Beck skipped class that day and just sat in the Asphalt Café, staring at the blacktop. It was Tori who went looking for him. When she found him, just sitting there, it nearly broke her heart. Beck was confident, cool, strong; he shouldn't be sitting there, head down, broken. Tori knelt in front of him and held his face in both hands, lifting it up. The tears were still falling from his eyes. Tori was taken aback, she'd never thought she'd see Beck cry off the stage. Yet, here he was. She wanted to ask what was wrong, she wanted to soothe his pain, but she was unsure. And very afraid of what Jade would do. Even just holding him this way could incur a wrath so terrible from Jade, Tori shuttered at the thought.
Beck stared at her. He was also unsure. Should he share, make himself vulnerable to another person, again, just to get hurt? Would Tori understand? He decided to share anyway. Tori was a friend, she was understanding and helpful. He knew she wanted to be there for him, she always was.
"I wrote that play with the intention of it being performed, I can't deny that. I just never expected it would tear Jade away from me." Tori's face twisted into one of mass confusion. "She's left me for Andre. They never would have thought to explore this path if it hadn't been for that play. Kind of dug my own grave there, huh?"
"No! Beck, that's not it. This is life just opening up a new door for you. Go find it. Don't just sit here sulking because one closed in your face. Seize the day, my friend. Make things happen." Tori smiled at him. She was right, Beck thought to himself, he did need to make things happen. He held Tori's hands against his face, tilted his head slightly and leaned in to kiss her. They were both completely blown away.
Tori remembered the first time they'd kissed, but they were both so nervous about Jade, it hadn't been enjoyable, but now, free of the cloud of Jade hanging over them, this kiss was passionate, meaningful, perfect.
"Looks like I found that open door," Beck said as he pulled his head back. Tori smiled and brought her face back to his. Pure bliss.