TRAPPED IN

It was one of that boring lunch breaks in Hollywood Arts. Tori was sitting at their usual table with Andre and Robbie (and Rex- of course) and they didn't talk a single word for half an hour. She didn't see Beck since the first lesson, and Jade was sitting with Cat at another table.

She sighed desperately. Andre looked at her. "What?" She sighed again before answering. "It's just… I feel like everything is falling apart after Jade and Beck broke up. I was hoping that they would get back together by now, but they didn't. It is sad." Andre and Robbie noddedin agreement. She continued. "We never hang out together anymore. I barely see Jade for weeks. I think I miss her." "Whoa, who would have thought that you love the Evil Queen's snarky comments about you so much?" Rex commented. Tori glared. "Shut up Rex. I mean it."

Andre agreed with her. "I understand how you feel Tori. I didn't expect this break-up thing would be this long, too. But, maybe we should just accept that it's permanent now. You know, it's been months and we didn't see any sign from them about getting back together." "Because they are so damn stubborn!" Tori exploded. "They didn't even talk about the break-up after that night. Don't you think it's weird? I mean they had been dating for three years. How can they throw it up in one night just like that?"

Robbie interfered. "Tori, don't get me wrong, I want them back together too, but why do you care so much?" "Because" Tori said desperately. "They were like the perfect couple for me. They got along in spite of their differences and they really completed each other. That kind of connection is something special and hard to find. It made me believe in true love. It is really sad to see them waste it just like that." "The cute brunette has a point here." said Rex. "Yeah, but there is nothing we can do about it." said Robbie.

Tori nodded, but it seemed like she was thinking something. Suddenly, her eyes sparkled. "We can't do something, but we can poke them a little." Andre put up his hands. "No, no, no. I'm not going in that zone, Tori. It's Jade and Beck we're talking about. If something goes wrong, there will be a nuclear war." Tori insisted. "But what if everything goes perfectly? Like you said, it's Jade and Beck we're talking about." Andre and Robbie looked at her with defeated eyes. "Fine. What's the plan?"

…..

Jade opened the door of the music class, grumbling. She entered in the room and shouted. "OK, Vega. You better be dying or something since you prevented me from drinking my after lunch coffee. Or else, I'm gonna cut your hair in your sleep." She looked around, but the room was empty. "Peachy. She called me but she didn't bother to come."

She turned to leave, but at that moment, Beck came in. Jade looked at him, surprized. "What are you doing here?" "Andre texted me to meet him here. He wanted my help for one of his songs." Jade rolled her eyes. "Jesus Beck, are you really that dumb? Andre, the music genius of this school, asked for your help?" Beck looked like he didn't think about that. "What are you doing here?" he asked Jade. "Vega called me to meet her for some urgent thing. Clearly, we've been tricked."

She went to the door, but it was locked. She sighed. "Great. This day is getting better and better." She kicked the door, at the same time, she was dialing Tori's number. Tori didn't answer the phone, so she shouted to the door. "Vega! Open this damn door! I swear I'm gonna gouge your eyes out with my scissors! Hey!" Beck calmly touched her arm. "Come on. It is obvious that they won't open the door unless we do what they want." Jade looked at his face coldly. "Which is?" Beck went and sat down on a chair. "Talk."

Jade followed him. "Great. It's been months since we broke up and now you wanna talk, because our so-called friends forced us to. And here I was thinking the day couldn't get worse. Guess I was wrong." Beck looked at her. "I'm sorry." She waited. After a minute of silence, she talked. "And? Care to elaborate?" "I never wanted to hurt you Jade, believe me." Jade laughed sarcasticly. "Yeah, you did a bang-up job there buddy, thanks."

Beck was starting to lose his cool demeanour. "I never wanted to break up with you Jade. I just wanted to talk about our problems. I still want that, but you're making it incredibly hard!" "You're like, four months late for that Beck!" Beck stood up angrily. "You were the one who didn't wanna talk that night Jade. You were the one who walked out that door, remember?" "And you were the one who didn't come after me! You gave up on us Beck, now don't try to lay it on me!"

Now, they were both standing. "I told you to stay and talk to me!"

"Well, excuse me for not wanting to talk about our personal problems in front of your loser friends! But you had to turn this into a freaking show, didn't you, you had to prove people that you were this perfect boyfriend who forced to put up with the wicked witch of the West! Well congratulations, you don't have to anymore!"

Now, Beck was really angry. "This wasn't what I thought and you know it."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, really! I never care about what people think about our relationship."

Jade made a fake serious expression. "Oh, yes, you're right. I'm sorry. If you cared about what other people think about us, you would yell at me that you were not happy with our relationship in front of the whole school just because they chose us the worst couple. Oh, wait, you already did that!"

"Jade…"

"And let's not forget that you broke up with me in front of the whole Scooby gang, and you played cards like nothing happened! So excuse me if I'm having a little trust issues here!"

Beck's anger faded, now he looked sad and regretful. "Jade, I'm sorry. I was just really tired of fighting, I just wanted to stop. And suddenly, everything went out of control."

Jade seemed a little calmer. "Look, Beck, you knew what kind of a person I am from the very beginning. You knew that I'm not one of that all pinky, rainbows and unicorns type of girl. I warned you about this. I said that you would get tire done day, and you said that it wouldn't happen. You promised me, and look where we are now! So, please stop. Stop apologising, stop trying to talk to me, stop trying to be friends. Because it's not gonna work."

Beck approached Jade. "I never said I want to be friends, Jade."

Jade was suprised. "What do you mean?"

Beck laughed bitterly. "Do you seriously think that I can be friends with you?so what, I will look at your face everyday, we will sit side by side, we will talk and laugh and have fun, but I won't be able to touch you, kiss you, I won't even be able to hold your hand? Sorry, but I can't do that."

Jade looked totally speechless. Beck waited for a response, but when he saw that Jade was silent, he continued.

"What do you want me to say? That I am sorry? That I feel like a total jerk for not coming after you? That I didn't spend one day without regretting to let go of you? 'Cause every single one of them is true!"

Jade covered her face with her hands, breathed deeply and looked at Beck again. "Then why didn't you come to me Beck? Why didn't you tell all of these to me before Tori and Andre forced us into this room? Why?"

"Because I was scared!" Beck shouted. "I was so scared that the damage I did was unrepairable. I was scared that you wouldn't listen to me, I was scared that you wouldn't forgive me, and I'm still scared."

He approached Jade and took her hand. "You believe me, don't you?"

Jade looked at their hands, but she didn't pull her hand. "I believe that you meant what you said." she spoke finally. "But you know that I won't change, Beck. I am this scary, distant, mean and extremely possessive person, and I can't change. Besides, I don't wanna change. I love the person I am. What I'm saying is, what if you decide one day that you are tired again? What if you change your mind? I can't stand another break up process Beck, I just can't."

Beck thought about what Jade said for a minute, then responded. "You know what I realised about myself during this break up? That I don't like easy. Easy is boring. I don't want some barbie doll beside me who accepts everything I say. I want to be questioned, challanged. I want a girl who's got strong opinions, who has her own ideas. I want the girl whose beauty, passion and art inspire me."

Jade looked at his eyes, looked for hints of a lie or a suspicion, but Beck was looking at her with all his heart. Believing in him, she smiled playfully. "I hope you're talking about me."

Beck's heart skipped a beat with her smile. He stepped back a little without letting go of her hand and looked at her admiringly. With her raven hair completely contrasting with her pure white skin, her blue extentions matching with her captivating blue eyes, with her black outfit, she looked like a dark fairy.

She waited for an answer from Beck, then waved her hand in front of his face. "Hellooo! Beck, you were supposed say yes here! Scissors, remember?"

Beck laughed silently and closed the distance between them. "Of course I'm talking about you. I was just thinking that I never appreciated enough that how beautiful you are."

Her smile was soft and genuine this time. "And I never appreciated enough that how sappy and hopelessly romantic you are."

Beck cupped her face and leant her slowly, trying to give time for her if she would want to back off, but she didn't. When finally their lips met, he felt Jade's smile through the kiss, and he smiled, too.

It was Jade who broke the kiss. But she didn't get away, she leant her head against Beck's and murmured with her eyes closed. "Say you love me."

Beck answered, trying to pour all his heart into the words. "I love you."

Jade opened her eyes with a fake confusion. "Wait, no magic word?"

Beck shaked his head, still smiling. "No magic word."

While they were leaning again for another kiss, they heard some noises outside the door. Beck laughed and took Jade's hand while going to the door.

"OK guys, you can open the door now. Everything is fine, as you see."

They heard Andre's voice, it was like he was struggling with somebody while talking. "Yeah man, so happy for you guys."

"Then open the door, 'cause I'm starving."

"And I really, really need to go to the bathroom." added Jade.

Andre shouted. "I will, if TORI stops being ridiculous and gives me the key!"

After a second, Tori's voice was heard.

"I will, but first Jade must promise that she won't gouge my eyes out!"