"Let's play some Cards." Beck sighed.
Robbie couldn't help but notice Beck's shoulders tense as the tanned boy staggered back to the card table before sloppily flinging himself onto a chair, Trina still close on his heels. Beck didn't even seem to notice when she laid her head on his shoulder.
Robbie silently followed Tori back to his seat, entirely unsure of what to say. Do you offer condolences in situations like this or do you just pretend nothing's happened? The rest of his friends seemed to choose the later, and being his usual submissive self, Robbie followed suit.
The sound of tyres screeching away outside replayed in his ears as he sat down once more at the table and gazed intently at his fingers on his lap. Jade's voice seemed so vulnerable at one point, like it was about to crack. Shouldn't someone go check on her?
As tempted as Robbie was to voice this, he remained quiet and glanced helplessly at Rex. Stupid puppet. The one time when his loud mouth might come in handy, he decides not to say anything. Robbie muses to himself that he'll probably leave Rex in his locker for the next few days as punishment (and just in case he says anything rude to Beck, or worse… the evil queen herself).
Tori was practically squirming in her seat as her eyes flickered helplessly between Beck and the door throughout the duration of their game. Finally, Andre couldn't handle the tension any longer and made some excuse up about needing to feed his grandma. The rest of his friends grasped at the opportunity to call it quits for the night too.
As Robbie made to race out the door after thanking Tori quickly for her hospitality (his mother raised him with immaculate manners, you know), he felt a firm grip on his arm pulling him to a halt.
With registered dread, he noted that it was Beck's hand on his arm which meant only one thing… he wanted to TALK! Darn.
"Um, what up?" Robbie squeaked nervously.
"Jade drove us here." Beck practically whispered as he gazed at the floor. "Can I grab a lift?"
In all honesty, Robbie wanted to say no, but then what kind of friend would he be? Besides, Beck had always been good to him. It was his turn to be the cool, supportive friend – well, minus the cool.
"Sure." Robbie agrees, trying to sound totally nonchalant and at ease with the situation though his knees were beginning to shake and he was questioning whether he needed his puffer.
The pair entered the car in silence, and Robbie helplessly started up the engine, at a complete loss of what to say. He contemplated turning the radio on but thought that might be a little insensitive to Beck. Instead, he simply gulps and stares directly ahead.
It takes about ten minutes of silence and Robbie's forehead to thoroughly dampen till finally Beck turns and rambles,
"It's not permanent, Robbie. She'll come back to me, right? She always does." Beck looked like he was assuring himself rather than Robbie as he nervously ran a hand through his hair, but wisely, Robbie chose not to state this. Instead, he stared at the steering wheel and tried to shake off the arbitrary wave of annoyance that had swept over him.
"Do you want her to come back to you?" Robbie finally mused aloud. Really, it didn't look like Beck wanted anything to do with Jade anymore. Even when they were dating it was no secret that Beck regularly engaged in a few flirtatious hair flips with his swooning entourage of girl fans.
Beck actually had to think about it for a few minutes. That was sort of strange in Robbie's opinion. It was a yes or no answer.
"I guess. I really don't know Rob. I mean, I'm just so sick of all the fighting and drama. I'm sort of relieved we're having a break."
Robbie wants to add this "break" is probably more serious than Beck thinks, but he keeps that to himself and nods.
"Do you think- do you think I should call her?" Beck asks nervously, looking bashfully at his phone.
Robbie's tempted to let out a very Jade like snarl and ask Beck how exactly he should know what Beck should do regarding his now ex-girlfriend. Beck was the one who dated her for three years. Not him. Robbie's pretty sure Jade doesn't even recognise his presence half the time. Honestly, he was surprised Jade had even stated that he was tolerable today.
"She might want space or something." Robbie suggested finally, rather unhelpfully. He couldn't imagine Jade being too thrilled with Beck's face right now, and seriously, that boy doesn't even know what he wants with her so why cause her more pain? As cool as Beck was, he could be rather insufferable at times.
"Right." Beck agrees softly. They remain in silence for the remainder of the car ride till Robbie reaches his driveway and dimly bids him farewell. Beck's so caught up in his thoughts that he doesn't respond and simply slides out the door before slinking into his RV.
There was no way of telling what was going to happen to Robbie's small group of friends now. Though no one would admit it, they were undeniably reliant on one another and incapable of functioning at their best when there remained upheaval in the group. Beck and Jade had always been dynamic and unpredictable, but that's the thing, they were Jade AND Beck. That's what they'd always been, even when they were "just friends." How would everyone react to this seemingly permanent rearrangement in their friendship circle? Would they even sit together anymore or would Jade disappear, probably accompanied by her loyal friend, Cat? Robbie felt dizzy just thinking about all these things.
"Oh well, I'll guess we'll have to see what happens at school tomorrow." Robbie mutters quietly to Rex. Rex's etched smirk was Robbie's only response.