Right & Wrong
His life wasn't perfect. Sure, he could be famous and a billionaire with a hot girlfriend by his side almost everywhere he went, but that didn't mean his life was perfect. In fact, he hadn't seen his daughter in ten months and just a year ago, he went through a divorce with his now ex wife. He may seem to have the perfect life in the photo shoots and magazines and in movies, but perfect was not a way to describe Beck Oliver's life.
Paparazzi were always taking photos of him, interviewers were always asking about his personal life and whenever he had time alone, it didn't feel right. He never felt complete. Something was always missing, something he never felt back home.
It wasn't until he got a call from his ex wife, Jade West in early June. Like most phone calls people would get from Jade, she didn't sound happy. "Jade," Beck was surprised to see her call. "What's going on?" He heard her sigh and he could imagine her combing through her hair with her fingers.
"Avery misses you." Avery Sophia Oliver missed him. She missed the father that only called twice a month, even though he loves her like crazy. She missed the father that has heard so many times in the background of a phone conversation, her protesting that she didn't want to talk to him. "You're always so busy. You haven't even physically seen her in ten months."
He remained silent. He wanted to make sure that she had nothing else to say before he spoke. "You probably are still busy, but this is her last summer break before she is a high school student. She's going to be taking control of her own life choices and I won't be able to get her to talk to you the next time. Come home and visit your daughter before she freezes you out of her life for good."
Lucky for him, Beck wasn't busy for summer break. That didn't mean he was saying yes right away, though. He was famous and important to the world. He couldn't just pack up and go back to New Jersey. "I'll have to get back to you on that, Jade." He replied after moments of silence.
He heard her scowl on the other line. "Of course you would have to get back to me." It was like he could feel her rolling her eyes. "Because fame and money and your freaking ten year younger girlfriend just has to come before your own daughter!"
Beck pursed his lips. He knew exactly where she was coming from, he couldn't deny that. Every magazine was with him, about his new movie or with him and super model, Alyssa Vaughn, who was only five years younger than Beck for a matter of fact. The magazines had totally dropped Jade and Avery since they were out of his life now and the fact that Beck hasn't talked to his daughter in ten months, wouldn't make the front cover anyways. "I just can't pick up and leave." He stated. "I have a life here."
A frustrated sigh came from Jade. "Do you remember when you used to have a life here?" She was softer this time, more calm. "When you used to care about your daughter?"
"I still care about her." He said defensively.
"Well, she doesn't think so." Jade shot back at him. Beck didn't answer her. He heard her sigh once more and neither of them spoke. He heard the sound of a door opening and closing in the background before Jade spoke again. "You know what. Call me back once you've decided what's more important; your fame or your daughter."
The line went dead and Beck could tell that she had hung up on him. He heaved a sigh and ran his fingers through his thick hair. Beck missed his New Jersey. He missed the beaches, he missed the sound of cars passing by in the night, and he missed his parents and how so much he missed his daughter.
His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. "Beck, babe, I'm home!" Alyssa called through the house. The couple had moved into together just a month after they started dating. Alyssa insisted, saying they were already serious enough for it. Even with Beck's protests, she had moved in. "Where are you?"
Beck sighed. "I'm in the bedroom!" He called to her. He heard the click of high heels coming through their huge house. Alyssa appeared in their bedroom seconds later with a bright smile. She walked over to him and gave him a peck on the lips. He continued to have that thinking expression on his face, as he was still in deep thought about his conversation with his ex girlfriend.
Alyssa took notice and frowned once seeing his expression. "What's wrong, baby?" She asked him. She down beside him on their bed and put an arm around him.
"Jade called me." He said. Alyssa knew of Jade, from older magazines when she and Beck were together and happy, with Avery there too. "Avery misses me and she wants me to come to visit her."
She tilted her head to the side confused. "Oh, she's going into college this year, right?" She questioned. Beck sighed and shook his head no.
"She's going into high school, Lyss." He reminded her. She made an "Oh!" noise and nodded her head along. "Jade is afraid that Avery is going to totally freeze me out forever."
Alyssa removed her arms from him. "Well, you have a career here." She pointed out.
"I know." He said. "But I could always take a break from that, it's only for three months."
She looked shocked. She crossed her arms over her chest, flipping her hair over her shoulder in the process. "Beck, you're thinking of leaving here for three whole months?" She said in a stunned tone. "That's ridiculous! What about my fashion show I have in August? Or, what about the Award shows? You're going to miss everything!"
"I didn't decide if I was going yet." He said in a soothing tone in attempts to calm her down. He sighed and plopped down on the bed. He rubbed his face with his hands and groaned inwardly. He didn't know what to do. The pros were that he got to see his daughter that he hasn't seen forever. The cons were that he would have to put a pause to his career for three months.
Alyssa went and laid down beside him. He turned his head to look at her. "I want to go." He said. Alyssa looked angry for a second, before she jumped off of the bed and marched out of the room. "Fine! I'm not coming though!" She angrily called to him. Beck sighed and chose not to answer her. Of course Alyssa would act like this.
He heard a door slam and shut and he guessed Alyssa was outside getting fresh air. That's what she always did when she was angry. She claimed that nature would help relax her. Beck decided to call Jade back and dialled her number. He kind of hoped she wouldn't answer and that Avery would instead, so he could talk to her and tell her that he would be visiting her. Maybe she would react excitedly and be so happy to hear that he was coming to see her.
After a couple of rings, Jade answered the phone. "I see you've made a decision." She said once she answered. "You better have chosen wisely or something bad will happen to you." He laughed the slightest bit, even though they both knew very well that Jade wasn't kidding.
"I'm pretty sure I made the right choice." He said. "I'm coming home."
Jade sighed of relief. "Thanks, Beck." She said. She paused for a moment. "I know inside Avery appreciates it."
"Can I talk to her?" Beck asked.
"I guess can ask." Jade said. There was another pause. "Av, your father is on the phone, can you please talk to him?" Beck frowned. She had to practically beg for his own daughter to talk to her father.
"No." He heard Avery say plainly in the background. "I'm heading out now anyways."
"Where?" Jade asked.
"Casey and her parents invited me over for dinner and Nozu with them tonight." He heard her answer. "Tell him that I could care less what he has to say." Then he heard a door slam and a sigh.
"She's really busy." He knew Jade was lying, he heard the entire conversation. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. He decided to play along.
"Yeah, okay." He said quietly. Once again there was another pause and this time, Beck knew exactly what to say. "Tell Avery I'll see her this weekend."
Beck packed his bags and told his agent not to book him for anything, because he was ready to spend three whole months with his daughter. He hadn't seen her since the beginning of September and now it was the beginning of June. For the rest of June, July and August he would be all hers.
He had already called his parents to tell them that he was coming home. They were more than happy to say so themselves. He didn't think that Jade would let him live under their roof again and his parents lived right around the corner.
To describe how Beck was feeling when he was driving from Los Angeles to New Jersey, he was anxious and nervous. His daughter made it clear that she hated him and he hadn't been to New Jersey in over a year. Many things could have changed. How was the boardwalk? Were there more games? How did his daughter look? Did she look the same? He had so many questions and soon he would be getting answers.
It was three o'clock in the afternoon when Beck arrived onto Jade's street. He remembered the house vaguely. The only reason why he could distinguish it was because of Jade's black curtains. She had those up since they had bought the house together and even though Beck hated them, Jade loved them and she never removed them.
The black curtains could be seen in the front window of the upstairs floor. He pulled into the driveway and glanced up at the house one more time. He had lived there for nine years before hand, why did it seem so different? He got out of the car and walked up to the front steps. He noticed that Jade removed the fake plants that Beck had once put for decoration. He took a deep breath, before knocking on the door.
He heard footsteps from the other side of the door. Soon enough, the door opened and Beck gulped. There in front of him was his ex wife, Jade West. He had almost forgotten how gorgeous she was. She had kept her hair a light black colour, but the coloured extensions were taken out. Her hair was now just above her breasts and her clothing still remained dark and mostly black.
Today she wore black skinny jeans and a black long sleeved shirt that you could see what was underneath. That was where she wore a dark blue tank top. Then of course, Jade had to finish it off with her signature red combat boots. The only thing about her style that had changed that she was no longer wearing her wedding ring or her necklace with the ring on it.
Jade's look towards Beck was unimpressed, but he could read in her green-blue eyes how grateful she was that he came. "It's been a long time, Oliver." She greeted plainly. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she made way for Beck to come in. "Avery is out with her friends. She'll be back in ten minutes."
He entered the house. He looked around as he followed Jade through the house. Not much has really changed besides the photos on the wall or the things that Beck had liked and Jade had hated. He noticed that the photo that used to hang right above the fireplace, with him, Jade and Avery looking happy was removed. Now what was placed there was a shelf with pictures of Avery or Avery and Jade.
"Wow." He commented. "Lots of changed." He noticed Jade roll her eyes as she walked over and sat down on the couch. He didn't know if he should sit or if he should continue standing. He's never been this uncomfortable before, especially around Jade. He couldn't imagine what was going to happen when he saw Avery.
Jade didn't say anything to him and Beck leaned against the wall beside the couch that Jade was sitting on. Maybe he could make conversation with her. They've known each other since they were fourteen that was a good sixteen years. There shouldn't be a reason why he couldn't speak with her.
"So," Beck cleared his throat. "What's new with you?" Jade looked towards him and raised an eyebrow. They had talked on the phone before, but it's always been about Avery. He wanted to talk about Avery with Avery and he wasn't sure what to talk about with Jade.
"Why do you care?" She spat. "Your here for Avery, not me. So sit your ass down and wait for her." Beck sighed and took a seat on the couch across from Jade. He watched as she reached over to the coffee table and got a book. She opened it up to the page with a bookmark in the middle and started to read. He wanted to ask her what she was reading or how she got into it, because she was never that interested in reading books unless it was one of Beck's scripts or something online. But Beck remained silent.
Soon, they heard the door open and close. His daughter's voice rang through the house. "Hey, mom, I'm back!" She called. Beck caught her looking at him, and then she stood up and motioned for him to follow. He got up right away and followed her, impatient to see his daughter. He was ready to hug her and hold her and have a real conversation with her.
His voice, however, was caught in his throat though when he actually saw his daughter standing before him. He remembered her having his tan skin and dark hair and Jade's green-blue eyes. Her hair was wavy, much like Jade's was. It was just below her chest, much longer than last time Beck saw her when it was just past her shoulders. She was wearing mint shorts with a black t-shirt that went just under her belly button. He saw her bright smile when she saw her mother enter (and how her eyes crinkled just like his does when he smiles) and how her face fell when she saw him. Her arms crossed across her chest and she looked unhappy.
Didn't Jade say that she missed him?
He knew in Avery's own way that she did miss him. She just didn't express it. He gave her a bright smile though and went over to hug her. She slapped his arms away, though, which made him frown. He continued to try, though. "Hey, Avery," He greeted her.
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, hey," She looked to her mother. This mainly annoyed Beck. "Mom, can I go out with Casey to the mall tomorrow? She has this family party and-"
Beck snapped his fingers in front of Avery. "Hey, Avery Beary," He used his nickname on her. Maybe it would make her loosen up on him a little bit and show her that he still loved her and knew everything about her. "I was thinking-"Avery turned back to her father and glared, which made him stop talking. She had one of Jade's glares that was for sure.
"I'm not a little kid, will you stop calling me that?" She snapped. "I never liked it." Jade sighed. She and Beck could both tell that this wasn't going well. Without any further words, Avery turned and ran upstairs. They were both silent until they heard a door slam.
"She hates me." Beck ran his fingers through his hair. Jade took a deep breath and leaned against the wall.
"Yeah, she does." Jade agreed. "But she didn't freeze you out and that's exactly what she's going to do if you don't try to get close to her again."
Beck nodded. "Maybe I could take her out to Karaoke Dokie? She always loved the hamburgers-" He stopped talking when he realized that Jade was shaking her head 'no'. He raised an eyebrow.
"Avery is a vegan." She told him. Beck's eyes widened.
"Since when?" He asked, rolling his eyes. There was no way his daughter was a vegan, after her always loving meat? He once took her to a meat festival and she asked to eat almost everything she saw. How could she just give up meat?
"Since nine months ago." Jade shrugged. "She said it was a healthier lifestyle, but I told her that was bullshit, but she never told me the real reason why." Beck couldn't imagine why she wanted a healthier lifestyle. She was already skinny and perfect the way she was
Beck took a deep breath. "Where can I take her then?" He asked her. Jade sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. She wasn't answering him. "Where do you take her?"
Jade got up from the wall. "We go to our places, special places." She told him. "That means me and her. Not you and her. I'm not telling you anywhere I take her."
Beck rolled his eyes. God, she had to be so damn stubborn. Wasn't she the one that wanted them to recreate their bond? "Fine," Beck sighed. He began to think of possible places to take her. "What about to boardwalk? They always have some kind of games in the summer."
She nodded her head slowly. "I guess you could take her there." Jade agreed. Beck smiled, as if he was on a roll.
"Maybe I could take her to Hollywood Arts, too." He said. "She's always wanted to go there and I'm sure if I ask for them to give her an audition-"
"She already did audition, Beck." Jade stopped him. "She got in." Beck grinned. He was about to say something, when he noticed that Jade wasn't smiling. In fact, she was frowning, with her arms crossed across her chest. "She decided she didn't want to go."
Beck's face fell. It used to be her dream to go to that school, just like both of her parents. He remembered when she would always ask why the name was so confusing. They lived in New Jersey and the school was called Hollywood Arts. He would always laugh at her and ruffle her hair as she continued to babble on how amazing it would be to go there. He didn't know what changed. "What happened?" He asked.
Jade sighed and shrugged. "I don't know, Beck." She told him. She glanced up the stairs, and then looked back to Beck. "Why don't you go talk to her? Tell her you're taking her to the boardwalk, even if she protests. And if you can, try to talk to her about Hollywood Arts." Beck nodded slowly before he jogged up the stairs.
He tried to remember which door was hers. He didn't have to, though, because the poster of a singing popstar was posted on the door. He went up to it and leaned against the door. He knocked softly. "Avery, can I come in?" He asked. There was no reply. "Avery, come on, please." There was still no answer. He sighed. "I'm coming in."
He slowly opened the door. Her bedroom didn't change much either. The walls were still a shade of sky blue and everything was where it was last time. It was still neat and tidy, because he knew his daughter couldn't stand her room being messy. The only thing that he noticed that had changed in her room was the photos on her bedside table.
One was of her in a soccer tournament, about two with her and Jade, one with her and another girl and one with her, Jade and some unfamiliar guy. He was paying more attention to the photo then the pillow flying towards his face. "Get out!" He heard Avery yell at him.
Beck looked back towards his daughter who was angrily lounging on her bed a magazine clutched in her right hand. "I know I haven't been the best father," He said calmly. He started to slowly walk over to her. She glared at him and it broke his heart to see Avery so angry with him. "I haven't seen you in almost a year. Do you know how much that breaks my heart?"
He managed to get to the edge of the bed. Beck took a seat and watched his daughter's eyes go soft, ever so slightly. "My life is difficult with my acting and all that, but I should have made time for my daughter." He placed a hand on her knee, but she tensed up and moved her knee away. He let a frown take over the look on his face. "I love you, Avery Beary, you know that?"
She rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh. She threw the magazine to the side of her bed. "I'm almost fourteen, stop calling me that." She stated. "And, whatever, you love me, great. I get it." The sarcasm seemed to get stronger with every word she said. "I could care less."
A sigh escaped Beck's lips and he ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm trying, Avery, I really am." He said, looking her square in her eyes. Avery pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. She leaned back against her bedpost and remained silent. He rubbed his hands together. "So, I know it's the last thing you probably wanted to do, but I would really like if you would let me take you to the boardwalk to play some games?"
She looked like she was about to say no. She had the exact same look her mother did when she was going to know. He gave her a pleading look, because he was really trying. He just wanted her to be his little girl again. Her look changed. "Fine," She sighed.
Beck broke into a grin. Before he could get too carried away, she put up her hand to silence him. "I'm picking the games, though and when I say we're buying food, we're buying food." Beck almost laughed at how demanding Avery was. He held in his laugh and (not trusting himself to speak) he nodded.
She pushed herself off her bed and went over to her counter to get her phone. Beck noticed her scowling at it. He looked at the flip phone that looked outdated by ten years. "Why do you have that phone?" He asked her.
Avery glared at him, as if it was his fault. He didn't know that it kind of was. "I told mom not to buy me a new one." She stated. Beck raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. "She wants to buy a new house and I want her to save as much money as possible."
Beck still remained confused as he stood up from Avery's bed. She was leading him out the door. "Why does she want a new house?" He asked her as he followed her out in the hallway. She sighed and didn't answer him. "Avery, just tell me why your mother wants a new house."
"She just says that there are too many memories." She shrugged, trying to be nonchalant. "I'm not going to Hollywood Arts anyways, so we don't need to be close to the school. And she wants a house closer to Tristan."
He had no idea who Tristan was. He felt compelled to ask who he was, but he also remembered that she said something about Hollywood Arts. "Speaking of Hollywood Arts..." He said as she began to walk down the stairs. "Why aren't you going?"
He watched her shrug again. "I have my reasons." She said. He was too late to ask her why, because she already reached downstairs and began talking to Jade. "I'm going out with Beck, mom." She gave her a quick hug. Beck was phased that she called him by his actual name, as if he wasn't her father anymore.
"Did you just call me Beck?" He asked her. Avery simply smirked as she walked past him. He looked to Jade, who was reading her book with no care in the world. "She just called me Beck!"
Jade rolled her eyes and looked at him. "Be lucky she doesn't call you deadbeat." She said with a serious tone. "Now go and have fun with your daughter."
Beck sighed and went after his daughter. God, did he have a lot of work to do.
Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious.
A new story when I should be updating my other ones! I couldn't resist, I really wanted to get this up. I hope you like it, I really like Avery and Beck is kind of an a-hole in this story. That will change in a while, though.
Who is your favorite character?
Who do you think Tristan is?
Do you know why Avery may be a vegan for?
Why do you think Avery not want to go to Hollywood Arts?