Author's Note: So…It's been a while…I'm really sorry about the delay. Finals had me distracted for weeks but good news- I'm officially on Christmas break so I decided to write an extra long chapter to make it up to you guys. Plus, I've got some really great ideas for where I want the story to go. Merry Christmas and I hope you enjoy

Beck POV

I rush ahead of Jade and Andre and pace in front of Sikowitz's door waiting for them to catch up. Or maybe I'm just trying to calm down. I need to talk to her. It's been weeks and we've barely spoken but I can't just ignore what she's doing. Andre has been friends with Jade just as long as he's been friends with me so I never would have asked him to pick between us after the break up…but there was something just too intimate about their embrace.

They rounded the corner and I could just see Andre pulling his arm away from around Jade's shoulders. This angered me further but why I don't know. Jade was free to do whatever the hell she wanted. Maybe it's because it's Andre. Now isn't the time to analyze my sudden outburst though. Now is the time to go back into class and start the lesson that was delayed because Jade and Andre are fucking sneaking around behind people's backs. Wait what? Where the hell is this coming from? Fuck it. Class now, figure this shit out later. I walk into Sikowitz's classroom and take my seat again followed by Andre and then Jade. Andre mumbles a quick "Sorry," before sitting.

"Well, now that we're all in attendance," Sikowitz pauses to give an exaggeratedly pointed look to both Andre and Jade, "let us begin our lesson. You have all moved beyond depending on yourselves and your individual commitment to pull off monologues. It's time to move on to one of the most difficult aspects of acting. It's time for partner scenes. Doing a scene with just two people can be very challenging. You must both stay fully focused and committed to the scene in order for it to work. For this assignment, I will split you up into boy-girl pairs and give you a genre to portray. You will then improv a scene for the class later this week. I don't want you to memorize a script. You may come up with a premise but the rest should be very organic. I want you to invest in whatever direction this scene takes completely. Now let's have a little demonstration." Sikowitz pauses to stare at all of us while stroking his chin. "Jade," he finally says. Her eyes, which were dazed before, snap up to glare at Sikowitz.

"What?" she says annoyed. I look over to her. I hadn't really looked at her in the closet before. Everything just got kinda blurry. Now that I can fully see her, I notice that something is off. She seems paler. Her eyes, which were always my favorite part of her, didn't hold the same energy they normally did. It was almost as if they had dulled. She's also rubbing her stomach like she's trying to soothe it. It's a small gesture but enough for me to notice it. Maybe she's sick and trying to hide it or something.

"Get on stage," he says. She sighs and gets up from her chair and moves over to the classroom's makeshift stage at the front of the class. "Since we have limited time due to the delay in class starting, I'm just going to use a pair that I know works." He paused and turned towards me. Fuck. "Beck. You. On stage. Now." I could see Jade silently cursing Sikowitz from where she was standing. But I'm training to be a professional so I stood up and joined my ex-girlfriend. "Your genre is romance." Jade seriously looked like she was contemplating walking out of class. "And….go."

It's silent for a while. This could be my chance. She has to talk to me now. This isn't really the time to air our dirty laundry to the class but it's not like most of them even know what we're talking about. They would think this whole scene is made up. Tori, Cat, Robbie, and Andre know almost everything about us anyway.

I decide to just go for it and see what happens. "What happened to us?" I start.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she says with her back to me.

"Don't give me that crap." I walk up right behind her. "You know what I'm talking about. I mean how could we go from not being able to get enough of each other, from spending virtually every waking minute together, to not being able to be in the same room together?"

"We were kids when we started dating. We thought we knew everything there was to know about love. We were wrong, we knew nothing about it," she says turning around to face me. "It's best if we just move on. We're not kids anymore. We can't live under those same delusions."

"Stop doing that," I said angrily.

"Doing what?"

"Devaluing our relationship," I snap. "We spent three goddamn years together. I know you better than anyone else in the world, just like you know me." I step closer to her. "I know why you have the scar by your hip bone, I know that you play a lullaby to help you go to sleep, I know where to kiss you to make your entire body shiver," I say in a husky voice. I can see her swallow because if there was a doubt in her mind before that this was just acting, it's gone now.

"What? You want some kind of fucking award for that? For being the only person I've really let into my life just so you could fuck me over? You left without even really trying! So don't play the victim card alright?"

Was she serious? "Don't tell me I didn't try," I growl angrily. "I did literally everything I could think of to fix us but something had changed. That doesn't mean my feelings about you changed."

"Then why did you let me go?" she asks sounding heartbroken. There is a gleam in her eyes as they gloss over. To most people, that would be a sign of witnessing true emotion. But not Jade. This is how I know she's back to making this a scene. The only time I've ever seen her eyes do that is when she's in the middle of a play. Maybe she's right to do that though. This is supposed to be a romance scene, not a drama and there's really only one way for romance scenes to end.

"Because I'm an idiot," I say approaching her again. I gently cup her face and look into her eyes. "But I'm not about to make the same mistake twice."

"Just don't hurt me again," she whispers. "I don't think my heart can take it." Damn she's good. Fine, I guess it's time for the finale and we both know what to do next. It's been months but something tells me we'll fall back into it pretty easily. I gently press my mouth to hers and she kisses back. It may only be for show, but fuck I've missed this. The kiss is quickly turning more longing and passionate. I wrap my arms around her waist and she wraps hers around my neck. Before we can get too carried away Sikowitz clears his throat. We break away and step away from each other as the class claps for us.

"Very good. You two were very dedicated. There were no awkward pauses. It flowed very nicely. Actually, I'm going to keep you two as partners. I'd like to see how you two handle a dramatic scene."

"Lucky me," Jade says sarcastically as she makes her was back to her seat.

"Tori and Andre, you will be doing a horror/ suspense scene. Robbie and Cat will do comedy. Shruggers, I'm not totally sure if any of you even talk. Therefore, you may pick your own partners if you are not mute." The bell rings and Jade books it out of the classroom immediately. Everyone else packs up to leave. Andre comes up to me and I know what he's gonna say.

"Look man, I know what you're thinking but nothing is going on with me and Jade. She's having a rough time right now. You and I are the two people she's known the longest. Are you really that surprised that she would come to me first after everything?" I guess that makes sense but I still wanna know what's going on with her.

"Yeah, no it's cool. I guess it was just a weird to see and I jumped to a conclusion. My bad."

"It's all good. I would have reacted the same way if I was in your spot. I gotta go though. Tori and I are gonna figure out the background for our scene. See ya," he says walking out of the room.

Shit. I'm gonna have to try to figure that out with Jade. I'll be able to get her to talk to me. Even if she was acting by the end, she was definitely being honest at some point during our scene. That reminds me though. Was that her when she said she didn't think I tried, or was that her 'character?' I was downright desperate by the end of our relationship to get it to go back to the way it used to be. I remember the moment when I though that just maybe we would be able to do that.

~Flashback~

Beck and Jade we on their way into Jade's room. Both of her parents were gone yet again so there was no one around to hear their latest argument. They had been going off on each other more than usual this week. It had reached its height today after Sinjin awarded them 'The Worst Couple.'

"Guess what Jade? It's later so were gonna talk about this."

"Why? What the fuck is focusing on this gonna do to improve our relationship? You fucking screamed to a group of people we don't even know that you weren't happy with our relationship. No fucking Duh we're going to be deemed 'The Worst Couple.' Do you even get how embarrassing that was? If you're really that unhappy then just get the fuck out. I'm not keeping you here against your will. You wanna go? Go!"

But that's not what he wanted. It's not what either of them wanted. To prove it Beck grabbed Jade by the shoulders and crashed his lips to hers locking her in an intimate embrace. Jade gave in for a second before breaking away.

"Stop. You can't just kiss me and think that's gonna fix everything." Beck was at a loss. He didn't know what to do and the idea of losing what he had with this girl terrified him. It terrified her just as much, though she would never admit she depended on someone else for anything.
Beck let his forehead drop to her chest keeping his tight grip on his shoulders. "Jade I don't know what else to do. Please. Let's just make things how they used to be." Though they both knew it wasn't that simple, the desperation in Beck's voice frightened her into being willing to try anything. She cupped his cheek with her hand and brought his lips back to hers. They never broke apart as they made their way over to her bed. Beck hovered over her as he gently pushed her body into the mattress. When they finally came up for air Jade pulled off Beck's tee shirt and allowed her hands to roam over his torso feeling each crevice from his sculpted abs. Beck started kissing Jade's neck as he reached for the bottom of her top. Jade sat up to allow Beck to take it off of her. They laid back down and resumed kissing.

This kissing was different than what the had been doing for the past few weeks. Lately every time they had sex it was frenzied and rough. This time, they were going to go slow and take their time with each other. Beck, still kissing her neck, moved his hand over her bare torso, down her thighs to her core where he gently started massaging her over her tights. Jade's breathing hitched as she wasn't used to this gentle of a touch. They hadn't been this careful with one another since they lost their virginities. She began to breathe more heavily letting out the occasional whimper.

Jade then moved to the next step where she removed his belt and unzipped his jeans pushing them down his legs. Beck stops what he's doing to kick his pants and boxers off before returning to Jade. He slips her skirt off of her and unrolls her tights from her body leaving them both completely naked. He resumes his place on top of her and kisses her lovingly on the lips. His "J" necklace is resting on Jade's chest and she rolls it around in her slender fingers. Beck then takes her hand and interlaces her fingers with his own. With one more kiss he lines himself at her entrance and slowly pushes into her. This is actually a recreation of the first time they had sex. Only this time they aren't nervous fourteen year olds. They know each others bodies as well as they know their own. It takes no time at all for them to fall into a synchronized rhythm.

"Beck. Oh God. Please," she moans.

"What baby? Tell me what you need," he says as he continues to hit her deeper and deeper.

"You. More. Now," she says as her breathing continues to escalate.

They flip over so that Jade is on top now. With their slow speed and this new angle, this is the deepest he's ever been inside her. And based on their uncontrollable moans, they can both feel it. It soon becomes too much for them and Jade is arching her back as their hips start to move faster. Beck pushes himself into a sitting position so they are face to face. He wraps his arm around her lower back as she tangles her hands in his hair. They can both feel that they are reaching an end. They maintain eye contact as they finish at the same time. Beck and Jade still intertwined in each other lay down on Jade's bed and Beck takes Jade's burgundy throw blanket and wraps them up in it. They are facing each other as they try to get their breathing back under control.

"This is how it's supposed to be," Beck says as he kisses Jade's forehead. Time was lost after that as they just stayed there looking at each other, stroking the other's cheek, offering a tender kiss. This was the most content they'd felt in a long time.

They broke up the next day.

It still hurts to think about that night. I was so sure that things would change after that. I don't know why though. It's not like we worked through any of our problems. But, that was the last time we had had sex and if I'm being honest, it was the best sex of our relationship. In three years, no other time could touch that. We took every ounce of love and passion we'd held for each other over the past three years and put it into that moment. Now look at us. They only time we can really communicate is when we're supposed to be doing a scene. And if Andre is right, and Jade is going through something, I hate that I'm not the first person she's going to. I used to be the only person she'd go to. Just because I couldn't handle constantly fighting with the person I loved more than anyone or anything else in the world doesn't mean I don't care about her. I've got to find a way to talk to her alone. I hear footsteps come up behind me and I know they belong to a girl. Hoping it's Jade I turn around but instead I find Tori.

"Oh hey," I say sounding slightly dejected.

"Hey," she says. "Sorry to disappoint."

Realizing how it sounds I instantly feel bad. "No, I'm sorry. It's just," before I can finish Tori does it for me.

"It's just that you were hoping it would be Jade?"

"Sort of," I say. "I mean this is the most we've spoken since we broke up. If we're gonna do another scene together I feel like we should talk or something. The only issue is, is that Jade specializes in avoiding conversations she doesn't want to have." This conversation about the scene reminds me of something. "Hey I thought you and Andre as supposed to be rehearsing."

"Yeah that's sort of why I'm here. We were supposed to hang out and figure out our background story and stuff but he ran into Jade. He asked if they could have a minute alone so I figured I should see if anyone is still around." She pauses and looks like she's debating something in her mind. "Look, this probably isn't any of my business but has Andre ever talked to you about Jade?"

"Not really. I mean I would ask his advice sometimes but they're basically brother and sister so I kept the details on our relationship to a minimum."

"Okay well I've noticed a change in their relationship. It started around the earthquake. He's constantly looking over at her and when we all stand in a group, they stand really close together. It's like he's protecting her or something. And she leans towards him a lot and stuff. I don't know." There's something she's not telling me.

"Spit it out Tori."

"Um okay so last year when Andre and Jade recorded that song together? Yeah, well Andre sort of had this huge crush on her. He was saying that he thought he might be in love with her but that he would never move in on a friend's girlfriend. I'm just saying that now that you're not dating, maybe he's decided to make a move. I know that you guys are best friends and I don't want this to come as a surprise to anyone so I figured I'd tell you."

Fuck. God fucking damn it. I knew he was lying to me about Jade. "Thanks for telling me. I think Jade and I need to have a conversation," I say as I walk out of the room into the empty hallway. Empty, that is, except for Jade and Andre. "Hey," I say. Jade and Andre both jump at the sound of my voice as before they were standing very close whispering very intently about something. "So Jade, we should probably figure out a background story for our scene."

"I don't think that's necessary. We did just fine today with no prepping," she says.

"Our genre is drama and unless you wanna risk the whole class hearing about our private lives, I think we should come up with a story beforehand." Jade's an incredibly private person so I knew she couldn't refuse.

"Fine. I'll text you a story," she says and turns to leave. Now with just Andre and me in the hall, there is an awkwardness that never used to be there now that I know the truth. Apparently Andre can sense it too because he mumbles something about needing to work on his scene and leaves. I'm done with people avoiding these conversations. I'm gonna talk to the both of them whether they're comfortable or not.