All things considered, the break-up is pretty simple.

It's about a month and a half after she and Beck got back together…for the last time, now, she is sure. But this time, something is different. They are spending all their time together, but something's missing.

It isn't until one evening, when they are watching TV in Beck's trailer, and Beck nonchalantly says, "You know, we never have sex anymore," that she even realizes what it is.

She feels her hackles rise, and hunches her shoulders defensively. His arm is still around her shoulders, and doesn't move. "So?" she asks.

He shrugs, "Well, do you want to?"

"No," she spits.

"Okay," he says simply, and they continue watching TV. For the rest of the evening, Jade wonders why the question bothered her so much.

Over the next week or so, Jade tries to remember how many times they've even kissed. Since they'd gotten back together, and very publicly kissed onstage, she isn't sure they've kissed more than a dozen times. Still, they hang out every day. They cuddle on Beck's couch. They watch movies together, laugh at the same parts. At school every day, they exchange all the same looks about all the same people they both dislike (well, really only Trina now, as Beck seems to have decided he actually likes Sinjin since they went to the drag race together).

And one evening, after thinking about it all day, Jade turns to Beck on the couch and gently turns his face toward hers, and kisses him.

After only a moment, Beck pulls back, his eyes darting away awkwardly.

Jade stares, feeling hurt but relieved.

"This isn't working, is it?" Beck asks quietly.

Jade exhales, "I guess not," she says.

He sighs, too, in relief. "I thought it was just me. That I was the only one who felt different." Jade doesn't say anything. Even though she agrees, it isn't easy to talk about. Something is happening. A change is happening between them. Beck continues, "Ever since we got back together, it didn't feel the same to me. It just felt like we were allowing ourselves to be friends again. Not like a relationship."

"Yeah," Jade agrees. That part is easy enough to agree with.

"And…if neither of us even feels like being physical…what's the point of being in a sexual relationship? This is just a friendship, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Jade agrees again.

"Okay," Beck nods, taking everything in stride, as usual. "I'm just happy we're friends again. That's really what I missed most about you."

Jade stands up. "Me, too." She gathers her bag, "But I need some time to…process this."

Beck looks confused, "What is there to process? Nothing has changed, except we've admitted that we're really just better off as friends. I mean, since we got back together, this has barely qualified as a relationship."

"I don't disagree," Jade mutters, "But just give me a week to figure out what this means."

"Okay," Beck says, a touch of sadness in his voice, "Just let me know if I can help."

"You can help by giving me a little space," Jade growls.

"Okay," he concedes, holding his hands up. "See you at school tomorrow."

"Yeah. See ya."

.

The news spreads fast. When Jade gets home, Beck has already changed their Slap status, and it seems like everybody notices. Plenty of people comment to ask what happened, but neither of them say anything. Jade gets texts from Cat and Tori asking if she is okay, and she just tells them yes and to butt out of her business.

Still, it changes things. A part of her always felt connected to Beck, even when they had been broken up before, because their reunion had always felt so inevitable. If they aren't a couple, what is she? Who is she?

.

Even after everything that has happened between them, Jade still likes to pretend that she and Tori aren't friends.

Which is why when, a few days later, Tori asks her for a ride somewhere, Jade just says, "No," and walks away.

Before she can get far, Tori grabs her arm, "Come on. Please?"

It's exactly the reaction Jade wants to provoke. She smirks a little. "I'll think about it. What's in it for me?"

Tori spreads her hands, "What do you want?"

"I don't know yet. Where do you need a ride to, anyway?"

Tori looks away and feigns nonchalance, "Oh, just to Shadow Creek Park."

"What?" Jade asks, frowning, "When?"

"Tonight," Tori continues in the same tone.

"Is this a joke?"

"Nope. Now will you help me?"

Jade nods slowly, "Okay. I have my price now. You tell me what you're doing in Shadow Creek Park tonight, and I'll give you a ride."

Tori groans, "I can't."

Jade turns to walk away again, "Then I guess you're walking."

Tori makes a frustrated noise, "I literally can't tell you!" she cries.

"Come on. If it's a body, I'll help you bury it," Jade teases.

"Fine!" Tori sighs, and lowers her voice considerably, "I have a date."

Despite herself, Jade laughs. Just once, though, before she controls herself, "A date. In Shadow Creek Park. At night."

Tori folds her arms. "Yes."

Jade stares at her for a long moment, then smiles, "There, was that so hard?"

"So you'll give me a ride?"

"It's after dark, right?"

Tori looks uncomfortable, "It's sort of…just before dark. But it'll be dark for your whole drive home!"

Jade scowls, but considers. She isn't spending the evening with Beck, and she doesn't particularly want to hang out with Cat. Frankly, spending part of the evening with Tori doesn't sound that bad. She'd gone over to Tori's before rather than going to the races with Beck, and they do tend to have a good time together. Not that they'd be doing much together. But it would be a drive. Something to do. Time to think. Or a distraction. She isn't sure which she needs more. "Fine," she finally agrees.

"Thank you," Tori gasps, impulsively hugging her.

Jade lets her, for a moment, before pulling away. "I have to get to Sikowitz's."

"Yeah, me, too?" Tori says, sounding worried for Jade's sanity.

"Really? I had no idea," Jade calls over her shoulder as she strides away, staying just steps ahead of Tori so that they are decidedly not walking to class together.

.

The sun is low in the sky when Jade drives over to pick up Tori. Tori bounds out of the house, wearing jeans, a t-shirt, a hoodie, and, strangest of all, her glasses. She isn't even carrying her monstrous purse. Jade can't help but wonder what kind of date this is.

"Thank you for driving me," Tori says as she slides into the passenger seat.

"Thank me when we get there alive," Jade answers darkly. She pulls out of Tori's driveway and curses, slapping her visor down, "This is the worst time of day to drive. I hate it when the sun is this low!"

"I'm sorry," Tori sighs.

"Stop apologizing," Jade snaps, "I agreed to drive you."

There's a tense silence for awhile, as Jade fumes at the sun, and moves her mirrors and visors to deal with it as she drives. Tori just sits, her leg bouncing nervously, as Jade drives.

Eventually, the bouncing gets to Jade. "Date jitters?" she asks pointedly.

Tori rests her hand on her knee, seeming like she has to force it to be still. "No," she answers defensively.

Jade smirks, "Sure."

"I'm not nervous," Tori insists.

"If you say so," Jade shrugs. Tori groans and folds her arms, staring out the window, but at least her leg stops bouncing.

As they pull up to Shadow Creek Park, it's sunset, and the sky is awash with radiant pinks and reds. Tori leaps out almost before the car has even stopped. She pokes her head back in and quickly shouts, "Thanks for the ride!" and slams the door.

"Wait a minute!" Jade calls, rolling down the car window, "Are you sure you just want me to leave you here? I don't see anyone else…"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine!" Tori calls back. "And I have a ride home, so you're free to leave!"

"Okay," Jade says uncertainly, "Because if your date doesn't show, I'm not about to come back and get you!"

"I'm fine," Tori insists, " Thanks, Jade! Bye!"

With the parting words, "If I don't see you for a week, I'll come back here and find your corpse!" Jade drives off. She sees Tori, in her rearview mirror, jogging deeper into the weird park. The sun is steadily setting. By the time Jade gets home, it's dark.

She isn't sure what she should do with the rest of her evening. She has a vague idea for a story in the back of her mind that she doesn't know what to do with yet—is it a film? A play? She tries to flesh out the idea, but it's hard, because she keeps thinking about Tori, at Shadow Creek Park at night. Who is she meeting?

Around eleven, she's starting to get tired, and she decides to go to bed. But she sends a text to Tori first.

Just making sure you don't need
a ride because I'm still not going to
give it to you

There's no immediate answer, which she has to admit does…distract her a little, but not enough to keep her from sleep.

When her alarm goes off in the morning, Jade grabs her phone, immediately eager to see if Tori replied. And she has, at about 5am.

Sorry! I was asleep and just got this.
I'm fine! I got a ride home. But it was
sweet of you to worry.

Jade scowls.

I was *not* worried. Just glad I
don't have to come find your body.

Tori doesn't respond, which is just as well. Jade checks The Slap over her first cup of coffee, which is pretty uninteresting, except for Tori's update, at 6am.

Tori Vega:

Had a great night! So much fun…

Feeling: Fluffy

It makes Jade scowl, just a little. Firstly, because she hates the word fluffy, and the idea of feeling that way. Secondly, because what on earth kind of amazing date would Tori Vega have in the middle of a creepy abandoned park?

She remembers taking Tori there once, the morning she offered her a ride to school. The intent had been to terrify Tori, and it seemed to have worked. She hadn't really intended to leave her there, but when it worked out that way, it was all the better for the prank she was pulling. And now Tori is going there willingly…

It just didn't add up, somehow.

Jade is perceptive, and tries to pay attention to the people around her, mostly because she likes picking out their flaws. Today, she finds herself paying extra attention to Tori, which is…well, most of her attention. Tori has a way of drawing her gaze because she's so ridiculous most of the time. And today, she sees that Tori is definitely in a good mood. She's smiling, and relaxed, and laughs easily.

This is in contrast to her appearance, which is decidedly…well, rough is the best word. Usually, when Tori hasn't slept well, it's obvious—messy hair, dark circles under her eyes. The only difference is, usually when Tori hasn't slept well, she isn't cheerful the next day.

But today, one minute she's giggling at something Cat says at lunch, and the next minute she's falling asleep on Andre's shoulder.

Something doesn't add up. If Tori was asleep when Jade sent that text at 11pm, then Tori should have gotten even more sleep than Jade.

Jade watches her struggle to stay awake for the rest of the day, wondering. If nothing else, she's grateful that it's a welcome distraction from Beck, who is still around her for most of the day, and who she definitely isn't ready to talk to.

.

At the beginning of the next week, Beck approaches her at her locker. "Hey," he greets amiably.

Jade slams her locker and glares at him, "What do you want?"

He looks taken aback, "I'm just saying hey. You know, seeing how you are."

"I thought I told you to give me space," she snarls.

"You said you needed a week!" he snaps back.

"Yeah, well, for me that week isn't up!" she shoulders her bag and stomps away.

"It's been eight days!" he yells after her. She ignores him.

It's tense in the group for the rest of the day. Before, when she and Beck were just kind of silently coexisting, it was a little strange, but by this point, almost everyone knows how to navigate that kind of situation. Now, Jade is pointedly ignoring him, and Beck is clearly frustrated. Cat giggles nervously a lot throughout the day, Andre gazes between them warily, and Rex makes a few pointed comments about it feeling so cold in the group that his nipples are about to fall off, which makes Robbie cover his mouth and shoot a terrified glance at Jade.

And Tori, who looks more rested today and a little calmer, just looks between them, concern all over her features.

By the next day, even though Jade and Beck still aren't talking, it's more normal. And so is Tori. Jade watches her for the rest of the week, and nothing seems odd.

For the most part, anyway. Still, Jade isn't convinced that everything is normal, so when a lunchtime finds the two of them sitting together, waiting for the rest of their friends to acquire food and join them, Jade scrutinizes her.

"What?" Tori's expression becomes perturbed when she notices Jade staring.

"Who were you meeting in Shadow Creek Park?" Jade asks directly.

Tori looks at the table, "No one you know," she says, her voice slightly higher.

Jade wants to roll her eyes at that non-response, but she keeps her gaze steady, hoping to intimidate Tori. "Why would you meet someone there, of all places?"

Tori glances up, but can't keep eye contact. "It's private," she answers, a little calmer now.

Jade does roll her eyes at this. "So, you're meeting a secret someone at a very private location. Are you sure this was a date and not some kind of government espionage mission?"

"Wait, did you hear that?" Tori asks, frowning.

"Stop changing the subject," Jade snaps.

"I'm not. Don't you hear that? It sounds like Sinjin screaming."

Jade listens for a second, but definitely can't hear any screaming over the amplified murmurs of all the conversations around them. "You're deflecting," she accuses.

"I'm not, but I'm not going to tell you anything about my date," Tori says firmly.

"Fine," Jade answers, "But I'll find out," she continues in a low voice just as Andre and Cat join them at the table. Tori gives her a wary look, but doesn't answer.

"Tamales today!" Andre announces eagerly as he sets his paper plate down.

"Yeah," Cat begins to add, but then stops abruptly when a noise pierces the air. They've all stopped talking now, and they watch as Sinjin runs through the Asphalt Café, wailing continuously, and is chased by Lane, who yells something about the emergency eyewash station. It takes several long moments for his scream to die away as Lane chases him around the building.

"What was that about?" Beck asks casually as he drops into the seat next to Cat.

"Who can tell?" Andre stares in the direction they disappeared, looking concerned and confused.

Jade, however, is staring at Tori who, just for a moment, meets her eye and half-shrugs awkwardly, her smallest expression of I told you so.

Scowling, Jade spends the rest of lunch avoiding eye contact with both Beck and Tori.

.

By the end of the week, Jade realizes her awkward feelings about Beck have mostly evaporated, and that she does kind of miss him. Maybe it's because her fascination with Tori's weird date has started to abate a little; she's still curious, sure, but Tori has been her normal boring self for over a week now, and as far as Jade can tell from conversation and Slap updates, Tori hasn't been on another date with her mystery suitor.

So on Friday, she approaches him at his locker. He glances at her, his expression hardening slightly, but then he says, "Hey."

"Hey," she answers tonelessly, staring at him.

He stares back at her, until his expression starts to soften. "Is there a reason you're here?" he asks. It's a prompt, not a taunt.

"Want to hang out this weekend?" Jade asks, looking away.

Beck is smiling fully now, "So the week is up?"

"Yeah."

"And you miss me?"

"I wouldn't go that far," Jade replies, but she smiles a little. She always misses him when they aren't speaking. That had been the real perk of dating him, getting to hang out with her best friend all the time.

On Saturday, Jade goes over to Beck's trailer and they watch a movie together. They cuddle, sort of, mostly out of habit and…it's nice. It's nice to still have someone who she doesn't really mind touching her.

Midway through the movie, though, Jade starts to get a little bored, because the movie is only okay. She gets out her PearPhone and starts to check The Slap. As she sees an update from Tori detailing her excitement about family potpie, she clicks on her profile, idly wondering if there are any other clues about Tori's date in her updates.

Evidently, Beck feels the same kind of disinterest about the movie, but it takes Jade awhile to realize he's looking over her shoulder. When she looks at him, he asks, "Whatcha doin?" in his singsongy voice.

She turns her phone's screen off, "Nothing."

"Any reason in particular you're going through all of Tori's updates?"

Jade side-eyes him, and it occurs to her that he might know something. "Not really. I've just been trying to figure out who she's seeing."

Beck looks surprised, "She's seeing somebody? I had no idea."

"She had a date two weekends ago."

"Well, if we haven't heard anything, maybe it didn't go well."

"No, it went well. But she won't answer my questions about it."

"Did it ever occur to you that she doesn't really have much of a reason to confide in you?" Beck asks pointedly.

Jade wants to retort that Tori confided in her enough to ask her for a ride to her date, but somehow, that seems like something she should keep between them. Instead she scowls. Beck makes that irritating superior face he gets when he thinks he's won. "Well, still," Jade gripes, "She's never kept a secret like this from me before."

Beck shrugs and looks away, "Some secrets are hard to tell," he replies, and his voice is quieter now. Sensing some shift in his mood, Jade just grunts and goes back to her phone. Beck is quiet for most of the rest of the evening, and gives her an awkward one-armed hug when she leaves.

Jade feels validated by the fact that at least she seems to know more about this date of Tori's than anyone else. But still, Tori's evasiveness bothers her.

The next day, they've all agreed to meet up at Nozu. Jade shows up uncharacteristically early, but it's mostly because Beck offered to give her a ride and, seeing his offer as a gesture of goodwill for the new phase their friendship is settling into, she'd accepted. He's oddly quiet and closed-off during the whole drive, which is unsettling, and gives Jade the strange feeling of missing him even though they're in the same space.

Cat and Robbie arrive next, followed closely by Tori and Andre. Tori takes her seat next to Jade at the table, sniffs, and groans. "Oh, no. It reeks of squid in here," she moans.

Jade sniffs, noting that everyone else is doing the same. "No," Cat says decidedly, "It smells like rice. And green tea."

"Yeah, Tori, what are you on about?" Andre asks.

"Seriously, you guys don't smell that?" Tori implores.

Robbie touches her arm, "Are you having a bad flashback from the, um, wallet incident?"

Tori jerks her arm away, "No," she scowls, "Fine, maybe I'm just crazy. I guess nobody else smells the stupid squid!" She throws up her hands.

Mrs. Lee comes to take their order, and her smile turns into a petulant sneer when she sees who is at the table. Still, their food arrives appearing as delicious as always, and conversation is good.

"Oh!" Andre announces mid-meal, "I forgot to tell y'all. Karaoke Dokie is having a big karaoke showdown two Fridays from now. Cash prize. You want to go?"

There are excited murmurs of assent, and then Tori's disappointed groan, "I can't!"

Andre looks at her askance, "You already have plans for two weeks from now?"

Tori looks flustered and opens her mouth, stuttering a little, when Robbie cries out, "Oh, chiz!" and stares at his crotch. He glances up to find everyone staring at him, and he explains, "I spilled my soy sauce."

"Oh!" Cat says quickly, "That will stain so fast! Here," and promptly begins to pour her green tea onto Robbie's pants.

"Cat!" he screams, pushing away from the table. He stands and begins wildly fanning his steaming crotch.

"Oh no," Cat looks horrified, "I forgot it was hot!" Andre and Beck are both staring at Robbie's pants with matching expressions of extreme distress.

Jade is torn, because watching Robbie experience pain is always entertaining, and he is hopping around most amusingly, but Tori had been flustered by Andre's question, and that interests her. So she turns to Tori, who is watching the scene playing out with concern. "So why are you busy two weekends from now?" she asks very directly.

Tori looks at her, and then at their definitely preoccupied friends, and leans in, lowering her voice, "It's when our schedules line up again."

Jade scrunches her brow for a split second before she puts Tori's comment into context. Her eyes widen. "Oh," is all she says, her interest sufficiently piqued.

Tori has another date coming up.