Hi everyone. So firstly, thanks so much for being so patient with my previous update. Your patience was greatly appreciated. Listen, I'm really, really sorry how long this took. I could not do much though, because things simply got busier and busier, unlike what I thought. I do not want to promise anything from this point on though, other than that I am still dedicated to finishing this story as well as I can. That will not change. And if anyone still wants to read, I am still considering doing some form of sequel, though I really have no idea what it would be about. So, once again, I apologize for the time this took, and I thank all of you who stuck with me. Your patience was greatly appreciated.

By the way, this is the second last chapter of this story. The next one will be a small epilogue. I kind of have it figured out, but not completely. I think this story has served it's time, and it's time to end it. If I just kept writing it, which I really don't know what else I could write, then I think it'd just sound forced. So yeah, just a little heads up.

Anyhow, let's get on with it, shall we? We were at the point where Tori and Andre are together (finally), and all their friends just saw. Let's take a look at how things turned out. We're skipping ahead a few days here, because I really can't think of anything interesting to write about directly after that last chapter.

Forever After

Tori's POV:

"What's up, Tori?"

I turned around at the familiar voice, and smiled as I saw Andre sit down beside me, setting his keyboard down on the table.

"Hey Andre," I replied, giving him a quick kiss. I still cannot believe just how well things have turned out for me, that Andre forgave me that easily even after all that's happened to him. I never would have guessed that after I willingly helped put him in a hospital bed, and thought that badly of him (that he would hurt Jade) when he did no such thing, that he would even end up not hating me, let alone want me as his girlfriend. Most importantly of all though, I can't believe that all this time, I didn't bother to try to find out whether Andre liked me that way or not, and I just simply dreamed of being with him all this time. Maybe though, that if our friendship and feelings for each other could last through something as rough as what had just happened, that we were truly meant to be together, like two halves of a puzzle. Maybe then, me landing a spot in Hollywood Arts that day after the showcase wasn't just pure luck. I was supposed to end up here, with Andre, because we were meant to be together. That's certainly what it feels like.

I know it's still too early to be thinking all of this, as Andre and I just got together last Friday, and it's only Monday right now during lunch break, but for some reason I just knew Andre and I have got a long, bright, and happy future together. If I had told anyone that, they would have called me a naïve teenager who didn't know how complex a relationship can get. But one thing was for sure no matter what: I was very lucky to have Andre right now, and I certainly would not toss him aside that easily, nor would I make any other false accusations against him. What had happened merely last week was a scary thing, and is something I would never, ever forget. And though I was equally sure I would never forgive myself for what had happened, I can live with it so long as I never do such a thing again. I know technically it was Beck who started it, but that didn't make it alright for me to participate.

Speaking of Beck, I have to say, I'm equally as surprised at just how easily Andre forgave him as well. Just last Friday, right after Andre and I had made up, Andre had made up with Beck , when he and everyone else had come over and saw us. And I gotta say, I was at the very least expecting a small argument. But no, Andre handled it so well, that I think all of us were surprised, including Beck.

FLASHBACK (STILL TORI'S POV):

"Finally! About time!"

Andre and I both flinched slightly, startled by the sudden voice, as we moved apart, and snapped our heads towards the source of the sound. Looking towards the front door, I could see that it was all of our friends, smiling, obviously happy that Andre and I were about to kiss.

Looking back at Andre, I saw that he was standing up, now in front of me, his eyes glazing over each person in the group, which consisted of Jade, Beck, Cat, and Robbie. Following Andre's gaze, I saw that he was staring at Beck, a blank expression on his face. Beck stared back at Andre also, his face displaying a mixture of shame and apology.

As the staring continued, the room became dead silent, and a distinguishable tension built up – one that influenced everyone in the room, including me. And while the staring contest proceeded, I nervously sat there, shifting my gaze from Andre to Beck, then back to Andre. Fearing that the situation was about to grow hostile, I was tempted to run out the door as quickly as possible, so that I wouldn't have to be here to witness any fighting. But no matter how much I feared what might happen next, I was paralyzed onto that one spot, as if someone had glued me to the couch.

Finally, after what must have been two minutes of uncomfortable silence, and just when the tension was getting to be too much for me to bear that I had to leave, Andre walked up to Beck and made his first move. But it was not a punch, kick, slap, shove, or any other move I expected. No, it was a hug. A hug! I could not believe that Andre was giving Beck, who was the organizer of all those events that had happened a hug, and by the looks of it, neither could Beck.

"Hey man, it's alright," Andre said to Beck after their friend hug. "I don't hate you. We're cool."

Beck looked back at Andre, a hint of uncertainty and surprise in his eyes. "Are you sure?"

Andre nodded. "Yep. Let's just pretend none of this happened in the first place, okay?"

Beck smiled, as they shook hands. "Deal. Thanks man, you're the best."

"Anytime, my friend. Anytime. That goes double for you, Cat," Andre had said, looking at Cat with the same knowing smile. Cat had then just jumped at Andre, giving him another one of her tight, suffocating hugs that I couldn't help but smile at.

END FLASHBACK

That was it. A hug and a handshake. No arguing, no fighting, nothing. I knew Andre was forgiving, but I had no idea he was this forgiving. I certainly wasn't going to complain though. After all, he let me off just as easily pretty much. And I was lucky to have any second chance at all, song or not song. And this second chance, I would not take at all for granted.

"Hey Tori? Tori!"

Snapping out of my thoughts and back into reality, I found myself looking into Andre's eyes again.

"Yeah?"

"I said, how does going somewhere tonight sound?"

I smiled at the idea of our first official date together. This weekend, although we had nothing to do really, didn't go on our first official date because we wanted nothing but to spend time together, in the safety of each other's presence. We had discussed already what us dating would mean, and how we promised each other that we would both try our hardest to make the relationship function well. Most importantly however, we agreed that if the need to break-up was present, that we could still be best friends, and that a relationship shouldn't ruin a perfectly good friendship. But now that that has all been done, I wanted nothing more than to go on our first date as a couple.

"That sounds like fun! Where to?" I asked, eager for whatever plan Andre had in mind.

Andre didn't answer directly though. Instead, he smiled, as he pulled out two stubs of paper from his pocket, placing one of them in my hands. At first, I was confused as to why I would need this little scrap of paper, and what this had to do with our date. But as soon as I saw what the scrap of paper was, I swear my heart nearly stopped.

These weren't just pieces of paper at all! They were tickets to see that concert we both talked about going to for two weeks now! I couldn't believe it! And I thought they were out of tickets.

"How'd you get this?!" I asked Andre, excitedly, as I gave him a tight hug.

Andre smiled at me knowingly, when I released him. "I have my ways. I hope you still want to go as much as before though."

I looked at him almost in shock that he would say that. "Of course I do!" I exclaimed. "I've been dying to go! And I still am!"

Andre laughed at my reaction. "Okay, okay, calm down Tori," he said to me.

I laughed a little myself. "So, what's the plan going to be then?" I asked, still a little too excited perhaps.

Andre continued to smile watching me. "I'll come by and pick you up by 6 tonight, we go and have dinner, and then we go to the concert. Sound good?"

"Yeah, totally!" I replied, forever in my excited tone. "Thanks so much for finding these tickets, however you managed to do it!"

"Anything for you," Andre replied, giving me a kiss that all but blew my mind away. Heck, before we were together, I could simply fantasize about what it would be like to get a kiss from Andre, and how good it would be. But now that I can have the real thing, I can easily say that my fantasies are not even close to the real thing. Reality was so much better in this case.

Just as we both broke apart from each other, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Andre smiled at me again and gave me one final hug before walking to his afternoon music class.

"See you after school, Tori."

I smiled back and returned his hug. "I'll miss you."

As I walked to my vocal class, I couldn't help but smile and be happy at everything that's happened after those few dreadful days of last week. Andre and I were now best friends and dating, our entire group of six is stronger than ever, no one in our group is a single like before anymore, and best of all, I had my first date tonight with Andre, who I could only dream of being with not too long ago, and who I thought my love for was forbidden. Things turned out much more nicely than I had ever expected them to. My only hope is that they stay that way. OF course, none of us can predict what will happen later on and be certain of it, but I think it was safe to say that for now, Andre wasn't going anywhere. For now, I was finally together with the guy who was perfect for me. And no one could take him away from me. Not even Kyra. All I can hope is that, our love will last indefinitely. That we will be together from now to forever after.

AN: So there you have it. I know this chapter is again, a little cheesy probably, but it was again the best I could do for now. So once again, thank you for being so patient, and I hope that this chapter did not disappoint that much. I already kind of know what is gonna happen in the epilogue, and so I'll try not to be lazy with it. Once again, thank you so much for being so patient with me. Please review! :)