It had been a few weeks since Jade and Cat's relationship had taken that turn into something deeper. While the two of them fully understood the their newfound closeness, the rest of their group had just begun to notice the subtle shift in dynamic. Looks of speculation started as their friends caught more glimpses of Jade's protective instincts and Cat's unrestrained joy whenever they were together.

On this particular lunchtime, the gang were sat on their usual table, Tori was bubbling with excitement as she tried to rally everyone for a group hangout. "Okay, so here's the plan!" she announced. "I thought we could all go to Karaoke Dokie tonight! It'll be fun—singing, snacks, a whole group vibe. Who's in?"

Beck shook his head. "I can't tonight, Tori. I've got rehearsals for the play. Maybe another time?"

Tori groaned dramatically, rolling her eyes. "Come on, Beck! Again? You're always at rehearsals!"

"Play's in two weeks," Beck shrugged with a nonchalant smile. "Gotta be ready."

Tori sighed, her excitement dimming a little. She turned to Andre, who had been quietly observing the conversation. "Okay, fine. Andre? You're in, right?"

Andre scratched the back of his neck, his expression clearly reluctant. "Uh, I've got work tonight. But let you know if I finish early?"

Tori's face fell a little but she quickly turned to her next targets, Jade and Cat. "Jade? Cat? Please tell me you guys are free?"

Cat opened her mouth, looking a bit conflicted, but Jade smoothly cut in before she could say anything. "Yeah, no, sorry, Vega. I've got… plans. Real important stuff."

Tori's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Plans? What kind of plans?"

"Personal plans," Jade answered coolly, shooting Tori a look that said 'don't push it'. "Cat's with me. We can't come."

Cat nodded a little too enthusiastically. "Yeah, super busy tonight! Maybe next time?"

Tori's face fell slightly, disappointment creeping into her voice. "Ugh, fine! You're all ditching me! Another time?"

Andre chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Sure, another time."

As it turned out, Jade's 'important personal plans' simply involved another of her and Cat's date nights. Jade had found out about an outdoor movie screening at a local park. With it being winter, the sun had long set and there was a slight nip in the air, nothing a coat couldn't fix though. Within the low light, fairy lights strung between the trees twinkled to life, illuminating the space with a magical glow. At the end, a large outdoor screen had been set up, there seemed to be about 50 other people sat on various camping chairs and blankets but Jade couldn't distinguish any faces. That's why she'd chosen it really, their dates were still rather secretive so she didn't want any of their friends stumbling across them in this very obviously date setting.

When they found a good spot, Jade held the blanket as Cat spread it out on the grass beneath a large oak tree,

"Look! They're showing 10 Things I Hate About You! I love this movie!" Cat exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she settled down on the blanket.

Jade settled next to her, watching the crowd as they gathered. "I know, I brought the tickets," she said, trying to hide her amusement. "I've never seen it."

Cat gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. "What? You've never seen it? You're in for a treat, Jade! I love this movie!" She repeated.

As the opening credits rolled, Jade dug into a bag of caramel popcorn that Cat had brought with her, both settling into their cozy spot on the blanket, the soft grass beneath them a gentle cushion. The sounds of laughter and conversation from other groups faded into the background as they leaned into each other, the warmth radiating between them.

Jade instinctively wrapped her arm around Cat, pulling her close. Cat nestled into Jade's side, resting her head against her shoulder. The rhythmic rise and fall of Jade's breath was calming, and Cat felt her heart flutter with happiness. The glow of the movie screen illuminated their faces, casting a soft light that highlighted Cat's bright eyes.

As the characters on screen navigated the ups and downs of young love, Cat occasionally whispered playful comments or giggled at the jokes, her laughter infectious. Jade couldn't help but smile at her girlfriend's excitement; Cat's enthusiasm made the moment feel even more special. With each passing scene, Jade found herself glancing down at Cat, her heart swelling with affection.

"Isn't this the best?" Cat whispered, her voice barely above a hush, her breath tickling Jade's neck.

"Definitely," Jade replied softly, tightening her hold on Cat, the world around them fading into a soft blur.

As they continued to watch the movie, Jade felt a sense of comfort and belonging envelop her. It was as if nothing else mattered but this moment with Cat, wrapped up in each other's warmth, savouring the sweetness of their connection under the stars. Jade felt her heart flutter at the sweet moments, especially when they mirrored the connection she felt with Cat.

"I can see why you like it. But you're definitely more like Bianca than Kat." Jade said, speaking up about half way through the movie.

Cat giggled, nudging her playfully. "That's because I'm quirky and fun! And who wouldn't want to date someone like Joseph Gordon-Levitt?"

Jade rolled her eyes, a playful smirk on her lips. "Well, you can date Joseph. But where would that leave me?"

"Nooo, I want to date you silly." Cat replied playfully, batting Jade lightly on the arm.

Jade looked deep into Cat's eyes, her heart racing with a sudden burst of courage. "You know," she started, her voice a bit hesitant, "I've been thinking a lot about that."

Cat's eyes sparkled, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "What about it?"

Jade took a deep breath, the words spilling out with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "I want us to be official. Like, I want you to be my girlfriend."

Cat's face lit up, her smile radiating pure joy. "Oh my gosh! Really? Yes! I want that too!"

Jade felt a rush of relief wash over her, the tension lifting as they shared a moment of happiness. "Good, because I wasn't about to ask anyone else."

Their laughter blended into the surrounding noise of the park, the stars twinkling above them. As the movie reached its climax, Cat turned to Jade, her eyes wide with enthusiasm. "This is the best date ever!"

After the movie ended, Cat jumped up, her energy infectious. "Can we go to Karaoke Dokie now? I'm in a singing mood! Please?"

Jade raised an eyebrow, momentarily caught off guard. "Didn't we lie to Vega earlier about not being able to go there tonight? You really want to risk running into her?"

Cat shrugged, her grin mischievous. "I don't think she would have gone alone. And besides, I'm ready to show off our duet!" Last week they'd discovered how amazingly their voices worked in the song 'Take Me or Leave Me' from RENT. (A/N there's a video on YouTube of them dueting this song… watch it).

Jade sighed, a playful roll of her eyes accompanying her words. "Fine. But if we see her, you're doing the talking."

With that, they headed to Karaoke Dokie, slipping inside the familiar venue, which was alive with the sound of laughter and off-key singing. The moment they entered, Jade let out a small sigh of relief. There was no sign of Tori or the rest of the group.

Cat tugged Jade towards the song selection screen, bouncing with excitement as she went to the sign up sheet, it seemed there was a slot right after the current singers, who were just wrapping up now. "Ooh yay!" She picked the backing tracks from the list and pulled Jade straight onto the stage.

Once she'd regained her footage from being dragged, Jade stood by the mic, her usual cool confidence on display. As they'd practice, she went first:

"Every single day I walk down the street

I hear people say, "Baby, so sweet"

Ever since puberty, everybody stares at me

Boys, girls, I can't help it, baby…

So be kind and don't lose your mind

Just remember that I'm your baby

Take me for what I am

Who I was meant to be

And if you give a damn

Take me, baby, or leave me

Take me, baby, or leave me"

As soon as she'd started to sing the room urrupted with cheers and whistles. Karaoke Dokie was mostly for people having fun and just messing around, but every once in a while there was a real performance happening on that stage, almost always from a HA kid. They all knew the drill, you sit back and watch the musical magic happen, as this could very well be a future popstar singing infront of you in a free show.

Next was Cat's turn behind the mic;

"A tiger in a cage can never see the sun

This diva needs her stage, baby, let's have fun

You are the one I choose, folks would kill to fill your shoes

You love the limelight too now, baby"

Cat sang with the kind of joy and sincerity that only she could pull off. Jade's heart swelled as she watched Cat, her voice ringing out with pure delight. She had a beautiful voice, but never performed anywhere seriously with it. Jade was sure that if Cat veer actually auditioned for the school performances, she'd get the lead vocal every time.

Next they sung together, as they harmonised, the world around them faded, leaving only the sound of their voices intertwined. It was a perfect moment, a slice of happiness that felt almost surreal.

After swapping verse for verse, and joining at the chorus, the song came to an end, the crowd erupted into somehow even louder cheers, and Cat turned to Jade, beaming with pride. They ran off stage as the thrill of performing surged through them, and without thinking, Cat leaned in and kissed Jade softly on the lips. The kiss was sweet and light, full of the promise of more to come. Jade, slightly startled, kissed her back, a slow smile spreading across her face as they shared a quiet, tender moment of celebration.

But just as they pulled away, they heard a familiar voice.

"Oh my God!"

Jade froze, her eyes widening as she turned to see Tori and Andre standing just a few feet away, both with amused but shocked expressions on their faces.

"Tori!" Cat exclaimed, her excitement undiminished as she straightened up, a blush creeping across her cheeks. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Tori teased, crossing her arms. "Didn't you guys say you were busy tonight?"

Jade groaned inwardly, her heart sinking. "Yeah, we might've lied about that," she admitted, glancing at Cat, who looked both thrilled and flustered.

Tori laughed, shaking her head. "Andre finished work early and drove by mine bring me here. Looks like we walked in just in time to see… this." She gestured between Jade and Cat, her grin widening.

Cat, still beaming, grabbed Jade's hand. "We were just having fun!"

Tori smiled, the tension easing as she glanced at them. "Honestly? I'm happy for you guys. It's about time."

Jade blinked, surprised by the easy acceptance. It wasn't every day you saw two of your best friends kissing each other. "Wait, you're not... weirded out?"

Tori shrugged, an easy smile on her face. "Why would I be? You guys are cute together. Just wish you hadn't lied about it."

Jade looked away, muttering, "Yeah, well, I'm not exactly the 'let's talk about feelings' type."

Andre, still looking somewhat dazed, finally found his voice. "Man, I've known you both since we were kids. How did I not see this coming?" He scratched his head, still trying to wrap his mind around it. "I mean, I knew you two were close, but… together?"

Jade sighed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, I get it. I'm not exactly known for being open about stuff, but this just… happened."

Andre gave a slow nod, his expression softening. "I guess I'm just surprised, that's all. I've always thought of you guys as friends, and now it's like—wow, you two are together. It's kind of a big shift."

Cat, sensing the lingering tension, stepped forward and gave Andre a reassuring smile. "We're still your friends, Andre! Nothing's gonna change that. We just didn't tell anyone because we weren't ready to share it yet."

Andre let out a small laugh, shaking his head with a mix of disbelief and acceptance. "I'm not mad or anything. Just… wow. I mean."

Tori smiled, nudging Andre. "Well, I think it's cute. And hey, now that the cat's out of the bag—pun intended—how about we all hang out and do some more karaoke?"

Cat's face lit up. "Yes! Let's sing together! It'll be so fun!"

Andre, finally shaking off his initial surprise, grinned. "Alright, alright. But I'm picking the next song."

As they headed back toward the stage, Jade glanced over at Andre, still feeling a little uneasy. He noticed and bumped her shoulder lightly. "Hey, don't worry, Jade. I'm happy for you guys. You and Cat deserve to be happy."

Jade felt a wave of relief wash over her, her earlier tension finally melting away. She gave Andre a small smile. "Thanks."

They picked another song, and this time, the four of them sang together, their voices blending in the vibrant atmosphere of the karaoke bar. For once, Jade didn't feel the need to hide or downplay her relationship with Cat. It was out in the open now, and it felt strangely liberating.

As they finished the song, Jade looked over at Cat, who was still beaming with happiness. Jade had never been one for big public displays of affection, but in that moment, surrounded by their friends, she realised she didn't mind as much as she thought she would.