“I can’t ask out Meredith,” Beck had hissed to Tori and André while inside the janitor’s closet. “We had a play and Jade got super jealous.”

“Ohh, and if she found out if you started smooching Meredith now,” André started and Beck nodded right along, already knowing what he was thinking. “She’d think you were back then as well.”

“Exactly.”

Well, Jade found out. Tori essentially ratted Beck out, forcing them to confront the question: did Jade care? At first, she did; she accused Beck of smooching Meredith in the play, made fun of Meredith, and then threatened Tori and André with toilet paper.

But, then she calmed down. She took a breath and shook her head, her black hair shaking with the movement.

“I don’t care if you ask her out,” Jade finally said, looking at Beck. “We’ve been over for months. I’ve already moved on.”

She left. Beck stood there, his heart thudding under his ribs. He didn’t hear what Tori said, her brown eyes worried, his mind far too clouded. Jade moved on. The moment Tori raised her hand to touch Beck, he dodged it and left.

The next night, however, he thought he’d act like he was fine. He wasn’t confused. Meredith was sitting next to him, pretty as always of course. Not the pretty Beck liked, but… pretty. He was annoyed by this point and was trying his hardest to not show it.

Meredith just kept agreeing with Beck. She didn’t form her own opinion. She kept asking him what he wanted her to do, what he thought she should think, if he wanted her to wear his coat— she looked cold and he offered his flannel.

It wasn’t fun talking to her, Beck thought, silently, looking around the Full Moon Jam André was hosting. People would sing for a charity; André was a good guy. A person caught Beck’s eyes during his sweep, his gaze following their movements.

“Um, Meredith,” Beck mumbled, turning to look at her. Her big eyes found Beck and a large smile formed on her face. Slowly, the boy stood up, stepping around his chair. “I’m going to go… over there.”

Then, he left. Meredith looked confused for a second but then went back to the artist on stage, that same, almost off-putting, smile. Beck shuffled his way past people and lowered himself to the ground next to the person he had seen just seconds ago.

“Hope you don’t mind,” he grumbled, his knees to his chest, arms looped around them loosely.