Dog Days of Summer
Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious
A/N:
Chapter 24 (The Final Notch Secured)
"If we're under arrest why do we still have to be here?" The businessmen grumbled as David had them stand beside him. The ambulance and other police officers had arrived along with the Vega family attorney. Tori was sitting between Beck and Jade behind Trina, Jason, and David. In front of them, the attorney was going through the documents found in the caverns.
"A little something from me to you for all the trouble you've put my family through," David winked at the two. They rolled their eyes and started to grumble. When Chad glanced at the dogs, Tori smirked and moved into squatting position, causing him to shudder and look away.
She was ecstatic that everything was going so well. Trina came out of the cave with minimal injury, though the paramedics instructed her to stay off her leg for a few days. Knowing her sister, there was no way in hell Trina was abiding by that.
"Let me see here," The attorney straightened his circular glasses on his thin nose and swept his hand slowly through his thin brown hair. "Indeed this land grant certifies Raul Vega the second and all descendants not just this farm but a full two hundred acres of land around it." Trina threw her hand over her mouth, gasping as Jason placed an arm around her shoulders and grinned.
"Oh god, what am I going to do with that much, Jason?" Jason shrugged and gave her a smile. She set her head on his shoulder and interlaced her fingers with his. The attorney looked up with a smile and lowered the document briskly.
"I'd have to notarize everything, but I'm certain you will be entitled everything in this area, Miss Vega. Attend the reading of your grandfather's will as well, I believe he has left everything to you. This farm is yours, and nobody will be able to take it away."
Tori felt a rush of emotion and wanted to leap up with joy, never before had news like this sounded so sweet. "Think about that," Jason stated with a soft voice, "Nearly three hundred acres of land. You can expand. Grow more crops, hire more workers, tend to more animals and sell to local businesses. Maybe even see what natural resources can be found-those gems in the cavern may give way to more further in and further down."
Trina slid her right hand down to her neck and looked to the attorney with a shaky breath. "I think I need to take a moment." She cleared her throat and closed her eyes. "I need to think."
"Take some time," the attorney suggested with a smile. "There's more than plenty of time to rest, but I'd like to go over these documents as well as your grandfather's will. You are over eighteen at least, correct?"
"Yes. Yes I am."
"Then we will not have to worry about holding anything back. Take some time to collect your thoughts, I'd like to talk with your father some more."
"T-Thank you."
With that, Jason led Trina inside the house. Tori took one last glance at the downtrodden, defeated businessmen and turned away with a triumphant huff. She made her way to the house and her friends followed, shaking their heads at her.
Inside, Trina was sitting on the couch with her right leg propped up on a cushioned footstool. Her head was leaning over the back of the couch and her fingers were massaging her forehead. Jason was kneeling down beside her, carefully massaging her leg
Tori jumped up onto the couch and curled up beside Trina, setting her paws on top of her thighs and resting her chin on them. Trina lifted her head and smiled at her, then lowered her hand to scratch behind Tori's ear. "Jason, you've had some business and marketing in school, right?"
"Yes but you should know how to handle a farm, you've spent most of your life out here."
"Maybe. I don't know if I'm all that good at managing people though. Not to mention…hiring more people to work out here? The farmhands we have already-I don't know how to handle a lot of that." Trina frowned as Jason slid Trina's shoe off and proceeded to massage her foot. Her shoulders and chest fell with a sigh and her eyelids slid down. "I wish Grandpa were still here."
"You can do this, Trina. Besides, I'll be right here beside you. I do know some things about management, and both of us can take extra classes if need be." Trina curved her lips upwards. "Besides, Clarence already has contracts with some farmer's markets in California. Those likely still hold, so they're bound to be a good help."
"Yeah." Trina turned her gaze onto him, holding it for a long moment. Tori studied her sister's soft expression and smiled at the warmth and love in Trina's eyes. It truly felt good to have given her sister this chance of happiness, though she found it on her own. "I missed you, Jason."
"Was it that long?" He glanced up to her with a playful smirk. "I missed you too. Second I got on that plane, you were all that was on my mind till I got back." He gently kissed her toe, which caused her to laugh and pull her leg back slightly. "I love you."
She moved her leg back into position and reached forward, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it. Her eyes locked with his and her cheekbones rose and filled with color. "I love you too, baby."
"How's your leg feeling, honey?"
"Just fine."
Tori looked down at Jade and Beck, chuckling when she saw Jade's snout wrinkle. "This mushiness is making me sick." Jade shook her head and Beck shuddered.
"I just hope they don't start having sex," Beck muttered, "I still have visuals I don't want."
"Oh come on guys." Tori rolled her eyes and looked up to her sister. Her body relaxed and she took a slow breath. "I think it's sweet. My sister's with somebody that makes her happy, loves her, and is going to stand by her no matter what. He's good for her. Besides!" She cleared her throat and glanced back to her friends. "With as much as you two start making out in public, I don't think you're one to talk."
"Can't help who you fall in love with," Jade remarked. Tori hummed with pride and raised her eyebrows up.
"Exactly my point." Jason moved up to sit beside Trina and set one arm around her shoulders. She set her head on his shoulder and looked towards the blank television.
"You know, Grandpa's favorite show on TV Land is airing right about now. With everything going on-"
"You want to watch it? I don't mind."
"It might take my mind off everything. I miss him, though, and I really don't want to have to deal with the funeral."
"I thought your dad was dealing with that?" Jason reached for the remote and handed it to Trina. She fixated her gaze on it and let her mouth fall into a frown.
"He is. I know everything's going to be okay, I guess I'm just worrying too much."
"I know you miss him. Everything will be fine, just take it a step at a time." Jason pat her hand and smiled warmly. "As for handling the farm, he taught you everything he knows. There's no doubt in my mind whatever you do, he'd be proud."
"I don't want to mess up."
"You won't. What else is on your mind?" Trina rubbed the back of her neck and released a small sigh.
"My sister, I guess." Tori perked her ears up and lifted her head slightly. "I still don't know if I can convince her to stay on the farm. It'd be a better environment for her. I know she's got her friends to deal with, but they're not going to be here forever, you know. Besides, all the fighting between mom and dad is just a miserable environment."
"You're always concerned about your little sister. It's a good thing, but she's also old enough to decide what she wants to do. The best thing you can do is offer that suggestion, then whatever she decides, just support her."
"Yeah." Trina pulled her knees forward and moved her arms around her legs. "But how can I do that when she hardly listens to me anymore? One word out of me and her friends start laughing, not that I let that bother me or anything."
"Talk to her when it's just you and her. She's your sister, and you hers, she's bound to at least hear you out."
"Maybe." Trina's hand relaxed on Tori's back and she looked to Jason, moving her eyes into his. Silence surrounded them and Tori watched as the two continued to gaze at one another. "I'm glad you're with me right now Jason, I don't think I could deal with of this alone."
"I wouldn't be anywhere else. Besides, you're strong, you could handle anything if you had to. Still, you'll never be alone if I have anything to say about it."
"I know." Tori's heart fluttered as she felt her sister's body shift. She watched Trina reach up, cupping Jason's face in her hands. Trina slowly leaned forward, interlocking her lips with his. Her shoulders rose and her chest expanded and Jason cupped his hand around her cheek.
"Tori?" Jade cleared her throat and Tori started to shake as she watched her sister delve further into the kiss. "Tori, you might want to move."
"I wasn't expecting them to start making out," Tori muttered. She didn't want to move on the chance that maybe they wouldn't get too involved if they remembered she was still there.
After some time, Jason pulled back and Trina panted for a few seconds. She cleared her throat and looked over her shoulder as the front door opened. David entered and waved at the two. "Trina, how are you holding up?"
"I'm alright, Dad."
"That's good. I need to go, but I wanted to check up on you before I left."
"Thanks. I'll be fine. It'll be a little lonely without grandpa, but Jason's here. Cleo, Artemis and Rover will keep me company. Ares too, I'm sure, whenever he's not prowling the farm." She laughed once and David started to smile.
"Alright then. I love you, sweetheart. Call me tomorrow and let me know how you're doing."
"Sure thing, Dad. When did the lawyer say the reading of the will is?"
"Two days from now. Friday. I'll have to contact Mr. Sikowitz, tell him to relay the message to Tori about Clarence…" Trina frowned and swept her hair behind her ear.
"I think Jason's already done that, Dad."
David paused and snapped his fingers. "Right, Mr. Sikowitz is his uncle. Yeah, I suppose that works."
Tori hopped off the couch and shook her head at her father, she was amazed he didn't even suspect she was missing. "Probably too busy fighting with Mom to even notice."
It wasn't long before David was gone. Trina and Jason went ahead to bed, leaving Tori with her friends in the living room. The sun had gone down and all of them were exhausted. "At least we saved the farm for my sister, right guys?"
"Everything's the way it should be," Beck replied with a semi-saddened tone. "Robbie's got his sister safe and sound, your sister's got the farm secured. I think we forgot about, you know, the curse."
"Yeah." The events of the day truly took priority. Her stomach rumbled as her body collapsed from heavy tension coming over her. "I think we'd better just sleep, guys. Tomorrow's another day."
"I'm with you there." Jade laid on the rug and closed her eyes, sighing heavily. "Until tomorrow, you two."
"Goodnight."
Well it's now official, the farm is truly secure according to the attorney. There's only one chapter left, so I shan't leave you hanging here.