Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious.
Blink Of An Eye
The days went by slowly for poor Beck. Jade wasn't returning his calls or text messages. When he went to her apartment she never answered the door. Once Tori went through the door to unlock the door for Beck, but soon discovered that Jade and Paige weren't there. They weren't in their apartment for the entire week and that worried Beck. He just hoped they were okay.
Soon it was the day of Cat and Robbie's wedding. Beck was scared that Jade wasn't going to show up. She was Cat's maid of honour and he would feel terrible if he upset Cat because Jade didn't come.
Beck looked at himself in the mirror in his bedroom. He struggled with tying up his tie and grunted every time he had to start over. "Stupid tie," He muttered to himself.
Tori watched him with a giggle. Part of her wished she could help him and the other part found it amusing. "I wish I could help you." She giggled again.
Beck finally got to tie his tie properly. He looked at Tori and rolled his eyes playfully at her. "Sure you do." He said. Tori flashed him a smile.
He looked back in the mirror. He sighed and ran his hand through his thick, dark hair. He thought back to Jade. He hoped that she was okay. That she was just hiding out in a motel or something so he wouldn't find her. If she made it to the wedding or not, Beck wished he knew.
"Do you know if she's coming?" Beck suddenly asked Tori after a moment of silence.
Tori hadn't gotten any information from upstairs on Jade or Paige since she had found out that Tori was now a ghost. She frowned at Beck. His face now masked sadness with a hint of confusion. Tori shook her head no.
"I'm sorry, Beck." She apologised. "I haven't gotten any information on Jade whatsoever."
Beck sighed once more. He glanced at the watch on his wrist to check the time. It was currently twelve o'clock and Beck really didn't want to be late. He got his tuxedo coat from the bed post and slung it over his shoulders.
"We should get going." Beck said. "I don't want to be late."
Tori nodded. She followed him outside and into the car as he buckled up and drove to the wedding reception.
When the two arrived, Andre caught sight of Beck instantly. He grinned at him and walked over. Beck put a smile on his face for Andre.
Andre caught him in a 'man hug'. When they pulled away he patted Beck's shoulder. "Can you believe it?" Andre asked him. "Robbie actually got a girl to marry him." Beck and Andre laughed.
"I thought the day would never come." Beck joked back, nudging him. He caught sight of some of the bridesmaids making their way to the back room. He hoped Jade was already with them. "Hey, Andre, is Jade here yet?"
Andre shrugged. "I have no idea." He admitted. Beck tried not to show his disappointment. Beck saw one of the bridesmaids leaning against the wall on her phone so he thought it would be a good idea to ask her if Jade had arrived yet.
"I'll be right back, Andre." He said and made his way over to the bridesmaid, Tori following close behind. He stood in front of her and she looked up from her phone to look at him. She was blonde and pale with blue eyes and she seemed oddly familiar.
"Can I help you?" She asked rather coldly. Beck wasn't quite used to the rude tone towards him rather than from Jade, but he brushed it off.
"Yeah, you can actually." He replied to the girl. "You're one of Cat's bridesmaids, right?"
"Sure am." She said rather proudly. "What about it?"
"Do you know if Jade, her maid of honour, is here yet?" Beck asked. She looked like she was thinking for a moment.
"I don't think so." She shrugged. "I just reassured Cat that she'd be here, though."
"You know she's coming?"
"Nope, but she'll come. She can't be as cold hearted as to miss someone, especially someone like Cat's wedding."
Beck sighed, hoping she was right. As much as Jade would've never admitted it, she was Cat's best friend in high school and cared so deeply for her. He noticed Tori squinting closely at the girl. "She looks so familiar." She commented. "Ask her who she is."
Beck cleared his throat. "Uh, you look really familiar." Beck said. "Have I seen you somewhere before?"
She smirked proudly. "I'm Sam Puckett. I did a web show a couple of years ago, called iCarly." She said. Beck and Tori both made an 'Oh!' sound as she continued. "I also own a babysitting service with Cat. I've been her roommate for a while now. But since she's moving out with Robbie after this, I'm moving in with my boyfriend."
Beck nodded slowly. "So, that's where you're from." He smiled. "I guess I'll see you later, then."
Sam nodded. "Adios."
Beck made his way back up to Andre. Andre looked at him confusedly. "Why were you talking to that girl?" He asked him. Beck ran his fingers through his hair.
"She looked familiar." He shrugged. That wasn't a complete lie. Andre looked past him and squinted at Sam. She had gone back on her phone.
"Who is she?" Andre asked curiously.
"That girl who used to be on iCarly and now Cat's partner in her babysitting service." Beck said trying to be nonchalant.
"Well, damn, I didn't even recognize her." Andre said. Then he shrugged and turned back to Beck. "Come on, let's get seats." Andre started to lead the way to the row of seats when a man with curly hair stopped them.
"Are you two Andre and Beck?" The curly haired man asked. "Dread locks and fluffy hair?"
Andre, Beck, nor Tori recognized the man that stood before them. But Andre just laughed lightly. "That's us." He said. "Is something wrong?"
He shook his head no. "No, nothing's wrong." He said. "I'm Justin, Robbie's cousin. He asked if you two could come join him in the back room to help him get ready for the wedding."
Beck shrugged and looked at Andre. "Sure, seems fine to me." He replied. "Andre?"
Andre nodded. "Sure. Rob must be pretty nervous." Justin chuckled as if what Andre had just said was a joke.
"Pretty nervous is an understatement." Justin said as he started to lead them into the back room where Robbie was. "He's made up all these ridiculous scenarios in his head of what could go on. If Cat would run off with another guy if someone objected, that he would say 'I don't' instead of 'I do', that he might die of nervousness and the list goes on and on. Someone needs to help that boy."
Andre just laughed at the possible scenarios Robbie had come up with. "Lucky that stupid puppet isn't here. He would make him even more nervous." He said.
Tori laughed at Andre's joke. She knew only Beck heard her laugh, but it was still funny to her.
Justin opened the back room door, revealing Robbie in his tuxedo. Justin was right, Robbie was a mess. He was running his hands through his curly locks like a mad man, his face was beat red and he was hyperventilating. Andre almost laughed thinking the sight was funny, but Beck nudged him. Robbie was nervous enough he didn't need Andre laughing at him.
"Hey Robbie, I brought Andre and Beck." Justin said. He walked up to Robbie and put his hands on his shoulders. "Just relax, will you? Cat loves you and you love her. You two are going to be just fine."
"Justin's right, Rob," Beck said. "This wedding is going to go just as planned." He wished he believed that for himself. He knew that Sam's words should reassure him, but they didn't work as much as he hoped. She didn't even personally know Jade.
"Just take a deep breath." Andre said. "You'll be okay." Justin removed his hands from Robbie's shoulders as Robbie took a deep breath. The boys took a seat on the couch and chair behind where Robbie was standing. Tori continued to stand near the doorway.
"I hope this goes perfect." Robbie said with a sigh. "Cat deserves to have a perfect wedding." He leaned in closer to the mirror to inspect himself.
"You deserve a perfect wedding, too, Rob." Andre said. "Stop worrying okay?"
"I can't!" Robbie wailed. For the next ten minutes, the boys tried to calm down Robbie. It worked after a while and they were able to keep Robbie calm. Beck took the opportunity while Robbie was calm to try and call Jade and text her to see if she'd answer. No such luck.
Justin's phone beeped and he got up from the couch. "Uncle Tyler said the priest wants to see me for some of my 'best man' duties." He announced. "I'll be back in like ten minutes to get you for the wedding, okay? Stay calm."
Just as Justin left the room, Robbie felt himself hyperventilating again. He started breathing in and out super fast in attempts to calm himself down. Andre got up from the couch and put his hands on his shoulders gently. "Robbie, stop." He said. "You should be happy, not nervous. You're getting married to the love of your life today."
Speaking of the 'love of your life' made Beck think about Jade. He smiled slightly to himself and seeing Beck do that made Tori smile.
Robbie took one last deep breath. "Okay, you're right." He gulped. "She's going to be my wife in less than an hour."
Andre grinned at him. "Yeah, she is, Rob." He said. "So be calm, okay?" Robbie nodded. Suddenly the door burst open and in came a nervous looking Sam. Seeing the confident blonde look nervous made Beck nervous.
"Guys, can anyone get hold of Jade?" She said. She didn't sound nervous, but her facial expression read nervous. "We have to get lined up in ten minutes and she still isn't here. Cat's tried calling her, but she isn't answering."
That had to be enough for Robbie. He fell back and luckily Andre was there to catch him. Beck jumped up and looked to Tori for help. Tori bit her lower lip and looked from a passed out Robbie to Beck. She noticed the bottled water on the small coffee table near the couch. Then she got an idea. "Tell Andre to splash that water on Robbie's face." Tori ordered Beck. "And don't worry, it's not unsafe in Robbie's occasion."
Beck quickly went over to the small coffee table and grabbed the water bottle. He made eye contact with Andre before chucking it to him. He caught it and looked at it sceptically. "What do you want me to do with this?" Andre asked.
"Splash it on Robbie's face to wake him up." He said to Andre. He saw Andre be a little hesitant then twist open the bottle cap. Then Beck got an idea on how to get Jade here. He looked at Sam.
"Tell Cat that Jade will be here." He said to Sam.
"But–" Beck didn't let Sam finish her sentence.
"Tell. Cat. She'll. Be. Here."
Sam just nodded before running out of the room. Andre splashed the water on Robbie's face and he woke up with a jump. Beck quickly dialled Jade's number as Andre tried to relax Robbie once more. His phone rang and once again Jade didn't pick up. He waited to hear her voicemail that he had grown so familiar to play.
Hey, it's Jade. I'm not sorry I didn't come to the phone right now. Call back later. Then the long beep sound. Beck made sure his two friends were distracted before talking into the phone. "Okay, Jade this is really important. I am so sorry of everything that I've done, okay? I am so sorry, but please don't punish Cat for my mistake. This is her big day. Please come here."
Then he paused for a moment. The voicemail was still playing and he couldn't believe the own words came out of his mouth. "I love you." Then out of panic he ended the voicemail.
He looked to Tori to see her horrified reaction, but she was smiling. Beck was surprised to see her smiling and even more surprised when she flashed him a thumbs up. Beck looked towards Andre who now had Robbie relaxed and ready for his wedding. He hoped his calmness was going to stay this time.
"Are you ready now, Robbie?" Beck asked him. Robbie nodded in response.
"Yeah, I think so." He agreed. "What about Jade, though? Is she coming, because Cat can't not have a maid of honour, Beck." Beck leaned over and patted his shoulder. He wouldn't be able to give Robbie straight answer right now.
"Don't worry about it." He said. "She'll be here." I hope, Beck thought to himself. Suddenly the door opened and Justin walked back in. He smiled at Robbie.
"It's time for you to get married." He announced. "Are you ready?"
Robbie glanced between Andre and Beck. He grinned at them. "I'm ready." He agreed. "I'm sorry I didn't ask you two to be my groomsmen. I would've if I had talked to you more often in the past years, I swear. And thanks for helping calm me down."
Beck and Andre nodded. "No problem." They said in unison. Robbie then turned to Justin and sighed deeply. Then he followed Justin out of the room to the altar. Beck and Andre (and Tori) followed Robbie out. Andre leaned over and whispered to Beck.
"How do you know that Jade is coming?" He asked him. Beck sighed.
"I don't."
Andre bit his lip as Justin and Robbie went to the front of the altar. "Well, let's go sit down." Andre said starting to walk to the seats. Beck didn't follow him.
"I'm going to stay here." Beck said.
Andre raised his eyebrow. "Why?"
Beck shrugged. "I want to see if Jade comes."
Andre smirked at him. He could tell just by the way Beck said it that the boy was still in love with that girl. He didn't know it was possible for him to fall back in love with that girl so fast (he didn't even know they saw each other after meeting at the pizzeria), but it was Beck and Jade. So Andre nodded. "Okay, but are you allowed to do that?"
Beck smirked back at him. "I guess we'll find out."
Andre chuckled and left to go find a seat. Beck waited for Jade for five minutes before Cat, the ring barrier, flower girl, the bridesmaids and groomsmen started to come out to get set up. "Beck, why are you back here?" Cat asked worriedly. "Where's Jade?"
Beck hated to see Cat so panicked and worried, especially on her wedding day. He gave her a small smile. "I'm just waiting for Jade." He told her. "She's running a little late, but she'll be here just in time for her to walk down." He felt bad for lying once he saw how much Cat's face brightened, even if her face brightened only the slightest bit. "Now get in your positions." He tried to lighten the mood.
Everyone got in position. The ring barrier and the flower girl were entering first. The bridesmaids were paired up with the groomsmen. All together, Beck counted six sets of bridesmaids and groomsmen, including the best man and maid of honour that were supposed to be at the back in front of Cat. Justin was where he needed to be, but Jade still wasn't there.
The service started and the flower girl and ring barrier walked down. Beck glanced at Tori, who was remaining calm, before looking back at the service. The first set of bridesmaids and groomsmen began to walk down the aisle and Beck even caught a glimpse of Robbie. Beck smiled seeing that he was relaxed and smiling. Then the second set of bridesmaids and groomsmen began walking down. Beck took a deep breath. Then the third set walked down. He could've sworn he heard the sound of a car pulling in outside. Then the fourth set walked down. He definitely heard the sound of a car. Then the fifth set began to walk down and Beck was getting really nervous. He hoped that the car that he heard was Jade's. He looked at Tori, who just gave him a weak smile in return.
Then just in time the door burst open and in came Jade West and with her daughter, Paige. Beck let out a breath that he didn't even know he was holding. She looked gorgeous as usual. Her hair was done and she looked simply beautiful. "Jade?" Cat asked with a grin. "You came! Who's this cutie?" She leant down slightly to see Paige who shyly hid behind her mother's leg.
Jade handed Paige to Beck. She didn't make eye contact, though. "I promise I'll explain later." She said. "We have a wedding to go on now don't we?" She gave Beck a look (yet still not getting eye contact) that meant to watch Paige. She leant down and kissed Paige's forehead.
Jade took her place next to Justin and they began to walk down the aisle. Beck looked down at Paige who was smiling up at him. Beck returned the smile then looked at Cat. He witnessed her taking a deep breath. He put a hand on her shoulder gently. "You'll do great, Cat." He said.
Cat gave him a smile. "Thanks Beck." She said. "And thanks for getting Jade here." And without any further words Cat began to walk down the aisle. Beck smiled as Cat walked down the aisle and looked to Tori who was now grinning at him.
He looked back at Paige. "Okay sweetheart." He leaned down and picked her up. "Let's watch the wedding."
After the wedding, Beck went to go congratulate Cat and Robbie before they left to go to the restaurant that everyone was going to be attending after they left the church. Beck still had Paige with him because Jade had left with the wedding party after the ceremony was over. He didn't know where she was, but he knew that she would be trying to find him since he still had Paige.
Beck spotted Robbie and Cat at the end of the church. They looked so happy that it made Beck (and Tori) smile. They approached the two (with Paige clinging on to Beck's hand) and Beck clapped Robbie on the shoulder. "Congratulations, Shapiro's." Beck grinned at them. "You both did great up there."
"Thanks Beck." Robbie said. "Thanks for coming, too."
Beck shrugged. "No problem, I've been waiting for this wedding since I was fourteen years old." Cat giggled at Beck's comment. She noticed Paige and leaned down to her level.
"Hi, cutie!" She smiled. "What's your name?"
Paige shyly hid behind Beck's leg. Beck smiled at her. "Don't be shy." He said. Tori smiled at him. Beck was such a father figure. Paige peeked out behind Beck's leg.
"Paige." She said in a small voice. Cat grinned at her. Suddenly Beck felt someone brush up beside him. He was surprised to see Jade and her smiling.
"Is she your cousin?" Cat asked when she saw Jade.
Jade shook her head. "Look, why don't I tell you at the party?" She said. Beck noticed how her voice sounded slightly uneasy. "Congratulations, by the way."
"Thanks Jade." Cat gave Jade a quick hug. "And thanks so much for being my maid of honour."
Jade hugged Cat back. When they pulled away she smiled at her. "No problem. See you later, okay?"
Cat nodded before walking away with Robbie. Jade instantly took Paige's hand and brought her to her side. Jade pursed her lips as she turned to face Beck. She looked around before speaking. "Is she here?" Jade asked him. Her tone was cold.
Beck frowned. "Who, Tori?" Jade nodded. "Yeah, she's here."
Jade narrowed her eyes. "Where?"
Beck sighed. "She's beside me, Jade."
Tori knew Jade couldn't see or hear her so Tori bent down to Paige's level. She smiled sweetly at her. "Can you point to me, Paige?" Tori asked her sweetly. "For mommy."
Paige nodded her head and tugged on Jade's dress. Jade turned her attention to Paige and Paige pointed at Tori. "Look, it's the girl in white!" She said. Jade sucked in a breath.
There was a pause. "You look really beautiful in that dress, Jade." Beck suddenly said.
He didn't know if Jade was lost in her thoughts or just chose to ignore him. "I got your message." She said quickly. "I...I also got the last part of it. I want to talk." Beck nodded his head.
"Yeah, we can talk." He really wanted to talk to Jade. He wanted to explain everything to her.
Jade shook her head. "Not here and not now." She said. "At the party, after I talk to Cat." She bit her lip. "I'll see you in a half hour." Then she turned around with Paige and walked away from him.
Beck let out a sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. Tori tried to smile encouragingly. "Don't worry, Beck." She said. "Everything's going to be just fine."
I am so so so sorry for leaving you guys for more than a month! But it's not because I was being lazy and didn't want to do it. My laptop was being a total loser and not working so I had to take it to the shop and it took a long time to fix it. So I am super sorry for that. Now about this story, one more chapter and then the epilogue and it's done! Crazy, right? It will be finished before 2014! Tell me your thoughts for the story. Sorry for the rushed ending!