Work Text:
With Jade being a director and Tori being a singer, it was inevitable that they would find themselves returning to Los Angeles, and in turn, Hollywood Arts. Besides, Tori hadn’t heard from her sister in some time and she wanted to check in on her. Jade was reluctant, as always, but at this point in their relationship it was easy for Tori to change her mind. Jade wanted to visit their old school first and get a look at how things had changed. Tori agreed as long as they visited Trina right after. There was no need to visit her parents since they had moved a few years ago. That would be a journey only reserved for holidays. From the outside it didn’t look like much had changed. Walking inside the double doors felt both nostalgic and familiar yet different. New art lined the halls and the lockers were a whole new splash of color. Not a single one was plain in its design.
They walked down the halls at a leisurely pace. A new year would be starting soon so the school was accessible. Which was fortunate because they wanted to avoid the students. They passed a teacher or two while they explored, stopping to peek into old classrooms. Some they knew who smiled and waved while others were new and stared at them in awe. Jade was just about to suggest a trip to the trusty coffee cart to see if it was open when they ran into Sikowitz. The zany teacher seemed to come out of nowhere, bumping into Tori who shrieked. Jade spun around quickly, on alert and ready to defend against danger, but she relaxed when she saw who had startled Tori.
“Sikowitz? You’re still here?” Jade asked incredulously. He didn’t look any different except for several more gray hairs and a bit less hair in general.
“Yes. Why not? You’re still here,” he pointed out accusingly. Jade rolled her eyes. Tori only shook her head.
“We came back to visit,” Tori corrected. Sikowitz turned to her and lit up.
“Tori, did Trina tell you the news?” he questioned. Tori began to respond but he cut her off before she could get a word out.
“Well of course you did! You two are sisters after all,” he continued with a wave of his hand. Tori’s brows furrowed and Jade stepped in before the man could rant any more than he already had.
“We just got back from our trip up north. Tori had some shows and I had to finish a movie. We haven’t had enough down time to keep in touch so we decided that as soon as we could we would come back to visit,” Jade explained.
“Well that’s sad, but at least you’re here now,” Sikowitz remarked, his frown quickly replaced with a grin. Jade grunted her agitation but managed to carry on.
“What news?” she ground out, speaking slowly as if it was a threat more than a question.
“Oh, well in that case, I suppose I should tell you. I’m sure Trina won’t mind,” Sikowitz babbled, quick to get to the chase at the reminder of Jade’s infamous impatience.
“Trina is a new teacher here at Hollywood Arts!” he announced, throwing up his hands.
“What?!”
“Excuse me?”
“Trina is a new teacher-” Sikowitz began again.
“Yeah, I heard it the first time. Unfortunately,” Jade cut in, rubbing at her forehead as if the news itself was giving her a migraine.
“But…but how?” Tori wondered, utterly bamboozled.
“I’ll tell you how. It probably had something to do with Sikowitz and way too many coconuts again,” Jade said. But their former teacher shook his head.
“Nope. I assure you, I had nothing to do with it,” he replied with certainty.
“Well then, how else did she pull it off?” Jade asked. Tori was a little offended, but ultimately had to agree. How did her sister become a teacher without a crazy plan that would most definitely break every rule and regulation?
“I mean, either Trina did something underhanded or Sikowitz approved of her. And if it wasn’t coconuts, then maybe he’s losing it in his frail old age,” Jade commented, snickering at the jab. Sikowitz didn’t take it the wrong way. He merely hummed in thought, a finger tapping at his chin. Tori, on the other hand, did not appreciate the dig.
“Jade, it’s not like he’s not eighty,” she scoffed.
“You think eighty is old? My grandfather had more awareness at age ninety,” Jade fired back. Tori snapped back in response, but Sikowitz had stopped listening. A typical Jade and Tori argument was brewing. He kind of missed it.
“Alright, alright. Settle down and I’ll explain,” he finally butt in. The bickering girls looked to him.
“While you two were off roaming the flat desolate lands of Northern California, Trina worked at becoming a substitute teacher here,” he began.
“And they let her?” Jade commented.
“Well, clearly,” Tori answered.
“How did she pull that off? Was it legal?” Jade wondered.
“Like any other person who became a substitute teacher,” Tori replied, irritation trickling back into her voice. Although, she couldn’t fully doubt her sister wouldn’t try something like that. Sikowitz cleared his throat before Jade could say anything more. He raised his brows expectantly and Jade fell quiet with a sigh.
“She in fact obtained the position as normally as anyone else,” he stated, carding his fingers together and smiling.
“Ha!” Tori exclaimed. Jade crossed her arms.
“Interestingly enough, the students have really taken a liking to her,” he continued, a note of fondness in his tone neither of them had heard before. Once again, they were confused by the turn of events.
“Are you sure they aren’t just highly entertained by her antics and it has nothing to do with how well she teaches? I mean, maybe she’ll give you a run for your money. Then she’ll be the new zany teacher,” Jade joked. Tori looked thoughtful at that. Sikowitz laughed and waved a hand dismissively. But then he stopped to think on it and panicked. He suddenly bolted down the hall while talking to himself, completely forgetting about his former students who were left standing there. Neither of them were surprised by the drastic mood shift.
“It’s nice to know Sikowitz hasn’t changed at all,” Tori said with a chuckle. Jade nodded, starting down the hall and resuming their self tour.
“Come on. Let’s see if we can find Trina and see how ‘loved’ she really is,” Jade said, gesturing for Tori to follow. She hoped for Trina’s sake that she was as liked as Sikowitz said she was or Jade was going to drag her through the mud. Well, knowing Jade, she might do that anyway. Tori sighed and jogged to catch up to Jade who was on a mission with her signature smirk pulling at her lips. Tori couldn’t help but smile. It felt just like their high school days. Hopefully Jade would go easier on Trina now than when they were all in school together.
“What do you think she teaches? Acting? Is that why Sikowitz panicked?” she questioned, remembering one of the last conversations she had with her sister. She had surprisingly landed a role in a play. Which one, she wouldn’t say. It wasn’t brought up again so Tori assumed she didn’t get the part and didn’t want to hurt Trina’s feeling by bring it up again. Jade shook her head.
“Trina, acting? Please,” she refuted, turning down the hall to the room they usually reserve for practicing stunts. It was the only thing Jade could see Trina doing. She couldn’t act, sing, or hold any knowledge on a subject like math, literature, or history. She didn’t have the skill for anything artistic. She learned nothing on the subject of being a techie, seeing as she just made Robbie do all the work. Jade had to admit that she could fight though, and maybe that would lend itself to stunt work. She could be the new Russ.
“Do you really think she just teaches the kids stunt work? You heard Sikowitz. He said she’s a teacher here. Not just a substitute,” Tori pointed out, seeing where Jade was headed. Jade slowed down then stopped to face her. She was right. The conversation began with him telling them that she was a new teacher. She might have started out as a substitute but she eventually became a permanent teacher. How, who knew. Sikowitz ran off before they could find out.
“Ok, so, say she was. What subject do you think she would teach?” Jade allowed, yet clearly she still wasn’t convinced. Tori fidgeted under Jade’s challenging gaze. How it still affected her like that to this day was beyond her.
“I really think she’s right up there with Sikowitz,” she stated firmly, crossing her arms and staring back at Jade. They stood there, eyes locked for a moment that seemed to drag, and then Jade smirked amusedly. Tori still had it after all these years. It never got old. She reached out to pull Tori’s arms apart, snagging her by the wrist to pull her close. Tori sensed the shift and leaned in. But before they could meet, a shrill grating voice shrieked at them down the hall.
“You guys! What are you doing here? And how is it that I’m still walking in on you two? Can you not for just two seconds? Especially at school,” Trina reprimanded, striding down the hall towards them. Jade groaned dramatically and took a step back from Tori who pouted but gave her hand a comforting squeeze before letting go.
“Speak of the devil,” Jade remarked, turning to face the older Vega.
“What are you two doing here?” Trina repeated.
“We came to visit,” Tori replied, throwing open her arms for a hug. Trina looked like she would protest but then she stepped into her arms and hugged her sister.
“How’s it going?” Tori asked her when they pulled away. Trina offered Jade an acknowledging nod which Jade returned. They were never comfortable giving each other hugs. In Jade’s case, she wasn’t comfortable giving out hugs to anyone in general besides Tori and occasionally Cat or Andre.
“It’s good,” Trina answered stiltedly. It wasn’t like her to withhold her accolades and Tori was quick to notice. She seemed nervous. Tori shot Jade a quick warning look and Jade gave her a subtle nod back, affirming that she would behave. She hadn’t missed the tone in Trina’s voice either. Trina obviously cared about her position in Hollywood Arts and what her sister’s opinion would be. Maybe less so what her sister-in-law thought. Jade knew better than to mess with something that important. She wasn’t that heartless. Tori hooked her arm with her sister’s and brightened the mood with a signature Tori Vega smile.
“We heard someone was a new teacher here,” she playfully joked, managing to relax her sister and bring out a smile of her own. Not quite as confident as her usual one, but it was getting there.
“How about you show us your classroom and get us all caught up?” Tori suggested, pulling her into a walk. Jade fell into step next to Tori with an encouraging nod of agreement.
“Alright. It’s right over here,” Trina replied, leading them back down the hall and up a flight of stairs to the second floor. Just a few doors down from Sikowitz’s room was a blue door decorated in white paper stars. Trina’s name and the room number were in a bubby colorful font. Each star had a name printed on it in various styles. Trina brought them to a stop in front of it.
“I had the kids write their names on a star to remind them of what they’ll achieve once they leave here,” she explained, a bit shy. Tori grinned, seeing what Trina was getting at and the source of the inspiration. She hugged her sister in gratitude.
“Its crazy how the kids knew exactly what I was going for. You have some fans. They lost t when I told them you were my sister,” Trina remarked while unlocking the classroom door. Jade held it open for the sisters to enter first, passing under the words ‘Make it Shine’ arching over the doorway. The inside of the classroom almost mirrored Sikowitz’s room, but with a bit more decoration that changed the look of the décor. Trina still seemed to like to go over the top when it came to design. And yet their was an organization to it that spoke of maturity. Nothing was unnecessary. Everything had a purpose. It wasn’t cluttered. More like welcoming with the amount of things that could pique a new student’s interest.
“Wow, this is so you,” Jade observed, stopping to look over a rack of costumes in the corner. Because of course Trina would have clothes as well as props readily available. The Vega sisters looked to Jade when she made her comment. But seeing her with a small smile and soft tone relaxed them. She hadn’t been sarcastic.
“On top of the lessons I plan to do acting challenges, brief scenes, and workshops. I’ll provide everything so they can practice throughout the year. I want to encourage them to make most of their props and costumes in preparation for the end of the year project. They’ll have to get in groups and put on their own play. The story could be inspired by something if it isn’t original. As long as it isn’t an exact copy. They come up with the script, the music, the props, and the costumes,” Trina told them, happy to share. Jade recognized a jacket Trina used to wear along with a familiar mermaid tail.
“I see you donated to the cause,” she remarked, plucking at the jacket sleeve. It used to be one of Trina’s favorites. No one was allowed to wear it. Not even Tori. And now it was here.
“Yeah, well, I had so much stuff already and I wasn’t ready to throw it all out so I thought I could put it to good use,” Trina said with a shrug. Jade hated to admit how surprised she was.
“That’s so great! It was a good thing you decided to keep everything,” Tori said with a wink, picking up the black hat famous for being bought with the money Trina got from selling the song Tori gifted her. Trina rolled her eyes at her. Tori laughed and placed it back on the mannequin head it she found it on.
“So how did you become a teacher?” Jade finally asked, unable to wait any longer. Trina plopped in her chair behind a small desk in the corner.
“Well, I think it started when I bombed the tryouts for Chicago,” she answered. Tori’s eyes widened and Jade scoffed.
“No way,” she denied.
“You told me you were going to be in a play but you didn’t mention it was Chicago!” Tori exclaimed. Trina nodded.
“That’s why I didn’t say anything. I was nervous enough as it was,” she said.
“But you didn’t make it. Which is why it never came up again,” Jade reasoned.
“Yeah, but I was considered. Having the chance to try…being given the opportunity to be in such a well-known production, well, it got me thinking. I wouldn’t have had the confidence and drive to get to that point without knowing what I was taught here or believing in myself through the projects I accomplished here. And wouldn’t it be nice to give that to another kid who could grow up and get that role? Who could grow up and get better roles? Become a broadway star or well-known A-Lister? Some kid could reach that goal and I could be the first step to help them get there,” Trina explained with vehemence neither of them had seen since her one woman show based on the very play she almost got into.
“Who knew you’d care so much for kids?” Tori joked good naturedly.
“Who knew you’d care that much about anyone?” Jade added, but there wasn’t any animosity. Trina could tell she meant it just as much as a joke as Tori’s. Despite that, Trina nodded knowingly.
“At first, I wanted to teach more so for the opportunity to meet kids whose parents were famous so I could maybe introduce myself when I met them. But after substituting for a few years I realized I wanted to be a full time teacher solely to help kids make something of themselves. I started to see a bit of myself in them. I saw how badly they wanted to succeed. They were just like me at that age,” Trina admitted. Tori and Jade nodded, understanding and appreciating the honesty. After all, Trina was still Trina, but she had good intentions in the end.
“But I really do like it. The kids are great and so full of hope and determination. I have an open door policy so they can come by whenever they want, whether it’s to ask questions or chat or just use the room to hang out. I even have a wellness drawer and snack station,” she continued, getting up to pull open a drawer full of first aid supplies then moving to open a cabinet stocked with snacks and water. Jade and Tori exchanged an impressed expression between them. Trina was very much dedicated to her position and the kids she was teaching. Some would even call it motherly. It wasn’t hard to believe that the students would love her if she was going above and beyond for them.
“I’m really happy for you, Treen,” Tori said with a proud smile.
“Yeah you surprised even me. I bet you’ll turn out some pretty talented students,” Jade added, giving Trina a light punch to the shoulder.
“You guys really think so?” Trina asked with a bit of uncertainty still hanging on.
“Of course! I mean, you’ve already completed a year, right?” Tori inquired. Trina shook her head.
“I’ve been a substitute working towards becoming a teacher. This year will be my first official year as a full time teacher,” she clarified.
“And you already have all this planned?” Tori exclaimed.
“Holy shit, Vega,” Jade cursed.
“Hey, no swearing in my classroom,” Trina admonished.
“It isn’t like anyone is here,” Jade argued, gesturing to the empty room.
“Yeah, but I don’t want your negativity to throw off the vibe in here,” Trina countered.
“Man, then it’s unfortunate that I’m even standing in here at all,” Jade remarked with a shrug.
“That’s so true,” Trina agreed, grabbing Jade by the lapel of her leather jacket and pulling her towards the door. Jade grumbled her indignation at being manhandled but complied and Tori followed behind them laughing. Trina let go once they were in the hall. She locked up and then turned to Jade and Tori.
“How about we get something to eat? I was on my way out when I ran into you guys,” she offered. Tori looked to Jade who accepted with a nod.
“Sure, sounds good. What did you have in mind?” she asked, leading the way.
“Nozu,” both sisters said at once. Jade made a face and exaggerated a shudder of disgust.
“You still go there? Why not Karaoke Dokie?” she suggested, remembering the day she swore off Nozu after she was threatened with chopping more squid during one of the many spats with the owner. That woman could hold a grudge almost as long as Jade.
“I’ll go anywhere for good food and live entertainment, except for that place. Sorry, but the blonde twin brigade own it now and it’s way worse than it’s ever been,” Trina said with a shrug.
“I second that,” Tori agreed. Jade didn’t like when the sisters teamed up on anything. It meant Jade would have to give in eventually. There was no winning that battle. Maybe a compromise could be made?
“I’m not going if that old badger is still there,” Jade refused.
“Mrs. Lee? Oh, she left the place to her daughter. She rarely comes around anymore,” Trina assured her. Jade eyed her suspiciously.
“Knowing my luck, today will be the day she decides to drop by,” Jade continued with reluctance. Tori sighed and took her by the hand to lace their fingers together, pulling her closer so that they walked with their arms pressed between them. It seemed to instantly comfort her and Trina suspected they would get her to go. When it came to Tori easing Jade of doubt or reluctance there wasn’t a snowflakes chance in hell that Jade would deny Tori anything. Especially if she begged. But this time Jade must have been in a good mood because there was no begging needed. Just a sweet kiss to her jaw and puppy dog eyes. Jade frowned but nodded, breaking eye contact before Tori could try anything else to melt her defenses. Tori cheered in triumph and Trina joined her.
Jade watched the two launch into a new topic about a show they were both looking forward to and promised to watch it together. They parted ways to get into their respective cars. With plans set to meet at the door to their old hang out, they said their temporary good-byes and left the parking lot of Hollywood Arts. Maybe it was time to return to their old stomping grounds and stick around awhile? It would be interesting to see Trina in her new environment and possibly provide her students with a drop in or two. They had some stories and lessons they could share. After all, who wouldn’t want to meet two well-known Hollywood Arts alumni?