I'm so sorry I've kept you guys waiting THIS long! Life's just so hard at the moment. I'll try to get back to my usual weekly updates. I will! I promise!

Sorry for any confusion with this chapter. I'm exhausted from a long day at work and my eyes were feeling a little sleepy. But at least I tried.

Don't hate the chapter. Hate me.

Read and review, if you're still there...

Tori smiled happily as she walked out of her last class. Meeting Beck at her locker had become a regular routine for the duo. Tori didn't know how to explain their bond, but she didn't have anyone there waiting for an explanation. She was still mad at her friends for turning their backs to her when she started to show interest to Beck. Tori defended herself, swearing they didn't know him like she did and was hurt when all they did was turn their backs to her.

She smiled widely, forgetting all the negative thoughts in her head when she saw him smirking her way.

"Hey," Tori smiled.

"Hi." Beck smirked.

They stared at each other for a while, ignoring their surroundings. Neither of them moving forward but both wishing one would make the move first. They haven't kissed since the night in Tori's car but the temptation was at an all time high.

"Ready for today's tutoring lesson?" Tori asked.

"No." Beck said making a face.

"Come on, today's lessons were easy. I finished all of them in fifteen minutes."

"What if I did mine too?" Beck raised an eyebrow.

"Then I'll review it."

"What if I get them all right?" Beck asked as they made their way to the library.

"You get a prize." Tori flirted.

Beck caught on to her small smirk as she avoided eye contact. Two could play that game.

"Oh yeah, what kind of prize?" Beck said brushing his arm against hers.

"A good one."

"Gold stars don't count."

Tori giggled, "I don't even have gold stars."

"Oh you're no fun." Beck teased.

"Do you have gold stars?" Tori said frowning slightly but with a light laugh.

"Maybe." Beck said embarrassed.

"I have to see them!" Tori said laughing lightly as she took her usual seat in the library.

"They're for Isabella." Beck said, smiling lightly.

"That's cute." Tori said looking into his dark eyes.

"Oh yeah?" Beck said leaning on the table with his arms crossed on his chest.

"Yeah." Tori whispered, leaning forward, towards Beck's reaching face.

They heard a distant but firm cough, they both sprung apart as they blushed at the scold the substitute librarian was throwing their way.

"About those lessons," Tori said breaking the awkward tension.

"Right." Beck said pulling them out from his bag and handing them to her.

Tori's forehead scrunched up as she focused on grading his papers, making sure he did them right. Beck's mind had been running on thoughts of Tori he needed a distraction and the only thing he had in front of him was school work. He wasn't complaining too much now.

Tori smiled as she looked over the last paper, picking them all up, fixing them on the table as she handed them back.

"So?"

"I'll give you your price outside." Tori said grabbing her jacket and collecting her things.

Beck smiled and did the same. They walked to his locker first and he threw a few books he didn't need in before they made their way to hers. After they were done they walked to the parking lot together.

"We're outside." Beck said. Tori continued to walk ahead of him, Beck stared at her from his place, confused.

Tori bit her lip, counted to three before she turned around and walked briskly up to him, wrapping one around his neck and the other around his back. She pulled him down towards her face, lips finally meeting each other after a long wait.

Beck wrapped a protective arm around her small back and his free hand cupped her face, surprised she attacked him the way she did.

Tori pulled back, smiling when she saw his flushed face.

"That was unexpected."

"And now you'll remember it." Tori said in a whisper, almost like she didn't want Beck to catch it but he did.

He ignored it as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and walked them to his car. Beck had been picking up Tori, and today was no different.

"Want to go over to my place? I know my dad won't be home till much later and Stacy had today off." Beck suggested.

"Sure." Tori said intertwining their hands between them.

"I actually did remember the first kiss we shared." Beck said after a few minutes.

"What?" Tori said turning her head to his direction, "why did you lie?"

"I didn't want to get my hopes up, I didn't know where it would have lead things."

"Obviously I wanted things to go one way when I went over to ask you about it."

"I know, I'm sorry, there's a lot of detail to me."

Tori noticed how his facial features changed from apologetic to hurt and angry.

"I forgive you for lying, if you promise not to do it again."

"Promise." He sealed it was a kiss on her knuckles.

Tori smiled softly as they parked in front of his house. Beck looked over to Tori, almost in complete disbelief that he had her in his life. Never having someone genuine and loyal and have interest in his well being. It made him finally realize what feelings actually meant, and he definitely wanted to keep what he was feeling for her to stay for a while.

"Come on. Izzy's probably watching through the window wondering why I'm not alone."

Tori blushed but couldn't feel shy. She wasn't his girlfriend since he never asked her formally but she was sure she wasn't just a friend either. She was confused as to how she should introduce herself so she decided to have him introduce her.

Beck held her hand as they walked in together. Tiny footsteps were heard as a little body came in front of Tori.

"Hi! You're the pretty girl from the park." Isabella said.

Tori laughed, "Yeah I guess I am. Thank you, you're really pretty too. I love the tutu."

"Thank you." Isabella giggled as she trolled around.

"Beck? Is that you?" A young looking woman popped her head from a room. She made an 'o' face, surprised to see her step son with another human being.

"Stacy, this is Tori." Beck said as he paused, "my…"

"His tutor." Tori finished awkwardly for him. It wasn't a lie.

"Hi sweetheart, it's nice to finally meet you." Stacy said walking towards them. She was tall but not too tall. Her strawberry blond hair swiftly cascade down passed her shoulders. She had freckles littered across her pale face. Dark circled invaded under her bright green eyes.

She shook Tori's hand, "wait? Finally meet her? How do you know about her?"

"I'm paying her for your tutoring, which is well worth it since you're grades are finally improving. Hopefully it'll be enough for you to graduate."

Beck ignored the rest of what Stacy said and had the words 'paying her' run through his head over and over again.

Tori felt him drop her hand, she snapped her head towards him with a questionable stare. She felt her heart drop as she saw the cold stare return to his face. He glared at her.

"You've been getting paid to tutor me?" Beck said in disbelief.

"I had to pay her twice the salary." Stacy chimed in, laughing lightly at the fact.

"I can't believe this. I knew it was too good to be true. That's why you stuck around, for the money." Beck said coldly.

"No Beck, that's not what happened."

Tori saw the hurt in his eyes; she almost wanted to beg him not to close up. Stacy stood there awkwardly, almost regretting saying what she said. She quietly took Isabella away from the couple and went back to cooking dinner.

"I think you need to go." Beck said firmly.

"Beck, it wasn't like that."

"Just go Tori." Beck said holding the door open for her, his heart breaking with every second she just stalls.

"No." Tori said in a shaky but determined voice.

"I can't right now Tori."

"I can't leave, not like this."

"Go!" Beck didn't mean to yell. He didn't even want to raise his voice but he wished he could take it the second it came it.

Tori's lip quivered as she nodded sadly, walking passed him and out of the house.

Beck's shoulders shook as he closed the door behind her. He hadn't cried since the last night he swore he'd never cry for his mom to return. The tears that fell from his eyes at the moment hurt more than the hurt he felt all those years ago.