Beck went first. As soon as they'd agreed to search for Tori and sorted who were searching where, they left. Cat and Trina were searching in girls changing rooms and toilets. Beck was Drama classrooms, music classrooms and Dance rooms, Robbie was Science, Maths and English classrooms, and Andre was Religious studies, Trigonometry and private rehearsal spaces. As soon as all was decided, Beck ran to search. He wanted to find Tori first. He had to talk to her, convince her that she was talented, and she was way more amazing than Jade was. "I can't believe you. Hitting on my boyfriend in front of me?" Jade's voice was loud.
"Ex- boyfriend. And I wasn't hitting on him!" Tori's quiet voice came, and Jade scoffed.
"I'm surprised you haven't been slapped in the face. Let me do it for you!" Jade's voice came louder. He burst into the music room and saw Jade stood before Tori in a intimidating way. Her hand was raised and Tori was cowering.
"Jade, stop." Beck said sharply, his teeth gritted.
"Oh, hey babe." Jade grinned.
"I'm not your babe, Jade." Beck hissed. He turned to Tori and cocked his head, motioning her to come to him. She walked briskily, and when she reached Beck she buried her head in his chest and he placed his arms around her, rubbing her back and trying to sooth the sobs coming from her small body. With one last glare, he turned and pulled Tori from the room, leaning against the wall in the corridor and holding her into his chest. He kissed her head and picked her up, letting her wrap her legs around his waist and carrying her out to his car.
Once Tori was safely in Becks car, he sat next to her and phoned Andre, Cat, Trina and Robbie to tell them he'd found her. "Yeah. Jade was there." Beck told them. "She was so different- so mean."
"It's what she's like." Andre put in. When you're not around it's worse."
"She told me no one cared about my brother or Mr Longneck!" Cat said, and everyone on the phone call did a double take.
"Little red, have you brought Mr Longneck to school again?" Andre said in a voice that was reserved for telling off little kids.
"Maybe." Cat giggled.
"Who's Mr Longneck?" Robbie asked.
"Her stuffed giraffe." Andre said dryly. "Beck, where is she?"
"She's in my car. I'm gonna take her home."
"That stupid girl! Saying that stuff to my sister and thinking she can get away with it! Well she can't. I'm gonna hunt her down and-"
"Trina, stop." Robbie said quickly, and they could all hear Trina's breathing get controlled. "Take her home, Beck. Stay with her and after school we'll all come to hers."
"Okay. Bye." Beck hung up and looked over at Tori. One glance into her eyes was all it took to know that she was hurting. "Shall we get you home?" He asked softly, and she nodded.
The five minute drive was silent, with Beck looking over at Tori ever so often and feeling his heart squeeze at her pale face and sad expression. When they arrived at the house, Beck parked the car and followed Tori, sitting on the sofa as she walked over to the kitchen and grabbed an apple.
"Why does she hate me?" She asked suddenly, her voice quiet.
"I think she's jealous." Beck replied with a small smile. "And she hates everyone."
"Not you. Not Cat, not Andre, not Robbie, not Rex. Not even Sinjin! But she hates me so much." Tears appeared in Tori's eyes and Beck jumped up off the sofa and started to walk towards her. "She wants me to die. She tells me to literally every day. And when I try and be nice, she uses me for a second and then hates me again." A tear fell down Tori's cheek. "I don't understand…"
"Tori…" Beck wrapped his arms around her. "You ignore her. She's jealous of you. You sing, you dance. You're absolutely gorgeous. She just wants to be like you, but she knows she can't."
Tori looked up at Beck. "You really think I'm pretty?"
"No." Beck replied, and Tori's eyes went hurt. "I think you're beautiful." He told her, and Tori leaned up, kissing his cheek.
"Thank you, Beck. I don't know what I'd of done without you today."