Why was she being the third wheel again? Oh, yeah. It was because Beck invited her…
Chapter 7: Third Wheel
Beck approached Tori casually. "Want to hang out today after school?"
"Uh… Sure. What are we going to do?"
"I got it covered. Don't worry."
Tori shrugged off the conversation. She thought nothing of it since she's hung out with the pretty boy several times since she's become friends with him. Not that Jade knew about it because… well, no one could tell Jade ANYTHING about her boyfriend hanging out with another girl unless someone wanted that girl to disappear. Or pee her pants.
Jade's scared a girl so bad once the girl did that.
Bodily fluids aside, Tori usually just let him have a helping hand by providing a listening ear, some sympathy, and some possibilities of what his girlfriend what might be feeling. Basically she was a best friend, even though she wanted more.
School ended and Tori wasted no time hunting down Beck near his car. She was nearly in front of him when she realized that Jade was right by his side.
Tori stopped. She knew that she couldn't just say 'I guess we're going to hang out some other time,' or something like that right in front of Jade, so she debated on just walking away. Beck noticed her before the brunette could disappear.
"Hey, Tori! You ready to go?"
"Yeah! Yes, I am ready." Tori replied nervously. She gazed over at Jade who was playing with her hair.
Jade glared back. "I don't know why she needs to come with us."
Come with them? He planned for the three of us to hang out? Tori debated on how to continue the conversation, but Beck once again took hold of the situation.
"Come on. Let's go you two." Beck gave a light smile to his girlfriend's glare. "Get in the car."
The atmosphere was awkward between the three. Jade refused to speak unless she was belittling Tori or questioning why Beck wanted the other girl around at all, Beck was retaining the 'peace' by changing the topic and Tori was just sitting in the back. She was completely uncomfortable in even being there.
Tori watched the scenery go by. "So where are we going to hang out?"
"We're going to an art gallery." Beck informed. "Jade has an art piece there."
"Wow Jade. That's amazing!"
"Don't sweet talk me." Jade snapped.
The silence in the car was heavy even when Beck turned on the radio. Tori wondered why he would date a girl that had such attitude problems, but then reminded herself that it wasn't her business.
It's not like he's MY boyfriend or anything, so what right do I have to judge?
Beck parked the car easily on the street. As they got out of the car Tori's curiosity flared up again.
"Don't art galleries open at night or something? Why are we here during the day?"
"Jade's piece is being hung up today. We'll go tonight to the premiere, but we wanted you to see it before then since its invitation only." Beck admitted.
Jade scoffed. "Who's we? YOU are the one that dragged her here. I never said I wanted her here."
Beck sighed. His patience was wearing thin from trying to keep the peace. He decided on honesty instead. "Jade, we all know that Tori and you are friends and you wanted her to see it."
"Um, who's we?" Tori asked.
"If I wanted her to see it I would have given her an invitation like I did with Cat, Andre, and Robbie. That's right Vega. I didn't invite you!"
Jade and Beck started bickering between themselves. Tori didn't even bother to join into the conversation. She hated getting involved in relationship fights.
Tori followed after the couple as they walked down the street to the art gallery. Jade was all but shouting as Beck tried to reason with her, but still she didn't get involved. A few times here or there she almost opened her mouth to blurt something to include, though knowing Jade would feel ganged up on Tori held back.
They entered the gallery and continued fighting even though a worker was trying to talk to Jade about her piece and where it would go. Tori took the time to break off from them and look at the artwork.
Beck followed her. She turned to see Jade talking with the worker. "She's going to be mad if she sees you with me."
"She'll be fine. I'll show you where her art is on display."
Tori let him lead her throughout the gallery. They would stop here and there whenever there was a piece they liked. The two talked easily. Tori was beginning to loosen up, she began to forget that Beck had a girlfriend standing not even a room away. Like all the other times they hung out by themselves chemistry would sizzle through her. The only thing she found wondering is if it felt it too.
They stopped in front of Jade's painting. Tori had to admit as dark as it was it was lovely. There was a beautiful girl painted in blood red with a black and gnarled beast beside her. The piece read Red Riding Hood. The brunette smiled.
Leave it to Jade to turn a fairytale into a nightmare.
"Don't let the mean things Jade says get to you." Beck stated.
"She says it all the time. I don't know why she's like that. Would it kill her to be even a little nice?"
Beck sighed. "Jade acts tough, but she likes you. She does think of you as a good friend even though she pushes you away."
Tori didn't believe one word of what he was saying. "Is that something she actually said?"
"No. But I know her. I know her better than anyone including why she's like this. You're a good friend to her. She needs that."
Guilt and self loathing split apart Tori's gut. Would he be so understanding and nice if he knew that I secretly wanted them to break up? Would he still think I'm such a great friend if he saw the way I practically pray that he'd kiss me whenever he looked at me?
"I'll try my best."
Jade walked up behind them. "You are too close to Beck."
Tori ignored the rudeness and made a positive comment on the painting. Jade rolled her eyes.
"Vega's seen it. Can we take her home now, so we can get something to eat?"
Beck kissed his girlfriend's cheek. "We're taking her with us to eat then we'll drop her at home and get ready for tonight."
The dark haired girl crossed her arms, but didn't argue.
XXX
Tori sat watching Beck and Jade make out in the booth across from them. She figured that they must have made up because the way they were swallowing each other's faces was like nothing she had ever seen.
It had started with flirting, then lightly touching each other until it changed to sharing food and going overboard with cuteness. Tori hadn't even known Jade could be like that with anyone. She had seen more positive facial expressions on the girl's face in the past ten minutes than all of the time she had known the couple.
Being the third wheel was never fun, so Tori scooted out of the booth and left the restaurant. She was a friend to both of them even when she had a crush on Beck.
She felt like a coward, but wishing they were happy only went so far when the pain in her heart said she wanted to slam Jade in the ground and kiss Beck herself. Tori held her phone and called her sister.
"Hey can you come pick me up?"
Tori turned back to the window of the restaurant. Beck and Jade were talking and laughing now. They didn't even seem to notice she was gone.
She wasn't sure she could be as good of a friend as he wanted her to be. She wasn't sure she could be a friend at all.
Notes:
I know what the last chapter of this will be but I'm not sure how many chapters I want there to be of this. I'm planning for more fragments here and there as well as other one shots, and there is a somewhat loose plan until 25 chapters, but there are a lot of things I want to add so it's a little bit of a mess. Keep reviewing and I'll try to do my best!
