Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.

Unfairly Judged.

Chapter 4 – Beck steps in.

Author's note: I thought it would be more interesting to have this chapter in Beck's pov. A view from someone outside the situation.

Beck's Pov

When I first learned that Tori stood Jade up, I knew there would be trouble. Jade of course, liked Tori and seriously asked her out. Tori of course didn't think it was a serious offer and blew it off.

The thing about Jade is that speaking from experience, I can tell you Jade is a very passionate creature. She's passionate about many things, her acting, the scissoring, coffee and other things. But of course when wronged, that passion of hers can….well you've already seen that.

Of course it was Jade's revenge that drove Tori to what she did. Which was to punch Jade right in the face. She must have been working out cause, Jade flew back across the table and onto the ground. You know the rest, Lane hauled Tori to the office and after being laughed at, Jade fled.

Well, after a few seconds of shocked silence we looked down to realize that when Jade rolled across our table she rolled right across our lunches.

Our lunches ruined, we all broke up. Andre headed inside to practice something for music class, Robbie and Cat went, God knows where and I decided to walk down the street to the sub shop and eat there.

The odd thing is that after all we'd just witnessed, none of us spoke about it. Other than Rex's new jade crack. I think we were all in shock and probably just didn't know what to say.

However as I sat in the sub shop, eating my meatball sub, I started to feel guilty about it. Why should I feel guilty? Well, I know Jade better than anyone; after all we dated for 2 years. As I said I knew there would be trouble. But when Tori told me to stay out of it, I did. Perhaps I could have done something to lessen the tension or at least stopped that punch.

That punch more than hurt Jade's jaw or embarrassed her, I could see the look in her eyes. I think she was really hurt, almost devastated. I could say it was because everyone laughed at her and that's part of it, but I think it's mostly because Tori hit her.

But Tori, realizing what'd she'd just done, looked equally devastated.

Not to mention, she'd struck Jade in full view of 2 teachers. She could get kicked out and for the moment that was foremost on my mind.

It was a mess and I simply didn't know what to do. Even if I wanted to help, what do they want? I know Jade better than anyone, but ultimately only Jade knows what Jade want's.

I returned from lunch and went back to school. It was during 6th hour that I learned from Samantha Hartley, who was waiting to see the guidance counselor and was in the office at the same time at Tori, that she heard Tori getting yelled at in Principal Helen's office. With Both Helen and Lane doing the yelling. Shortly after Tori's dad arrived, there was more yelling and soon after a very shaken Tori, left with her father. Samantha said she overheard Lane telling Tori that she was suspended.

So at the very least, I knew that Tori was not kicked out of school, which was a load off my mind. But not much of one.

I had a lot of homework to do, so I didn't see or talk to anyone over the weekend. I did make an effort. I called Jade to see how she was doing, but she didn't answer. I expected that.

I called Tori, but she didn't answer any of the times I called. I didn't leave a message.

So when I wasn't doing homework, I wrestled with what if anything I should do.

Monday Morning, I came in the school, and as expected I didn't see Tori. I did see Jade at her locker, now sporting an ugly purplish bruise on her face. I walked towards her to see how she was doing and she simply slammed the locker shut, gave me her stay away glare and walked off. It's important to be able properly interpret Jade's various glares.

As Jade walked off, I couldn't help but notice a group of freshmen girls snickering at her. I'm sure Jade noticed it too, but she just kept going.

For the first two classes of the day, I found myself again wrestling with whether or not I should speak to Jade. I had promised. On top of that, I still wasn't sure what to say.

Between 3rd and 4th, hours I was walking down the hallway and I spotted Jade some distance ahead of me.

As I briefly pondered what to do, I suddenly spotted Trina Vega come round a corner and upon seeing Jade instantly fumed. The Latina, undeterred, walked over, grabbed Jade's arm and pulled her into an empty music practice room.

Trina is interesting, yeah she's only quasi-talented and rather self-centered, but I've always felt there was something else to her. I think I see some of that at work now.

Quickly walking up, I realized that Trina, hadn't completely closed the door, so I listened.

"My sister got suspended cause of you and grounded for a week, no TV, no computer, no phone, no nothing." Said Trina, her voice full of contempt.

"She hit me or haven't you noticed the giant bruise on my face. " Snapped Jade.

"Only because you ruined her locker, stole her clothes, messed up her car and deleted the contents of her laptop. You know she had to sell her Taylor Swift tickets to pay for the car clean up. She really wanted to go that."

"She should have thought of that before she stood me up!" Roared Jade, sounding more upset than angry. "SHE DIDN'T EVEN APOLOGIZE!"

"You want an apology. That's it. All this cause you didn't get a fucking apology. " Trina snorted, with amusement.

Peering in, I could see Jade defiantly glare back, but otherwise she was silent.

"You want to know why you didn't get your precious apology. It's because she didn't think it would help. You hated her and that was that. That was the worst part for her that she knew she screwed up and there was no going back. Even before she hit you, I could hear her in room at night crying. Since she hit you, she's cried herself to sleep more than once. She actually did like you, but thought you were just mocking her feelings. Lord knows, why my sister or anyone else would like you anyway. There's nothing to like."

Again Jade said nothing, looking back at Trina with a guarded expression.

Not wasting a moment, Trina then poked Jade in the chest. "You leave my sister alone or that bruise on your face will be the least of your worries."

Trina then turned to leave and I quickly ducked around a corner.

Just as Trina vanished around the corner I heard Jade scream in frustration, rage and I believe pain. I couldn't sit on my horse any longer. I had to do something to start to diffuse this situation as I didn't want this to get any worse.

So I walked up and entered the practice room, making sure to close the door behind me.

Only then did Jade, whose back was to the door, turned and saw me.

"What the fuck do you want? What is this pick on Jade day!" Ranted the Goth as a tear ran down her face, . She then tried to move past me to the door.

I however grabbed her arm, earing me a death glare. I stood my ground, however. "I have something to say and you're going to listen."

I half expected me to get punched as well, but Jade with a huff relented and backed off. "Then speak and tell me what ever Vega told you to say to me."

I shook my head. "I haven't spoken to Tori since you got hit, so I'm doing this on my own."

"You're still going to take her side!"

"No Jade, I'm on both of your sides. First let me start by saying what when Tori stood you up, was totally wrong and also when she hit you, she was also very much in the wrong. She jumped to conclusions and instead of thinking things out, reacted violently. So, I do believe that she indeed owes you a sincere apology."

Jade nodded, but otherwise remained silent.

"I did just hear what Trina said. But before get to that, you need to figure out what you want. Do you want to try and fix things with Tori or do you want her out of your life forever. Cause if you want to alienate her to the point she wants nothing to do with you, you're really close."

"Get to the point!" Hissed Jade.

"If you do want her to apologize, some sort of reconciliation, even to date her, you need to consider the fact that maybe you've been too good of an actress."

Jade sneered as she wiped yet another tear. "What?"

"You spend all this time and effort into your uber bitch queen persona. That you don't give a damn about anyone else other than yourself. But I know, that there's more to you than that. You're better than that. You act this way all the time, yet you get angry and insulted when someone believes that persona. Yes, Tori messed up and misjudged you because like so many people,she started to believe the persona you put out. I'm still not excusing what she did, it was horribly rude and insensitive. She could have asked me and I would have told her you really meant it. She could have given you the benefit of the doubt and gotten ready for the date anyway. But at least she tried to get to know you. Tried to see there was someone better underneath all that. You didn't help yourself with this war on her and she didn't help herself by hitting you."

Jade lowered her head slightly, as she appeared to think. I kept going.

"On Friday you got cheered, not because you sang some great song or performed a really dramatic scene from a play, you got cheered because Tori hit you in the face. Think about that, what that really means. Don't you at least want to be respected for your talents. Trina said there was nothing to like about you. Is it because there is nothing to like about you or you haven't bothered to show anyone that there is something to like."

I think I was getting to her as Jade quietly sighed.

"You want to fix this? you still have feelings for her, then maybe show a bit of humanity. Give her a chance to make things up and maybe show you want to make things up too. Things have gotten pretty far and it won't be easy, but I think it can be done. I guess the question is do you want to do it. Only you can answer that."

Jade didn't answer; instead she turned and looked out the window.

"I have to get to class, see you later."

As I left Jade alone, I could only hope I had gotten through to her. It's entirely possible that she'll ignore what I say, turn round and beat Tori to pulp. But I tried. To be fair, I need to talk to Tori as well.

I could only hope that she listens as well.

I'm so glad everyone is enjoying the story and thank you for the reviews.

So what do you think of Becks decision to intervene. Did he say the right things to Jade? Should he have said more. What should he say to Tori? Just some things for you to think about.