Chapter 8- Dream Come True

Don't look back. Don't turn around.

Every molecule in Tori's body was driven to turn around and talk. She wanted things to be back the way they were more than anything. This whole week before the kickback she was worried, confused, and intimidated around Beck, who used to be one of her closest friends. The opportunity to go back to being friends was thrown right in her face and she walked away from it. She assured herself that turning around would not be the magic fix to all of their problems.

But if I don't turn back now, will there be another chance later for me to change my mind?

Tori balled her fists in pure frustration. Her feet kept walking. She was barely aware of where she was going. The only thing she could pay attention to was Beck, who she could imagine staring at her retreating figure and silently begging her to turn around…

All of a sudden Tori was blinded by a bright set of lights that whipped around the corner without warning. She could see nothing but the balls of brightness coming straight towards her. She was paralyzed with fear; she couldn't think. Her life flashed before her eyes, and then one final thought.

Cat was right. This is what was destined to happen to me.

When her death was nearly upon her, she closed her eyes as to not see her end. Something slammed into her side, which was unusual since the barrage of light was coming from the front. She careened through the air and then landed on the hard ground. A strong, muscular arm broke most of her fall. Sensation flooded back to her, and she realized that a person was holding her. That person felt very warm and comforting. She recognized the feeling of who was holding her. It felt like the best feeling in the world.

Tori seemed too inanimate after the accident, and Beck gently brushed the hair out of her eyes to see if she was alright. After a moment her fluttery eyes flickered open. Her brown pupils slowly moved to look at him, as if she barely had enough energy to do even that.

The car that blindsided Tori was stopped now, but if he wouldn't have dived in the way, the vehicle would have crushed her. It barely grazed him when he ran in to save her. He knew how close he was to being hit, but he would do it a thousand times over if it kept her safe. Danny, who was driving the car, sprang out as quickly as he could. He overlooked Tori on the ground with horror. Beck looked away from Danny and back to Tori. He was too focused on Tori to fuel his resentful feelings towards the lunatic who nearly killed her. All the students in the area saw what happened and gathered in a circle around them.

"Tori, are you okay?" Danny fretted. "I said I was going to bring you the towel."

"Your ridiculous driving nearly crushed her," Beck seethed.

"It's okay. I'm alright," Tori moaned. She shuffled her arms underneath her body and pushed herself to sit up. Beck assisted her by allowing her to recline against his arm. She looked up at him and said, "Because of you. You saved me."

"Of course I did. And I would do it again without even thinking about it."

"If you are okay now, Tori, we can get back to the kickback or I can take you home…"

Danny sounded as insignificant to them at that moment as the radio in his car. But before he could try to reclaim Tori again, she reached up with newly found strength and pressed her lips to Beck's. He was surprised at first, but then he closed his eyes and kissed her back. The other students, delighted by the happy ending to the rumors they had been hearing all week, cheered and applauded. Among the crowd of students, Robbie and Cat cheered as well. Cat absent-mindedly grabbed Robbie's hand while she watched. They glanced at each other for a moment and smiled. Andre, who was standing next to them, looked behind him. Jade was standing there with an unreadable expression. She was entirely conflicted. Though she always tried to be as cold as a stone in any situation, she only appeared so now. Andre knew, however, that she must be unsure whether to be happy for Beck when she still liked him or to be hurt that he was finally with the girl she despised most since they started going to school together. She halfway turned to the side to walk away. She then changed her mind and continued to stand there in a daze of emotion. Andre knew Jade did not want comfort from anyone. She never allowed it, but he found himself going over to her anyway like a true friend. They weren't really great friends. The only reason they ever were was because she was Beck's girlfriend, but maybe Jade was not as scary as she seemed. Maybe she was just a confused person that needed a friend.

Danny made a last chance effort to save his relationship, even though it was long gone. "Tori, I thought we had something. Remember the last kickback?"

Oh shut up, Danny, Beck thought.

Tori and Beck finally pulled away from each other. Beck stood up and held out his hand for Tori to take. She gripped it and let him pull her to her feet. She brought her face to Beck's ear and softly said, "It would change my mind. Because I think I love you too."

The clomping of fancy stilettos echoed over the whole parking lot, probably the whole school. The crowd parted slightly, and Trina scurried over to them as fast as she could in her restrictive shoes.

"What about me?" she whined.

Tori grinned with an idea. She walked over to Trina, took her arm, and walked her to Danny.

"Danny, this is Trina. Trina, this is Danny."

"Hi," Trina said to him warily.

"Hi there," Danny returned. "I guess the two of us could go sip some drinks and rave about our dislike of Beck and Tori."

"I'll go for that."

Tori nodded approvingly. "You two have fun."

In the aftermath, Tori and Beck were driven to where they truly belonged; in each other's arms. For the rest of the night at the kickback they danced together as a new couple, and they enjoyed many slow songs. Cat and Robbie joined them. The four of them had a great time and practically owned the dance floor. Off to the side, Danny was attempting to dance with Trina. She was unusually terrible, but Danny barely noticed because of their intense conversation about the faults in their ex-dates.

"Okay, now make a fist," Andre was telling Jade.

He did exactly what Jade taught him to do. Jade studied her hand closely.

"They're tingling. Yeah, you did it right."

"Awesome."

Andre and Jade had nothing in common except that, but it was a start.

Beck said to Tori while they were dancing, "You know, I think your dress looks better with that stain on it."

"Oh come on. We're already dating. You don't have to lie about it."

"Hey," he smirked. "I just thought I would be nice."

"Makes me kind of thirst to think about it. Can I have a sip of yours?"

Tori eyed the cup Beck was holding in his left hand.

"No no, you don't like this flavor," he insisted. "I'll get you a different one."

"It's fine. Just let me see it."

She tried to grab for it. She grabbed the corner and tried to tug it towards her while Beck tried to pull it back.

"It's the red kind of punch flavor, and you said once that you specifically don't like-"

Tori yanked back on the cup so hard that the liquid flew from the cup in a wave. The pinkish red juice splashed all over the front of Beck's shirt. Tori gasped for a moment. They both looked at each other and then they both started laughing at the same time. They both looked like perfect matches of each other.

"Best kickback ever," said Beck.

And also the best night both of them would remember for a long time.