"So…" Beck said to her, holding his coffee. He sat opposite of her on a small table. They both had the same: black coffee with two sugars.
"So?" she said, repeating him. She held her coffee with her hands and extended her arms onto the table in front of them.
"So…"
"Beck, I'm not interested in spending my afternoon repeating the word 'so'."
Beck gave a small chuckle, at how her irritation level hasn't changed much since high school. "How have you been?"
"I've been good, and yourself?"
"Same. I see that your career is booming, miss writer, director, and producer."
Jade can't help but smile whenever people acknowledge her success and accomplishments.
"You've come a long way since Hollywood Arts. What happen to acting and singing?"
"Well, after graduation, I got to star on a few plays here in California and New York. Then I went to film, and it was great, but after my third movie, I realized I wasn't fully satisfied, so I decided to write a few plays; Off-Broadway. I got to help write five movies. By then I made enough move to make my own movie. So here I am writing, directing, and producing my first movie."
"And singing?"
"Cat hasn't told you?"
Beck shook his head, not knowing what she was referring to.
"Cat and I have our own studio too. It has two rooms, one for her, and one for me. She's working on her second album. I just go in the studio when I feel the need to get a lyric or tune out of my head."
"Wow," Beck said, clapping his hands. "That's great. You've been really successful these past few years." He smiled at her.
"Thanks." She grinned back at him. "What about you?"
"I didn't get to be in any plays after Hollywood Arts. They never wanted me. Luckily, the film industry did. I had recurring roles on a few shows. I co-starred in eleven movies. Your movie is actually the first movie I play the lead role."
"Oh really?" she asked.
He nodded and smiled shyly.
"Well congratulations," she said, trying not to sound sarcastic.
He chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. "Thank you, again," he said, placing his hand over hers.
Instinctively, she removed her hands off the table and placed them on her lap. She stared at her hands, playing with her fingers.
Beck cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair, nervously. "So…"
"So…"
"So you and Cat kept in touch?"
"Yeah. Cat's a puppy. She followed me. Plus she's not the worst company to have. We actually live together in a loft. It has three rooms, one for her, one for me, and a guest room."
"Wow, how's living with Cat?"
"Cat's Cat. Even though I don't get her most of the time, she tolerates me and I can tolerate her…"
Beck raised his eyebrow.
Jade sighed. "Ok fine. I can tolerate her to a certain extent."
Beck let out a laugh and Jade joined in.
"Did you keep in touch with anyone else?"
"Cat and I have dinner with Robbie at least once every two months. Cat's idea. Andre joins us sometimes, but he's been busy on tour and his album."
"Oh?"
"You didn't keep in touch with them?"
"I do with Andre. Not Cat and Robbie. I guess we didn't realize how hard it would be to keep in touch."
Jade could hear the sadness in Beck's tone. She felt sad too, about not being as close as she was to her friends and with Beck.
"You didn't keep in touch with Trina?"
"Sometimes I hang out with Trina when Cat brings her along."
"And Tori?"
Jade scoffed. Of course he would ask about her, she thought to herself. "No," she said, trying not to sound irritated. "Have you?"
Beck paused, before answering. He didn't know exactly how to say it. "Yeah. Ugh, her and I…"
Jade's eyes widened as she leaned forward, waiting for him to continue.
"Tori and I have been dating."
Jade mouthed the word wow as she leaned against her chair and crossed her arms. She reminded herself what her doctor told her about crossing her arms. Crossing your arms is your body's way of shielding yourself, from getting hurt and not accepting things. Those words resounded in the inside of her head.
"Not exclusively… We see other people too."
"It's ok Beck. I don't need the details." Truth was, she did want to know more; she was just afraid of being hurt by hearing more. The thought of him being Tori, made her feel a stinging in her heart. "I wish you two the best," she said, trying to sound indifferent.
"It started on a few innocent dates, just to test the waters, so to speak…"
Jade held up a hand to stop him from talking. "Please, Beck, don't continue. You don't owe me an explanation. What we had was in the past, and what you have with Tori is the present, and future."
Beck nodded, after a few moments processing what she said. She was right. They were the past. "Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked, bluntly.
"I don't think it's any of your business… but no. I don't."
"Why not?"
Because the guy I loved in high school left me and now he's rubbing the fact that, he's dating the girl he flirted with while dating me, in my face, she answered him, in her head. "My work schedule makes it hard for me to keep a relationship. I have dates here and there, but nothing serious."
Beck's eyebrows lifted up. "So how are you parents?"
Jade smiled, genuinely, before answering. "They've come around, ever since graduation. They've attended my plays and watched the movies I've work on. I guess I need a diploma to show them how serious I was."
"And your brother?"
"He's in high school now. We actually got closer. We have family dinners every three months."
"That's great Jade."
"How are your parents?" she asked. They used to like Jade, until Beck and her started to argue every minute of every day. They could hear them fighting in the RV when they were in the house.
"They moved back to Canada, after I graduated. I visit them when I can."
"That's good for them."
"So why did you choose Canada as one of your film locations?"
"It was Josh's idea. He's from there and he said he knew of a place that would be great for one of the scenes in the movie."
"It'll be your first time in Canada right?" Beck asked, smirking.
She raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Why?"
"I'll have to show you around." His lips quirked up to the side, revealing a smile.
"We'll see Beck. We have a tight schedule."
He smirked at her again, and she smiled back.
They continued talking for hours, while sipping their coffee and eating small snacks Skybucks offered. They caught up with each other more, and talked about their interests. They lost track of time. It felt like the world just slipped away while they were talking.
"Excuse me, but we're closing," a barista interrupted them.
Beck and Jade look at the clock at the same time. It was twelve o' clock, midnight.
"Man, I didn't realize what time it was. I'll take you home."
"Oh shit!" Beck said, reaching in his pocket.
"What?" Jade asked, confused.
"I had a date with Tori. I turned off my phone when I went into the audition and I forgot to turn it on. I completely forgot about her. Shit!"
Beck turned on his phone. Ten missed calls; seven from Tori and three from Georgia. He called Tori, apologizing repeatedly, informing her of his location, and saying he was having coffee with a friend.
When he hung up, he looked at Jade. "Jade, it's ok; you don't have to take me home. Tori's on her way here. She's only a mile away."
"Alright. I'll see you the day after next."
"I'll walk you to your car."
Beck and Jade walked side by side. He stared at her. Her jacket was off, and the street light and stars made her skin glisten. He'd forgotten how stunning she looked at night. He liked that her style had changed a bit. She wore colors when they first started dating, but eventually she only wore black. She was glad that she wore a blue dress today. It made her blue-green eyes shine.
Suddenly, Jade tripped and was about to slam against the pavement, but Beck spun her and caught her. They were in a dipped position, similar to the dance move. They face each other, and they stared intently into each other eyes. Both of their breathing is uneasy. Their lips are inches away from each other.
Beck closed his eyes, and leaned in. Jade bit her bottom lip, nervously. Do I want this she asked herself.
"Beck, I should get going," she whispered.
Beck opened his eyes and stared at her. He let go of her, and helped her settle on her feet.
"Right. Sorry."
"No, don't be. Thank you," she said, sounding formal again.
They reached her car, and she turned around to face him.
"I had a great time today Beck."
Beck looked to the ground, and smiled shyly. "Me too, Jade."
Beck leaned in to give her a hug, but Jade extended her arm to give a handshake. Beck shook her hand, firmly.
Jade opened her door car, and got in. Beck held the car door for her. "Goodnight Jade."
"Goodnight Beck."
Beck closed the door, Jade started the car, and drove off.
Beck ran a hand through his hair, slipped his hands into his pocket, and just stood there watching Jade leave.
"What the hell am I doing?" he asked himself loudly.
He couldn't deny how good she looked after all these years, and he most definitely couldn't deny that –at that moment, when they were inches away from each other – he wanted to kiss her.
You're dating Tori… Not Jade, a small voice said in his head. Beck sighed, accepting the reality of the situation, but found himself wishing deep down that he wanted something – or rather, someone – different.
Will Beck tell Tori about having coffee with Jade?
Will he tell her that she's his new boss for the next few months?
Or will he lie?
How does Jade feel about this whole situation with Beck?
Stay tuned to find out!
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