Chapter 16
Beck's bachelor party was an all-nighter. Tori did attend, thankful Jade wasn't anywhere around due to her having her own party with a group of her own friends. She still messaged her during the party, which this time Tori just ignored by turning off her phone.
With Andre gone and living in a different time zone, she didn't have to worry about him trying to contact her, so turning off her phone was a simple solution.
Of course, Beck was a little intoxicated and somehow ended up with a tiara on his head. Lucky him, he didn't feel the need to call Jade to come and pick him up because Tori agreed to ensure that he arrived home safely by both of them taking the same cab.
"Come on, Beck," Tori had his arm wrapped around the slender brunette, helping him keep his balance while Trina stopped the first cab she came across.
"I'm so glad you're a part of this moment with me, Tor," Beck grinned, placing a kiss against the brunette's cheek.
"Me, too," she muttered, forcing a smile. She was trying so hard not to hate Beck. She really was, but right now, as happy as she was that her best friend was happy, it also made her miserable. Ugh, even her feelings were contradicting.
"You truly are the best," Beck slurred through his words, his other arm wrapping around Tori.
"I'm really not, Beck," Tori groaned, trying her best to hold onto her drunk friend.
"No, you are," Beck reached for his tiara, yanking it off his head after a couple of strands of his hair became tangled up, "Ow, here. This is for you." He placed the tiara on Tori's head, a smirk stretching out across his lips. "I dub thee... Hm, what's a good title for you?" His brow furrowed in thought.
"I got a cab!" Trina happily stated, pulling open the back passenger door and climbing right in.
Beck snickered, "That's not a good title!"
"Alright, come on, let's get you home," Tori helped Beck walk over to the cab.
"No, wait!" Beck came up with an idea, his eyes falling on Trina, who peeked out of the cab, hitting her head against the door frame. "Trina, scoot over, I'm going to stay with You guys tonight."
"Stay with us?" Tori's eyes grew wide.
"Yes, it'll be fun!" Beck grinned. "We haven't had a sleepover in years. Remember we used to have those all the time?"
"When All of us were together," Tori chuckled, almost losing her balance because of Beck's bad footing.
"Oh, have a sleepover, Tor! Sounds like fun!" Trina beamed.
"Let's just get in the cab then," Tori stated pushing Beck toward the cab. "Let's get some food in you."
"Hey, you know what else we should do?" Asked Beck.
Tori pulled open the back passenger door, "Tell me."
"We should call Jade and hang up," he snickered.
This caused even Tori to release a small laugh. She bent down to help Beck inside the cab before climbing in herself and giving the driver her address
Once they arrived at the Vega's house, Tori was able to convince Beck to eat, while Trina laid out a couple of covers on the living room floor and a few pillows. It seemed wrong for Tori to allow Beck to sleep in the very same room that she and Jade once had sex in. She might still see herself as scum after that, but she had some decency left in her.
In a way, Tori was happy to have Beck in her house, spending the night like they used to. They even wore matching pajamas. Thankfully, Tori had some veggie pizza left over, which Beck was delighted to eat. Food never tasted better than when you were a little intoxicated. And thankfully, Beck completely neglected the idea of calling Jade and hanging up. The last thing that needed to happen right now was for Jade of all people to show up right outside her House.
"This pizza is so good!" Beck entered the living room, chewing on a piece. "Did you make it yourself?"
"No, it's DiGiorno," Tori tossed another pillow on the floor.
"I may have to buy this," Beck stared at the pizza in amazement. "It is so delicious. Do you want a bite?"
Tori shook her head, "No. Knock yourself out. I'm going to brush my teeth."
Beck returned to the kitchen for another slice while Tori headed to her bathroom.
Suddenly, her house phone rang, given that her cell phone had still been shut off.
"I'll get it!" Beck skipped into the living room with another slice of pizza in hand, his eyes wide as he noticed Tori race past him to reach for the phone.
"I'll get it!" Said the brunette, answering whoever was calling at this hour. "Hello?"
"It's me," said Jade, walking along the street. "Please, don't hang up!"
Oh, no. Tori's eyes grew wide, "I can't talk right now. I'll call you tomorrow. Bye."
"No, Tori!" Jade rushed across the street, stopping in front of a building as she looked up the first window. "I'm just outside of your house. Look, can we talk?"
"What? Shit! No!" Tori shouted, her eyes moving over to Beck as he grinned.
"Who is it? Is it Danielle?" His grin grew even larger.
"Let me come up, please. Look…" Jade sighed, "I know I behaved like an asshole, okay? I just want to talk to you. I'm coming up."
"You can't! Beck is here." Dear God, why now? Tori's heart was racing so fast inside her chest, that she could swear it was about to jump out and bury itself six feet underground. What was Jade even doing here? And at three in the morning! This was the last thing she needed.
"Let me talk to her," Beck reached for the phone, but Tori was quicker in pulling away.
"Danielle?" Beck shouted, and Jade's eyes grew wide once she heard her voice through the other end of the phone.
"What's Beck doing there?" Jade ran a hand through her hair in frustration.
"He's spending the night, he had a little too much to drink." Tori climbed up her couch and jumped over it, trying to get away from Beck, who was insisting on grabbing the phone.
"It is Danielle, isn't it?" A now playful Beck asked.
"No, it's not Danielle, Beck. It's…" Who? Who could I say is calling me at this hour? "Andre!"
"What?" Jade's brow furrowed, hearing Andre's name being mentioned.
"What?" Beck's mouth suddenly fell open, a smirk stretching out across his lips. "Tori!"
Tori had a lost look on her face; she didn't know what was going on right now or what was about to happen. Trina gave her sister a glare. "Andre is calling you?"
"Oh! Oh- ew! Of course!" Beck pointed a finger at his best friend, still in shock. "You and Andre have been sleeping together, haven't you?! Of course!" He smacked his forehead, "Why else would he be calling you at three in the morning? You naughty girl!"
Shit, maybe bringing up Andre wasn't a good idea. Beck is never letting this go now. "Beck-" Tori shook her head.
"Eeeew! Andre!" Beck shouted, rushing toward the window, realizing that he must be outside.
"Beck, don't-!" Tori rushed over to the window, trying to pull on his shirt while Jade quickly moved up the stoop and pressed herself against the door of the house. Even if Beck peeked out the window, he wouldn't be able to see her being this far in.
"Oh, Tele-Andre!" Beck smirked, leaning out the window but not seeing anyone in sight. "It's alright, you can come up to see Tori. I won't tell a soul about you two banging each other like wild tribe drums."
"Beck!" Tori hung up the phone, pulling on Beck's arm until she was able to move him away from the window. "He's gone, Beck, he's not out there."
"Oh, he's just shy!" Beck waved his hand, his arms circling the brunette in a tight hug. "Tor, I am so proud of you! You had Daniel, and now Andre, no wonder he didn't go for Trina." He laughed.
Tori looked at her sister and shook her head. She handed Trina the phone and went off to take care of Beck.
"Okay," Tori pulled away from his best friend's hug, praying to God Jade would have enough sense to leave. "Let's get you to bed, huh? It's late. Come on."
"Ohhhh, no… We are going to celebrate this! This is big!" Beck rushed over to the stereo that was placed by one of the walls in the living room, in search of the right station. She stopped, clapping her hands once she heard Love is A Battlefield play out. "Come on!"
"Oh, God- no, Beck." Tori chuckled, seeing her best friend more alive than ever.
"Come on, Tor," Beck smirked, standing in the middle of the living room with her. "Just like in High School, remember? We would role-play 13 Going on 30."
"That was not long enough for us to feel nostalgia," Tori laughed, shaking her head. "I don't even remember it."
"Oh, yes you do! Come on! Ready?" Beck hopped on the couch, grabbing a hairbrush while Tori remained on the floor and reached for her remote control to use as a microphone.
"We are young! Heartache to heartache we stand!" Both sang along in sync and exactly how they practiced it long ago.
Beck jumped off the couch, standing beside Tori as they faced each other, singing and dancing in sync. "No promises, no demands! Love is a battlefield!"
Jade stood outside the house, looking up at the light shining out of the foyer window. She heard a voice through the phone. "Andre?" It was Trina.
"It's just Me Trina… Thanks for being so cool about this."
"I thought you were just hanging out to make her feel better… What are you calling her now?" Trina demanded.
"I love her Trina. Please tell her it's true." Jade pleaded.
Trina shook her head. "Leave Tori alone." Then she hung up.
"Tri- Fuck!" Jade sighed and looked into the living room once more. "She could hear the song blasting through, deciding that it was best if she left for now.
Somewhere in the middle of their singing and dancing, both friends broke out into a fit of laughter, just as when they were back in School, no complications over loving the same woman. Just two best friends enjoying a sleepover, practicing their routine dance.
By four-forty-five in the morning, both friends were lying on the living room floor, on top of the many blankets Tori had used to form a makeshift bed for the two of them. After their singing number, both had spent the rest of the night talking about their future and reminiscing about simpler times, back when they had no adult responsibilities or complicated love lives to contend with.
"You know, most people don't keep in touch after high school," Beck murmured, his eyes locked on the brunette's as they lay side by side. "But, I'm positive that we can."
Tori smiled a sad smile. "You think so?"
Beck smiled and nodded, his eyes slowly closing as the night's fatigue finally caught up with him. "Can I tell you something?" He whispered.
"What?" Tori's voice was low, her eyes not moving from a very relaxed Beck.
"You have truly been the best friend I could ever ask for," Beck admitted, his words filled with genuine emotion.
Tori frowned, her head turned, eyes looking up at the ceiling as she fought back a couple of tears. She felt a mixture of gratitude and guilt, knowing that she had complicated their friendship with her unspoken feelings for Jade.
She couldn't keep doing this. She couldn't keep holding in her feelings toward Jade and what had transpired between them a secret. She needed to tell Beck. He deserved the truth.
"Beck," Tori whispered, watching the brunette closely.
"Mhm?" Beck exhaled slowly after drawing in a calming breath, his hands tucked underneath his pillow.
Just tell him. He deserves to know.
"I have to tell you something," Tori began, her voice low, her heart pounding as she prepared to share her secret with her best friend.
"What?" Beck's voice trailed off, his eyes remaining closed.
He deserves to know.
"It's about Jade…" Tori's voice was barely above a whisper, and she hoped Beck didn't hear.
"Tor… I love you." Beck whispered, his words sincere but softened by sleepiness.
Tori felt a lump in her throat. "I love you, too, Beck," she replied, her voice filled with affection and sadness.
"I would never let anyone hurt you, ever," Beck murmured, his voice fading as he drifted further into sleep, but his hand gave Tori's a reassuring squeeze. "And you would never let anyone hurt me, right?"
Despite Beck not being able to see her, Tori shook her head. "Never," she swallowed hard.
Tomorrow. She would tell him tomorrow.