A/N: Here we switch gears a little bit. We get the perspective of our girls and their relationship from an outsider.

A wee shorter than the norm but I've been battling a snowstorm this week. And I don't want y'all to wait too long for an update.

NO SPOILER BUT: I think we're gonna make a BIG time jump next entry. I have a multi-chapter arc within the anthology that I've been dying to get to!

Plus I'm still working on the other story AND brainstorming some future projects that are going to be different from what I've done before.

2023 IS GOING TO BE LIT!

SONG:

"The Winner Takes It All" was written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson

Tori and Jade had been going out for three months now. It was a surprise to nearly everyone at Hollywood Arts.

Not so much to a tightly knit group of students who were close to the pair.

It didn't take long for the girls to become the school's most beloved couple. Tori had a newly-found confidence that she didn't have before. She wasn't the pushover transfer student she once was. And Jade had her dangerous curves intact but there was a soft side that she allowed to bubble up to the surface.

One day, a girl bumped into her and fell which caused Jade to drop her coffee.

"Oh my God, JADE!" the underclassman said shakily. "I AM SO SORRY!"

If that didn't make her pee herself then, what happened next would have.

Jade extended her hand and helped up the girl.

"Eh," she said looking down at the puddle of brown liquid. "Getting cold anyway. Are you alright?"

"Y-y-y-yes?"

The goth nodded and walked around the stunned freshman.

"Hey Hank!" Jade called out to the janitor changing the liner in the hallway trashcan. "Clean up in aisle six!"

The balding fellow looked in Jade's direction, leaned to look around her and saw the coffee spill. He gave the thumbs up and Jade goes on her way.

Beck was standing far enough to see the whole thing.

In the old days, he would have to jump in action and restrain Jade, giving the poor girl a head start.

He couldn't believe how agreeable she had been recently. It was no secret that she had been acting this way since dating Tori. He'd be lying if he said that he didn't feel a little envious that he didn't experience this side of Jade one on one.

From the very beginning, they were at odds for much of the days that they went steady. They even broke up more than once. Typically, it was Beck who had his fill of the opinionated, touchy girl and he would insist on a break. Despite their fights, Jade would not initiate the breakups. But this was the rare occasion that she did and it stayed that way.

And frankly, it was a relief. They were better, they had found, as friends instead of a couple. And even when she confessed her attraction to Tori, he was genuinely happy for her. While Beck had a reputation for being very chill and patient, Tori was in a class by herself. She was able to melt the Ice Queen's frozen heart.

Loneliness wasn't an issue. There were girls practically lining up once they saw Jade move on. They didn't pounce right after the breakup for fear of Jade wanting him back and yeating the unfortunate girl from a cliff.

Later that day, Beck saw Jade and Tori almost inseparable during lunch. They sat near each other before but not like this.

But it wasn't off-putting or inappropriate. Jade wasn't a fan of public displays of affection. The way people would be heavily making out on the street disgusted her. But that's not the vibe they gave off. Yes, there was physical attraction there but they exuded...comfort. They were comfortable with each other. They were comfortable being who they were in their circle. If those two eventually tied the knot, one would look back to a scene like this and think "Yep, even then..."

Beck did feel like the odd one out whenever it was the three of them.

(This must have been how Mako felt when Korra and Asami got together.)

He was beside himself with jealousy once they started going out. They clicked almost immediately. For Beck, he believed that their relationship is stronger than his and Jade's ever was because those two worked out their frustrations and issues beforehand as friends. Jade and Beck were an item from the very beginning, so they didn't even really know each other. What was charming or even something you barely paid attention to would now grate on your nerves.

Tori and Jade were the furthest thing from friends at first and over time they evolved individually and as a pair. And only when they did some soul searching and matured, did they begin a romantic relationship.

(Just isn't fair. I dunno, I just feel cheated. Like I was robbed of having THIS Jade rather than the one that screamed all the time.)

He harbored these issues for a while since they made the big announcement to their friends.

But the biggest regret he had was that he thought that he failed as a partner to Jade. Whenever she was having troubles, yes she would seek comfort in Beck but would oftentimes pursue Tori to actually solve the problem.

Despite their opposing views and methods, Tori was someone Jade could trust.

She didn't share that sentiment with Beck.

The only feeling that was stronger than his envy was his general love for Jade's well-being. He did grow to care for the crazy goth. Beck wanted everyone he cared for the most to be happy, even if that meant being with someone else.

(I mean, I'm glad its Tori. She's like a sister to me and I know she will be everything for Jade.)

It also placated his teenage boy ego that his ex wound up with a girl instead of another guy.

(Yeah, I can't compete with that.)

Once summer rolled around and school had concluded, Beck was more relaxed on the whole issue and was low key one of the biggest supporters of JORI.

Oh yeah, Cat came up with that one while walking to the beach. She said how celebrity couples would get these cute nicknames that were a portmanteau of their names.

"Mmmm," mused the redhead. "What can we make if we mush "Tori" and "Jade" together..."

"Cat! Don't tell everyone to think of us mushing together!" protested Tori.

Jade laughed so hard her nose burned from the Sprite she had been drinking.

"OOH!" Cat gasped. "What about Jori!"

The couple looked at each other and shrugged.

"Guess its better than Tade," Tori said, making a face.

"Agreed," sighed Jade. "But Cat, don't be disappointed if it doesn't stick."

Beck hung back as his dear friends walked further away toward the sandy shore.

(These aren't my friends, they're family.)

Jade snuck a peck on Tori's right cheek, making the Latina blush. That made a couple of dumb fourteen-year-olds point and laugh.

Seeing this, Beck resumes walking and very nonchalantly smacks one of the boys in the back of the head. He looks at him with a derpy expression.

The Canadian pointed in the air randomly.

"Dude, did you see that seagull? Almost pecked your eyes out."

He smiled to himself as he rejoined his party.

A/N: Beck went through the gamut of emotions regarding Jade and Tori. But he came out the other side and has joined the rest of us on Team Jori.