Friday came without much fanfare. Jade focused on her work and finding other ways to interact with her coworkers. She had no trouble in school until Sikowitz class. It was just before lunch as always and he asked Jade for a minute of her time.

"Jade, I need a favor." he opened.

"Whats up" She said sounding annoyed.

"I need you to take over directing the end of year showcase. As you know, we always let one of the students, usually a senior, direct it. We do that so we can give the student's full credit for everything that goes on during the performances. Now normally I wouldn't ask, but we need you to take over and direct the showcase. The senior we had doing it, Scott Goldstein, sorta got burned out and you're such a talented director we just thought of you. Besides, you're so well, um, respected, we're sure that everyone would listen to you." Sikowitz explained.

"You want me to scare them into following direction? Sikowitz, I have too much to do as is. I've my own performance to rehearse, my schoolwork to finish, my job to do, two classes to prepare to teach, not to mention that my tutoring group isn't getting any smarter. I'm swamped, and I think Beck is feeling a little neglected. Can't anyone else do it?" Jade pleaded.

"Jade, it's not that simple. We really need a student to do it, and frankly I can't use my time to hold someones hand. I have my end of year evaluations and grades to finish, not to mention outside projects of my own. There just is no one else who can do the job. Besides, it won't take up THAT much of your time. And hay, if it makes you feel better, we can even claim it's an honor." Sikowitz said.

"NO! I can't do it. I need to spend some time with Beck. I have so little to give him as is. I have to show him I care" Jade was determined.

The quirky teacher looked a little surprised, but in an instant let it go. Jade could not guess what had caused that reaction as a moment later she was listening to his next counter offer. "Have him help. Have all your friends help. You just need to arrange the order and time for each performance and get the students to stay withing their allotted time, as well as run the actual show. Can you do that for sweet daddy Sikowitz?"

"Fine, but I want something. Not sure what, but I want something." Jade said as she gave in.

Jade joined the other for lunch, her mood soured. She waited for only a few moments before interrupting the conversation. "Guys. I've been asked to direct the end of year showcase, and you are all going to help me. Beck will work closely with me to make sure we time this out and arrange the acts for the best showing. Robbie will oversee the technical preparations. Andre will liaison with the various performers and make sure we have all their details, like estimated time and what as well s as preferred placement in the show. You let me know whatever they need, and let them know that I will be taking care of it if they give you a hard time. Tori, you're job will be my assistant. You'll get me anything I need."

Everyone quickly agreed except one. "No!" Tori said.

"What do you want from me?" Cat said, sounding offended.

"Cat, I know you're busy lately and I tried to give you some time off. Tori, I need you to do this." Jade explained.

"I won't be your 'Monkey'" Tori said while making the air quotes.

"Fine, I don't need your help." Jade spat back.

"Everyone chill. Tori, you don't have to be Jades assistant, but it would be nice if you could help out wherever you can. Jade, Tori is you friend, treat her like it." Beck tried to sooth things over.

"Okay" Tori both said.

"Yea, whatever" was Jades reply. She felt a lot of conflicting emotions as she looked at Tori. She was jealous, because Beck defended her, and he never defended Jade. She was ashamed, because Tori didn't do anything to deserve the anger she was feeling towards the Latina. Jade was also feeling week, hurt by her own neediness. Tori was her confident. She would need Tori to help her make it through the next two weeks, and yet she was also quick to dismiss her. Jade may or may not have been aware of what she needed, but she was also a stubborn prideful girl used to trying to handle the world on her own. Jade was unsure of her feelings, but it was partially because she was used to ignoring them anyways. She just knew she needed Beck, or that's what she told herself over and over. 'I'll be lost if I don't close the distance I'm feeling. I've got to show him how much I love him.' Fear of losing him drove her thoughts. Jade was afraid of being an unlovable freak.

Jade worked extra hard During study hall, taking the time to address each students weaknesses with whatever strategy she had found for them. The success of her students would reflect on her teaching abilities, and Jade never did anything halfway. Trina had been more than helpful, since the less talented Vega was also being judged on Jades work. Trina was a quick study for academic subjects, and held a real talent for the social sciences. If you ignored her inflated opinion of herself and her abilities, Trina had one of the most clear understandings of human motivation that Jade had ever met. The two were a long way from being friends, but Jade had found that it was no risk to get old contacts from UCLA to help the girl get in for the summer session. It was an easy equation. Once she understood what Trina's talents were, she could respect the girl. Jade was even thinking about who would be perfect for her. The most obvious was Beck, if she just lost the diva attitude, but he was Jades. 'And I don't share'. Jade knew she would find someone. Trina was too attractive not to have a boyfriend. Jade would just make sure whomever it was would be worthy of the prize. 'Whatever happened to me to make me think of Trina like that?' Jade wondered.

After school, Jade decided to call Lenard.

"Yo, Lenard. Whats up?" Jade said as he answered his phone.

"Lenard, it's for you." Sheldon said.

"Sheldon, wait up." Jade quickly said.

"Yes" he replied.

"I just wanted to thank you for letting me and my friends crash your party last night. I'm sorry we didn't call first, but honestly, I don't. I want to be friends, you know, because I need to talk to people who are into the whole science thing. However, I don't do most of what you guys do." She was trying to explain without knowing why.

"Apology accepted. I'm giving you to Lenard." then the sound of talking was followed by Lenard's voice.

"Doctor West, nice to hear from you." Lenard said.

"Why did Sheldon answer your cell phone?" Jade asked.

"I don't know. I could ask him, but I think it would be better if I didn't know the answer." He sounded resigned.

"I was calling to thank you for letting me and my friends crash your party. I also realized with the exception of really violent video games, physics, and screwed up childhoods, we really don't have that much in common. I still want you guys as friends, just I'm not sure where to go from here." She admitted.

"Do you play an instrument? I play cello. Not that we need to play together." He sounded like he was stretching, looking for more interests they share. "I'm just saying we have more in common. Still, I see your point. I guess I just liked that you respected my work." He said.

"We'll figure something out. I play keyboard, by the way. I'll talk to you once my schedule gets less crazy. I just had another major assignment handed to me." Jade wined.

"Sheldon?" Lenard said.

"No, not by him. I can handle the chiz he gives me. It's the end of year showcase." Jades voice changed, doing her surprisingly good impersonation of Sikowitz. "It's chance for the seniors and the most talented of the other students to show off what we learned." Returning her voice to normal "All my friends and I are performing, and now I'm directing it. I'm going to be swamped for the next couple of weeks, and I'll be extra cranky because of it." She warned him.

"I'll warn Alex." He said. "By the way, I like the voices. Do you do others?"

"Warn the whole department." she joked. "And I can do a few voices, including a couple of male characters. Off topic, I need some advice, but right away. I just need to know what kind of friendships I can have at work. How I can get along with you people. Just think about it and tell me when I'm not about to rip someones head off, okay? I just to be friends. I gotta get going now. I can't lose Beck." She said the last part without thinking.

"Lose Beck?"

Sighing, Jade continued. "I've felt this, I don't know, kind of distance for a while now. And I think he's feeling inadequate because of this whole PhD thing. I really need to show him I love him, to close the gap in our feelings."

"Have you considered sex? That usually works with me and Penny." Lenard jokes, only to stop mid chuckle.

"What the Chiz? Are you all perv's?"Jade screeched.

"Sorry, It's called being male. I don't know Sheldon's excuse." Lenard said. "I am sorry though, it was probably insensitive."

"Damn straight. I know you were trying to help, but please remember I'm a sixteen year old girl. Also, I have a rep to keep. I'm the dangerous, vengeful one, so don't make regret letting you off the hook this time." she said as she ended the call, not giving him a chance to respond.

Jade then called Beck.

"Hey Jade. Whats up? I have the preliminaries for the showcase." Beck answered.

"Great. Tell me over dinner. I'll take you to a nice place." Jade responded.

"Nope" Beck said, popping the P.

"Why is everyone saying no to me today?' Jade said, voice raised.

"I'm the man, so I'll take you somewhere." he responded.

Jade growled, then recovered. "I make more money than you. I can afford it." She countered.

"So I guess you're eating alone?" He replied.

"All right. Just know, I'm ordering the lobster." Jade said.

"You want seafood?" he sounded lost for a second. "No, wait..OH." Beck was silent for over half a minute. Only the counter on her phone let her know he had not hung up. "Are you sure you want to do that? I mean, Jade, I don't want to rush you."

"We've been sleeping together since the beginning of our second year together. God Beck, I'm not some damaged girl who will break down the moment I see your junk. I just want you to know how much I need you." she sounded flirty towards the end.

"I'll pick you up in an hour?' Beck said, perhaps a bit too quickly.

"I'll be waiting." she purred. Jade showered, did her hair, chose something to ware, and did her makeup in record time. Beck was only waiting a few minutes when she came down to see him. She had an overnight bag with her, and a determined look on her face.

He took her to this nice hole in the wall restaurant he had found. The staff and owners seemed to treat everyone like old friends who they had not seen in a long time. The wait staff talked with them about random safe things while feeling like old friends catching up. The food was American diner, but served with an old world charm that felt European. The meal was lovely, and Jade felt some of the distance close. Still, the feeling was wrong. It felt like she was with just a friend. It could even have been Robbie, if he didn't annoy her so much, and learned how to hold a nice conversation.

After a nice dinner they retreated to Becks trailer. Jade slipped into her best sex kitten mindset, playfully flirting with her boyfriend. Slowly kissing turned to touching as they both got heated. Beck, however, was still reluctant. "Are you sure about this" slipped from his lips at least three times as they slowly moved from petting to intercourse. Finally, reluctantly Beck gave in to her eager charms, and he made love to her. Beck kept to himself how he belatedly realized that Jade was not responding to his touch the way he wanted her to. She felt forced, like she didn't want to sleep with him. Guilt ate at his mind as she tried to just cuddle after they were done.

In the darkness it finally became too much for the actress as she just started crying. Beck had been expecting that this might happen and had managed to stay awake despite the workout Jade had just given him. He hugged her to him and whispered in her ear that it would be all right. Soon he would talk to her about what happened, but tonight she needed to cry.