It wouldn't be Bade if there wasn't a fight ;P

Beck's POV

"The prodigal son returns!" My bunkmate Chris clapped me on the shoulder as I tossed my bag down on my bed. I'd travelled the few hours back to my camp up north and was exhausted. "Good to have you back."

"Thanks," I greeted as I plopped back on my bed. "It's good to be back. What'd I miss?"

"Not much," He said. "We had our usual bonfire last night, Katie Marone threw up after dinner, aaaaand Bobby McCormack forgot all his lines to his scene."

"As usual," I laughed. It really was good to be back.

"Knock knock," A girl's sang from the doorway and I looked to see my Crucible scene partner, Nicole Parker, standing there. "I heard you'd made a comeback," She said as she let herself in.

"Yep," I nodded. I didn't want to let Jade on before, but Nicole was kind of pretty. Nowhere near Jade of course, but still. She was the kind of girl Jade would hate me talking to.

"Just couldn't stay away, huh?" She winked at me. I also failed to mention to Jade that Nicole hit on me every chance she got.

"He was visiting his sick girlfriend in the hospital," Chris cut in. "I, on the other hand, am painfully single." I tried not to laugh as he flexed for her.

"Still got that girlfriend, Beck?" She ignored Chris to ask me.

"Yep," I nodded, trying to be polite.

"Let me know if that changes," Her voice dropped to a 'seductive' tone that made me uncomfortable.

"It won't," I said with a smile. "But okay."

"I figured we could work on our scene tonight?" She finally brought up something I cared about. "After dinner?"

"That'd be great," I nodded, and ignored the lingering stare she was giving me. "See you then."

"Bye bye," She wiggled her fingers at me as she skipped off out of our cabin.

"That girl is a maneater," Chris sighed, watching her go.

"Oh yeah?" I started unpacking my things, looking for my cell phone.

"Yeah," He responded, looking head over heels. "She wants me, too."

"I could tell," I joked.

"She'll see," He nodded with certainty. "Besides, from what I hear, she's hooked up with almost every guy at camp. So really it's just a matter of time before she gets to me."

"Has she really?" I questioned. I didn't pay much attention to gossip, if anything Jade would clue me in on the things happening at HA.

"Yes!" Chris exclaimed excitedly. "Bobby told me she brought a suitcase filled with nothing but condoms."

"That can't be true."

"I'll just have to find out for myself," He grinned.

"Good luck with that," I shook my head.

"You should get in on it, too, Beck," He encouraged. "It's obvious she wants you."

"I thought it was obvious she wanted you," I reminded him as I finally dug out my cell.

"True, but you're a close second."

"I'm not here to screw around," I said, wiping my phone on my jeans. How had it gotten dirt on it?

"That's right, the girlfriend," He rolled his eyes at me and I jumped when my phone rang.

"Speak of the devil," I smiled at my caller ID. "That's Jade."

"I'll leave you to it," Chris shook his head as he left me alone.

"Hey, babe," I said happily as I picked up.

"Oh, so you are alive?" She had an edge in her tone already.

"Sorry I didn't call sooner," I apologized. "I couldn't get any reception at the airport. I just got to my cabin, I'm alive, I'm sorry, and I love you."

"Hmm," I could picture her mulling this over, debating if she'd accept my response. "Okay," She said solemnly. "How was your flight?"

"It was good, no turbulence, and we were right on schedule. How are you feeling?"

"I'm good," She answered, and I wondered if it was true. "Cat stopped by to check in on me, your doing, I assume?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I denied having texted Cat before my plane left, even though I had.

"Sure you don't," She knew I was lying. "Anyways, she came, made me some soup, and left. I guess she and Tori were going to the movies."

"They didn't invite you?"

"They did," She said. "But I was waiting for you to call."

"I'm sorry," I repeated.

"It's okay. It was probably some lame chick flick anyways," She paused and I wished I could read her mind.

"I miss you already," I broke the silence.

"I…knew you would," She laughed.

"Ouch."

"I'm just kidding," She said as she giggled. "You know I miss you too. Just a few more weeks and then you'll be back," She sounded more optimistic than usual. "Three whole weeks before school starts, remember?" She reminded me and I felt my guilt creep up. "I already have it all planned out. We can go to the beach at night, and try that—,"

"Jade," I couldn't let her go on. Not when I knew none of those plans would actually happen. "There's…something I need to tell you."

"I knew it," She sighed. "I knew you were hiding something earlier, I just didn't want to bring it up while you were here. Okay, how bad is it?"

"On a scale of one to World War 3?" I tried to get a larger picture going. "I'd say a two, maybe three."

"And on a scale of one to I'm gonna kick your ass to the curb?" She rephrased.

"Seven," I admitted and breathed deep. She wasn't going to like this. "When I talked to my parents earlier today, they weren't too pleased with me."

"Okay…?"

"They think I could stand to learn some discipline," I summarized the hour long conversation I had with my parents while Jade was asleep.

"Beck, cut to the chase," She urged.

"After camp, they want me to work on my uncle's ranch," I saved the worst for last. "In Canada."

"In CANADA?!" She shrieked. I listened silently as she let out a slew of curse words, most aimed to put my homeland down.

"Jade," I tried to get her attention but she was halfway through threatening to burn the Canadian flag. "Jade. Jade!"

"What?!" She stopped yelling.

"I know this seems bad, but—,"

"Don't you dare try to tell me it's not that bad," She raised her voice again. "The entire summer, Beck. You're going to be gone the entire summer! And you expect me to what? Be fine with it? Throw you a welcome home party?! I can't even—,"

"Look, I know how hard this is," I tried to calm her down.

"Oh, no you don't," She scoffed.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that it's much harder being left than it is being the one who's leaving!"

"You think I want to go?" I couldn't believe her.

"Well you don't seem too bothered by it."

"Jade, I tried so hard to get them to change their mind, but—,"

"Obviously you didn't try hard enough."

"Nothing is ever good enough for you!" I said before I could think.

"Oh so you ditch me to herd cattle and run around with sluts at some camp, and I'm supposed to be grateful?!"

"I am not. Running around with sluts here," I annunciated. "I'm here to learn and grow as—,"

"Yeah sure, learn how to cheat on—!"

"AHH!" I yelled, frustrated. "How can you think I'm cheating on you?! I dropped everything the second I heard you were in the hospital and this is how you repay me? What kind of girlfriend does that?!"

"I'll tell you what kind," She said snidely. "The kind that's NOT YOUR GIRLFRIEND ANYMORE!" She shouted before hanging up on me.

"UGH!" I groaned and flung my phone back in my bag. It drove me crazy that she knew just how to push my buttons. And it's not fair that someone can make you feel incredible then horrible, all in one day.

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After my sour conversation with Jade, I took a few minutes to compose myself before going about with regular camp activities. I practiced the scene with Nicole after dinner like we said we would; me trying to get her to focus instead of flirt.

As soon as we were done, I retired to my bunk, the travelling jetlag wearing on me. I didn't realize how exhausted I was until I laid down, falling asleep within minutes. I must've been in deep sleep because I didn't notice a person's presence around me.

I didn't hear anyone sneak into the cabin or tiptoe to my bed. I didn't feel it when that someone sat on my bed, either, but as soon as they touched me firmly enough, I woke. I blinked my eyes open, confused beyond belief, and tried to adjust my eyes to the dark.

"What the hell?" I breathed heavily, and looked around to see the object of my evening's annoyance sitting perched on my bed, her hand on my lap. "Nicole?"

"Yeah?" She purred, smirking at me. I sat up in an instant, trying to get a hold of the situation.

"What are you doing here?" I whisper yelled, looking around to make sure everyone was still asleep.

"I snuck in to see you," She shrugged and winked as if it were obvious. "I thought we could practice our scene?"

"Now's not exactly a good time," I said sarcastically. "You have to get out of here."

"I think we need to rehearse," She lowered her voice and came closer instead of backing away. "Particularly…the kiss." She put her hand on my leg, moving it up my thigh slowly.

"I have a girlfriend," I reminded her and myself. "Which I've already told you."

"Yeah, but," She whispered, her face inches from mine now. "She's not here," She was so close, I could smell the citrus scent of her shampoo. "Is she?"

Before I could move, she was on me, kissing me sloppily and wrapping her arms around me. There was a split second in between the kiss and the time I pushed her off of me where I did nothing. I didn't kiss back, but I didn't break away. It was only a second, but even my conscious knew it was a second too long.

"What the hell!" I said after putting her at arm's length.

"C'mon Beck," She tried to lean in again. "Don't be shy." I pulled back and shook my head.

"You have to go," I told her. "I have a girlfriend. That I love. A lot," I annunciated to make my point and she sighed.

"Well, if you change your mind," She shrugged and stood up. "You know where to find me."

"Leave please!" I was starting to get past annoyed with her until she crept out of the room, closing the door lightly behind herself.

I have a girlfriend that I love. A lot. I repeated to myself, trying to deny that I didn't move away fast enough. I could have reacted quicker, I knew it. I have a girlfriend that I love. A lot. More than a lot.

Jade meant more to me than anything. Even when she pisses me off. And she'd understand when I told her about this little incident. Maybe not at first, but eventually. The question is, do I tell her about my very very slight hesitation too?

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Three days after I got back to camp, it was my turn to use my laptop in the 'privacy closet'. I went inside and sat on the floor, but left my laptop closed.

I hadn't spoken to Jade since that last phone conversation, and I didn't even know if she would be waiting to skype with me. I sighed and looked around, trying to figure out what to do.

I needed to talk to her, but I didn't know what to say. If she was still mad about that phone call, my news about Nicole would only make things worse. I took a leap of faith and logged onto my account, surprised to see 'scissor_luv' online.

My heart beat loudly in my chest as I lingered over the button to make a video call. Before I could make up my mind, the laptop rang with a request to chat from her; she'd beat me to the punch. I accepted the call and tried not to react at the sight of her.

She was sitting on her bed this time, her legs crossed and her expression unreadable. I swallowed hard, taking in the sight of her black jeans and 'The Scissoring' t shirt. Could she tell I was nervous? More importantly, was she?

"Hi," She spoke first after a minute of silence.

"Hi," I repeated, deciding she wasn't angry. I don't know how I knew, but I could just tell.

"So listen—,"

"I think I—," We spoke at the same time then paused to laugh awkwardly. "Go ahead," I told her.

"I was just thinking," She started. "Maybe…I overreacted. In the smallest, most tiny way possible."

"Yeah?" I asked gently, it wasn't like her to apologize first, and I wasn't going to push it.

"Yeah," She nodded. "I was just so mad that you're not gonna be here," She said with a shrug. "But I know that you didn't have a choice…sorry if I made you feel like it was your fault."

"It's okay," I shook my head. "I should've told you as soon as they told me. I just didn't want to upset you. You were so tired after the hospital, and I didn't want to leave with us fighting."

"I know," She nodded, more calm than usual. "And I'm glad you didn't. I would've hated if we spent your last day arguing. I just…have to get used to the idea of you being away for another month."

"I'm sorry," I found myself saying. She looked so sad, and there was nothing I could do. I couldn't even hug her, as if that'd help.

"Don't be," She shook it off and forced a smile at me. "Let's talk about something else, kay? We have all summer to miss each other."

"Alright," I agreed. "How do you feel? You look a lot better," I noted her more lively behavior. After the hospital, she was paler than usual and drowsy.

"I feel great, actually," She smiled at me. "You're never gonna guess what happened."

"What?"

"My father bought me a car!" She said excitedly, holding up a pair of keys for me to see.

"What?" I said, incredulously.

"I know!" She was smiling hard enough to make me smile in return. "It's a black Range Rover. He had it delivered yesterday with one of those obnoxious big red bows on it. It's totally overpriced and terrible for the environment, but I love it!" She admitted with a guilty smirk.

"Wow," Was all I could think to say.

"I know," She nodded.

"Does this mean you won't be needing a ride to school anymore?" I asked, coming to that realization.

"Well I wouldn't go that far," She gave me an enticing look. "I mean, our carpool is slowing global warming. I don't want to think of what would happen if we stopped."

"The world would fall apart," I concluded.

"My thoughts exactly," She smiled. "Oh wait! I forgot to ask how the scene went? The Crucible one?"

"Oh," I reminded myself of the semi secret I was keeping and sort of froze. "It was good. We got good reviews," That much was true. Despite Nicole's pestering, she was a decent actress and we'd done a good job.

"I'm so proud of you," Jade said all of the sudden. "Really. I miss you so much, but…I know how much this means to you. And I'm sorry if I ever made you feel guilty about going away. I can't say I didn't mean to…but I'm still sorry."

"It's okay," I nodded slowly. Why did she choose now to be sweet? When I had something she wouldn't like to tell her. I knew how much it took for her to apologize for anything, and here she'd already done it twice in one conversation.

I was supposed to be the one big on honesty, and Jade and I never kept secrets from each other. I knew it was wrong, but I couldn't tell her. She was so happy, and I knew how she'd react so what difference did it make.

What she doesn't know can't hurt her…right?

Ahhh, the end for now.

You guys were crazy awesome reviewing last chapter and it helps so much.

Like seriously, it's so much easier to write things when I know there's people rooting for me lol if that makes sense?

Also, just out of curiosity, how do you think Bade reacted to the breakup?

Like separately, do you think they dated anyone else? Slept with anyone else? Slept with evvvveryone else? Haha or sulked in a room for ten months?

Just wondering : )