Watch out now...another chapter up in about a week? Go me and my speedy fingers! Life was actually not as crazy as I had anticipated it was going to be last week, so I was able to write more often. I know the anticipation was pretty big for this chapter, so I hope i did it justice! Surprisingly, I have nothing else to say for the moment, moving on to the next item on our agenda:

SHOUT OUT TIME! :)

Asante sana (it's time for some Swahili) to: ZOMG its Angie, DrizzyJ, Dawnmist of RiverClan, Kaylee, twenty four7bade, xFabinao, and Victoriousjadefan.

I again want to say thank you to any new followers and favorites for this story. You guys make me glad I decided to get into this fanfic business.

Disclaimer: Ok, so I was just informed that writing fanfiction is not an actual business and I am not going to be receiving a check in the mail for it. It is with great disappointment that I inform you I do not own either The Proposal or Victorious.

Side note: This chapter is the longest so far-by like 500 words-and I didn't take two weeks to get it up. How awesome is that? :D

Now that all that mess has been cleared up, enjoy the show!

Chapter 12

Jade thought she knew what she was getting into before they walked through the doors of the bar because she could hear the music from outside with the doors shut, but absolutely nothing could have prepared her for what she experienced after stepping inside.

The place was full of women of all ages, either seated at the bar or at tables that were located all around what appeared to be a stage of some sort. Jade became suspicious when she didn't see any males around, but was soon distracted, along with the rest of her group, when they were seated at a table and given menus. She was once again temporarily made aware of her surroundings when she heard Betty's question to their waitress.

"So Erica, when does the next show start?"

"Well we just had our first one for the day end about 10 minutes ago, and then next one is scheduled to start in about an hour and a half." Erica then left to go get the women's drinks.

Betty became even more excited after hearing that news, if that was at all possible. "Oh that's perfect! We'll have plenty of time to eat and then get settled in to watch the show."

"Show? What kind of show are you talking about?" Jade had tried to interrupt because from everyone's reactions, this 'show' seemed to be pretty big around town, but her question went ignored by the three local women, and Cat was too busy laughing at some of the names of the food items on the menu to even hear the question.

"Look Jade! They have 'drunk chicken'! Have you ever seen a chicken get drunk before?...hehe. Oh and look here! There's a toad in the hole! That doesn't sound like food at all. Do you think it means there are toads hidden out back in little holes, and they just pull them out and give them to you when you order that?...haha."

Since no one was answering Jade, she spared Cat a second of her time. "No Cat, I don't think they eat toads here. How about you order it though and see what you get?"

"Umm...I think I'll just get a hamburger instead." Cat didn't want to take the chance that she would get an actual toad, so she decided to just stick with something from the menu that she actually recognized.

"You better make sure they actually serve you meat from a cow because you know they eat moose and deer here right?" Jade couldn't resist teasing Cat since everyone else at the table was still ignoring her repeated inquiries regarding the show that was about to occur.

A sharp intake of breath was Cat's first response, along with her eyes becoming huge, indicating that she hadn't even thought of that as an option. "They actually eat moose and deer (the words were whispered) here? What about their antlers? That's so mean!" With a defeated look on her face, Cat finished with, "I've decided that I'm just gonna have a salad then."

Jade had another retort ready on the tip of her tongue about how people eat deer in America, but was interrupted by their waitress before the words could leave her lips.

"Ok ladies here are your drinks. Is everyone ready to order?"

/

An hour later, belly full and feeling content for the moment, Jade announced to anyone at the table who was listening, that she was going outside to get some fresh air.

"Would you mind some company? I feel like getting some fresh air myself." Violet didn't particularly want to hang out alone with Jade, but she figured this was the perfect opportunity to get the dark haired girl alone, and subtly inquire about the girl's relationship with Beck. Plus, she also wanted to leave while Cat was happily distracted with trying to pick out songs from the jukebox in the corner.

Knowing there was no way she could decline the offer without it seeming incredibly rude and weird to say that she wanted to just be by herself, (since she had sat outside most of the stores alone earlier waiting on everyone else to finish shopping) Jade accepted Violet's offer and the two stood up to make their way outside.

"Oh Violet?" Both girls paused, but only Violet turned back around at the sound of Betty's voice. "Just make sure you guys are back inside in time for the next show okay?"

Not knowing why it was so important that she be there for the stupid show that everyone couldn't stop talking about, but also not really caring too much at the moment, Jade continued walking towards the exit while Violet stayed behind for a second to acknowledge Betty's words.

"Why does it matter if we make it back in time for the start of the show? I mean, no offense Mrs. Oliver, but everyone in town has seen it at least ten times, and I personally don't really think it isn't anything that can't be missed."

"Yes dear I know you and the rest of us have already seen it, but Jade and Cat haven't yet since this is their first time visiting our lovely town and I believe they need to experience everything Irricana has to offer. Not only that, but seeing as how Jade and Beck are engaged, I think it's time we start treating Jade like the bride-to-be she is, and celebrate accordingly." Betty had a thing for conspiratorial winks, and after giving Violet another one to punctuate her statement, she watched as recognition fell upon the blonde's face before the younger girl turned around and headed outside to meet Jade.

/

"Man I am so bored! Is it time for lunch yet? How long have we been out here doing this? My arms are killing me!" Andre knew realistically it probably hadn't been that long since he and Beck had entered the woods and started collecting the firewood that Craig had asked them to get, but to him it had felt as if they had been out there for hours.

Beck, used to doing chores like this for years, wasn't as bothered by the rate at which the time was passing as Andre was, but to appease his friend he looked at his watch and calculated the time. "Um it's been like 23 minutes. We've barely collected anything, and I'm the one actually pushing the wheelbarrow so what are you complaining about? If you want to switch though, to add some fun to your day, I'd be more than happy to let you push this thing. You know we can't stop until we have at least a full barrow or else my dad will just make us collect twice as much later."

"Well I would trade you just to give me something else to do, but those biceps look like they could use some work, plus I think we've both already have plenty of fun and excitement today...haha." Andre never could resist getting any kind of dig in at Beck's expense. Andre's eyes grew wide as he spotted something on the ground not far from him. "Oh look! Here's one that looks like it just can't wait to be added to the pile." Andre walked over to the biggest log he had seen so far, and after picking it up, he decided that it had to weigh at least 30 pounds. He had some difficulty getting it to actually stay in the wheelbarrow, but once it was finally situated, he gave Beck a proud smirk.

"Gee thanks so much pal." Beck then proceeded to push the barrow forward while keeping his grunting to a minimum, surprising Andre.

Never one to let the quiet last for too long, (because in his experience, conversation always made the time go by faster) five minutes later Andre decided that now was as good a time as any to work on making plans for discovering Jade's true feelings. "Speaking of our friendship, I say we start working on making some plans to discover Jade's true feelings about you. What do you think about involving Cat in this operation?" Andre knew it was a risk, but he felt that Cat could really help the guys since she was the closest person to Jade.

After taking about 0.2 seconds to think it over Beck replied with, "Sorry man. I know she's your girlfriend and all, but I think if we tell her anything Jade will find out not long after, and then the whole thing will be comprised."

Wanting to protest about having to keep yet another secret from his girlfriend, Andre opened his mouth, but then just as quickly shut it again. "Ugh! You know I really hate keeping secrets from her. She always finds a way to get information out of me one way or another. I can't resist her because she's just so cute and innocent...okay maybe not so innocent."

Both guys let out laughs at the end of Andre's statement. After calming back down, Beck spoke again.

"I know you do 'Dre, but you know that I wouldn't ask you to keep any secrets unless it was incredibly important. If Jade were to find out that we were up to something she'd either get super pissed off and at the very least fire us both, or she'd mess with our heads by putting on an act and we'd never know the truth. We need to figure things out on our own."

Sighing in resignation, Andre nodded his head. "Yeah, you're right. Okay, I won't say anything about it to Cat. Speaking of the girls, do you know when they're supposed to get back?"

"No idea. Mom didn't say how long they were gonna be gone when I spoke to her this morning, but they'll have to come back sometime soon if they want to get ready for Nana's birthday dinner tonight. Speaking of, let's hurry up and collect some more logs so we can go back and get ready ourselves."

"Dude WE'RE NOT GIRLS! It doesn't take us hours to get ready! Or at least it doesn't take me that long." Andre spoke the last part quietly while snickering under his breath and turning to face away from Beck.

Contrary to what Andre thought, Beck actually did hear Andre's last statement. "Yeah, yeah. Make fun of me all you want. I'll have you know that looking this good is a process. I'd say given my current situation, this process is gonna be more important than ever, and I definitely need all the extra time I can get."

"Uh huh. Whatever you say 'Fabio' (cue another teasing chuckle)." After 6 minutes of silence, (a new record for Andre) he spoke up again. "So I wonder what the girls are up to right now?"

/

"Okay look, you don't really know me that well, and I'm pretty sure you want to get to know me about as much as I want to get to know you, so why did you really ask to come out here with me?" Jade knew something was up when Violet asked to join her, and wasted no time getting right to the point.

Looking slightly amused, Violet addressed Jade's bluntness. "You're right. I don't know you at all, but you're wrong about the fact that I don't want to get to know you. Look, just because Beck and I used to date doesn't mean that we're not still friends now, or that I'm not concerned about who's currently in his life. It's been at least 3 years since I've last seen him, and from the looks of it, a lot has changed in that time." She knew that she'd have to play nice if she wanted Jade to divulge anything, but apparently she had underestimated with whom she was speaking.

"Yeah, I'm not telling you anything about me or my personal life with Beck until you tell me about yours. For instance, how long did you guys date and why did you break up?" Jade really didn't want to hear anything about Beck's past with the blonde, but she was a smart woman, and figured there was a chance that she might learn some blackmail material by hearing the full story.

Violet didn't want to discuss her and Beck's past with his current fiancee, but she knew if she didn't say anything, Jade wouldn't either, so reluctantly she began telling her story.

"Beck and I were high school sweethearts. We had known each other pretty much all our lives since we were both born and raised here, and Irricana isn't exactly that big of a town, but somehow we stayed just friends until high school. We both dated other people off and on before that, but managed to find ourselves both single at the same time freshman year. Beck asked me to the Homecoming dance that year, and by the end of the night, we were a couple. Everyone kept telling us how perfect we looked together and how they all knew that we'd get married someday and raise our own family here."

Both she and Jade were leaning on the railing staring out into the water as the story was being told, therefore Violet missed the unexplainable emotion that flitted across Jade's face as she described her former relationship with Beck.

Since she didn't see Jade's reaction, Violet never skipped a beat as she continued telling her story. "Well lo and behold, they were partially right, to an extent. The day we graduated high school Beck proposed to me. I accepted of course because I genuinely thought we were going to be together forever." After she said this, Violet paused for a moment because she thought she heard Jade inhale sharply. She took her gaze off the water and turned to look over at Jade.

Jade was completely surprised by this new turn of events as she had never realized exactly how close Beck and Violet used to be. She didn't even realize that she had made any noise. That weird feeling was starting to bubble in her stomach, but unlike before when she was around Beck and it was something good but undefinable, she recognized this new feeling for what it truly was-jealousy. She was jealous of the relationship Violet and Beck had shared in the past. Shaking the emotion off quickly so hopefully Violet wouldn't see it, Jade gestured for the other girl to continue.

Smiling inwardly at seeing Jade's reaction, for she actually had seen the emotions swirling in Jade's eyes, Violet picked up her story where she had left off. "Well it turns out that forever only lasted throughout college. We knew we didn't want to get married while either one of us was still in school, so we decided to just have a long engagement and make plans after graduation. Those four years changed us though, and instead of growing together, we began to drift apart. While in school Beck discovered his love for acting. After college graduation he decided that he wanted to move to Hollywood in order to try and make it big. He asked me to move with him, saying we would get married here first then start our new lives there, but I liked the small town way of life and I didn't want to leave it. Instead of trying to make a long distance relationship work, we decided to take a break and see what the future would hold for us. Apparently, it brought you into his life and his heart."

At Violet's words, the butterflies in Jade's stomach began fluttering again. The jealousy though had been replaced by the feeling that she only got when she thought about Beck and the most recent situations in which they found themselves. After hearing all about Beck's past with Violet, Jade thought that she would dislike the blonde even further, but it turned out just the opposite. She actually felt sorry for the other girl, but not enough to want to be friends with her-she was still Jade West after all, and not just anyone was allowed the privilege of her friendship.

Surprisingly, telling Jade her story had lifted some of the pain and heartbreak the break-up with Beck had caused Violet. The catharsis brought from getting everything out in the open was enough for Violet to realize that she really did just want Beck to be happy, and if Jade was the one who gave him that feeling, who was she to stand in the way? Of course, just because she was learning to accept it, didn't mean that she had to like the situation. Still curious as to Jade and Beck's past, however, Violet asked Jade, "So, how did you and Beck meet?"

After hearing Violet's story Jade decided that she didn't want to tell Beck's ex-fiancee anything at all about her own past with him. Opening her mouth to say just that, Jade happened to take a glance at the watch adorning Violet's wrist that was still resting on the railing. Emitting a fake gasp, Jade sarcastically said instead, "Oh well you look at that-all out of time. Whoops. Guess we should be getting back in there before Betty sends someone out to get us for this oh so important show that's about to happen." With those parting words Jade turned on her heel and strode back into the building.

Violet was about to say something along the lines of the fact that they actually still had a couple of minutes before the show was scheduled to start, but then she remembered what Betty had told her about celebrating Jade's bride-to-be status, so she closed her mouth and followed after Jade with a gleam in her eye.

/

Jade had just sat down at their table, and was given the beer she had ordered, when Cat finally came back.

"Hey hey, guess what Jade? I picked a song from the jukebox! Isn't that neat?" Cat was looking so proud of herself, and was bouncing so excitedly in her seat, that Jade just couldn't find anything bad to say to her.

"That's great Cat. What song did you pick out?"

"Ooh ooh ooh! It's called...um...oh shoot I forgot the name of it!" Cat then started to pout, and was about to cry, but was interrupted my the bar's emcee.

"Alright alright alright. Who's up for a little song-y song action this afternoon?" After pausing to accept the round of screams and applause, as well as an unnoticed eye roll from Jade, he continued. "Now I'm sure most, if not all of you, know our next performer, but what you guys probably don't know, is that this show is going to be a little different from the normal one. In case you haven't noticed, the lovely Oliver family ladies have decided to join us today, accompanied by the also beautiful Miss Violet LeBlanc, as well as two other gorgeous young women, one of whom happens to be getting ready to join the Oliver family. Miss Jade West, if you will please step up here and join me?"

Upon hearing her name, Jade adopted a deer-in-the-headlights look, and promptly did a Grade A spit take with her beer. Shaking her head 'No' repeatedly, Jade grabbed ahold of the sides of her chair, and adamantly refused to let go. Finally though, after 45 seconds of nonstop pestering and chants of 'Go go go!' from both the women at her table, as well as everyone else in the bar, Jade violently grabbed her bottle of beer and stomped her way up to the stage with a murderous look on her face that, thankfully for her, went unnoticed by anyone she knew.

Not missing a beat, the emcee continued as if that whole scene never occurred. "Miss West, it has come to my attention that you are the woman who has stolen the heart of our beloved Beck Oliver, and will be marrying him soon correct?"

Those who had not been at the party the previous night, or hadn't heard about it from someone who was, began to boo and/or cry at the revelation. Jade stood up on the stage stonily, and forced a 'Yes' out of her lips.

"As such, your future grandmother-in-law has informed me that this outing is to be a celebration of that fact." He glanced over at Betty as he spoke, and traded winks with the woman.

Jade raised a curious eyebrow in Betty's direction, for she knew nothing good was going to come next, and she was unfortunately proven right by the smile on Betty's face, as well as the emcee's next words.

"Since this is your bachelorette party Miss West, please take a seat while we bring out your entertainment."

Knowing there was absolutely no way she was going to get out of whatever 'entertainment' was going to come, Jade reluctantly sat down in the chair in the middle of the stage, while Cat and Violet came up to her placing a tiara on her head, along with a sash stating that she was the bride.

"Aww you look so cute Jadey! I want to be a bride too!" Cat tried to pull another chair onto the stage for herself, but before she could grab one, she was led by the arm back to the table by Violet.

Jade began to look around uncertainly when she first heard the music coming out of the speakers. When she heard the audience cheer wildly along with a few cat calls, she turned her head in the direction everyone was looking, and when she saw exactly who it was that had come out from behind the curtain, she couldn't help scream that tore through her throat.

(Once again I was going to leave you with a cliffhanger, but I'm still on such a high from TFB&J-even though everything was pretty much spoiled beforehand-that I decided I couldn't do that to you guys again, so here you go...enjoy the rest of the show!)

The clothes were different, as he now had on a fireman suit, but there was no mistaking the fact that Jade's 'entertainment' for the afternoon was the man who had dared to sit next to her while she was waiting on the bench out in front of the last store while the others were still shopping. She can't exactly remember his name-something with an 'E'...Edmund, Edward, Ernie, but Betty's shout of, "Woo hoo, go Erwin!" quickly remedied that fact.

Luckily for Jade, the scream that came out of her mouth was mixed in with the loud music, as well as other women's screams (although theirs were of a more enjoyable nature than Jade's had been). She quickly downed the rest of her drink as fast as she could swallow, and begged someone to get her some liquor, pronto.

Jade was not a lightweight by any means, but there was something different about the Canadian beer she had drank, that caused her body to relax and not even mind the fact that there was a weird older, balding, coconut-scented man dancing around her while trying to strip off his fireman's outfit in a sexy manner.

By the time he was in just a speedo and his helmet, (Jade couldn't even bring herself to shudder at the sight because someone had finally brought her some vodka which, when mixed with the beer still in her system, mellowed her out significantly) Erwin stood in front of Jade and began giving her a lap dance. Jade really wasn't as drunk as she was pretending to be, and she allowed the action to occur since it was bringing everyone else so much enjoyment. She finally decided to get in on the act near the end, and stood up while motioning to Cat to join her on stage. For the rest of the song, Jade, Cat, and Erwin all danced together doing random dances while simply having some much needed fun (at least in Jade's case).

After the song was over, Cat and Jade (after shouting 'NO!'-albeit not as harshly as she'd done in the past-to Erwin's request for a hug) made their way back to their table.

"Well wasn't that just superbly exciting?" Leave it to Betty to begin a conversation.

"Yeah I had so much fun dancing with Jadey and the fireman!" Cat spoke as she danced her way around the table.

"It was alright." Jade admitted reluctantly. She didn't want to give anyone any indication that she was actually beginning to have some fun in Canada, but after making eye contact with Betty, she knew the older woman was starting to see differently.

"Sikowitz sure knows how to put on a good show doesn't he?" Violet was just glad that it was Jade up on stage and not herself. She was highly amused at Jade's uncomfortableness, but then became a little disappointed when Jade began to relax and have some fun.

"Wait, wait, wait. His last name is Sikowitz? As in psycho-witz?" At Betty, Mary, and Violet's confirming nods, Jade couldn't help the roars of laughter that escaped her. "Th-that e-explains so m-much!...hahahahaha." It was almost five minutes later when Jade was able to finally regulate her breathing.

Mary, who up until that point had been relatively quiet, finally spoke up. "Ladies, I hate to break up this little party, but we must be getting home now so we can get ready for mom's dinner tonight."

Heaving a resigned sigh, Betty acquiesced. "She's right girls. Let's go home since the show's over."

Upon getting themselves collected and corralling Cat, the four women (after saying goodbye to Violet since she was staying behind because she lived on the mainland, and would meet them at the restaurant later) made their way to the boat and then the Oliver home.

A/N: Ok, so that's all we've got for now. I hope I didn't disappoint anyone's expectations with this chapter. I can't give all my secrets away at one time-got to save some surprises for future chapters ;). Until next time though, Farvel (yay for any Danish speaking fans I may have) my feisty flamingos :D