:)
About a week after the party, Beck and Cat arrived home from school to an eerily quiet apartment. Stepping into the living room Beck smiled in relief when he saw Jade fast asleep on the sofa. It had been a weird couple of nights recently as sleeping was becoming increasingly difficult for the pregnant girl. Her size meant she took up most of the bed so Beck was more often than not kicked onto the couch by midnight. But even with the whole bed to herself she hardly slept. At 37 weeks pregnant she was up and down for the bathroom all night long and would often be woken from the little sleep she did get by Elsa's kicking.
Unfortunately it was as though Jades pregnancy hormones had simultaneously been upped a dose and she was going through extreme mood swings. She would usually wake up needing someone to cry to or just to be hugged. Beck would always oblige and come back to hold her, but it was guaranteed he wouldn't be able to do a thing right. Either he would breathe too loud or his chin would be too scratchy or he would just plain annoy her and before long he'd be sent back to the couch.
Last night was a completely different story. It was one of the rare nights that Jade had let Beck sleep next to her but she had woken up around 4am feeling really weird. She slowly sat up, anxiously checking that she hadn't gone into labor. To her relief she hadn't but she still felt like something wasn't right. Feeling her stomach lurch she made her way quickly into the bathroom where she found herself hurling last nights dinner into the toilet.
'Are you okay?' Beck followed her into the en suite and sat on the corner of the bath still half asleep.
'Do I look okay?' Jade snapped exasperatedly.
'I'm sorry baby' Beck rubbed her back apologetically.
'Don't touch me!' Jade smacked his arm away. 'You did this! You. You. Fucking You.'
'Do you want me to leave?' Beck offered.
'No you stay here and see what you did!' Jade replied angrily. Turning back to the toilet she coughed lightly and felt the consequences convulse though her body. It was weird.. she didn't even feel very nauseous, it was as though her body just had no room for food.
Ignoring her harsh tone, Beck crouched down behind her so she could at least sit down on his knee. Despite not wanting him near her, bending over like that was killing her already aching body and she appreciated him for doing that. Not that she'd tell him.. Oh no she hated him right now. She wanted him to suffer as much as she was.
When she was sure her stomach was completely empty. Jade climbed off Beck's knee and silently went about cleaning herself up. The tanned guy watched anxiously from the side whilst his girlfriend brushed her teeth. If there was one emotion of Jades that he was perfect at picking up on, it would be anger and her body language was dripping with it. Glaring in his direction Jade waddled back to bed.
'Umm where do you want me?' Beck asked with caution as Jade lowered herself gently onto her side of the bed. He wondered if he should take the couch for his own physical safety at this point, suddenly becoming very aware of the sharp metal scissors rested on Jades bedside table
'Oh wherever you want Beck. Everything's all about you!' Jade snapped in response. Beck rolled his eyes but didn't dare argue with her. Even though everything he did these days was in attempt to make her comfortable. His life revolved around her even before she got pregnant.
Not wanting to leave her on her own after she'd been sick, Beck lay down in the bed next to his highly hormonal girlfriend, positioning his pillows so there was a definitive space between them. Jade had her back towards him and was silent apart from the occasional sighs and weak moans she was letting out, expressing how uncomfortable she felt. Unable to sleep when Jade was so obviously not, Beck didn't even close his eyes and just spent the next twenty minutes staring at her back.
Hoping she'd had enough to time to calm down Beck gently slipped his hand in her hair and rubbed his fingers though it massaging her head. He wasn't mad at her for being so viciously angry and snappy. How could he be? He just didn't know how to make it better for her.
And that was how they both remained until the morning when Beck got up to get ready for school. So seeing Jade actually asleep, even on the couch at 3:30pm was hugely comforting for the concerned boyfriend. Crouching down next to Jade, Beck stroked a stray hair from her cheek and placed his palm on her bump.
'Thanks for letting Mummy get some sleep Elsie' Beck softly stroked her stomach before turning and whispering to Cat. 'I'll just go get my guitar from upstairs then we can go'
'Kk' Cat whispered back. Beck gave Jade a final kiss on the cheek before quietly jogging up to his bedroom. He, Tori, Andre, Robbie and Cat had been working on an end of year project for their pop music class and they were all going over to Tori's to complete it. It was their final opportunity to ensure that all three of their original songs were perfect, to smoothen out any rough edges and to do the written element.
Beck met Cat back in the living room and smiled pointing towards the front door. The red head had raided Jades "cravings" cupboard and found a huge bar of chocolate and some popcorn to take with them as motivational snacks and was stuffing them into her bag. They were only a couple of footsteps away from the door when Jade's voice resonated through the apartment. Beck turned around surprised to see the pregnant girl sitting up and very much awake.
'Where do you think you're going?' Jade asked suspiciously.
'Tori's' Beck replied simply. Wrong Answer he thought to himself as Jades expression turned into one of anger within a couple of seconds.
'Oh so you were just going to not invite me?' Jade folded her arms hurt.
'Babe, we're literally just doing homework' Beck explained
'It's a group project.' Cat added, trying to help.
'Whatever' Jade turned her back on them. Sighing Beck walked over to the couch to sit next to her.
'Jade. Do you want to come to Tori's with us?' He knew it was easier to just go along with how she saw the situation than to continue to argue. Jade scoffed.
'I hate you.'
'So you keep telling me.' Beck rolled his eyes 'Are you coming?'
'You don't want me around.' Jade snarled.
'No thats not what I'm saying.. of course we want you around. I just think that you'll be bored and uncomfortable.' Apparently having said the wrong thing again, he flinched as Jade dramatically smacked her fist down onto the side table.
'Newsflash! I'm constantly bored and uncomfortable!' Jade shouted. She glared at her boyfriend for a couple more seconds before looking down at her hand which had gone red from the impact and was starting to throb 'Now look what you made me do' She grumbled.
Taking her hand into his Beck examined it carefully, hoping she hadn't done herself any real damage. The last thing they needed at the moment was Jade in the emergency room with a broken hand. Luckily it seemed as though she hadn't hit it too hard. It would definitely bruise but wasn't serious.
'You done?' Beck asked, noticing Jade seemed to have quietened down in the short space of time, he'd been taking care of her hand.
'Yeah' Jade exhaled, feeling slightly ashamed by her outburst.
'Ready to go to Tori's?' Beck asked in a gentle tone. Jade sighed and nodded, allowing Beck to help her up and slip her shoes on. Cat watched quietly from the side not getting involved but linked Jades arm as the three of them stepped out of the apartment, into the hallway.
'Of course we want you around Jadey' Cat reassured her as the three of them waited for the elevator. 'It's boring when you're not there.' Jade glanced over at Beck who stood the other side of Cat, smiling knowingly to himself. They were silent for the short thirty second journey to the ground floor and quiet for a few minutes after as Cat skipped on ahead to the car.
'I'm sorry i'm being a horrible, moody cow' Jade mumbled, sliding her fingers between Beck's. Shaking his head Beck stopped walking on and turned to face her.
'Easy's boring' Beck grinned, leaning down to kiss her sweetly on the lips. Jade chuckling quietly as Beck opened the passenger door to his car and waved her inside. For once in her life, Jade didn't fight his chivalry and climbed into the car without even a eye roll. Beck smiled. Mood swings 0: Beck 1.
Meanwhile in the Vega household, the atmosphere was one of extreme awkwardness. Robbie was sat on the sofa with his guitar and singing broken glass quietly to himself whilst Tori and Andre sat together at the piano. The couple had about a foot of distance between them and weren't touching even a little bit.
'So I was thinking we should axe the key change at the end of bar twenty-six' Andre broke the awkward silence in a businesslike manner.
'Yeah?' Tori replied quietly
'It just makes the song cheesy, I think the third is enough. Or should we add a modulation?' Andre continued, desperately trying to make conversation.
'I don't know.. You're better at music than me so you know, you can just decide' Tori shrugged, fiddling with the zip on her jacket.
'Ok.. ' Andre strained 'Then I guess I'll just try both' The dreaded guy turned to the piano and began to play the ballad, extra slowly ensuring he was dragging out the time. He ended up playing the piece around three times before the doorbell finally rang. Tori immediately ran to the door to let the gang in.
'Hey' Beck greeted the latina as she opened the door 'Sorry we took a bit longer than expected but we brought someone.' Beck gestured to Jade 'or "someones".'
'Hilarious Beck. No really.. you should be a comedian.' Jade raised an eyebrow, following him into the house. Tori smiled having not seen the pregnant girl since the incident and felt a surge of relief as she wrapped her arms tightly around her.
'Lots of affection.. Pain.. Baby pressing against my vitals' Jade grumbled as Tori hugged her.
'Sorry.. I just really missed you' Tori released her.
Jade had been inside the house for all of twenty seconds and could already feel the awkwardness. She glanced over at the piano where Andre was playing quietly to himself and then back at Tori. The tension between the couple was obvious not even taking into account that the tanned girl looked like she was about to have a nervous breakdown.
'Come on.. lets go to your room' Jade suggested, sensing Tori needed to talk.
'I really have to stay and help with the project' Tori looked down guiltily. Jade rolled her eyes and looked over at her boyfriend who was setting up his guitar on the couch next to Robbie.
'Beck you guys will be fine if Tori and I go upstairs for a bit right?' Beck looked up and Jade stared him straight in the eye warningly. He caught on quickly.
'Yeah we'll just start the write up, no problem' Beck nodded.
Jade turned to face Tori who sighed knowing she had no way of getting out of it now. Her and Andre shared an awkward look as they passed the piano and Jade frowned wondering what on earth had gone on between them. Following Tori up to her bedroom she closed the door firmly behind them. Tori was stood in the middle of the room, biting her nails and exhaling anxiously.
'Whats up with you?' Jade analysed her friends behaviour with suspicion as she sat down on the bed.
'I almost had sex with Andre' Tori hastily blurted out.
'Almost?' Jade repeated.
'At the party' Tori wailed 'Oh god it was awful'
'What do you mean it was awful? Did he hurt you?' Jade asked angrily.
'No, no, nothing like that.' Tori said quickly. She sighed and took a seat next to Jade on the bed. 'He couldn't have. I freaked out and pushed him off and now we can't even look each other in the eye.'
'Well have you talked to him about it?' Jade replied objectively, trying not to focus on the fact her friends tried to have sex in her and Becks bed.
'Not even. We're pretending it never happened' Tori covered her face with her palms.
'Well you're not doing a very good job' Jade said bluntly. 'You two are more awkward around each other than the time Robbie peed his pants in front the French exchange'
'Help me' Tori shook her head helpless. Jade folded her arms across her stomach and thought carefully about the situation. She'd never had this problem with Beck. If anything she'd always been the one who initiated taking things to the next step and they were both completely comfortable about it when they did. It just happened naturally.
'Do you.. want to go further with him?' Jade asked, genuinely curious.
'I don't know' Tori shook her head. 'I want to but at the same time I don't. I just keep freaking out and I don't know why. I'm really confused' Tori revealed.
'Then you're not ready' Jade said simply.
'You think?' Tori asked feeling unsure. They'd been dating over four months, shouldn't she be ready by now?
'If you were ready then you wouldn't be this worried about it. It will just happen' Jade reassured her.
'How long did you wait before you.. you know, with Beck?' Tori asked quietly, looking away embarrassed.
'I can't believe you're asking a pregnant person this question..' Jade smirked 'uhh about two years'
'What?!' Tori replied in shock
'We were fourteen when we started dating remember' Jade pointed out
'Ok so you were what, sixteen when you had your first time?' Tori asked
'Beck was seventeen' Jade shrugged
'But I was already in Hollywood Arts by then, I went to Beck's seventeenth birthday.' Tori furrowed her eyebrows.
'Uh huh..'
'So when I first started at Hollywood Arts you two hadn't done it?' Tori exclaimed shocked. 'When did it happen?'
'Thats private' Jade protested, throwing one of Tori's cushions in her direction.
'You make me tell you everything about me and Andre.' Tori protested
'Of course I do.'
'Well maybe I won't tell you next time something happens. Maybe it will be "private" Tori taunted.
'Ughh fine. It was the night of the dog incident.' Jade rolled her eyes
'Who said i stopped..' Tori grinned remembering that night. 'Sorry carry on..' Jade smiled looking down before continuing with the story.
'We were outside for a while after you left. Somehow we walked backwards until we were pressed up against the door of his RV and we were kissing, but it just wasn't enough anymore. We went inside and we lay on his bed. We were just kindof touching each other when he stopped and asked me if I wanted to have sex.' Tori blinked- surprised.
'Looking back, it must have been really hard for him to stop because I was all over him at this point but he'd never have done anything unless he was sure I wanted to. I said I did and it was short but very sweet.' Jade finished her story and looked straight at Tori. 'Here's the thing.. It wasn't perfect but it definitely wasn't rushed. We were ready, we loved each other and I felt safe the whole time. Can you honestly say you feel the same?'
Tori shook her head and sighed. 'I just wish I could undo Saturday and go back to the way we were before'
'Well maybe you can. But first.. you need to talk to each other. You're not going to get anywhere by pretending it didn't happen.' Jade said seriously
'I guess' Tori admitted. Her and Andre having a conversation about anything other than school was long, long overdue. She just wasn't sure she'd be able to stand the awkwardness that that conversation would bare.
'Got any oreos?' Jade asked, breaking her train of thought. Tori chuckled as Jade did a weird sort of lunge thing to rock herself off the bed.
'Of course I do' Tori smirked following the pale girl out of the room and downstairs to the kitchen.
Once Tori and Jade came back down, the gang got to work on their school project. It was still awkward between Tori and Andre but the tanned girl seemed a lot less on edge now she'd got some of her worries off her chest. After finding her pregnant friend some oreos, Tori went back over to the piano and placed her hand on Andre's shoulder, squeezing it as she sat down next to him. It was the first genuine sign of affection they'd shown to each other all week and although it was a baby step, it was one in the right direction.
The group worked on the project for several hours, finishing the songs and working on the write up. They recorded a couple of demos before ordering pizza and ice cream and going on a complete junk food fest. Robbie, Jade and Beck were sitting round the table and finalising the project whilst Tori and Cat practised the songs.
'This was the best chocolate fudge ice cream i've ever tasted' Robbie exclaimed.
'True chiz' Andre agreed. 'How come you didn't have any Jade? I thought you were the queen of all things sweet'
'Don't you ever say that again' Jade said darkly causing Andre to gulp in fear.
'You didn't even eat those oreos I got you before' Tori pointed out as she approached the table.
'Jeese I'm not hungry.. Is that a crime?' Jade snapped beginning to get irritated. Tori shook her head and retreated.
'I need to pee' Jade announced, pulling her chair out and heading to the bathroom. As soon as she left the room Tori sat down in her seat.
'What's got into her?' Andre asked, Beck looked around to make sure she had definitely left before speaking.
'You two just got off very, very lightly with the moodiest person on the planet. I swear if that had been me I would be slaughtered by now.'
Tori chuckled but Beck shook his head. 'It's exhausting!'
'When is Jade not exhausting?' Andre pointed out.
'Hey.. watch it.' Beck smirked.
'Beck!' Jade groaned, closing her eyes. The fluffy haired guy looked over just as she reached the bottom stair and leaned against the banister scrunching her face up in discomfort. Recognising the signs of a Braxton hicks contraction, Beck walked towards her put his arms around her body, directing her to the couch so she could sit down
'Ow' Jade breathed heavily, biting down on her lip. Beck placed a kiss on her cheek and a palm on the lower side of her bump holding her. She tried to practise the breathing exercises Emma had advised her to but the practise contractions were getting stronger every day now so it was hard for her to concentrate and found herself whimpering in discomfort.
'That was almost forty seconds' Beck informed her once the contraction had passed. They'd been keeping track of the length and frequency of the contractions now she was entering the last stage of pregnancy.
'It felt longer' Jade exhaled.
'Did it hurt?' Beck whispered into her ear. Jade shook her head leaning heavily on his chest.
'Are you sure?' Beck confirmed, knowing if they started to hurt too much then they should start thinking about the hospital.
'It was just uncomfortable' Jade assured him, rubbing her stomach. When the couple looked up, they realised the intensity of the situation had obviously startled their friends who were watching them concerned. Cat having lived with Jade for several weeks now skipped over to the fridge and filled a glass of water for her knowing drinking something often relieved the contractions.
'Thanks Cat' Beck said appreciatively as the red head handed Jade the water.
'I can speak for myself' Jade snapped, taking a sip of the water. 'Tori stop looking at me like i'm friggin sick!'
'Sorry' Tori looked away embarrassed
'I don't need your pity' Jade shouted
'I'm not.. I mean are you ok?' Tori asked concerned. She'd been around when Jade had had braxton hicks before but they'd never been so intense. She tried not to seem sympathetic but it was difficult not to when she was whimpering in pain.
'You know what..? I remember now why I always hated you so much, because you are the most annoying, stuck up, dramatic person in the world! You turn everything into drama and i'm sick to death of hearing it!' Jade shouted.
'Babe, just stop and look at me a sec' Beck looked directly into her face, hoping she'd realise she was being irrational 'This is stupid.'
'Oh so now i'm stupid?!' Jade huffed.
'No but your behavior is.. She's just making sure you're ok' Beck replied exasperated. Jades face went completely red with anger before she opened her mouth.
'Fuck you Beck' Jade shouted viciously and sliding away from him. Beck frowned and ran a hand through his hair annoyed. He could deal with the tantrums and the mood swings but she was pushing him to his limit. Closing his eyes and counting to ten he reopened his eyes to find Jade with her arms folded tightly across her stomach and looking the other direction.
'Babe- ' He opened his mouth to reason but a loud sniff from his girlfriend stopped him in his track. Within seconds she was sobbing as large teardrops splashed down her face and onto her cheeks.
'I'm sorry okay!' She shouted croakily through her tears
'It's fine. We know you don't mean it' Beck shuffled closer to her again and wrapped his arms around her. She went weak in his arms as he kissed her and comforted her.
'Hey shhh, Jade it's fine' He reassured her.
'It's not... you're all being nice to me and I'm just a complete bitch!'
'No you're not. It's hormones. I know that. You know that. Everyone knows ok' Beck reminded her. Jade didn't argue but she didn't stop crying either, unable to regain control of her emotions.
'Alright I think were going to get home' Beck made the authoritative decision, after Jade showed no signs of calming down. If she had been worried about people pitying her before then she was not going to like the situation now, as all four of their friends stood watching sympathetically from the side. Helping her up Beck shielded her face from their friends as she leant into his side still weeping.
'I better get going too my Mum gave me a curfew' Robbie explained, stuffing bits of his schoolwork into his guitar case. Tori gave Beck an apologetic smile as he stood holding Jade and made her way over to the door to let them all out. Cat grabbed the last slice of pizza and skipped out waving to Tori along the way. Robbie followed quickly, trying to catch her up before she got to the car.
'Jade?' Tori said softly when the couple approached the door. Jade didn't respond, keeping her face buried against Beck's chest. Tori sighed and placed a hand on her back. 'I just wanted to say thank you for before.. I'm going to talk to Andre now ok?'
'Don't let him do anything you aren't ready for ok?' Jade croaked back after a few seconds.
'I won't' Tori smiled just happy to have got a response from her. 'And I'll see you in a couple of days for the appointment yeah?'
Jade nodded, finally lifting her face away from Beck. 'I got a little make up on your shirt' she whimpered, rubbing away the black from around her eyes.
'Thats ok' Beck chuckled, helping her wipe away the mascara stains.
'Sorry for snapping at you before' Jade turned to Tori.
'I'll forgive you if you give me a hug' Tori teased. Jade rolled her eyes and stepped closer to Tori wrapping her arms around her. Tori smiled holding her friend. She was surprised when she could feel Elsa's kicking through Jades stomach. It was starting to feel real. She was a real person and everyone, especially Jade was ready for her to be out now.
'Talk to you soon' Tori reassured her.
'Yeah' Jade mumbled back. Beck gave Tori a smile for the both of them before walking himself and Jade out the door, leaving the couple to have a much needed heart to heart.
When they arrived back at the apartment Jade got straight into bed feeling funny again. Beck and Cat stayed up a little later but the fluffy haired boy followed Jade upstairs not long after, having not had much sleep himself. Beck crept into the room and crouched down next to Jade on the bed and kissed her forehead as she lay there, eyes wide open.
'Get some sleep babe' Beck advised. 'I'll take the couch ok?'
Jade nodded, burying her head into the pillow as Beck stood up to pull the spare bedding out of the wardrobe. He'd gotten used to this, knowing Jade was more comfortable this way and rolled the duvet into a ball.
'Actually' Jade stopped him before he could leave. Her voice sounded vulnerable and sad 'Can you stay?'
'Yeah of course' Beck said immediately, he put the bedding back into the wardrobe and lay back down on his side of the bed, gently stroking Jades cheek. They lay there in silence for an hour. Once again Beck found himself completely unable to sleep when Jade so obviously couldn't
'I'm ready for her to be out now' Jade sighed.
'I know' Beck replied sympathetically. Jade shuffled over and leant her head on Beck's chest, closing her eyes and finally feeling at peace enough to sleep. Beck pressed a gentle kiss on the top of her head and closed his eyes too, thinking about their short conversation. What he didn't add was that he was ready too. He couldn't wait to meet his daughter and give Jade a break. He was more than ready for his turn to take care of Elsa.
Review? If you like? :)
Serious question though.. are these chapters too long? They're reaching 4000 words atm and don't want to bore you all XP