A/N so I finally have one of these up. if you saw this yesterday I apologize, I need to do better editing before posting god the chapter was kinda gross. I have seriously been suffering from migraine the last couple of days. but I am fixing this chapter and putting it back out. I apologize again. I wanted to get this out on Friday but oh well better late than ever. Also I have to credit Aurus_of the Sea with the portion with Jade and Beck at the end. she gave me the framework as to how that scene would go with a bit of tweaks. I had never thought how that conversation would be until I saw !~ S.K.
Wi-Fi in the sky
Holly and Gary lay tangled in the sheets of a dimly lit hotel room, their breathing still heavy from their recent encounter. The city lights outside cast a soft glow through the curtains, painting their bodies in shadows and flickers of light. Holly turned to face Gary, her expression pensive.
"Gary," she began hesitantly, "what about Kaylin? Are you going to leave her, or are you staying to make sure she gets sober?"
Gary sighed deeply, running a hand through his tousled hair. "I don't know, Holly. It's complicated. But what about you? Would you leave David?"
Holly shook her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "No, I love David. What we're doing, it has to stop."
Gary's brow furrowed in confusion and frustration. "Then why are you asking me to leave Kaylin if you're not willing to leave David?"
"Because," Holly's voice cracked with emotion, "you're in an abusive relationship, Gary. You need to get out of it for your own sake. I can't leave David, but I care about you. I want to be there for you, but we can't keep doing this."
Gary's eyes softened as he listened to her. He reached out, gently cupping her face. "Holly, I... I don't know what to do. I feel so trapped."
"We both are," Holly whispered, tears finally spilling over. "But this... affair, it's not the answer. We need to find a way to help each other without destroying everything in the process."
Gary nodded slowly, pulling her into his arms. They held each other in silence, the weight of their decisions pressing down on them.
Holly stood, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet as she gathered her scattered clothes. The reality of her life crashed over her like a cold wave, and she knew she had to face it. Gary watched her dress in silence, the ethereal stench of guilt heavy in the air.
"I have to go," Holly said, buttoning her blouse. "Trina's play ends soon, and I need to be there."
Gary nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and understanding. "see you around, Holly."
"Yeah," she replied, before slipping out of the hotel room.
Holly arrived at the school just in time, slipping into the back of the auditorium as the final applause died down. She forced a smile onto her face and made her way toward Trina, who was standing with her classmates, basking in the post-performance glow of her one-woman show.
It seems to have gone well, the vibes were positive, Tori and Shelby hadn't said much about the show yesterday, and David had said it was good, but he likes everything his daughters created. The three depended on her for an honest assessment.
"Honey, you were amazing!" Holly exclaimed, her voice filled with feigned enthusiasm. "You really brought that gut-wrenching tale of a woman arriving in Chicago to life."
Trina's eyes narrowed slightly, but she kept her expression neutral. "Thanks, Mom," she said, her tone flat. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Holly sensed the tension but chose to ignore it. "We need to get ready for the wedding. Our flight leaves at midnight."
Trina nodded, her face betraying no emotion. "Okay. Let's go."
As they walked to the car, Holly kept up a stream of chatter about the play, but Trina remained mostly silent, her mother was lying ... gut-wrenching? what show was she watching? Her mother hadn't been there for her performance. Despite her disappointment, she chose not to confront Holly, knowing it wouldn't change anything and it would ruin her fun at the wedding.
Once home, they packed quickly, the silence between them growing heavier with each passing minute. Holly tried to bridge the gap with excitement about the wedding, but Trina's responses were curt and detached.
At the airport, as they waited for their flight, Holly finally turned to Trina, a hint of desperation in her eyes. "You know I love you, right? And I'm proud of you."
Trina looked at her mother, a sad smile playing on her lips. "I know, Mom."
But deep down, both of them knew that love and pride sometimes weren't enough to bridge the distance growing between them. As they boarded the plane, Trina silently hoped that her mother would one day see how talented she was. just as talented as Tori and Shelby. but she knew that nothing would change. Her mom had changed the past few weeks and none of her children were her focus, but she thought at least she could be supportive. whatever.
Tori and Shelby navigated through the bustling airport, their father walking a few paces ahead, scanning the crowd for signs or directions. The twins stayed close to each other, their conversation a mix of hushed whispers and light-hearted banter.
"You think they're gonna get a divorce?" Tori asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Shelby shook her head, though her expression was less certain. "Nah, they're just going through a rough patch. It'll get better."
Tori frowned, adjusting her backpack strap. "But Mom always starts the arguing. She'll get all worked up, yell at Dad, and then storm out for hours. And then Dad's just mad at the world the rest of the day."
"Maybe she's just stressed," Shelby suggested, trying to sound reasonable. "People fight, Tori. That doesn't mean it's the end."
Tori sighed, unconvinced but unwilling to argue further. They followed their father through the crowded terminal, the hum of travelers' conversations filling the air. As they approached the baggage claim at Miami International Airport, a burst of excitement interrupted their somber thoughts.
"There they are!" Shelby shouted, pointing at two familiar faces waiting by the carousel.
Their cousins, Theresa and Elian, waved energetically, grinning from ear to ear. The twins' worries evaporated as they rushed over to their fun cousins. Hugs and laughter replaced the tension, and for a moment, the troubles back home seemed distant id not insignificant.
"Tori! Shelby! Look at you two!" Theresa exclaimed, pulling them into a tight embrace.
Elian joined in, ruffling their hair playfully. "We missed you guys! Ready for some fun?"
The girls exchanged glances, their earlier conversation forgotten in the excitement of seeing their cousins. "Absolutely," Tori said, grinning.
As they gathered their luggage and headed towards the exit, the twins' spirits lifted. With Theresa and Elian around, they knew they'd have a memorable time, leaving behind the worries of their parents' fights, if only for a little while.
Andre stood in the recording studio, surrounded by an array of soundboards, microphones, and glowing screens. The producers were adjusting levels and tweaking the mix, but Andre's focus was on the music pouring through his headphones. The rhythm of "Song 2U" was pulsing through him, a beat that felt like the heartbeat of his dreams.
He laid down another track, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he added layers to the song. The bassline thumped with a steady groove, and the melody soared with a sense of freedom and hope. The lyrics, written in moments of inspiration and late-night musings, now found their place within the music, each word carrying a piece of his soul.
"Man, this is fire," one of the producers said, nodding along to the beat. "This track is something special."
Andre couldn't help but smile. He had poured his heart into "Song 2U," and hearing it come to life in the studio was nothing short of exhilarating.
"I can feel it," Andre replied, his voice filled with excitement. "This is the one."
The producers exchanged knowing glances, their expressions mirroring Andre's enthusiasm. There was something different about this track. It had an energy, an undeniable vibrancy.
As they continued to fine-tune the mix, Andre's mind wandered to the possibilities that lay ahead. The release of "Song 2U" as a single would mark a significant milestone in his career. It was a declaration of his artistic identity, he was a songwriter. and being in this booth... producing The Beat, just reaffirmed to him that this was what he wanted to do with his life.
"I can't wait for the world to hear this," Andre said, his voice filled with anticipation.
One of the producers clapped him on the back. "You did good, Andre. Real good. This is just the beginning."
Andre nodded, feeling a surge of optimism. He could see it now—the track climbing the charts, the fans singing along at his shows, the recognition and opportunities that would follow. It was all within reach, and he was ready to embrace it.
As the final mix played through the speakers, filling the studio with its powerful sound, Andre closed his eyes and let the music wash over him. This was his moment, and he knew that "Song 2U" was just the start of something incredible.
With a satisfied smile, he opened his eyes and looked around the studio. "Let's get this out there," he said confidently. "The world needs to hear 'Song 2U.'"
The producers nodded in agreement, and with that, they set the wheels in motion for the release. Andre felt a sense excitement. every step he made had led him to this moment. "Song 2U" was ready to make its mark, in the world.
Beck sat on the edge of the plush queen-sized bed in Jade's basement bedroom, staring at the last text message he had sent Alyssa. She hadn't even bothered to reply. Just left it on read. Typical. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, and decided it was time to move on. Time to focus on his newly reacquired girlfriend, Jade.
He tossed his phone aside and got up, making his way through the cozy, dimly lit basement to where Jade was hunched over her laptop, surrounded by stacks of papers and notebooks, deeply engrossed in her script. The small windows near the ceiling let in the afternoon sun, casting a warm glow over the room.
"Hey, babe," Beck said, sliding up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. "How about we take a little break?"
Jade glanced up briefly, then refocused on her screen. "Can't, Beck. This play isn't going to edit itself."
Beck kissed her neck, hoping to distract her. "Come on, just a quick break. You've been at this for hours."
Jade's eyes remained glued to her work. "I know, but I need to finish this. I'm submitting it for production at school, and the deadline is coming up."
He tried again, his hands wandering, He took hold of a plump breast and squeezed gently, but Jade gently pushed him away. "Beck, I said no."
Beck stepped back, a little taken aback. Jade had never chosen anything over him, especially not some script. He watched her with a new respect. She was serious about this, She had found who she wanted to be. He knew he wanted to be an actor but it wouldn't be the end of the world if he didn't make it. But Jade was on a whole other level.
"Alright," he said, hands up in mock surrender. "I'll let you get back to it. But I'm here if you want to make out, or anything."
Jade gave him a small sarcastic smile, her focus still on the screen. "Thanks."
He walked away, that old insecurity churning in his guts. Jade wasn't just his girlfriend. She was an artist, dedicated and passionate. And he realized that maybe, he just wasn't good enough for her. She was the prize, He loved her he only went with those other girls because they made him feel so.. powerful. So he cheated, not to hurt her, but to feel that power. But Could Jade love him as intensely as he loved her? He would test that, and keep doing it until he was sure of it.
Beck sighed and watched as Jade edited her script, and pulled out his phone to text Tori, Cat, and Andre. They had that screenwriting assignment that they needed to work on for Gradstein's class and none of them had gotten together to do this. since everyone was scattered this weekend, They needed to get together at least on Sunday to do the thing.
"Hey guys, can work on the assignment together Sunday Night when Tori gets back? "
Almost immediately, replies started coming in.
Tori: "YES, I'm in! I was stressing out about it."
Cat: "Kay Kay, I should be back from SF by 3! Just let me know when!"
Andre: "Count me in. Let's get this done."
Beck smiled at their quick responses, then settled in the cozy chair by the TV and turned on Jade's console for some gaming. He would play a while until he could get into Jade's pants or Cat kicked him out of her daughter's room... or both.
Robbie was buzzing with excitement as he prepared to vlog for the school's webzine. After weeks of struggling to find the perfect topic, he finally decided on a report about the recent renovations around the school. The library had just been repainted, and even Eikner's office had gotten a fresh coat. Robbie figured his vlog could be like HGTV for the school, highlighting the improvements and giving a behind-the-scenes look at the changes.
He briefly considered another topic—the carpooling initiative—but quickly dismissed it. "Let's just start with one renovation," he muttered to himself, trying to stay focused. After pitching ideas for three weeks, he finally got the green light for his first vlog. Now, all he had to do was make sure it hit the mark.
Robbie set up his camera and began recording his intro. "Hey, guys! Welcome to the first episode of 'Hollywood Arts Renovation Station!' Today, we're checking out the newly revamped library and principal Eikner's office. Let's see what kind of magic has been done around here!"
He walked through the library, pointing out the fresh, vibrant colors and new study areas. "They've really brightened up the place, making it more inviting for students. Look at these new seating arrangements! Perfect for group projects or just chilling with a good book."
Next, Robbie headed to Eikner's office. "Now, let's take a look at Principal Eikner's office. It's got a whole new vibe with these bold colors. Adds some character, don't you think?"
As he wrapped up his tour, Robbie couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. "This is just the beginning, folks. Stay tuned for more episodes where we'll dive into other renovations and maybe even some cool initiatives happening around the school."
He stopped the recording and let out a sigh of relief. "I hope this works," he said to himself, packing up his equipment. "Here's to a successful first vlog!"
With the footage ready to edit, Robbie felt a surge of optimism. All that was left was to upload it and wait for the reactions.
Cat sat on the plane, staring out the window as the clouds drifted by. She was squished between her brother, Frankie, and her parents, who were engrossed in their own activities. They were on their way to her uncle and uncle's house in San Francisco, and Cat was dreading every moment of it. The thought of being around her uncle and his partner made her uncomfortable. She hadn't quite come to terms with her best friend Jade being bi, even though Jade acted normal and had a boyfriend.
Tori coming out to her and Robbie shouldn't have affected her so much, but it did. Cat liked Tori and felt an odd pang of unease if they were alone, but Tori didn't seem to be interested in her. Well, she's bi, so maybe Tori would get a boyfriend too, just like Jade, and forget about girls altogether. But the worst of it was Robyn… Robbie. Cat had already given in and slept with him. Did that make her gay too? He was a boy, right? But not really. She was so confused and didn't want to deal with such complex feelings.
Besides' Cat had Daniel. He was really nice and didn't push him to do things that she didn't want to do. They haven't really been intimate, and she was kinda glad because she was still super confused about Robbie.
Desperate for a distraction, Cat grabbed the Sky Store catalog from the seat pocket in front of her. Flipping through the pages, she let herself get lost in the endless array of products. There were gadgets, perfumes, jewelry, and all sorts of things she didn't need but suddenly wanted. Shopping had always been her way to cope, to turn off the complex emotions swirling inside her head.
"Look at this, Frankie!" she said, nudging her brother and pointing to a page filled with colorful novelty toys. Frankie glanced over, his eyes widening in excitement. He liked Toys, but Cat never wanted Frankie to grow up, and she didn't think he would, like Peter Pan. He was too endangered if he did. But Frankie was twenty-five.
"Cool!" he exclaimed, momentarily pulling Cat out of her thoughts.
Cat smiled, grateful for the brief distraction. She continued flipping through the catalog, circling items with the little pen attached to it. The more she shopped, the more she felt her anxiety subside. By the time the plane began its descent, Cat had a list of items she planned to order and had convinced herself that everything would be okay.
As they landed, she tucked the catalog into her bag, determined to carry her distraction off the plane. She wasn't ready to face her feelings, but at least she had something to focus on. For now, that would have to be enough.
Tori, Shelby, and Trina stood together, their dresses fluttering lightly in the early morning breeze. As bridesmaids at their cousin Teresa's sunrise beach wedding, they tried their best to stay composed despite the different challenges each faced. Tori and Shelby, who had partied all night with their cousins Teresa and Elian, were sitting under the breakfast tent, giggling at something on their phones. The two girls had been hard to arouse that morning. one of them grumbling that they probably shouldn't have gone to sleep.
Tori had been drinking. Theresa had given her some wine coolers, and they tasted so much like Juice that Tori didn't stop. She was feeling it that morning. Shelby had a lot of discipline and stayed sober the whole night, but watching her twin get hammered was both funny and exhaustive. She didn't dare look away from her for a moment. Trina, having flown in late the previous night and missed all the family fun, felt the weight of her own fatigue pressing down on her but forced herself to enjoy the beautiful ceremony.
The sunrise painted the sky with hues of pink and orange, casting a warm glow over the beach. Teresa and her new husband exchanged vows, their faces radiant with joy. The moment was picturesque, almost surreal, and the sisters felt a pang of happiness for their cousin.
After the ceremony, the guests milled around, congratulating the newlyweds and snapping photos. Trina, however, found herself wandering toward the shore, needing a moment of solitude. That's when she spotted him—a boy standing by the water's edge, looking out at the horizon. He seemed lost in thought, his posture relaxed yet confident.
As she approached, he turned and smiled at her, a genuine, open smile that made her heart flutter. "Hey," he said, his voice warm and inviting. "Beautiful wedding, huh?"
Trina nodded, feeling a bit shy. "Yeah, it really was."
"I'm Ryan," he introduced himself, extending a hand. "I'm a friend of Teresa's from college. You must be one of her cousins?"
"Trina," she replied, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you."
They struck up a conversation, and Trina was struck by how easy it was to talk to him. He didn't know who she was or anything about her life back home, and it was refreshing to be treated like a regular girl. He was attentive, making her laugh and feel special in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.
Eventually, he invited her out. "How about we grab a coffee or something later? I'd love to get to know you better."
Trina hesitated for a moment, then glanced back at her sisters. Tori and Shelby were still under the tent, laughing over something on their phones. When they noticed Trina looking their way, they both gave her encouraging smiles. Tori, despite her hangover, gave her a thumbs-up, and Shelby nodded enthusiastically, though she looked like she might nod off any second.
"Sure," Trina agreed, feeling a surge of excitement. "That sounds great."
Ryan's face lit up. "Awesome. I'll meet you by the hotel entrance at noon?"
"It's a date," Trina said, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
As she walked back to her sisters, they bombarded her with questions, their excitement contagious. "So, what did he say?" Tori asked eagerly, wincing slightly at the sound of her own voice.
"He asked me out," Trina admitted, a shy smile tugging at her lips.
"Yes!" Shelby cheered softly, trying not to yawn. "he is so hot, Trina."
Tori nodded in agreement, her hand massaging her temple. "Have fun, sis. You never know what might happen."
Trina felt a renewed sense of energy and optimism. Someone saw her for her, they weren't blinded by her sister's shine.
Trina slipped into the sleek red dress she had chosen for the occasion, her brown hair cascading down her shoulders in loose waves. She couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement as she looked in the mirror, knowing that tonight she would be going on a date with Jake, the tall, fit blonde-haired, green-eyed college guy she had met at her cousin Theresa's beach wedding earlier in the day.
As they sat across from each other at the Cuban coffee shop in the early afternoon on South Beach, Trina couldn't take her eyes off Jake. He was simply stunning, with his broad shoulders and toned arms on full display in his fitted button-down shirt. His dark hair was tousled just right, and his smile was warm and inviting.
They laughed and talked as they sipped their cafecitos, the strong, sweet Cuban coffee giving them both a delightful buzz. Trina learned that Jake was a groomsman at Theresa's wedding, a close friend of her cousin who had also attended Northwestern.
"Northwestern, huh?" Trina said, stirring her cafecito with a tiny spoon. "I always heard great things about that place."
Jake grinned. "Yeah, it's a pretty great school. And the people there aren't half bad either," he teased, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Trina giggled, feeling a flutter in her chest. "I guess I'll take your word for it."
They continued to chat, sharing stories from their college days and their plans for the future. Trina found herself opening up to Jake in a way she hadn't with anyone else in a long time. There was something about him that made her feel at ease, like she could be herself without any pretenses.
As the afternoon sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over the beach, Jake leaned forward, his eyes locked on Trina's. "So, what do you say we finish our date at the reception tonight? I hear there's going to be some great music."
Trina's heart raced at the thought of spending more time with him. "I'd love that."
They exchanged numbers, and Jake walked her back to the hotel where they were both staying for the wedding. His hand gently rested on the small of her back, sending shivers down her spine.
Later that night, Trina found herself at the reception, scanning the crowd for Jake. She spotted him across the room, looking dapper in his groomsman attire. He caught her eye and made his way over, his smile as charming as ever.
"You look stunning," he said, taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor.
"Thank you," Trina replied, feeling her cheeks flush. "You don't look so bad yourself."
They danced, laughed, and enjoyed the reception together, the chemistry between them undeniable. The night was filled with music, laughter, and stolen glances that made Trina's heart race.
As the evening wore on, Jake leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Want to get out of here? Maybe find somewhere quieter?"
Trina nodded eagerly, her pulse quickening at the thought of being alone with him. "Yes, let's go."
They discreetly slipped out of the reception, avoiding the curious gazes of friends and family. Hand in hand, they walked briskly to the hotel, the excitement palpable between them. Jake led her to his room, glancing around to make sure his roommates weren't back yet.
"I don't think they'll be back for a while," Jake said, unlocking the door and pushing it open. "We've got some time."
Trina stepped inside, feeling a rush of nerves and anticipation. The room was dimly lit, a warm and inviting space that felt strangely intimate despite its simplicity.
Jake closed the door behind them, turning to face Trina. "Today was really special," he said softly, taking her hands in his.
"It was," Trina agreed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jake leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a tender kiss. Trina felt herself melting into him, the connection between them growing stronger with each passing moment. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened.
They spent the next hour talking, laughing, and exploring the spark between them. Jake made her laugh, his stories and humor putting her at ease. As they sat close together on the edge of the bed, Trina felt a rush of emotion.
"Today was really special," she said softly, her fingers gently tracing patterns on his arm.
"It was," Jake agreed, his eyes meeting hers. "And I hope it's just the beginning."
He leaned in again, their lips meeting in a kiss that was both sweet and filled with tension between them was palpable. Jake pulled Trina close, his strong arms wrapped around her waist as he kissed her deeply. She could feel the heat rising between them as their bodies pressed together, and she knew that she wanted him.
Trina's hands roamed over Jake's muscular chest as they stumbled towards the bed, their lips never breaking apart. He laid her down gently, his eyes filled with desire as he slowly began to undress her. She helped him, sliding the red dress over her head to reveal her generous breasts. Jake's breath hitched as he took in the sight of her, his hands cupping her curves as he kissed her neck.
Soon, Trina's shapely form lay spread across the bed, her ample breasts rising and falling with each shallow breath. Her hazel eyes glimmered with a mixture of anticipation and desire as she gazed upon Jake, the epitome of virile beauty.
His blonde hair cascaded over his chiseled features, framing green eyes that held a smoldering intensity. Every inch of his lean, muscular body was a testament to his athletic prowess. With the confidence of a man fully grown, he approached Trina, his every movement radiating an irresistible allure.
As their lips met, a surge of electricity coursed through their bodies. Jake's tongue delved into Trina's mouth, tasting the sweetness of her. His hands caressed her curves, igniting a fire that spread throughout her body.
With a gentle pull, Trina guided Jake to lie atop her. His weight pressed against her breasts, stimulating their sensitive tips. She gasped in delight as his fingers traced the contours of her womanhood, eliciting a chorus of moans.
Jake's lips drifted lower, showering her clitoris with kisses. His tongue swirled and danced, sending shivers of pleasure rippling through her body. Trina arched her back in ecstasy, her fingers clutching the sheets tightly.
Trina's legs wrapped around Jake's waist as he entered her, their bodies moving in perfect harmony. She moaned with pleasure as he thrust into her, her nails digging into his back as she held on tight. Jake's thrusts were rhythmic and powerful, filling Trina with a sensation that was both exhilarating and utterly satisfying. As the climax approached, its intensity threatened to overwhelm her. They moved together, their bodies slick with sweat, until they reached their peak, their orgasms crashing over them like waves. With a final, shuddering release, Trina collapsed into Jake's embrace, her body glistening with sweat.
After, they lay together, their bodies entwined, as they caught their breath. Trina traced her fingers over Jake's chest, her heart still racing from the intensity of their encounter. They knew that they would have to return to the beach party with their families soon, but for now, they were content to just be in each other's arms.
As they got dressed, they exchanged a long, lingering kiss, knowing that this was likely goodbye. Trina would be returning to Los Angeles in the morning, and Jake would be heading back to Northwestern, where he attended school with Theresa and her new husband. But they promised to keep in touch, to see each other again soon. As they walked back to the beach party hand in hand, Trina knew that she would never forget Jake, or the night they had shared together.
Holly and David stood together at the edge of the dance floor, bathed in the soft glow of string lights and the gentle music playing in the background. The wedding reception hummed with joy and celebration, a stark contrast to the tension that had lingered between them after their recent argument.
David held Holly close, his arms wrapped around her waist as they swayed to the music. Despite the festive atmosphere, his brow furrowed slightly with concern. "Holly, why do we keep ending up like this? Fighting, pulling away..."
Holly sighed softly, resting her head against his chest. She knew he deserved an explanation, some assurance that they could move past their recent difficulties. "David, I've been stressed lately," she admitted quietly. "Work has been overwhelming, and I think it's been affecting us."
David nodded, understanding in his eyes. "I get it. It's been tough on both of us," he murmured, his voice gentle. "But we always find a way through, don't we?"
Holly nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yes, we do," she agreed, feeling a surge of gratitude for his patience and understanding.
As they danced, their movements synchronized and comforting, Holly made a silent vow to herself. She would end things with Gary, the temptation that had clouded her thoughts recently. For the sake of her family and her marriage to David, she knew she needed to refocus her priorities.
They danced in peaceful silence for a while longer, the music wrapping around them like a cocoon of reassurance. Holly rested her cheek against David's chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart against her. "We're going to be okay David." She whispered. "I promise."
Jade paced back and forth in her room, her frustration boiling over into suspicion. Beck had been distant and evasive all weekend, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She had tried to sweeten the deal earlier, hoping to lure him over, but even that had failed.
With a sigh, she picked up her phone and dialed Beck's number, her voice low and tinged with a mix of seduction and suspicion. "Hey, Beck," she began, "Why don't you come over tonight?"
Beck hesitated "Nah, I'm good." He said
Jade paused... he's good? "What's that supposed to mean?
Beck sighed audibly. "Jade, it's just that I'm busy tonight okay?" he explained, frustration creeping into his voice. "I've been trying to reach you all week. You've been so caught up in your play, and I understand it's important, but..."
"But what, Beck?" Jade interrupted sharply. "you can't stand me saying no for a couple of nights so you decide that you're done?"
Beck sighed again, more deeply this time. "Look, Jade," he began, "I need to concentrate on the Gradstein project with Cat, Tori, and Andre. We've been trying to coordinate schedules all weekend."
Jade's suspicion wavered slightly, but she was still upset. "Fine..." she stated, her voice tinged with hurt.
"You mad?" Beck replied earnestly.
"No..." She answered.
"You love me?" He asked she could hear the smile in his voice.
"I guess..." Jade said grudgingly
"I love you," he said.
"Yeah yeah," Without waiting for a response, Jade hung up the phone completely irritated that she felt like such a jealous looser. "WHy can't I just be normal?"
Tori stood at the airport gate, holding a copy of "The Moonstone" tightly in her hands. She glanced over at Shelby, her twin sister, who was about to board a separate plane headed for Seattle. Shelby's commitment to her CFC training gym in Seattle meant they were often apart, and Tori couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness every time they said goodbye.
She hugged Shelby tightly, whispering, "Take care of yourself, okay? I'll miss you."
Shelby returned the hug just as fiercely. "You too, Tori. Call me when you land, alright?"
Tori nodded, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill. "I will."
As Shelby boarded her plane, Tori took a deep breath and turned to find Trina, who was already engrossed in texting the boy she had met over the weekend. Tori smiled to herself, resigned to the fact that Trina was preoccupied. She joined Trina at their gate, silently wishing for the day they could all be together again without the distance separating them.
As much as Tori loved her extended family, she couldn't wait to get back home. Hotel beds, while nice, were hard to enjoy when she had to share a bed with her sisters, though the impromptu slumber party was pretty lit.
Not to mention the fact that she, Beck, Andre, and Cat were all busy this past week and couldn't meet up to work on the assignment for Mr. Gradstein's scriptwriting class.
Tori didn't really know where Cat went, but she wasn't at school for most of the week.
And Beck and Jade had been like forces of nature—colliding, coming apart, then drawn back together again.
So, no one in the group had much time to make progress on their assignment.
Beck had texted about it, and they were supposed to meet up over video chat so that they could get this together. And she was still up in the air.
Tori was so exhausted from her lack of sleep that weekend But she was wide awake. The seats on the plane are terrible.
Tori instead pulled out her book But Trina seemed intent on pushing all of Tori's buttons.
As soon as the fasten seatbelt sign was turned off, and the subsequent announcement was made that passengers were free to move about the cabin, Trina nudged Tori. "Hey, Tori," Trina said. Tori rolled her eyes. She dropped the book into her lap but didn't respond. "Hey," Trina repeated.
"What?" Tori bit out tiredly.
Trina turned to her sister, displaying a questionable white cube of something impaled on a fork. "Is this chicken?"
Tori looked at it and Trina shoved the mystery food on a fork closer to Tori's face. Tori took a tentative sniff and wrinkled her nose. "I think it might be pineapple," Tori replied. "Or… part of a thumb."
Trina drew the fork back and observed it again. Then, she distastefully discarded the utensil and mystery food altogether onto her untouched tray, declaring, "Ugh, I can't eat airplane food. Too gross." She gathered up the container and trash and dumped it onto Tori's seat tray. "Ugh," she repeated one last time.
Tori scowled at the items. "And why is this now on my tray table?"
"Because I'm done with it," Trina explained with a shrug.
"I don't care if you're done with it—" Tori's rebuttal was cut off by a thumping sound coming from behind Trina's seat.
"Hey. Hey, kid!" Trina snapped, turning in her seat. "I told you to stop kicking my seat!"
"So?" the kid sneered back, kicking the seat a few more times to emphasize his point.
"Stop that!" Trina exclaimed.
"You're not the queen of this plane," the kid snarked.
Trina spotted the man sitting in the seat next to the rude kid and leaned over with a polite voice Tori had rarely heard before. "Excuse me," Tori heard Trina say, "will you please do something about your son?"
Tori heard the man sigh in the seat directly behind her and flatly ask in the most tired voice Tori had ever heard, "Will you stop kicking her seat?" Tori wouldn't have been surprised if the man had hardly glanced at the kid as he asked the question.
"No," the kid replied smugly.
Trina sank back into her seat with an incredulous expression on her face. "Some people are so rude."
"I know," Tori deadpanned, waving the used napkin Trina had dumped onto her seat tray earlier. She shook her head and tried to return to her book.
The announcement chime sounded overhead again, and this time, a male voice crackled through the speakers. "This is Captain Stewbing. Sorry about our late start today. We should be arriving in Los Angeles at around 11:14 pm."
Tori glanced up from her book. Great, I got the love Boat captain flying my plane… "Wait, what time did he say?" Tori asked Trina, who seemed to be trying to catch some shut-eye during the flight.
"11:14," Trina replied, cracking one eye open to address her sister before rolling her head back toward the window.
Tori rifled through her Purse bag for her phone. Once she extracted it, she checked the time and groaned. "Oh, great. Three and a half hours late."
"Why do you care?" Trina asked.
"I'm supposed to meet Andre, Beck, and Cat to write a script for a class that's due in the morning."
"What teacher?"
"Gradstein," Tori sighed.
"Ooh," Trina winced. "He's tough."
"No shit," Tori stated pulling her laptop out. Maybe she can get things going here. A flight attendant was helping another passenger and coming up the Isle. Tori turned and raised her hand to catch her attention. "Excuse me, does this plane have Wi-Fi?"
"No," the flight attendant clasped her hands apologetically, with nothing resembling pity on her face. "But we do have wireless internet service."
Tori blinked in confusion. "But that's what Wi-Fi is."
"Please don't give me attitude," the flight attendant smiled and walked away.
Tori frowned, "What the f—" she mumbled and turned back to her computer.
"What're you doing?" Trina asked curiously.
"I'm gonna see if Andre's online so we can finish the assignment through video chat."
"Oh, smart. Maybe you guys can—" Trina's suggestion was cut off by more seat thumping. "I swear to god," Trina muttered, She whipped around and glared at the kid. "Did you just kick my seat again?"
"Why don't you ask your butt?" he snarked.
"Look, if you don't knock it off, I'm gonna tell the flight attendant," Trina warned.
"Ooh, you're a scary witch," the kid sneered.
Even Tori turned around to gape at the kid.
"I wish I was a witch," Trina growled, "because I would take my broomstick and I would shove it—"
"Trina!" Tori cut in sharply. "Sit!"
Trina snapped her jaw shut and glared at the kid one last time before slumping back into her seat with a huff.
Tori rolled her eyes before returning to her laptop to complete her connection to the Wi-Fi. "Oh good, Andre's online." Tori requested a video call. She got distracted by Trina turning on the air above them. She had a huge pimple on her arm. And she took a moment to tell her so.
"Don't talk about it," Trina said, covering it.
Moments later, the connection was established, and Andre was greeting her cheerily, "Tori Vega! What's up?"
"Hey," Tori greeted him back. "I'm on the plane," she explained,
"You're on the plane? If I were you I'd get IN the plane!" He said laughing at his own lame dad joke. Tori just looked at him and he stopped laughing. "So you're on the plane…"
"and I'm not gonna land until after 11."
"Oh," Andre frowned. "But we gotta write that script for class."
"I know. Wanna do it over video chat?"
"Yeah, sure," Andre nodded. "I'll text Cat and Beck, and tell 'em to get online." He grabbed his phone and began typing away.
"Cool." Tori breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back for a moment.
The thumping resumed behind Trina's seat.
"Quit kicking my seat!" Trina whirled on the kid yet again.
"Quit kicking my seat!" the kid mocked back. Then, the kid immediately shrank into his own seat, smirking but keeping his legs tame and right in front of him as the flight attendant approached with a tray.
"Your desserts," she explained as she handed a plastic cup and a spoon to each of the passengers.
"Wh-what is this?" Trina asked, observing the plastic-wrapped container with a grimace.
"I dunno," the flight attendant shrugged. "Pudding?" she suggested before continuing her rounds down the aisle. She didn't bother to take in Trina's horrified reaction.
"It's got fur in it," Trina gaped.
Tori grimaced and set aside her "pudding" cup.
"Hey, Tori," Andre waved on camera to get her attention again.
"Oh, hey," Tori turned back to the video chat. "Did you get Cat and Beck?"
"Yeah, they're about to get online," Andre reported.
"Nice," Tori nodded. It was then that she noticed Andre's background. "Wait, where are you?"
"At my grandma's Suite," Andre replied. "She called me and said she was scared because the numbers kept changing on the digital clock."
Tori frowned. "Isn't that what clocks… do?"
"All I know is when I got here, she was hiding under her bed."
Tori offered a sympathetic smile. "Did you get her out?"
"Uh Uh… had to use a little elbow grease," He stated and drank from his bottle of water. Tori cringed, as Andre looked up in the corner of his screen. "Oh, Cat's on."
"Yep, I see," Tori nodded, already requesting Cat to join the video call.
Moments later, Cat joined the chat and chirped a bright greeting, "Hiii!"
"What's up, Little Red?" Andre greeted her. Cat smiled at the nickname fondly.
"Hey, Cat," Tori grinned.
Before she could say anything more, Andre's grandmother's voice cut into the chat. "Andre!" she called loudly. "The numbers on my clock changed again." Her voice quivered in fright.
"It's a clock, Grandma," Andre explained patiently. "The numbers are supposed to change."
The woman, barely halfway into the frame, nodded shakily and slowly walked away. Off-screen, there was an ear-splitting scream that pierced the air.
"What was that?" Cat asked, concerned. Tori dug through her purse for earphones to plug into her laptop. This was getting loud.
"My grandmother just screamed," Andre replied. "I think she saw herself in the mirror." He glanced off to the side.
"Andre, there's another me on the wall!" the woman yelled off-camera. Andre nodded and shook his head in defeat. This was getting worse. His uncle has been threatening to put her away. But what would happen to him? She was all he had. He wouldn't put it past his uncle to wrest control of his trust fund if Grandma went away.
"It's okay, grandma!" Andre replied loudly in the direction of his grandmother. "Just introduce yourself! I'm sure she's nice!"
"Beck's online," Cat noted.
"Yep," Andre corroborated.
Tori nodded. "Requesting…"
"Ow!" Trina squealed all of a sudden.
"What?" Tori questioned, yanking one earbud out of her ear.
"That rotten kid behind me kicked my seat again and made me poke my eye!" Trina held up her tweezers. Tori gasped and looked over at her sister.
"I didn't kick your seat," the kid retorted with faux-innocence.
"You did too!" Trina snapped, turning in her seat yet again.
"You could have impaled your eye." she took a good look at Trina's eye.
"Your brows aren't even nice," he sneered.
"That tears it." Trina got up out of her seat high enough to kneel and reach over behind her seat to grab the kid by his shirtfront with two tightly curled fists.
"Trina!" Tori exclaimed, setting her laptop aside to yank her sister back into her seat by the forearms. "He's a little boy!"
"Yeah," Trina huffed. "And I'm about to put him into a little hospital!" she snapped furiously.
With a final huff of indignation, she turned to curl up in her seat, facing the window, hoping that sleeping would be a safer activity than plucking her eyebrows.
"This is ridiculous," Tori mumbled, annoyed wishing she hadn't stopped Trina from beating the shit out of that kid.
"You requested my face?" Beck's voice said gently as his face popped up on the screen. He was holding a tea cup yorkie.
"Hey, man," Andre grinned.
"Hi," Tori waved.
"Hey, Beck!" Cat chirped.
Tori leaned into her screen. "Is… is that a dog with you?"
Cat gasped. "Look at the puppy!" she cooed.
"He's cute, huh?" Beck grinned, nuzzling his nose into the puppy's little face.
"So cute," Tori agreed with a smile.
"Is he yours?" Andre asked.
"Nah, I'm just watching him for my neighbor while she's at her cheerleading practice," Beck explained.
Andre's face fell. "You live next door to a cheerleader?"
"I do," Beck grinned.
Andre scoffed mirthlessly. "Figures," he scowled with an eye roll. "I live next door to a one-legged old man who throws lemons at me."
Beck shook his head. He had been in Andre's Rich White neighborhood. That dude had called him a wetback on more than one occasion. He isn't even Mexican. Wrong Border you racist asshole. He sighed and looked at his video friends. "So, what's up?"
"Tori's plane is late," Andre explained.
"I don't get in 'til almost midnight," Tori added.
Beck frowned. "But we've got to write the script for Gradstein's class."
"Yeah, so we're gonna do it here over video chat," Andre replied.
"Oh, sounds good," Beck nodded. He bent down to set the puppy on the floor.
"Alright," Tori said. "I will type."
"Cat, read the assignment," Andre requested.
"Kay Kay," Cat chirped, grabbing her notebook and flipping a few pages. "It says, 'Write a single scene script between seven and ten pages. The scene must involve a mystery.' Ooh," Cat intoned. "'Use at least three characters, and have a surprise plot twist,'" she concluded.
"Got it," Beck said.
Andre nodded. "We can do that."
"Ideas?" Tori prompted.
THen Cat's ADHD Brain interrupted progress. "Hey, you guys wanna hear a cute Joke?"
"A joke?" Andre said he loved indulging his cute little friend.
"Listen…" Cat paused. "What did the baby shrimp tell his mom when she told him to share his toys?"
"What?" Tori asked a little impatient to get started... It isn't as if wifi in the sky was free.
"Sorry, I'm a little shellfish!" she stated and laughed at her own stupid joke. Her friends just stared at her. Come on! That was funny! Cat thought looking at her friends. Maybe this will make them laugh. "Get it? Cause shrimp are very self-centered." She affected this wide-eyed look that Daniel just loved. She knew it was endearing. It had no effect on her friends.
Tori leaned forward with her brows furrowed. "I think the joke is that the word shellfish sounds like selfish."
Cat gasped. "Oh that's even funnier!" she laughed and tried to bring levity then just forgot about it. "Okay back to the script." She said seriously. Then she moved the chat window aside so that she could browse the Sky store online while they worked.
"Hey, maybe there's a kid who goes into a closet to look for something, and—"
A video chat request popped up on Tori's screen. Tori groaned and rolled her eyes at the screen name.
"What?" Beck asked at the same time that Andre asked, "Who's that?"
"Robbie's requesting to join the chat," Tori replied. She sighed and accepted.
The four groupmates exchanged half-hearted greetings, Cat was the only one who seemed glad to see him and started to tell him the joke about the shellfish, but Robbie cut her off. "I'm a little shellfish, you told me yesterday." He said
"Pooh…" Cat said surprised that Robbie had dared to talk to her like that.
"Listen," he said, "I need your guys' help."
"Robbie," Andre cut in.
"We're trying to work on a script that's due in the morning," Tori explained.
"This will just take a second," Robbie declared confidently.
"Okay," Beck shrugged, grabbing an apple to eat. "What's your problem?" Beck asked, taking a big bite.
"On Friday at school," Robbie began to explain, "I asked Leah if she wanted to see a movie with me on Sunday night. True or false?" Robbie directed the question at his little sister.
"You said, 'How would you feel about seeing a movie on Sunday night,'" his sister replied. "And I said, 'Sounds like a plan.'"
"Exactly!" Robbie turned back to face his four friends, who were in various states of disinterest. "And now it's Sunday night, and Leah says she has other plans!"
"Which I do," Leah added snidely.
Robbie turned to the girl. "Why would you go and make other plans when you said you'd see a movie with me?"
"You guys," Tori groaned. The sibling squabble rates are real on this day.
"I never said I would see a movie with you," Leah argued. "I said, 'Sounds like a plan.'"
"What's the difference?" Robbie asked heatedly.
"You never called me to confirm," Leah replied simply.
"I'm gonna get a root beer," Andre mumbled, quickly rising out of his seat.
Beck shook his head. "Robbie. Leah. You guys work this out yourselves."
Tori's cursor already hovered over the Kick button. "Bye, Robbie," Tori waved.
"Wait, no!" Robbie protested. "Don't kick us out of the chat! No, don't—"
"Alright," Andre said, settling back into his chair, beverage in hand. "Back to our script."
"Hey, what if we write about a giraffe who learns to love?" Cat suggested.
The other three grimaced and hesitated. "I don't know if we can make a mystery out of that," Beck said.
"Let's just stick to the kid in the closet," Andre replied.
Cat pouted but didn't say anything more.
"Right," Tori took the lead again. "So, I was thinking, maybe he comes home from school looking for something. And he goes into his closet, and there's like a small secret door in the back of…"
Cat's giggles interrupted Tori's train of thought. Well, her giggles and the sudden shifting rainbow colors flowed across her video.
"Cat?" Tori leaned into the screen to squint at Cat's video. "What are you doing?"
"I clicked on 'Rainbow,'" she giggled. She raised her hands and wiggled her fingers, and sparkles appeared following wherever her hands traced.
Tori chuckled despite herself. "Will you please stop that?" she asked gently.
"We've got to do this project," Andre firmly added.
"Sorry," Cat said, immediately shutting off the effect.
"Where were we?" Tori sighed.
"Uh, the kid goes into his closet," Andre supplied.
"Right," Tori nodded. "And maybe he's not a normal kid. Maybe he's, like, created by a scientist in a government lab or—"
Another video chat request appeared on the screen.
"Who'sThat?" Andre asked.
"Jade," Beck replied with a frown. "Let's see what she wants."
Tori reluctantly accepted. As soon as Jade's video loaded, Beck explained, "Hey, look, we're doing this project that's due tomorrow morning, so—"
"Where have you been?" Jade interrupted him. She was scowling, looking annoyed and frustrated… and so hot. Tori thought, sitting back to watch that girl.
She had just gotten the two back together. How could they be fighting like this already? "Home," Beck replied. "Why?"
"I left you a voicemail, and you haven't called me back," Jade bit out.
"I'm… doing homework," Beck explained, clearly confused as to why Jade was irritated. He had told her this before.
"So you wanna break up with me?" Jade concluded.
"Wait, no," Beck frowned, shaking his head. "No. Why would you think that I want to break up with you?"
"Why do you have that animal?" Jade scowled, again cutting Beck off.
"It's my neighbor's dog."
"His neighbor, the cheerleader," Andre added with a grin.
"Cheerleader?" Jade repeated through gritted teeth.
"Why," Beck sighed. "Why would you say that?"
"Sorry," Andre shrugged. But Tori could see Andre's jealousy clear as day. Andre did have the decency to look apologetic, obviously sensing that he just set off the couple on another big argument.
"Why are you doing favors for a cheerleader?" Jade questioned. "And what is she doing for you?"
"It's not what you think," Beck tried to explain. "She's just—"
"I'm coming over there," Jade decided quickly.
"No, no, you don't need to—"
Jade exited the chat, much to Tori's relief. Nothing made her more anxious than seeing a worked-up Jade.
"Alright," Tori sighed. "So far, we have nothing. So it would be great if we could do a little writing together. Okay?"
Cat giggled, and Tori closed her eyes to count to ten. "Look! I'm in a kaleidoscope! Woooo!" Tori heard Cat say.
"Whoa," Andre breathed. "How does she do that?"
"You just click 'Effects' in the lower left," Cat explained.
Tori opened her eyes to see a bobbing mirrored Cat head floating amongst repeated patterns. "This is not a time for effects!" Tori protested. But of course, her protests were ignored.
"Hey, look at me!" Andre gleefully said. His forehead was swelled into focus like a fishbowl lens. "You guys are giving me a headache," he joked.
"Andre!"Tori protested this was going to cost her a fortune, and she was going to make them all pay.
Beck's video began to spin. "Woo, I'm getting dizzy! Look at me! I'm spinning around!"
"What effect is that?" Cat gasped.
"It's spinning clockwise," Beck replied.
"Why tell her that?" Tori exploded.
Cat's video began to spin like Beck's.
"We're not making progress," Tori insisted.
"Here I go!" Andre laughed. His video began to spin.
With all three videos spinning like that, Tori felt her stomach lurch. She was beginning to get a little motion sick. She squeezed her eyes shut and snapped, "Andre, I need you to focus!"
But the three were having too much fun.
"You guys," she managed to say when she trusted she wouldn't vomit, "we have a project to work on! I'm not gonna sit here and watch you guys spin clockwise!"
"Hey, you heard the lady," Beck finally said. "Ready?"
"Counterclockwise!" Andre cheered as all three videos began to spin in the other direction in perfect synchronization.
"When did I become the mature one," Tori moaned.
"I don't know," Trina shrugged next to her. Her seat lurched forward, and Tori glanced over, pulling out one earbud. Sure enough, the kid was at it again with the seat-kicking.
Tori hailed the flight attendant, who was walking up the aisle to check on the passengers. She was going to put a stop to it and NOW.
At last, it seemed like they were getting somewhere. "So, the little boy yells—" Her sister snored next to her, and Tori looked her over, embarrassment coloring her cheeks. Tori returned to the script. "The little boy yells, what?"
"How about, 'Mom, there's evil in my closet,'" Andre suggested. "'Eviiiilll…'"
"Okay," Tori nodded, typing away. "Good. And how do I spell, 'Eviiiilll'?"
"Use four 'i's and three 'l's," Beck supplied.
"Got it." Tori finished typing out the line and continued, "Okay, now, why don't we say, the mom walks into the closet to find her son's face being eaten by—"
"—by a giraffe!" Cat suggested with a giggle.
"Cat, we said we weren't going to do the giraffe idea," Tori groaned. Cat's eyes began to tear up. "Oh come on Cat, don't cry!" Tori said
"And there she goes…" Beck said and Cat signed off the chat.
Tori groaned and sank back into her chair.
"What happened?" Trina asked, leaning over.
"We just lost Cat. I may have hurt her feelings."
"Ah," Trina nodded. "That girl seems really strange."
"I know," Tori agreed.
"Let's just continue," Beck suggested. He recapped, "Okay, so there's evil in the closet. 'Eviiiilll.'"
Tori readily joined. "Yeah, so what if the closet starts to turn into this fiery den of—"
Another video chat request appeared on the screen.
Tori let out a whine of frustration. "It's Robbie again. He wants to rejoin our chat."
"No," Andre said, shaking his head, as Beck similarly deadpanned, "Deny it."
"Denied." Tori was already clicking on it, even before the boys provided their opinions.
Then, there was a loud banging coming from Beck's video.
"Open the door!" a familiar voice shouted, sounding distant and somewhat muffled.
Tori squinted at Beck's video. "Is that Jade?"
"Yep," Beck confirmed tiredly. In a louder voice, he shouted back, "I'm busy working on a project!"
The banging continued, more fervent now. "I need to talk to you!"
"Sorry!" Beck replied loudly. "Door's locked!"
There was a crash and the sound of metal clanking onto the concrete.
Beck frowned. "And now it's not locked," he remarked dryly as Jade strode into the trailer.
"She has a key?" Tori asked, confused.
"No, she has a foot," Beck corrected. Jade stood just at the edge of the frame of the camera, hands on her hips.
"What is going on?" she demanded. Andre and Tori exchanged a look.
"You just kicked my door open," Beck retorted indignantly, cradling the small puppy to his chest again, rather protectively.
"Put the dog down, and tell me about this cheerleader chick who lives next door," Jade continued firmly.
"I'm not gonna put the dog down!" Beck argued back.
"Oh, aren't you?" Jade challenged icily.
"If you want to meet the cheerleader," Beck sighed, "she'll be back any minute to pick up her dog."
"Then I'll wait for her." Jade took a seat on the other side of Beck's bed in the background, a fierce scowl etched into her face.
"Whatever you want," Beck relented exasperatedly.
"Okay," Tori grimaced. "Can we get back to writing the script now?"
"Yeah, let's get this done," Andre agreed, an edge of impatience bleeding into his normally lax voice.
"Okay," Beck said. "Boy in closet, face getting eaten. Mom walks in, and…"
"Another video chat request?" Tori gaped in disbelief.
"Who is it now?" Andre asked, tossing his pen onto the table beside his PearBook with a soft clatter.
"Someone named…" Tori frowned. "Lil Stephanie 21?"
"Who's she?" Beck asked, eyebrows furrowed.
"I dunno," Tori shrugged. "Let me see," she sighed.
"Hello…" Robbie said with a sheepish smile.
"Robbie!" Tori slapped her palm against her forehead.
"Dude," Andre deadpanned.
"Oh, come on," Beck groaned.
"You created a fake screen name?" Tori demanded hotly.
"You denied my real one!" Robbie countered.
"But why Lil Stephanie 21?" Andre asked, still confused.
"Because Lil Stephanie 1 through 20 were already taken," Robbie replied like that explained everything.
It did not.
"You… couldn't have picked a boy's name?" Tori asked.
"Well…" Robbie hesitated.
"He's not good at pickig boys names. Robbie what a stretch…" Leah snidely remarked. Becks eyebrows furrowed a moment.
"Hey!" Robbie snapped at the young girl. "Look," he said, shaking his head. "Don't you guys agree that if a person says she'll see a movie with you on Sunday night, she should honor that commitment and not just leave me hanging?"
Tori clicked Kick.
"What happened to Robbie?" Beck asked.
"My finger," Tori replied.
"Ah," Beck nodded.
"Alright, we're not accepting any more chat requests, okay?" Tori sighed.
Both boys agreed readily, and Jade retreated back to the background, sulking.
"Andre!" a new voice called from off-screen.
"Oh man, that's my uncle," Andre explained. "Guess he's here to take over."
"Andre, go keep your grandmamma company while I make dinner," a man's voice instructed firmly.
"But unc, I'm in the middle of a—"
"Now, Andre," the man insisted. Somewhere in the back, Andre's grandmother screamed again.
"I gotta go, guys. I'll join again when dinner is over," he promised before logging off.
"Guess that just leaves you and me," Beck sighed.
"And me," Jade protested.
"Let's just get an F and be done with this," Tori groaned, sinking back into her seat.
"Oh, come on," Beck grinned. "We can finish this script ourselves."
"You really want to?" Tori asked.
"Sure," Beck replied readily. "Why don't we just try to—"
There was a tapping on Beck's trailer door.
"Oh, now what?" Tori groaned. "Is that your cheerleader friend?" She watched as a slow smirk appeard across Jade's face, Tori felt a shiver run down her spine and was afraid for that poor cheerleader. Jade sat up straight, eagerly anticipating the interaction.
"Come in," Beck called out.
"Yeah, come in!" Jade repeated sharply.
"Hi, Beck!" a little girl in a cheerleading uniform greeted Beck brightly, striding up to his side.
"Hi, Allie," Beck greeted her back kindly. He carefully handed the puppy over.
Jade looked absolutely horrified, mortified, and appalled. Her mouth hung agape as she stared openly at the little girl who settled by Beck's side. Tori grinned.
"Jade," Beck said, "this is my neighbor, Allie. Allie, this is my girlfriend, Jade."
"Nice to meet you," Allie turned around to greet Jade, who finally recovered enough sense to snap her jaw shut.
Jade's lips were pulled into a tight smile. "Hello, Allie," she replied with a small wave.
"Thanks for taking care of Sparkles," Allie turned back to Beck, still cradling the small furball to her chest.
"Anytime, kiddo," Beck replied brightly.
"Your girlfriend's pretty," Allie stage-whispered.
"I know," Beck replied likewise, grinning knowingly.
"Bye," Allie sang as she stood up and waved to the couple.
"See ya," Beck waved. Jade sucked on her teeth in the background, warily observing the little girl until she exited the trailer.
As soon as the little girl was out of sight, Jade got to her feet and immediately plopped back down to Beck's side.
"Wow, Jade," Tori drawled, smirking. It wasn't often such a golden opportunity presented itself to Tori. So, of course, Tori had to take advantage of it. "Looks like you got some competition there."
"You gonna say you're sorry?" Beck teased.
"You didn't tell me she was nine," Jade protested.
"You didn't give me the chance," Beck countered.
"Don't try to turn this around on me," Jade argued.
Tori could already see this becoming a full-blown fight or a hot makeout session either way she didn't want to be there for it. "Hey," she tried to say over the rising voices. "Beck? Listen… Can you guys fight later?"
"Stay out of this, Tori!" Jade yelled abruptly.
"But I just need Beck to help me write—" Jade forcefully clicked to leave the chat on Beck's computer, and Tori groaned.
She pulled out her earbuds and unplugged them, coiling them to stuff them back into her purse.
"Now, what're you going to do?" Trina asked with a sympathetic frown.
"I'm going to finish writing the script myself. We have…" Tori checked her phone, "62 minutes until we land, and I'm sure if I type really fast, I'll be able to get down most of the ideas that kept getting interrupted." Tori rolled up her sleeves and got to work.
"No offense Tori... but you are really bad at writing scripts."
"Shut up Trina!"
"You know that's not true!" Beck insisted.
"Isn't it?" Jade retorted hotly. "First, Alyssa Vaughn, and now this cheerleader?"
"Allie is nine years old!"
"A fact that you conveniently forgot to mention!"
"You didn't give me the chance-" Beck repeated, enunciating each word with increasing frustration.
"You could've led with that crucial piece of information. Or mentioned it in passing instead of letting me think that there was something isn't fair. Then you ignore me and work on your Gradstein script!"
"Gradstein is a hard teacher! We all needed this assignment to boost our grades!"
"I could've helped you with the assignment It's not like I'm good at writing or anything. But you had to go and play with my emotions with that so-called cheerleader!"
Beck paused, clearly taken aback by Jade's admission. "Wait, you… you would've helped with the assignment? Helped us?"
"Well, mainly for you, but I guess for the others too," Jade shrugged. "Besides, you know I got the top grade in Gradstein's class last semester."
"Shit, I forgot you had him..." Beck said, a hint of a smile breaking through his anger.
"Of course, you forgot," Jade snapped. "You're too busy with your ... whatever trying to drive me out of my mind that you forget that I am a prize."
Their relationship had always been full of insecurities, always teetering on the edge of jealousy and doubt. Beck secretly liked it when Jade was jealous; it made him feel validated, and important. But Jade was truly getting tired of it. She was exhausted from constantly feeling like she had to defend her place in his life. Yet, she couldn't help falling for it when he baited her.
"I don't like when I have to worry about other girls around you. People who could push me out," Jade continued, her voice a mix of anger and vulnerability. "It doesn't feel great."
"Babe... No one can push you out," Beck stated firmly. "Why can't you see that?"
"Because every time I turn around, there's someone new! How am I supposed to feel secure when you're constantly giving me reasons to doubt us?"
"Nobody can replace you, Jade. No one will," Beck said, trying to soften his tone.
"I hate being Jealous," Jade admitted quietly, her voice trembling with emotion she rarely showed.
"I know. We'll work through this together, eh?"
"shut your stupid Canadian face," Jade stated all the wind knocked out of her sails, no bite in her grumble.
"I'm a kanuk... I can't help it any more than you can help being a jealous gank," Beck shrugged with a teasing smirk.
"You're an ass," Jade agreed.
"your ass..." He said nipping at her jawline.
"You're lucky you're cute"
"Cute?" Beck chuckled. "Is that all I am?"
"You're kinda nice too," Jade offered coyly. "And…" she feigned being deep in thought.
"I love you," he said softly.
"Right back at you," Jade grinned, pulling him into a kiss. The kiss deepened, a familiar warmth spreading through her as their lips moved together in a perfect rhythm. She felt the pull, the undeniable chemistry that always brought them back to each other despite everything.
His hands roamed up her back, pulling her closer, but not too close, respecting her boundaries while still maintaining their connection. She melted into him, letting the moment wash over her, feeling the security she often doubted.
"We are going to work on this jealousy thing though... right?" Beck reiterated, pulling away from the kiss and embrace briefly, his forehead resting against hers.
"Yeah, yeah," Jade said, diving back into the contact, her hands finding their way into his hair, pulling him back to her. In this moment, she could let go of the insecurities and just be with him, knowing they had a lot to work on.