Chapter 1: Blowing Up
Tori Vega sat at her make-up table, a soft spotlight casting a flattering glow over her perfectly contoured face. She looked directly into the camera, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I fell asleep to my baby, Jade's freaky nerd in that one movie!" Tori said with a mischievous smile. "I don't like scary movies, but she's so fine I did the sign of the cross and plunged in."
Her fans chuckled and commented with hearts and thumbs up, sharing in her excitement. It was moments like these, the candid and personal connections she shared with her followers, It hadn't been that long since she had started. But she was gaining a following really fast. And the more fans she got, the more into this she became.
Tori continued, "I mean, come on, guys! Jade West may play all those dark and edgy roles, but in real life, I know she's a complete sweetheart. I just have a feeling about it you know?" She said and paused to put on some lipgloss. She puckered her lips and turned her face from side to side.
"I for one, don't believe a thing that bitch said about her. Like what was Jade supposed to do? Fuck her? I mean Jade isn't even part of the Alphabet Mafia, please like Leave her alone!" She sprayed her face with setting spray and smiled at the camera. "The last interview she did when she was just 16? I used to watch that interview over and over. She's just so real and down-to-earth. You can't fake that."
One of her followers typed it out on the screen. And she giggled. "Sexuality is fluid? Oh, I know! I mean, let's be real, she was basically my sexual awakening. But like she's always been seen with men… well not really out and about anymore but yeah."
As she chatted with her followers about Jade, the doorbell rang, interrupting her monologue. Tori's eyes widened with surprise, "someone's at the door… Be right back." She said and she quickly walked away from the camera, leaving her audience in suspense.
She dashed to the door, and there it was, a package she had been eagerly awaiting. Tori's heart raced as she opened it, revealing her 100K YouTube plaque.
With uncontainable joy, she hurried back to her make-up table, her prized plaque in hand. Her fans watched with bated breath as she held it up for the camera.
"Guys, look what just arrived!" Tori exclaimed, her voice quivering with emotion. "It's the 100K plaque! This is as much yours as it is mine. You've been with me through thick and thin, and I couldn't have done it without you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for sharing this incredible journey with me."
Tears of gratitude welled up in her eyes as she kissed the plaque and held it close to her heart. Tori's followers flooded the comments section with congratulatory messages and heart emojis.
At that moment, as she gushed to her fans, Tori felt like she was on top of the world.
Tori's celebration continued with her best friends and her twin sister, who had all gathered to revel in her newfound success. The excitement was palpable as they headed to a trendy club in Miami, the neon lights and thumping bass setting the mood for the evening.
As they entered the club, Tori couldn't help but shout over the music, "This is going to be an epic night, guys!" Her friends nodded and shouted back in agreement, the energy in the air infectious.
Cat, known for her quirky and bubbly personality, couldn't contain her enthusiasm. "Oh my gosh, Tori, I'm so proud of you! This is like, a dream come true!" She flashed a dazzling smile.
Sam, Cat's girlfriend and the more reserved of the group, added with a grin, "Yeah, Tori, you're a total sensation. Who knew ?."
Tori's twin sister, Shelby, who shared an unbreakable bond with her, chimed in, "You know, sis, you've come so far. I'm just glad you stuck with something, and we're here to cheer you on."
"Is Trina coming?" Tori asked of her other sister.
"Nah, she's working," Selby stated. "She's trying to get her shit together before school starts."
Trina and Shelby both went to U of M which is where her parents met. Tori was the only hold out. Not because she couldn't get in… She got into every school she applied to. Her indecision paralyzed her and she decided to defer them all.
With her closest friends by her side, Tori felt a rush of gratitude. It was moments like these, surrounded by the people who meant the most to her, that made her success all the more special.
The night progressed with dancing, laughter, and celebratory toasts, the music thumping and the crowd around them pulsating with energy. They were living in the moment, savoring the excitement of the evening.
Tori went along and posted some pictures with her friends. And went on a brief livestream on Instagram. Then someone walking by her yelled. "Oh SHit, it's you!"
Tori turned, and A fan had recognized Tori in the club, approaching with a mix of shock and excitement. "Hey, you're Tori Vega, right?" The fan asked, holding out their phone for a selfie.
Tori's face lit up as she graciously accepted the request. "That's me! Thanks for recognizing me. Let's take a selfie!"
The fan's enthusiasm was contagious, and soon, more people in the club began to recognize her. It wasn't long before a small crowd had gathered around, eager for photos and autographs.
As the mob grew, Cat, Sam, and Shelby exchanged glances. The noise, the chaos, and the constant stream of fans interrupting their celebration began to take a toll on their enjoyment. While they were happy for Tori, they felt somewhat overwhelmed by the sudden attention.
One by one, they decided it was time to call it a night and made their way towards the exit, waving goodbye to Tori as they went. The music and cheers in the club faded as they walked away, leaving Tori alone amid a sea of admirers.
Tori's elation from her recent success was dampened by the abrupt departure of her friends, and she was left feeling somewhat bewildered and lonely in the midst of her excited fans. She realized that her journey to stardom, though exhilarating, also came with its own unique set of challenges.
Alone and somewhat bewildered, Tori realized her sister Shelby was her ride for the night, and she had no means of getting home. Feeling abandoned and unappreciated, she called an Uber to take her back to her empty apartment.
Tori's life was changing rapidly, and as her popularity skyrocketed, so did the complexities of her newfound fame. While she relished the bright side of the spotlight, she couldn't escape the growing sense of isolation it brought.
As the days turned into weeks and then months, she noticed her best friends and even her sister, Shelby, weren't fully comprehending the challenges that came with her budding stardom. Their support was unwavering, but the intricacies of her life in the public eye were often beyond their grasp.
The truth of the matter was, that they didn't think she could do it. And now that she was proving them wrong, they were jealous. That had to be it. Late-night shoots, fan encounters, and the constant need to curate her online presence were all foreign concepts to them.
They liked her better when she was this Lonely Loser, that couldn't keep a girlfriend. The whole reason she had started the channel was to get over Reighn. Tori hadn't had a meaningful relationship in years. Then Reighn came and opened her up, and then broke her heart when she walked away. The breakup had shaken her to her core. It was a relationship she had invested her heart and soul in, someone she had seen a future with.
In the aftermath of their painful breakup, Tori found herself grappling with a profound sense of loneliness. It was during this dark and difficult period that she had turned to makeup as a form of therapy. Creating intricate looks and experimenting with colors made her feel better, even if it was just temporary.
She needed an outlet to share her thoughts and emotions, and that's when "Make Me Up a sTori" was born. Tori started her YouTube channel to document her journey of self-expression, using makeup as a way to heal and as a means to talk about her experiences. Through her channel, she connected with others who shared her love for beauty and found a supportive community of like-minded individuals.
Since then, the YouTube channel has been her sanctuary, a place where she could be her authentic self and express her thoughts, and where she has formed connections with her online audience. But, despite her growing popularity and the friendships she had made through her channel, the fear of leaving her comfort zone and facing the world alone still weighed heavily on her mind.
However, Her increasingly public persona seemed to repel potential partners, many of whom felt overshadowed or intimidated by her fame. A series of failed attempts at love had left her wary and somewhat resigned to the idea that she might remain single for a long time.
In her quiet apartment, Tori found herself seeking solace on a quiet evening. The triggering sensation of being abandoned at the club, had stirred up a whirlwind of emotions, and the loneliness was beginning to weigh on her. To combat the solitude and connect with her audience, she decided to go live on Instagram.
As she sat in front of her phone's camera, she couldn't help but share her feelings. "Hey, everyone," she began, her voice filled with a mix of vulnerability and determination. "I've been going through some tough times, and I thought maybe talking to you all would make me feel a little less alone."
Her followers flooded the comments section with hearts, words of encouragement, and supportive emojis. It was as if her online community had wrapped a comforting virtual blanket around her. They immediately made her feel validated, and she smiled as though a salve had been placed on a wound.
Amid the sea of comments, one message stood out from the rest. A dedicated fan, who had followed her journey from the beginning, chimed in, "Hey, Tori, you're amazing, and you deserve love."
"Aww thanks!" she said, and began to do the makeup cleansing routine that she did at night.
"Maybe you should think about moving to Los Angeles. Now that you hit the big time."another said.
"YOu think 300K is enough. I mean… yeah since I announced the 100K subscribership rose. But I don't know guys. LA is a massive move." She satiated running the pipes all over her face.
"Who knows, you might find your true love there, maybe even someone like Jade, and marry her." Another said.
"Jade West?" Tori said with a laugh. "Man that would be the dream!" Tori said.
"I would pay a lot of money to watch that happen." Another fan said.
"Yeah, that would be a dream come true." Tori continued The thought of relocating to Los Angeles had never crossed her mind. She paused for a moment, contemplating the idea. The City of Angels held countless possibilities, including the chance to meet someone special and start anew.
"You never know, she could be waiting for you." Another fan said.
Tori smiled wistfully and responded, "Haha, yeah right, could you imagine? She's probably locked herself up in a house in the hills with a really handsome boyfriend." Her voice carried a hint of playful sarcasm, but deep down, the idea was intriguing, and it planted a seed of curiosity in her heart. Los Angeles, the city of dreams, suddenly felt closer than ever.
The idea resonated with Tori. It was a spark of hope, a possibility she had never considered. She settled into her cozy spot on the couch and turned on the TV. Jade West's Nickelodeon show came on, a nostalgic comfort. This was the one role where Jade played a girl so much like herself, except straight.
In the comical kid sitcom scene playing on TV, Jade was involved in a hilarious mix-up, wearing mismatched shoes to school.
The scene opened in a high school hallway, bustling with quirky students. A loud bell rang, and the rush to get to class began. Amid the chaos, the camera focused on a familiar face—Jade West, the whimsical character played by Tori's long-time crush.
Jade, with her eccentric attire and a pair of mismatched shoes, waddled down the hallway with an air of goofiness. One shoe was a bright red sneaker, and the other, a fuzzy, neon pink slipper. Her distinctive style made her stand out like a colorful character in a storybook.
As she waddled, she caught the gaze of her best friend, Ebony, who couldn't help but burst into giggles. "Emma, your shoes!" Ebony exclaimed, her tone a mix of sarcasm and humor as she pointed at the glaring mismatch.
Jade paused and glanced down at her feet, her expression a mix of exaggerated surprise. She looked at her shoes and then back at Ebony, her voice filled with playful innocence. "What's wrong with them?" she asked, her tone dripping with whimsy.
Ebony, still chuckling, responded with a hint of sarcasm, "You're wearing different shoes, Em's. What's the plan here? A new fashion statement?"
Jade's eyes widened dramatically as she brought her hands to her cheeks. "Oh my gosh! I am! How could I have been so blind? It's a fashion mystery!"
The school's principal, a stern and humorless figure, approached with an unamused frown. "Jade West, you know that proper uniform attire is required at this school. Those shoes are clearly not within dress code."
Jade turned to the principal with a playful grin, as if she had been waiting for this moment. "Well, you see, sir," she began, "I'm not just a student; I'm a fashion wizard. I'm starting a trend: Mismatched Magic Mondays. Soon, everyone will be doing it."
The principal, unamused, shook his head. "You can't be serious, Emma."
Jade's smirk widened, and she shrugged. "As serious as a mismatched shoe trend can be, sir."
Her exaggerated facial expressions and sarcastic lines drew a hearty laugh from Tori. The dialogue in the show filled her apartment, and she couldn't help but recite some lines along with Jade.
As she watched the quirky sitcom scene, she realized that even in the whirlwind of her evolving stardom, some things remained constant and gave her solace. It was a moment of warmth and humor in an otherwise challenging evening.