Update time, to celebrate a new episode! Wasn't A Christmas Tori great? Hope you like this chapter :) Next chapters will be another 2-part ~original :D

Thanks for all the feedback, it's so cool to get your thoughts!

Disclaimer: All recognizable material belongs to Schneider's Bakery!

Beck sat next to Jade on a table near the parking lot, their feet on the seats. His hand was gently rubbing her back as his looked over her face, worried.

"You sure you don't want to see the nurse, babe?" he asked again.

"No! I just want to go home, okay?" Jade said, frustrated. She was holding a bunch of tissue against her eye. "Where is she?"

Beck had called Jade's mom as soon as they come out of the room. She said she would come straight from work to take Jade home.

"Make sure you put ice on it as soon as you get home," Beck reminded her.

Jade rolled her eyes. Well, one of them, he couldn't see the other. "Yes, doctor," she said, sarcasm dripping.

"I'm serious," he said, leaning in closer to her and pressing a soft kiss to her hair. He hated that she was hurt; he'd felt his stomach drop as soon as she fell to the ground. He knew Tori had been freaked out about the stunt, but he still couldn't believe she would actually hurt her.

"Come over after class?" Jade asked, leaning into his embrace.

"I will," he agreed. Luckily, there were only another couple of hours of class left, since their stage fighting class had been after lunch. They heard a car coming into the parking lot and both looked up to see her mom pulling up near them. Jade stood up and picked up her bag, and Beck quickly followed suit.

"Hey," he said, grabbing her wrist before she could walk away. "Love you."

She offered him a small smile, looking a little dejected at the same time. Beck waved to Jade's mom, who was waiting in the car for her, looking pretty concerned herself, before making his way back into the school and to class.

He had been late for his next class, but it didn't matter too much. When he was leaving the room, Tori ran up to him, blocking him from walking any further. She had also missed the class because she had been talking to Lane.

"Beck! I really didn't - I didn't hit Jade!" She said, looking worried and upset.

Beck sighed, "Tori, she was bleeding."

"I-" Tori struggled for words. He was honestly surprised; the whole class saw what happened, he didn't think she'd still be trying to deny it.

"Look, I'm sure you didn't mean to hurt her. But you could at least apologise," he said bluntly and side-stepped around her to go to his locker.

"But-" Tori called after him, but gave up. He felt a little bad being rude to Tori, but he felt worse that his girlfriend was at home right now, with a bleeding eye. He pulled out his phone and sent a text to Jade to check up on how she was doing.

"Hi Beck," Ms. West greeted him cheerfully as she opened the door. She stepped aside immediately to let him in.

"Hey," he offered her a smile, stepping into the hallway.

"She's in the den," she said, nodding to the room on the right.

"How's her eye?"

"Better I think. She's been keeping ice on it, but still I think it's bruising. She won't let me look too close," Jade's mom shook her head a little. She didn't look too worried, which was kind of a relief.

"Thanks," he nodded and made his way into the next room.

He saw Jade lying on the couch, on hand holding an icepack to her eye. He placed his backpack quietly on the floor and tiptoed to the edge of the couch. She was watching a day-time rerun of some sitcom he'd never watched and didn't hear him until he placed his hand on her shoulder and kissed the top of her head

"Wha-" she asked as she looked up, her voice annoyed at first, but softening. "Oh."

"How are you feeling?" He asked, looking over her face.

"Like Vega whacked me in the eye," she deadpanned, before letting out a slight groan.

Not that he would ever tell her, but she was kind of adorable like this: her hair dishevelled, make up removed, looking like a grumpy teddy bear. If only she hadn't gotten hurt. "Aww, come, let me sit," he said, nudging her shoulder a little. She sat up and scooted down the couch so he could sit down, before quickly laying her head down in his lap.

They sat in silence for a moment, as he ran his fingers through her hair. "I'm sure Tori didn't mean it, she'll apologise..." he mused out loud.

Jade moved her gaze from the screen up to him, glaring at him with one eye. "Don't even. I hate her."

Beck just nodded, knowing that it was pointless to argue at the moment. He reached down and grabbed her free hand, squeezing it gently.

Beck leaned against his car, waiting, his arms crossed across his chest. Finally he saw Jade and Tori make their way out of the school doors. Jade's eyes widened a little when she saw him, a flicker of regret running across her features. Tori however, just grinned and quickened her pace to reach him.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I was waiting for Jade, actually," he answered, looking at his girlfriend. Jade bit her lip and looked at the ground.

"Aww, sweet," Tori said, smiling. "You should've come inside and found us."

"Well, I didn't want to interrupt your quality time with Tori." He said, directing his comment and it's carefully placed emphasis at Jade. Tori looked slightly pleased. She probably thought that she and Jade were friends now. Maybe they were, but Jade's definition of friends did not really fit with everyone else's.

Jade didn't say anything and soon enough Tori got uncomfortable enough to say goodbye and make her own way home. When they were alone, Jade finally took a deep breath and raised her gaze to meet his.

"Andre told you."

He nodded, "Andre told me."

"Remind me to staple his mouth shut."

He sighed, and uncrossed his arms to run a hand through his hair. "Jade..." He was confused, and hurt. He and Jade were always honest with each other, and she knew how important it was to him. He couldn't quite believe she would not just lie, but go to so many lengths to deceive him.

"What?" Her voice was defensive, but weaker than usual. She knew she was wrong this time.

"What is going on? I know you don't like Tori, but really?"

She didn't reply, just dropped her head to stare at the ground wordlessly. He watched her for a minute, realising she wasn't just trying to get out of trouble.

He reached out and placed his hand on her shoulders, pulling her closer to him before dropping his hands to her waist. "Babe, what's up?"

"You're not mad?" She looked up at him.

He shrugged, "I'm a little mad. But more that you lied to me than anything else."

"You would've stopped me," She replied, sighing, "You're too decent."

He chuckled, only she could make that sound like an insult. "Hey, you're decent too. Now tell me why."

She was silent again, but he could tell she was just searching for words, he could see her mind working. Finally she looked him in the eye. "Because I wanted people to see that she wasn't as perfect as everyone thinks she is."

"What do you mean?"

She rolled her eyes, stretching away from him. She would've taken a step back too, if his hands hadn't been so firm on her waist. "Oh come on, everyone including Sikowitz is drooling over her and her looks and her singing and her acting like she's some goddess. I just wanted to bring her down a few notches."

He stared at her, honestly surprised at what she had said. "That's not true-"

"Oh come on, like you can find any flaws in her. She's like your perfect girl."

He'd admit, Tori had kind of taken Hollywood Arts by storm. But she was by no means perfect. Beck allowed himself to chuckle at the fact that Jade would even think so. Even more so that she thought he would like her in that way. Sure, she was attractive and talented. But so were a lot of girls. Those were definitely not his only criteria.

"Jade, what are you talking about? Tori is so not perfect," He said, pulling her even closer than she was.

"Really?" She asked, her tone almost surprised.

"For starters she really needs to brush up on her theater knowledge. And she's not confident enough," he said. "And she's way too happy all the time. Needs to be more angry. Also her hair's a little boring-" he continued, starting to smiled a little.

"Beck." She said, looking at him not amused but a little pleased at the same time.

"You are ridiculous, you know that," he said, realising that that statement could the start of a whole new discussion but risking it anyway. He raised one hand to cup her cheek and she instinctively leaned into it. "How can you even think that Tori would be my perfect girl when I found her ages ago."

"Really?" She asked again, thought this time her tone was soft.

"Hey, I don't lie," he said, looking at her pointedly.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

"What? Sorry, I didn't get that," he replied, smirking.

She whacked him gently on the shoulder before giving in. "I'm sorry," she repeated. This time more loudly and looking him in the eye.

His smirk turned into a genuine smile, and he straightened himself, so he could lean down and kiss her on the lips. She responded eagerly and they stayed like that for a few minutes, thankful to be alone in the parking lot.

He stepped aside, to let her get in the passenger seat. "Are we going out for dinner?" She asked, hopefully.

"Nope, you're grounded," he replied, deliberately wanting to get a rise out of her.

Immediately her eyes widened as she glared at him, her own wrongdoing forgotten. "What?"

He grinned at her, "I got a whole season of Full House on DVD! Don't even try complaining, you owe me."

She sighed, knowing he was right. "Fine!" She muttered, and got into his unlocked car. He watched her with a smile on his face; he knew she secretly enjoyed the show so he didn't feel bad about subjecting her to hours of Tanner Family Adventures. Not wanting to keep her waiting, he quickly rushed to the other side of the car and got in, shooting her an excited grin. She rolled her eyes, but smiled in return.