BECK

Beck had made up with Tori on the condition that he clear everything up with Jade. He had to admit to himself that even though Jade had said she only wanted him to be happy, things were still a bit muddled. That would end today. He would make sure that everyone was on the same page before he turned in for the day. He pulled into Jade's drive and took a deep breath.

Beck half jogged to the door and knocked. It took a while for anyone to answer and just as he was getting ready to knock once more, Jade opened the door.

"Beck!" She looked much healthier today. She was recovering quickly, but he had no idea how long it would be before she was back at school and in their normal routine. "Come in." She waved past herself and opened the door.

As he sat down on the couch, Jade brought in two sodas from the kitchen and sat down next to him. "How are you?" He asked.

"Better." She gave a half-hearted smile. "How are you? I hope I didn't cause too mcuh trouble in paradise?"

"I'm okay. We're okay. Jade, we should talk about what happened."

She took in a long breath and let it out with a sigh. "Okay, where do I start?" She paused to sip her soda and relax on the back of the couch. "When you told me to stay away from you, I thought long and hard about how I would manage that, and I came to the conclusion that I can't. I love you too much to let go. So I decided that I couldn't live without you and you didn't want to live with me around, so there was only one solution."

With no hesitation Beck responded. "There are so many other solutions, Jade. I want you to know that I do love you. And I don't want you to go away. But I do want you to stop trying to sabotage what I have with Tori." Jade flinched. "I know it's hard and you don't have to hand around if you can't handle it, but I won't let her go now, Jade. I... I love her. I'm in love with her. And I want her to have the chance to love me back."

Jade crossed her arms, but she looked sad. "So... she makes you happy then?"

Beck paused to search her face for any sign that this was a trick. "She does. So happy. I can't begin to explain--"

"Okay," Jade raised a hand to gesture him to stop. "I get it. Well, I don't get it, but I understand." She sighed. "I just want you to be happy, Beck, even if it's not with me." She looked up from her lap.

Beck didn't say anything for a few seconds. He sat back on the couch and sighed. "We're not going to hide it anymore."

"You call that hiding it?" She scoffed softly.

"You know what I mean." He looked at her with determination.

"Yeah, I know. Just... give me some time to accept it and move forward."

"When are you coming back?"

"Well actually, I don't think I am," she responded. "Graduation is a week away and I've finished all of my exams. I will attend graduation, but I am not going back this week." Beck nodded. "Probably best too," she said. "I don't think I'm ready to watch the happy couple together." She rolled her eyes.

"I'm not going to rub it in, Jade, and neither will Tori. She is worried about you, and she still thinks of you as a friend after everything."

Jade scoffed. "Not in a million years." And a sly Jade sort of smile crossed her face.

Beck felt some sense of relief and smiled in return.

"Are you going to be okay here by yourself?" He looked around her apartment.

"I always have been, but if it makes you feel better, a therapist comes by once a day for a coversation. I assume to make sure I won't try again." She rolled her eyes again.

"You won't right?" He paused and searched her face again. "Try again, I mean."

"Nope, no point really. But it's time to move forward for myself." She smiled to her knees again. "I landed a part in a production that starts soon after graduation."

"Jade! That's awesome! I am so proud of you. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Jade looked as if she was about to say something and then shook her head. "Look, I'm about to eat dinner and head to bed and I only ordered take-out for one so..."

"Oh, yeah! I should get going." Beck stood and held out his hand to help Jade up from the couch. She got up and he pulled her for a hug.

For a second, Jade stood stiff and waited for it to end, and then she relaxed and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"You can still call me if you need something." And he released her.

"Yeah... now get out." They both chuckled and Beck left the way he came feeling optimistic for her and his relationship with Tori.