The following day Cat's costume sketches were now complete and fabrics had been chosen. She asked Beck to meet her in the Costume Design classroom at lunchtime for her to get his measurements. It was much earlier than most students had started making their costumes, but Cat was just very eager to start. After hearing the conversation, Jade had chosen to join them. With Andre tinkering with something or the other in the music rooms, Jade didn't want to be left on the lunch table with just Robbie and Tori. She didn't want people thinking they were her friends or something. So here they were, Beck stood by Cat's work station, arms outstretched, flashing his usual laid-back grin. "I feel like a mannequin," he joked, trying to meet Jade's gaze across the room, but she avoided it, pretending to check her nails instead. That grin used to send Jade's heart racing, back when they were together. Now, though, it just annoyed her.
She was about 5 metres away, leaned against the wall of the costume room, arms crossed, eyes narrowed, as she watched Cat move around Beck. The clinking sound of pins in a small box accompanied Cat's soft, focused murmurs as she measured his shoulders for the Ebenezer Scrooge costume. She wouldn't admit it—at least not out loud—but something about Cat had always intrigued her. The quiet confidence, the way she never seemed intimidated by anyone, not even Jade. That was rare. But now, watching Cat get close to Beck, measuring the fabric around his chest and shoulders, Jade felt the familiar knot in her stomach, but someone it felt a little different this time.
Jealousy.
The thought hit her like a slap. Not again. This was the whole problem she'd had while with Beck, but not since they'd broken up, and never with Cat being close to him. Wait, surely she couldn't be jealous of him now. Being close to Cat. Oh there was that feeling again, the Cat one, the one she'd been desperately trying to ignore. She'd slept on Cat's idea, actually she'd barely slept at all because of Cat's idea, but she was no closer to deciding what to do about it.
Cat tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, completely oblivious to the storm brewing just a few paces away. "Hold still, Beck," she said softly, standing on her tiptoes to reach his collar, fingers brushing the back of his neck for just a second too long.
The uncomfortable twist in Jade's gut grew. Her jaw clenched. She wasn't used to feeling this powerless, especially not over someone like Cat.
Beck chuckled, his voice casual, "You're a perfectionist, Cat."
"That's because this has to look good on stage," Cat replied, smiling faintly as she continued to measure. Jade's stomach churned at the sight of it. Her eyes followed Cat's hands as they moved over Beck's arm, down to his wrist. Cat was so close to him—too close.
She should've felt annoyed at Beck. After all, he was her ex, and they hadn't exactly ended on great terms. But that wasn't it. What bothered her, what gnawed at her, was Cat. The way she stood there, so comfortable, so unbothered, making Beck laugh as if it were the easiest thing in the world.
"Hey, stay still or I'll poke you with a pin," Cat muttered, but there was a soft smile on her lips.
Jade's fingers curled into fists at her sides. She'd always been the one in control, the one people were jealous of. It was always Jade who made people feel insecure, not the other way around. And yet, here she was, standing in the shadows, watching Cat—sweet, kind, ditsy Cat—get under her skin. A flash of heat ran through her, the kind that made her want to march over, yank that measuring tape out of Cat's hands. But she didn't. She stayed put, frozen by feelings she didn't know how to handle. She didn't need to be there, Beck had reminder her of that at the first snarky comment she had made earlier, but still she just couldn't bring herself to leave.
Cat tilted her head, biting her lip in concentration as she checked measurement again before noting them down on the notepad on the table beside them.
"Okay, top half done," Cat said finally, pulling back and flashing Beck a small smile. "I'll keep you updated on how it looks when I start making it, and any notes you may have."
Beck laughed, lowering his arms and rolling his shoulders. "I'm sure whatever you made will be perfect Cat." He glanced over toward Jade. "Think I'll make a good Scrooge?"
Jade forced a smirk, though her heart was still pounding. "You'll probably forget half your lines," she shot back, her voice sharp, but her gaze shifted briefly to Cat who was about to start measuring his legs.
"Cat," she said suddenly, her voice louder than she intended. Both Beck and Cat turned to look at her. Jade straightened up and forced a casual smirk onto her face. "I need to talk to Cat for a minute. You can manage without her for a second, right?"
Beck blinked, a little confused, but shrugged. "Uh, sure. Not like I'm going anywhere."
Cat raised an eyebrow, looking surprised. "Everything okay, Jade?"
"Yeah, everything's fine." Jade tried to keep her tone cool, but she could feel the tension in her voice. "Just come here for a second."
Cat hesitated, then set the measuring tape down and walked toward Jade, curiousity flickering in her eyes. Jade led her just outside the door, out of Beck's earshot, but close enough that the muffled sounds of him humming to himself filled the hallway.
"I thought about it." She said, spitting the words out quickly before logic caught up with her mouth to stop her. "Come over tonight."
"Oh, kay kay." Cat nodded curtly with a soft smile, accepting Jade's decision. And turned back towards the classroom door.
"Wait-" Jade said, placing a hand on Cta's shoulder to guide her back around. "I don't get why you're so... chill about everything," Jade muttered, frustration creeping into her voice. "You act like nothing ever bothers you."
Cat's expression softened just slightly, like she was trying to figure Jade out. "Maybe I don't show it the way you do," she said after a beat. "But that doesn't mean nothing bothers me." Sometimes Cat came out with these randomly really deep lines, like she was wiser than she often let on. It caught Jade off guard for a second.
Jade felt her heart stop for a second. "Does this bother you? Cause we don't have to, I just thought, cause it was your idea-" The question hung in the air,
"Jadey no." Cat shook her head looking deep into Jade's blue eyes. There was no judgment, no smugness—just understanding.
It made her chest tighten again, but this time it wasn't from jealousy. It was something else, something softer, something she didn't want to admit even to herself. "I know what you're going through. Feelings are confusing, I'm just happy to help!" She smiled once again.
Without another word, Jade gave a quick nod, then turned and walked away back towards the Asphalt Cafe to get some lunch. She could feel Cat's eyes on her the whole way, but she didn't look back.
"I'll be there at 7!" Cat called after her friend, who didn't acknowledge her in any way. Jade really was a complicated girl but hey, that was all part of her mystery.
Walking back into the room she greeted Beck again, who was still humming to himself, oblivious to everything that had just happened. "No Jade?" He asked as Cat shut the door behind herself.
"Oh no she went to get a - uh - donut." Cat lied.
"Huh she hates donuts." Beck replied, furrowing his eyebrows before dismissing it. "Still feels like she's keeping an eye on me sometimes", He shook his head to himself.