04. Can't Stop Feeling

It was 10:30 PM, and Tori had just made her entrance at the party, escorted by André and Trina. The quad was already full of bustling and dancing kids while loud, up-beat music played on.

She could feel her heart beat erratically in her chest. Was tcsnike09 already here? And if he was, where? Was he as nervous as she was? All these thoughts ran through her mind at warp speed.

André rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Listen, it's going to be fine. You just have to relax."

"Relax, yes that's what I should do." Tori agreed, nodding her head as she took in a few deep breaths. "How can I relax? This guy is all I've ever wanted. He's smart, funny, appreciates the arts and likes long walks on the beach. What if I'm not what he expects?"

"Slow down there. Of course he's going to like you. Just go chill till 11 PM. Everything will be fine."

Those remaining thirty minutes felt like hours to Tori. She kept checking her cell phone to see if it was 11 PM yet.

It was 10:53 PM, and Tori's eyes were already glued to the Grub Truck. Her heart froze ice cold for a moment when she saw Robbie standing there. Thankfully, he kept on walking, past the Grub Truck.

This only made her more nervous. It could be anyone, yes it could even be Robbie. That thought scared her. What if he wasn't what she was expecting? Who could ever meet Tori's expectations anyway? In her mind, this guy was "the one" and perfect.

She was walking in circles now, around the cheese fondue fountain, her fingers fidgeting with the ends of her dark brown hair. What if he stands me up? She thought to herself. What if this was all one big joke someone was playing on her? What if, what if.

Merely three minutes has passed since the last time Tori checked her cell phone: 10:56 PM. Tori scanned the crowd again. She saw Cat giggling about something with Robbie and Rex, Jade was sitting at a table all by herself, Sinjin (not so discreetly) spying on her a few feet away. Wait, why was Jade alone? Where was Beck? That was odd, Tori thought.

Her gaze drifted to André who was checking out a keytar, playin some sick tunes, hardly audible due to the music which was already playing. His dark locks bopped up and down as he moved to the beat of his own melody.

Tori smiled to herself, looking down at her cell phone again. One more minute left. Sixty seconds, fifty-nine seconds. The final countdown had begun in her head.

Slowly, but surely, without daring to look directly into to the direction of her destination, she started to inch closer towards the Grub Truck.

Thirty-two seconds remained. Her eyes couldn't hold back anymore. She had to see if anyone was already there. Tori wasn't going to chicken out. Even if this guy was hidious, a guy she loathed or someone she hadn't ever seen before - the emails they sent back and forth were real. She refused to judge whoever was standing there, if there was even anyone standing there.

Tori lifted up her chin, her eyes focusing on the Grub Truck. Her heart suddenly plummeted to the bottom of her stomach and then jolted right back up into her chest.

It was Beck, clad in a yellow lumberjack blouse, leaning back against the Grub Truck. Why was he standing there? Why wasn't he with Jade?

Then it hit her: tcsnike09 was Beck. Beck was tcsnike09. The puzzle pieces finally started to fall together. The fact that he was so secretive about his relationship status: he was with Jade. He loved acting and writing: so Beck. Beck was her mystery guy.

She felt knots being tied in the pit of her stomach. Beck was perfect, he was the one. But Tori couldn't bring herself to walk on over when the clock hit 11:00 PM.

He was with Jade, he had a girlfriend and Tori just couldn't. It would be too awkward if Beck knew she was oceanxatlantic, the one he'd been emailing wit the past few weeks. Maybe he was better off not knowing, she thought.

11:06 PM, Beck was texting someone on his cell phone, and she suddenly felt her phone vibrate in the pocket of her jeans.

From: tcsnike09 [tcsnike09 ]

Sent: Saturday 23 April 2011 23:06

To: oceanxatlantic

Subject: ?

Where are you?

Tori took in a deep breath as she replied:

From: oceanxatlantic [oceanxatlantic ]

Sent: Saturday 23 April 2011 23:07

To: tcsnike09

Subject: RE: ?

Look to your left..

When Tori hit send she was just waiting for Beck to reach for his pocket and read the text. And yes, there it was. His hand slid down in the pocket of his jeans. She saw his eyes flicker back and forth, obviously reading her email. Confused, Beck rose his head, searching into the left direction.

His eyes fell upon Tori, clutching onto her cell phone as she gazed at him, feeling lost. Now he knew.