A/N: Yeah, yeah, I know: it's been a while. However, I now have pretty much planned out this whole fic and this is an extra-long chapter, so you're welcome. Also, yeah, it's cringe, but this fic was cringe from the start and y'all seem to like this regardless soooo I guess we're doing this.
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Vibrations from his black Pearphone jolted Beck out of his slumber, signalling him that it was time for phase 2 of his scheme. Rolling on his side, he double-checked he hadn't set his alarm for the wrong time. To his relief, he'd successfully set his alarm for and awoken at 6:50. By this time, his Dad would already be at work and he'd still have an hour before his mum usually awoke.
Throwing off his bed covers, he sprung out of his bed and threw on some clothes as fast as he could without making a racket: charcoal jeans and a black belt, black boots, a light grey tank top, and an ebony and grey plaid shirt. Despite getting ready in under five minutes, Beck did not cease to look just as handsome as he always did.
Effortlessly, Beck flew down the stairs and into the kitchen. The first thing he did was make coffee, naturally, considering who he was preparing this breakfast for. He then proceeded to prepare a bowl of cereal and then placed it, the coffee, and a muffin on a tray before making his way to his RV.
Balancing the tray with one hand, Beck gently rapped on the door so as to alert Jade of his entering. A small groan could be heard in response, which Beck took as Jade giving him the okay to enter. Jade was still half-asleep, stretching out as she lay on top of the makeshift bed.
"Isn't it illegal to be awake at this hour?"
"I come bearing coffee."
"Well who cares about the legalities?" Jade said as she reached over for the coffee before Beck had even placed the tray down.
"How did you sleep?"
"Okay... thanks…" Jade was suddenly hit with how awkward this situation actually was, and so desperately racked her brain for something to say that would somewhat wane the awkwardness. "Uh, sorry our Full Moon Jam date was cut short."
"That's ok. We'll just have to reschedule, won't we?"
"What, wait another year for the next Full Moon Jam?"
"I was thinking more along the lines of going to see a movie next Friday."
"Fine. But I'm picking. We're not going to see some cheesy rubbish."
"Deal."
"Give me your phone."
"Why?" Beck enquired, who had already started to pass over his phone before she answered anyway.
Jade began typing something into it, not answering until she was done. "My number." Jade stated as she held out his phone.
Beck smiled gleefully. "Thanks. Now, I'll let you eat your breakfast in peace."
She wanted to reach out and grab his arm. To break off half of the muffin for him and make him stay a little while longer. But she couldn't, she was too embarrassed. She'd accidentally started a fire, made a huge fuss over not going back to her family (and caused him to unnecessarily worry), and she'd crashed at his place- well, sort of- after a 10 minute date. Not exactly a preferred start to a potential romance.
"Oh, one more thing." Beck swivelled before he reached the door, his hair moving in a sort of swishing motion which Jade shamefully had to admit sent butterflies dancing around in her stomach just slightly. "My Mum will be waking up in about 40 or so minutes. So…" He was too polite to directly tell her to leave, so he merely implied.
"Got it."
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Jade's P.O.V:
Staying at my grandma's wasn't too insufferable, I suppose. Thinking about my second date with Beck - if you could even count the night of The Full Moon Jam as a date - kept me going anyway. For a lot of the time, I just shut myself in my room. Well, as there were only two spare bedrooms, one for my mum and one for my brother, they stuck me in the lounge. I reckon this was some subconscious way of punishing me for the fire (because wow that sofa is uncomfortable) but the jokes on them because I'm the only one with a TV in my room. Unfortunately, my grandma's TV only has about 20 crappy channels, but I kept myself preoccupied with texting Beck and Cat and deciding what movie to go and see with Beck. It wasn't exactly a difficult task, as most of them were cheesy Hollywood movies where a bunch of kids overcome evil to save the world.
Yeah, no. Just no.
Instead, I chose a new movie adaptation of 'Steamboat Suzy', a play about a woman who captains a steamboat, after the original captain is struck by lightning on board, despite the sexist pigism of everybody else. On top of that, she saves a girl with tuberculosis. See Hollywood movie producers, that's what you make a film about
I also started a new project of sorts. For Beck. It's partly a way of paying Beck back for the night of the Full Moon Jam; I made a fool of myself and I am a lot more embarrassed than I would like to be, although this 'project' isn't really serving as a distraction. I'm also partly doing this for Beck because it would make him happy-
Shoot. Stop it, Jade. You're falling for him way too fast.
Oh god what am I doing?
...Anyway, I digress, the point is that me and Beck are finally - hopefully - going on a real date and I swear not even another house fire can stop me this time.
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Beck's P.O.V:
Jade and I have been texting pretty much non-stop since after she left my place and got settled in at her grandma's. Mostly, we have just been having a laugh and sending stupid videos back and forth but occasionally the conversation spills over into deeper things; this is usually at about one in the morning when we're so sleep derived that it starts to feel like drunk-texting.
Also, apparently Cat 'ships' us now. Whatever that means.
Finally, Saturday evening has arrived and I am readying myself to pick Jade up. She's chosen a film adaptation of a play called 'Steamboat Suzie,' which I honestly hadn't heard of before but from what I have researched, it sounds good and seems to actually have substance to it. It kinds of reminds me of Jade: she has substance; she's strong and independent, like Suzie, and she sure isn't going to let misogynists stand in her way anytime soon.
As this is our first real date, I thought I should give her something, as people on dates do. But I didn't want my gift to be generic - flowers and chocolates were not on the cards - so I bought something that's a little different and suits the theme of our date.
At the last minute, something told me perhaps it was a little too different but the amused expression on her face tells me she appreciates the quirkiness.
Jade's P.O.V:
"A sailor's hat?"
Beck simply nods as he holds out the white and indigo headwear to me. You have to admit, if there's one thing Beck Oliver is not, it's unoriginal.
I take the hat from him and place it on my head, taking on a strong, confident pose. "There. How do I look?"
"My gosh, Suzie, is that you?" He makes a mock surprised face at me. "Because so as it would happen I'm in great need of a captain."
"I refuse to engage you in a lyric battle right now."
"Why? Afraid you'll lose?"
"No, I am afraid you will be so devastated by your crushing defeat that you won't feel up to this date anymore."
Beck's lips curved into a playful smile. "Awe, I didn't realise you were so eager to go on a date with me."
His lips now begin inching forward, expecting a kiss, but instead of meeting his request I place the sailor's cap on his head and pull it down over his eyes, stifling a laugh.
I begin to walk towards Beck's car when Beck, his vision now unobstructed, grabs hold of my hand and brings me back towards him and achieves his goal of kissing me on the cheek.
"Ha!" He says triumphantly, smiling a goofy smile.
"Are you done yet? We're going to miss the movie." I try to regain some level of seriousness but I can't help but smile.
"Hmmm, no." Beck takes off the hat and places it back on my head. "Now I'm done."
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Beck's P.O.V:
The floor of the cinema's main foyer is a glittering black marble with red and white stars dotted across it, seemingly in no obvious pattern. Rather than fumbling about for our ticket money whilst simultaneously holding a mountain of refreshments we decide that purchasing the tickets should be the first order of business. The till guy informs us that it comes to $14 in total and so I reach for my wallet.
"Nuh-uh. I got it." Jade proclaims as she too begins to fish out the right amount of cash.
I gently push away the hand holding her money. "No, no, it's my treat."
Jade shakes her head. "You secretly hid me from your parents in your RV for a night all because I was too chicken to face my family after my stupid mistake, and to top it off you made me breakfast the next morning. I owe you."
"You don't owe me anything." I affirm, but Jade shoves the $14 in the till guy's outstretched hand. I'm about to protest but the no-nonsense expression on her face makes me think better of it.
"Stop being a big baby about it." Jade takes the tickets from the guy and swivels around to face me. "I'll let you buy me a drink instead."
Her lips curve into a smile and mine follow suit. "Coffee?"
"Always."
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Jade's P.O.V:
Beck and I didn't plan for the date to end with the movie, and so I had suggested earlier on in the week that we head back to my grandma's house for a while, since everyone else was out Christmas shopping and it was too cold at this hour to stay out. Seeing as Beck didn't know the way there, I offered to be his human SAT NAV - but I had no intention of directing him to my grandma's.
"Make a left here." I direct Beck as I take a swig of my second coffee of the date.
"I didn't realise your grandma lived so close to your place." Beck comments as he stops at a red light and relaxes back into the driver's seat.
"Well, actually, I'm not taking you to my grandma's. We are going to my house… or what's left of it." I say nonchalantly.
Beck blinks at me. "O...kay? May I ask why?"
"No. Just drive."
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After Beck locks his car, I take his hand and lead him around the back of the charred house to the backyard. Right at the back stands a towering maple tree, a treehouse perched in between its branches.
"It's the one thing the fire didn't spread far enough to reach." Although it does almost look like it did perish in the flames, what with it being Winter now. "It hadn't been used in a while, so I've been doing some work on it. I remembered you saying you were upset as a kid because you didn't have a backyard for a treehouse... so..."
I hate how sheepish I suddenly sound.
My eyes focus on the treehouse, intent on not making eye contact with Beck, whose gaze I can now feel upon me.
"You renovated your old treehouse… for me?"
Chiz. This was a weird thing to do. I can feel the heat rise to my face, almost scolding my cheeks, and I would give anything to go back in time and not let my feelings get the best of me. I'm about to perform some crazy combination of both the fight and flight response when he stops me in my tracks by planting a kiss on my forehead.
"Thank you."
"Well," I smiled. "You let me spend the night in your RV, now you can use my treehouse. I'm really just returning the favour."
Beck smirks. "Uh-huh. You sure there was no other reason?"
Snaking my arms around his waist, his warmth a welcome contrast to the bitter winter winds, I smirk back at him. "Nope. None at all."