I feel caught I can't deny it
I feel caught can't try and hide
My hands are up and everyone knows it's true
I'm so caught up in you
"What did you think?" André asks as he lifts his hands from the keyboard.
Tori blinks a few times, her eyes focusing once again on his. "Sorry, what?"
André tilts his head back a bit and rolls his eyes. "Come on Tori, this is the third time you've spaced out. If you don't like the song then just tell me because I have like eight hours to turn it in."
Tori shakes her head from side to side. "No, the song is great. Sorry, I'm just distracted. Why don't you play it again and I'll listen this time, promise."
André gives her a small smile but instead of playing the song again, he lifts the keyboard off his lap and places it next to him. He inches his way towards her and finally takes a seat next to her. "What's going on?" he asks her.
"It's nothing, don't worry. Come on, play me your awesome song" she says with a big smile.
"Nope, now I'm curious so you have to tell me what's up" André replies, folding his arms across his chest.
Tori playfully rolls her eyes. "You're going to think I'm being stupid" she says as she looks down at the floor. Surely, once she tells him the cause of her distractions, he will indeed think she is being silly, like every other girl in the school.
"Tor, I won't think you're stupid. Come on, you're my best friend."
Tori takes a deep breath and looks around the Black Box Theater to make sure no one is around. "Okay, but please don't laugh or make fun of me."
"I won't" André responds.
"Promise" she says.
"Tori, I promise" he replies, getting more and more curious about what she's about to tell him.
Once again, she tells a deep breath. "Okay...I think I have feelings for Beck" she says quickly, hoping he wouldn't catch the last part.
Unfortunately, André hears everything and his eyes widen. "Whoa" is all he can muster to say.
"I know" she replies briskly. She folds her hands across her lap and waits for him to say something else.
"How...What...How...Oh damn it, I don't even know what to say" he says.
"I know, it's unexpected. Trust me, I'm still trying to make sense of it."
André shakes his head, his dreadlocks twirling all over the place. Tori raises her arms and places them gently on each side of his face to keep it still. "Stop that" she says as they are making eye contact once more.
"Are you sure? That you have feelings for him I mean" André asks her.
Tori nods her head, "Yeah. The night of Cat's party we were hanging out basically all night and I kept thinking about how great it was to be there with him, just talking and having fun. I got home and it seemed absurd, because it's Beck and we've been friends for a while but then the feelings wouldn't go away. Now every time I see him, I get giddy and I act like all the other girls."
"So he doesn't know you like him?" André asks.
"I don't think he does. I hope he doesn't" she answers.
"Man, Jade will kill you if she finds out you like her ex-boyfriend. You know she was always crazy about the two of you hanging out" André adds. He looks at Tori and sees her forehead wrinkling.
"I hadn't even thought about Jade" Tori mumbles. She looks down at her hands and sighs. "She would kill me."
André nods his head and stands up from his seat. He walks over to the keyboard and picks it up. He turns and looks away for a moment before turning back to look at Tori. "So you're sure you like Beck?" he asks.
She simply nods her head.
"Why don't you tell him then?"
Tori's head shoots up and she looks straight into Andre's eyes. "Are you crazy? Beck and I are friends, I don't want to mess that up by telling him I have a crush on him. What if he doesn't feel the same way? Besides, you're right about Jade killing me."
"I don't know Tor, you'll never know if he feels the same way unless you tell him. He might like you too, and don't worry about Jade. She's a big girl, she'll be fine."
"I don't know André, I don't think it's a good idea to tell him. It might ruin everything" she says.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to see about that" André replies.
"What do you mean?" Tori asks. She looks up just in time to see André pointing towards the back of the room. She quickly turns her head and sees Beck standing a few feet away from them, his face showing no emotion. Tori feels her heartbeat speed up and she turns to look at André. As the two make eye contact, he smiles and slightly nods his head in Beck's direction. As he walks towards the back on the room, Tori can hear his brief greeting to Beck. She hears the door closes behind André, she hears footsteps walking towards her.
Within seconds, Beck is standing in front of her. Tori urges herself to look up into his eyes.
"Hey" he says as soon as he acknowledges him.
"Hey" she retorts.
"How are you?" he asks as he thrusts his hands into his jean pockets.
She shrugs her shoulders. "I'm good" she answers, trying to keep the last bit of cool left in her.
"You sure? Not feeling giddy?" he asks her and a smile starts spreading across his face.
Tori instantly feels her face flush and she looks away from him. She brings her hands to her cheeks and looks down at the floor, not sure how much of her conversation with André he heard.
Beck kneels down in front of her and he gently grabs hold of her wrists, pulling away from her face.
"How much did you hear?" she asks without looking at him.
"Enough, I think" he replies. Beck brings his hand to her chin and slowly turns her face so that she is looking at him once more.
"I'm really sorry. I didn't want you to find out. I don't want things between us to get weird. You're one of my best friends and-" she says quickly before being interrupted by his lips pressing against hers. The kiss lasts several seconds before Beck reluctantly pulls away. He smiles as she slowly flutters open her eyes and a huge smile takes over her face.
"How about we take things slow. That way, we'll get things right" he says.
"I'd like that" Tori says, her voice barely above a whisper.
Beck nods his head once. "Okay, good" he says before getting back up. He reaches over to help her stand as well. "How about we start by walking to class together?"
Tori laughs, "sounds great" she says.
Once she is standing in front of him, Beck leans down a bit and quickly kisses her once more. "I could get used to doing that" he says once they separate.
She smiles, "me too."
Beck grabs hold of her hands and leads her out of the theater.
