Chapter 5

Tori Vega had been looking forward to a quiet night. Dressed in her comfiest hoodie and sweatpants, she'd finally settled into her couch, ready to escape into the ridiculousness of *Celebrities Underwater*. It wasn't much, but after a week of school, awkward encounters, and the constant anxiety of potentially turning into Vic at the worst possible moment, she needed this. The last thing she expected was company, but when the doorbell rang, Tori sighed, paused the show, and reluctantly got up.

When she opened the door, her jaw nearly dropped. Standing there, looking more vulnerable than Tori had ever seen her, was Jade West. Her eyeliner was slightly smudged, her usual tough-girl glare softened by what looked like the aftermath of tears. Jade West didn't cry—at least, not where anyone could see.

"Jade?" Tori blurted, her mind struggling to catch up with the situation. Jade barely acknowledged her confusion, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

"Don't even start," Jade muttered, brushing past Tori into the living room. "I didn't know where else to go. And I don't care what you think."

Tori closed the door, feeling completely out of her depth. Jade wasn't the type to show weakness—especially not to someone like Tori, who she barely knew beyond their run-ins at school. But here she was, in Tori's living room, looking like she might fall apart at any second.

"Uh, do you… want to sit down?" Tori offered awkwardly, gesturing to the couch.

Jade dropped onto the couch, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. For a moment, she didn't say anything, just stared ahead as if trying to keep herself from unraveling completely. Tori wasn't sure what to do. This was Jade West—the girl who could scare anyone into submission with a single look. And now she was in Tori's living room, looking like the world had just crashed down around her.

Tori hesitated before sitting down next to her, unsure whether to give her space or try to comfort her. She awkwardly patted Jade on the head, fully aware that Jade didn't seem like the type who wanted to be held or comforted.

"Do you… want to talk about it?" Tori asked gently, though she wasn't sure if Jade would actually open up.

Jade let out a bitter laugh. "Talk about what? How I'm an idiot for letting myself fall for someone who clearly doesn't care anymore?"

Tori winced. "So… this is about Beck?"

Jade's face twisted with a mix of frustration and hurt. "Of course, it's about Beck! Who else?" She huffed, wiping at her eyes quickly, as if she was furious at herself for letting tears fall. "I just—I'm so tired of feeling like this, you know? Like I'm constantly trying to keep him, but he's already gone."

Tori nodded, feeling more than a little out of her depth. "So… do you want him back?" she asked cautiously.

Jade shook her head, her expression hardening. "No. I don't want him back. I just want to move on, but it's like every time I think I'm done, he shows up again, or something happens, and I'm right back where I started."

Tori bit her lip, unsure of what to say. "Maybe you just need to focus on something else. Like, distract yourself?"

Jade gave her a sharp look. "That's what I'm trying to do," she said, her voice edged with determination. "But it's not enough. I want to fall for someone else—someone who'll actually make me forget Beck."

Tori's eyes widened slightly. "Like who?"

Jade leaned back against the couch, her gaze unfocused as she thought. "There's no one at school who's on his level," she admitted. "Except… Vic."

Tori's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Vic's name. This was bad—really bad. "Vic?" she echoed, trying to keep her voice steady. "But you barely know him."

Jade shrugged, clearly not caring about the details. "Doesn't matter. He's hot, mysterious, and he doesn't have all that baggage with Beck. If anyone can help me forget, it's him."

Tori swallowed hard. This was a disaster waiting to happen. Jade was determined to move on, and if she set her sights on Vic, it could blow everything up in Tori's face.

"But… what if it doesn't work out?" Tori asked, grasping at straws. "I mean, using someone to get over someone else—it could get messy."

Jade shot her a look that said she wasn't in the mood for caution. "I don't care if it gets messy," she snapped. "I just need to stop feeling like this. And if Vic can help with that, then I'm going for it."

Tori stared at her, feeling a growing sense of panic. Jade was serious—dead serious. And Tori had no idea how she was going to keep her secret with Jade actively pursuing her alter ego.

As Jade stood up, ready to leave, Tori's mind raced. She couldn't let this happen. But what could she do? Jade was stubborn, and once she set her mind on something, there was no changing it.

"Just… be careful, okay?" Tori said weakly, knowing her words wouldn't do much. "Vic… he's complicated."

Jade didn't even look back as she headed for the door. "Yeah, well, so am I," she muttered, brushing off Tori's concern.

As the door closed behind Jade, Tori let out a long, shaky breath. She knew one thing for sure: things were about to get a whole lot more complicated. And this time, there was no easy way out.

Tori had managed to keep it together for an entire week—no sudden transformations, no awkward explanations, and, most importantly, no embarrassing incidents in front of her new classmates at Hollywood Arts. She was starting to feel like she might actually have a handle on this bizarre double life, even if it meant wearing oversized clothes and constantly being on edge.

That morning, Tori walked into the school with a lightness in her step. Things were finally going her way. But as she strolled past the lockers, her attention was caught by a familiar scene—Jade, storming away from Beck, who was leaning against his locker, talking to some random girl with way too much interest.

Tori frowned. It wasn't unusual for Jade and Beck to have their ups and downs, but this time, Jade looked more furious than usual. Without thinking, Tori followed her, weaving through the crowd as she tried to keep up with Jade's determined pace.

She caught up with her just as Jade was scanning the Slap on her phone, her fingers scrolling rapidly. Tori could see the tension in her shoulders, the barely restrained anger simmering just below the surface.

"Jade?" Tori called out hesitantly.

Jade whipped around, her eyes narrowing as she spotted Tori. "What do you want, Vega?" she snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut glass.

Tori hesitated, unsure how to approach this. "I just… saw you with Beck. Are you okay?"

Jade scoffed, shoving her phone into her pocket. "Why do you care? It's none of your business."

Tori winced, but didn't back down. "I care because… well, you looked upset. And now you're, like, frantically searching The Slap?"

Jade's eyes flashed with frustration. "For Vic, but he never posts anything," she muttered. "But it's like he doesn't even exist. Have you seen him around?"

Tori's heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to keep her expression neutral. "Uh, no, I haven't. But I… I heard something about him not even going to this school."

Jade's face twisted with disbelief. "What?"

Tori shrugged, trying to sell the lie. "Yeah, I mean, someone mentioned that he was just visiting or something. He's not, like, a regular student here."

Jade stared at her, the anger shifting to something more like confusion—or maybe disappointment. "That's ridiculous. How could he not go here? I've seen him around."

Tori swallowed hard. "I don't know, Jade. That's just what I heard. Maybe he's, like, a friend of someone's or something. But I don't think he's a full-time student."

Jade clenched her fists, clearly struggling to process this new information. "Great. Just great," she muttered, more to herself than to Tori. Then, without another word, she turned and stormed off down the hallway.

Tori watched her go, her shoulders slumping in relief as Jade disappeared around the corner. She'd managed to dodge that bullet, but it had been way too close. If Jade kept searching for Vic, it was only a matter of time before everything unraveled.

Shaking her head, Tori sighed and headed to class. As much as she hated lying, it seemed like the only way to protect herself—and to keep this strange, complicated life from spiraling completely out of control.

Lunch had been more awkward than usual. The six of them—Tori, Andre, Cat, Robbie, Jade, Beck, and, much to everyone's annoyance, Beck's latest groupie—sat around the table in the Asphalt Café. It was clear that Jade was barely tolerating the girl's presence, but she managed to keep her cool, even if her eyes occasionally flashed with irritation.

As the meal wound down, Jade finally pushed back her chair, grabbing her phone and heading off to the bathroom. She left her bag behind, a sign that she intended to return. The moment she was out of earshot, the rest of the group turned on Beck.

"Dude, seriously?" Robbie said, his tone dripping with disbelief. "You brought *her* to the table? With Jade sitting right there?"

"Yeah, man, not cool," Andre chimed in, shaking his head.

Beck looked between them, his expression hardening. "What's the big deal? We broke up. I'm allowed to bring someone I'm interested in around. It's not like I'm rubbing it in her face."

Tori couldn't hold back any longer. "But this isn't your *girlfriend, Beck," she said, her voice laced with frustration. "If you're not serious about her, why bring her around us? Around Jade?"

The groupie, who had been quiet up until now, suddenly looked hurt. Her eyes filled with tears, and before anyone could stop her, she bolted from the table, running toward the building. Beck shot Tori a sharp glare before getting up and chasing after the girl, calling her name as he went.

Andre, Cat, and Robbie exchanged weary glances. "That was bound to blow up," Andre muttered, standing up and gathering his tray.

"Oooh, I bet Jade is mad," Cat added, frowning as she stared after Beck.

Robbie sighed. "Yeah, let's just hope she doesn't take it out on us."

As the three of them headed back toward the building, Tori stayed behind, still fuming. She shoved the last of her lunch into her tray with more force than necessary, the sound of plastic clattering echoing through the courtyard. She was mad—mad at Beck for being so oblivious, mad at the groupie for intruding, and mad at herself for letting it get to her.

With a resigned sigh, Tori grabbed her bag and turned back to the table to get Jade's. But before she could reach it, the sky opened up, and rain began to pour in a sudden, heavy gush. The water soaked through her clothes almost instantly, and Tori cursed under her breath, knowing exactly what was about to happen.

The transformation hit her like a wave, and by the time she reached the cover of the hallway, she was Vic. Soaking wet and more than a little annoyed, he shook his head and tried to wring out the hem of his shirt. He couldn't believe his luck—again, the amulet had turned him into Vic, and again, at the most inconvenient moment.

Vic leaned against the wall, waiting. A few minutes later, Jade emerged from the bathroom, her hair slightly damp from the rain that had blown in through the open window. She looked surprised to see Vic standing there.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice softer than usual, her irritation from earlier seemingly gone.

Vic held out Jade's bag. "Tori had to leave, but she didn't want your bag to get ruined, so she gave it to me. I figured I'd wait for you."

Jade raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Tori didn't want my bag to get ruined, huh? That's sweet of her. And you're sweet for sticking around. What are you doing here, anyway?"

Vic hesitated, then shrugged. "I like to audit Sikowitz's class sometimes. He's… interesting."

Jade laughed softly, a sound that surprised Vic with its warmth. "Yeah, interesting is one word for him. I've got that class right now, actually." She glanced up at him, her smile widening. "You should come with me. It's always more fun when there's someone new to mess with."

Before Vic could protest, Jade grabbed his arm and pulled him down the hallway toward Sikowitz's classroom. The warmth of her touch sent a shiver down his spine, and he found himself smiling despite the situation. Jade was, surprisingly, good company. He just hoped the hot bath he was planning later would be enough to get him back to normal—because the more time he spent as Vic, the more complicated things were becoming.

As Jade led Vic down the hallway, her hand still wrapped around his arm, something clicked in his mind. Maybe it was the way her grip softened as they walked, or the playful tone in her voice as she talked about how Sikowitz's class could be a "riot" with the right people. Whatever it was, Vic found himself enjoying this moment more than he should have. Jade, with her sharp wit and piercing eyes, was the kind of girl who could turn heads and make anyone feel like they were on top of the world. And right now, she was looking at him—well, looking at Vic—with a spark of interest that made his heart skip a beat.

They reached Sikowitz's classroom, and Jade finally released his arm, though she stayed close, as if she didn't want the connection to break entirely. She pushed open the door, and they stepped into the room, which was just as chaotic as ever. Sikowitz was already perched on his desk, talking animatedly to the students about the importance of "becoming the coconut" in their next improv exercise.

Vic glanced around the room, spotting Andre and Cat sitting together, chatting quietly. Neither of them seemed to notice him and Jade walking in, and for once, Vic was grateful. He wasn't ready to deal with their questions—not when he was still figuring things out for himself.

"Over here," Jade said, tugging him toward a couple of empty seats near the back. She flopped down into one, crossing her legs and leaning back casually, her eyes still flicking toward him with a curious gleam. Vic sat beside her, trying to play it cool, even though his mind was racing.

As Sikowitz rambled on about the importance of "losing oneself in the role," Vic found himself stealing glances at Jade. There was something different about seeing her from this angle, as if the shift in his perspective—from Tori to Vic—had allowed him to appreciate her in a way he hadn't before. Sure, Tori had always admired Jade's confidence and style, but as Vic, he could see past the hard exterior. He saw the girl who had come to Tori's house in tears, the girl who was clearly still hurting from her breakup with Beck. The girl who was now looking at him like maybe—just maybe—he could be the distraction she needed.

Vic's thoughts were interrupted when Sikowitz suddenly called out, "You! The new face! Come up here and show us what you've got!"

Vic blinked, realizing Sikowitz was pointing directly at him. He felt a jolt of panic—he hadn't exactly planned on being the center of attention, especially not with Jade sitting right there. But Jade, always quick to pounce on an opportunity, smirked and nudged him with her elbow.

"Go on," she said, her voice low and teasing. "Show them what you've got, new guy."

He couldn't back down now. Vic stood up and made his way to the front of the room, feeling the weight of Jade's gaze on him the whole way. When he reached the center of the room, Sikowitz handed him a prop—a coconut, of course—and told him to "become the coconut."

Vic stared at the coconut in his hands, wondering what the hell that even meant. But then he looked up and saw Jade watching him, her smirk softening into something more genuine, more intrigued. He took a deep breath, letting his nerves settle. Maybe being Vic wouldn't be so bad after all. If it meant he could keep Jade's attention—if it meant he could explore this strange, unexpected connection between them—then maybe he didn't need to rush to change back into Tori.

With that thought in mind, Vic lifted the coconut and began his improv, throwing himself into the absurdity of the moment with a confidence he didn't know he had. The class erupted into laughter, but all he cared about was the way Jade's eyes sparkled with amusement. He was Vic, and for the first time, he was starting to like it.

After class, Vic lingered behind as the other students shuffled out of Sikowitz's room. Jade had left with a casual wave, probably assuming he'd catch up with her later. But right now, Vic had something much more pressing on his mind. He needed to talk to Sikowitz—someone who might just be crazy enough to believe what he was about to say.

"Hey, Sikowitz," Vic began, trying to sound nonchalant as he approached the eccentric teacher, who was busy organizing a chaotic pile of props on his desk. "Can I talk to you about something...weird?"

Sikowitz looked up, his eyes lighting up with interest. "Weird is my specialty! What's on your mind, young coconut?"

Vic hesitated, glancing around to make sure the room was empty. He leaned in a little closer and lowered his voice. "It's about...me. I'm not exactly who you think I am."

Sikowitz raised an eyebrow, but he didn't seem too surprised. "Go on."

Vic took a deep breath, gathering the courage to spill the truth. "I'm actually Tori Vega. But there's this amulet, and every time I get hit with cold water, I turn into a guy. That's why I'm like this right now. I got rained on earlier, but I didn't want to miss class, so...here I am."

For a moment, Sikowitz just stared at him, and Vic wondered if maybe this was a terrible idea. But then, Sikowitz's face broke into a wide grin.

"That's fantastic!" Sikowitz exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "A real-life transformation! This is the kind of experience that could make you a method acting genius, Tori—er, Vic!"

Before Vic could respond, the door to the classroom creaked open, and Andre walked back in. He stopped short when he saw Vic standing so close to Sikowitz, the air between them thick with tension.

"What's going on here?" Andre asked, suspicion creeping into his voice. He narrowed his eyes at Vic. "And what did you just say about being Tori?"

Vic winced. He hadn't expected Andre to walk in on this conversation, but there was no going back now. "Andre, it's me," he said, dropping his voice to a near whisper. "I'm Tori. I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. The amulet—it's cursed or something. Every time I get doused in cold water, I turn into Vic."

Andre stared at him, clearly struggling to process this information. "Prove it," he finally said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Vic swallowed hard. He racked his brain, trying to think of something only Tori would know—something that would convince Andre he was telling the truth. Then it hit him.

"Remember that night when we were working on that song? You told me about your biggest fear...the one you've never told anyone else."

Andre's eyes widened in alarm, and he quickly stepped forward, covering Vic's mouth with his hand before he could say more. "Okay, okay, I believe you!" Andre hissed, looking around the empty room as if expecting someone to jump out and overhear them. "Just...don't say anything else."

Vic nodded, his eyes wide with relief, and Andre slowly lowered his hand. They stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of the secret hanging between them.

"This is...weird," Andre finally said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But if you're really Tori, then I've got your back. No one else needs to know about this."

Vic felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. "Thanks, Andre. I knew I could count on you."

Sikowitz, who had been watching the exchange with gleeful curiosity, suddenly clapped his hands again. "This is amazing! The drama, the intrigue! Vic—Tori—whoever you are, this experience will make you an even better performer. You've got a real gift for living the role!"

Vic gave a small, awkward smile. "Yeah, I guess I do."

As they headed out of the classroom, Vic couldn't help but feel a little more at ease. It was strange, sure, but at least he wasn't alone in this anymore. With Andre and Sikowitz in on the secret, maybe—just maybe—he could figure out how to manage this double life without losing his mind.

And as for Jade...well, that was a whole other complication. One he wasn't quite ready to face. But for now, he'd take it one day at a time, hoping he could keep the transformation under control and that his feelings for Jade wouldn't make things even more complicated than they already were.