Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.

Unfairly Judged.

Chapter 21 – Getting in.

No One's POV

Jade had thought about what she'd do for a day or so, feeling somewhat hopeful, but at the same time, thinking that hope is largely for fools.

Of course, would she even make it through he front door. Last time she came to apologize, Trina simply said Tori was out and then never told her she was there. It was just another thing to worry about.

She gradually came up with a plan and then set about putting it in motion.

About a week later Jade, having finally gotten up the courage and what else she needed, pulled up in front of the Vega home. It was a bright and sunny afternoon, which to anyone else, was fine. But to Jade, she couldn't help but think the sun was mocking her pain by making it bright and sunny, which she hated.

After taking a deep breath, she grabbed a bag and walked to the door.

"Hope is for fools" She muttered as she pressed the doorbell.

A few moments later, the door swung open to reveal none other than Trina Vega, whose curious expression quickly darkened.

"My this seems familiar." Quipped Trina.

"Can I talk to Tori, Please."

Instead of answering, Trina quickly began to close the door, but was stopped by the fact that Jade had put her foot in it.

"Go away you freak, you're not seeing Tori. This time she doesn't want to see you. After what you pulled, you rotten freak. Now get your foot out of the door."

"Come on, let me see her, I want to apologize."

"No. She told me she doesn't want to see you." Barked Trina as she pulled the door back open and glare at the Goth.

Prepared, Jade, reached into her bag and smirked, though nervously. "I'll make it worth your while."

Trina scoffed. "She's my sister and I'll never.…"

Trina immediately stopped in mid-sentence when Jade pulled out an open shoe box. Inside was a pair of purple and white sparkly high heels.

"Look at this Trina. Taylor Swift wore a pair identical to them just last week at the world music awards."

Trina however quickly gathered her composure and once again frowned.

"So what, you brought me a pair of designer shoes. I don't care if they are the latest Jimmy Choo's. You still won't see Tori. Now go away."

Moving the shoe box to the other hand, Jade then pulled out a matching clutch purse. "Now what's a pair of shoes without a matching purse."

For about ten seconds, Trina attempted to intensify her angry glare, but soon her lip began to quiver.

"They match?" Squeaked Trina. "And they're the latest and hottest."

"Certainly looks that way and they're yours if you ask for Tori, of course you won't tell her it's me. I want to actually come to the door."

"And that's all I have to do….."

"My aren't you sharp."

Trina held for about 3 seconds before snatching the purse and shoes out of Jade's hands. Then she turned and yelled up the stairs.

"Tori, some cute boy is here to speak with you!"

"It's your funeral Jade." Noted Trina as she took off up to her room leaving the door open.

Having bought her way in, Jade walked in, closed the door and did her best to not to act half as nervous and scared as she actually was.

However the sound of approaching footsteps, made that a bit harder as Jade had to put all her acting skills to work, just to not look like a total mess.

Just then Tori came bounding down the stairs.

The second she spotted Jade standing in the living room, she stopped dead in her tracks.

"You're not a cute boy? What the hell?"

"Much better."

"I told Trina not to let you in and….."

"I bribed her with a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes and matching purse, or at least that's what she thinks it is."

Her face quickly changing form angry to confused, Tori looked to the top of the stairs and then to Jade.

"You mean to tell me, you played on my sisters biggest weakness and they're not even real."

"No, you think I'd actually spend real money on that dingbat, I bought those out of the back of a van yesterday. Purse and shoes cost me all of 27 dollars. She assumed they were real after certain impressions I gave, I just never bothered to correct her. There cheap fakes, if those shoes last more than a week, I'll be very surprised, the purse too."

Tori quickly fumed and walked up to Jade. "How dare you, play on her like that and with cheap fakes. I have half a mind to tell her right now, you you….bitch."

"Except you're not going to tell her."

"And why won't I, Mrs. Smarty pants?"

"Cause, you're horribly annoyed with her that after all that's happened, she could be bought with a pair of cheap knock off shoes and a purse. So you'll keep your mouth shut and wait for those shoes to fall apart, probably on a date or some other important occasion. Cause you think it will serve her right for being so stupid as to trust me."

SLAP!

Even though Jade half expected the slap, it still stung rather hard. Jade was playing the part rather flippantly, but realized soon after that she may have overdone it.

"Look Jade! I don't know what your game is, but I've had enough humiliation. You stood by while your mother…." Tori who was getting more and more upset then simply pointed to the door.

"JUST GET THE FUCK OUT!"

"Please Tori, just let me talk." Jade responded, doing her best to hold back tears of shame and regret as her façade began to crumble.

Seeing tears well up in Jade's eyes, Tori was quick to assume it was another trick; another part of her performance. All she wanted to do was throw Jade out on her ass.

While all this was true, Tori found herself not doing that. At the time she didn't even know why. She had no reason to believe jade for a second. Instead she looked at the clock on the wall.

"You have 30 seconds."

Now beginning to shake and cry, Jade nodded. "Thank you. I wanted to apologize. I am sorry I let her say those things to you. I screwed up, let my issues ruin things between us. I can't explain what happened very easily. But I'd like to try…maybe fix things. My father and uncle have a cabin up in the mountains. It's very nice. I wanted to know if you'd like to come up a week from friday and then it would just be you and me. We could talk and maybe work it out. I promise I would explain everything, no secrets. You would have your own bedroom. If you didn't want to stay, you could leave at any time. It's very nice, has a fireplace, hot tub. I would pay for everything and you would be my guest."

Reaching into her bag, Jade pulled out a small picture in a frame. She then handed it to Tori.

"Here, it's a peace offering, something you'd really like."

Glancing down Tori could see it was an autographed picture of Katy Perry. On the picture were the words,

To Tori,

Hope to see you on stage someday, making it shine.

Love Katy.

Then from her bag she extracted a pink microphone in a small clear plastic case. Along with it was a fancy looking sheet of paper, looking like some kind of certificate.

"Tori, this is the microphone Katy used in her last concert. I know you love her and I got both of these from a charity silent auction for a charity event to prevent childhood cancer. It was held a few days ago at the Hilton, downtown. One personalized autographed picture and one microphone. I have a certificate of authenticity signed, by the head of some local law firm. Please Tori, I'm sorry, I really want to make it up to you."

Jade's Pov

For a moment, there was silence as Tori looked down at the items, carefully studying them. I had read about the auction the other day and realized they would be the perfect gifts for Tori. I paid a pretty penny, but I get a check each month from my trust fund.

I know that inviting her up to a cabin in the mountains is probably a dumb idea. But I thought if we got away from my mom, her sister and everyone else then we could talk. I'd feel comfortable talking about my mother and hopefully, I could explain it. I didn't lie, the cabin is very nice. It's jointly owned by my dad and my uncle.

Alone, I hoped we could get through this.

Some of the anger seemed to drain from Tori's face, but it remained very guarded. "They are very nice, thank you. I appreaciate the invite but I…..I just don't know. I may have to work and I think I have stuff going on. I just don't know."

I could tell that while she liked the gift, she just didn't seem interested. It was then I'd realized I had blown it, once and for all. All of a sudden, what little courage I had, seemed to fade away. I was the mighty Jade West once but no more and the worst part is, I had no one to blame but myself.

"Fine, Thank you for listening. I am sorry. I'll be going. I'll call you, give you directions if you still want to come." I said in a fading voice.

Before Tori, could say another word, I turned and left.

My father's pep talk, made me want to try and win Tori back, but I just couldn't do it. Granted I shouldn't just hide away in my room doing nothing, I had to do something. Perhaps I needed to just find another game to play.

So I decided to do something productive and begin to write again. Over the course of the next week, I wrote like a person possessed. The idea's just flowed and within a week I had a story and a short film written. They were all horror stories, sad and tragic but my pain helped.

I didn't try and call Tori, what was the point? I know I was so determined, but for all my bravado, if she didn't want to come, she didn't want to come. It's not like me, but what is me anyway. I'm one person when I'm with Tori, one person when I'm without. I want to be the person I am, when I'm with Tori, but that's gone.

Finally the weekend came for my trip to the cabin. I would be alone, but perhaps, the change of scenery would inspire some more stories. Then I could think about my future plans. Do I want to continue at Hollywood Arts? What kind of person do I want to be, what kind of person can I be.

So Friday afternoon I packed up my car and made the drive, arriving just before dinner. I had stopped and gotten a few meager groceries and immediately set about making myself a salad.

Sitting alone eating my dinner, on the patio, as the sun began to sank behind the mountains, I couldn't help but realize how beautiful it was. But I had no one to share it with, so what difference would it make.

"Hope is for fools" I mused, believing it more than ever.

A knock at the front door, rattled me from my thoughts. I quickly guessed it was one of my college aged cousins, and his friends crashing my weekend. It's happened before. Pissed by the disturbance, I got up and flung open the door.

"It's my weekend and the cabin is mine!" I said loudly to the figure in the doorway.

Except it wasn't one of my cousins, it was Tori, holding a large bag and a somewhat weary expression.

"You never called, am I still invited."

Stunned, all I could do was nod.