Final Project

XXIX.

The rest of their time on the Jumbo Floating Restaurant went perfectly. After they cleaned themselves up and snuggled a bit longer in their room, they put their fancy clothes back on and went up to the top deck. It was well into the night by this time, so the restaurant turned on all its lights. Tori mentioned that she wished they had floating lanterns to go along with the evening. Luckily, the boat had a small gift shop that was still open, so Beck bought a lantern for each of them.

"Kinda reminds you of that night, huh?" Tori smiled over at Beck, holding the lantern gently between her hands as the restaurant floated slowly back to the middle of the river.

"The night you finally let me kiss you," Beck agreed, holding his lantern in a similar way.

Tori laughed softly, "Exactly…I know it was just…well, a few days ago really…but it almost feels like a lifetime ago…"

"That's cause we just got to Japan then," Beck reasoned (and Tori couldn't help but love the look Beck got when he was explaining something…with his eyebrows up high, his eyes shining, his lips curled just slightly), "And now we're about to leave."

Tori only sighed, which made Beck ask, "Sad about that?"

While half shrugging, or more like a shimmy of her shoulders, Tori replied: "Meh…I'm not sure, honestly. I love being here, but I'm kinda starting to miss…" she paused for a very long moment, her eyes averting from his to her lantern, "people."

Beck gave a short, breathy laugh, "It's okay to say you miss Andre, Tor."

She gave a guilty look, "Really?"

"Yeah!" He answered instantly, looking out at the water, "I mean, there's different ways of missing people, ya know? He's been your friend the longest, so it's only natural."

Tori bit her bottom lip gently, looking at the water also. It made her feel a bit awkward talking about Andre to Beck, but she really felt like she needed to let some of her feelings out. And since Beck seemed to be so understanding of that, she couldn't stop herself, "I wonder if he'll ever want to sing with me again. I mean, he's been all about his music career the whole time we were in high school, so he can't just drop the one person that helped him get so far, right?"

Beck only half nodded, "Maybe. You never know."

Tori continued, "And even when we were dating, it's not like we were all over each other when we were writing or performing a song. So it could still work, right?"

Beck glanced over at her, sensing her becoming a bit erratic, "Possibly…"

"And besides, we've had other big fights before and we somehow always made up without even trying. That's how it works with best friends, right? You're mad one second, then the next you're fine again, right?"

Beck started off slowly, "Right…true, but I think this time is a little different than—."

"Are you saying that he's never going to talk to me again?" She straight up asked, turning her body toward him with grave worry in her glistening eyes.

"Tor, I…" He turned toward her also. He really wanted to pull her into a hug at that moment, but that would mean they would have to let go of their lanterns. And it wasn't time yet. Their glowing lanterns were touching, two bright orbs standing in between them, "Andre's the only one that can give you the answers you need to hear, Sweetie. I can't speak for him."

Tori nodded, but her mind got caught up in his nickname for her. Sweetie. It was cute…she liked it when he called her that. She recalled all the times that Beck called Jade "Babe." That was her name for him. Then she thought about Andre's name for her. Baby Girl. He started calling her that instantly and it instantly stuck. She knew it was silly of her, but she wondered if the nickname was going to be the thing that she ended up missing the most.

She wondered if he would still call her that when…if…they spoke next.

"Tori?"

Tori snapped out of her thoughts when Beck said her name. She instantly dismissed the subject and turned toward the railing, holding her lantern up a bit higher, "Wish and release with me?"

"Of course," Beck grinned, mimicking her actions.

Tori closed her eyes, made a wish, then let go of her lantern, giving it an upward thrust. When she opened her eyes, she saw Beck did the same at the same time.

"What you wish you?" Tori asked.

Beck wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her tightly against him, "If I tell you, it might not come true."

She smiled up at him before looking to the sky to watch their lanterns float effortlessly in the night air, "Can I have a teeny detail?"

Beck pressed his lips to her hair before replying lowly, "It's about you."

Tori's smile faltered just a bit, but not enough for him to notice. She was glad when he didn't ask about her wish. Because her wish only involved Andre and forgiveness.

The rest of their time in Japan was spent working on their project. They only had a few more days to perfect it, and they knew they wanted to get it right while they still could. They had a few days before they had to perform it when they got back, but they took jet lag into consideration, and didn't feel like trying to concentrate when they were super tired.

Tori continued to leave her laptop open in hopes of that call from Andre…the call that still never came. She thought about trying to reach him a few times, but felt too nervous to do so. She wondered if Andre felt nervous, too, and that's why he didn't contact her. How dumb would that be?

Saturday morning came before they knew it. The morning their flight was scheduled. Shiori agreed to drive them back to the airport, since that was the place they first met. She got teary eyed on the drive there, and Tori had to hold her hand for most of the trip. But she was holding back a lot of tears as well. Shiori was quick to become a good friend…Tori was positive even a best friend. She wished Shiori could go to back to LA with them and become one of their crew.

If they even still had a crew when they got back…

"Guess this is it," Shiori announced sadly as she stopped at the baggage gates. It really sucks that people can't wait at the terminal with you anymore.

Tori gave a small smile, "You have my e-mail and number?"

Shiori nodded, "And you have mine?"

Tori nodded this time, "Sure do. I'll keep in touch."

Shiori chuckled softly, "I hope you're not just saying that like most people do."

Tori frowned a bit, rubbed Shiori's shoulder comfortingly, then pulled her foreign friend into a tight hug, "I'll miss you too much for that."

Shiori's hug was like a vise grip around Tori's small frame, but she endured it to make Shiori feel better.

"Come here, you!" Shiori yelled at Beck as she wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him in for a group hug, "You guys still better invite me to the wedding."

"You'll be the first to know," Tori reassured her, and she didn't feel like she was lying. Shiori was the one that watched them go from friends to lovers, and Tori couldn't imagine Shiori not being the first person she would call to tell the news.

"Good. Okay, well, I love you guys! Have a safe trip back to the states!" Shiori said as she let them go.

"We'll let you know when we land," Beck told her, grinning as he wrapped an arm around his girlfriend to comfort her after her lack of contact with Shiori.

Shiori nodded briefly, wiped her eyes quickly, then turned on her heel while throwing a peace sign of her shoulder, "Ja ne!"

"Ja ne!" The couple yelled back, getting a few odd looks from people due to their obvious American accent.

Tori inhaled and exhaled deeply as she watched Shiori walk away, "I already miss her…"

"Well, hey, at least you have the red-headed version of her at home, right?"

Tori giggled and kissed his cheek, "True."

Tori was glad she remembered to buy sleep-aid pills before they took off. Granted, she hadn't gotten much sleep the night before again…she just couldn't stop thinking and worrying about the reunion with her friends when she got home. When she first left for Japan, she didn't think she would be feeling this way at all. It was supposed to be a joyous event…they were all supposed to go to KaraOKAAAAY together for a night of fun, eat some Sushi, go to a late movie, celebrate their graduation…

Who knew what was going to happen now. She imagined that poor Cat and Robbie would get stuck in the middle as Jade will probably make them choose between hanging out with her and Andre over Tori and Beck. And once Jade gets into Cat's head and makes her realize what "terrible human beings" Tori and Beck are for cheating, Cat could very well choose Jade's side. And if she does, Robbie might also. Does that mean she'll be losing everyone?

She looked over at Beck who was sitting next to her on the plane. He already had the neck pillow around his neck with his eyes closed. The plan was for both of them to sleep the whole ride to avoid boredom, but Tori just couldn't get her mind to shut down long enough to pass out.

It was going to be a rough week…

"Beck. Beck!" Tori said his name, shaking his shoulder a bit roughly.

"Hmm, what?" Beck groggily replied, lifting his head up and blinking his eyes at the bright lights.

"We're home," Tori informed him.

"Already?" Beck stuck the bottom of his palm in his eyes in an attempt to wake up.

"You slept the whole trip this time," Tori told him with a small grin.

"You mean you didn't?"

"Eh, on and off."

"Even with the sleeping pills?"

Tori shrugged as she tried to smooth out her hair, as it got a bit messed up and tangled from her seat, "Couldn't really stop worrying…"

"Ah…" Beck nodded his head up, wishing he could tell her that she didn't have anything to worry about. But he knew what she was worried about, so, truth-be-told, she kind of did have something to worry about.

Tori was almost glad he didn't try to make her feel better, because it would have just made her feel worse when it didn't work. They remained silent for the rest of the landing, only listening to the pilot speaking as they unbuckled themselves and grabbed their carryon luggage.

As they stepped off the plane and into familiar territory, she finally spoke, "Are we gonna grab a cab back to—."

"Tori! Over here!" Tori heard the recognizable voice calling her name and shot her head to the left to see her mom standing there waving excitedly.

Tori smiled promptly, "Mom!" She ran as fast as her tired legs could carry her before throwing her arms around her, "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you, too, Honey!" Holly said as she wrapped her daughter up in a big hug, "I wanted to surprise you by picking you up. Hope you didn't have someone else getting you?"

Tori shook her head, "Don't think so. Did you, Beck?" She asked as she turned toward him.

Beck shook his head as well, "I'm not even sure who's all back yet."

"Okay, good. I'll drive you both home, then," Holly offered, giving Beck a quick, friendly hug as well.

They gathered up the rest of their luggage at the conveyor belt before heading out into the California sun. Tori breathed in deeply, having missed the smell of her hometown. She was glad her mother came to pick them up…Tori still felt like she didn't know what to say to Beck now, and riding in the back of a cab with him would have felt awkward. She really hated feeling this way, but now that they weren't in Japan…the place that brought them together…she wasn't sure how to act.

She hoped it wouldn't last.

"So…tell me all about Japan!" Holly requested as soon as she started the car. Tori sat in the passenger seat while Beck sat in the back behind Holly.

Tori sighed deeply in thought, "Wow…I don't even know where to begin…"

"It was definitely flashy," Beck chimed in.

"Yes! And, oh, Mom, we met the coolest girl there named Shiori. She's super talented…she even got a record deal while we were there and I recorded a track with her!" Tori rushed her words excitedly, just then realizing that this was the first time she was able to brag about it. Everyone else that knew, which only included Andre and Beck, were there when she found out.

Holly's eyes widened a bit, "Really? Guess we're gonna have to buy a Japanese CD when it gets released."

Tori laughed "Yeah…oh! And I got to sing at this really cool club called Club Dragon and everyone loved me!"

"Don't they always?" Holly grinned, patting Tori on the knee, "Still, I thought this trip was about seeing Japan, not performing and getting record deals."

"I'll have to show you pictures when we get home. It'll be easier to start from there," Tori bounced a bit in her seat, feeling truly excited to show both of her parents her adventure. She happened to spot Beck from the corner of her eye and turned her head to look back at him. He was smiling softly at her, and she returned it, though she saw the question in his eyes. Was she going to tell her mother already about them? Tori didn't give Beck a nonverbal answer.

Because…as it stood…Tori wasn't sure how her mom was going to take the news. Would she be ashamed of her daughter for cheating? Tori knew that Holly had a soft spot for Andre, and that spot kept increasing the longer their relationship went on. Tori also knew that her mother would support her decision (because it was, after all, Tori's decision who she dated), but she still worried about how the conversation would go.

Great…another thing to worry about.

For the rest of the drive, Holly made small talk about what's been going on in LA since they've been gone. Tori listened attentively, but still couldn't help but stare at Beck from her peripheral vision the whole time. She was sure he felt her uneasiness and was no doubt wondering what her next move was going to be. Tori almost felt like they were back at the beginning of the game…

Holly stopped the car when she pulled up next to Beck's RV.

"Thanks for the ride, Mrs. Vega," Beck said gratefully, grabbing one of his bags and jumping out of the car.

"I'll help you carry your stuff in," Tori said, jumping out a bit quicker than was needed, "Be right back, Mom."

"No problem," she said, pulling out her cell phone and giggling like a high school girl as she read a text message.

Tori learned a long time ago to ignore that, so she just went to the trunk and grabbed one of Beck's bags as he grabbed the other. They walked over to his RV, Beck unlocked the door and stepped inside, Tori dragging the bag up with her.

Setting his bag in the corner, she didn't go any further than the top of the stairs, "Okay, well…I'll talk to you later, kay?"

"Tori, wait," Beck stopped her just as she was turning to head back to the car.

Tori stopped, but shifted uncomfortably, which didn't go unnoticed by Beck. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "What's going on, Tori? You've been acting weird since we landed."

Biting her bottom lip, her fingers began fidgeting around themselves, "It's nothing, it's just…weird being back, ya know?"

"To be honest…I'm not really sure what you mean, but it sure is making me feel weird," Beck confessed, "I mean, I'm not even sure if I should kiss you goodbye right now."

These words stung, but she knew it was her fault. Closing her eyes, her shoulders slumped, "I'm just really scared about what's going to happen with our friends is all…"

When she opened her eyes, Beck was staring at her curiously, "Are you sure that's all, Tor?"

She gathered all her strength to flash him the smile he needed to see, "I'm positive. But…things will work out one way or the other, right?"

For the first time since she's asked, Beck finally agreed, just to be on the safe side, "Right."

"Good," Tori took the few steps forward to reach him, bringing her lips to his in a sweet kiss. He kissed her back eagerly, his hand pressing into her lower back.

"God, I'm gonna miss spending every night with you…" he murmured against her lips, giving her small, short kisses in between, "You think you can come over tonight?"

With this question, she brought her hands up to lay flat on his chest, pushing just enough to make a small distance between them, "Beck, I'm not sure if—."

"Right, right…I'm sorry for asking," he apologized sincerely, kissing her again, "Call me though?"

"I will…which reminds me, gotta tell Shiori we made it," Tori chuckled, gave Beck another kiss, then turned toward the door, "Say hi to your parents for me."

"Will do…" Beck said, shoving his hands in his pockets as he watched her leave.

And as Tori shut the door to his RV, she couldn't help but feel terrible about lying to him. No, being scared of her friends' reactions was not all that was on her mind. Truth was, Japan was already beginning to feel like a dream to her, and she didn't know how to handle her new-found relationship out of Japan.

When she hopped back into the car, Holly put her phone down and looked over at her daughter. She instantly saw the distraught look on her face.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

Tori slowly looked over to her, her mind too busy to even cry, "I need your help, Mom…"

()()()()()()()()()

Hey everyone! Okay, before I begin on AN, I gotta answer a question a reviewer asked a few chapters back that I kept forgetting to answer. She asked how I knew so much about Japan. I was stationed there when I was in the navy.

Now...onto other matters. Are you guys feeling a bit nervous about where I'm going with this? Or are you liking the buildup for drama? Either way, I'm not sure if I should tell you to be worried or not. You may be asking...why is Tori acting like this? Why is she acting all indecisive-like again? While her actions may be annoying you, I can't help but write her this way right now. It feels the most realistic to me. I'm not taking the easy road, people!

I just got done watching "The Bad Roommate" a few hours ago. Okay, I just can't help it, but ever since "Berry Balls" I started liking Andre a lot...and that hasn't happened since the very beginning of the series. But seeing this latest episode helped me get some insight into how he reacts when he's mad. At Tori especially, which is *very* helpful. This is just to say that...I'm kinda on Andre's side right now lol.

I also need to tell you guys that school starts again Monday. Where the hell did break go? I meant to write 3x more than I did, and it makes me feel icky that I didn't. I'm taking 18 credit hours this semester though, 3 more than I took during the fall. Which means busy, busy, busy. When will I update next? Wish I could tell ya.

I think this was all I needed to say...I hope so. If not, I'm not sure when I'll get another chance. I do want to throw out many thank yous to my approximately 30 very supportive reviewers, the 200 people that have this story on their Favs list, and the 298 people who are following. Every one of you is super spectacular! ;)