A/N: I know I'm the worst because I update like once every couple of years but hopefully you guys enjoy these anyway.

This may be triggering. There's no self-harm or violence or sexual assault (and if that changes I'll let you know before each chapter). But this will explore the dynamics of depression.

Cat, Rain, and Fire

Beck glances around the hallway as he seeks out bright red hair. Finally spotting her by the vending machines Beck pushes his way through the crowded hall. "Cat!" She doesn't turn around until he places a guiding hand on her arm. "Cat, where's Jade?"

Cat gasps. "I didn't do anything, I swear!"

Beck blinks at her. It was probably better not to ask. "I just want to know where Jade is. She wasn't in history this morning."

Cat's eyes shrink to normal size and she starts to twirl her hair around her finger. "I dunno."

Beck resists the urge to sigh. He was thankful that most of the time Cat seemed to understand how serious things were with Jade but there were the few instances where it went right over her head. "Have you talked to her?"

Cat shook her head dramatically. "Not since last night."

"Last night? Did you have a sleepover?"

"Jade drove me and Tori to…" Cat's eyes widen and her hands fly up to cover her mouth. "Nowhere! I don't know anything!"

Beck lightly grasps her shoulders and bends down to maintain eye contact. "Cat, it's okay. I don't think you did anything wrong but I need to know if Jade is okay."

Cat slowly drops her hands from her mouth. "Jade drove us to San Diego and it rained on us the whole way. We got back home really late."

Maybe she got sick from the rain and that's why she wasn't in school. Beck pulls Cat closer to him for a hug. "Whatever happened last night, it's okay." He feels Cat sniffle against his shirt and he rubs small circles on her back. "Don't worry, okay?" Beck pulls back to read Cat's face and is relieved to find that she seems a little calmer.

Beck knocks on Jade's door harder this time. He'd been standing outside for 10 minutes now and no one had answered the door. He'd checked their favorite coffee shop and the specialty scissor store and she was nowhere to be found so she had to be home.

"Jade!" He bangs his fist on the door again. "Let me in!" He steps back when he hears the lock. She's still in her PJs and the bags under her eyes make him wonder just how late Cat meant.

"You're the most annoying person in the world." As she sees his eyes scan over her, she crosses her arms over her chest. She growls, "What do you want?"

"Are you okay?" Jade rolls her eyes and tries to close the door but Beck pushes it back towards her. "Jade."

"I thought the point of breaking up with me is so that you didn't have to do this…" Jade flicks her hand between them. "Anymore."

Beck's brow furrows. A breakup wasn't going to stop him from worrying about her. Ever. "You weren't at school."

"What are you? The attendance police?"

"Cat didn't know where you were." Beck takes a step closer. "You didn't tell anyone you were skipping or if you were sick."

Jade applies just enough force to the door to make Beck take a step back again. "Beck, go home."

"How was I supposed to know if you were just taking a day off or if you were going to spend the next 3 days laying in your bed hiding from the world?"

"You weren't!" Jade snaps. "You broke up with me. We're not together. You don't have the right to come bang down my door anymore!"

Beck stands in stunned silence as he watches her breathing even out. "I need to know you're okay.

Jade scoffs. "Sucks to suck."

"Damnit, Jade!" Beck yanks on his hair as he shakes his head. "I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you."

Jade hisses, "I'm fine. Go home." Beck buries his face in his hands and lets out what almost sounds like a sob. She feels her hand twitch at her side as she fights the urge to pull him into a tight hug. "We're supposed to be moving on."

Beck lifts his teary eyes up to meet her eyes. "I don't know how to do that if I don't know you're…" Beck trails off as he closes his eyes again. He worried about her more now than he did when they were together. He didn't even know that was possible but at least before he saw her every day. He knew when things were bad. He could help. Now all he has is his imagination which loves to run wild with every worst-case scenario.

Jade thaws a bit at the desperation in his eyes. "I can't report to you just because you're worried."

"I know."

Jade cocks her head. "Do you? Because it feels like all you do now is chase me down in parking lots and bang down my door to check on me."

Beck shrugs his shoulders. "Sorry." Jade rolls her eyes. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"I want you to leave me alone."

"I can't." Jade suddenly shoves the door trying to force it closed before Beck can stop it but he just steps into the doorway and ignores the way it slams against him. "You have to promise me something."

Jade scoffs. "No, I don't."

Beck gives into his instincts and grabs Jade's hand. She tries to pull away but he gives a little tug until she looks at him. "Yes, you do. Because this is more important than our breakup, okay?" She doesn't say anything, so he takes that as his cue to keep going. "I need you to promise me this or else I can't-" He takes a deep breath. "When you feel done and like you can't do life anymore, you have to call me." Jade looks down at their hands. "I need this, okay? I need to know that if it ever got bad that you would come to me. That you'll ask for help because I can't handle not knowing. The things that I imagine when you're not at school or you don't answer your phone or Cat says she hasn't seen or talked to you…"

Jade pulls her hand free to put her hand up to stop him. "I get it." She hates that he knows how weak she is. That she ever let him see this part of her. That he feels the need to keep track of her like she's a helpless child. It was pathetic.

"Please promise me."

Jade meets his imploring eyes. After what feels like a neverending moment, she gives a curt nod.

Beck lets out his first real breath since she didn't walk into history class this morning. "I'm sorry that I can't just leave you alone. I know it's not okay or fair. But-" His voice cracks. "I can't lose you any more than I already have."

Jade awkwardly shifts her weight as she avoids his eyes. She finally looks up and with all the softness she can muster she says, "Go home, Beck."