Alright, so another update today before I work on 'Hands,' which is good. A lot better than a month at a time, right? :P Anyway, any more updates from me today will go to the other story. I like being a busy bee on this site...just love writing.
Well, I hope you enjoy it anyway...
:)
Tori's Perspective-
I shift myself into the seat, moving the buckle until I hear a satisfying click. It's been a little while since I've been in my dad's police car. My eyes move about the dashboard, not wanting to touch any of the fancy gadgets and such, even though they aren't really the most modern. As my dad says, they're the most reliable than the new technology that is just cool to look at. Training my eyes to the front, I've never liked looking at the back, I watch as he maneuvers in front of the car which chirps happily, his thumb on the remote.
The car moves briefly as he climbs in, setting down a small brief case for his laptop and other things. Shutting the door, I look at the time while I hear another click of a buckle; we're leaving about ten minutes early. "You ready kiddo?" he asks, the wheels rolling out of the garage.
"Uh, yeah," I nod before adding, "So, we're leaving kind of early?"
"Yeah, I figured we could talk some just the two of us since your sister's sick. That and I need to get some coffee anyway."
"Alright," I mumble, ending the short "conversation." Buildings soon glide behind us smoothly as we follow the road, my dad occasionally giving tips on how to drive. Even though we both know I've heard it before, I listen anyway and he gives the details; it doesn't hurt to be refreshed...especially since I seem to not be able to get my license. We turn a corner opposite to that of Hollywood Arts, in the direction of the small drive-thru for the morning drinks.
"So..." my dad starts, "You and, uh, Beck."
"Yup," I reply, popping the 'p.' Despite the awkwardness of the chat we're having, the fact is beginning to become habit, easier to say.
"You two doing well so far?"
"Yeah, he's been nice. We've gone to a few dates which have all gone well so yeah. Mom thinks very highly of him."
He nods, scratching his chin momentarily before murmuring, "Yeah, she always has. He's a good kid though, I can see him being very loyal and protective. And that's good...unlike the other two and that Ryder kid."
"So you're good with it?"
He takes a moment to turn the corner, driving up to the line of cars filing before school and their individual jobs. "Yeah, I mean, don't be surprised if it doesn't work out... I think he's a good fit though, too many of these kids nowadays are thinking about sex too much. Not that I think you'll go over the top," his gaze shifts to my uncomfortable one - I don't like talking about this stuff with either of my parents. I mean my dad's fine but still. "There are some dudes though who just focus on that in a relationship and nothing else. It may be a good part, sure, but it's certainly not everything."
"Yeah," I mumble softly, the car rolling to the speaker.
"Hi. Welcome to Coffee R Us, what will it be for today's fine morning?"
"She sounds fake," he whispers to me, earning a quiet chuckle before he turns to the box. "Uh, yes. Hi, so just a black coffee will do today," he pauses, "You want anything?"
"No thanks," I shake my head.
"Yeah, so just the black coffee."
"No creamer ma'am?"
"Ma'am?" he repeats, flabbergasted, "Now, I don't think I'm in drag..."
"Oh, sorry about that sir," the voice apologizes, "I've just had a long night and it's not over. Thank god I work in a place with coffee."
"It's alright," he chuckles.
"So that'll be $2.20 at the first window." With that the police car rolls up a space, my dad shaking his head.
"First I'm a drag queen and then multiple windows," he mumbles before turning to me, "I mean I put on lipstick once when I was nineteen but that was it!" We both start going into a fit of laughter which carries us through both windows, the car eventually rolling off to the street with a cup of coffee in my dad's hand and the chuckles dying off. The officer takes a few sip from the cup, smacking his lips before setting it down into the cup holder. His fingers tap against the steering wheel at a red light, his lips pursed in thought. "Tori? Have you, uh..."
"Yeah?" I furrow my brows.
"Have you talked to Jade lately?"
"No..." I answer slowly, puzzled by the abrupt question, adding, "Why do you ask?"
He shakes his head, turning into the parking lot of the school. "No reason... Anyway, I'll see you around, I'm just going to park at the front."
"Okay, see you later," I wave off. I push through the main hall doors, my eyes scanning around the room. It's not too busy, I mean normal I suppose but, well, yeah. To my surprise, however, I find Beck talking to a younger student by his locker. Curiously, I walk towards them, catching a small snippet of their conversation.
"So...wait, that's kind of deep man. I don't think I can be as creative with my locker as you," the blonde boy murmurs.
"Well go with what you like. There'll be something."
"But," he continues in a hushed whisper, "Are you sure you don't have any secrets? I mean... Everybody has at least one."
"Uh...no, I'm a pretty open book. I mean," Beck gives a short laugh, "Don't look at my internet history but I guess that isn't a secret; you don't really want to look at anyone's internet history." The blonde gave a soft laugh, giving his thanks before walking off.
He turns around, jumping slightly as I stroll up. "Hey you, whatcha doin'?" I prod at his shoulder.
"Nothing," he grins meekly, rubbing his arm, "He's a new student and he asked me about lockers. Anyway, what are you doing?" He grabs my arm and pulls me towards him, pressing his lips against mine swiftly.
"I don't know," I answer, "I got here with my dad so you'd better be watching, I know he will."
"You mean he's working here now?" he asks, "Just to watch us?"
"No..." I shake my head, maybe to help convince myself a bit, "And he won't be here for the whole day. Do you wanna help me to my locker?"
"I suppose," he mutters before throwing me over his shoulder.
"Not what I meant!" I yelp, falling limp as he I hang from his shoulder. It's really not what I meant... Especially as everybody laughs, giving a small grin across my lips.
-(:)-
The bell rings, cutting off Sikowitz as he demonstrates how to properly act with pool noodles, flippers and floaters. "Hold on! I have just a couple more minutes," he gasps, scratching his jaw briefly with the goggles resting on the bridge of his nose. The rest of the class, besides Beck, Cat and I, sit back down on their seats, giving the man their full attention. "There we go. Now as I said before the bell rang, there will be times when you have to act and what if you can't swim- yes Cat?"
The red head put her hand down, grinning before asking, "Why can't you take swimming lessons."
"FINALLY!" he shouts, making the whole class jump," Why did it take Cat to ask that? Come on! Wake up you all!" We all stare at him with wide eyes - except for Cat who giggles - clutching our chests to make sure our hearts don't tear out. "This was a lesson to pay attention and to intervene when something is wrong and not to just let it happen. As actors, you must make sure that any mysteries you present are subtle enough for it to pass but clear enough to be questionable. That is how people work, you've got to look closely at what isn't being said. Now how did my floaties say that, you ask? Well, there would be something clearly wrong if you had to have obvious swimwear when acting like a person who was a, say, lifeguard... Class dismissed and Cat, can you help me? I- I can't reach the noodles..."
"Okay," she perks, striding over quickly to help the teacher.
The rest of the class files out, Beck twisting his head as others gossip about the coming night. "Hey," he mutters quietly, "Have you heard about the party tonight? For the plays in the afternoon."
"Oh that's tonight?" I frown, recalling the papers that hung along the walls, "Wow time goes by. But yeah, I've heard of it."
"You want to go to it?"
"What'll be there?" I ask cautiously.
He purses his lips in thought, eyes gliding around the room. "Uh...I think it'll be similar to the last one, it's by all of the mansions by your neighborhood I think."
Oh...so there'll be alcohol. That honestly doesn't sit well with me at all, considering what happened last time. Even if I don't know, which makes it worse. Before my mind can come up with a million scenarios that could've played in my head, leading me to strange fantasies with seniors and other Northridge dudes - even if they aren't as bad as the girls - I quickly mumble, "No. I'm not sure if I don't want to go back to anything like that right now."
"Alright, I understand," Beck nods soothingly, following me to my locker. He stands there quietly, shifting in his stance as I go through my books. I pause, looking at him curiously as his gaze darts along the ground anxiously.
"You alright?" I ask.
"Yeah. Yeah I'm fine," he mumbles, "I just want to ask you something... Do you, er...do you want to go to my, uh, place and...uh..."
My brows furrow before I blink, finally understanding. "And have...no," I shake my head, my thoughts guiltily reminding another reason why I don't want to go to the party tonight, "I want to visit my dad some and just stay home. I guess I'm not, uh, ready yet."
"It's fine," he nods quickly, holding his hands out, gripping them over mine gingerly, "I don't want to do anything you don't want to do. And I can wait for a hundred years so, it's cool."
"Thanks..." I grin before I jump, my phone buzzing. I reach over my pocket, dark eyes following to my phone. I quickly read the text, sighing softly before I smile a little. "But...my dad isn't able to take me home today and Trina's sick so...do you want to?"
"Absolutely," he nods firmly. "But," tanned hands clutch his stomach as it growls, "I think I need to eat lunch first."
"And we have the rest of our classes," I roll my eyes, feeling as his hand intertwines with mine.
-(:)-
"Alrighty," Beck hums, the truck pulling to the curb, "There you go m'lady. Already home."
"Thanks," I grin happily, shuffling around with my bag. I unbuckle the, well, buckle as the door beside me opens. "Whoa, how did you go that fast speedster?"
"Practice?" he shrugs humbly, "You want me to walk you to the door?" I nod feeling as he helps me down, the car door closing behind me. Our strides pace towards the door, Beck momentarily pausing to look at our gnome which was run over when I was - uh - practicing for my license...it didn't go well.
I give a small cough before mumbling hesitantly, "I may have made her a widow." He pouts, patting the blonde-braided gnome on the head.
"I'm sorry girly... It's not your fault if Tori doesn't know when to stop by the curb."
"Beck! I didn't drive across the lawn to the house," I whine. Hey! I still have some dignity to build up...even if I did run over a sprinkler along the side too. He merely chuckles at his own joke, stepping back to the path. We make it to the door when I am guided to the side. "What are doing mister?" O raise a brow.
The Canadian smirks at my small grin, muttering innocently, "No goodbye kiss?" I give a sigh before he releases a light-hearted laugh, pressing his lips against mine eagerly. His hands find my back, running over the fabric slowly before he trails along my jaw. My teeth clench together as he nibbles on my jaw, my hands pushing against his chest. He stops in his actions, waiting patiently.
"Uh...I don't think my mom would like seeing that, even if she likes you," I chuckle.
"Yeah," he husks, "That's true. See you tomorrow?"
"See you tomorrow," I nod, earning a quick peck before he jogs to his truck. I leave my fingers on my lips, my gaze lingering on the truck which rolls away. My gut feels almost, to say, giddy. I guess that's the word anyway... Nothing really says otherwise anyway as I turn the doorknob and step into the house.
-(:)-
My back cracks lightly as I stretch my limbs, my eyes still fixated on the illuminated screen. I twist around at the steps striding down the stairs, making their way towards the kitchen. "Hey mom. Whatcha doin'?" I ask.
"Oh," she waves her hand, "Nothing. I'm just trying to find something..."
"Find what now?" I frown, getting on my feet as I step towards the counter. I press my palms against the dark stone, or granite...whatever, watching as she shuffles around the wine cabinites. "What are you-"
She sighs slowly, shaking her head. "I've been trying to find this one bottle for a week or two now. I know I had a full one that I just opened around but I might have misplaced it and then- I don't know. Hey, have you seen it?" she picks up her head.
"Which one?" I murmur slowly. I mean, the name wouldn't help - it's not like I've been drinking for more than a night.
"Louis Bouillot," she answers simply.
"Don't we have some of those in the garage?" I furrow my brows, searching for some of the brands. I take back what I said before with the name...that one is mentioned a lot in this house along with margaritas.
"No, my favorite one." I raise a brow, not knowing what it is or why she expects with her wide eyes for me to know anything about alcohol. I would like to think my mom didn't raise me like that. "Louis Bouillot Perle de Vigne Grande Reserve Brut? The one with the long name..."
I nod enthusiastically, "Oh! That favorite. Yeah, I don't know. They all look the same to me."
"But this one is special," she defends pitifully.
"How would I know?" I mutter hotly before quickly adding to her mother-glare, "Sorry... Maybe dad got to it or something. How long have you not had it for?"
She seats herself at the table in thought, abandoning her quest to find it. 'I guess it isn't that special then...' my thoughts gather, despite her apparent patriotic stance on the matter.
"About," she starts, "I don't know...a few weeks ago? I think I left it out on the coffee table when I was watching my shows... Oh well, I'll have to go buy another one. Time's been slipping away a little too quickly. I'll ask David when he gets home. Anyway, how have you and Beck been doing? I haven't seen him for a few days."
"Well, that's probably because we do other things than be a couple," I shrug, "But he's fine...you seem to like him a little too much mom."
My mom gasps, shaking her head, "What do you mean by that? It's just you two are perfect for each other! You two would be so cute for the dances-"
"Mom..." I groan.
"What? He's much more handsome than all the others-"
"Mom..." I cover my face with my hands.
"And you two would be perfect for a wedding and have the cutest little babies," she adds with a pleased grin.
"Why are you planning my life out? He's a great boyfriend but that doesn't mean I'm actually going to marry him," I whine, rolling my eyes. I swear she is almost the worst with my boyfriends. Honestly, I've been given this speech several times now which each one and - god - it gets worse every time as she compares all of them. "But why do you like him so much anyway? I mean, seriously, not between the other 'suitors' as I'd imagine you calling them," I ask with a smirk.
She pulls one of her own, eyebrow raising. "You talking back missy? Anyway, to answer your question, he's a good fit for you. I can see you two getting along well, unlike his last one," she adds bitterly.
I roll my eyes subtly, muttering quietly, "Maybe they just didn't go well together and that's all..."
"But she's not the best girlfriend is she?"
"Not to him obviously," I sigh; I don't know why I'm defending her with my mom. She doesn't really like her, like, at all. I mean, I really shouldn't be surprised. The first thing she hears of her is with coffee all over my hair. The next, well, flipping me off. I- I can't really say anything else except I am surprised at the fact that she hasn't done anything about it. Besides root for Beck and I with as much enthusiasm anyway. Whatever, what am I going to do about it?
Before my mom could give another word, the garage door opens, switching our attentions immediately. "Hey you two! What's goin' on? What are you two talking about?" my dad grins as we both say our hellos, his steps joining us at the table, palms against the wood.
"Oh, we were just chatting about Beck and Tori," my mom answers, "and how they're a good couple. He's a keeper, right Tori?"
"I guess, yeah," I mutter, my cheeks burning red. I really don't want to be in this with both of them.
My dad, however, clicks his tongue slowly before nodding. "Yeah, he's a good fellow. Keeps a smile on his face from what I remember."
"What are you thinking about David?" my mom asks, eyeing his distant gaze.
"Oh nothing. Just wonderin' about Jade is all..." he breathes quietly.
"Why? You mean when she was dating Beck?"
What- mom...stop it, it's not like- you know what? I- I don't get my mom sometimes.
"Yeah... Now what's got you all riled up?"
"Not a good influence on Tori," she answers stubbornly.
My dad frowns, shaking his head gingerly. "She's not a bad kid. I mean, especially when you remember she's being raised by the Wests."
She merely scoffs, rolling her eyes. 'I swear if she starts going off on about how I had coffee head for a week again...' my thoughts banter.
"You act like you've talked to her often."
"I bumped into her a couple of times at school," he shrugs, "Now I don't think that's what you're really mad about." My mom, who nods in agreement, drops the subject, leaving my dad staring at her curiously. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"You drank my favorite champagne, didn't you?" she accuses pitifully.
"The Louis Bouillot?" he asks.
"Don't act like you didn't. You always had tried to get your hands on it."
"I did?" he frowns sincerely before his eyes widen as if he had just remembered something important. "Oh! Yeah, yeah I did. Yeah, I needed to get something in my system before the flight and I saw it, uh, on the counter. Right, sorry...I'll buy you some later." I sigh in a slight relief; perhaps he's tired just like me and didn't want another argument over who had the bottle of champagne. My mom really loves the stuff and my dad does like a sip here and there...okay, maybe more than a sip. I mean, he never drinks the whole bottle and make it disappear, but let's say it's enough for him to try and avoid any confrontation and just lie about it I suppose.
"You better," she grins happily, having her mystery solved.
"I love you," he murmurs, pecking her on the lips.
"I love you too."
"I'm getting out of here," I sigh, standing up abruptly, shutting off the TV with the remote and bonding up the stairs. Even with Trina's occasionally coughing through her nap, I still know that my parents are loving downstairs. It's not bad but, as I shudder briefly, it can be a bet creepy.
I just want to say quickly that, you guys like this story huh? I mean, it may not be a favorite but the amount of views and such is rapidly growing so... Anyway, it's going to get better as it goes along, I assure you. Like I said before, somewhere, this is a bit of an awkward spot.
Well, as I always say, hope you enjoyed!
:)