Hello, everyone!
Thank you so much for the reviews on my last chapter! I'm always happy to read what you think. So please, always feel very much invited to leave me feedback. :)
Have fun reading either way!
It's the beginning of June, too close to finals, and LA has been hit by a major heat wave. Tori doesn't like it at all, nor does anybody else.
It starts at the weekend and then gets worse and worse during the week. On Wednesday, it's so bad for lunch that Tori isn't sure she'll survive.
"Oh, my god. I'm so hot," she moans as she sits at the table with Beck and Robbie and doesn't even feel like eating because it's just that warm.
"Ain't that the truth?" Rex says. Ugh. Why does he always have to be like that?
Beck meanwhile asks: "What's the temperature now?"
Robbie pulls out his PearPad and looks it up. 103 degrees. God.
"Man, I hate sweating," Beck says and Tori instantly answers: "I know. My arms feel like warm, wet ham."
That makes Beck laugh and at the same time, Jade and Cat are approaching their table.
"Hiii," Cat says as she sits down next to Robbie. "It's really hot but I'm still in a good mood."
Jade sits down between Beck and Tori. "Robbie. You done with that water?"
Robbie isn't but gives it to Jade anyway as she tells him to. Tori is a little distracted by now. The thing is... She looks at Jade and there's not one sweat drop anywhere to be seen. While some of their classmate are practically drenched in sweat and Tori also feels like that, Jade doesn't seem sweaty at all.
Jade of course notices her staring and snaps: "What?"
"You're not sweating," Tori says disbelieving and Jade just makes an: "Uhu."
Tori has to touch her skin, has to check if it's maybe just not seeable on Jade, but the skin also feels completely dry.
"Havin' fun there?" Jade asks annoyed.
"How can you not be sweating?" Tori wants to know and the answer Jade gives is quite simple: "I don't sweat."
"Everyone sweats," Tori says because everyone does but Beck almost smiles: "Not Jade."
"Jade never sweats," Robbie agrees.
"What do you mean: She never sweats?" Tori asks. That can't be true, can it be?
"Sweating is gross, so I don't do it," Jade simply states and that's not how sweating works. Especially... People don't just sweat during heat like now but also due to other things.
"You don't even sweat during excersising or stuff?" Tori asks confused and tries to remember ever seeing Jade excercise. But she hasn't. They don't have any kind of gym class together. Though Jade also has showered after her and Beck's dance class. She would't have needed to if she haven't sweated at all, would she?
Jade shakes her head though. "No."
And sue Tori but... her mind directly wanders to something else, women definitely have to sweat through. She has accidently cought some documentary on TV a few weeks ago that she isn't able to unsee – and which she also wasn't able to turn off at that time. It was about women giving birth and... well... they definitely sweat.
And though nobody says that Jade had Benji naturally, she has to ask: "What about... during giving birth?"
Jade's face instantly hardens as she glares at Tori. "Never talk about Benji's birth."
Okay. Well... As much as she has seen on that documentary, giving birth is something exetremly private. She hasn't understood how those women could've allowed a camera there. She kind of gets it if Jade doesn't want to talk about it at all.
Beck apparently can't surpress a smile though as he leans over and plants a kiss on Jade's temple.
That's also the moment, Andre gets to their table, fanning himself with some money. "What's up amigos, amigirls?"
Cat asks about the money and Andre explains about the kiddie pool he set up which is extremely smart. Tori asks herself how Andre was still able to think of something like that with this heat going on.
Everyone else also is quickly distracted by the heat again and they start talking about how long the heat wave will last (Tori has heard today on the news that it will last until Tuesday) and it's Beck who gets the brilliant idea of going to venice beach on Saturday. Everyone is on board. Sadly, Trina overhears them talking about it and promptly decides to come with them though nobody wants her to. Well, great. But Tori bets, going to the beach will be fun anyway. And they finally do get to spend time together outside of school, all together.
.
.
Next day, before Sikowitz' class, they are all talking about all the things they want to take with them and what they should buy together on their way to the beach.
It's almost casually that Beck says: "Oh, yeah. It's okay if we take Benji with us, right?"
Tori is surprised at herself how quickly she has forgotten about their son again. But naturally, Beck and Jade want to take him with them.
The reaction is also just agreement from everybody. "Of course." "Sure." "Yeah." Cat even claps her hands excitedly as if one of her dreams is coming true by going to the beach with Benji.
Beck smiles because of their reactions and rubs over Jade's legs that are drapped over his lap while Jade dryly says: "Good for you. Whoever would've sayed no, wouldn't have come with us."
.
.
Tori of course tells Trina that evening about Benji coming with them in hope Trina would decide she wouldn't come under these circumstances. She doesn't like Benji after all and hopefully doesn't want to be around him, especially with the risk of him crying like crazy because of Jade's dislike of Trina. But sadly, Trina deems the beach as more important in this weather.
.
.
They get to Beck's relatively early on Saturday. Cat is already there, standing in front of an RV in Beck's parents' driveway. Jade and Beck are also standing there, Jade has Benji in her arms who's leaned against her. In front of them are standing Mrs. Oliver and a man that has to be Mr. Oliver.
They seem to be in a talk with Cat watching with a pout. Trina and Tori walk up to the group and Tori knows there's something wrong while Trina seems totally oblivious and says happily: "Good morning. I'm ready for some beach fun."
Jade instantly looks at her with her deathliest glare. "Stay away. He's uncomfortable enough." With which she must mean Benji who doesn't seem well at all in her arms.
Trina does stop and looks offended but nobody seems to care. Tori carefully walks up closer to them and doesn't get send away by Jade who looks back to Benji in her arms already anyway.
"What's going on?" Tori asks and it's Beck who flatly says: "Benji is sick."
Whoever gets sick with temperatures like this. But now that she can take a good look at the little boy he does look a little sick, has swollen and red eyes and looks exhausted. Actually, Beck and Jade look exhausted as well.
"Poor guy," Tori says earnestly and Mrs. Oliver nods slightly before she turns back to Jade and Beck: "But you were at the doctor with him yesterday and he has taken medication over night and his fever is already down and he's so much better."
"He's still sick. What if it suddenly gets worse again? It also started just like that yesterday," Jade answers.
Mrs. Oliver looks to the boy whose hair gets stroken thoughtfully by Beck at that momet. "But he seems fine. Come on... You haven't been away with your friends for ages. Both of you, together. We take care of him and you go have fun."
Okay, so that's what this is about. They don't just worry because Benji is sick but they are thinking about what to do with their trip. Tori would hate for it to be cancelled but if Beck and Jade have to stay home with their son, she will understand.
Jade and Beck share a look and possibly they are having a silent conversation.
Now, Mr. Oliver first talks since Tori has arrived: "We will of course call if it gets worse again. But he looks like he will sleep through the whole day anyway."
Jade and Beck shortly both glance to Mr. Oliver, to Mrs. Oliver, to Benji, then they look back in each other's eyes.
Beck shrugs uncertainly. "We can drive back as soon as they call."
"Yeah, great," Jade answers sarcastically. "Because we can be back in a sec, especially with traffic."
"Why don't we take him with us anyway?" Cat suggests which Tori also possibly would have in a second. If he's already better... And she can't imagine anyway for Jade or Beck to run around much at the beach or something. They could hold him close as they would go into the water and he could still cure during it, couldn't he?
Jade slightly rolls her eyes but doesn't even look at her, but still in Beck's eyes as she answers: "He can't be out like this with all of you. He has to get some sleep."
"I really think you should enjoy your day," Mrs. Oliver says again.
Beck shrugs again as he says to Jade: "We haven't been out in a long time."
Tori is almost sure to see Jade biting her inner cheek before she shrugs as well and hands Benji over to Mrs. Oliver. "But call if anything happens," she makes sure to say.
Mrs. Oliver smiles. "Of course."
Then Jade turns to Beck again. "You sure?" Because this isn't her decision alone but she has just given her sick son out of her arms.
Beck just pulls her into a short kiss as an answer and that's apparently that.
Then, Beck suggests to his parents: "Why don't you already bring him inside and we'll come say goodbye to him before we go?"
"Sounds good," Mr. Oliver agrees and Mrs. Oliver smiles to Cat, Trina and Tori: "We'll wish you much fun on the beach."
"Thank you," Cat answers. "See you when we're back, Benji."
Beck's parents leave with Benji almost asleep in Mrs. Oliver's arms and go inside the house.
Jade looks after him for a while and Beck rubs her arm before he turns to Cat, Trina and Tori: "You guys can already get inside."
Cat directly gets into the RV which door stands open anyway. Trina and Tori also get in, followed by Beck and then Jade.
The RV looks very much lived in. There's one bed in it that looks rushly made, a couch, a TV, a desk, a book shelf, a guitar and a closet. And somehow, there's also a crib cramped into there, as are toys on the coffee table.
"Do you live in here or something?" Tori asks as she looks around.
Jade looks at her judgingly as if she's dumb for not knowing but Beck nods with a smile: "I do. I moved out of my parents' house with 14. My roof, my rules."
"Makes sense," Tori says amused and then makes a gesture to the crib: "And Benji sleeps here too?"
"Yeah, when he doesn't stay at Jade's. We both have our own rooms as well in the house but... well... And Jade of course sleeps here as well when she's staying over."
He puts his arm around her and with a smirk she kisses him.
At the same time, Robbie with Rex on his hand, and Andre come into the RV.
They all share greetings and Beck says: "Well, we can get going then, right? I will disconnect the RV from the house in a sec which means there will be no electricity in here except if the truck is running. And there will be no running water in the bathroom. So, please don't use it at all. If you still need to go to the bathroom, go inside the house now."
"I need to go," Cat instantly says and Jade rolls her eyes while Beck says: "There you have it. Then come inside with us."
He, Jade and Cat leave while Tori sits down on the bed. She thinks this is really cool. Living in an RV and therefore at least a little away from your parents has to be awesome.
"Where's Benji?" Robbie asks, looking around.
Tori answers: "He's sick and will stay with Beck's parents."
"Oh," Andre makes while Trina satisfied says: "Fortunately."
Okay, she can't say that. Andre and Robbie look at her disgruntled and Rex promptly says: "It would've been fortunate if you would've gotten sick."
"Shut up," Trina just answers and Tori quickly cuts in: "Can we please just get along for the day? And Trina, you really don't need to talk bad about Benji at all."
Nobody says anything for a while after that, until Cat is back and closes the door behind her. "We can get going," she says with a bright smile.
Apparently, Beck and Jade have meanwhile said goodbye to Benji and Beck has disconnected the RV, at least it doesn't take any longer for the RV to move. They drive for about five minutes or so, before they stop again and the door gets opened after a while.
"Who will come in with me to buy drinks?" Beck asks who stands in front of the door.
They have decided before that they would buy all the necessary drinks together. That way, they wouldn't all have to carry their own with them. The guys now go into the grocery store to buy them. They put them into the truck before they are finally on their way to the beach.
In the RV, they naturally talk. First a little bit about school but Tori is of course also curious about Beck living in this thing – and Benji apparently partly as well. And Jade sometimes.
"So, is it really true that all three of them sometimes sleep in here?" she therefore asks after a while.
Andre nods: "Yeah, sure. Now you understand why they were so annoyed at each other while Jade's mom was away, huh?"
Well, surely she does. Living in such a small space together for two weeks... With a child... well... "But Beck said he also has a room inside the house – and Benji as well." The house has definitely looked big enough for that. She could even imagine some kind of additional guest room in there in which Jade could then sleep if they would be too annoyed sleeping in the same room and bed.
"But they like being so close," Cat says innocently which doesn't make a whole lot of sense if they annoy each other.
Though Robbie adds: "They do. They also all sleep in one room at Jade's if they are staying there. They sleep most nights together on the weekends or over break. It's just tough if Beck and Jade have to be up early with Benji not allowing neither much sleep, and then both having to concentrate in school. Then, they're stressed."
"So, with whom is Benji usually over night?" Tori asks curiously. This RV definitely looks like he's here often.
Andre answers: "He's sometimes with Jade and sometimes with Beck. That way, they each get some sleep for a few nights, even if Benji has trouble again."
"At first, they always slept together as they both wanted to be close to Benji," Robbie remembers. "They already switched the places around though as their parents also all wanted to watch closely over them."
"Yeah, but then they broke up," Andre says and Robbie nods: "I still think that had a lot to do with of them barely getting any sleep. I mean... They both woke up when Benji was crying at night, even if only one of them stood up to take care of him. So, neither got a full night of sleep at all during his first two months."
Andre explains further: "It was difficult after that but he did then spent a few nights with each. As Benji was so used to both of them, it worked, even if each of them sometimes looked more than relieved to see Benji in the morning at school again."
"It must be hard to spend a night without your child, even if you finally can sleep then," Cat says and Tori silently agrees with her.
Robbie also nods: "But they got together again for finals and then came break and they again, spent most time together. But I remember how they started talking at the end of break about what to do with the sleeping situation. So, it worked when neither had to go to school but with school again... And they finally decided to sleep apart and Benji to be with only one of them whenever they had to get up in the morning."
"So like... what? Benji spends two or three nights with Jade, the rest of the week with Beck and then the weekends with both of them? And then all over again the next week?" Tori asks.
Andre shakes his head: "I don't think they have a firm rhythm or something. I think at times they each have him one night, at others, one keeps him for a full week. It all depends on how well Benji sleeps and how resistent they are at that time. They are of course in luck that Benji lets that happen. They always say that Benji is so easy and they otherwise couldn't do it at all."
Tori can imagine that some children couldn't sleep in different places all the time. On the other hand... Benji always has one of his parents around him at night and that has to feel safe enough for him.
"Yeah, and so since the beginning of this year, Beck always picks Jade up for school. He did it mostly before as well but since Benji stays with Jade's Mom... He then either drops Benji off there or at least briefly goes inside to see him in the morning as well," Robbie says.
"It's so sad they don't bring him to school anymore," Cat suddenly says. "It was always so fun with him around."
Trina makes a small huff that luckily, everyone ignores.
"Well, it was exhausting for both of them, I guess," Andre tells Tori. "At least in the end, when he wanted to get out of their arms to look around himself and possibly start crawling. But he's such a great child."
"He is," Tori finds herself agreeing though he barely knows him. "But that means, both have everything for him at home?"
That must have been expensive. Two cribs alone. But of course, it makes sense.
Robbie nods: "They even have some of his toys twice, so they don't have to move them around all the time."
"Amazing," she claims and wonders how long they will keep buying toys twice, how long they want to do this. Well... They all will graduate in a year. She doesn't know what Jade's and Beck's plans are for college but possibly, they want to move together then and Benji will finally only have one home. Until then, the little boy probably will sleep through the night. And Jade and Beck both will be older themselves and maybe will be able to deal with the stress and with sleepless nights better. Though Tori herself also can't imagine not being able to sleep through too many nights in a row.
Suddenly, Cat asks: "Do you think Beck would be very angry if I would use his bathroom?"
Tori blinks a few times. Honestly?
Cat looks to the bathroom door, biting her lip.
"You just went at his house," Trina says, her eyebrows drawn together.
Cat defends herself: "It's not my fault I have to go again!"
She doesn't go in the RV though. It doesn't take that much longer when they stop again and finally, the door opens. Cat shoots out like an arrow. Jade and Beck meanwhile come inside while everyone else gets up and looks if they all have all their stuff with them for the beach.
And Tori has noticed something else, she has to ask about: "How come all these windows are tinted so dark?"
Beck and Jade tell them that Beck's father has bought the RV from Fat Biscuit who made sure the glasses are bulletproofed. They shortly talk about the rapper before they decide they finally have to get out as the RV quickly gets warmer again, now that the air conditioner isn't running anymore with the truck not running.
But they actually can't get out. Beck tries to open the door but can't do it and they realize, another RV has parked directly next to them and they won't be able to open the door until it's gone. Or until their RV stands somewhere else. And Cat has just gone to the bathroom and will be back in a minute and can just pull it slightly forward.
Nothing to worry about.
.
.
But Cat doesn't come back.
They wait in silence for several minutes and Tori is sure she feels the RV heating up slowly. Gosh. She wonders how long Cat needs to find a toilet, how long it will take her to use it and come back. Surely, she doesn't need twenty minutes that are now over.
And suddenly, Jade's voice, sounding angry and also a little... defeated: "I have no signal."
She sits on the end of the bed, phone in her hand. Beck sits next to her and pulls his own phone out. "Me neither."
"What do you want to do?" Tori asks.
"I thought about calling Cat," Jade spits out, types something on her phone and then throws it to the head of the bed where it almost hits Andre who dodges it just in time. "Fuck."
Well, and of course this is terrible but it's of no use possibly destroying your phone. Tori assures her: "She will come."
At the same time she pulls her own phone out of her bag though, to notice she also has no signal. Trina and Robbie also look on theirs and as they don't say a word, they apparently have no signal as well. For whichever reason Andre doesn't check his phone.
"Who cares?" Jade now harshly says and Tori doesn't get it. Jade is the one who has just thrown her phone away because she has no signal to call Cat.
Tori just wants to tell Jade that she makes no sense, when Beck already says calmly: "No signal also means that my parents can't call us if something's wrong with Benji."
"Oh," Tori makes. Okay, that explains Jade's anger.
Beck says, obviously also not happy: "Though it's also not like we could get back while we're still trapped in here."
Tori watches how Beck looks to Jade who looks away with her lips pressed together, how he rubs her hand with his and how she finally intertwines her fingers with his.
.
.
It's getting seriously hot in this damn RV and they don't even have water. Nobody is able to call Cat and nobody knows what has happened to her.
"I should have gotten that fish tank," Tori hears Beck murmuring after some time.
Jade cocks an eyebrow. "Is the heat already getting into your brain?" Tori thinks that there is worry in Jade's voice somehow.
Beck shrugs. "I'm just saying... There would be water in a fish tank."
Jade snaps: "So, you're blaming me for not having any water?"
Okay, Tori has no idea how Jade jumped to that conclusion with what Beck has said. She also sees Andre and Robbie looking up confused while Trina almost seems passed out – okay, if she, Tori, has gathered all her strength, she will have to get over to her sister to check if she's alright.
But for now, she listens to Beck who also is confused: "No, I..."
Jade cuts in, harshly: "I told you back then that you already have a human being to take care of and you don't need some stupid fish. That's why you didn't get them. So, you're blaming me."
"I don't..." Beck starts helplessly and then clearly states: "It was supposed to be a joke. As if one of us would drink water where fish have peed in."
"You're not funny, Beck," Jade says, still a little bitterly.
Beck sarcastically answers: "You totally are, babe."
Jade glares at him which doesn't make him wince in the slightest but they don't say another word about it. Instead, after another minute, as Tori slowly stands up to go over to Trina, she even sees how their hands find each other again. Tori feels like she would explode if she would touch someone longer than necessary. She will shortly touch Trina's shoulder in a second but more than that? In this heat? Definitely not.
But Jade and Beck hold onto each other despite the heat.
.
.
After they found out about Trina having water all along – but now having to share a cap full between each other –, Jade's breakdown because she's sweating and Andre getting them to sing when they all believe the end is close, Cat is finally back.
They get out in an instant and have water bottles in their hands only a few seconds later. They drink the water and splash it into their faces as they are finally able to breathe freely again. And they notice that the other RV isn't standing next to them anymore. Who knows how long ago it drove away, how long ago they already could've gone outside.
But they don't try to think about that. They still have time and promptly run to the ocean.
They throw their bags into the sand and Andre, Robbie, Trina and Cat are all already on their way to the water while Tori stops as she sees Jade pulling her phone out yet again and Beck stepping up close to her.
Jade shortly types something in, then obviously calls someone and directly puts it on speaker.
A woman picks up: "Hello. Are you having fun?" That's Mrs. Oliver.
"Yeah," Beck answers. "We just wanted to check in on Benji."
With a smile, Tori turns around and also leaves for the water. Beck and Jade should be able to call about their son in private.
.
.
The day ends up being great fun, even though they have been trapped in that RV for ages.
When they get back in the evening, Beck lets them out again and his parents must have already seen him pulling into the driveway out of the window.
At least, his father opens the front door in the same moment and puts Benji down there. The little boy squeals as he sees his parents.
"Mama. Dada," he calls out and first walks a few steps before he falls and then just keeps on crawling to them.
Jade walks up to him and scoots him up happily while everyone gets out of the RV.
"Hey, baby," Tori hears her says. "Are you all better?"
The boy nods as if he understands and Beck also steps up to them, smiles and drops a kiss on his head.
"How was your day at the beach?" Mr. Oliver asks, now also having walked closer to them. And the question definitely has been directed to all of them.
Cat already answers with a bright smile: "It was so much fun!"
"We actually had a good time," Beck agrees with a smile. "Though it's good that Benji stayed here."
"Oh, my god. Imagine if he would have been with us," Jade instantly says, looking up into Beck's face with a deadpan stare.
Tori doesn't even want to imagine. Benji is still so young and small and surely, he could've died when they were trapped in the RV. Though maybe, Beck or Jade also would've found some way out there then, would've destroyed a window, bulletproof or not.
"He wasn't," Beck answers Jade, reassuringly and shares a short kiss with her. "He was here and he's fine."
And Benji does look much better now then in the morning. As it seems, they really were in luck and it was just a short sickness. And everything is fine now again.
Cat of course still has to tell Benji everything she experienced during the trip while Mr. Oliver goes back inside and Benji keeps sitting in Jade's arms. Trina is the one telling Tori that they will go now, and she still would like to stay and keep talking (as they all comment on Cat's stories) but Andre and Robbie decide they will also go home and that's that for their trip.