Beck felt a little ridiculous standing outside an upscale apartment building in the middle of downtown LA. He'd been pacing the block for hours, trying to look inconspicuous while keeping an eye on the entrance. This was his mission, and he wasn't leaving until he saw Cat.

The plan wasn't great, he admitted that much. He'd Googled the building after seeing paparazzi photos of Cat entering it days ago. It wasn't hard to figure out which tower it was—fancy facade, luxury cars parked out front, and a gaggle of photographers camped nearby, waiting for their next shot of one of the various celebs that lived there. Still, standing here felt creepy. And stupid. But it wasn't about him.

Jade was a mess, and he couldn't stand seeing her like that. And if Cat wasn't going to pick up her phone or reply to any of them, maybe Beck could do something about it.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a sleek black SUV pulled up to the curb. Paparazzi, who had been loitering nearby, suddenly sprang into action, cameras clicking furiously.

And there she was. Cat stepped out of the car in oversized sunglasses and an immaculate outfit, her hair swept into a perfect ponytail. She waved politely at the photographers, giving them the faintest of smiles, but her pace was brisk as she made for the entrance.

Beck's heart thudded in his chest. This was it.

He ducked behind a parked car and waited for the paparazzi to lose interest before making his move. Cat disappeared into the lobby, and Beck darted across the street, slipping in behind her before the automatic doors shut.

The security guard stationed near the desk immediately noticed him. "Excuse me, sir," the man called out, his tone firm. "Can I help you?"

Beck ignored him, jogging toward Cat, who was just a few steps away, heading for the elevators. "Cat!" he called out, a little louder than intended.

Cat turned at the sound of her name, lowering her sunglasses to peer at him. Her expression flickered with confusion, then recognition. "Beck?"

Before she could say more, the security guard was on him. A strong hand grabbed Beck's shoulder, pulling him backward. "You can't just follow residents in here," the guard barked, shoving him against the wall.

"Whoa, whoa, wait!" Beck protested, holding his hands up in surrender. "I'm not some creep—I know her!"

Cat stepped forward quickly, alarmed. "Hey! Stop!" she said, her voice sharp. The guard froze mid-motion, looking back at her.

"He's fine," Cat said, adjusting her sunglasses on top of her head. "I mean, he's not fine, but he's not a threat. Let him go."

The guard hesitated before releasing Beck, who straightened up, wincing.

"Thanks," Beck muttered, brushing himself off. "Great first impression, huh?"

Cat crossed her arms, tilting her head at him. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I, uh..." He faltered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Can we talk?"

Cat sighed, looking between him and the impatient security guard. "Fine. Come on."

She led him to the elevator, swiping a key card to access her floor. The ride up was silent, Cat staring at the glowing numbers as Beck fidgeted beside her.

When they stepped into her apartment, Beck was struck by how impersonal it felt. It was sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing a breathtaking view of the city. But there was nothing that screamed Cat about it—no personal touches, no warmth.

She turned to face him, her arms still crossed. "Okay, what do you want?" She was nothing like the Cat he know - she was cold and harsh. Jade hadn't mentioned her acting like this so maybe it was a new development? A post-breaking coping mechanism. Cat was known for her sudden personality shifts so maybe this was just another stage to it.

Beck hesitated, searching for the right words. "I want to know what's going on with you."

Cat's eyes narrowed. "What's going on is that I'm on a break before the next leg of my tour. That's it."

"Cut the crap, Cat," Beck said, his tone firm. "Jade's worried about you. Andre's worried about you. Hell, I'm worried about you. And seeing you like this, living in... whatever this is? It doesn't feel right."

Cat's posture stiffened, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I'm fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You don't look fine," Beck pressed. "You look like you're running on fumes."

Cat let out a bitter laugh, walking over to the massive windows. She stared out at the city below, her reflection faintly visible in the glass. "You think I don't know that?"

"Then why keep going?"

She didn't answer immediately. When she finally turned to face him, her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. "Because I don't have a choice," she said. "This is my life now. I have to keep going."

Beck stepped closer, his voice gentle. "Cat, you always have a choice. You just have to let someone help you."

Cat's shoulders sagged, and for a moment, Beck thought she might break down. But then she straightened, wiping at her eyes. "Thanks for the concern, Beck," she said, her tone clipped. "But I'm fine. You can let Jade know I'm fine too."

"Cat—"

"Please," she interrupted, her voice cracking. "Just go."

Beck wanted to argue, to tell her he wasn't leaving until she let him in. But the look in her eyes stopped him. She wasn't ready. Not yet.

"Okay," he said softly. "But I'm not giving up on you. And neither is Jade."

As he walked out, he glanced back one last time. Cat was already facing the window again, a solitary figure against the sprawling cityscape, trying desperately to hold herself together.