Andre texts Jade, asking if she wants to hang out. Jade guesses Beck never told Andre what happened.
Jade lies three times and says she's busy. She's not allowed to be associated with Beck or Andre anymore.
When Andre asks Beck what happened to Jade, Beck pretends like he doesn't hear the question. He doesn't want to talk about it.
•
"Mr. Oliver," Sikowitz greets him. Sikowitz has become like a dad to him these past months. Beck has been away from his real parents for years.
"Hey," Beck smiles. Beck can't stop staring at the cast list in which the skinny girl named Tori Vega got the lead and not Jade.
"Is this the cast list for that new play?" Beck asks, hoping it's not.
"Yeah. I had a hard time choosing a leading lady. You know, Tori and Jade have been battling it out since day one," Sikowitz tells him.
"But I don't get it? Jade is a much better actress," Beck lets it slip. He bites his tongue. Hopefully, Sikowitz won't notice his favoritism.
"That is true, yes. Jade has a lot talent. She's practiced and she cares about what she's doing. She also has a negative attitude, unlike Tori. They're completely different actresses, and better for different types of plays," Sikowitz tells him.
"Maybe she has more going on than you think. Maybe there's a reason behind her negative attitude," Beck finds himself defending her.
Sikowitz gives him a weird look, like he's contemplating something. Beck's never seen the man so serious.
"Anyway, what about Tori?" He asks. He doesn't want Sikowitz getting suspicious of him and Jade.
The next day, Beck tries not to stare at Jade when Tori ends up getting the lead. Jade glances up at his sorry eyes and she just rolls her own.
•
"You're really fucking good," he whispers to her after he hears her sing for the first time. She's in one of Sikowitz's musicals.
"Really fucking good, huh?" She smirks, making fun of how he complemented her when they had met the first time ("you're kinda really fucking beautiful." "Really fucking beautiful, huh?").
But then Jade remembers that they aren't together anymore so she can't joke with him like he is her boyfriend and like he has told her that he loved her.
She moves across the room to enter into a conversation with Cat and Robbie, trying to ignore him siting there.
•
Jade spends more time after school at the bar where she met Beck. Since none of her friends have even tried alcohol before, nonetheless been in a bar, she knows they won't be able to find her.
Drinking during the night results in hangovers during the week.
"Why are you wearing sunglasses? We're inside," Tori asks her.
"Stop talking to me," Jade growls. She has a hangover and a headache. Tori turns to talk to Cat, but Cat's curious as well.
"Jadey? I don't get it. You don't even like the sun."
"I have a headache. Please just stop," she sighs. Since Tori and Cat rarely hear Jade say please, they shrug and have their own conversation.
She doesn't care if having hangovers during the week makes her seem pathetic. She is pathetic.
•
Beck shows up at the bar and sees her siting there.
"Jade," he breathes, walking up to her, siting next to her.
"Mr. Oliver," she greets. Things are different now.
Beck laughs. "I haven't seen you around school outside of the class," he states.
"Uh, yeah. It's intentional."
Beck takes her hand and laces it with his. He kisses her knuckles like he did when he found out about her mother and her twin sister.
"Two more months," he says.
"I know. I'm waiting," she mumbles.
"Me too," he says. Jade gulps down all of her vodka, shaking her head. She can feel it burning in her throat. She slaps down a couple of bills and exits, leaving him in there alone.
•