A/N: Carlos and Jace have their respective cousin's last name. Thought I'd clarify this if anyone was curious.
The next morning, Carlos checks TheSlap, a small smile when he sees Jade's latest update.
Jade West: A certain Vega is going to get a close look at my scissors by the end of the day, and it's not the one everyone expects this time. Mood:Wazzed Off!
Tori Vega: As glad as I am it's not me you're mad at this time, go easy on him. I doubt you will, but try.
Jace Oliver: I may regret this, but I know what Carlos is planning. I won't give details because he scares me more than Jade.
Beck Oliver: No scissors, Jade. Lane already told you what would happen if you threatened someone with scissors again.
Jade West: Shut up Beck. You stay away or you'll see them too.
Carlos Vega: To Jace, keep your mouth shut. To Jade, trust me. Your collection is nothing to mine. To everyone else, see you in school.
With that, Carlos logs off, getting ready for the day. Before he heads out, he looks to Kira, asking her to wish him luck today. When he gets to the Hollywood Arts parking lot, he notices Jade at the coffee stand by the school. Trying not to laugh, he takes a quick picture of her outfit. Pink hair cascading down her shoulders like she usually ears it, pink ribbons noticeably absent. Pink short sleeve shirt to just above her waist. Light pink pants to pink boots. The bell also absent, but Carlos decides not to call her on it. Heading into the school shortly after she heads in, Carlos hears her yell at everyone in the hallway, earning a small laugh from him.
As he walks in, he notices Tori at her locker, trying not to look at Jade.
"Hey cousin. How was everything after I left last night?"
"Could have been worse. Everyone left, then Cat made Jade stay the night apparently, but I'm afraid to ask how that went. Oh, and Jade wants to stab you with her scissors."
"Yes, I noticed it based off of her Slap update. I'll live." After a few moments, Carlos went to continue speaking while Tori finished getting her stuff, but before he could, he heard Jade behind him.
"I want to talk to you Vega."
"What I'd do?"
"NOT YOU! The other Vega."
"You didn't have to yell at her, we're right here. I'll talk to you later Tori. Jade's not too happy with me I think."
"I'll just head to class, now." With that, Tori turns and walks away, heading to class before she hears yelling, leaving Jade and Carlos in the hallways alone.
"We need to talk."
"No, you need to talk apparently. I can't think of anything to say, Little Jade."
"OK, first things first. What is with that nickname? You've called me that a few times before, and it's getting on my nerves. Secondly, what is with the change of heart after I brought up Hayley? You went from relaxed to looking like you were gonna kill someone."
After a few moments of silence, the bell rang. As Carlos went to walk away, Jade grabbed his wrist, stopping him.
"Answer my questions."
"Fine, since I don't see this ending here. First, it's just a nickname. Nothing else, no real meaning behind it. Second, you try thinking about proposing to someone, then find out they cheated on you with someone you thought was family. That's actually why Jace and I are close. He told me what she did, knowing I'd be furious at him, but risked it anyway. I now see him as a brother. But I digress, because we are done here."
Before Jade could respond, Carlos walks out of school. Before he leaves the parking lot, he gets on TheSlap, adding a new update.
Carlos Vega: Seeking silence. If anyone wants to find me, too bad. I'm going alone. Mood: Wandering.
After a few hours, just before lunch, Tori goes to ask Jade what she and Carlos talked about, wondering why she hasn't seen her cousin since before school started. Before she could say anything, Beck walks up to her and just stares at her. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Jade finally snaps.
"WHAT!?"
"What did you say to Carlos? Tori told us that you talked to him before class, and now no one knows where he is. And have you checked his latest Slap update?"
"No, I haven't checked it lately, so what? It's not like he's threatening to kill me or anything."
"Jade, he makes it sound like he's going to kill himself, not you. He texted me after your conversation, telling me he didn't feel well. What did you two talk about?"
Surprised that Tori joined the conversation, all Jade did was stare at her, surprised at the anger in her voice.
"I asked him why he freaked when I brought up Haley at the campout, and he said that she cheated on him with someone he was close to, and that he was thinking about proposing to her. I swear I didn't know."
As Jade was talking, Tori's checks her hone, noticing she got a text while they were talking. After she checks it, she just stands in silence, not saying anything.
"Tori, what's wrong? Who texted?" Beck asks, worry in his voice.
"Carlos. He wants everyone to meet him at Nozu after school. He also says to tell Jade the bet's off."
"OK, but why do you look like you just saw a ghost?"
"Why would he want to meet after school? It doesn't make any sense. Let's just get to the Asphalt Cafe and tell everyone. I have a bad feeling about this."
After school, the gang go to Nozu. Seeing Carlos standing beside his car as the pull up, no one says anything, not even Jade.
"Before we go inside, I have something to say to some of you. Robbie, lose the puppet, he's hurting your life, not helping. Beck, I'll talk to you in private later. Everyone but Jade, head inside. This time, I need to talk."
Doing what Carlos asks, except Robbie who looks upset that someone told him to get rid of Rex, everyone heads inside, confused with how Carlos is acting. With one last glance to her cousin, Tori goes in, worry on her face.
"I lied about the nickname. There is a meaning. I don't have any intention of telling you it, but oh well. My reason for this, chat, we'll call it, is to find something out about you. You found out my reasoning, now tell me yours."
"What reasoning? I have no idea what you're talking bout."
"Why did you tense up when I told you why I hate the topic of Hayley? Specifically, after I said that I was thinking about proposing?"
After a few moments of silence, Jade finally speaks. "I don't know why, I just did. I guess I was hoping Beck would propose to me in the future, but that'll never happen, and you saying that brought up bad memories."
"Not a good reason, by the way. I'm going home in a bit, I need to think. I don't care what you do. Get Beck and tell him it's time for our talk. And tell Tori I'm gonna pick her up for school tomorrow. Go now, we're done here."
Slowly walking into Nozu, Jade walks up to the others, telling Tori what Carlos said, and to tell Beck that Carlos is ready to speak with him.
Looking at his ex, and the worry in her eyes, Beck slowly heads outside, wondering what they talked about.
"All I want to ask you, Beck, is how long you have you liked my cousin? I can tell, by the way you look at her every once in a while."
"A while, I guess? Since shortly before Jade and I broke up. It's actually one of the reasons we broke up, I think. Jade could tell I was losing interest, and got angry. Why do you care?"
"Because that's my cousin, you're crushing on, and I don't want her getting hurt. I won't stop you if you ask her out, but if you hurt her, I hurt you. Understood? I'm going home, tell Tori I'll talk to her later."
With that, Carlos gets in his car and heads home, leaving a stunned Beck in the parking lot.
After a few hours, Tori gets on TheSlap, confusion and excitement running through her mind as she starts to type.
Tori Vega: Just got asked out! Unsure of what to say, so I told him I need to think first. Mood: Thinky.
André Harris: Who asked you out? How come you're unsure?
Cat Valentine: Say yes! Wait, who is it? Tell me pleeeeeeeaaaaaaase?!
Beck Oliver: Why the uncertainty? Yes or no, that's all there is to it.
Tori Vega: Of course you'd say that Beck, under the circumstances. André, Cat, you both will find out soon, trust me.
Jade West: Who asked you out Vega? He must not be intelligent to ask you out.
Jace Oliver: Funny how you say that Jade. School is gonna be interesting tomorrow.
Carlos Vega: Shut up Jace. Tori, tell him yes. Beck, relax. You don't wanna seem desperate, do you? André and Cat, you two know who he is, that's all I'm saying. I will see you all in class. Adios.
Tori Vega: See you in the morning Carlos, and what do you know about what's going on?
Carlos Vega: You'll see cousin.
With that, Carlos logs off, glancing at Kira.
"I made a mistake, didn't I girl?"
After a small bark from his dog, all Carlos does is walk to his room and go to sleep, not bothering to change out of his clothes from the day. Before he goes to sleep, he texts Tori.
"Tell Beck yes, I know you want to. Don't ask. I'll be at your house at 7:30 tomorrow morning, so be ready."
"You got it. You better tell me what went on outside of Nozu today when you pick me up. And why you know it was Beck who asked me out."
"You got it cousin."
With that parting message, Carlos relaxes, fearing what tomorrow will bring.
A/N 2: If anyone's confused by anything going on in my story, I apologize. I get confused while I type and never know how to type my thoughts. Thanks to Gunner3284 and FurryFriends143 for the reviews and fallows. Until next time. I also apologize for Jace not getting a lot of time. I realized while I was writing this chapter that we rarely hear from him and that the story seems to focus on Carlos. I don't mean to, it just happened that way.