This was another in-pandemic work... like almost the tail end of it. I just have these things stored up in my drive just let me know if you want me to continue sharing these. Warning: underage drinking in this story. nothing heavier. ~S.K.
Chapter 1
An olive-toned hand snaked its way from underneath the bed covers, reaching over the nightstand, until fingers wrapped around the pear phone that loudly rang an alarm every LA morning by six am. The snooze button was pressed only for it to start vibrating, which was reached for and answered, without looking at the caller ID.
"Hello?" A sleepy and raspy voice answered from underneath the white covers.
"Tor! Thank God, you answered!" A male voice beamed on the other side of the phone. "Can we meet for lunch? I have some exciting news!"
"What news could possibly be exciting by six in the morning?" She asked, still sleepy.
"I'm getting married!"
The body underneath the bed sheets shuffled until a messy chestnut brown mane popped out from underneath.
"I'm sorry- what?" Plump lips parted, her body sitting upright.
"I'm getting married!"
Is Beck Oliver getting married? Tori knew he and Jade were going to be the first of her friends to get married. It was written in the stars, but so soon after graduation? And what about… well it didn't matter. Beck was her best friend for as long as they'd known each other.
She at least thought they'd have a couple of years of college under their belts before this happened. Was Jade pregnant or something?
Of course, Tori lied and said she couldn't make it to lunch. Her being a PA For the summer and all, she had a million excuses to justify not being able to make it to see her best friend's girlfriend's engagement ring and hear them gush over how perfect they are for each other. She'd had enough of that through high school.
She loved Beck dearly, but right now work seemed far more interesting. Especially since today, she was turning eighteen and wasn't in the mood to be reminded of the fact that she had graduated from an arts High School and was not being what she wanted, and standing on the sidelines. At least she will have AMDA in the fall.
She was handing out Coffee's to the director and the ADs and rounded the corner to craft services and smiled when she saw the brown-skinned man hanging back. She smiled at her friend, he was attempting to grow that fuzzy beard.
"Happy birthday!" He smiled, lighting a candle atop a cupcake toward her.
"Andre," Tori glared after taking the chocolate cupcake before her. "I said nothing for my birthday."
"Oh, come on. A cupcake doesn't technically count." Andre tucked his hands inside his jeans pockets.
"I'm pretty sure it does," her eyes narrowed.
"Just make a wish and blow out the candle." His chocolate eyes rolled to the back of his head, seeing a smirk stretch out onto the brunette's lips.
Tori leaned pursed plump lips and blew out the bright red candle.
"So…" Andre leaned onto the craft table that was lined along the wall, a smirk stretching on his lips. "What'd you wish for?"
She lifted an eyebrow. "Now, I thought if you told your wish, it wouldn't come true."
"Hm, well…" Andre said, shrugging his shoulders at the brunette he knew so well. "If this wish involves a certain woman that you've had a mad crush on -"
Tori scoffed, "That was nothing. It's over, and anyway, she didn't feel the same way."
"You don't know that. I mean it's not like you told her exactly how you felt."
"That's beside the point, Andre." She glared.
His brow furrowed, noticing something off about the woman. "What's up with you today? This isn't just about your birthday, is it?"
Tori bit the inside of her cheek, turning her attention back to the behind-the-scenes area as the quiet bell rang.
"Tori?" Andre pulled his friend out of the quiet area, and they stood just outside the barn door as his brown eyes glared her way.
After releasing a heavy sigh, Tori dropped her arms to the side, her eyes on Andre. "Well, I spoke to Beck today. Apart from becoming engaged, he wants me to have dinner with him and his fiancee tonight." God that sounded weird to say.
"Beck's getting hitched?" The man's brows shot up in surprise as he said this. "Wow."
"I know," Tori said, pacing, her eyes on Andre. "I couldn't believe it myself. It's crazy. I mean- marriage!" She scoffed, shaking her head.
Andre's brow lifted, staring at the woman in question.
"What?" She asked him, catching his questionable look.
"Are you actually jealous because our best friend is getting married and you haven't been able to find the perfect person for you yet? Or is it because… Of who he's marrying?"
Was he serious?
"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Andre?" She asked him, her hands on her hips.
"I think you know what that means."
"I am not jealous of Beck." She spat, lifting the chocolate-covered cupcake, and picking off a piece of the dessert before popping it into her mouth. A habit Andre knew too well that Tori would do every time she became anxious or stressed about something.
"Tor," Andre reached over for the cupcake, removing it from her grasp. His eyes locked on brown ones. "If you liked her, you should have jumped on it when you had the chance. Beck and Jade broke up for most of last year."
"Who says I'm stressed about that?" She shook her head, motioning to the studio. "Look, I have to get back to work- and you are distracting me. Goodbye. Thank you for the cupcake." She raised it again and ripped off another piece.
Andre nodded as he looked at the brunette one last time before heading toward his car. He knew when to let a conversation go with her.
"So, are you going to go to this dinner tonight?" He asked her. "We could go together if you want. I'll stop by your place tonight, and help you dress in something sexy."
The brunette sighed, shrugging one shoulder. "Beck is my best friend. And I am happy for him. He practically begged me to be his Best… person."
"No pressure, huh?"
She chuckled, "Right." She murmured under her breath.
"So, I'll see you tonight?"
"Yeah, see you tonight," she nodded. "And Andre?" The man looked over his shoulder once again. "Thanks. You're the best."
"I know." He shrugged one shoulder, winking her way.
Tori smiled, watching the man leave, remaining alone with her thoughts. Releasing a sigh, Tori couldn't help to think that yes, Andre had been right. She was a little jealous of Beck and of his relationship that could have been hers. But that was then, and once again- Andre was right. If she really wanted to have a chance at love, she should have worked up her courage for it while they were broken up. But that was a chance long gone, never to be repeated again.
Later that day...
Tori and Andre pulled up at Nozu. This was the gang's favorite spot. The music blasted so loud, she could hear it vibrating from inside the closed doors. She looked down at her blue dress that stuck to her body in all the right places, the skirt of it ending just above her knees.
"Maybe I should have changed into something a little less revealing." She voiced her thoughts to Andre, who decided on a pair of black dress pants, a leather jacket, and a white v-neck t-shirt.
"Why? You look great! Trust me," he placed his hand delicately against the brunette's back, nudging her forward, pulling open one of the glass doors for her to walk in first.
God, she did not want to be here. She should just be at home, cuddled up on the couch and reading a good book.
"Surprise!" An entire booked-out restaurant shouted as the brunette entered, startling her.
"Oh, no," Tori said turning around, only to be stopped by Andre.
"Tor- no, come on." He whispered over to the Latina.
"This is too much," Tori whispered over to him. "I said nothing for my birthday. Did you know about this?"
"Well- only a little. Beck wanted it to be a surprise, now you can't let him down. Look how happy he is." He nudged her forward, where Tori's eyes took in a drunken, but happy Beck moving in to hug her.
"Surprise!" Beck smirked, wrapping the brunette into the tightest hug ever.
Tori forced a smile, returning her best friend's hug.
"Oh, happy birthday, Tor! Were you surprised?" He asked, drink in hand.
"You got me," Tori chuckled, eyeing everyone in the room. A lot of these people were Beck's friends. "Where's-?"
"Oh, God only knows," Beck brushed his hand in the air, "I called her, and she said she got caught up at work." he rolled her eyes, "Again."
"Well… You can't blame her, Beck- it's all part of being a Production Assistant."
"Oh, pfft! What could be more important than being here to celebrate with my bestest friend?" He wrapped his arm around the irked woman's waist. "Drink?" He offered his bottle to her.
"I'll get my own," Tori said, pushing the bottle away.
"I'll get it. I will get it for you." Andre offered, rushing over to the bar, leaving both friends alone. Beck and Andre both have Fake IDs so they get all of the good stuff.
"So?" Beck smirked, eyeing her friend expectantly.
"What?" Asked Tori.
"What do you think about my Big news?" He beamed.
"Yeah," Tori said, placing a fake smile on her face. "It's… Pretty big. I can't believe you asked."
"I know, right? Neither could I. I couldn't believe she actually said yes." He chuckled.
"You must be very happy." She said, taking in her best friend's happy state.
"We are." He smiled, looking over Tori's shoulder, who was calling out to him. "I'll be right back. She'll show, don't worry about it. I know that before we got back together the two of you started getting along." Beck winked, walking away.
"Yeah," Tori murmured to herself. "We're real pals." She sighed, looking around the bar, not spotting Andre anywhere. If she was about to show up any minute now, she couldn't wait around for Andre until he got her a drink. She needed one now.
Walking over to the bar herself, she spotted the bartender's eyes train right on her.
"What's your poison, honey?" The man asked, smirking down at the gorgeous brunette before him.
"I'll have an-"
"Long Island Iced Tea." A woman said, causing Tori to turn to her as she stood right by her, wearing a black dress, tight and short, showing off her legs which ended in super high wedge booties so she was towering over her. Two mesmerizing blue eyes that were always unforgettable to Tori.
"Jade," Tori's lips parted as she breathed out the woman's name.
Her eyes drank her in along with her raven locks with streaks of blue that fell loosely over her shoulders. She was as beautiful as she remembered her to be three years ago. And she was also Beck's fiancee now. But as she was staring at her now, it made her wish she had had a couple of drinks before setting eyes on her again. That way she could blame the alcohol in her system for feeling what she was right now.
