AN: I'm actually really enjoying writing this, it's very nostalgic. This will also be a newly written chapter, trying to explain the process of Jade and Beck's budding friendship and why Jade is acting the way she is.

Jade's POV:

The first weeks at the new school were literally torture. Not because of the school itself, it seemed fine enough, even fun at times but because of the kind of school it was, a school of the arts. Apparently this was not made clear to the man in charge of the house-hold when he tried to buy my way into it. It was a private high school sure, it was exclusive yes, but the fact that it was also a stepping board to a career in acting, singing, dancing, you name it made it a very unfit choice of school for a West. A West becomes a lawyer or a doctor or a CEO for a successful company.

Apparently the fact that this kind of career was not what my new high school promoted had been missed. And now it was too late to change, too late to get the money back and I was stuck at this school that was promoting a life that wasn't for me. I was well informed that I was not to partake in any of this bullshit and that we would change my school again as soon as this school year was over. And if I went against this and actually took advantage of the many opportunities the school offered there would be hell to pay, I knew it.

So I only took the regular classes, the ones I needed to get into the right career for someone like me. Dropped out of dance class, piano class, art class. Unfortunately it wasn't an option to not take any art classes at all at a school for the performing arts and I was informed that I needed to keep at least two in order to stay at the school. So acting class and vocal class it was. I tried really hard not to enjoy it, to just become one of those people sitting in the back, waiting for the bell to ring but every now and then I would get called up, expected to perform something and I just allowed myself to get lost in the moment, singing or acting. It was like letting go of everything I was, all the problems and fears, and just become someone else for a minute. I loved it. Then slightly hated myself for loving it, knowing very well that it wasn't for me, this kind of life was for people who wanted to end up broke, living in shoeboxes payroll to payroll. It wasn't for me.

That didn't mean I couldn't enjoy it every now and then though.

The other problem in this school was the kids, all the artsy, dancing in the hallways-, piano-playing in the courtyard-, juggling, rapping, singing kids that surrounded me wherever I went. Also not for me, I knew that now. The first day I'd been hopefully positive, thinking I could take my time finding some people to hang with, having someone around in this crazy school. Of course that was before he found out that the school wasn't what he planned for me, when I still thought that it could be a nice new change in my life. Honestly, I don't know how that's even possible to miss. The school is called Hollywood ARTS for crying out loud! I guess maybe he was drunk.

So I stayed away from people, dodging invitations and avoiding conversations. I did prefer my own company to others anyways, or at least that's what I told myself. I found this little room, next to the auditorium where I would go during free periods, reading some books or cutting up old stage props I found lying around. Whatever. It wasn't like anyone ever came in there anyway, I doubted that anyone would notice that their former barn background sets were now in many many pieces. Also my scissors did need to exercise themselves every now and then.

The only one I couldn't dodge was Cat. We'd known each other a little before, going to the same after school group for a few months some years back before I'd moved away and even though we were like polar opposites it was impossible to keep a distance from her. She understood me on a level that I never let people get to anymore and I knew I could trust her with anything, despite her usual ditzy persona. The problem was the way she kept trying to get me to hang out with her 'gang', always calling trying to persuade me into going bowling or roller skating or to dinner with them. And I couldn't.

For one they all seemed like really lame people. I mean one of the guys carried around a puppet he demanded everyone treat like a real person, what is up with that? I guess the piano guy was okay, even though I would much rather date a hedgehog than him, that's for sure. Little miss sunshine Tori Vega was your typical 'girl next door' popular girl, always trying to come off all sweet and innocent while really being a very competitive person with a need to always be on center stage. No thank you. And cinnamon-eyes guy? Well he didn't seem like a total jerk, I'll give him that, but there was just something about him that made me feel like the best option was to stay away or it would disrupt my life balance.

Also I couldn't have a friend group like that, they wouldn't be appropriate for someone like me. He would notice.

So I dodged Cat's invites and hid in my secret room at free periods so no one would bother me. At lunch I talked to no one even though Cat tried endlessly to get me to partake in the conversations going around the table, just poking at my salad and occasionally throwing a glare if anyone was looking at me. It worked I guess, gave me a routine to follow in the coming months at this school before being whisked away again.

And if I ever got lost in myself singing or acting in class, forgetting all about the class room and my class mates looking at me that was okay. If I ever caught myself looking wistfully at the back's of Cat and her friends heading out for fun group adventures after school that wasn't doing anyone any harm. And if I ever stole a glimpse or two at cinnamon-eyed Beck across the lunch table when he wasn't looking, taking in the way the breeze made his wavy hair dance or the way his eyes sparkled when someone made a joke, well then that was completely innocent of course.

"Jade, I'm going out! Don't go anywhere, I'll be home later"

I heard the front door slamming shut behind him, heard the jiggling of his keys locking the door. The house was quiet, all too quiet, and I quickly put some music on to try and fight the empty feeling washing over me. It was friday night and I was alone at my house reading a book for school. Did it get more depressing than that? Teenagers were supposed to go to parties or hang out at the beach or whatever. I absentmindedly hummed along to Wild Horses by Rolling Stones whilst paging through the book. The emptiness was like a big dark hole surrounding me, making my thoughts go dark places, places that had been locked away for years. No!

I tried helplessly to snap myself out of it, to get my spinning head to focuse on the words on the page but all in vain. It was not gonna be a good night. I yearned for some company, even his stern, icy presence would have helped right now but I was all alone, the thoughts in my head taunting me.

I snapped out of it temporarily at the sound of my phone buzzing at the coffee table.

Cat Valentine:

'PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Jade come sing karaoke with me at Karaoke dokie, it will be really fun just for me please Jadey'

With a deep sigh I contemplated the offer. On one hand she would probably have all her stupid friends with her all of whom I did not particularly want to engage with, but on the other hand the empty house and the echoing thoughts in my head were enough to make me agree to almost anything in order to get away. Fine then. He wouldn't be home for hours anyway, he'd been going out a lot more lately. Also if I guessed correctly he probably wouldn't even notice my absence in the state he would be in when he returned home. Fine then.

Putting on a dark coat over my skinny jeans and simple black sweater I grabbed my bag and headed for the door. It was easy flagging down a cab and twenty minutes later I was standing outside a building with 'Karaoke dokie' written in big turquoise letters over the door. What a lame place. Oh well, beats sitting around the house I guess. Leaving my jacket at the coat check I made my way into the bar, looking for my perky, red-headed friend.

I spotted her at a table in the back, animatedly chatting with the piano guy and cinnamon-eyes. Beck. I shook my head slowly, trying to clear out all the thoughts, become more of a person that actually goes to these places, happily chatting with friends and enjoying the music. It wouldn't hurt to just allow myself one night off, one night of just being myself, hanging out with Cat and maybe possibly even making actual eye contact with Beck. Just one night.

Making up my mind I made my way over to the table, stopping at the chair closest to Beck. All of them were so into their conversation that they didn't even notice me, didn't even look up. Maybe it was a bad idea after all, I should probably just go. Go home and sit with my thoughts and just be the person I was meant to be. Then Cat looked up, her whole face lighting up at the sight of me and of course I couldn't do that to her. I cleared my throat a little bit.

"Is this seat taken?"

He quickly turned around, cinnamon eyes sparkling at me, looking absolutely stunned. Mouth slightly open wide, a couple of strands of hair falling disorderly on his forehead making me feel the urge to stroke them away from his face. Wearing a simple tank top and a blue and black flannel shirt over grey skinny jeans. Hot. Oh no, that's not good. But then again, just the one night. Beck quickly gathered himself from the initial surprise, grinning widely at me while pulling the chair out in a gentlemanly manouver.

"It's all yours"