Victorious- Keep our secret safe

Tori grabbed her tray of lunch- a very cheesy slice of succulent pizza and a tub of crisp salad- and sauntered over to the nearest lunch table. Andre and Beck were sitting alone, no sign of Robbie, Cat or Jade. Strange. Tori approached quizzically, placing her tray down silently and smiling awkwardly.

Silence.

Tori's smile grew more strained with the intensity of the silence, Andre nonchalantly spooning pasta slowly into his mouth and Beck staring down into his food, expression hidden.

"Uh Guys, am I completely invisible?" Tori joked, innocently nudging Andre in the fore-arm.

Andre looked up with a pleasant but secretive smile. "Hey Tori, didn't see you there"

"Clearly, what goes on?"

"Not much" Andre said blankly.

Tori blew out through her nose. What was Andre hiding? He was sitting awkwardly, hunched over his lunch, mouth clamped shut like an oyster. And Beck hadn't said a word. He was still staring at his fists that were…quivering?

"Hey Beck? What's up?" Tori leant down to see if she could catch a glimpse of his expression.

Beck looked up slowly, his face burning a pinkish colour. His eyes were soft and crest fallen, pale bags a noticeable lilac against his olive skin tone. He made no effort to smile properly, the corner of his mouth crawled up meekly. Only then did Tori realise there was moisture lingering in the corners of his eyes, threatening to spill.

"What happened!" Tori exclaimed, leaping from her seat and rushing to his side.

She leapt up so abruptly, Andre's pasta flying off the table.

Andre sighed.

"Never mind, I'll get another…" He murmured and he ambled away.

With their privacy, Tori sat down next to Beck and lay a hand supportively across his shoulder.

"Come on…what's got you upset? I kill them!" Tori grinned subtly.

Beck managed a half-hearted chuckle before his expression crashed into a frown of misery again. Tori's shoulders slumped in temporary defeat, how was she going to coax the teary teenager into explanation of his down-heartedness?

"Beck!" Tori shook him and he sighed.

"I don't want to talk about it"

Beck stood up and smiled again, his face slumping back to frown after the 3 second interval of fake happiness. No doubt he appreciated Tori's concern. But, there was really no-one else he wanted to talk to right now. It was better to be alone. Tori watched him as she sloped off, a look of confusion pasted across her face.

What was truly up with Beck?

Had something happened at home? With Jade? A friend?

With Jade?

Interrupting her thought, Trina blundered over to the table, Cat giggling behind.

"God! These damn shoes!" She exclaimed, rubbing the satin the 4 inch heels.

"Well take them off then!" Cat shrugged, sitting down with a flick of her cherry red hair.

Tori, ignoring Trina's groans of discomfort- she knew all too much already- shifted as Andre returned with another tub of delicious looking pasta.

"Hey, do you know what's up with Beck?"

Andre's eyes shot down to his knees. Cat and Trina looked at each other.

"No, why? What's wrong?" Cat asked, her face sweet with trepidation.

"Well he looked a bit like this" Tori attempted an impression of Beck's expression, failing with the crude interpretation.

The others shook there heads.

"Why don't you just go talk to him at his RV?" Trina said through a mouthful of chocolate pudding.

Tori's and Andre's face crumpled in disgust but nevertheless Tori pressed for information.

"Well has anyone seen Jade?" Tori inquired, suspicious.

If Beck was that upset, it had to be something to do with him and Jade. He didn't usually come that close to tears.

"Well I passed her in the hall and said 'Hi!' but she glared at me and threw her muffin into my hair" Cat explained sadly remembering the unnecessary abuse.

Tori raised her eyebrows.

"I want a muffin" Andre said airily.

"Me too, they're selling blueberry ones round the back!" Trina informed animatedly.

"Guys!" Tori shouted as they all erupted into a chorus of excited chatter.

They swiftly clammed up.

"Look if you're that worried go talk to Beck after school, I'll drive you" Trina offered, strangely selfless for a change.

Tori smiled gratefully. If there was anything she could do for Beck, it was check he was at least not crying alone in the RV. Whatever had happened.