Sorry this is so late!

Chapter 5

Somehow, they've reached equilibrium—a tentative, tightly strung balance that needs only a gust of wind to blow it back into chaos.

Jade's the one to breach the gap first. After all, she's never been one to give up on those she loves, and so she tries, and tries, antagonizing Caterina and trying to get her to break out of the wall she's hidden herself behind. They audition for the same role in the winter musical, and Jade spends late nights training herself to be absolute perfection.

When she gets the role, she's ecstatic, but when she looks at Cat—hoping to see anger or frustration or happiness or something—the girl merely smiles with no emotion in her eyes and congratulates her.

It hurts more than it should.

She cries in Beck's arms that night, and even while part of her is hating Cat for making her so weak, the other part is wondering why she hadn't held Cat closely enough—why she hadn't kept her from spiraling away.

Beck holds her, muffling her questions with his lips and tracing away the tension in her back with his hands. "We'll get her back," he murmurs, even though it makes no sense because Caterina's never left, "We'll get her back."

The next morning, Jade and Beck come to school smelling of sex and togetherness and Caterina greets them with an awareness in her eyes that's never been there before. Jade watches her best friend—she refuses to consider that she might be anything else—carefully, and sees just a hint of longing swimming in the dark brown depths.

The next time she and Beck make out, and Caterina starts to leave, Jade grabs the smaller girl by the wrist and Caterina stills, unsure of why Jade's hand is gripping her so tightly, but so gently as she presses her mouth to Beck's. The hand pulls.

She sits down and opens her textbook.

Andre finds himself watching Cat more and more, especially during music class, (it's easier to think when she isn't pressed up against him in dance or filling the room with her voice during vocals). She notices, of course, but after the first few weeks pass, her tense shoulders relax and she shrugs his gaze off.

She never once looks at him. He wants to think that she knows he won't look away if she does.

The teacher assigns an instrumental project and he claims Caterina and his partner before anyone else can. Cat doesn't object, though she does flinch, just a little, when he uses her full name. Andre ignores this, and pulls up a seat at her desk. "So, Little—" his voice catches—her hair's not scarlet anymore—and he disguises the pause with a cough.

She cuts in gracefully, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "The assignment requires both of us to play an instrument. I need to learn to play the guitar."

He almost asks—why not piano?—but there's something in her eyes that warns him away from it. He's never been quite sure where Cat stood in regards to finances, and he knows even less about Caterina's situation. It bothers him more than he expects it to, but he pushes the thought away.

"Want to come over today to practice?"

Caterina hesitates, because even though Cat's been to his house hundreds of times, she never has. Then, her chin lifts and she looks him straight in the face. "Ok."

Later, when he's guiding her fingers as she learns the basic chords, she ignores how close she is to sitting on his lap. He ignores how good it feels to hold her in his arms. They both ignore the fact that the guitar she brings over is ancient, with strings like rubber and rough, well-used wood.

Then, Beck walks in on them and the look in his eyes shock both of them out of their pretending and they jump apart.

"We were just practicing."

"I know."

"Yeah, right. Man, I saw the look on your face. You would've thought I was assaulting your baby sister, or something."

A raised eyebrow. "Assaulting…"

"You know what I mean."

Beck doesn't respond, because he does know what Andre means, and he's not sure why the sight of his best friend and Cat pressed together—even if he knows it was innocent—rubbed him the wrong way. "I just don't want anything to happen," he says finally, "One wrong move, and she's gone."

"Yeah," Andre says bleakly, "One wrong move."

Cat's face is red as she sprawls across her bed. Caterina isn't quite sure what the fuss is about, but her cheeks are tinged as well. Not much, barely anything by Cat standards, but something is still there.

The next day, she's passion and fire on the dance floor, and Chad matches her fearlessly. They're both panting by the time class ends, and she's not sure if it's on purpose when she lingers afterwards.

She decides that it was when he pulls her into a corner and kisses her after everyone leaves—and she doesn't feel a bit of surprise. His mouth is soft, skillful, experienced, and already his hands are traveling up her waist and she's caught, unsure of whether to push him away or kiss him back.

Fate decides for her.

Chad pushes her against the wall as he leans forward to deepen the kiss, and she hits her arm hard enough to jerk her out of the daze. He isn't exactly helpful when she pushes away, but he doesn't hold her there either. She takes a step back, trying to reassess the situation, trying to ignore the pounding in her blood.

His smile is cocky, but the look in his eyes hold a hunger that makes her skin tingle. "Like I said before, you'll come around, babe."

She walks out.

By the next day, it's all around the school and making its second trip.

Did you hear? Chad's chasing Caterina.

Really? Omigosh, they'd be so great together!

What do you mean?

He's talented, she's amazing—they're perfect.

Wasn't she dating that puppet boy?

Robbie? No way. I always thought she was with Andre.

Whateves. Point is, now she's with Chad.

Yeah.

And with that, the equilibrium shatters like a windowpane, shards of glass flying into the wind as the six scramble, trying to dodge the shards and collect them at the same time.

Might introduce new OC's. Who should Caterina end up with? Any ideas? Reviews = Updates.