A/N: Ok, a slightly longer chapter. I have to admit, I'm feeling a bit down because I don't know if people like my story or not (I hope you do), but I want to write as much as I can while I have the time.

This chapter... I don't know what to think about it, but it felt right writing it. I hope it flows well.

Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious, Lego House, or First date, but I do own some awesome band swag!

Chapter Four:

I stood and just stared at him, watching the smoke rise from the cigarette that dangled between his long fingers.

"Are you coming in?" He asked, breaking me out of my shock. I looked up, my eyes trailing up his bare chest, the smattering of dark hair causing my breath to hitch.

"Sure." I walked towards him. "You are going to get dressed, right?" His chuckle was deep.

"Well, I was considering it, but now I'm not so sure."

"Beck, that's not even funny." I followed him inside, shocked to find an annex flat that was open and light, nothing like I'd expected. "Wow. This place is amazing."

"I try." Beck excused himself to disappear into what I assumed was his bedroom. Moments later, he returned, fully dressed in baggy jeans and a snug white tank top. "Ready to get some work done?" he asked, leading me to the table set up in the corner of the living room area.

"So, you think Romeo and Juliet weren't in love? Why?" He asked me a couple of hours later.

"I think they're infatuated with each other. Their families are caught up in this crazy feud and all of a sudden, these two kids meet and are in love? I don't buy it." I really didn't and never had.

"But surely that's the joy of the story. Meeting up in secret – I mean, most of the scenes they have together are at night, and just giving in to their feelings. Surely that means something?" I'd never pegged him for a romantic.

"The entrie story takes place over four days. How can that be anything more than infatuation? They don't know each other well enough to be in love. Plus, I guess it's the thrill of wanting something you can't have." Silence descended over us at my words for a few minutes. Beck cleared his throat before speaking.

"You sound like you're speaking from experience there."

"Not at all. It's just common sense. How can you say you love someone if you don't actually know things about them?"

"Have you ever been in love?"

"What does that have anything to do with this?"

"I'm just wondering where that cynicism has come from. You're what, seventeen? No girl that age should look at love in that way, unless they'd been seriously burned." I watched him as he lit another cigarette, the way his plump lips wrapped around the end and his long, slender fingers holding it. I'd never been a fan of smoking, but he made it look . . . right.

"Just because I have a certain outlook on life makes me cynical?" I was interested to hear his reasoning.

"I just think that someone who doesn't believe in love at first sight is somewhat jaded. Also, I think you're avoiding my question." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, looking me directly in the eyes. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe, lost in the depths of his brown eyes. "Who hurt you?" He asked quietly.

"I better get going." I chickened out of talking to him. As quickly as I could, I gathered my stuff and stood up. "I'll cath you at school on Mondat." Before he could respond, I had flown out of his little annex flat and was heading towards the bus stop.

I stood at my locker on Friday checking my texts from Sandy. She'd let me know that her train would be arriving half an hour after I finished school. I couldn't wait to see her. It may only have been a month or so since I'd left, but I'd missed her so much.

"Hey T." I turned to smile at Andre.

"Hey."

"Whatcha doin' after school?" I explained about Sandy's visit. "That's perfect. My grandma's away for the weekend visiting my aunt, and I thought I'd have a party tonight. Why don't you bring her along?"My first party invite since I'd been in London.

"Sounds great."

"Cool. Be at mine for about seven. You can help me set up the karaoke." With a grin, he hooked his arm through mine and led us to our last lesson of the day, English. Where we were going to be presenting our Romeo and Juliet assignments.

"Right, thank you Jade and Andre for that 'illuminating' speech about the death scene. I'd never looked at it in that way before." Sikowitz looked a little grey in the face after having to listen to Jade's five minute tirade about how much of an idiot oth characters were for killing themselves. I kind of agreed with her, but not quite to the lengths she'd gone to, and I'd never admit it to her. Andre hadn't said much – not really having been given the chance to. "Our final pair, Tori and Beck. The stage, as it were, is yours."

I stood and followed the tall, tan boy I hadn't spoken to since the afternoon spent in his flat. I'd avoided him as much as I could, not being able to get the memory of him half naked out of my mind. Coupled with his asking questions about my love life – or lack thereof, I had been too embarrassed to go anywhere near him. We'd managed to finish our assignment via email and text message.

"Right. Our scene was the balcony scene, which we wanted to run through for you before we gave our thoughts." This had been Beck's idea. He'd insisted it was going to give us that 'extra edge' and would play to Sikowitz's love of the theatre. I'd never acted before, but Beck said it wasn't a problem. Yeah, for him maybe, the drama guy.

Shaking, I stood on a table to give the impression that I was indeed on a balcony and waited for Beck to begin speaking. Romeo's words washed through me in Beck's voice, and by the end of the scene, I'd almost changed my mind about how I viewed insta love. It wasn't until Jade cleared her throat, glaring at me that I remembered where I was.

We finished our presentation, and sat down while the rest of the class applaused.

"You say you've never acted?" Beck spoke quietly in my ear.

"Nope, never."

"Could have fooled me. You were great." With a small smile, he left me to go and sit with Jade, who instantly rounded on him and began whispering furiously to him. I took my seat next to Andre and tried to ignore the death stares the goth girl was giving me.

"Excellent work everyone. I will be emailing the grades out over the weekend. Class dismissed." Sikowitz turned his back to us to begin gathering his notes. I stood, grabbed my bag and was about to hightail it out so I could go and meet Sandy. "Vega, Oliver. A word please."

"I'll wait outside." Jade snarled at Beck as we made our way over to our teacher.

"Can either of you sing?" He asked us. I shared a confused look with Beck, the first time I had been able to look at him without getting embarrassed or dangerous feelings invading me.

"Uh. . . why?" He asked.

"Well, as you know, every year, the school puts on a big production. This year, I'm in charge and I want to direct a musical. After watching the chemistry your two have in just one scene, I want you both to audition for the lead roles." I was gobsmacked.

"I'll have to pass. I'm not an actor." I stumbled over my words. "Choose someone from Beck's class."

"You could have fooled me Vega. That performance as Juliet was sublime."

"That's what I said." I shot Beck a look, trying to tell him to shut up with just my eyes. "What play are you thinking of?" He ignored me and turned his attention back to Sikowitz.

"There's a show that just finished it's runn off Broadway that I think would be perfect. It's called First Date."

"Oh, I love that show." I squealed. Both Beck and Sikowitz gave me a strange look. "My parents took Trina and I to New York before we moved, and that was one of the shows we managed to see. I bought a copy of the script and the soundtrack." I failed to add that both were prized possessions, signed by Zac Levi.

"Perfect. You'll barely need to rehearse. Auditions are tomorrow at two." Without another word, he flounced out of the room.

"I'm not doing it." I crossed my arms.

"Why not?" Beck leaned back against one of the desks, his own arms crossed.

"Because I'm not an actor." Beck rolled his eyes.

"Like both me and Sikowitz said, 'you could have fooled me'." I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could manage to say anything, he had pressed a finger against my lips. "At least do the audition."

Without another word, he grabbed his bag and left the room where Jade was waiting. I could hear their raised voices as I followed them out and made my way off school grounds to head out and meet Sandy.

"A party? I'm down babe, you know me." Sandy looked around my room, her eyes wide. "This place is amazing T. You struck lucky."

"It's even better that you're here. So, you're ok with going to 'Dre's party tonight?" I wanted to show off my best friends, but I also wanted to keep her to myself for a bit. She hadn't mentioned Sean for a few days, and I wanted to know why.

"Yeah. Let's start getting ready. You need to dress to impress." She started rifling through my wardrobe, the way she always did.

"Oh? Who am I impressing?" I sat back on my bed as Sandy pulled out three dresses and began examining them.

"Beck of course."

"Beck? Er. . . Sand, you know he's not available for me to impress, right?"

"Bullshit! I've seen the pics you're tagged in on The Slap. I have eyes you know." What the hell was she going on about? "That boy looks at you in only a way I could ever dream of."

"You're talking nonsense. Wait til you see him with Jade tonight. Those two are forever, I promise you." I grabbed her arm. "What's up? I thought you and Sean were all blissful."

"We were, until he began to be blissful with someone else whenever I was working a shift at Dad's shop." She handed me a deep red minidress with matching shoes. "This one. It'll look amazing." Without another word, she shoed me into the bathroom to get ready. I made a mental ote to speak to her in the morning about Sean. I'd take her for food and make her tell me everything.

Andre opened the door to his Grandma's house with a huge smile on his face. Music played softly in the background.

"Hey ladies. Looking fine this evening." He looked us both up and down, in a non creepy way. Sandy looked amazing in a borrowed black playsuit, her long blonde hair caught up in an artfully messy topknot.

"Hey 'Dre. You remember Sandy?" He grinned and nodded. "So, karaoke?" We followed him into the living room where Robbie and Rex were attempting to hook up speakers to a shiny karaoke machine.

"Yeah. Andre always brings this bad boy out for his parties. Dude's got skills." Rex told us, his eyes never leaving Sandy.

"Tori's an amazing singer." She told my new friends, making me want to curl up into a ball.

"Oh really?" Robbi and Andre spoke at the same time.

"No, no really. I haven't done it in a while."

"Well, you'll grace us tonight, no arguing. Everyone has a go. It's a rule." Andre wrapped an arm around me. I groaned and hid my face. I wanted to kill Sandy and her big mouth.

"I need a drink." I made my way into the kitchen where an endless sea of beer bottles covered the work surfaces.

"Hey Tori." Beck's voice washed over and seemed to calm my frazzled nerves. I turned to look at him, and wished I hadn't. Dressed all in black, he looked amazing. His olive skin seemed to glow.

"Like what you see Vega?" Jade snarled as she joined us. Her eyes trailed up and down my body as if she were trying to think of something horrible to say. In the end, she said nothing as she grabbed two bottles of beer and dragged Beck out of the kitchen.

"So, that's Jade huh?" Sandy appeared next to me.

"Yep." I took a swig of beer, feeling ridiculous in my dress.

"Not a patch on you my lovely."

"You have to say that, you're my best friend."

"I'd say it even if I wasn't. Now, are we ready to party?"

"Yeah! That was Jade singing Evanescence's 'My Immortal'. Great job as ever." Andre's voice surrounded me as he soke through the huge PA system he and the guys had hooked up. "No, it's time for a first timer. Get you're arse up here Vega." I felt sick as Cat, Robbie, and Sandy pushed me over to him.

"Do I have to do this?" I asked him quietly.

"'Fraid so chica. What you gonna sing?" I took the list of songs out of his hand and looked through it. I spotted a song that was one I knew by heart.

"Will you duet with me?" I asked him, trying to stop myself from shaking.

"Sure." I pointed to the song I wanted then waited for his to cue it up. Finally he stood next to me and began to speak into the mic.

"The lovely Miss Vega has requested a duet for her first performance. So, we're going to sing 'First Impressions' from 'First Date'". The music started playing as I looked out at the crowd watching us. Sandy was snuggling into Rex while Beck watched me with a strange look on his face.

Andre:
She's a little artsy
She's hip and cool
She's just like all those girls
That ignored me all through school
She's kinda indie and pretty hot
She's a lot like all the things that I am not

I was impressed with Andre's voice as he sang. I knew he loved music, but I'd never realised he was this talented.

Me:
He's a bit annoying
And overdressed
He's got the kind of vibe that says "Look at me,
I'm stressed!"
Probably likes to cuddle
Long walks in the park
And if he likes sex bet it's only in the dark

It had been so long since I'd sung in front of anyone, I tried not to look at anyone, but I couldn't help watching Beck watching me. Jade noticed and with a smirk on her face, pulled him into a deep kiss. Sandy followed my line of sight, a frown creasing her forehead.

"Wow! You're amazing!" Cat bounded up to me, trailed by Robbie, after the song had finished.

"Thanks Cat. I'm a little rusty."

"Well, you couldn't tell."She wrapped her arms around me before dragging Robbie off to dance.

"Damn girl." Sandy nudged me with her shoulder.

"What?" We walked outside to get some fresh air.

"You certainly know how to make a guy want you."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Sandy pulled out her pear phone and brought up the Slap.

"Watch this." She pressed play on a video of me and Andre singing.

"Someone uploaded a video, already?" She shushed me as it played. Whoever had videoed it had obviously noticed me looking at Beck and panned over to him. There was a soft smile on his face.

"Well?" She asked when the video finished.

"That means nothing." I told her about the auditions I was blowing off the next day.

"Oh hell no! I am dragging you to that audition, you will blow everyone away and get that part." Sandy crossed her arms and glared at me, swaying slightly from the beer she'd drunk.

"I don't wan-"

"You're going. Oh look, Beck's singing." She dragged me back inside where Beck sat on a stool, singing Ed Sheeran's 'Lego House. I had to admit, he was good. "You two are going to be amazing in this play." Sandy whispered in my ear.

"And he'll still have a girlfriend."

"Maybe." Sandy glanced over into the corner of the room where Jade was stood chatting to a guy from our English class.

"What does that supposed to mean."

"Why would she be so jealous of you if she and Beck were so perfect for each other?" I shrugged my shoulders.

"I don't trust her. I think she's trying to keep you away from him because she's got something to prove by being with him."

"You're being ridiculous."

"We'll see."

Thoughts? I'd love to hear them. Don't worry, this isn't going to be a ridiculously angsty fic if I can help it. And, don't forget, we're only 4 chapters in, Beck and Tori won't be getting together within minutes (they WILL get together eventually though) because I don't like the idea of rebound relationships.

And, as you may have noticed, this fic is rated M, and for reasons that will become clear in later chapters.