A/N This is the dance chapter and the first rehearsals chapter. I know it doesn't go with what I said earlier about Jade's play, but I'm using lines from the film the cast did in "A Film By Dale Squires" because it really fits in the best, and I don't want to confuse anyone by writing a play within a story lol. So yeah…pretend Jade wrote everything :) I loveeeeed writing this chapter, so I really hope everyone enjoys it! Xx

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"Okay everyone, great job so far," Sikowitz clapped his hands together excitedly. "Now, Beck and Cat, this upcoming scene is your first kissing scene. I don't believe in any of that 'save the actual kissing for open night so it's more believable' garbage, I believe practice makes perfect! So make the kiss passionate and convincing. But please, keep it PG 13."

Jade shot Sikowitz a look at his last statement that didn't go unnoticed by Beck and Cat.

Cat swallowed nervously. Maybe she should back out from the lead and let someone else have it. She really, really didn't want to make Jade mad at her…and she really didn't want to complicate her and Beck's newfound friendship. She began to panic as anxiety built up inside of her.

"Hey," Beck whispered to her, grabbing her arm before she turned away from him and ran off of the stage. "S'okay, Jade isn't anyone to be afraid of. She knew this was going to happen, and she'll be fine. And if she's not, it's me who she'll be mad at. If we do this perfectly once, Sikowitz won't make us do it again, okay?"

"Kay," Cat mumbled uncertainly.

"Okay, Beck, Cat, face each other and grab each other's hands," Sikowitz ordered. "And then you may begin the scene."

Beck didn't dare look at Jade. That would completely throw him off. He had to focus and get into character and deliver his lines perfectly.

"No, Monica, don't…" he said lowly, sadly.

And then Cat's eyes found his as she batted her eyelashes sadly, looking more serious than he'd ever seen her. That was the thing with Cat, she was bubbly and girly and a little bit ditzy, but when she was acting it was like she became the character she was playing. She gave it her all and completely let herself get lost in the scene and moment.

She stepped closer to him, wrapping her hands around his neck. Her touch was like velvet, and he blinked slowly, readying himself for what happened next.

In the next second, she leaned in and they kissed.

And sparks flew instantly.

It was like an electric shock went through Beck's body, just like the first time he'd ever kissed her.

A too short second later, she broke the kiss and slid down his chest and to the floor, pretending to faint.

"Perfect!" Sikowitz exclaimed. "That was fantastic!"

Cat opened her eyes and smiled. Beck reached a hand out and helped her up, still feeling shaken from the kiss.

Why couldn't he have just not felt anything? He'd never felt anything before when he had to kiss a girl while acting. Why now? Why Cat?
"I think we should just wrap this up for the day," Jade suggested sourly from her director's chair beside Sikowitz.

Sikowitz shrugged. "Okay. You guys are all free to go. Have fun at the dance tomorrow, you never know, I might show up and force you all into a drive by acting exercise!"

Tori, Andre, Robbie and Trina rose from their seats and began talking amongst themselves.

Beck and Cat made their way off stage, ready to join their friends as they headed out of the classroom and into the hallway.

"Beck, Cat, stay behind a moment," Sikowitz said.

Jade raised her eyebrows, shooting daggers at Beck, but followed Robbie out the door.

"You guys did brilliant," Sikowitz complimented them again. "I just wanted you guys to know that Jade made some minor changes in the script. That will be your only kissing scene, and that will actually be moved to the end of the play. Monica doesn't only faint, she dies. So that will be the closing scene, and I think Jade made a good call. It's a powerful and mysterious way to end the play. We'll talk more on Monday."

"Oh, okay," Cat smiled.

"Sounds good," Beck agreed, feeling bittersweet. It was probably a good thing that he didn't have to kiss Cat multiple times, but he was kind of angry that Jade allowed her feelings to change a perfectly good play.

Sikowitz gathered his things and left, probably expecting Cat and Beck to follow, but neither of them moved.

"Cat…?" he asked. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, of course I am," she said quickly. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know…just…did you feel anything?"

The truth was, when she'd kissed Beck, it was like all of her feelings came back to her. She wasn't over him at all. She was still in love with him. But she knew it was wrong and she felt incredibly guilty. She couldn't hurt Jade that way.

"Beck, nothing's changed," she said softly.

Beck knew better than that. Everything had changed.

She shot him a forced smile, but he saw the brokenness in her eyes. She made her way to the door. "You coming?"

"I'm just going to stay behind and read over the script a few more times. I'll see you at the dance."

"See you," she replied, shutting the door quietly behind her.

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SATURDAY

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Cat and Tori awoke around ten in the morning to the sound of pots and pans clashing together.

"Ugh, Trina's probably trying to cook," Tori said with a yawn.

Cat had spent the night at Tori's house so they could get ready for the dance together. And she was glad that she had, or else she probably would have spent the night in tears if she was by herself.

Today was a new day, and she was going to have a fun time at the dance with all of her friends. What happened with her and Beck was nothing, and she couldn't let it affect her.

"Tori, why don't we have any milk?" Trina shouted downstairs from the kitchen. "I don't know!" Tori yelled back, slapping her hand to her face.

Cat giggled. "Maybe we should go help her."

"We probably should," Tori agreed. "Then we'll shower and do each other's hair and makeup and spend the day getting ready!"

"Okay," Cat smiled happily. She loved Trina, Jade, Tori, and the guys all the same, but it was nice to have a friend who liked to do girly things with her.

So the day went on as planned, they ate, took turns showering and drying their hair, and then got ready for the dance.

Tori decided to do Cat's hair in spiral curls and leave it completely down, giving her a girly, playful look, and Cat straightened Tori's hair, which made it look longer and sleeker than her usual messy waves.

After their makeup was done to perfection and they slipped their dresses on – Tori's was purple and short with thick straps, while Cat's was strapless and baby blue.

"You look beautiful," Cat complimented Tori. "Tonight is going to be so fun!"

"You look pretty, too," Tori said. "In fact, I think you'll be the prettiest girl there."

"Thanks!"

"No problem. Now, let's see if Trina is ready so she can drive us."

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A half an hour later, they arrived at the dance fashionably late. Tori scanned the crowd of people for familiar faces, and grinned when she saw Andre and Robbie standing over by the punch bowl, looking nonchalant.

"Hey guys!" Tori said as she and Cat walked up to them.

Robbie's eyes lit up when he saw Cat, which caused her to blush.

"You look n-nice," he stammered.

"Thanks Robbie!" she beamed. "You look nice too!"

"Thanks," he shrugged. "Do you, uh, want to dance with me?"

"Sure!"

And with that, the two took off to the middle of the dance floor, jumping around to some upbeat new pop song that was playing.

"So, you didn't find yourself a date?" Andre asked Tori curiously.

"Nah," she waved him off. "A few guys asked me…but they weren't really my type."

"Like who?" he inquired.

"Uh, Sinjin, Ryder, and a guy named Jake who I barely know."

Andre laughed. "That's tough."

"What about you?" she shot back. "I don't see you here with anyone."

"I had a date, but she cancelled on me at the last minute because her ex-boyfriend wanted to get back together."

"Ouch," Tori winced. "I'm sorry."

"It's cool," he assured her. "But since we're both dateless…"

Tori herself smiling. "Yeah…?"

"Do you want to dance? That way we don't look like complete losers?"

"I'd love to dance," she agreed.

They interlocked hands and were about to walk away from the punch bowl until they heard an all too familiar voice shouting from behind them.

"I don't want to be here!"

"Then why did you agree to come?"

"You're the one who wanted to come!"

It was Beck and Jade, and they were walking toward Tori and Andre. Andre quickly dropped Tori's hand, causing her to frown.

"Hey guys," Beck greeted them.

"Hey Beck," Tori waved.

"I apologize in advance for her," he said, nodding toward Jade who was standing a bit away with her arms crossed and an annoyed look on her face. "She's not in the best mood."

"She never is," Tori blurted out before she could stop herself.

"Watch yourself, Vega," Jade growled.

"Well, uh, this is sufficiently awkward," Andre mumbled.

"Andre and I were just about to go and dance…" Tori added.

"Oh," Beck said in realization. "Well don't let us stop you. I can deal with my girlfriend."

"Oh, so now you're just 'dealing' with me?" Jade asked, obviously offended.

"Bye," Tori squeaked, rushing away with Andre to find Cat and Robbie.

"You scared our friends away," Beck pointed out to her.

"They aren't my friends," she shrugged. "I can't stand Tori, I tolerate Andre, Robbie is a freak with a puppet and Cat is like a lost puppy."

"Okay, well either way, you're causing a scene."

"So you're embarrassed to be with me?"

"What? I didn't say that!"

"I'm leaving."

"Jade, the dance just started a half an hour ago."

"Well have fun with your friends," she scoffed, turning on her heel and walking away.

Beck ran a hand through his hair. He didn't want to leave, so he wasn't going to. He didn't know what Jade was so angry about, but he was tired of her trying to control him all of the time.

Deciding to stay, he went off to find Andre and hang out with him and Tori.

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The rest of the night went rather smoothly. There was just about an hour left before the dance ended, so most of the songs that were playing were slow ones as everyone unwound.

Beck had been having a great time with Andre and Tori, and even Trina as they all danced and laughed, but something – or someone – was missing.

The bubbly little red head that the group had barely seen all night. Cat usually made a fun situation even more fun, and the dance didn't feel right without her. So Beck went off to find her, assuming she was with Robbie somewhere.

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Across the dance floor, Cat and Robbie had just finished slow dancing to a really long song, and Cat's feet hurt from where Robbie had stumbled all over them.

He wasn't the best dancer.

But she didn't mind much, she'd been having a fun night with him. Robbie was weird, sure, but he was also sweet and she thought it was cute how nerdy he was.

"Hey Cat, I have to go to the bathroom," he yelled over the music. "I'll be back!"

"Kay, Kay!" she said, looking around for her other friends. She hadn't realized that they'd been isolating themselves the whole night, and she decided she was going to spend the last hour with Tori and everyone else.

Turning to go the opposite direction of Robbie, she slammed into someone.

"Hey, I was just looking for you." It was Beck.

"Hi Beck!" she grinned, reaching up and giving him a hug. Even in her heels, their height difference was funny.

He hugged her back happily. "Where have you been all night? I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"With Robbie," she said. "I didn't even realize how late it was getting! Time really flies when you're having fun."

Beck felt a pang of jealousy. Exactly how much fun had she been having with Robbie?

"I want one dance with you," he said. "It's the least you can do since you've been avoiding me all night," he added as a joke.

"I wasn't avoiding you," she protested. "Robbie's my date and I have to spend the most time with him."

Beck's stomach dropped. Maybe Cat really did like Robbie.

"I don't think Jade would like us to dance, anyway," she added, looking at the ground.

"Jade left an hour ago. She said this dance was lame and she'd have more fun sitting at home."

"Oh…"

"So, will you dance with me?"

Cat hesitated for a minute, knowing it probably wasn't the best idea. She knew the right thing to do would be to just say no. "Yes."

Just as she agreed, the song Drops of Jupiter by Train came on, and people began pairing up to slow dance.

He smiled and wrapped his arms around Cat's tiny waist and he wrapped hers around his neck. They began swaying back and forth at a steady pace.

"Why didn't you leave with Jade?" she asked.

"Because I wanted to stay and have fun with my friends," he shrugged. "And I'm glad I did, or else I wouldn't have gotten to dance with you. You look really pretty tonight."

"Thanks," she grinned. "I would say you do too, but I know you prefer to be called handsome instead."

He chuckled and spun her around. "Hey, Cat, this is a random question…but did you have any boyfriends during the time you were away from Hollywood Arts?"

"I had one," she said. "His name was Nick."

"Oh," Beck said, feeling rather shocked. Although he knew he shouldn't. Cat was a beautiful girl and he didn't blame the guy for snatching her up. "What happened?"

Cat's eyes clouded over with hurt. "He, uh…"

"You don't have to tell me," Beck said quickly, knowing she was on the verge of crying.
"He just wanted me for physical things. And it made me feel yucky how he was always hanging all over me and showing me off to people…and so I told him I didn't want to take things so fast, and he dumped me. He said he needed someone more mature and willing to have a physical relationship."

Beck clenched his jaw, personally wanting to break that guy's neck. "He's dumb for trying to use you like that, and dumber for letting you go."

"Thanks, Beck, but it's okay…I didn't really like him that much."

Beck would never admit it, but he was relieved to hear that.

"When did you and Jade get together?" she asked.

"In the beginning of last year," he said. "That summer was horrible for me…and when we got back to school, I met her and I guess it just happened."

"That summer sucked for me too," she agreed. "But I'm surprised you're with Jade. I could have guessed Tori, or even Trina…because they're more your type, but I never would have guessed you'd be with Jade."

"I think I liked her because she was the farthest thing from my type," he said honestly. "She's different."

"I'm just glad you're happy," she said.

He didn't have anything to say to that, so he spun her once more before the song ended.

"I should get back to Robbie," Cat thought aloud. "I had fun dancing with you. See you at school Monday. Bye Beck!" she gave him a quick hug and disappeared in the crowd of people.

Beck left the dance shortly after that, feeling happy and little sad at the same time.