Jade was sitting in the back of the audience at the showcase, blocking everything out. Her act had already happened ages ago, and she had snuck into the audience to get away from everyone… she just wanted to be alone at the moment. She had told everyone she wanted to watch, but the reality was that she was on the verge of tears, and she didn't want anyone to see. Sure, her act had gone great, but that didn't change the fact that her dad hadn't been in the audience… again. He had promised to come see it, just this once, but a quick text that "stuff came up" five minutes before the showcase was all Jade got as an apology. She hated that she cared, but after seeing everyone else's parents applauding after their act, it was too much.

So here she was, chilling in the back of the audience. Well, not chilling. More like picking apart the seam of her sleeve to distract herself. It was going okay, and somehow she had managed to block out the background noise of the showcase. But then she suddenly heard this super soft yet clear voice starting to sing…

Here I am

Once again

Jade looked up immediately. Whoever this was, that voice was beautiful…

Jade frowned. This wasn't someone she had ever seen before. And shouldn't she have seen her before, if she was in the singing program? But that thought couldn't linger long in Jade's mind before it was replaced by others: gee, she really looks as pretty as her voice, doesn't she? Jade smiled slightly at this awkward, shy girl on the stage. How could she manage to look so… cool… when she was standing there looking like a deer caught in headlights?

Feeling lost

But now and then

I breathe it in

To let it go…

As the girl continued singing, Jade noticed that she gradually got more confident. She sped up the song and started smiling and dancing slightly. Jade's smile grew. This girl looked like she was genuinely having fun… which surprisingly was not that common to see in the musical performances in the showcase. They were mostly made up of nervous kids trying to impress producers.

Okay, those shoes though. Jade thought they looked cute. Not something she would ever wear, but still. Cute. Since when did she care about what shoes other people wore? Seriously, what? She obsessed over the shoes for a solid ten seconds before moving on to just watching the girl dance. She was so energetic, and she performed like she meant it. Like she wasn't just doing it because she was supposed to, but she was doing it because she wanted to. Like even if there were no producers and no audience, she would still be there, singing and dancing her heart out. Why was this so fun to watch?

The girl's skin seemed to glow; her long, wavy, light brown hair bounced playfully as she danced. She was really pretty, that's for sure. Jade felt very strongly that this girl was super cool, and she needed to become friends with her. Not that that would ever happen, considering she probably didn't go to Hollywood Arts… but still! Jade would find a way. She had to. This girl was definitely worth it. After all, she was just perfect.

After the end of the act, the curtains closed. Then… opened, for some reason? André asked the audience if this girl was good enough to go to school at Hollywood Arts, and she said yes. Sooooo… wait. This girl is going to my school now? Shit.

The next morning...

Jade was totally not prepared to see that girl the second she walked into Sikowitz's class. She opened the door and, from behind Beck's back, saw the girl's big brown eyes and perfectly beautiful hair. Actually, it was straight today. Hmm… I wonder whether it's naturally wavy or naturally straight? Frick, that's not the right thing to be thinking right now… uh… Jade was totally flustered. There was Beck. He was supposed to be her wonderful boyfriend. She was supposed to love him. She was supposed to be the overprotective girlfriend. Riiiight. If Jade had been thinking properly, she might've said something sensible, like "Beck get the hell away from that chick" or "yo stop hitting on my boyfriend". But no. Flustered Jade had to go ahead and say that stupid line about "rubbing my boyfriend". What the heck? God Jade, you're so stupid. You're going to ruin all your chances of her ever liking you…

Jade's self-criticism was interrupted by Sikowitz starting class and thanking Tori for giving him two dollars on the street. Jade overheard Tori explaining to André that she had thought Sikowitz was homeless, and Jade suppressed a smile. That was funny. And sweet. And… wait, focus, Jade. This is class. You pay attention in class. Pretend not to care, but pay attention. Come on.

Sikowitz introduced improv… Wait, this girl doesn't know improv? What? What planet is she from? And Sikowitz seriously asked me to choose the improv groups? Wow, he never learns, does he… Jade looked over the classroom. Honestly, there weren't that many good actors in the room. She picked Cat because she was good, Beck because she had to, and… who else to pick? Jade's eye fell on the new girl. Ah. Nothing better to start off her stay here at Hollywood Arts than with a little improv, right? What could go wrong?

Fuck. What was that? What did I just do? Oh god. Frick frick frick. Why? Why am I such a terrible person? I didn't intend for any of that to happen! I wasn't going to make her be a dog, and I definitely wasn't going to spill coffee on her head. What is wrong with me? She joined the scene and I just blanked. Everything became a cloud of rage, honestly. I didn't know I was mad at her. Seriously. Was I even mad at her? Frick. I have no clue what to do.

The second the end-of-class bell rang, Jade rushed out of the classroom. Beck tried to stop her to lecture her about not spilling coffee on the new girl, but Jade left him in the dust. She really did not need to be hearing that. Jade sought refuge in the janitor's closet and stayed there for all of lunch… crying. Why was she crying? It was just a stupid mistake. It's not like she hadn't done really terrible things to kids before. Why did she feel bad about it this time?

Jade suddenly remembered the look on the girl's face after the coffee spilling. She had looked totally crushed and defeated. Did I do that to her? God, I'm really a terrible person, aren't I?

These thoughts stayed in the back of Jade's mind for the rest of the day, distracting her from classes and homework. She probably got half her homework wrong, that's how distracted she was. Near the end of the day, Jade reached a decision: she had to protect this girl from her meanness. She couldn't crush this girl again. And that meant no friendship. No interaction if she could help it. Nothing. Only pushing her away. That was the only way to protect the girl, who definitely did not deserve Jade's meanness.

The next morning...

She's back. That's good. Well, not good for me… that'll only make this harder. But yeah, good for her.

Tori volunteered to go first for alphabetical improv… Frick! She picked me to be in her group! Nooooo I can't do this. I can't do this with her. Jade tried not to show her inner turmoil, then kissed Beck (for show more than anything else; she had to prove to everyone that nothing had changed, and she was completely fine).

Aaaand here it goes…

It was bad. Tori made it confrontational, and it was all downhill from there. Rage built up inside Jade… probably the same rage as yesterday. It took over and Jade wasn't thinking anymore, only acting petty and obnoxious. Why are all the ugliest sides of me coming out now? Jade wasn't proud of how she was acting. Or at least she wasn't later that night, when she thought about it and ripped a pillow to shreds with a pair of scissors. During the moment, she was consumed with anger and vengeance, and an uncanny desire to verbally tear this girl apart. Seriously? What was wrong with her?

And then when the girl kissed Beck… that was just cruel. The facade of this girl being perfect vanished in that split-second. Any desire Jade had of ever becoming this girl's friend was replaced by hurt. It stung to see her boyfriend kissing the new girl. Sure, they didn't have the best relationship, but they were together, and it worked. Beck was the only one in the whole school who ever cared about Jade, and now this girl was trying to pull him away. Jade managed to fight back her tears for the remainder of class, but during lunch she hid out in the janitor's closet again, crying her eyes out and cursing this evil new girl.

A/N: Thank you so, so much for reading! Please let me know what you think! If you have any suggestions for things you want me to change, I would love to hear them!

This is actually my first published fic, so my style might change a little as it goes on. I'm planning to stay close to the show at the beginning (but obviously with a lot of changes since we see it mainly from Jade's POV) and then probably straying more from the show as their relationship develops.

Do you want to hear Tori's POV? Let me know!