Chapter Text
Tori didn’t know what to expect out of today. It started off like any other day at Hollywood Arts. Granted that included three students receiving detention for a nearly naked protest. But then Sinjin invited all of her friends to watch the taping of his game show. Tori was nice about the invitation, but surprisingly everyone seemed to be on board with it.
Beck and Jade were “not fighting” again. So all day long the two were glaring and snarking at one another. Jade even chose to sit next to Tori at lunch. Rather than be happy about the decision, it just got her pulled in to their latest argument. Tori’s pear phone is acting up too, so she couldn’t use it as a distraction.
And then when the taping started some internet big wig, who couldn’t stop leering at the female students, stoped the whole show and called the contestants too ugly. Tori genuinely felt bad for Sinjin, all of his hard work about to go up in flames. Even if he was a very creepy guy, who has some messed up ideas about romance. Hell Trina seemed to be super invested too, immediately rushing to his side and offering a suggestion.
Sinjin practically begged Tori and her friends to fill in as replacement couples. Tori should have recognized Trina’s mischievous smile right away, but she was distracted by Sinjin’s pathetic pleading face. Maybe Jade’s right, and she is too soft. The six of them wrote out their names on big cards and filled out a series of answers to some pretty standard relationship questions.
Trina collected the answers and name plates when they were finished. Again she gave Tori a wicked grin as she walked off. Tori registered it as the one she normally reserved for trying to throw her under the bus with their parents. It sent a chill up her spine, and she instinctively looked over to Robbie assuming he was going to be her fake boyfriend.
The six stood around for a few minutes just waiting. Beck and Jade glared at each other from opposite sides of the back stage area. Tori was closest to Jade, and she genuinely tried to reach out to the girl, but Jade retreated in to her self once again. This time it was Burf who came to collect them two at a time.
Trina’s voice rang out from a speaker overhead. “Sinjin is gonna call you out two at a time, so don’t take too long.”
The intro music plays once more and soon Sinjin’s voice rings out repeating his intro. At least he sounded more confident this time. As he finishes calling out the name, “Queries for Couples”, they can hear the stiff applause from the audience.
“Now allow me to introduce our couples, “Cat and Robbie.” The two oddest members of the group walk out on to stage. The pit that was forming in Tori’s stomach almost instantly vanished. Once the applause end Sinjin announces the next couple.
“Andre and Beck.” The two guys shrug and step out to a surprising amount of applause. Jade and Tori look to one another, Tori has no idea what could be going through Jade’s head. Tori can only assume that Jade is silently cursing Trina, and probably her right now.
“Jade and Tori.” Reluctantly the two ladies walk out on to the stage. Once in front of the audience the crowd seems to explode in to applause. Trina ushers them to the third booth to sit beside one another with an opaque divider that can rise up between them.
“Now the best couple will win an all paid night out curtesy of me.” Announces Sinjin, sweating incessantly. “In our first round Trina will ask you questions with three choices, and one of you will have to guess what the others answer is. To maintain anonymity the one being asked with press one of the lettered buttons and the other will guess out loud.”
“Andre, Beck has bad breath. Do you A: Tell him he has bad breath; B, ignore it because you love him; or C, dump him.” Asks Trina with a soft lilt to her voice and an oversized smile.
Without hesitation Andre hits the A button lighting up the letter below his name.
“Beck, what did Andre answer?” Questions Trina posing like Vana White.
“Definitely A. There’s no way he wouldn’t just tell me.” Responds Beck with his standard nonchalance.
“Correct!” Shouts Sinjin as a point lights up on a screen for the ‘couple’.
“Next couple. Cat, Robbie has a pimple on his back that he can't reach.” Begins Trina with a pause for a mock gagging expression.
“That has happened to me.” Proudly declares Robbie filling the silence.
“Do you, A, take him to the doctor; B, wait for the pimple to explode on its own; Or C, pop it for him.”
Cat gags a little as she thinks about the question. She presses the B button while trying to suppress even more gagging noises.
“Robbie what did she answer?” Trina asks once more smiling.
“C.” Robbie confidently answers, only to be scared by the almost deafening buzzer above his head.
“I’m sorry she picked B.” Responds Sinjin with mock sadness. “No points.”
“Jade. You and Tori are swimming in the ocean…” Opens Trina with her wide smile.
“I hate the ocean.” Interjects Jade bluntly. “I’d never be out there.”
“Jade, dear.” Sweetly responds Tori while leaning around the divider and batting her eyes at Jade . “Do you want to loose to Beck and Andre?”
Jade glares across the makeshift stage are her real boyfriend and his smug grinning face. “Fine. Ask the question.”
“You and Tori are swimming in the ocean, and Tori is stung by a jellyfish. Do you A, leave her to drown; B, drag her to shore and wave down a lifeguard; or C, drag her to shore and waz on her to relieve the pain?” Trina asks glaring at her sister with her smile growing wicked once more.
“Oh wow, so many excellent choices.” Sarcastically retorts Jade. She presses the B button before glaring at Tori through the divider.
“Tori what did she answer?” Questions Sinjin with interest.
“I’m gonna go with B. And hope to hell she didn’t say C.” Declares Tori with a half smile.
“Correct. One point for Jade and Tori.” Announces Sinjin, trying his best to engage the audience and especially Mr. Goobenstein’s reactions.
*****
“With our first round over our scores are 4 Andre and Beck, 1 Cat and Robbie, and 4 Jade and Tori.” Announces Trina taking direct control of the show from Sinjin.
Sinjin pulls out a spare microphone and remotely cuts off Trina’s. “For our final round the couples were asked to write out answers to questions back stage, and the partners will be asked what the other answered.”
Sinjin reluctantly turns Trina’s mike back on before continuing. “As the couple with the fewest points we will begin with Cat and Robbie.”
“Cat, what is Robbie’s favorite food?” Asks Trina smiling widely for the audience.
Robbie confidently smiles as he holds up his answer. The card clearly reading “Pizza”.
“Uhhm.” Responds Cat contemplating her answer. “Taco’s?”
“I’m sorry, that’s incorrect.” Responds Sinjin. “Robbie wrote Pizza.”
“Andre, what is Beck’s favorite animal?” Questions Trina having fully embraced her roll, and threatening to out shine Sinjin.
Beck confidently holds up his answer, “Moose”.
Andre thinks and looks out at the crowd before confidently answering. “Ima say Moose.”
“Correct. Another point for Andre and Beck.” Trina chides.
“Jade, what is Tori’s least favorite flower?” Asks Trina with a faint roll of her eyes.
Tori holds up her answer Bush Daisies with the word Allergy in parentheses underneath.
“Bush Daisies, she’s allergic.” Jade announces with a faux yawn.
“Correct! One more point for the ladies.” Interrupts Sinjin fighting for control of his own show.
“Robbie, what is Cat’s favorite color?” Asks Trina as a shrill tone edges in to her performance.
Cat holds up her answer, Red surrounded with pictures of hearts.
“Red?” Questions Robbie now entirely lacking any confidence in his knowledge of the girl.
“Correct. That’s two points now for the straight couple.” Interjects Trina eliciting a chuckle from the audience.
“Beck, what is Andre’s least favorite monster?” Asks Trina while mugging for the camera once again.
Andre holds up his answer with a confident smirk, “Victor Frankenstein”.
“The Gillman.” Responds Beck with out a second thought.
“I’m sorry that’s incorrect. His answer was Victor Frankenstein.” Responds Sinjin with a mocking tone.
“Wait the guy, not the creature?” Questions Beck turning to eye Andre questioningly.
“Yeah, dude was an ass and tortured his own creation.” Responds Andre with conviction.
“Tori what is Jade’s favorite drink?” Asks Trina with a deadly serious expression.
Jade holds up her answer with a single raises eyebrow, “Coffee Black two sugars”.
“Too easy, black coffee, two sugars.” Responds Tori with a dismissive smile.
*****
“This is the final question folks, if Tori and Jade get this right they win the game. But if they miss this we will have a final lighting round.” Announces Sinjin standing tall and animated.
“Jade, what is Tori’s secret talent?” Asks Trina flaunting herself in her unnecessarily animated outfit.
Tori holds up her answer archery, with a tiny bow and arrow drawn in the card.
“Oh that’s a tough one.” Mockingly states Jade. “Do you want the television safe answer?”
“You need to answer the question or it will be considered a forfeit.” States Sinjin trying to regain control.
“Ugh, fine. God your no fun.” Retorts Jade rolling her eyes. “She’s a good archer.”
“That is correct!“ Announces Sinjin and the audience begin to clap and cheer. “With a perfect score, the title of Best Couple goes to the ladies, Jade and Tori!”
Jade and Tori despite themselves, hug in celebration before accepting their prize from Sinjin. It’s a terribly generic romantic trophy, and a fully paid dinner date at Nozu for the two of them. The only catch is that they have to shoot video of themselves on the date, and send Sinjin the footage after. The date as well as the show is going to be posted on the Slap as a pilot of sorts.
Before the winning couple can leave Sinjin and Trina interview them for the date night follow up segment. To Tori’s surprise, Jade wraps her left arm around Tori’s waist and doesn’t let go. Tori nervously wraps her right arm around Jade and holds her right shoulder. As the interview goes on she begins to gently and ever so lightly rub her fingertips against the goth’s back.
“So Jade and Tori, how did you two meet?” Asks Sinjin with his best Bryant Gumble esque interviewer voice.
“Well, I transferred into Hollywood Arts, last year, and we met in Sikowitz’s improv class.” Explains Tori with her vibrant smile.
“I was kinda mean and bitchy to her at first.” Adds Jade her own expression one of stoicism.
“And how did you two start dating?” Asks Sinjin maintaining his interviewer persona despite knowing that the two are not dating.
“Well, my determination and smiling personality eventually broke through her walls.” Exclaims Tori.
Jade flinches and lightly diggs her nails into Tori’s side. “She did some truly kind things for me with nothing to gain for herself. And that’s what really made me see her differently. We got together for real last month.”
To sell the relationship the two turn to face each other and lean in for a quick peck on the lips. The kiss is barely a kiss and lasts for at most half a second. But something changes in that half second. Tori can’t help but feel it, but turns away from Jade before the thought can linger.
The rest of the short interview neither of the girls can look at the other, and Tori’s cheeks blush the whole time. Once the camera is off Jade slowly draws her arm back, but Tori doesn’t move her own. The half Latina seems completely lost in her thoughts. It takes Trina clearing her throat to snap her attention back to reality.
Sinjin heads over to speak with Mr. Goobenstein about the show. Trina smiles a smug smile at the other two, who begin to walk away. Trina clears her throat and hands over the credit card to her sister. Tori gently places the card in to her pocket.
“Why does she get the card?” Asks Jade returning to her usual level of anger.
“Because she won’t use it on anything other than your dinner tonight.” Responds a smug Trina. “And she’ll get way to neurotic to let you use it either.”
“Fair.” Responds Jade with a shrug and a smile. “Vega, I’ll pick you up at six.”
“Yeah. Okay.” Responds Tori with a half hearted smile, hardly paying attention.
*****