Chapter 5
"You slept with Jade?!" Andre's eyes stared wide, his head turning to other people around them that turned to his sudden outburst as he and the brunette met up near a coffee shop.
"I know! I know!" Tori hid her face in her hands, shaking her head.
"Whoa…" Andre breathed, at a loss for words. "I think I need a drink."
"I know," Tori sighed, her shoulders deflating while her eyes screamed shame. "I swear Andre, I don't know what happened."
"Well, the news is you slept with Jade," said Andre.
"It all happened so fast," she shook her head. "I don't-"
Andre smirked, "She was eager, huh?"
Tori glared, "A little support here, please? This is no time for one of your male fantasies, Andre."
"Alright," He frowned, sitting back in his seat. "You're right, I'm sorry. So…" He breathed, "you and Jade…"
Tori stared at the man right in the eye. "I am such a horrible friend, aren't I?"
"Hey, no," Andre reached over for the brunette's hand, providing it with a gentle squeeze. "Tor-"
"I am Andre. Beck has been my best friend, and you and I have for years said that we can't get with our friend's girl… namely Jade and what do I do? I get drunk and sleep with the woman he is about to marry!"
Andre's brow furrowed as he looked over to a gawking stranger, standing near them, listening in on their conversation. "Can I help you?" He asked the startling man, "This is fucking private conversation. Mind your business, huh, pal?"
Tori rested her forehead against the palm of her hand, shaking her head. She no longer wanted to close her eyes due to her seeing flashes of her and Jade's love-making session that were slowly coming back to her.
Andre's head followed the stranger as he walked away, turning back to the brunette to comfort her. "Look, we all make mistakes, Tor. Shit happens. It doesn't make you a horrible friend. You could never be that to Beck."
The brunette looked up at Andre, "Then, why doesn't it feel that way?"
"Alright," Andre leaned in, holding onto the brunette's hand. "I think aside from what happened between you and Jade last night, Which, Damn I didn't know she swung that way. You need to think of how you are going to handle this situation."
"Jade said she would handle it."
"What, by lying to Beck about where she was?" Andre's brow furrowed. "Tori… Lies will only lead to more lies, okay? You have to tell Beck what happened."
"And destroy Jade's life? Destroy my friendship with him?" Tori shook her head. "I can't do that, Andre."
"If Beck loves you like he says he does, he will find it in his heart to forgive you." Said Andre, "I don't know about Jade, but you mean a lot to him, Tor."
She chuckled, "Yeah, that's what makes telling him even harder."
There was a moment of silence before Andre decided to speak again.
"So, what happens now? I mean, is this going to become a thing between you two now, or-?"
"No!" Tori shook her head. "Absolutely not. No, we- Jade and I both agreed that this was just a drunken mistake, and nothing more would come of it." Her voice was filled with disappointment and sadness. "Jade and Beck will get married and I'll be there front and center to witness it."
Andre observed his friend sitting before him. He knew her well and it was clear, Tori's feelings were only fueled with last night's drunken occurrences.
"I'm sorry to say this, Tor, but if after this drunken mistake, Jade still marries Beck, she will forever ruin her life and yours in the process."
"If I tell Beck what happened, it will ruin his life and Jade's." Tori shook her head. "I can't do that to them, Andre."
Andre reached over for his friend's hand once again. "Heart of gold, girl."
Beck's head perked up upon hearing the lock from the front door click, the sudden appearance of Jade brought a smile to his face. Her dress was a bit wrinkled, and her hair was a bit messy, but she was home safe and sound.
"Hey, sorry-" Jade grunted, feeling Beck's body slam right into hers, his arms circling her figure in a tight hug. "Beck."
"Oh, Jade," Beck sighed, tightening his grip on the goth. "I was so worried when I woke up alone this morning. I thought…" he shook his head, not wanting to think that Jade would cheat.
"I'm fine, Babe." Jade backed away, breaking their hug.
"Where the hell were you?" Asked Beck, looking into her eyes.
"I ran into Cat, we caught up and lost track of time. I had a little to drink so she said I could stay over with her and Sam." Jade shrugged. "I'm sorry, I should have called, but you were also passed out."
Beck tried to remember. "Was Cat at the party?"
Jade nodded, "Yeah…" Her heart banged so fast against her chest.
"So… You spent the night at Cat's apartment?" He asked, feeling a little more relieved that it wasn't a guy.
"Yeah, where did you think I was?" Asked Jade, hoping Beck would just drop this topic. She needed a shower.
"I'm sorry," Beck reached over for the goth's body, pulling her into another tight hug. "I just worry, and when I didn't have a missed call from you, I just thought the worst. I thought, 'She better had gotten run over by a car or be dead.'"
Jade wrapped her arms around the man, her brow furrowed. She reached in her Jacket pocket and handed Beck his phone. "Thanks. I guess, I just wasn't expecting the calls." She could hear faint sniffing, feeling Beck's nose pressed against her shoulder. "Beck, what are you doing?"
After taking another whiff of the Goth's neck, Beck pulled back, looking into Jade's eyes.
"What?" Asked Jade, her brow furrowed.
"Has Cat always smelled like Tori perfume?" he asked her.
Jade's lips parted, her hand reaching over for the collar of her dress, her head tilting down to take a whiff of her own. She smelled like Tori.
"I don't know Beck, How do you know what Tori smells like? You've been making out with your best friend?" she asked, taking another whiff of her shirt. "Cat shampoos with a vanilla shampoo, and we were cuddling while watching a movie. It must have rubbed off."
"That must be a very popular shampoo." Beck's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, that also happens to be Tori's favorite shampoo." He eyed the Goths shirt.
"Really?" Jade's head cocked to one side, seeing Beck nod in confirmation. "Huh… it's shampoo idiot!" She shouted. "Well, remember, I did see her at her party last night."
"Are you hungry?" Asked Beck, deciding to drop the topic. Jade was fine. She was standing here and had no evidence of cheating.
Jade nodded, "Sure, but I think I'm going to take a quick shower first."
"This early in the morning?" Beck's brow lifted.
"Well, babe, I reek of alcohol," Jade chuckled. "But you can order us breakfast while I shower and then we can go out. Do whatever you want." She placed a kiss on his cheek before quickly heading into the bathroom, dropping her jacket onto the couch/bed in the RV
Beck's head followed the goth, seeing the door shut. Once it did, he turned back to the woman's jacket, taking it in his hands and sniffing it. She would recognize this scent anywhere, but Jade was right. She did spend time with Tori last night during her party, and there was no way anything would happen between them. Jade is not like Tori. Jade is straight,
Dropping the jacket back onto the couch, Beck reached over for his cell phone and dialed out.
"Shit! It's Beck!" Tori panicked, her eyes falling on Andre after seeing the man's name flash on her screen.
"Answer it." Andre encouraged her.
"What am I going to say?"
"Wha- you don't even know what he's going to ask. Just answer it."
Tori reached for her phone, pressing on the call button, and placing the phone right by her ear. "Beck? What happened? Where's- where's Jade, is she back?" Her eyes moved to Andre.
"She's back. She's in the shower." Beck sighed.
"Are you okay?" Asked Tori.
"Do you think we could meet for lunch later on?" Beck was sitting on his couch, eyeing the bathroom door. "I really need to talk to you."
"About what?"
"Let's meet for lunch. Around one is fine?"
'What?' Andre mouthed over to Tori, wondering what was being said.
"Tori?" Beck called out.
"Sure- yes," Tori nodded, her eyes on Andre. "Lunch at one will be fine."
"Great! See you then."
Tori hung up the call, sighing.
"Lunch is good!" Andre beamed, "Had Jade told him what happened, he would be yelling at you over the phone."
She would well deserve it. God, she felt so horrible about herself as a person. And she hated herself even more after momentarily picturing Jade in the shower.
"Tori," Andre called out, a smirk stretching across his lips. "You're picturing her naked, aren't you?"
Tori scoffed, "You know, Andre, sometimes, I hate you." She stood up, walking away from their table.
"What?" Andre gawked. "What did I say?"
Tori and Beck decided to meet at her house, Beck would bring over a pizza for lunch.
It gave Tori enough time to shower herself and tidy up, making sure to change her bed into fresh bed sheets. And while she was yanking the other bed sheets off her mattress, she could still smell the faint scent of sex and Jade lingering within one of the pillowcases.
Their night together, however wrong it may have been, had been everything she hoped it would be.
She couldn't understand what this meant between them but she knew it would never happen again. This was just another cruel joke life threw her way, giving her a taste of something she knew could never be possible.
Tossing her sheets in the washer, she rushed over to clean and pick up the broken flower pot that was yet another piece of evidence of last night's events. You mean last night's affair, she scolded herself, tossing the broken pieces inside her trash can. Her head turned toward the doorbell.
"Tori DOOR! Trina screamed out as she was coming up the stairs.
Tori shook her head. And groaned. She headed down the stairs, she quickly composed herself, her heart beating a thousand miles per hour inside her chest, and opened the door. There stood Beck with the pizza box.
Just breathe, Tori. Breathe. "Hey!"
"Help me, will you? Thanks." Beck handed a bag of food over to Tori, entering her house, and setting everything down on the coffee table.
Tori shut the door, rushing over to join the boy on her couch, setting everything down and helping him set everything out on the coffee table so they could eat. "So…" She decided to break the silence, to seem as casual as possible. "Jade came home, huh?"
"Yeah," Beck said, grabbing a hold of a slice. "Seems she spent the night at Cat's house."
Tori chewed slowly, gulping down her food and clearing her throat. "Really?" Her eyes avoided all contact with Becks.
"Yeah," Beck chuckled, shaking his head. "And here I was panicking that Jade would cheat on me. How silly is that?"
Tori's brows shot up, nodding, "So silly." She smiled, stuffing herself with more pizza.
"Besides," Beck smirked. "She totally made it up to me this morning."
Tori's eyes looked over at Beck, her chewing slowing down once again.
"Well, it's not like I gave her much of a choice, I mean I did surprise her in the shower by showing up naked-"
The food went down the wrong pipe, causing Tori to cover her mouth and cough, chewing what was left in her mouth all the more. They slept together.
Beck's brow furrowed, and his hand reached over for his friend's shoulder. "Tori, breathe."
Tori coughed some more before accepting the drink that was handed to her by Beck, taking a much-needed gulp. Way to remain casual.
"Are you alright?" Beck asked.
She nodded, "Yeah, just…" She motioned toward her throat, clearing it. "So, everything's okay?"
Beck nodded, "It's fine. I just…" he sighed. "Can I ask you a question? I mean, you know Jade"
Tori held her breath.
"Do you think she wants to marry me?" he asked her. "I mean, you don't think she'll get cold feet, do you?"
"Of course, she wants to marry you, Beck." Even her own words stung like a knife to the heart. "She wouldn't have said yes in the first place if she didn't."
"Well, you know Jade, she is always doing things to piss off others. Like you." Beck smiled, reaching over for Tori's hand. "She likes to be contrary, I am sure her family is super ticked."
Tori forced a smile. "Look, Beck…" She paused, Andre's words coming to her mind. She should say something to her. That it was a mistake and that she was terribly sorry, but Beck seemed so happy with his wedding that she didn't have the heart to destroy that. "It's normal for a woman to get cold feet, but I'm sure this is what Jade wants. More than anything."
"You really think so?" Beck asked. "Because she was a little distant this morning. I mean, she's been distant before but this morning… I don't know, I couldn't quite place it. Something was definitely off."
"Well, maybe you should be talking to her about it. You know, clear the air." Tori shook her head, "But I'm sure everything is okay, Beck, Jade's just… I'm sure she is just stressed about her job, college, and the wedding."
"You're right," Beck murmured. "Yeah," she nodded. "That's probably it!"
Tori smiled, dipping her pizza in the ranch sauce before bringing it into her mouth.
"Are you alright?" Beck observed his friend. She knew that when Tori started eating fast, it was because she was anxious about something. "You are really chowing down. What's going on with you?"
She swallowed the food down, shaking her head. "Just work, I've actually been a little stressed about it, too. I have been trying to get discovered or something, but nothing I can't handle."
"You know what?" Beck beamed, shifting in his seat. "I have an amazing idea!"
"What?"
"Well, remember that beach house my Dad owns up the coast?"
He remembered. Tori loved that beach house. He remembers Jade would talk about it a lot and promised to take her before they went to college.
"I'm thinking… What if I speak to Dad about us spending our weekends there this summer? we can invite the gang. It'll be fun!"
A weekend in Beck's beach house? With Jade and Beck in the same room? That was bound to be a torturous weekend. She didn't exactly want to see Jade right now either.
"every weekend?" Tori shook her head. "I can't Beck, no."
"Why?" Beck frowned.
"Come on, Tor!" Beck pleaded, holding onto the brunette's hands. "This vacation will be good for all of us. It's our last summer. I know this weekend will just bring us closer together. And as my best friend, I need you there, you are the only one Jade will listen to."
Tori blinked. "You want me to talk to her for you? No, Beck-"
"Please, Tor! I just really want to know that everything is alright with her and that she won't bail out of this wedding. Please. When have I ever asked you for anything?"
"A couple of days ago, I recall-"
"Okay," Beck rolled his eyes. "Make this the last time I ask for a favor. Come on, please?" She pouted.
Tori groaned. She hated being put on the spot and in between others relationships. Especially this one. But, as always, she wanted to make her best friend happy.
"Alright, I suppose… It wouldn't hurt."
"Great!" Beck beamed, pulling the brunette into a hug.
She watched as Beck continued to eat through their food, happy and smiling and so innocent in this little web of lies. Oh, how she would love it if the ground just swallowed her whole right now. That way she wouldn't have to put up with weekends that she was sure would be painful to her. Because after spending the night with Jade and realizing that her feelings for the woman were never fully gone, she couldn't possibly handle seeing them together anymore.