The California sun bathed Universal Studios in a warm, golden glow as Tori, Jade, Cat, Beck, and Robbie wandered down the cobbled paths, laughing and reminiscing about high school antics. It was their first time all together in LA since August, 7 months ago now. Tori, Jade, and Andre hung out constantly, with Cat joining wherever she could; but finally Beck and Robbie had lined up their home visits at the same time to make the full reunion happen.
"Alright, Revenge of the Mummy first?" Beck suggested, a grin lighting up his face as he pointed at the fastest ride in thr park.
Cat's eyes widened. "Jade, you'll hold my hand, right?" she asked, linking arms with her.
"Relax, you're a big star now. I think you can handle a rollercoaster," Jade replied dryly, though a smirk gave her away.
As they were about to enter, a small group of fans spotted Cat, their eyes lighting up in recognition. "Oh my gosh, it's Caterina!"
Cat's face instantly softened, that familiar sweet smile taking over. "Hi!" she said, waving, as they eagerly asked for a photo.
Tori nudged Jade, rolling her eyes. "Here we go."
Cat posed for the pictures, her face full of genuine kindness as she chatted with the fans. "Are you guys having fun? Make sure to try the butterbeer in Harry Potter World!"
When the fans finally left, Robbie chuckled. "You know, Cat, you're basically a theme park attraction yourself now."
She giggled, twirling a piece of her hair. "Oh, stop it!" But as they continued into the ride, she occasionally looked around, noticing people pointing her out, whispering excitedly.
They managed to get through it without interruptions, but as soon as they exited, another fan spotted her. This time, it was a teenage girl holding out her phone. "Caterina, could I get an photo, please?"
Cat's smile wavered, just a little. "Of course!" She turned to the group. "You guys don't mind, do you?"
"Not at all," Tori said, though she exchanged a knowing glance with Jade.
As they moved from ride to ride, it became a pattern: every few minutes, someone would ask for a photo, an autograph, a quick chat with the famous Caterina. She was gracious every time, but the group could see a slight edge creeping into her smile.
During a break, they all found a shady spot to sit and sip on cold sodas. Beck leaned over to Cat, concern in his eyes. "Are you sure you're okay with this? I mean, we could go somewhere more low-key if you want."
She took a deep breath, her smile softening. "I'm fine! Really. They're all just so sweet…" Her voice trailed off, and she glanced down at her soda. "It's just… I kind of wish they'd see me more as Cat, not Caterina, the famous singer."
Robbie rested a hand on Cat's shoulder. "Then let's keep moving before anyone else sees. Come on, we're going to the Jurassic Park ride. Maybe a few dinosaurs will scare 'em off."
They laughed and hurried off, hoping to get through a few more rides before any more fans spotted them. And for a while, it worked. They screamed, laughed, and splashed their way through the day, just like they had in high school—together, as friends.
After riding seemingly every coaster in the park, they made their way toward the exit, suddenly greeted by a few blinding flashes. The group froze, blinking against the sudden glare as a handful of paparazzi surged forward, cameras snapping, voices rising above the fading park sounds.
"There she is! Caterina!"
The paparazzi didn't waste any time, zeroing in on Cat and peppering her with questions.
"Cat! Who are the guys with you? Is this a triple date?"
Cat's cheeks flushed, and she shot her friends an apologetic look. "Um, no, they're just—"
Jade, already bristling, glared at the swarm surrounding them. "Are you people serious? Leave her alone!"
The questions kept coming, though, the photographers pressing closer, talking over each other.
"How's the album coming Caterina?" one asked, elbowing closer.
"Whoa," Tori muttered, casting a nervous glance at Cat. "How did they even know we were here?"
Beck nodded toward the crowd, whispering, "People must've posted photos of her all over the park. Word travels fast."
As the questions intensified, one especially pushy photographer shoved his way to the front, raising his camera uncomfortably close to Cat's face. "Caterina! Look over here! Smile for us!"
Jade had had enough. Before anyone could react, she stepped forward and, with a fierce punch, landed a solid hit across his face. The photographer staggered back, clutching his nose in shock as the other paparazzi fell silent for a moment, stunned.
"Get a life!" Jade growled, standing protectively in front of Cat, her fists clenched and her eyes blazing.
The other paparazzi scrambled back, a mix of shock and unease in their expressions, though some continued to snap photos from a safer distance.
Tori, looking horrified but a bit impressed, put a hand on Jade's shoulder. "Jade! Maybe let's…not hit any more people, okay?"
Cat's face held a mix of gratefulness to Jade for getting that guy to back up; but also fear. As much as he deserved it- this was not going to end well.
Beck glanced over at a security guard approaching from the entrance, his eyes widening. "I think that's our cue to get out of here."
They managed to escape the cameras quickly, splitting off into Beck's and Jade's cars. Cat turned to Jade, her face still a mix of disbelief and gratitude. "I… I can't believe you punched him," she whispered, glancing back in the park's direction.
Jade shrugged, starting the engine. "He was practically on top of you. Someone had to do something."
Cat managed a small smile, but worry flickered in her eyes. "I know, and I'm…thankful, really. But I just—this could get so messy. What if it ends up online? What if—" She stopped, her voice trailing off.
Tori reached over from the back seat, giving Cat's hand a reassuring squeeze. "We've got your back, Cat. But yeah… I guess it's a good reminder that everything we do now could be plastered all over the place."
Jade rolled her eyes. "Great. Let them write about how that guy was an idiot who wouldn't back off."
But Cat shook her head, her tone soft but firm. "Jade, you know it doesn't work that way. They'll spin it to make you the bad guy…or me." She paused, taking a deep breath. "I just don't want anyone to think I'm that person—the kind of person who can't handle a few photos."
The car was quiet for a moment, her words settling over them before Tori spoke up. "You're right, Cat. It could blow up, but you didn't ask for any of it. And anyone who knows you would understand."
Jade finally sighed, her expression softening. "Okay. Next time, I'll try not to punch anyone." She gave Cat a sideways look. "But if they get that close again, no promises."
Cat let out a quiet laugh, her tension melting just a little. "Thanks, Jade. And…next time, I'll try to handle it without needing you to."
"Next time, maybe we pick somewhere a little less public?"
"Good idea."
The next morning, Cat woke up to her phone buzzing incessantly on the nightstand. She only had notifications on for messages from her friends and management, so whatever it was couldn't be good. She groggily reached over, her eyes squinting at the bright screen—only to see that her team had forwarded an overwhelming flood of online articles and messages to 'Come in ASAP'. Her heart sank as she registered her name trending online, a sinking feeling telling her this was about yesterdays chaos at Universal Studios.
She scrolled down, reading headline after headline: 'CATERINA IN PAPARAZZI ALTERCATION: PUNCHES THROWN,' 'Caterina vs Photographer - a Violent Outburst.' Attached were photos of Jade landing the punch, with Cat standing behind her, wide-eyed and horrified. The narrative painted Jade as an aggressor and questioned whether Cat was asking her friends to 'get rid of the press.'
Before she could read more, Cat heard Jade stirring beside her.
"What's going on?" Jade murmured, rubbing her eyes as she sat up.
Cat hesitated, her worry clear as she showed Jade her phone. Jade took one look at the screen and rolled her eyes. "So they're mad I punched one of their own? Boo-hoo."
"Jade, they're calling you 'aggressive' and saying I've 'lost my sweet image,'" Cat said, a tremor in her voice. She hugged her knees, anxiety gnawing at her. "I'm worried this could mess things up—for both of us."
Jade reached out, squeezing Cat's shoulder. "They're only saying that because they have nothing better to write about. You know that, right? People love to make drama out of nothing."
Cat nodded, but her expression didn't ease. "But they're saying you're…bad for me. Like I'm being influenced by you to act like some diva who can't handle the spotlight."
Jade's jaw clenched, and she took a deep breath, clearly holding back a retort. "Since when have you ever been a diva?" she asked, softer this time. "You're the same Cat you've always been. And these people don't know a thing about us or why I did what I did."
Cat's gaze softened as she looked at Jade. "...thank you." she whispered.
Jade brushed it off with a shrug. "Someone had to get that guy out of your face. But…maybe next time I'll stick to just glaring at them," she admitted with a small smirk.
Cat managed a small laugh, though the worry lingered. "It's just…no matter what, they're going to twist it. And I don't want you being dragged into my mess."
Jade gave her a reassuring look. "Hey, we're in this together. No one's dragging me anywhere I don't want to go."
Cat's shoulders relaxed a little, though she still felt the weight of the situation. "Maybe I should put out a statement or something…just to clear things up."
Jade considered this for a moment, then nodded. "If that'll make you feel better, sure. Just remember—you don't owe anyone an apology for having friends who care about you."
Before she could even start typing she got a message from a PR Manager. "Get to Radius NOW." It read. "And bring the girl with you we need to talk some stuff out with her too."
"Fuck that. I've not signed any contracts for them to be able to boss me around." Jade replied, reading the text over Cat's shoulder.
"But maybe you'll come because it'll make life easier for me?" Cat asked, using her best puppy-eyes look on Jade.
"Urgh fine." Jade grumbled, easily convinced by her girlfriend.
At the office, Cat's PR team ushered them into a sleek conference room with glass walls. A few team members—managers, a PR rep, and a publicist—were already seated, wearing concerned expressions. They motioned for Cat and Jade to sit.
The head of PR, Vanessa, wasted no time diving in. "Cat, thank you for coming in. And Jade," she added, nodding with a slightly forced smile, "thank you for joining us as well."
Jade merely nodded, leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
Vanessa clasped her hands, her tone gentle but serious. "Cat, we know that things got a bit out of control last night. And we understand that you were trying to enjoy a day out with friends. But as you can see, the media has spun this situation in a way that could be damaging."
Cat shifted uncomfortably. "I know. And I really don't want anyone thinking I was trying to be rude to fans, or that…Jade is some kind of troublemaker." She glanced at Jade, who met her eyes with an encouraging nod.
Another PR team member leaned forward. "That's exactly what we want to address, Cat. It might be a good idea to make a public apology, just a simple statement to clear things up and show that you respect your fans."
Jade scoffed, unable to hold back. "An apology? Cat didn't do anything wrong. If anyone needs to apologise, it's the paparazzi who practically shoved a camera in her face." Her voice was calm but firm, challenging anyone to contradict her.
The team exchanged uneasy glances. Vanessa's expression softened, but she spoke carefully. "Jade, we understand your frustration. But for Cat's career, it might be best to take the high road here. A brief, friendly statement can go a long way in repairing her image. We're only concerned with protecting Cat from further backlash."
Jade rolled her eyes, leaning back. "You're asking her to pretend to be sorry just to please people who don't even know what really happened."
Cat put a gentle hand on Jade's arm. "Maybe they're right, Jade. If an apology could calm things down…" She looked at her team. "But can I make it clear that Jade was only looking out for me? She didn't do anything wrong, either."
Vanessa looked relieved. "Absolutely. We could frame it as a moment of friendship and loyalty, emphasising that you care about your fans and understand everyone's concerns."
Jade sighed, watching Cat's determined expression. "Fine. But I'm not gonna stand here and let them make you out to be some kind of pushover, either."
Cat smiled softly at her, feeling a warmth spread through her. "Thank you, Jade. I won't be." She turned back to the team. "I'll make the statement, but only if it doesn't mean throwing Jade under the bus."
Vanessa nodded, her tone encouraging. "Of course, Cat. We can make that work."
Half an hour later, Cat's team had drafted a message she was comfortable with, one that highlighted her appreciation for her fans and the importance of having loyal friends. It reassured her audience without compromising Jade's role in the situation. She posted it on her social media that evening, her words simple and heartfelt:
"I had an amazing day with my friends, and I love my fans more than I can say. Sometimes, things get a little overwhelming, but I'm grateful for people who stand by me—through everything. Thank you all for the love and support!"
The response was quick and mostly positive, with fans expressing support and appreciation.
As Cat and Jade sat together back at their house, Cat exhaled, finally feeling the weight of the day lifting. She looked at Jade, who gave her a small, almost proud smile.
"See? You did it without selling anyone out," Jade said softly.
Cat smiled back, squeezing Jade's hand. "Just please don't punch anyone again."
Jade raised an eyebrow. "I've said I won't like 5 times. Do you not believe me?"
Cat hesitated, glancing at her. "I just…I need you to promise you won't punch anyone else. If something like this happens again, just…please don't."
Jade's face twisted slightly, her posture stiffening. "You think I'm the bad guy in all this, don't you?"
"No, Jade, that's not what I mean—" Cat tried to reach out to her, but Jade stepped back, her eyes narrowed.
"Are you starting to believe what they're saying about me?" Jade's tone was sharp, a hurt edge creeping into her voice. "You think I'm making things worse for you."
Cat shook her head, exasperated. "It's not about that! I know you were protecting me, and I appreciate it. I just…if we keep reacting like this, they're never going to stop. I don't want you to keep getting dragged into my mess."
Jade let out a harsh laugh, crossing her arms even tighter. "Your 'mess'? Stop calling it that! I'm not getting dragged anywhere, Cat. I'm choosing to be there for you. But if you think I'm the problem—"
"Jade!" Cat interrupted, her voice softer, pleading. "I don't think you're the problem. I just…I don't want anything bad to happen to you because of me." She took a deep breath, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I can't stand the thought of losing you in all of this."
That softened Jade's gaze a little, though she still looked guarded. She sighed, looking away. "I get it. I just hate standing back when I see people pushing you around." Her voice softened too, a reluctant acceptance in her tone. "But…fine. I'll try to hold back, for you."
Cat let out a small, relieved smile and reached for Jade's hand, which she reluctantly took. "Thank you. And just so you know, you're…you're everything to me, Jade. I don't care what anyone else says."
Jade relaxed at that, her shoulders easing as she met Cat's gaze. "Alright, alright," she muttered, her tone softening. "But if anyone does cross the line again…they better watch themselves."
Cat laughed, squeezing Jade's hand. "Fair enough."