Hi, and thanks for clicking on my story. Before you read, I should warn you that this is my first Victorious fic, and also it's a lot lighter than I usually write, so just be aware of that. This started out as a one-shot but ended up being too long so I split in half.

Before we start, I would like to offer a massive thank you to Azkadellio for being my beta reader on this one (and actually being my first beta reader ever, so that's pretty cool); your feedback was invaluable and I hope you enjoy the finished product. I'd also like to offer a quick shoutout to my friend Runawaybaby555, if she's reading this: my obsession with Victorious, my Jori feels, and consequently this fic, is pretty much because of you (take that how you will).

Right, that's enough from me. Like I said, it's a two-shot, so the next part will be up in the next few days - along with an announcement. I hope you guys like my foray into the world of Victorious, and I hope to see you in the reviews.

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Janitor's closet, before first period.

This is not the kind of pain I like. It's the bad kind of torture, the worst kind of anticipation, the exact shade of blood-red, disappointment-drenched expectation that I've been telling myself for years I have no need for. It's a new kind of pain, something I never thought I'd experience. Why? Because I'm Jade freaking West and I don't fall in love with people who don't love me back. Actually, scratch that. I don't fall in love with people who I can't make love me back. And I definitely don't fall for people I make such a show of hating.

But here I am, Monday morning, in the janitor's closet. Alone. Definitely not crying because I'm not that lame, but I'm also not my usual sardonic self. Being as witty and scathing as I usually am takes a lot more effort than people give me credit for, and I just don't have that kind of enthusiasm today.

For the fifth time in half as many minutes I pull out my phone. No new messages. No missed calls. No sign that I haven't totally and completely screwed myself over. I sigh, pulling my favorite pair of scissors out from my boot. I turn them over in my hands, thinking.

"Woah there," says a friendly voice from the doorway. "Bad day?"

My head snaps up at the noise and my grip tightens on the scissors, a reflex. Then my mind catches up to what my heart already knew. I'd recognize that voice anywhere. I force myself to relax, not wanting anyone to notice just how agitated I am. I'm not supposed to care about stuff like this. It's stupid girly stuff that never used to matter to me. But that was before.

"No worse than usual," I respond, not bothering to stand up.

A moment passes and then Beck lowers himself to the ground beside me, companionably but not uncomfortably close. We broke up months ago and we've only just managed to become friends again, but he's the last person I want to see right now. Well, there's one person lower than him on the list, but I don't even want to think about her.

"You okay?" he asks when I don't say anything.

Something inside me snaps. "You obviously know that I'm not, or you wouldn't have asked," I say curtly. But there's no real venom in my voice, and he knows it. I grit my teeth and try again. "Leave me alone, Beck."

He calls my bluff. "You know, you really need a new hiding place," he says conversationally, pulling out his phone. His eyes flick across the screen, he frowns, and I see my opportunity.

"Thanks for the tip," I say gruffly, snatching up my bag as I get to my feet. "I'm going to go find somewhere a little less crowded."

Beck lets me storm out, even though we both know I'm not really angry. Well, not at him, anyway. I'm angry at myself, but I can't admit that because then I'd also have to face up to the incredibly stupid, naïve thing I did last night. And I am not going to do that.

X.X.X.X.X

Sikowitz's classroom, after first period.

I can sense the disaster before it's about to happen, but I'm powerless to stop it. In a whirlwind of red hair and childish giggles Cat launches herself at me, and I stumble backward under her weight. After what seems like forever, Cat disentangles herself from me and I take a step back, glaring at her. Well, trying to glare at her. It's really hard to stay mad at someone who's the human equivalent of a Labradoodle puppy.

"Hi!" Cat says, grinning from ear to ear.

I may not be mad at her, but I'm in no mood to listen to her ramblings. "Bye," I respond, turning on my heel and heading for the door.

But Cat grabs my arm and pulls me back, holding me there as the rest of the class files out of the room. All of the class, that is, except the one person I actually wanted to see. (Or possibly was dreading to see, depending on how brave I'm feeling at the time the thought strikes me.) Because that particular person was, for the first time in living memory, absent.

"Where are you going?" Cat asks, still holding my arm.

"To second period?" I raise my eyebrow, wondering whether Cat's forgotten about class again. Last week she spent a full five minutes giggling when she remembered that there was such a thing as third period. It's such a nice number, she said, and we agreed because none of us had any particular objections to the number three. It's so cute, like a bunny, she went on, and we all exchanged glances because, inevitably, she'd lost us.

"I'll walk with you!" Cat announces brightly, looping her arm through mine.

I stare at her. "We don't have the same class," I point out.

Her smile falters for a second, then brightens again. "Then I'll go to your class. I've always been interested in stage management and -"

"Wait," I interrupt sharply, "how do you know what class I have now?"

On a good day Cat can barely remember what class she has, so I have no idea why she'd know my schedule. Something about the way she's acting is putting me on edge, but I can't figure out what.

"Leprechauns," she blurts out, but that's too random even for her. She knows something she's not telling me, and that has to be a first. Cat couldn't keep a secret if her pet bunny's life depended on it.

"Cat," I say, with a hint of warning in my voice. "What's going on?"

She blinks twice and then twirls a strand of hair between her fingers. "Well this morning my brother -"

"I don't care about your brother," I snap, and her face falls. Maybe I'd been too harsh on her, but I'm too riled up to care. "What aren't you telling me?"

In lieu of actually answering, Cat just lets out a squeak and scampers from the room. I think about chasing her, but it's not worth it. And I really do need to get to class. With a sigh I sling my bag over my shoulder and leave the room, and I am definitely, defiantly not thinking about a certain half-Latina girl and her stupid smile.

Because there's no way I can be that lame. Right?

X.X.X.X.X

Corridors, before third period.

I cross my arms over my chest and lean against my locker, watching the sea of students slip by. Something occurred to me last period, but I need to test my hypothesis. I stay where I am long after the bell goes, long after Cat's stopped watching me from by the vending machines where she thinks I can't see her. I don't know what's gotten into her, but I have enough on my mind without worrying about it.

Finally, my hunch proven correct, I make my way to class. She's not the only one who isn't here. Andre's absent as well, which normally wouldn't bother me. But today it does, and I know exactly why.

After class I corner Beck, who seems mildly alarmed but not exactly surprised by it. "Hey, Jade," he said, raising his eyebrows in a quizzical expression that I used to find adorable. "Can I help you with something?"

I don't know whether to go for apathy or aggression so I compromise and hit somewhere around the burning curiosity mark. "Have you heard from Andre today?"

Beck isn't quick enough to mask his reaction, which is a bizarre mix of suspicion and guilt. And just like that, I know I'm onto something. "No," he says, a few seconds too slow for it to be believable.

"Hm." I feign thoughtfulness, tapping my chin as if I'm considering something. "Maybe I should give him a call. You know, check up on him."

"No!" Beck says, but this time it's too fast. He's hiding something too. That little weasel. "I mean," he goes on, now carefully controlling his voice, "I don't think there's any need to."

"Right," I say slowly. "I wouldn't want to bother him if he's busy, would I?"

"Exactly." Beck's frowning, trying to figure out my game. I smile sweetly, determined not to let him in. He's playing me, but where he's an amateur, I'm the master.

"It must be pretty bad, for him not to be at school," I muse. "Maybe I should just go over to his house instead. Give him a care package." I'm getting to Beck, I can tell. So I push it. "Do you think he'd prefer flowers or a card?"

And just like that, Beck catches on. And he pushes back. "I think what he'd prefer is to be left alone," he says. "Like you said, it must be pretty bad. I'm sure he's not up to visitors."

"I would hate to think that he's on his own," I go on, my voice dripping with sweetness, as I fish for information. Beck knows why Andre's not at school, and I want to know. No. I need to know. I don't know why, but it's very important to find out why Andre's not here. Actually, I do know why I need to know, but I can't own up to it.

"I'm sure he's fine," Beck says firmly.

And you won't be if you don't tell me what's going on, I want to say, but I stop myself. Beck can keep a secret like nobody's business. I'm not going to get anything out of him. "Fine," I say, giving him a glare that makes it clear he's not entirely off the hook. I want to say something else, something dramatic or snarky, but I don't have the energy. So I just exhale sharply, shoot him another glare, and depart.

It seems I'm doing a lot of storming out today, but for once it doesn't make me feel better. What does cheer me up is the fact that while I was talking to Beck, I came up with a plan. Now I just have to put it into action.

X.X.X.X.X

Cat's locker, after school.

Contrary to popular opinion, I don't actually hate anyone in the group. Sure, Robbie can be a creep and Andre's constant optimism can get on my nerves, but mostly my snark is all for show. And right now I need to put on a hell of show, because Cat knows what's going on and she's the weakest link. So I need to break her.

She's almost reached her locker when she notices that I'm here, and then her eyes widen and if I'm not much mistaken I can actually hear her whimper. Before I can say anything she spins around and is about to make a beeline for the door, but I stop her with a single word.

"Valentine," I growl. I'm usually pretty soft on Cat, but times like this require a firm hand. And she reacts exactly the way I wanted her to: freezing, hesitating, turning around to face me.

There's a beat of silence, and then she hitches a smile on her face. "Oh hi Jade," she says brightly, coming toward me.

She's playing innocent, and I decide to play along. "Hey Cat," I say, making my voice smooth and friendly. "You got plans tonight?"

"No," she says, and then she blinks a few times, a memory dawning on her. "I mean yes."

I raise my eyebrows. I'm not actually annoyed with her yet, but I can play the part. "Which is it, Cat? Yes or no?" I watch as she squirms under my gaze. Sometimes my reputation comes in handy.

She bites her lip. "I don't remember."

"Hm." I cross my arms, dial up my glare a couple of levels of intensity, and wait.

It doesn't take long.

"I don't know anything," Cat practically squeals, her arms flying up as if to ward off any further questions. Like that's going to work.

"Yeah, you do," I counter. By this point I'm actually starting to get annoyed, although it's hard because Cat's such a sweetheart – even I can't stay mad at someone so sweet. "Come on, Cat," I go on encouragingly. "We're friends, right? You can tell me."

"No, I can't," Cat says, her voice almost a wail now. "Andre made me promise not to -"

She cuts herself off with another squeak, but it's too late. And once she realizes that she's given the game up, it doesn't take long for me to get the rest of the story from her.

And the story is this.

Sunday evening.

I have a little too much to drink, my common sense disappears altogether, and I send a heartfelt message. To Tori freaking Vega. To tell her that I have feelings for her. Gag.

Sunday night.

Like some lovesick puppy I fall asleep with my phone in my hand, waiting for Tori to reply. But she doesn't.

Monday morning.

Tori doesn't show up for school. Neither does Andre. Beck and Cat cover for them like a couple of chumps, and did they really think I wouldn't figure it out?

Monday afternoon.

Cat admits that she'd promised Andre that she'd distract me, and that Tori and Andre are together right now. And that I'm not supposed to know about that. And then she begs me not to go to Tori's house, not that that's where they are, because if they were I wouldn't be able to tell you, but still you have to promise not to go, and I'm already not listening.

That's the story so far.

And here's how the rest of it goes.

I'm going to go straight to Tori's house. And since Tori unwittingly stole a piece of my heart, I'm going to give her a piece of my mind.

And let me tell you: it is not going to be pretty.

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Soo, any bets on what's going to happen next chapter? See you there, and don't forget to review!