That which we face.

Chapter 1 - Just a hunch

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

That which we face.

Chapter 1 – Just a hunch.

This is a story that I had previously posted on Fanfiction, but this is a updated version with some corrections made, some minor edits and perhaps even a new chapter or two.  Enjoy and comments/questions are always welcome.

Jade's POV

I remember the day well. It was April and a rather disgustingly beautiful day. Sun was shining, a light breeze moved the air everything seemed beautiful. I would much rather it be cloudy and dull looking. I hate sunshine.

We were all having lunch at the asphalt café as we did so many other times. I'm not sure exactly when I began to pick up on it but something seemed off. Very imperceptible but something seemed wrong.

I was sitting sullenly, eating my salad next to Beck. We were all listening to Robbie try to impress Cat with a story about how he found a lost kitten and took it home.

"So I heard this little meowing while I was walking by the park coming from some bushes." He was saying.

"He wanted to Run." Chimed in Rex

"No I did not Rex. I went into the bushes and found a little grey kitten."

Cat seemed to melt at the mention of a little grey kitten. "Awww, was it OK?"

"It was tangled in some branches; they were hooked on his collar."

"Poor thing" said Tori said with sympathy from across the table. My eyes darted to her as soon as she said it. I found myself carefully studying the Latina as she listened to the story. I have no idea why.

"I got it loose and its tag had an address on it so I took it too it's owner. The little cat had gotten and the owners were so worried."

"Yeah, it gave him fleas" Rex announced.

Tori said how brave he was. Cat seemed moderately impressed but from the look on Robbie's face indicated, he hoped he would do better.

I found myself watching Tori again as she told Robbie how brave he was. I still didn't know why.

The rest of lunch went on as normal; Cat told a funny story about her brother which caused everyone except me to laugh.

That dude needs to be locked in a padded room and left there.

Everything seemed perfectly normal, except I found myself continuingly watching Tori. More than I usually do. I pay attention to her much too often, to my annoyance.

Tori was her normal perky, happy self. She was laughing and joking and telling Andre about the latest Cher Lloyd song her heard.

It was all very normal for the Latina, but something bothered me. Something always bothered me about her but this time it was something else.

I let my mind drift as I continued to eat. Beck said something to me, but I wasn't listening. I began to think about an acting assignment I needed to finish for Sikowitz's class. Then it hit me.

Tori's behavior seemed totally normal, but in fact it wasn't.

I turned to look at her out of the corner of my eye. She seemed to be happily chatting with Cat about Katy Perry.

All of a sudden, a thought thundered through my head. Her being happy, it's all an act.

I blinked with disbelief as it hit me. She's not happy at all; she's only acting that way and doing a dam good job of it.