Opposite Date
The "date" had been going well. They'd nearly thrown up at the seafood food truck, and now they were about to receive the ointment they needed to put on the dog. All would have ended perfectly and there would have been promise for another "date" had the little old lady not opened her mouth.
"Are you two brother and sister?" asked the dark-skinned woman who sat two chairs down from Beck and Tori.
"Us?" Beck questioned in reply.
"No. We're not brother and sister," Tori finished for him and continued, "Why do you ask?"
"Because I heard you say you weren't on a date. And you're both so attractive and you have similar bone structure. So, I figured you must be brother and sister," the woman remarked.
"No," Tori chimed.
"We're just buds," Beck finished. They continued to explain the situation to the old woman: that he'd broken up with Jade a few months ago and they didn't feel right going a real date with each other because Jade was their friend and 'you don't do that to a friend.'
As they explained, the people around them chimed in to give their opinions on the scenario. The conversation became more and more heated as they were accused of having feelings for each other.
"Look! Beck and I are just friends," Tori tried to explain to the group.
"So then you told Jade you were hanging out with him tonight?" the Latino sitting against the wall questioned.
"Well," Tori replied in a meek voice, "no." As Tori tried to defend herself against the replies from the group, Jade and Cat walked in.
Cat unsuccessfully tried to explain the situation, but gave up when she realized it was futile.
"Look, Jade, I can explain why Beck and I–" Tori tried to put in.
"C'mon!" the Latino remarked again, "How're you gonna explain that you're out on a date with her ex-boyfriend?"
"It's not a date!" Beck added again frustrated.
"They broke up. Tori has every right to go out with Beck," the dark-skinned woman chimed.
"We're not going out!" Tori plead.
After the small girl questioned which girl Beck believed was prettier, Tori plead with Jade, "You have no right to be mad at us 'cuz Beck and I were–"
"I'm not," Jade stopped her.
"You're what?" Tori questioned.
"I'm not mad." Jade said again. After Cat exclaimed that it might be a trick, Jade explained that she had believed she was angry when she was chasing them, but realized she really didn't have anything to be angry about as she and Beck had broken up and he had the right to hang-out with whomever he pleased. After questioning whether or not she was really alright, Beck and Jade shared a smile.
Jade left after sympathizing with Cat about her brother's turtle. Beck followed her out.
"Jade. Jade! Wait up!" Beck caught her as she was about to enter her car.
"What?" she exclaimed.
"Are you sure you're okay with me dating other girls?"
"Beck, we both decided to end our relationship. I don't own you anymore and I don't have the right to keep you from other girls."
"We?" Beck questioned exasperated, "You walked out on me!"
"I walked out on you?" Jade questioned becoming angry, "I gave you a choice! And you didn't come after me. I wanted so bad to go back in there and fight for our relationship, but–" she paused, "I figured if you didn't come out before, then you were ready to be rid of me and that I should just leave."
"Jade, I never wanted to end our relationship," Beck explained. "But I was just so angry with you because we were fighting, and our friends didn't want us around. I just needed some time to think things through. But then you made the announcement on TheSlap, and I–" He trailed off.
Jade had her head down, trying to conceal the tears that were threatening to fall. No, she would not cry in front of him.
"Jade please look at me," Beck said and grabbed her chin. She couldn't stop the tear that had rolled down her cheek. He wiped it away with his thumb then continued,"I should've made a better effort to talk to you–"
"And I shouldn't have given you an ultimatum," she interrupted. "And I should've stopped to listen to you at least once. You were only trying to save our relationship. And I wasn't doing anything to help"
She smiled at him.
"So then," Beck began, "does this mean you maybe want to try our relationship out again?"
"Beck, I–" she paused with a frown, "I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because-" she stopped again.
"Because what?" he inquired when she paused.
"It hurt, so much, when we broke up. It still hurts. I need to heal." And with that she got back in her car. "Please give Cat a ride home. I need to be alone for a while." Then she rolled up the window and drove off.
Beck re-entered the animal hospital.
"Is Jade alright?" Cat queried.
"I don't know, Cat. C'mon." Beck motioned towards the door and the two females followed him out with the dog.
He let Cat take the keys so she could start the car and turn the AC on. Then he turned to Tori.
"I know Jade said she was okay with it, but we can't do this again. I care about her too much."
Tori just nodded and got in the passenger seat.
