A/N: This fic contains potentially triggering subject matter including but not limited to: suicidal references, gun violence, sexual trauma, homelessness, drug abuse, depression, homophobia, and cancer. It may contain inaccuracies. No copyright infringement intended. Thanks for reading!
BOOK TWO - PART ONE - CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
When Sam asked for a private JTC concert, she hadn't realized it would be an actual concert. Watching Cat, Tori, and Jade perform together was mesmerizing. They were all extremely talented, and hearing their harmonized melodies made it clear why they were as famous as they were. They worked together so naturally, and Sam loved watching Cat sing, totally in her element. The lyrics of the song were a pleasant surprise, with Cat herself claiming the most suggestive parts. Sam was turned on from watching, and she was proud of Cat for so bluntly standing up for herself.
"Perfect. Sounds great, guys," Bryson said once the music came to a close. "Just give me a few minutes to wrap this up and then we'll head out."
The girls all exited the recording room. Cat went over and carefully sat down on Sam's lap. "Did you like our song?"
"Well, it'll definitely put all the homophobes in their place," Sam replied, chuckling. Then she lowered the volume of her voice and added, "And you are unbelievably sexy. Fuck." She kissed her neck.
Cat could tell Sam was excited, and it made her feel the same. She looked at the clock. "It's after nine, you guys."
"Want to head to Revival?" Bryson asked everyone. "I'll buy."
"Good idea," Robbie agreed.
"I'm in," Jade spoke up.
"I'll let Dylan know I won't be home 'til late," Tori said. Then she turned to Sam and Cat. "How 'bout you guys?"
The two of them shared a hesitant look—in truth, they'd much rather go home right now so they could be alone together. But Cat knew it would be weird if they were the only ones not there, and they didn't have a ride home, so she sighed and said, "Yeah, we'll go."
"You guys riding with me?" Jade asked, fishing her keys out of her pocket.
"Mm-hmm." Cat stood up, then took Sam's hand and pulled her up too. Together, all of them made their way out of the building and into the parking lot. The moon was bright overhead. Tori went to her own car, Robbie and Bryson went off together, and Sam and Cat climbed into the backseat of Jade's car. Before long, they were all on the road. The bar was less than ten minutes away. That didn't stop Cat from making out deeply with Sam during the drive there.
"Hey," Jade spoke up suddenly, startling them apart. She was looking at them in the rearview mirror. "You guys better not start fucking back there; I just had these seats cleaned."
Sam chuckled nervously, and Cat blushed. "Sorry," Cat offered sheepishly. They didn't kiss again for the rest of the ride. Once they made it to Revival, Jade parked the car, and they all got out, arriving just in time to meet up with Tori, Robbie and Bryson at the entrance. They all walked in together and went to their usual table—a very large, round booth in the back of the bar.
Sam was looking around with wide eyes. "This is a bar?" It was by far the classiest bar she had ever been in. "Their prices must be insane."
"It's no problem," Bryson assured her, then turned to the group. "Should I just get the usual?" They all agreed. He turned back to Sam. "Do you want a drink?"
"Uh, just a gin and juice, if that's okay?" Sam requested. She felt a bit awkward—the rest of the group clearly had very different lifestyles than she was used to.
"Sam, no. You can't have alcohol while you're on this medicine, remember?" Cat said quietly.
Robbie told her, "Cat always just gets a virgin margarita. Does that sound okay?"
Sam looked a bit upset. "No, thanks. You don't have to get me anything; it's cool."
"Just let me know if you change your mind," Bryson said to Sam. Then he turned and went to order their drinks.
Cat was seated beside Sam in the booth. She took her arm and whispered, "Are you okay?"
"No." Sam was avoiding her eyes. "I don't wanna be here." She was at a bar and she couldn't even drink. It seemed criminal.
"Should I ask Jade to drive us home?"
Sam hesitated. "You want to stay, don't you?"
"I kind of wanted to celebrate finishing the EP," Cat admitted, "But if you want to go home, we can go home. I really don't mind."
"We can stay. I'll be fine," Sam mumbled. "Just don't expect me to be real talkative or anything."
"We won't stay long. You can just relax, okay? If people start bothering you, I'll tell them to leave you alone."
"'Kay," Sam begrudgingly agreed. "But don't forget—you still owe me later."
"What does she owe you?" Tori asked curiously, picking up on their conversation.
Cat blushed, and Sam looked a bit too satisfied with herself. "Um, nothing. It's nothing," Cat stammered.
Jade laughed. "Man, you guys really are a couple of horndogs."
Neither Cat nor Sam even tried to deny it.