A/N: Hey reviewers, Chapter Eleven is here! For this chapter, I'd thought I would touch on the Tandre pairing a bit (and the implied Rori), as in exploring Andre's strange behavior as shown in the last chapter - and seeing Rade through in Andre's POV, or something like that.

Oh, and it will focus on Bat a bit too.

Sorry if it seems to deviate from the Rade a bit. I hope you like this chapter.


Chapter Eleven: Do you want to go to the dance with me?

"J-Jade?" Robbie stuttered, his heart still pounding painfully in his chest. In his darkened room, and despite his current lack of glasses, he still could see Jade fairly clearly.

He could see her nod as she was sitting on his bed. The window was open. She had clearly snuck in through that.

Flipping the light switch, and ignoring Rex's protests, Robbie walked over to his desk, picked up his glasses and put it on before turning to Jade.

Almost immediately, Robbie could tell that something was...off, if Jade's expression told him anything. She looked a bit distressed...like she had been crying or something.

"Jade, are you ok?" He asked concerned as he moved to sit next to Jade on the bed. He mentally slapped himself. That was a stupid question, Jade wasn't ok. She scooted closer to him.

Jade smiled a little as she nodded. "Yeah, I'm ok. Well, for the most part." She said as she looked over at Robbie.

Nodding, Robbie placed an arm over Jade's shoulder in a comforting hug, of which she snuggled into him.

"Wanna talk about it?" Robbie inquired. Jade remained silent for a moment.

"Beck and I broke up."

Robbie blinked in surprise. That was certainly...an unexpected revelation. He wasn't sure of how he felt about that. On one hand, he felt like he wanted to comfort Jade because, well, she had been dating Beck for a long time (two years was a pretty long time). In the other hand, he felt like he wanted to celebrate because Jade, the girl he was secretly crushing on, was now single.

Single.

Mentally shaking off such feelings, Robbie opened his mouth to speak.

"I'm sorry about that." He wanted to slap himself for saying something so...lame, but he didn't know what to say. He had never comforted a girl who had gone through a breakup before.

Jade smiled a little as she shrugged. "Don't be. It was mutual."

Robbie raised an eyebrow. "Mutual?" Jade nodded. "Beck suggested it first-well, he began, but I finished that. We agreed to remain friends." She said as she looked at Robbie.

Silence filled the air for a moment as Robbie tried to think of something to comfort Jade, to make her feel better and all that, but he couldn't think of any. Why was he such an inept person? Finally, Robbie settled on something.

"Want some water?" He asked as he offered the glass. Jade looked at the glass and gave a small smile.

"Sure." She said as she took the glass from him. She felt a spark as her fingers brushed against his when she took the glass. She raised the glass to her lips and tilted it up, feeling the cool and refreshing water course down her throat.

As she lowered the glass, Jade looked at Robbie, feeling grateful and thankful. 'He's so sweet', she sighed in her mind. "Thanks, Robbie." She smiled as she looked into his eyes.

"You're welcome, Jade."

Then before she knew it, Jade was slowly leaning toward him. Robbie noticed this, and his heart began to pound in his chest as he knew what would happen next. He felt himself lean in too, as if an unseen force was pulling him forward. They felt their eyes close as they leaned closer, feeling their breath mingle.

They were going to...to-

"Hey lovebirds! Take it somewhere!"

...and the moment was shattered, ruined. No thanks to Rex, the dummy that was Robbie's best friend.

Robbie and Jade, upon realizing it, abruptly pulled their faces back, blushing heavily.

They had been so close...their lips were centimeters apart...

For the both of them, this was the second time they had tried to kiss, and the second time they were interrupted.

"Go back to sleep, Rex." Robbie said, feeling annoyance course through his veins.

"With the lights on, and that witch here on your bed, yeah I'm gonna go back to sleep!"

Seeing Jade glare at Rex, and knowing what she could potentially do to the poor dummy, Robbie yanked Rex up from the bed and, ignoring Rex's protests, threw him into the closet (but not before tossing a pillow there) and slammed the door shut.

Turning around, Robbie and Jade locked eyes with each other for what seemed like an eternity before they broke into laughter. The tension and awkwardness that had permeated the air a moment before seemed to vanish as Robbie went back to Jade's side, and she turned her body toward him.

Jade had never looked so beautiful as she did right now, Robbie thought to himself as he looked at his friend and secret crush.

And she was now single. Single.

That was embedded in Robbie's mind as he and Jade began to talk about...well, stuff. They talked about Sikowitz's class, the teacher's crazy antics, about Tori, their goals, well, everything. Several hours passed by, though in such a blur that both Robbie and Jade barely registered that it was now really late into the night (or early morning).

Both of them were chuckling about Sikowitz's 'freaky' antics in class earlier that day, when a thought appeared in Robbie's head. Glancing at Jade, who was lying on her side facing him, Robbie took a breath.

Jade seemed to think the same, as she now had a pensive expression on her face.

"Um.." Robbie opened his mouth to ask the question that had been on his mind for some time.

"Uh, I-" Jade said at the same time.

"um...you go first." Robbie grinned as he poked Jade in her stomach, which elicited a small yelp.

"No, you go first." Jade poked him back, smirking.

"Ladies first." Poke.

Jade giggled for a bit before her face became serious. Looking into Robbie's eyes, Jade took a breath as she mentally prepared herself for what she was about to do next.

"Robbie, do you want to go to the dance with me?"


Andre Harris sighed as he walked through one of the hallways of Hollywood Arts, his hands inside his pockets.

Here he was, thinking of her...again. In actuality, she was constantly on his mind, every moment of the day, and had been since he had first met her. Since he had first set his eyes on her.

In short, Andre Harris was falling for Tori Vega. Hard.

Tori Vega, his best friend.

I mean, how could he not? Tori Vega was simply...perfect. Her brown hair accented her face perfectly, so much that he wanted to drive his hands through them (and her doing the same to his dreadlocks). She had a simply amazing smile who could lighten up the world a thousand (no, wait-a million) times over, and melt even of the most hardened criminals in the world (not that he wanted her to meet them, mind you).

Yes, he was exaggerating-no, wait, he actually wasn't.

In addition, her cheekbones were perfectly positioned on her amazing face. And her lips...oh these lips that Andre simply longed to taste, these lips that constantly tormented him whenever he talked with her.

And it didn't help that she had such a...a...sweet, caring, and considerable personality. She was always so...so nice toward everybody at Hollywood Arts (even Jade for the most part), and she was very smart too, dedicated to her studies.

In short, Tori Vega was the girl of his dreams, everything he had looked for in a girl.

Unfortunately, she seemed to be interested in...someone else. Andre frowned as he recalled the events in Sikowitz's class the week before, when Tori had 'fought' with Jade over Robbie, when she was...kissed him, actually kissed him.

He remembered feeling...utterly crushed. But he kept his feelings and emotions in check.

Although Tori didn't talk too much about Robbie, Andre noticed that she seemed to be interested in him.

And this caused a spark of jealousy go through him.

He didn't really like it.


FLASHBACK

"Hey Tori." Andre greeted as he saw Tori at her locker.

"Hey Andre! What's up?" Tori said as she flashed that smile that made Andre go slightly weak in the knees.

"Not much, Tori." Andre shrugged. "Just managed to finish homework for Gradstein this morning."

"Gosh, you actually managed to finish that homework?" Tori gasped. "I couldn't finish it at all, it's too difficult! I wish the teacher hadn't required us to work individually."

Andre chuckled. "Yea, I feel ya. But you're a smart lady, I know you can do it."

Tori giggled. "Why, thank you, Sir Harris. That means so much to me." She mock bowed. Andre laughed. "You are welcome, madame Vega." He did the same, with a slightly more dramatic bow.

Andre loved the sound of Tori's laugh. It was easily one of the most wonderful sounds that he had heard in his entire life. It was hard to describe it exactly, but it sounded...angelic.

"Hey man, hey babe." A voice wafted out. Andre blinked to see Robbie and Rex walk up the hallway.

"Rex, show Tori some respect." Robbie scolded the puppet before turning to Tori and Andre. "I'm sorry for Rex's actions."

"And I'm sorry for Robbie's actions too." Rex retorted. Robbie rolled his eyes.

"It's all right." Tori laughed as she put a hand on Robbie's shoulder. "So...you going to the Danceathon?" She asked.

Robbie thought about it a bit. "Well...I think I might go." He said a bit hesitant.

Andre noticed that Tori seemed to perk up. "Really?" She grinned. "So...anyone ask you yet?"

"No, not yet."

"I'm not surprised." Rex piped up.

"Well...um, I was just wondering if..." Tori began, and Andre got this...sinking feeling in his stomach as he looked between his friends. 'Oh no...it can't be...'

"You'll never believe what happened to me yesterday!" Cat exclaimed as she ran up to them, her magenta hair flying after her. Tori and Robbie looked at her a bit strangely, although Andre exhaled a sigh of relief, mentally thanking Cat for this timely interruption.

"I went to that fancy dress shop yesterday with my brother, you know that big store with all the pretty pink dresses-ohh how pink they were! Anyways, we were driving to the place, and my brother went the wrong way! Can you believe that we got lost? We-"

'Thank God for Cat.' Andre thought to himself, chuckling slightly as Cat babbled on.

"I'm getting bored of this. Robbie, take me to our locker." Rex commanded. Robbie sighed. He waved his hand as he turned around and walked away to his locker. Tori looked like she wanted to say something, but she promptly closed her mouth and pouted a bit as she listened to Cat's ramblings.

Andre couldn't help but notice.

FLASHBACK END


As he blinked back to reality, Andre wondered if Tori had feelings for Robbie, or something like that, given her behavior around him - and he fervently hoped that was not the case.

Sighing, Andre reached his locker, and opened it. As he grabbed some books, he glanced to his right. And saw Robbie and Jade walking side by side through the hallway.

Now, Tori wasn't the only one that Andre noticed; over the past week, he had indeed begun to notice that Robbie and Jade were steadily growing close. He saw that Robbie and Jade had taken to sitting next to each other (or pretty close) in class and at lunch - something that didn't happen too often in the past. He saw the smiles and looks Robbie and Jade shared, and wondered how he didn't notice that before. As days passed, and as such sighs became more apparent, Andre's curiosity - and suspicions - were increasingly piped and vindicated.

On top of that, Andre had indeed noticed that Beck and Jade didn't spend as much time together as they used to be. Whereas Beck and Jade were practically joined at the hips, Robbie steadily took Beck's place - and Beck didn't seem to notice (if he did, he didn't give any indication). It seemed as if Jade and Beck were...drifting apart.

Andre's eyes narrowed in thought as he surveyed his two friends.

Did Jade and Robbie like each other?

That was what Andre wondered from time to time, it surely seemed like that way. He would have to talk with Beck about what was going on, though.

With this in mind, he shut his locker and went to look for his friend.


Beck Oliver was at his locker, putting some things there. He was thinking about the events of last night, when he and Jade...broke up.

If there was anything Beck had to admit, it was that he felt...freer than any time before in his life before he first asked Jade out two years before. However, at the same time, Beck had to admit that he sort of...missed having Jade at his side. In a way, this was like a withdrawal, this feeling of discomfort (or was it awkwardness?) and even disorientation that ensued when you weren't dating someone, especially that someone you used to date for two years, anymore.

This was illustrated when he had passed by Jade earlier that morning. As he saw her, he felt sorta awkward around her, his ex-girlfriend who he would now have to treat like a friend. They exchanged greetings and waves, but that was it.

But other than that, Beck felt fine.

"Hey man!"

Beck turned to see Andre walk over to him. Smiling, Beck gave Andre a manly handshake. "What's up, man?"

"Nothing much...although I have to say that I've noticed something that I think you should know about."

Beck raised his eyebrows, vaguely getting a feeling that he knew what it would be about.

"It's about Robbie and Jade."

He was right.

"...and?" Beck inquired, smiling slightly.

"Have you noticed that they seem to be getting...closer?

Beck nodded. "I noticed."

"Yeah, espec-wait. You noticed?" Andre looked surprised.

Beck shrugged as he closed his locker and leaned against it. "Yes, I did. Jade and I broke up."

Andre all but gaped as he took in this surprising revelation. "...whoa, I didn't expect that. Wow...again? Um, I mean, uh-" Andre looked like he was trying to find the right words.

Beck chuckled as he clapped his friend on the shoulder. "It was mutual. The relationship had been going nowhere for some time since we had gotten back together, so we decided to end it. We're still friends, though."

Andre nodded slowly. "That's...quite a revelation. But good to know you two are still friends-"

"You and Jade broke up?" A certain voice interrupted.

Beck and Andre turned to see Cat Valentine a short distance away - and Beck swore his heart had stopped beating right there and then. Cat was walking toward them, having evidently heard the last part of the conversation judging by her concerned expression on her face. It took most of Beck's willpower not to stare at Cat. She was wearing a bright yellow sundress that hugged her curvy figure perfectly. She looked so...gorgeous.

Beck nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders, when in fact he was fainting on the inside, as he replied, "Yeah, we broke up. We hadn't been feeling anything, so we decided to remain friends."

"Oh, I'm sorry about that!" Cat ran into Beck's arms and hugged him tightly.

Beck swore he had just died and gone to Heaven, because a beautiful redheaded angel was hugging him closely. His senses were assailed by that...delectable strawberry scent that constantly haunted his mind and aroused in him an urge that he increasingly found it hard to resist. And it didn't help the fact that he was now single.

Single.

Meaning he wasn't exclusive to Jade West anymore. This meant that if he wanted to, he could turn her face upward and smash his lips against her pouty lips (in his mind, he wondered if she tasted like strawberries...).

But as much he wanted to, he had to reluctantly remove his arms, which seemingly had wrapped around her petite waist on their own accord, and step back. He was aware of Andre's presence nearby, watching them.

As he looked at Cat's saddened expression on her face, Beck felt a strong urge to reassure her, to comfort her and hold her in his arms. But he held his emotions in check, instead deciding to thank Cat for the hug. "Yeah, it sucks", he said, not really meaning it. "But I can get over that. At least I kept a friend out of all this." He said as he looked at Cat and Andre.

Cat seemed to accept it as she nodded. Andre raised an eyebrow as the mechanisms inside his head began whirring into motion, piecing together the pieces together.

"Yeah, that's true, man." Andre stated as he clapped Beck on the back.

BRRRRING!

"Well, time for class." Beck watched Andre walk away before he turned to Cat, who was biting her lips slightly as she looked at him with an...uncertain expression on her face. The thought that had passed through his mind for the millionth time surfaced once again: 'She looks so beautiful...'

"Um..." Beck was intrigued as Cat fidgeted with her hands a bit as she seemed to struggle to say something.

Finally, after a while, she opened her mouth.

"Beck...would you be..."


A/N: Well, here it is. Here's Chapter 11.

As I stated earlier, this chapter deviates from Rade a bit, but the next chapter will focus more on Robbie and Jade (especially how Robbie reacts to Jade's 'proposal'), although it will include Bat and Tandre.

For some reason, I don't feel fully satisfied with this chapter, no matter how many I rewrote and modified it, but eh, I guess it will have to do for now. I think this chapter is more like a 'settling down' chapter, or something like that. Once again, I hope you like this chapter.

As usual, review! Review! :)

Btw, a question for y'all: do you think Tori likes Robbie? Hope Tori isn't too OOC, but eh.