So tell me that you love me yeah
And tell me that I take your breath away
And maybe if you take one more then I would know for sure
There's nothing left to say
But tell me that you love me anyway
"Emotion, people, I need to feel the emotion from here" yells Sikowitz from his spot in the back of the auditorium. Beck groans as he has to once again stop saying his lines and start over. He looks around the rest of the cast on stage, all looking just as frustrated and tired.
"Sikowitz, is there any way we can continue this tomorrow? Some of us do have lives outside of school" one girl says. Beck turns in her direction and offers her a quick, thankful smile. In turn, the girl gives him a small wave and bats her long eyelashes. Not wanting to give her any ideas, Beck turns around instantly, looking towards Sikowitz who is making his way down the aisle towards the stage.
"Oh, you have somewhere more important to be, is that right? Well, by all means, go" he says staring directly at the girl. Suddenly, there is a tension in the room and no one is sure if he means it or is simply testing them.
"I, uh...I mean, are we almost done?" she retorts nervously not moving from her spot.
"No. Let's take fifteen" Sikowitz answers firmly and goes to the side of the stage where André sits on the piano bench.
Beck shakes his head and walks towards the edge of the stage and takes a seat. As his legs hang from the edge, he lays down, the wooden floor cold against his t-shirt. He closes his eyes to avoid the brightness of the stage lights. For a few minutes, he tries to think about anything besides his lines or how much longer he will have to be on stage saying them over and over. Usually he would be more than happy to spend the afternoon acting but he can't seem to focus today. Perhaps it's the fact that his co-star is his ex-girlfriend or that his character doesn't feel real, but his head is just not in it.
Just get it right once he thinks to himself, then you'll be done.
"Hey sleeping beauty" he hears someone say not too far off. He rolls his head a bit and opens his eyes only to see Tori walking towards him.
Beck sits up slowly and brings his legs around so they are stretched out in front of him. "Hey there" he says. It takes her a few short seconds before she sits Indian style next to him.
"How's it going?" she asks. She brings her hands up and playfully ruffles his hair.
"Hey," he says as he reaches over and rubs her hair just enough to make it messy. "What are you doing here?" he asks.
"I'm supposed to go grab something to eat with André but he tells me it might be a while before you guys finish up" she replies, her attention temporarily on her friend over by the piano.
"Yeah, we're not having the best of days here" he says.
"What's going on?" Tori asks looking at him once more.
"Did you forget who I'm working with?" he asks sarcastically.
"Does she still hate you?"
"I don't think she'll ever stop" Beck replies. Instantly, he thinks about the day he broke up with Jade and how angry she had been. He still can't figure out if she was upset that he caught her off guard or that she wasn't the one who broke things off. Surely, she should have seen it coming and he had given her more than enough time because he didn't want to be the jerk. Slowly, they started drifting apart and communicating less but for some reason, she didn't break up with him. Then one day he woke up and knew he had to pull the trigger and call it quits.
"I'm sure she will eventually. No one can hold a grudge forever" Tori assures him and laughs as soon as he gives her an "are-you-kidding-me" look. "Okay, okay. Maybe she won't. Anyway, why don't you come with me and André afterward and just hang out?"
"Where are you guys going?" Beck asks, thankful to have possible plans that will make this dreaded day go by faster.
"There's this new place near Andre's house. He's heard good things so we're going to check it out."
"Not a food truck right?" he asks laughing and then, he sees her blushing and regrets it. "Sorry, Tor, I didn't mean to bring that up."
"We agreed we wouldn't" she answers without looking at him, her body tensing up.
It, of course, being their "non-date" a few months ago. After taking Tori home that night, both having re-affirmed that they were just out as friends, Beck went back to dating Jade soon after. For a reason he had been unaware of then, Tori had gotten really upset about their rekindled romance and it wasn't until André told him that the non-date had meant more to Tori that he felt guilty about getting back together with Jade.
"I'm sorry" Beck says. He reaches over and grabs hold of her hand. He watches as she looks down at their intertwined fingers and closes her hands over his. "Hey," he says softly which causes her to look up, "do you ever think about what things would be like if it hadn't been a non-date?"
"That's still talking about it" she says and pulls her hand away. Tori unfolds her legs from under her and stands up, walking quickly away from him. Beck instantly follows suit, jogging to keep up with her. As they cross the stage, he senses several others looking at him but he ignores the curious glances.
He finally catches up to her backstage. "Tori!" he calls out.
She stops walking and turns around. "Please don't. I hate the what ifs. Especially when it comes to you."
"Why especially when it comes to me?" he asks, his heartbeat speeding up just a bit as his hopes that she might admit her feelings for him rise.
She shakes her head from side to side, strands of her long hair falling across her face. "You know why. Let's not do this now, in front of other people please" she urges, her voice dropping to just above a whisper. Beck reaches over, placing his index finger beneath her chin, and raises her head so she is looking at him once more.
"Don't worry about them, just tell me why. I want you to say it so I know that's how you feel."
"Beck, please-" she starts but he interrupts her.
"Tori, just tell me."
She bites down on her lips and closes her eyes. "You know I like you" she says as she opens her eyes.
"Are you sure?" he asks, a smile spreading across his face.
She hesitates for a moment. "Yes" she finally answers.
"Good" is all he says before grabbing hold of her arm and pulling her towards an exit and out of the auditorium.
"Beck, where are we going?" she asks as she dragged behind him.
"Just trust me" he says, looking back to reassure her. Tori nods her head and lets him lead her to an unknown place.
It takes about two minutes for them to reach the hallway and walk towards the janitor's closet. Beck let's go of Tori's arm and turns the knob on the closet door.
"The closet?" she asks incredulously.
Beck laughs at her quizzical look. "Go in" he says.
"You're not going to lock me in there and get Jade are you?" she asks, half-jokingly.
"Tori, trust me" he says once more and she takes the few steps into the closet. Beck follows her in and slowly closes the door behind him.
"Come here Tori" he says and extends his arms so she can take his hand. Tori grabs hold of his hand and is surprised when he pulls her into him. Her eyes widen as she feels his body pressing against his and his hands moving down to the small of her back.
"Beck" she whispers, her eyes looking into his almost as though questioning what his motives are.
Without replying he brings his lips closer to hers and before they touch, he smiles. "I like you too" he says and before she can respond, he closes the small gap and brings their lips together.
