CHAPTER 1

(Jade)

Every morning is the same. Dark until the clouds part and the sun shines through, eager to illuminate the path. Following that logic, my life was just like one big morning. I don't even remember the darkness before my sun, my Beck, came into my life. It was like one day I could finally see.

Fuck. Don't tell anyone I said that.

The morning of my first day of senior year at Hollywood Arts was no different. I woke up at the crack of dawn to shower, letting the water hit my flesh hard as hail. As I stepped out, I inspected my body. Pale, curvy in all the right places, a little scratched up on my back from the previous weekend with Beck. I smirked as I inspected the hundreds of love bites on my neck. Impressive. Sometimes I forget he has it in him.

I let my hair drip dry a little as I wrapped a towel around my waist and headed to the kitchen for a snack. Free reign of the house was just another one of the perks of my early-rising; having workaholic parents means sharing the morning with them, both taking over the coffee pot and the stove in a desperate bid to beat each other to the office. I chuckled a little as the eggs spit in the pan; I guess I see where I get my ambition from.

After breakfast, I decided to begin the task of picking out my outfit. It was a difficult job-maintaining the appearance of "I don't give a fuck" day after day got pretty tiresome. I needed to keep up with my image after all, no one needed to know the amount of effort it took to look this good.

And I did look good. Everyday I got the validation I so craved from the gawking guys, mouths practically hitting the floor as I walked past. I only got to relish in it for a moment, since the minute they caught me looking, they'd scarper like cockroaches into the woodwork. I loved both reactions-the lust and the fear. It was one of the only things that kept me going in that hellhole.

Well, that, and of course Beck. Beck Oliver. I still delighted in his name (secretly, of course) and in the way it sounded when I introduced him to people as mine. I loved his hair, and how it flopped into my face when we kissed. I loved his hands and the way they felt around the small of my back… amongst other places. I loved his kind spirit, so different from my own, neutralizing me and bringing me to a healthy equilibrium. On second thought, maybe healthy wasn't the right word.

I decided to opt for tight black jeans and biker boots, along with a deep purple t shirt (low-cut, obviously) and a motorcycle jacket. My hair had dried into natural waves that framed my oval face perfectly. I layered on a few necklaces and rings, and after smearing some makeup on, (the perfect smokey eye had taken years to perfect, but at seventeen I had pretty much gotten the hang of it) I grabbed my keys and headed to my car.

Beck had always picked me up since he was a little older, but this morning he said he had a surprise for me at school, and he needed to get there early to prepare it. I clipped in my seatbelt and sped down the street in the direction of Hollywood Arts, my preferred method of radio-silence keeping me sane and focused.

My reserved parking spot waited for me, squashed between two shiny silver Priuses. I laughed out loud as I saw how out of place my black Mercedes convertible looked between them, bedazzled sideways cross hanging from the rearview mirror. Whatever. If they're going to buy pussy cars, then they should be prepared to pale in comparison to actual style.

As promised, Beck was waiting by my locker. His mouth tugged into a dopey smile as he saw me approach, and I couldn't help but smirk at how stupid he looked.

"G'morning, Jade," he said as I wrapped my arms around his neck. Planting a kiss on his lips, I inhaled the sweet, woody scent of my perfect boyfriend.

"So what'd you get me?" I said, my face inches from his. He laughed softly and snaked his arm around my waist, the other gesturing to my locker, telling me to see for myself. Without hesitation, I dialed in my code and swung the locker door open, revealing the black carpet and matching wallpaper. However, on the inside of the locker door was a collage I'd never seen before. Every picture was either of me, Beck or the two of us together. In the middle of the collage was a massive photo of us grinning at each other, faces pressed close. I felt my heart melt a little in my chest, and my stomach flipped.

Without revealing the smile that played at my lips, I turned and kissed Beck, hard. He returned the kiss happily.

"So I'm guessing you like it?" He said once we separated. I shrugged.

"Cork-board style scrapbooking just isn't really my thing. Plus I know you only did it to satisfy your ego." I said flatly. Beck tugged playfully at a lock of my hair.

"I wanted every day this year to remind you of us. To remind you of how long we've been 'us' and how much longer we will be 'us.' I love you so fucking much, Jade West."

I smacked his hand away.

"Never pull my hair unless we're in the bedroom. Or your car, or the janitor's closet, or- "

"Okay, you can stop now!" Fuck. That was my morning ruined.

I whirled around at the sound of Tori Vega's high pitched squeak of a voice. Her and Andre were walking over together, Tori with her fingers in her ears. Ugh, fuck off, prude.

"Oh Tori, it's you. How… disappointing." I said, my voice dripping of resentment. Beck squeezed my ass with his free hand as a little warning. Wrong move, Beck. If that's my punishment, I'll be breaking the rules a lot more than planned this year.

"Ignore her. How're you guys doing? Adjusted to the new school year routine yet?" Beck asked, always the peacekeeper. I kind of wished that one day he'd jump on the bandwagon.

"God, no, not at all. Plus, it's super weird not having Trina to drive me. Her jabbering usually woke me up a little before class.." Tori said. Andre elbowed her in the side playfully.

"Hey, come on now, you didn't mind me driving, did you? I did out of the kindness of my heart." He said, blinking his eyes to perfect his Saintly impression.

"More like the kindness of your pants." I said sharply, bringing a flush to both Tori and Andre's cheeks and an exclamation of warning from Beck. "Come on, it's senior year, last chance. Plus I swear to God I'll shoot myself if I have to feel the sexual tension between the two of you for another ten months." The pair shuffled awkwardly, mumbling protest for a minute until they were saved by Cat's little red head popping up behind them as Robbie trailed a bit behind.

"Hey guys!" Cat sang, her skirt swishing with each step into our circle. She always made me smile a little bit, like watching a baby try and stand up and repeatedly fall down. I guess you could say she amused me.

"Hey little red," Andre said as he ruffled her hair. Cat giggled girlishly, leaning into his hand like a dog.

"Guys, do we all have Sikowitz first period?" Robbie called out from behind the group, his voice cutting through me like ice. God, it was too early for this shit. The gang each agreed-great, would Beck and I ever have a moment of uninterrupted peace together?

"We should probably get going.. Looks bad to be late on the first day." Andre said, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

"Kay-Kay!" Cat chirped, skipping off behind the rest of the guys. Beck took my hand in his and pulled me gently towards the classroom.

"Come on. We'll finish our conversation after school at my place." He said. Finally, I allowed myself to be led off. He always knew the right way to bait me.