A Christmas Tori

"Babe, we've officially been looking for this cricket for an hour. We're not gonna find it," exclaimed a frustrated Jade.

"We have to find it," said an uncharacteristically high-strung Beck, "I haven't gotten a proper night of sleep in days!"

"Then you should move back in with your parents!"

"I can't do that!"

"Why not?"

"Jade! Just help me find the cricket!"

"No! If you can't sleep here, and you won't go back to your actual house, then you should at least come stay with me," Jade finished then plopped down on his bed.

Beck pinched the bridge of his nose. "If I do that, then it's like I'm letting it win. This is my room, and I will live in it!"

"Beck…"

"Plus, you know my parents would never go for me staying at your house; neither would your mom."

"They let me sleep here all the time."

"My parents let you stay here 'cuz this is my roof and they can't make any rules. Your mom thinks your at Cat's when you stay here."

"Fine whatever," Jade said. "You could just sneak in."

"Jade, that's ridiculous. You live on a second story. And we'd totally get caught."

"Fine, well, I'm going home. Call me when you're ready to get a good night's rest."

After two more days of suffering without sleep and venti triple shot espressos from Jet-Brew, Beck finally succumbed and snuck into Jade's room.

"Jade! Babe!"

Jade groaned in her sleep, annoyed at being awoken.

"Jade!" Beck whisper-shouted.

She opened one eye to give her boyfriend an annoyed look. "Please tell me you have a decent reason for waking me at," she paused to look at the alarm clock on her night table, "three in the morning."

Despite her supposed annoyance, she had already begun to scoot to the side of her bed, and pull the covers down to make room for him. He got in, taking her into his arms. She settled her head in the crook of his neck and put her arms around his waist.

"Sorry to wake you," Beck said delivering a kiss to Jade's nose. "If I say 'you were right' will you forgive me?"

Jade paused for all of two seconds, putting her index finger to her chin pretending to think about it, then replied with a curt, "No." She rolled over dramatically, pulling his arms around her waist, settling herself against him, allowing his legs to cradle hers.

"Goodnight." Beck delivered another kiss to her temple then fell into the deepest sleep he'd had in days.

The next day, in Sikowitz' classroom, as class was ending.

"Tori, Jade, Beck, Cat, Andre, and Robby! Please stay behind!" Sikowitz said as the majority of the class exited upon the bell ringing.

"I wonder what totally weird thing he has for us today," Jade snarked. Tori rolled her eyes, preparing herself for a sarcastic response, but Sikowitz beat her to it.

"Nothing particularly weird today, other than a great desire for bagels."

The students stared at him dumbfounded, then Andre spoke up, "What's up Sikowitz."

"The ceiling," Sikowitz began, "also, our Christmas Secret Santa. I trust you have all planned what you will be getting your partners."

Some of the teens replied with rather smug looks, while others looked down in guilt.

"Either way, you're dismissed." Sikowitz ran out of the classroom without his shoes on as usual. Tori, Cat, and Robby followed him out, not wanting to be late to their next class.

"Hey Jade!" Andre called out as she and Beck were exiting.

They stopped and turned around.

"Beck you mind if I talk to Jade for a minute." Jade turned up her face, about to complain that it should matter whether or not Beck minded, but Beck started before she could.

"Yeah, sure." He delivered a kiss to Jade's cheek and told her he'd meet her in the courtyard for lunch.

Annoyed, Jade turned her gaze upon Andre. "What do you want?"

"I need help figuring out what to get Beck for or Secret Santa."

"No chance." Jade turned, ready to walk out to her next class, that she was already late for.

"No, wait!" Andre grabbed her arm but then let go at the look on her face. "Could you just give me an idea? I don't want to get stuck Yodeling with Sikowitz!"

She contemplated leaving since he touched her, but decided she could use this to her advantage. "There's a cricket stuck in Beck's RV. He hasn't slept in days. Get it out." She paused then said, "And the next time you touch me, I'll break your arm." With that, she waltzed out of the room.

The next day, after Tori's gift presentation to Andre.

Beck found Jade as the students were all cheering and congratulating Andre. Beck tapped her shoulder and kissed her neck, putting his arms around her waist. She smiled slyly, turning around in his arms. She put her arms around his neck, kissing him full on the lips.

"Good job, Mrs. Claus." Beck said, twirling her around and giving her a once over.

"Did you have anything to do with my Secret Santa gift?" Beck said, referring to Andre's gift to him earlier.

"Maybe," she replied coyly.

He chuckled smoothly, "Well I appreciate it." He winked. "I also appreciate this costume of yours."

"Oh do you?" she flirted back, "I guess I could keep this on."

He chuckled again and twirled her again so that she would end up with her back to him. He whispered in her ear, "I think after all this, the day's pretty much done right?" She nodded against his shoulder and he continued, "What do you say to heading out early and taking advantage of my newly cricket free RV?"

She smiled yes and kissed him again, then began making her way towards the parking lot.