Beck's P.O.V:

"Where are you going?" Asks André.

"I'm going to talk to Jade" I answer with an air of confidence.

"Good luck." Robbie calls as I stride away.

Jade's now alone, so this is the perfect opportunity to talk to her. However my confidence is gradually decreasing the closer I get to Jade. I stop in my tracks, I need an actual reason to talk to her.

I've got it.

Walking past Jade's table, I make a quick stop at the Grub Truck to buy a coffee before heading back to her.

"Hi Jade." I greet as I sit on the seat opposite her.

She looks quite startled, but before I can ask why her expression quickly changes back to her usual neutral one.

"Hi." She says nonchalantly

For a moment I forget how to talk, but then, I become conscious of the hot cup of coffee scalding my skin.

"Here, I got you some coffee." I announce as I give her the drink.

Now she looks confused.

"I only drink black coffee-"

"With two sugars, right?" I finish.

Great. Now I sound borderline stalker-esque.

Jade doesn't answer, instead she snatches the coffee like a hawk swooping down to catch its prey, and takes a sip.

She gets up to leave, taking the coffee with her.

"Is there anything else you came here to say? Or did you just come to give me coffee?" She asks.

"No. Just came to give you coffee." I respond. Wow, great tactic, Beck.

"Well... bye then." She says disappointedly. Disappointedly?

As she leaves, André joins me at the table.

"Hey, how'd it go?" He enquires.

I watch Jade make her way back into the school building, André following my gaze.

"What do you think?"

XXXXXXX

Jade's P.O.V:

Knocking on Cat's door, I groan as I dread the hours of studying that lie ahead. Sikowitz is giving us a test on the history of acting and Cat decided it'd be best if we studied together. Well, I'll let her do all the studying and I'll just wing the test. Actually, I'm pretty confident about the test, I only really agreed to this because I've got nothing better to do. Better than going to my Dad's, which is where I'm supposed to be right now. He doesn't support any of my career aspirations - he would view the test tomorrow as pointless - so why should I even bother trying to make an effort to spend time with him?

"Hi Jade!" Cat greets cheerily as she swings the door open.

"Hi." I mutter as I step inside.

Cat shuts the door behind me then gives me a hug.

"Cat. What have I told you about hugging me?" I seethe through gritted teeth.

"Sorry!"

Groaning, I say, "Come on. Let's just get this over with."

Following Cat to her bedroom, I trudge up the stairs behind her. Textbooks are already sprawled across the floor, amongst countless sweet wrappers and stuffed animals (Cat's study boost food, and emotional support). Cat plonks herself in the middle of the colourful assortment, while I perch on the edge of her bed. I begin reading my textbook (the chapter on the origin of pantomimes) but it's not long before Cat reaches her limit for going without talking.

"Can you quiz me on the first chapter?"

"Cat, it's literally only been two minutes, you can't possibly have read it all already."

"But I need to talk! I can't bear the silence!"

"Just study!"

Cat pouts. "I can't bear the silence because if it's too silent I get distracted and then- oh I think I just thought I saw a butterfly outside my window! I love butterflies! Especially the pink ones, but I'm not trying to be racist against all the other coloured butterflies! It's just that-"

Turning the page in my book, I try to tune out Cat's incoherent babbling. She never yaps about the same topic for long, so it's not long before she's discarded butterflies and is talking about the performing arts. How she got from butterflies to the performing arts, I'll never understand. Sometimes I wonder what goes on in her mind, other times I think it's best if I don't know. Ignorance is bliss, after all.

"I love acting! I love singing! But I don't know which I prefer. What do you love most Jade? You have a great voice, but you're also a great actress! You prefer acting don't you? You know who else loves acting?"

Looking up from my book, I sigh, "No cat, I don't know else loves acting."

"Beck does!"

I tense as she says his name.

"What's wrong? Are you mad? Is it because I ordered you the wrong coffee?"

"Chill Cat, it's fine. Someone bought me a new one anyway."

"Oh? Who?" She asks, a knowing grin on her face.

"Beck did."

"Oh... Beck bought you coffee."

"Yes, Beck. So what? Why do you keep mentioning him anyway, you're obsessed, it's like you have a crush on him or something!"

Cat starts giggling. "Noooooo, I think you have a crush on him!"

I slam my book shut and stare her dead in the eye.

"Say that again..."

"I think you have a crush on Beck!"

Forcefully, I throw my textbook at Cat, who lets out a squeal as she dodges it.

"Why do you think I have a crush on Beck?" I'm shouting now.

"I've seen the way you look at him, and I think he likes you too!"

"First of all, I do not like Beck. Secondly, why would you think that he likes me?"

"Well, for starters, he bought you coffee-"

"You buy me coffee all the time!"

"Yeah, but you make me. - She does have a point there. - And, he got your order right!"

"So what if he did?... wait. How do you know that he knows my coffee preferences?"

"Robbie told me."

I pause for a beat. "That's the geek with the puppet, right?"

"Yeah, but don't change the subject!"

"You can talk!"

"What's that supposed to mean!?"

Wow. "Um, that you change the subject!"

"Oh. What were we talking about... oh right, Beck! You should totally ask him out!"

"Romance is for losers." I don't necessarily believe the aforementioned statement, but I do not feel like explaining myself to Cat right now.

"No it's not! I like romance!"

"My point exactly!"

"But you don't know it's for losers until you try it!"

"I have tried it! All the guys I dated were losers."

"But-" Wow, she's persistent.

"NO Cat! No, and that's final."

She looks slightly upset, but she's not giving up yet. Getting on her knees, she takes a deep breath before...

"Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, plea-"

Unable to take her begging any longer, I cry, "Fine! FINE! I'll consider it."

"Yay!"

"Just shut up before I throw another book at you; this time I'll aim better!"

Cat lets out a small, scared squeal then starts studying, but I can see the smile playing on her lips.

XXXXXXX

Beck's P.O.V:

Right now, I'm walking up to Jade through the corridors of Hollywood Arts, intent on asking her out. I'm feeling a lot more confident than my last attempt. Why? Because this time I have a better plan than just giving her coffee; I mean sure, she loves coffee, but everyone knows that. So, I want to do something for her that shows that I really like her (without sounding like too much of a stalker...again). At the end of the week, one of Hollywood Art's annual showcase's is taking place, and I am going to ask Jade to be my date; and I know that there aren't any other guys lining up to ask her. Actually, most guys at this school are afraid of Jade, - it's kind of amusing, actually - but not me.

"Hey, Jade."

"Oh, hey. Have you come to give more coffee?" She asks jokingly, though I sense she's half hoping I have.

"Sorry, no coffee today." I show my bare hands as if to prove this. "I was just wondering if you were going to the Full Moon Jam on Friday with anyone?"

Shrugging, she replied, "Most of the guys in this school are losers."

"Am I a loser?"

Jade eyes locked onto mine for what was probably only a second, but it seemed like the moment passed by in slow-motion.

"No," The corners of her mouth curved upwards into a teasing smile. "...not entirely."

"Well, if I am not an entire then, would you like to be my date?"

Suddenly, there's an awkward silence.

The suspense seems like torture as I wait for her answer.

XXXXXXX

Jade's P.O.V:

"Well, would you like to be my date?" Beck asks, the hope in his eyes betraying the neutrality of the rest of his face.

After contemplating my answer, I mentally scold myself for allowing myself to even consider saying 'yes', but on the other hand, how can I say no when he's standing there, looking so gorgeous, and staring at me with puppy dog eyes?

"Maybe."

Well, it wasn't a 'no'.

Beck blinks in surprise, "Maybe?"

"Yes, are you deaf or something?" I retort.

Surprisingly, he doesn't appear offended by the sharpness of my words - or the indecisiveness of my response. "Okay, think about it then." He says coolly as he flashes me a smile that makes my heart skip a beat.

"Bye." I mutter before pacing away, leaving him at my scissor-adorned locker.

Immediately, I regret my answer. Yes, I would've gladly gone out with him, but I panicked. I've never been out with anyone who wasn't a sleazebag; I wouldn't know how to act. Besides, I was way too young then, and I am still too young now.

Am I overthinking this? Maybe I am. Or, I am thinking about this the right amount and everyone else is under-thinking things.

Nothing's ever easy, is it?