"I hate your big dumb combat boots."

Beck was never one to really complain, but this was just torture. Boxes. Everywhere. An entire sea of them staring back and mocking him as he attempted to form an organization method of some kind in his head. When his parents asked him to go through some of his old things for donations, he happily gathered some items in his RV not really of use to him anymore. He had not, however, anticipated sifting through the past 17 years of his life. Sighing, Beck sat down on one of the boxes and opened one labeled "Beck 14." Tuning out the pattering of the pouring rain on his shed, his fingers brushed the boxes edge, his curiosity peaking a bit. Fourteen had been an interesting year for Beck, to say the least. Smirking to himself, he gingerly opened the box and peered inside. Immediately his eyes saw what was once his most prized possession: his very first pair of combat boots. Running his finger-tips along the worked leather, Beck relished in the little holes and scrapes he found, recalling a memory with each one. The loud clang of the shed's door crashing against its wall snapped him out of his reverie. Looking up, Beck was not remotely surprised to find his girlfriend standing there; her hair up in a ponytail, ruffled flannel and torn jeans, tired expression, and a large to-go cup of coffee in her hand. Taking the picture in front of him in, Beck smiled at Jade- who had clearly just woken up and taken it upon herself to drive straight to him.

"Why aren't you answering your phone?" Jade grumpily snapped at him. She'd called her boyfriend a good five times over the past hour- which for her was an improvement; although, after he didn't answer the second time she'd thrown on some clothes and rushed out into the rain to hop into her jeep. The third call was made as she neared the coffee shop she always went to on the way to Beck's RV. The fourth call came as she left the shop, and the fifth as she walked up to his RV and banged on the door.

"My dad wanted me to sort through some old stuff for a charity drive. How'd you know I was back here?"

"Well, not because you told me."

"Babe, I was with my dad. He asked me and I left my phone. You said you were going to sleep, anyway."

"I did. And then my step-mom came to my door to remind me of a dinner party that my dad said I'd go to with her. So, naturally I left."

"Jade."

"Beck." Jade raised an eyebrow at Beck, daring him to challenge her actions before she'd finished her coffee. He simply sighed and rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to the boots in his hands. Jade recognized them immediately, Beck was wearing them the first time they'd met. Walking over to him, Jade plopped down on one of the surrounding boxes and peered into the one open before her boyfriend.

"Are we reliving your glory years?" she sighed.

"They weren't my- No. I just thought it'd be fun to see what attracted you to a young Beck Oliver."

"It definitely wasn't those," Jade spat as she pointed to the old, ratty boots in Beck's hands.

"Hey, these were my first pair of combat boots. Sure, they weren't perfect, but you thought they were cool."

"Yes. I also thought ventriloquism was cool. And then I met Robbie."

"These boots were the coolest thing that I had back then. They explained me."

"And here we go," Jade sighed, taking another swig of her coffee and rolling her eyes at her boyfriend. He merely laughed at Jade's annoyance and continued to take a stroll down memory lane. He uncovered old books and photos, a sketchbook filled with a bunch of cartoon characters, and a plethora of other things recalling his time spent as a 14 year old. Jade had taken to scrolling through her phone and sending very over-exaggerated yawns in Beck's direction. Despite her best efforts, Beck knew that Jade was interested in all that he'd pulled out of the box. She loved hearing about Beck's life, especially if she was involved in it.

"Babe, look at this," Beck said softly, smiling up at Jade as he handed her the picture in his hands. Jade sighed exasperatedly, but took the photo from him and stared down at it. It was the very first picture they'd ever taken together. Beck, younger and with slightly shorter hair, was wearing a flannel shirt that Jade had gone to re-purchase with him several times throughout the years as he grew. Next to him was Jade, surprisingly beaming in the photo, hair all over the place. That was probably the first time she felt truly happy back then, just a few months after her parents had made their divorce official and her father's new girlfriend Cassie moved in- though five months later, she moved out and was replaced by Rosa for another two years. Jade spent most of her time by herself during those months, even when Cat would beg her to sleep over or play with her. Jade truly just wanted to be alone, or to run away.

Then, she met Beck. He was starting at Hollywood Arts with her and Cat, and had already received the title of the "hottest boy in 9th grade," a title which made her gag over its reek of adolescence now. They were in two classes together and hardly talked. It wasn't until they were cast in a show together towards the end of October that they actually became friends, and even with that Jade was very reluctant. Beck was both mystified and intrigued by Jade when they met, something that had never truly stopped. He could never quite explain why he so wanted to get to know the snappy girl that wore black all of the time and played with scissors. She would brush him off 90% of the time, and yet he was still determined to crack her hard shell and figure out at least one thing about her. It didn't take too long for him to realize just how amazing and determined she was. As for Jade, she could not wrap her head around the cute boy that wouldn't stop talking to her. Everyone except for Cat seemed terrified of her, but Beck simply smiled at Jade's sass and met her right where she was. She'd liked him the moment she saw him give a monologue in her class, and she swore that his combat boots only made him cuter- though she refused then and now to admit that.

Studying the photo in her hand, Jade allowed herself to recall the emotions of that time for a moment. How when the photo was taken, both she and Beck liked each other but neither of them would admit it. The next five and half months were the true challenge, Beck worked like crazy to get Jade to let him in. Finally, after all of that, she agreed to be his girlfriend. Despite the hard-time that she'd given him, that was the happiest Jade had been. The moment Beck entered her life, everything became a little more bearable day by day. Looking up at Beck, Jade let a small smile escape. She knew that Beck understood her feelings, even if she couldn't voice face them.

"You know, I think this should go up in my RV," Beck said, smiling at his girlfriend. She shrugged her shoulders as Beck reached out and grabbed her hand, slowly bringing her to his lap. Jade's smile brightened in spite of herself, and she rested back into Beck's hold.

"Fine, but the boots have to go," Jade replied. Beck tickled her side at that, eliciting a pained and stifled laugh from Jade. "They've been in here for over two years, babe. And they're shitty and falling apart. Let them go."

Beck laughed and kissed Jade's temple.

"But they're so cool."