Summary:

There is only one thing between Beck and Tori, and her name is Jade.

1. The Favour

There is only one thing standing between Beck and Tori, and her name is Jade.

It wasn't as if Jade is full on mean, she let Tori take back her place in the Platinum Music Award, she drove Cat to San Francisco to visit a dead actress' house, she helped Andre finish his song late at night, and she came up with a plan to 'kill' Rex and make Robbie a normal teenager, if Tori didn't stand in the way of that, it would have worked..

It proves that Jade cares, she goes out of her way to help the people she loves, or owes, and Tori couldn't think of a better girl to be with Beck, not even her.

After the Platinum Music Award, Tori knows that she owes Jade big time, and she knows that Jade won't let this big favor go unrewarded, and so Tori decided to help Jade as soon as possible, to get it out of the way.

Flashback:

"Jade, name it and it's yours. I owe you big time for the Platinum Music Awards!" Tori pleaded.

She had been pestering Jade for over a week now, but every time she brings it up, Jade would always make up an excuse, whether it is 'I'll think of something', or 'nothing at the moment', and it is driving Tori crazy.

Jade paused for a moment; she took out a book from her locker and slam it shut.

"I have something in mind." Jade said.

Tori smiled, "What is it?"

"You're not going to like this." Jade sighed, "It's better if I take care of it myself."

"I don't want to wait too long to do you a favor, and it can't be that bad." Tori begged.

Normally, Jade would smile evilly and send Tori on a long list of errands that meant nothing but takes a lot of both effort and time, but this time Jade just sighed to her and looked Tori dead in the eye.

"I want Beck back."

Tori were hesitant on the responds, just as Jade knew, but she managed to put on a watery smile and nod.

Later that night, Jade drive Tori to Beck's house, they prepared a long speech that Tori was going to deliver, and since Tori is, like, Jade's mortal enemy, Beck will have to understand that Tori won't lie for Jade, that they are seriously perfect together, and they'll go back to making out and fighting again.

"Please?" Tori asked after the long speech, she had memorized it for a better effect.

Beck sighed; Tori noticed that people have been doing that a lot lately.

"Why not?" Jade said from behind.

"We broke up because we fought too much, and I don't want to go back to that." Beck replied.

Tori suddenly got really angry, just because two people fight doesn't mean they don't care for each other.

"Come one Beck, Jade loves you so much. What does it take for you to take her back? Two people, if they love each other like you and Jade does, then it doesn't matter if you fight, all it should matter is that you two are together and…" Beck shuts her up with a kiss.

Kissing Jade, not her, but Tori stopped talking anyway.

They're back together, so Tori should be happy, she doesn't owe Jade anymore, but somehow she still felt empty on the inside.

Remembering the last time she had help the two get back together, Tori quietly walked out, knowing Jade would probably rather spend her night with her now boyfriend than driving Tori home, and it was understood that this time she'll leave without an complaint.

The night was black, but it wasn't raining at least, Tori would make it home in maximum half an hour, in good time.

"Hey Vega, you couldn't wait?" Jade called out.

Tori turned to find the said girl in her car, gesturing her to get in.

"I thought you would be with Beck." Tori said.

"I promised to drive you home, and I'm keeping that promise."

They rode in silence for a while, as if they made a pact not to talk, but naturally, Jade had broken it.

"Are you fine with Beck and I being back together?" Jade asked.

Tori was shocked, Jade had openly asked her if she like the fact that her and Beck would be sucking face now, as if Jade knew the answer would be yes.

"You won't like what I'd say." Tori simply answered, let Jade read between the lines.

"Would you do anything to break us up again?" Jade asked, quite seriously for such a ridiculous question. All Tori could do was laugh.

"I get it; Beck would love you anyway and break up with me tomorrow. You don't have to rub it in." Jade said sourly.

"No, I'm laughing because I respect you guys' way too much for that. You love Beck, Beck loves you, and I would never stand between that." Tori explained.

She watched as Jade's facial expression changed from annoyed to relaxed, and she knew that she had said the right thing.

But she wasn't so sure if she believed it.

2. The Tolerance

Now, as Tori watches Beck and Jade making out by their locker, she wasn't so sure if she made the right choice, getting them back together.

"Do you still love Beck, Tori?" Cat asked.

Tori forced to laugh because that's what she would have done if she really doesn't care.

"I think you do."

That was the first thing that Tori ever heard Cat say that was sane, serious, and sadly, true.

"I really don't, I'm fine with them kissing each other's face off." Tori smiled.

"Oh really." Cat challenged.

Tori noticed that her red headed friend had grown up, ever since a few weeks before the award show, before Tori owed Jade, and before she paid it off. She wondered if it's just a phase, like tap it, or bibbles.

"Really." Tori enforced the idea; Cat would believe it in time.

"Alright-o than!" Cat giggled, "I'm off to class!"

Tori smiled for real for the first time in weeks, Cat had always cheered her up.

"Cat doesn't lie, you know." A familiar voice said. Tori turned around to find Robbie and his obnoxious puppet.

"What?"

"Cat is crazy sometimes and sweet at others, but she never lies, and if she thinks that you love Beck, then I'm sure you love Beck." Robbie said.

Tori winced, Cat is ditzy and perky, but Robbie is an honor student (in academics anyway), he would be way harder to fool.

"Why do you care?" Tori asked.

"No reason, except to tell you that it's not healthy to pretend that you don't mind, you can't tolerate this forever." Robbie said.

"I'm not just tolerating, I am fine." Tori exclaimed. Robbie is right, but Tori refuse to believe it unless she absolutely has to.

"Liar, Liar, your pants on fire." Rex sang.

"Shut up." Tori said, she ripped Rex's arm off and throw it across the hallway.

"REX!" Robbie yelled. He hurried over to the broken arm and tries to reattach it to the puppet.

Oh great, now the whole hallway is staring at them.

"I'm so sorry Robbie." Tori tried to apologize.

"Forget it, you're mad. Just admit the truth!" Robbie screamed, and hurried off to the nurse office.

Tori stood in the hallway with the students staring at her oddly, she never had more people looking at her (other than performances), yet she never felt more alone.

3. The Revenge

Trina Vega is known for her terrible singing voice, her bad dancing skills, and her terrible acting.

One thing she is somewhat good at is revenge, and weird home remedies to make her prettier (she fails to realize that they are stupid, who puts mustard on their face?).

"The key to revenge is hitting it where it hurts, and what will hurt Jade the most right now is if Beck doesn't love her anymore." Trina concluded, she rubbed ketchup all over her face as she spoke.

"Why the ketchup?" Tori asked, mustard, mayonnaise, what's next?

"It makes my skin smoother, it's a good moisturizer. Duh!." Trina huffed.

"Alright then." Tori mumbled, arguing with Trina was like studying with Cat, you get nowhere.

"Back to revenge," Trina stated, "Do you still know Andre's password to the Slap?"

Tori nodded hesitantly, she was sure what to come next.

"Hack into his account, go to Jade's page, and write something that makes it look like Jade is cheating on Beck. I'm good right?" Trina praised herself.

Tori smiled in return, because it was a good idea, Beck would no longer trust her, and Jade cannot deny this, since it was solid proof, the only person it might hurt would be Andre, but he would understand this, right?

Of course, she knew that she couldn't hurt Andre, even if they haven't been hanging out a lot lately, he is still one of her good friends, and Tori can't use her friend to sabotage Beck and Jade. No, if she really loved Beck, as everyone else suspected, she would try to be happy for them, or at least, act happy for them, because Beck would always love Jade, and vice versa.

It hurts so bad thinking about them; Tori can feel her stomach being twisted into several knots, visions of them kissing is almost too much to tolerate right now.

"So, what are you thinking?" Trina asked.

Tori looked up startled, remembering that she is still in a conversation with the older Vega sister.

"I can't take revenge on them, especially not if it hurts Andre." Tori admitted.

"You're just too nice!" Trina insisted.

"Look, I did Jade a favor, so it doesn't make sense to un-do it. It would just make me owe her more." Tori argued. It was true, who would go out of their way to do a favor, then regret and avenge it the next day?

"Tori, listen, after that Mason guy fired you and hired Jade, you both know that she could easily just give the part back to you, which she did. But it's Jade, your worst enemy, why would she just give it to you like that without wanting anything in return?" Trina explained.

Tori hesitated, that was true, "But she seemed really sincere about it, and I had to pester her for a whole week for her to think of a reward, the old Jade would give me a long list by the first hour!"

The older Vega sister was always the sour sport, so it makes sense that she is talking Tori into getting revenge, but she cannot fall for it, she is too nice for that.

"The school is Hollywood Arts and Jade is just one of its great actresses, like me, of course she's going to sound sincere. It is called ACTING!" Trina pronounced.

Tori stood her ground, using the power of silence against her older sister.

"Between the two of you, it was understood that you can only have one thing, the life-turning point performance for the Platinum Music Award, or Beck." Trina said gently, Tori wondered when her sister got so caring, and calm.

"If she went along with the performance, Beck would be mad at her and consult you until your heart desires. If she gave you back your spot, then Beck would deem her as a good person, and you would owe her a favor, which she would use to get back together with him."

Tori digested the information, it was correct, it was either the performance or Beck, and there is no sure way that either girl would get both.

"Jade made her choice, and she lured you into choosing the same, so now, it's payback time." Trina smirked. For the longest time, she turned smart and analyzes the situation with great detail, but now she is back to the old bad sportsmanship Trina Vega that Tori knew.

"She seemed so sincere, and she same that she can't performance in place of a friend!" Tori insisted, but she knew that argument was weak.

"What did she say after that?" Trina pressed.

"She said 'not even to me." Tori sighed, it was true, Tori had not kissed a guy she really liked because Jade was her sort-of-friend, but Jade doesn't even consider her half decent, she was afraid that no matter how much ex-boyfriend of Jade's she turns down, she is never going to gain that friendship, not since she flirted with Beck in class (unintentionally!).

"I have to get this ketchup off my face; you decide what you have to do." Trina mumbled and grabbed the nearest fabric, which happened to be Tori's sweatshirt.

"Thanks for using my sweater without my permission." Tori called to Trina, who is already heading up the stairs.

"What are sister's for!" Trina called right back.

Tori stared at the computer scream for the longest time. She had logged in to Andre's account; thankfully he didn't change the password, got into Jade's page, and now is looking at the share status box like crazy.

She can't even type anything yet, she was too afraid to make the wrong choice.

The truth is, no matter if Jade was ten times meaner, Beck was ten times hotter, or Andre was ten times less of a friend, Tori still can't bring it to herself to hurt those three people. Jade would go into full grumpy mode, which is not fun for Tori. Andre would need to be in hiding because of the shame it brought upon him, and Beck, oh Beck, he would be so upset. Just got back with the girl who fights with him all the time, and now she's cheating on him, Tori can't imagine ever being in a similar situation.

She can't, let's face it; Tori Vega is just too much of a goody-two shoe for revenge.

4. The Future

Tori has a new way of approaching the Beck and Jade situation, it was clear that she can't gain happiness from tolerance or revenge, so she has to try to forget.

It would be easy, they only have a few classes together, and she could always switch seats, plus Beck is busy with his new one-man play and Jade is not exactly 'welcoming', so it was not difficult to avoid them.

Furthermore, she has a life outside of the constant 'Tori owing Jade', 'Tori loving Beck', 'Beck loving Jade' triangle, she had friends, although Cat is impossible to talk to, Robbie is not speaking to her since the Rex's arm accident, she still got one good friend, who happens to be taking her out for lunch.

Andre wasn't boyfriend material, no offense; he just wasn't Tori's type. She preferred a guy with an edge, and not one that can't keep his emotion in check, although that had worked out so well in the past (Ryder, Daniel, Steven), there is still something about cool guys in leather jacket that makes her swoon.

Andre was awesome, don't get her wrong, but they haven't been hanging out a lot lately, Tori is always busy with the above mentioned triangle, and Andre is busy being, well, Andre. Ever since Tori started writing her own songs, and Andre got more comfortable with singing solos, they haven't been collaborating much, actually, not since Hope Quincy incident.

But now that's about to change, a lunch of sushi and green tea at Nozu, will make them good friends, best friends again, and more importantly, it keeps Tori from obsessing over Beck.

"What makes green tea green?" Andre asked.

Tori laughed, remembering the response she got from the time she was wondering, but she quickly remembered why she was there that day, Jade, Play, and Beck in the Play too. Suddenly everything reminded her of him.

"Ancient Japanese Secret." Tori said, willing for the conversation to go on.

"Alright then, someone's has been taking cranky pills." Andre exclaimed.

"It's just that-oh no!" Tori suddenly yelped.

Sitting across the restaurant, in one of the more private booths, was Beck and Jade, presumably on their official back to dating date.

"What oh no?" Andre asked, he turned his head to find none other than the 'happy' couple fighting.

"I wanted salmon!" Jade said.

"You hate salmon!" Beck retorted.

"Well, ever thought about me changing my favorite fish since we last went out for sushi?" Jade screamed.

"No. No one does that!" Beck said, he clearly looked confused, but expectant, Tori guessed he got used to Jade's nonsense excuses.

"Well I want salmon!"

"Well." Andre huffed, clearly not believing that they are actually having that conversation either.

"Let's just go back to our lunch in peace." Tori suggested.

"You don't want to say hi?"

There it was, the question Tori hoped Andre to forget, but of course he wouldn't. From the time Tori and Andre drifted away, Tori had become closer with the perky redhead Cat, and Andre hand out more with Beck and Robbie, of course he would want to say hi.

"They seem busy with…stuff." Tori said slowly.

"Spill it girl. I know that's not the real reason." Andre demanded.

Tori sighed, Andre is one of her closest friends, and he has the rights to know. Besides, he had told her about his not-so-secret crush on Jade a while back, it was only fair. So Tori ran through the whole story again, starting with the Platinum Music Award to Trina's tips on revenge, minus the parts about him.

"So you're trying to forget him by avoiding them." Andre concluded.

Tori couldn't do anything but nod.

"Why?"

Tori looked up suddenly, that wasn't the question she was expecting. She thought that Andre would have something more on the lines of 'well, get over him already' or 'not going to get better by complaining!'

"They're Beck and Jade, they love each other no matter what, I can't break them apart." Tori admitted sadly.

"Five years ago, Beck and Jade did not exist, who knows who will be Jade's next boyfriend. They could break up tomorrow for all we know."

Tori knew Andre had a point, but Beck and Jade are like glue, they've came as a package deal since forever. If Beck goes to a play, Jade will be next seat, if Jade is at the mall, Beck will be carrying the bags, it's expected of them.

"Wait, you say Jade's next boyfriend." Tori exclaimed.

"Yeah, so?" Andre huffed, but his tone suggested that he was caught saying something he shouldn't.

"You still have a crush on her." Tori said, amazed. Andre was known for not keeping emotions in him, how on Earth he kept it secret the whole time.

"I just have to remind myself that their future is undetermined, as well as ours. I mean, they're not married, engaged, and they're fighting, that's a pretty good sign for us, right?" Andre asked.

Tori thought the man was out of his mind, they are obviously in love, even when they are fighting. Beck and Jade are practically engaged to be engaged anyway.

"They're Beck and Jade." Tori whispered.

"Beck and Jade loves each other, but they are not in love with each other." Andre said.

"What are you saying?" Tori said confusedly, what's the difference of love, and in love?

"What I'm saying is that, they are better off supporting each other in a platonically way, rather than trying to force it into a relationship." Andre stated.

Tori thought it over; it does have some truth in it. Beck and Jade are perfect friends, Cat and Robbie had told her endless stories of the two back in freshman year, when they were just friends, and they do seem to be happier than they are now, fighting over salmon.

"I just want to stop hurting so much. I love him; he loves her, what am I supposed to do?" Tori nearly cried, she keep composed and reduce it down to a whimper, since they are in a public place.

"You're supposed to wait until the day he loves you back. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. Otherwise you will find someone else Tori, I'm sure of that." Andre said kindly.

It wasn't fair to him, really, Andre had suffered from Jade for god damn it how long, and Tori was only crying for a few weeks, and yet Andre is comforting her, when the other way around makes much more sense.

Andre had really changed since the last she heard of him crushing on Jade, he had manage to keep his emotions internal, maybe someday Tori can do the same.

But she knew it wouldn't be today.

5. The Unbelievable

Tori cried all the way home from Nozu, and all the way to school the next day, on the inside.

No matter what Cat and Robbie said about excepting the fact, no matter how much Trina try to take revenge, and no matter how much futuristically thinking she was like Andre, nothing can stop Tori from hurting now, and that's what's killing her.

"Class dismissed, except Tori, I need a word with you." Sikowitz said.

"Yes?" Tori asked.

"You've been unnaturally, subdued today, you ok Toro?" Sikowitz asked.

Great, now it's affecting her academic performance.

"I'm fine." Tori snapped.

"Ok then, crabby Cathy, tell old Sikowitz what's on your mind." He smiled.

Tori hesitated; it wouldn't hurt to use fake names, would it? Like she was creating a story for script class, maybe Sikowitz did have some guidance in that coconut of a brain of his.

"My friend, uhh, Tina, really likes this guy, uhh, Zack, and she is kind of friends with Zack's ex-girlfriend, uhhh, Julie." Tori said, maybe she should change the story to make it less obvious. "And Julie really wanted to get back together with Zack, and since Tina owes her, she is obligated to help."

"I don't see this story going anywhere Tori." Sikowitz said, "Good luck to Tina about this."

"WAIT!" Tori yelled, "Please listen."

Sikowitz sighed and sat down on the edge of the stage.

"The problem is that Tina still likes Zack, but she helped Zack and Julie, the perfect couple, gets back together, but she is hurting now, so she asked me for help, and so far I came up with nothing." Tori said, "What should I, I mean, Tina, do?"

"Would this Julie happen to be Jade?" Sikowitz asked.

Tori gulped, maybe he wasn't as oblivious as he seemed.

Suddenly, she heard a sharp turn of heels, followed by clicking sounds of someone hurrying away. Tori instantly knew the one person that would run away from a story like that, and wear heels.

"I have to go." Tori said, she gathered her bags quickly and hurried to the hallway.

"JADE!" She shouted, but it was no use, Jade was already a whole hallway length ahead of her, heading for the Black Box Theatre.

"Jade!" She yelled as she followed her into the room.

"What?" Jade snapped back.

"How much did you hear?" Tori demanded, she didn't care if Jade is going to back her life miserable, she just wanted to know the damage. It's not like Jade can do anything to make it worst, she's already half of Tori's problems anyway.

"Enough." Jade sighed; she leaned against one of the posts and looked expectantly at Tori.

"Well, I'm sorry?" Tori tried.

"Sorry for loving someone, I don't think so." Jade sneered.

"What?" Tori asked, that wasn't the response she expected.

"Beck hasn't been the same since we got back together, well, we were always a little on the edge, but it's been a lot worst recently." Jade said, "I think he still likes you too."

Tori gulped, how could Jade say that and not strangled Tori right now?

"I'm sorry about that too?" Tori said, more of a question then an apology.

"Don't worry about it, we both changed, so I guess, you can have him."

Tori's eyes widen to the sizes of oranges, Jade has openly gave her first and only love to her mortal enemy? Is this a dream? A nightmare?

"Just let me break up with him first." Jade said.

With that, Jade turned her heels once more and walked towards the parking lot.

6. The Break-Up

The Asplat Café is known for its burritos and live entertainment, but now it will be known as the second (third, fourth?) break-up spot of the Hollywood Arts it couple, Beck and Jade.

Tori felt bad, she watches 2 of the famous break-ups happen, and one was at her house! This time she gets a less than a front row seat (she was glad, the last time was so intense, as if a whole TV audience was watching them, waiting for Beck to make a choice), behind the burrito truck as she watched Jade catching up to Beck.

"We need to talk."

Oh classy Jade, straight to the point and kind of cliché, which makes it less cliché because cliché is less used for it being known as cliché. Are you following this?

"Shoot."

Tori swallowed; does Beck know what's coming? Was Tori going to set yet another wedge in the balance of Beck and Jade?

"We need to break-up."

Silence fills the air as the dreaded words were spoken, Tori can't imagine what's on Beck's face right now. Hurt? Anger? Maybe relief if Jade was right about him liking Tori.

"We just got back together less than a month ago."

"But we haven't been us. We're fighting more than usual, about silly and stupid stuff, not to mention you still love Vega."

Ouch, that one's going to hurt.

"I don't, and why are you saying this? You hate her."

That one hurts too, but for Tori.

"You don't. And you are changed."

"Because of Tori? I can try to change back, be the Beck I was, the one you like, if that's what you want." In that one sentence, Tori understood how much Beck was willing to give up for Jade, but it sounded less romantic now, more forced and delivered with spite and hatred.

"I don't want you to change for me, I want you to change because of me, and if you can't, well, Vega isn't terrible."

"I never changed because of Tori."

"Yes you did, you're not the same Beck I fell in love with, and let's face it, I'm not the same Jade either? I mean, I'm doing a favor for Vega right now!"

Tori smiled; at least, if nothing else gains from this, at least Jade's somewhat friendship is worth something.

"Why are you doing this? I still love you."

Tori felt something stuck in her throat at those words, she never heard Beck use those words so forcefully, as if he had to say them.

Because he did, he was always known as half of the it couple in Hollywood Arts, it was expected that nothing would come between Beck and Jade, they are pretty much forced into loving each other.

"I love you too."

Tori was surprised at those words, she didn't know that, she assumed Jade was pretty much over him.

"Then why are we breaking up?"

"I know you better than anyone, and I know that I would be better for you as a friend, maybe even a best friend. But girlfriend? Hell no." Jade shouted.

Same thing Andre said, maybe he'll be happy to hear the news, because this is not going down pretty.

"And although a girlfriend would keep you to herself, a best friend will do what's best for you, and that, Beck Oliver, is Tori."

It's the first time Jade had ever said Tori and wasn't being mean, sarcastic, or rude, it should be a moment to remember, but Tori is a little busy with watching Beck and Jade now. She could get a better view now that she adjust herself, she saw Beck and Jade hug, presumably for the last time as a couple, or maybe, they're not even a couple anymore.

"You love Tori, Tori loves you, I would never stand in the way of that, again."

She quoted what Tori said a few weeks back, except now, Tori's stomach isn't twisted in hundreds of knots anymore, and finally she can start to breathe a little.

"Goodbye Beck." Yep, not anymore.

Now what? Do Tori reveal herself and comfort Beck? It would be too soon wouldn't it? Or maybe he really needs help right now.

"I know you're here, Tori." Beck said.

She sheepishly walked out and awkwardly sat next to him at their usual table.

"I didn't put her up to it, I swear, it was all Jade's idea. I only followed her because I wanted to talk to her about…stuff, I didn't dream she'll starting breaking up with you, I didn't even know you were here!" Tori babbled on and on.

"Don't worry, I'm not mad." Beck said, too calm.

"Just disappointed?" Tori suggested.

"A little relieved too, maybe Jade and I just don't have it anymore." Beck sighed.

"Probably too early to talk about us then." Tori said quietly, and then cursed herself for saying the words.

"Probably."

They sat there in silence. Like a movie, the sunset was before them, watching over the Hollywood sign from afar; it was almost romantic, if it wasn't for the context.

"But next week, I'm free." Beck smiled.

"I'll be looking forward to that." Tori smiled as well.

They look at each other, finally realizing that, nothing stood between them anymore, it would no longer be Tori loves Beck, Beck loves Jade, and Tori owes Jade. It would be Beck and Tori, Tori and Beck, nothing in between them on a relationship bases.

"Until then." Beck whispered, he leaned in.

Tori smiled into the kiss, and now, there is nothing between them physically as well.

It's not finish yet! Still more to come!