A Jori Story: We're Just Acting, Right?

Getaway Car

"Dude I've been calling you for ages, where have you been?"

Andre balanced his phone on his shoulder as he zipped up his guitar bag. "Hey, sorry. I was helping someone out. What's up?"

"I think I'm going to do it tomorrow."

Andre rolled his eyes and adjusted his phone. "Do I look like Akinator to you? What are you going to do?"

Beck chuckled lightly, falling back on his bed with a smile on his face. He tossed the little box into the air and caught it again.

Andre's face contorted as he heard his best friend's next sentence. "Shit, really?"

"Yeah. I think I'm ready."

There was silence on the line for a second before Andre cleared his throat.

"I'm super happy for you man, I am. But are you sure? You said yourself she's been checked out lately. Don't you think you should talk to her about it first?"

"Yeah, that's actually why I wanna do it. I want her to know that I'm not going anywhere. That I'll be with her no matter what. I'm crazy about her," Beck ended, sighing wistfully at the end.

Andre wanted with all his heart to be happy for his friend but he had a really bad feeling about what Beck was going to do. But he also cared about Beck and didn't want to put a damper to his mood.

"Yeah, I know. I'm sure it'll be great. Tell me how it goes tomorrow, alright?," said Andre, smiling sadly.

"Definitely. Thanks man. I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for you."

And with that, he ended the call.

***

Tori was getting ready for the performance in dread. How was she going to face Jade with all these feelings bubbling up in her chest? Tori wasn't sure either. She had skipped school for the day so she could have more time to get ready at home and show up for the performance in time. She was sat in front of the vanity when her mother's voice came calling from downstairs.

"Tori! Beck is here!"

Beck? What's he doing here?

Tori shouted a reply back and headed downstairs to see him. He was sitting on the couch with a bouquet of flowers in hand, drumming his fingers on his lap like he always does when he gets nervous.

At the sound of footsteps from the staircase, Beck turned around and stood up, grinning wide upon seeing Tori. She smiled back, walking toward him and kissing him softly on the cheek.

"These are for you," he mumbled softly, handing her the bouquet.

Her heart swelled. Tori hugged the bouquet to her chest for a moment before putting it down on the table and walking into his embrace. If there was one thing about Beck that she liked, it was his height. She could tuck her head under his chin in security any time she wanted.

"What are you doing here?," she asked as she pulled away from the hug, a hand on his chest.

"I just wanted to come see you."

"We were gonna hang out at school, you didn't need to-"

"I also wanted to talk to you."

Tori nodded, her heart starting to race a bit. These kinds of talks always freaked her out.

"Sure. Wanna sit here or the bench outside-?"

"Uh, outside."

Tori noticed how nervous he was and wondered what he was going to say. Wait, is he going to break up with me? Tori didn't know whether to feel elated or upset. He decided to let him speak and decide for herself how she was going to feel about what he said. They sat on the bench outside and he took her hands in his big, warm ones.