"Tori," Beck called out, coming out of the bathroom with a toothbrush in hand. "Do you think I should marry Jade?"
Tori's eyes shot open, her body springing into a sitting position as she tried to process what Beck was asking. It was an unexpected and weighty question to tackle so early in the morning.
"What?" Tori's voice was filled with surprise and concern as she gazed at her best friend, who appeared deep in thought.
Was Beck having doubts about marrying Jade?
"Jade," Beck moved over to Tori, taking a seat on the couch. "Do you really think I should marry her? I mean, I'm not making a mistake, am I?"
Tori took a moment to collect her thoughts. She didn't want to mislead Beck, but she also didn't want to plant doubts in her mind where there might not be any.
"Of course not, Beck," Tori responded, her eyes focused on her friend. "Why would you think that?"
"Because you know how I am," Beck said, rolling his eyes. "I just don't want to wake up next to her tomorrow and realize that I made a mistake. And you're so much smarter than me... I mean, book smart anyway."
Tori's brow furrowed as she considered Beck's words. She couldn't help but offer a bit of grammar correction, even in this serious conversation. "You mean 'you're much smarter than I.'"
Beck groaned, "See? This is exactly what I'm talking about."
"Beck," Tori said, taking his friend's hands. "I really don't think you need to be worrying about this. If you weren't sure about marrying Jade in the first place, you wouldn't have proposed to her. Right?"
"That's true," Beck nodded. "I mean, I love Jade. I do." He looked into Tori's eyes. "But you know her, and you know me more, so you would know if this is exactly what's meant to be. I mean, when you said your vows, that thing you said really hit home. That…" He struggled to remember. "What did you say again?" His head tilted.
"That life without her would be unimaginable," Tori reminded him.
"Exactly!" Beck smiled. "And it would. It really would."
Tori understood the weight of those words, as they applied not just to her relationship with Jade but also to her hidden feelings for her best friend. She couldn't bring herself to confess that truth now.
"I mean, but if you tell me right now that this is a bad idea, that I shouldn't marry Jade, then I won't."
"You would break off your engagement for me?" Tori couldn't hide her surprise.
"Of course," Beck replied, giving Tori's hands a reassuring squeeze. "Tor, you are my best friend, and I trust you. Completely."
The opportunity to intervene in Beck's engagement was there, but Tori hesitated. She couldn't bring herself to destroy her best friend's happiness, even if it meant confronting her own complicated feelings.
"Beck…" Tori paused, a tiny smile forming on her lips. "You… Should… Marry Jade."
I apologize for the previous response. Here's the dialogue with editing and enhancement:
"Really?" Tori's voice quivered with a mix of emotions, caught in a whirlwind of love, concern, and fear. She nodded, unable to speak the words she wanted to say. Confessing her true feelings for Jade right now seemed impossible.
"I love you so much," Beck smiled, wrapping his arms around his best friend, pulling her into the tightest hug in the world.
"I love you, too, Beck," Tori's heart ached, a sad smile forming on her lips. She did love Beck, but she also loved Jade, yet she wanted to spare Beck from getting his feelings crushed.
"You are the best friend a guy could ever ask for," Beck sighed, a frown forming on his lips. "So, is it alright that I kinda cheated on Jade a little bit?"
"What?" Tori frowned, breaking their hug to look into Beck's eyes.
Beck shut his eyes, still hating himself for cheating on Jade. "I just- once!" He chuckled.
"With whom?" Tori's jaw dropped to the floor, her eyes wide in shock.
"This girl from Soho, but you know me, it was just sex," Beck shrugged. "And also, Jade hasn't touched me since after your surprise party happened, and..." He groaned.
Jade was telling the truth. That weekend they spent at her beach house when Beck was moaning impossibly loud, they weren't doing anything.
"You know me, Tor, I hate feeling guilty. I hate it." His shoulders slumped. "And after I cheated, I did feel really bad afterward. So… That's good. Right?"
Tori nodded, unable to get a single word out.
Beck exhaled, pulling the brunette into another hug. "God, I'm so glad I got that off my chest. I feel so much better now."
Tori found herself in the park, pacing back and forth, her mind consumed by the revelation that Beck had cheated on Jade. She longed for Andre's comforting presence, wishing he were there with her to offer his insights and support.
As if answering her unspoken wish, Andre suddenly appeared before her, wearing a warm smile. Their embrace was tight, almost desperate as if Tori needed his presence to ground her.
"Miss me?" Andre chuckled, his deep voice vibrating through the air as they separated from their hug.
"Always," Tori admitted with a sigh, grateful for his return. "When did you get back? I thought you were in New York."
Andre explained, "I was in New York, but I found myself missing you, so I came to see you. I just came to pack up my stuff from Grama's place. I leave again in a couple of days."
Tori's smile grew as she squeezed his bicep affectionately. "It's so great to have you back. Things here have been so crazy."
He gestured to a nearby park bench, signaling for them to sit. Andre was always ready to listen, and Tori knew she needed to talk.
With a heavy sigh, she began to share her troubles. "Well... I just found out from Beck himself that he had cheated on Jade."
Andre's eyes widened in shock. "What? Wow. So... What are you going to tell Jade? Are you going to tell her? You want me to tell her? Let me tell her."
Tormented by the situation, Tori shook her head. "No, I'm staying out of it."
"Staying out of it?" Andre couldn't hide his disbelief. "Tor, this is your moment! You could finally tell Jade that Beck isn't the perfect person she thought he was, and Jade will choose you."
Tori's patience wore thin. "Andre, stop!"
He questioned her softly, "What?"
Her frustration boiled over. "I don't get it. I really don't get it, Tori."
Perplexed, Tori challenged him, "You don't get what?"
Andre leaned in, his voice carrying a mix of concern and frustration. "How you let Beck walk all over you. I mean, you yield around him."
Tori's "wow" was a mixture of exasperation and a realization that perhaps there was some truth to Andre's words. She stood up from the park bench, unable to handle the conversation any longer.
As Andre followed her, he insisted, "No, 'wow' nothing, Tori. You know it's true!"
"Will you stop?" Tori halted her steps, turning to face Andre with frustration etched across her features. "What is it with you two? Why do you hate him?"
Andre's brow furrowed as he countered, "What are you talking about? I don't hate him. I hate the fact that you let him win every time. So, why do you do it? Why do you let him win?"
Tori's voice quivered with exasperation. "Because that's what Beck does, Andre! Beck wins, he always does. He sees things, he wants them, he gets them."
Andre stood his ground, challenging her. "Tor, he was accepted into Juilliard. Do you know how hard it is to get into Juilliard? It's impossible! But, he did it!"
As Tori began to walk away, Andre continued, his tone incredulous. "Tor, you're kidding, right? And you know this for a fact? Have you ever seen his acceptance letter? Because I sure as hell didn't."
Tori turned back to face him, her expression conflicted.
"Do you remember when he invited Alyssa Vaughn to prom?" Andre pressed on. "And she got a letter back saying she couldn't make it? How many times did he show us that letter? I could recite that letter by memory right now, and that was a rejection."
Tori couldn't deny that Andre had a point.
"Do you really think that if he were accepted into Juilliard, he wouldn't make us memorize that letter too?" Andre's gaze held hers. "Tor, come on. He never got into Juilliard. He lied about that letter, just like he lied to you about having sex with Jade."
Tori felt her world unraveling. She turned to leave.
"Tori," Andre called after her, pursuing her down the bustling sidewalk. "Okay, look, I get it. You're in a tough spot because you love Jade. But, you have to do something about it, Tor, because Jade is clearly being a coward. And if she hurts you one more time, I'm going to take a swing at her, and then she will probably beat me up."
Desperation laced his voice as he tried to reach her. "Andre, I have to get back to work, I'm late."
"I know! So be late, Tor! Better yet, quit! Tori!" He implored her, standing in the midst of the crowd. "You have to do something about this, okay? Tori, you deserve to be happy."
Tori's response was sharp, her tone cutting. "Then butt out! That would make me happy!" She snapped, leaving Andre in stunned silence. "I will figure it out on my own."
In the end, he conceded, "Oh, that's great. You just let me know how that goes."
As they parted ways, each lost in their own thoughts, the weight of Tori's decision hung heavy in the air.
And here he was again, back at the beach house for a fun-filled weekend. This is what he came back for, to continue to see Tori make herself miserable in front of Jade and Beck. To continue to see her unable to refuse Beck's invitation to join them, while here he was tagging along just to lift off some of the tension from her shoulders.
Andre grabbed a beach chair, observing everyone else as they played a game of badminton, a drink in his hand. This he actually had to see. Trina sat by his side, a drink of her own in her hand.
"Alright, let's go! Serve is up!" Danielle cheered on.
Danielle tossed the ball in the air, swinging her racket to strike it over toward Beck, who swung his racket, tossing the ball over to him. Once again, Danielle swung his racket, hitting the ball over to Jade, who brought it over to Tori. Upon swinging her racket, she missed the ball, seeing it fly over her shoulder.
"Whoo!" Beck and Jade high-fived.
"We're killing you, Tor!" Jade said with a smile stretched across her lips.
"Isn't that the truth!" Andre rolled his eyes freely underneath his sunglasses.
Tori glared over at him through her sunglasses. She knew what he meant by his comment, and it wasn't directed at her bad skills for playing badminton.
"What?" He shrugged. "It is, right?"
"Tor, I'm really competitive here, so come on, you gotta win something." Danielle cheered her on. "You gotta, pop it, Tor!" He swung his racket across the air with a deadly swing. "Pop! It's a backhand."
Tori mimicked Danielle's motion with her own racket. Was she that bad that she couldn't beat Beck even at this game?
"Let's go! Serves up!" Beck shouted, getting himself into position.
"Who doesn't love a game of badminton, huh?" Andre opened up the cooler that sat on the sand, in between him and Trina. His tone had been barbed all day, and Tori was shocked to see him go through his drinks as if they were bottles of water.
"Have you ever played a sport in your life, Andre?" Beck stood before him with a hand placed on his hips. His brow cocked up from behind his sunglasses.
"Ooh, I think he's calling you gay, Andre!" Danielle taunted, laughing.
"Yeah, I heard that." Andre replied without a sense of humor to him.
"So what if he was, Danielle? You have a problem with that?" Trina snapped, causing heads to turn her way. "What? Gays have rights, too. Beck and Jade should know this of all people, am I right?"
"Let's get back to playing, huh? Come on." Jade reached over for Beck's arm.
"Right," Beck smiled at Jade, turning back to Andre. "Hey, Romeo, why don't you get up off your ass, take Danielle's place and help out your Juliet?" He smirked.
"What?" Andre's brow raised.
"Beck!" Tori's eyes grew wide.
"Your secret lover. Wink, wink." Beck's smirk grew, while a frown formed in the middle of Jade's brow, same as Andre.
"What?" Andre set down his drink.
"Tor shared your secret, oops!" Beck served the ball over to Danielle, who caught it in his hand.
What the hell did he miss? This was going too far now. Andre was fine being a shoulder to cry on for Tori; he loved being there for her. But for her to drag him along through Jade's pile of crap was overboard, even for him.
"Oh!" Andre stood to his feet, obviously furious. "So, we're sharing secrets now, are we?" He chuckled sarcastically over at Tori. "You know, I didn't know we were at this part of the day, but I am definitely in."
"Andre," Tori stood before him, trying her best to stop him. "Andre, don't."
"No, Tor, this sounds like fun. I want in. Give me this." He yanked the racket out of Danielle's hand.
The disadvantage Andre always had over Tori was that he was taller. There was no way to stop him or stop what was about to happen.
Jade exchanged looks between Tori and Andre, wondering what the hell was going on. She always knew she and Andre were best friends, but she never expected for her to be this close to him.
"Andre!" Tori shouted, rolling her eyes behind her sunglasses.
"How about this, I have a great idea. Beck, you're going to love this!" He smirked. "How about, it's us," he motioned between himself and Tori. "Versus you guys," he pointed at Beck and Jade. "And we share a secret for every point."
"Love that!" Beck smirked, swinging her racket in the air.
"Andre! Stop!" The brunette glared at him.
"Come on, Tor!" He turned to Tori, playfully smacking her arm. "You have to do this at some point. In fact, I love this so much, I'll serve first." He turned to Jade, placing his hand up. "Let's go, hit me, Jade."
Jade gawked, her eyes turning to Tori, standing in confusion.
"J!" Andre called out, his hand still up. "Hit me!" He caught the ball that Jade tossed over to him."
Beck laughed, clueless to the tension that was beginning to build up.
Andre nodded, turning to Jade. "Alright- here we go!" He tossed the ball in the air, swinging his racket and hitting it over to Beck.
Beck swung her racket, hitting the ball back to Andre, who hit the ball over to Jade, while they swung it back and forth for a while in a very competitive state.
Trina's head looked from one side then the other, watching both of them compete.
Beck swung her racket, hitting the ball over to Tori, who just stood there without attempting to play.
"Whoo! Point!" Beck grinned, "Alright, I got a secret- Tori and Andre are having sex."
"Beck!" Tori hissed through clenched teeth, her eyes turned to Jade, who stood as still as a statue, her jaw clenched.
"What?!" Andre's eyes turned to Tori, growing angrier.
"I was over at Tori's the other night, and someone," he smirked at Andre. "Came over at three in the morning for a little booty call."
"I knew it!" Danielle grinned.
"What?!" Trina's eyes landed on Andre. "You told me you were gay!"
"See, that makes more sense," said Danielle.
"Oh, shut up, Danielle!" Andre shouted while Trina smashed her drink against the cooler, shattering the glass all over the sand before heading inside the house.
Things were getting way out of hand.
"You know what?" Tori spoke up. "I think things are beginning to get a little too competitive, so why don't we all just take a breather? Let's go inside-"
"No, I have a better idea, let's keep playing," he grinned.
"No," Jade stepped up, her eyes on him. "I think Tori is right, Beck, we should just sit this one out-"
"No, no, no," Andre pulled his shirt over his head, shocking everyone that he was standing there shirtless. "No, let's do this."
He looked at Beck over his sunglasses, sliding them down to the bridge of his nose, taking in his muscular body. Jade gawked, while Tori stood in shock at Andre's outburst behavior. She had never known him to even want to remove his shirt around her. And now, here he was.
"Let's go, Beck!" He challenged the blonde. "What do you got?"
Jade's brow slightly cocked up from behind her sunglasses. What was this now? Was Andre trying to show her off?
"Let's go, baby." He grinned.
"Andre," Tori called out, going ignored. Her eyes turned to Jade, who suddenly removed her t-shirt from her body and remained in a bikini top, her abs standing out.
"Whoo!" He grinned at his girlfriend's sculpted stomach and arms.
"Oh, my God," Tori pinched the bridge of her nose, turning away.
"Alright! Now it's a game! Serve it, Beck!" Andre pointed his racket toward Beck, while the blonde stood there in shock. "Beck, serve it."
Beck tossed the ball up in the air, swinging his racket and hitting it over to Andre, who hit it back to him.
"Watch out!" Andre moved before Tori, blocking her from getting hit by the ball and swinging it over to Beck, who jumped off to the side, his body falling against the sand.
This competition between Andre and Beck lasted a good five minutes, both their bodies constantly hitting the sand hard as they continued to hit the ball between each other. It wasn't until Andre struck the ball with all of his force that Beck's body landed against the sand, missing the ball entirely.
"Point! Yes, secret time!" Andre grinned, looking over at Tori. "Tor, why don't you take this one?"
"Andre!" Tori hissed, her anger boiling up inside at his weird behavior. Why was he acting like this? What was going on with him?
"Okay, you know what?" Jade held out her hand. "Let's all just take a breather, alright?"
"Come on! The game is just beginning!" He turned to Tori with a challenging grin. "Go ahead, Tor - tell your secret!"
"Okay, Andre - I think we're done here." Jade's voice was firm, her eyes narrowing at him. She had a feeling about what Andre was goading Tori into revealing.
"No, Jade - we are not done!" Andre growled, his determination evident, as he turned back to Tori. "Go ahead, Tor."
"What is going on?" Beck's confusion was evident as she watched the tense exchange.
"Alright, you're not going to tell her?" Andre dropped his racket onto the sand. "Alright, I'll tell her - agh!" His words were cut short as Tori swiftly executed a backhand move, not aimed at the ball but at Andre's face. He tumbled backward, landing on the sand, his outburst abruptly silenced.
It was a desperate measure, but Tori had resorted to it to put an end to Andre's reckless behavior and protect her secrets.
The atmosphere grew still as everyone processed the unexpected turn of events.