Hi...

Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious

Jade leaned back against her locker, letting out a sigh. A few days ago, she probably would have ditched school. She would go to Beck's RV, to the one place she felt safe. It was her sanctuary. But now...

"Are you okay, Jade?" the girl cracked open a single eye. Andre and Tori stood in front of her, concerned expressions plastered on their faces. But they didn't really care, did they? No one cared about the Wicket Witch of the West. This place was full of actors, fake smiles and sugar coated words. But everyone loved Tori Vega. Sweet, kind Tori Vega who had the whole school wrapped around her finger.

"What's it to you, Vega?" Jade snapped back. The brunette held her hands up in defence.

"I was just trying to help." she huffed, her gaze softened though. "Jade, you have to let somebody in." she said softly. The paler girl let out a borderline hysterical laugh.

"Like who? You?" she smirked.

"Yes!" the Latina insisted. Jade rolled her eyes.

"Look, Vega... Tori," she sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I don't need any help, okay?" she tried to keep her voice calm, but she could feel the sarcasm slipping into her voice. Like a reflex.

Andre touched his friend's arm lightly.

"Come on, Tori. Let's go." he suggested, pulling her away, softly. Reluctantly, Tori allowed herself to be dragged away. Jade watched as they walked away.

Just like he had.

She didn't blame them.

: : : : :

Heavy combat boots thudded on the concrete. It never got below 50°F here in LA. So why did he feel so cold? Beck ran his hand through his hair, letting out yet another sigh. This is what he'd wanted, right? No more arguing, no more jealousy, no more... Jade.

"Hi Beck." Beck forced a smile as another Northridge girl waved flirtatiously. Ugh, did she have something in her eyes? Jade would never bat her eyelashes like that, nor tolerate such behaviour.

Jade.

How was she? They hadn't spoken ever since... well, Beck never thought it would happen. But this wasn't like their previous break ups. This had been more serious. More final. Words had been said and things had been done. Things that could never be forgotten, nor forgiven. And it seemed impossible, that Beck and Jade, could become anything less than that. Just Beck. And Jade. It seemed like heaven to the teenage girls of Hollywood Arts. It was hell to Beck Oliver.

Suddenly, Beck looked up. Consumed in his thoughts, he hadn't realised how far he'd wandered from his RV. He traveled a pathway so familiar to him, up the hill and past the block. To the big chestnut mansion where a dark angel lived. From behind the fence, he saw George peek out. The icy blue eyes reminded him so much of Jade. Smiling awkwardly, he waved at the boy who had become like a little brother to him. But the young child only gazed back sadly and ran back into the house.

I guess you really couldn't forgive the person who broke your sister's heart.

Sighing, Beck continued up the hill, to find another familiar face. He arrived a smaller house, but it was much brighter. And less intimidating. Hesitantly, he trudged up the driveway and rang the doorbell. Sweet brown eyes and red velvet hair greeted the door. For a moment, only silence hung between them. Then, she proceeded to close the door.

"Wait." he protested. "Cat-"

"You really hurt her, Beck." she whimpered softly. "You hurt all of us."

And with that, she silently shut the door.

She shut him off.

Like she had.

He didn't blame her.

: : : : :

Lunch became a dreaded hour. The group only sat in silence.

Beck didn't have an excuse to buy two coffees anymore.

Robbie and Cat didn't share their fries anymore.

Jade didn't reach over to steal Tori's pickles.

Andre no longer brought his keyboard or guitar to the table.

Even Trina knew to keep her distance.

And the shift between these five friends was reflected across all the students of Hollywood Arts. When the five main stars of the school were no longer setting an example for the others, everything was thrown out of balance. Who did they have to look to?

Tori always thought that each of her friends brought something special to the group. Personally, she liked to think of herself as the glue that held the group together, and brought some normalcy to these unique individuals. And now she could see what happened when one of these aspects was taken away. Nothing was the same, anymore.

Slowly, Jade began to pull away. She hardly came to lunch anymore, and when she did, she would sit at a separate table. Alone. Soon, Cat followed her. Then Andre. And Robbie. Beck and Tori were left to themselves. Andre tried to convince her to join them, but she had insisted that someone had to stay with Beck.

But nothing could ever go back to the way it was.

Not as long as Beck and Jade were apart.

Not as long as Beck became an emotionless robot.

Not as long as Jade was broken.

: : : : :

"You okay, J?" Andre's tone was light, playful. But Jade could detect the poorly concealed caution.

"I'm fine." she replied blandly. Andre frowned.

"Jade..." cautiously, he pulled her into a hug. "It's okay. If you're sad, I mean." he tensed, waiting for a scathing remark, or a blow to the head.

"I'm not." Jade insisted.

And it was true.

She wasn't sad.

She wasn't angry.

She just felt... nothing. And to be honest, she couldn't feel anything, even if she wanted to. Because Beck had taken that part of her when he left. The part that had learned to trust. The part that had learned to love. The part that poured emotion into her acting and singing. The part of her, that would pull her up again whenever that scared little girl would hide from her father's disapproving glare.

And so, Jade had retreated back into her shell. Putting up a shield of fierce glares and bitter insults. Rebuilding the walls that Beck Oliver somehow managed to tear down. And for a while, it worked.

And then it didn't.

Because he would always break through her walls, brick by brick. He would always bring down her defence, so slowly that she wouldn't realise it. And he would always be the one to break her again. He was the reason she cried into her pillow every night. He always had to rise her up so high, just to knock her down again. He always had to drive her to the edge, until she wanted to laugh and cry and scream.

He was the person she hated.

He was the person she loved.

He was the person she couldn't live without.

And he was the reason she slit her wrists.

So I'm not sure if you noticed, but I deleted all the stories from my account. I didn't finish them anyways. So I'm going to try and stick to shorter stories.

Tell me if you want another chapter!

~ IZ