A/N: Particularly because I am in a rush with the last month of my senior year, I haven't had much time, but thanks to all of you who are patient with me and stick to it. I have great plans for the upcoming chapters. And I cannot wait!

TORI

KARAOKE DOKIE

I had been enjoying this game of 20 questions, especially when my turn rolled around.

"Do you love me?"

Do I love him? I do. What do I say now? I can't confess my love for him; it will make me seem desperate for this to work. Besides, if I say it too soon it might mess things up. And what if he still loved Jade? What if the only reason he asked is so he can go back to her if I say I don't. Like, literally so many things are running through my mind that I can't even focus. I am speechless.

He kept looking straight at me, waiting for an answer. Oh god! "I—I... I really like you a lot, Beck, but is it safe to say that I am not ready to answer that one yet?"

He smiled, and I sighed. I took it as a good sign. "I was hoping you'd say something like that," he said.

"You were?" I was a bit confused.

"You wouldn't be the Tori I know if you didn't besides... when you do say it..." he smiled even bigger, "I'll know you mean it."

We left Karaoke Dokie together and headed for my house. We were almost there when—BLING!

"Who texted?" he asked.

"Andre. He says he's having a party tonight at his place. Early graduation thing, there's gonna be guys, girls, live band, a little drinking..." I was reading straight from the text.

"Sounds like fun!"

"Yeah! I still gotta change though." I knew Jade would be there, and secretly, some part of me loved making her jealous.

"So, we're going?" I didn't even have to look, and I knew he was grinning.

"Yeah?! Why wouldn't we silly?"

"I don't know." He kind of gasp slash chuckled. "Jade never..." He trailed off. I didn't say anything I just waited for what I knew he was about to say. "Sorry."

I waited so I could say, "For what?" as a half laugh. And again, I knew what he'd say.

"I compared you to Jade."

"No you didn't." And I laughed. That was the end of that conversation as we had just arrived at my house. "Help me pick out my outfit?" I smiled.

He raised one eyebrow, and laughed. We got out and he followed me to my room upstairs. My room was a mess with clothes everywhere, but hey, he was Beck; he wouldn't mind.

BECK

I smiled as we walked into Tori's room. I had never been allowed in here before, what with Jade being all... Jade. Any way, it was a lot like I imagined it, colorful, scattered with colorful clothes and personality. There was zebra print everywhere, it was kind of exciting.

She looked back at me and smiled. I didn't say anything, I could tell by the look on her glance that she wasn't looking for words. She turned back around and took off her shirt baring her sun-kissed back to me.

Christ Jesus, Tori was hot. The muscles in her back flexed as she lifted the shirt over her head. My chest started turning flips, uncontrollable, undeniable, 360 back-flips. I watched as her long hair threaded through the collar and fell onto her back. It took all I had to stand my ground. I took too very heavy steps for the bed, and sat.

I watched her walk around the room looking for something, a certain shirt I suppose, but I kept my gaze directed down. I didn't want her to think I was gawking at her. I looked down at the floor at the just the right second, and she giggled. "You can look at me."

"I am a modest person and I will assume that you are." I tried to make it sound as truthful as I could. I kept my gaze on the floor.

"Alright, Mr. Modest. What do ya think?" I looked up at her in hopes that she was dressed. She was wearing a rather tight t-shirt with slit down her sides that said AC/DC on the front.

I half smirked. "I like it." God, if she only knew how much. I had to stop, or she would notice.

She grinned and bounced a little at the same time. "Be right back," she announced as she bounded out of the room.

Tori is so exciting to be around. Everything about her makes me feel lighter and as cliché as it sounds more alive. She was gorgeous, and happy, and so nice to everybody. She was colorful. I looked around the room again. I don't know how I spent so long with Jade when she was the opposite of me. I know things will change for me now, and for the better. I can be the real me, and not some mellow, boring, drained part of me that I was.