Hello!
I wanted to upload this over the last weekend, but as you see, I wasn't able to manage that. I also wasn't able to put in a scene with Beck and Jade actually as a couple, which alicheriee would've liked - and possibly others as well. But I personally like the ending the way it is and I hope you do, too; and I hope, all the questions everyone has, get answered here.
Thank you so incredibly much to the unnamed guest, Mara Faria, Mel, Rishini and once more to Dare to be something more and alicheriee for the reviews on chapter five! And thank you in general again to everyone, who has reviewed this story, but also to everyone, who has followed it or even put it in their favorites. I appreciate all of you very much!
Yeah, now comes the last chapter, which I'm as anxious about as the one before. I myself am just so picky with endings, which is why I understand if others are as well. I really hope you'll enjoy this!

Neither Tori nor Jade are speaking to him anymore.

He doesn't really try talking to Tori. He tells her hi at some point but he's fine with her not answering. He would love for her to stay his friend because she's one of his best friends but he can understand if she can't do that. It's more than understandable that she feels angry and hurt because of him.

He does try talking to Jade but she always tells him to go away and if he doesn't, she leaves herself.

After a week, he decides, he can't do anything about it. If she doesn't want to listen to him, he can't force her to. He would like for her to understand that the break-up was inevitable in his view and therefore hasn't had too much to do with her. That he's not a guy to only break up with a girl because another girl comes along. A guy that otherwise possibly stays with a girl despite not loving her, until another girl comes along. A guy that would also stay with her despite not loving her anymore one day.

He thinks that could be what she thinks, that that's what makes her angry but as she doesn't want to listen...

.

.

At the beginning of the third week after the break-up, Tori sees him as he's talking to Andre at his locker, and quickly leaves. She still starts crying sometimes; it only has been two weeks now. He wishes he could do something about it. But the only thing he can think of is pushing his friends to spend more time with Tori than with him. To sit with her at lunch, not with him. Tori obviously doesn't want to eat lunch with him anymore, so... He hates that this makes the group fall apart. The group that has existed way before Tori and he have gotten together.

Andre now follows Tori with his eyes and after a moment, gently asks: "So, Jade doesn't want to date you, right? Why don't you get back together with Tori then? She really loves you."

They haven't spoken about it before. Tori has obviously told the others that he has broken up with her because of Jade. Which isn't totally true but he hasn't put much energy into correcting her in front of their friends. It's also not like they have accused him of having done anything bad. They haven't commented on the break-up at all. Probably, because they'd also like to stay friends with both of them and don't want to be forced to take a side.

"I know," Beck answers. "And I really love her. But not like that. Not the way I should. This isn't just about Jade."

Though she is the reason he has noticed.

"What is it about?" Andre asks. "You and Tori always seemed like the perfect couple."

Beck has thought about this. Before the break-up and also during the last two weeks. He's had so much time to think about all of it. But he doesn't know how much sense his thoughts make, so he just says: "I guess we were. But... she isn't the girl I want to spend the rest of my life with."

Andre furrows his brows. "And Jade is?"

"I don't know," Beck honestly says because how can he know? He only knows Jade for barely two months, has never been on a date with her, has barely met her outside of school at all and also hasn't talked too much with her in school. Though... "Maybe, she is. At least, I feel different about her than about Tori. Tori feels more like family." And always has. There never has been any kind of spark.

Andre doesn't get it. He shrugs. "Maybe, that's what the girl of your dreams is supposed to feel like."

And Beck is sure, the girl of your dreams is supposed to feel like family in a way but... not like a sister or something.

"I'm sure she is but not like that," he therefore says. "I don't know. I can't get back together with Tori. I never will."

Andre doesn't seem happy about that. Of course, he isn't. Tori also is one of his best friends. He can't like seeing her hurt. Not to mention that he also must hate seeing their group of friends fall apart.

But Beck can't get too concerned because suddenly, Jade is with them. Beck isn't sure where she comes from, but she looks directly at him and suddenly says: "Hold out your arm."

He's surprised but he does and she grabs it and pulls him with her. He has just enough time to share a confused glance with Andre, then he gets dragged into the janitor's closet.

Jade lets go of him in there and shuts the door behind them.

"So, you broke up with her because you actually don't love her? And you also don't want to ever get back with her, no matter if you're dating someone else or not?" she asks.

He wonders if she has overheard them talking and if so, why she was listening at all and how much she heard. But at least, she seems ready to talk now and he's more than ready to give answers.

"Right."

She narrows her eyes at him. "Why were you together with her for a year then?"

"Because I didn't realize. I always thought I loved her. And in a way I do. She's one of my best friends." And he speaks his thoughts like he hasn't in front of Andre because maybe, Jade'll understand. "But I think our relationship was grounded on a lot of expectations from others. Everyone thought we were perfect for each other, so we were. But... I don't know. I feel like I should love her in a different way."

Jade seems to consider that, then, sceptical: "And you think you could love me like that?"

And that's a big question. They don't know each other that well. He knows his answer could scare her away and yet... she must have overheard some of his and Andre's talk and it was that that probably made her drag him here to talk to him. She must know what his answer will be because he already told Andre just now. But maybe she wants to look him into his eyes while he says so. She does watch him closely.

And he answers truthfully: "I think so. I definitely already feel differently about you and... it feels right."

It's as if she's waiting for a sign that he's lying, that he's toying with her, that this is some scheme. But she can't seem to find one, as she finally, almost carefully, says: "Well, if you want to, we can see where it's going."

He needs a second. Has he understood her right?

"You're willing to go on a date with me?"

An every so slight smile goes over her face. "Yeah."

.

.

They agree on talking about the details later and on Wednesday he has found something that he thinks she could like.

There is a new horror movie out and he awaits her with a coffee on Wednesday morning, mentions the title as she takes it out of his hand and then asks: "Why don't we go see that together?"

Jade cocks an eyebrow, considering him again, then she decides: "Don't expect me to cuddle up to you all afraid or something."

He smiles. "I don't." Having Jade cuddle up to him afraid certainly would be an experience, but... he knows she finds horror movies rather funny. And even if she gets shocked by some things, she probably never would grab the person next to her.

"I do expect you to talk to me about it afterwards over dinner," he states and she tilts her head and smiles as well after a moment: "Sure."

.

.

Their date goes great. They kiss for the first time shortly before they go into the movie theater and Beck knows he has never been kissed like that. It literally takes his breath away.

And Jade also seems to need a moment before she says though: "Don't think we will make out during the movie. I do want to watch this thing."

Which he also does and they do. They kind of do make out in front of her front door after a long dinner as he brings her home.

He comes home just in time which he's glad about as his parents would otherwise have called - and not only him but also Andre as he has told them he would be at his place. He remembers his mother's reaction to meeting Jade at all too well. Her and his father's reaction to him now dating Jade won't be nice, he knows. So, he first wanted to see if there was anything at all. He now knows, there is, so he guesses he will tell them before the next date.

Jade and he both have casually mentioned going on a second date already and he's exciited how that will go when he's home from the first.

.

.

They went on that date on Friday and on Monday in school, Andre approaches him: "Did you actually go on that date with her?"

He has briefly warned him on Friday over texts that he's lying to his parents to go on a date with Jade. He has been sure Andre would ask him about all that today. If only because Beck barely ever lies, especially to his parents. He never needed anyone to cover for him - while he got asked several times by his friends, Andre more than anyone, to cover for them. Which also counts as lying which is one of the rare times he does it.

"Yes," Beck now answers him, though a little confused as to how Andre asked the question as if they have just talked about Jade. Which they haven't. They haven't even seen each other today before now.

Andre pulls a face. "You've just broken up with Tori."

Tori. Gosh, he hasn't thought about her anymore since Jade has agreed on going on a date with him. Sure, he has thought about her in the sense that they see each other every day in school and he's sorry she's still hurt but... yes, Andre is right. He has just broken up with her. And he's already dating another girl.

"I know. But we are broken up," he tries to justify himself. It's not like he's dating two girls at the same time or anything. He has made a clean cut with Tori before he asked Jade on a date.

Though he does feel guilty now. He does know that this is a little wrong.

.

.

He finds Jade at her locker later during one break and takes a deep breath before he walks up to her.

"Hey, Jade."

"Hey," she answers, closing her locker right now and looking at him expectantly.

He rubs his neck as he begins: "I thought about this and..."

She already cuts through him: "You realized I'm not the girl you thought I'd be and you now hate me for you having broken up with Tori because of me."

Okay, wow. That almost sounds as if Jade thought all along that that would happen.

"No. That's not it," he's quick to say.

She cocks an eyebrows again, like she does, and he explains: "I loved our date on Friday and I would love to go on even more. It's just that I also don't want to hurt Tori even more."

"So?" Jade asks.

He shrugs. "So... I'm not sure."

He doesn't know what he wants to do now, what he wants the both of them to do. He does want to date Jade, right now. But he doesn't know how to do that without hurting Tori. He knows doing it secretely would do noone any good. Especially as he guesses Tori will find out anyway, sooner or later. She also does know him well, so probably she would find out rather soon. And if Beck would do it secretely, he would actually feel like he would cheat on Tori in a way.

Jade looks at him for a moment, then she shrugs and passes by him, leaving him with the words: "Talk to me when you are."

.

.

He wants to do nothing more than talk to Jade again directly but he has to think about this. Maybe, he should even ask Andre what he thinks. Though Andre would probably side with Tori and tell him to just not date Jade. He doesn't want that to be the solution though. He thinks about asking Cat, who can be incredibly insightful at times. But he isn't sure how to even start that talk. It's not like he has ever talked about his feelings with her or anything.

He gets held back after his history lesson by his teacher, right before lunch break. Apparently, he hasn't done too good in his test the week before while he usually gets As and Bs without much trouble. Well, his thoughts have been elsewhere lately.

He doesn't say that to the teacher though, but promises to do better again a few times, and that he's fine and not too occupied in his arts classes (which his history teacher always assumes with the students when they aren't doing as well as they usually are).

Finally, he's allowed to leave, and he passes by another class room which door stands slightly open, when he hears a voice that sounds all too familiar.

"Do you want to take my place? Is that it?"

Well, it sounds familiar and yet it doesn't. He has never heard Tori sound this angry and desperate before.

He has a feeling to know, who she's talking to like that. And sure enough: As he walks into the classroom he not only finds Tori but also Jade.

Jade has her arms crossed and sounds much calmer then Tori as she answers: "You're talking crazy, Vega."

She shortly glances to Beck while Tori doesn't seem to notice him as she already shoots back: "You snatched my best friend and my boyfriend from me!"

Beck knows he isn't meant with both of that. Tori isn't just talking about him but about Cat as well.

He swallows as he thinks about Cat. Cat who hasn't always eaten with Tori since the break-up like Robbie and Andre almost always have. Cat instead has also sat with Jade sometimes. Just like she still talks to Jade all the time.

"I didn't," Jade calmly states and Tori is almost screaming now: "You did! I lost everything because of you!"

And somehow Beck knows what is going to happen before it does. Tori is still in the process of grabbing the chair to possibly throw it in Jade's direction. Jade must also realize that there is danger with how angry Tori is and with her sudden movement. She takes a step back while Beck finally intervenes, steps up to Tori and grabs her by her arms, before anything can happen. "Whoa! Stop it!"

Tori really hasn't noticed him before. Now, she does, looks at him and suddenly, there are tears. She's crying, hopelessly, and he feels so damn bad.

"I'm so sorry, Tori. I'm so, so sorry."

He takes her in his arms before he knows it and she doesn't push him away but digs her fingernails in his shirt and cries into it.

After a moment, he says softly: "This isn't Jade's fault though." He can't have her attacking Jade for him breaking up with her.

Tori sniffs and it sounds like she doesn't actually want to ask it and yet as if she needs an answer: "Have you ever loved me?"

"I still love you," he tells her truthfully, stroking her hair as he holds her. "Just not like I'm supposed to for us to be a couple. You will marry a great guy some day, Tori. All your dreams will come true." Not only of her being a successful singer but of her being happily married to a great guy and having two children, owning a beautiful house somewhere, living the perfect family life. "Just not with me as that guy, but with me as one of your friends."

She pushes herself slightly away from him without actually pushing herself out of his arms. "Why can't you love me the way I love you?" she asks as she looks into his eyes.

And he doesn't have an answer for her. He doesn't know. Though he hopes that Tori actually also doesn't love him in that certain way, that she just can't see yet that she also loves him more like a brother than anything else. He hopes she also runs into the person one day that she may be able to love so much more than him some day.

Just like he has run into Jade - or walked.

He shrugs as an answer and draws Tori back into a hug. Only then, he looks up and around but Jade has left the room. He feels a little sick. He can imagine her not being very happy to see him like this with his ex-girlfriend. Hugging her this close, comforting her, telling her he loves her... How will he ever explain that to her? His feelings that are sort of all over the place right now.

He holds Tori for a minute longer or something in silence, when Cat suddenly bursts into the room.

"Tori!" she says and Tori instantly draws back from Beck and looks at Cat surprised, her eyes and face still full of tears. "I still love you! Jade is just also one of my best friends. All of you are! It doesn't take anything away from our friendship. If it ever does, you have to tell me."

And the red-head girl tackles Tori with a big hug that Tori returns with an almost relieved smile.

"I'm sorry I have been acting crazy," Tori says after Cat and she have hugged for a long time, also in silence, and after they have broken apart.

"Don't be sorry. It's my fault," Beck says because it is. Tori hasn't liked Jade from the beginning but if Beck would've just realized about his love for Tori before and would've broken up with her before they would've even met Jade... He knows it would've been different. And even with Cat then also spending a lot of time with Jade, Tori would've been able to go with it because it wouldn't have all added up.

Tori now shoots him a painful smile before she starts wiping away her tears and asks Cat: "How did you know anyway that we were here?"

That's a good question. Women's intuition?

"Jade told me," Cat says though and as surprise shows in Tori's face, Cat adds: "I told you she's a better person than you think."

.

.

Tori decides to go talk to Jade. They all go into the Asphalt Café together to see Robbie and Andre sitting at their usual table, looking unsure (Cat's lunch is also on the table, so Jade must have grabbed her form here), and Jade sitting at the other end of the Café, eating on her own.

Tori says she doesn't want Beck or Cat to come with her, so they go for their usual table as well, both still watching Tori as she approaches Jade though.

"What's going on? Why is Tori going to Jade?" Andre directly asks.

Neither Beck nor Cat answer as Tori sits down at Jade's table and they start talking.

Andre and Robbie share a glance before Andre says: "You know... Suddenly Jade came up and dragged you" – he indicates Cat – "with her and then you were gone and Jade sat down to eat but you didn't come back. And neither you" – now, he indicates Beck – "nor Tori were here. And now, the three of you came back together. What's up?"

"We'll explain later," Beck carelessly says. Maybe, they will. Some version of it. Probably without Tori's anger and her many tears. Not everybody must know about that, even if Andre and Robbie are also such close friends.

Nobody at their table says anything after that.

Tori leaves Jade after a while and passes their table without looking at them.

Jade only stands back up when she has eaten all her food. She throws the wrapping away and then also goes back into school.

Beck quickly stands up to follow her.

She walks to her locker. Other students are also roaming the hallway. Tori isn't among them, as far as Beck can see.

"So? What happened?" he carefully asks as he stops next to her after she has already opened her locker.

She glances at him, then takes a book out and puts it into her bag as she answers: "We talked. I'm not sure I can get any closer to a guy with his ex-girlfriend being right there."

His heart misses a beat. Okay. She doesn't want to date him.

She closes her locker, leans against the one next to it as she looks at him again. "But she's also not sure she can actually watch her ex-boyfriend date another girl. So, we'll try it out and see what happens."

They what?

She cocks an eyebrows as he gives no visible reaction. "If you are willing to go on another date with me."

A smile spreads over his face. "I am," he says because he so is. And he leans forward and they share a small kiss.

.

.

It's tough and their group of friends never is the same again. It takes a while before they all sit together again, now all six of them, Jade included all the time. It takes an even longer time for him and Tori to be able to talk alone again. It's not easy and it never is the same again as it has been before them getting together in the first place. Nothing really is the same.

But it's also fine differently. Tori spends even more time with Andre, Cat and Robbie now and never warms totally up to Jade, while Beck spends most of his time with Jade or the whole group. Their group of friends still work, they still get along, they still keep together.

Jade and he get together after only one month of dating. It's a rollercoaster of a relationship but the highs are worth everything. She keeps him up his feet, she lets him clash with her, she claims him, makes him feel wanted, searches for his hands with hers all the time. She loves to spend time alone with him, just lying together in silence or making out or even going on a trip together, just the two of them. She shows him another world and another way to go.

Soon enough, he's so close to her like to family, but in such a different way. In the right way.