Chapter 5: Moving On

Sitting in the car with Trina, Tori was still thinking of her plan to set Felicity up with Beck. She had to be subtle about it; Felicity was a sharp girl who'd see through her scheme in an instant. Tori decided to ask her older sister for advice. Maybe she'd know something.

"Trina, let's say you're heartbroken over a guy that you can't have," Tori started, "but a really attractive and great guy liked you. Would you want me to set you up with him or would you hate me for trying to help you get over the other guy?"

Trina had one hand on the steering wheel and was using the other to apply mascara. Her face was practically glued to the rearview mirror. Tori had long given up on telling Trina to watch the road. She rode with Trina so much that she was used to her sister's crazy feats while driving. Now, Trina sat back, lowering the mascara wand, and looked at Tori.

"First of all," she said, "I'm never heartbroken over any guy. I can get anyone I want. And, second of all, WHO LIKES ME?! Is it Beck? Please, tell me it's Beck. I knew he had a thing for me. He's just too shy to say it. Especially after he, Andre, and Robbie played that cruel joke on me. He doesn't want them to know because it really will upset them and make them fight over me."

"Trina! Trina! TRINA!" Tori had been screaming her name for the past two minutes. It finally got her attention and made her shut up. "Beck doesn't and will never like you. It was only a hypothetical question. Would you want to go out with someone else to get over the guy you can't have?"

"Of course," Trina said. "That other guy is crazy to not want me. I'm a great catch."

Of course, Trina was full of herself, but maybe she was right. It's the other guy's loss. Felicity's situation was a little different from that, though. Her guy was over two thousand miles away from her, and their parents didn't want them together. A real-life Romeo and Juliet love story minus them both dying. The only thing Felicity could do was move on, and Tori could help her.

In Sikowitz's class, Tori, Felicity, Beck, and Robbie stood on the stage. They were doing a scene with Tori and Robbie as Felicity's parents who disapproved of her boyfriend, Beck. The class rarely saw Felicity act, so this was a treat.

"Mom, Dad, Jason is a good guy," Felicity said. "Just give him a chance."

"Now, Abby, you know how much we don't like those good guys," Robbie said. "He'd be a good influence on you." He said "good" as if it pained him.

"Yes, sweetie, we'd rather see you with someone who has a few tattoos and piercings," Tori said. "And he must drive a motorcycle. This clean cut boy—" Tori gestured at Beck's button down shirt and khaki pants. "—is not bad for you. You can't date him."

Felicity put her arm around Beck's shoulder. He smiled at her, and Tori could see how much he liked her. Even though he was just playing a role, he must be excited to be so close to Felicity.

"I don't care what you say. This boy is the love of my life and…" Felicity choked up a little. The class saw it as good acting, but Tori knew that this must be bringing up bad memories of her own parents' disapproval of her real boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend, that is.

"And I'm going to continue dating him," she finished.

Beck looked at Felicity with concern in his eyes. "Um, Abby, maybe we shouldn't date if your parents don't want us to. I would hate to upset them."

"See! The boy can't even rebel against us," Robbie said. "He's a goody two shoes, and he's not right for my little girl." Robbie played a good father. His facial expressions showed that he was stern and had love for his pretend daughter.

"I love him!" Real tears sprang up in Felicity's eyes. She grabbed Beck's face and planted a big kiss on his lips. His eyes widened in surprise, but, remembering his role, he went with it.

"Think of it this way, darling," Tori said to Robbie. "Our daughter is rebelling against us by refusing to break up with this good boy. Maybe he isn't such a positive influence for her after all if she can still do bad things."

"It looks like you're right, hon."

The bell sounded, signaling the end of class. Sikowitz looked around the room in confusion, as if he had been so entranced by the scene that he forgot where he was. Everyone else left the room to head to their next class. Tori followed Felicity because she was worried about the girl. That scene must've been hard for her to get through.

Tori was right to be worried. Felicity headed straight for the bathroom and locked herself in a stall. Sniffles could be heard from within. Tori knocked on the stall.

"Someone's in here," Felicity called out. It sounded like something was in her throat. She coughed to clear it and to sound less gruff.

"Fi, it's me," Tori said.

Felicity opened the door a crack, but Tori could see one of her red, watery eyes.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"What do you think I want?" Jade's personality must be rubbing off on Tori. "I could see that you were in pain. I'm here if you want to talk."

Felicity opened the door wider and walked out. "I'm fine." She went to the sink to wash her hands and face.

Tori sighed. "Cut the crap, Felicity. You don't have to be tough all the time. Jade is the same way. You both hide your emotions and pretend that nothing bothers you. I've seen the sensitive side of Jade, and I know that you have one, too. Please be honest with me." There was pleading in Tori's eyes.

"Alright, you wanna know the truth. I'm upset. No, scratch that. I'm mad as hell. I didn't want to come here. I'd rather be back home. I hate my parents for bringing me here. I hate…a lot of things. And I'm sad, and I hate being sad. Is that what you wanna hear?"

"Yes, it is." Tori moved closer to Felicity and hugged her before the tough girl could back away. She let herself be hugged and even hugged Tori back.

"Okay, enough of this. It's getting too mushy for me."

Tori laughed, and the two girls released each other.

"You know, good friends can help alleviate your sadness."

Felicity smiled. "Yeah, I know. I'm glad I met you and everyone else."

If friends make her less sad, then a new boyfriend should make her feel a whole lot better. Tori made up her mind and decided to go through with her plan to set Felicity up with Beck.

Tori told Jade, Robbie, Andre, and Cat about a great new restaurant that they should try for lunch. She said that she would join them later which was the only thing that convinced Jade to go. Her girlfriend still looked at her funny as she left, wondering what she was up to. Tori just smiled and waved.

She made her way to the Asphalt Café where she saw Beck and Felicity already sitting at their regular table. To Tori's disappointment, they weren't talking to each other. They were sitting on opposite sides of the table, as far away from each other as they could possibly be while still sitting at the same table.

"Hey, guys," she said to them. "I can see that you two are having a riveting conversation. I'd hate to interrupt it."

Felicity rolled her eyes.

"Where is everybody?" Beck asked.

"Oh, they didn't tell you?" Tori asked, feigning shock. "Apparently there's this new restaurant downtown that they just had to try. The food's supposed to be amazing. I wonder why they didn't invite you two."

"Well, why didn't you go with them?" This was Felicity's question.

Tori shrugged. "I was in the mood for Festus' tamales. You two should talk about the great chemistry you had during that scene today while I go get one."

Felicity's eyebrows narrowed at Tori's back. That girl is up to something, she thought. Beck made eye contact with Felicity and smiled.

"We did make a good pair," Beck said. "And that was some kiss."

"It was acting," Felicity said with a shrug. "Plain and simple."

"Are you always this cold or is it just me?"

"You and I haven't really hung out alone before. It takes me a while to warm up to new people, and I don't really know you. If I got to know you better, then I'd be more comfortable around you." Surprisingly, Felicity was opening up to Beck and speaking honestly.

Beck smiled. "That can be easily fixed. Let's hang out tonight. Get to know each other a little better."

Tori returned just in time to hear that. She looked from Beck to Felicity and smiled. "Aww, you guys are going on a date. That's so cute. You two will be the cutest couple."

Felicity frowned at Tori. "Whoa, who said anything about a date?"

"Well, Beck asked you out, didn't he?" Tori's face was a mask of confusion. Beck's face turned red at Tori's misunderstanding. He really hoped she didn't screw this up for him.

"No, he did not ask me out. We're just going to be hanging out. As friends, right?" The black girl looked at the Canadian. Before he could hide his embarrassment, Felicity saw the truth written all over his face.

"This is a set up," she said. "You did this." She pointed at Tori. "That's why no one else is here. You wanted us to be alone so he could ask me out."

"Surprise," Tori said halfheartedly. "Beck likes you, and I thought that if you two started going out, then it would help you move past your old relationship."

"What?!" Felicity stood up. "How could you be so stupid?! You think that throwing a cute guy in my face will make me forget…someone who was very important to me? Is it that easy for you to replace someone you were in love with? Maybe that works for you but not for me."

And with that said, Felicity stomped away from the table with more tears in her eyes.

"So, that went well," Beck said.

"Yeah, I thought that setting her up with you would make her happier," Tori said. "But, she's right. I'm really stupid."

Tori also had tears in her eyes. Felicity would probably never forgive her and was probably crying her eyes out…again. How could Tori be so stupid and such a terrible friend?