Hello guys! Sorry the update took so long, I'm prepping for the first day of school. I'm actually on my way to the enrollment, but since I love you guys I figured you deserved an update.

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Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the title of VicTORious. They belong to Dan Schneider and his awesome bakery.

Twenty Eight Months Ago

Chapter 2

"Go away!"

"No."

Walking briskly to a vacant table, Jade West cursed under her breath. What was wrong with this guy? Why can't he just leave her alone?

Beck Oliver followed her, his one hand holding his lunch while his other hand was in his pocket. He was catching up to her - not that hard with his long legs - and he knew she was getting irritated. Well, more irritated than usual.

He smirked.

Jade finally got to the table and with a huff sat down. She dumped her bag to her right so the annoying boy can't sit beside her. It didn't hinder him much; he just sat across.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" she hissed, already flustered. Instead of replying, he gave her a cheeky smile.

She narrowed her eyes at him, her lips puckered in an attempt to block words that might cause her to get expelled. A normal person would run for the hills once Jade gave them that look, but she's starting to figure out that who she's dealing with isn't exactly a normal person.

For the past week, Beck Oliver has been following her like a lovesick puppy (though with his good looks and swagger, he'd fit more of a fox than a puppy). And instead of enjoying her first week in Hollywood Arts High School, Jade wanted nothing more than for school to end so she'd be rid of him.

But the school bell didn't stop him, no. He once followed Jade to a coffee shop she normally passes on her way home. If she hadn't stopped and come in then, she wouldn't have noticed him following her.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asked incredulously, her hand clutching the doorhandle tightly.

Beck shrugged. "I figured we'd get some coffee together." He leaned his body on the door frame, his arm brushing across Jade's back as he held the door open for her.

She flinched at the sudden contact. What is it with her stupid teenage hormones? Yes, he's a guy and yes, he's good-looking, but he's also incredibly annoying! Her gaze intensified. "Okay, look. we are not getting anything together. We are not even together! I'm by myself and you're being..." she wanted to say something scathingly insulting, but she ended up saying "...you!"

He pretended to consider it for a minute. "Well, we're both here now. What's the harm in getting some together, huh?"

"Oh you wanna know the harm?" Jade asked, her voice suddenly syrpuy sweet. "Do you want a demonstration?"

Suddenly, a cough caught their attention from behind. They were blocking the entrance. Jade really didn't care, but Beck, being the gentleman that he was, ushered her inside with a light hand on her elbow and led them to the counter.

A tall yet youthful guy, probably in college, was manning the counter. He gave Jade a once-over before breaking into a smile. "What will it be, Miss?"

Beck didn't like the way the guy looked at her, so he slung his arm on Jade's shoulder. That earned him an elbow in the gut that - if he wasn't expecting it - would have totally made him keel over.

Jade struggled to keep her cool. She didn't know whether it was the arm on her shoulders or her elbow striking his (rock hard) abs that made her want to scream. This was just too much. What is it with this guy and touching?

"I'll have black coffee," Jade spoke up, trying to distract herself, "Two sugars."

"Coming right up," the college guy said, taking his eyes off her just long enough to write it down on a pad. "And you, sir?"

"I'll have what she's having," Beck said nonchalantly, as if it was a normal occurence. He gave the guy a cold stare.

"Right," he said, writing 'x2' next to the order. Before he turned around to pin it, he looked up at them again. "You guys dating?"

"No," they both said at the same time.

Jade looked up at him with a questioning 'So-will-you-get-your-damn-arm-off-me?' glance.

"Not yet, anyway," Beck said, looking down at her scrowling face. She looked so feisty, and it took all of him not to tilt his head and kiss her. Maybe it was hormones, he mused, or maybe it was something more. Either way he wanted to find out.

The guy behind the counter gave them a cursory glance before nodding and turned his back. Beck and a very reluctant Jade made their way to a table to wait for their order.

The memory jarred her back to the present, as they are currently sitting on a table in Asphalt Cafe. She looked down at her food and proceeded to stab it with a fork. His sandwich was halfway done, and that told her she'd spaced out.

"You okay?" Beck asked after taking a sip from his juice.

Jade glared. "You know, I can just put a restraining order on you. Or better yet, I'll make you dissappear myself, and nobody will ever be able to find you."

Contrary to how dark her voice sounded, her face was fairly calm. It took a few seconds for Beck's mind to register her words.

"Oh I know you can," he stated, not at all doubting her ability to get her way. He saw her stop punching her fork in her food for a second, as if that was all the response he needed. "But you won't," he continued.

"Really?" she scoffed.

"Yep," he answered confidently. "And you know why?"

Oh why does he always want to drag things out so slowly? "I'm dying to know."

He leaned forward, stretching his arm until his hand reached her shoulder and poked it.

"Because you like me."

"Oh," Jade mouthed, slapping his hand off her shoulder, "I'd like do to alot of things to you, Beck Oliver."

He raised his eyebrow. So she did remember his name. Quite frankly, he didn't know because she always reffered to him as 'you'. "Really?" he asked, and his undertone suggested there was another way to take what she said.

Jade leaned forward, her arms bracing her ontop of the table. Her voice was a melodic yet husky tone when she replied, "Definitely." She was a bit surprised by how her voice sounded, but judging from the clouded look in his eyes, Jade figured she got just the right response. Fine. If she can't make him leave her alone with her don't-touch-me attitude then she'd just play this a different way.

He mirrored her action, leaning his body so that their faces were inches apart. "Can't wait to hear it," he replied. "Or would you rather demonstrate?" His tone carried a bit of humor as he mimicked what she said to him the other day at the coffee shop.

Beck looked calm and a bit smug, but underneath he wasn't really all that composed. He was so close that he could smell her. It was a pleasant smell, not really that feminine but with a definite hint of sweetness and an underlying smell of something earthy. Whatever it was, he can't quite put his finger on it... but he's more than willing to find out.

She had said something to him. He bet it was something witty, sarcastic, dark, morbid or all of the above, but he didn't catch it. Her left eyebrow was raised, and that's when he noticed that it, along with her nose, was pierced. He didn't know why, but it certainly appealed to him.

"When'd you get your face pierced?" he asked before he could stop himself.

Jade blinked, a bit taken aback by the change of subject. "You seriously think that I'll tell you?" she deadpanned. With that, she pulled away and promptly stood up, slinging her bag on her shoulder. She turned around and headed back to the school building.

Beck followed her lead, though not before taking a last bite out of his sandwich. With three quick strides he was once again at her side.

"Well, if you won't tell me..." he sighed - as if it couldn't be helped - and leaned in closer to her ear, "...then I'll just have to find out for myself."

Why does Beck always get the final words? Oh well. Sorry if there are any grammar/spelling mistakes. I'll look it over again once I get back. In the meantime, enjoy.

Thank you for reading! Hope you review!

Lots of ScissorLuv,

~kalyn19