swing by the woman, who knows. I'd probably laugh too."
"Do you think there's any validity to it?" She put the phone to her ear and scrunched her face. "I guess a dog wouldn't be able to type like that, much less come up with those particular names."
"Well if so, then this is one strange dog." Sam rubbed Jade's head, laughing gently as Jade barked. She was thrilled with this turn of events, but now it truly was in Cat's hands. If Trina believed the girl, great. If not, then Jade was going to have to figure something else out.
Even then, Trina would have to truly believe her sister was as dog. Jade was more than aware how odd a belief it would be, especially considering Trina would have to talk to Tori without any verification from her sister.
"No counselor's going to be able to get her to see that she's not to blame for her family's marital disputes-so this has to work."
So Jade found a way to get something through, perhaps Trina may visit this Madame Fontane if she hears there's a chance the woman was Tori's last known whereabouts. Though it can't be an easy thing to believe.