thirteen → jade west

Chapter 6

The air was filled with the usual buzz of excitement that came with after-school prep classes at Hollywood Arts, but today there was an added layer of anticipation. It was February 9th, Beck's 14th birthday, and he had brought candy to share with his classmates.

As Beck walked into the classroom, a bag of assorted candies in hand, he was immediately greeted with enthusiastic birthday wishes. He smiled, a bit shyly, and began handing out the treats.

"Happy Birthday, Beck!" Cat exclaimed, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the candy. Andre joined in with a cheerful, "Yeah, man, hope it's a great one!"

Hayley Ferguson and Tara Ganz, spotting an opportunity, sidled up to Beck with flirtatious smiles. "Happy Birthday, Beck," Hayley purred, batting her eyelashes. "Got any special candy for us?"

Tara giggled, leaning in closer. "Yeah, we deserve the best ones, don't we?"

Beck, clearly uncomfortable with the attention, managed a polite smile. "Uh, sure, take whichever ones you like," he said, holding out the bag to them.

After Hayley and Tara had taken their pick and walked away, Beck turned to Andre, Cat, and Jade, a look of relief on his face. "Glad that's over," he muttered.

He then offered the candy to Jade, their hands brushing briefly as she took a piece. Jade felt a warm flutter in her stomach at the contact. "Thanks, Beck," she said, her voice softer than she intended.

Beck met her gaze, a shy smile playing on his lips. "No problem, Jade."

The moment was brief but charged with an unspoken connection, leaving both of them a little flustered.

As they all enjoyed the candy, Jade couldn't help but steal glances at Beck, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. She was beginning to realize that her feelings for him were growing stronger, and it both excited and scared her.

Later in the day, Jade found herself alone with Beck, away from the hustle of the other students. They sat on a bench outside, the Los Angeles sun casting a warm glow around them.

"So, you're from Calgary, right?" Jade asked, breaking the ice.

Beck nodded, a nostalgic look crossing his face. "Yeah, I miss it sometimes. The skater scene there was pretty cool. We'd hang out at the skateparks, just riding and having fun."

Jade listened, intrigued. "Sounds awesome. But you like LA better?"

Beck's eyes lit up. "Definitely. I mean, Calgary's great and all, but LA... this is where I can really chase my dream of acting, you know?"

As they talked, Jade couldn't help but notice the subtle nuances in Beck's speech. His words had a slightly different intonation, a gentle lilt that was unfamiliar yet intriguing. She recognized it as his Canadian accent, though she couldn't pinpoint the specific words that gave it away. She decided not to mention it, not wanting to make him feel self-conscious.

"That's really brave, following your dream like that," Jade said, admiration in her voice.

Beck shrugged modestly. "I guess. What about you? What's your dream?"

Jade hesitated, then replied, "Music, I think. Playing the piano... it's the one place I feel free."

Their conversation flowed naturally, a connection forming as they shared their passions and dreams. Jade found herself increasingly drawn to Beck – his ambition, his talent, and the way he spoke about his aspirations.

As they got up to head back to class, Jade felt a sense of contentment. Talking to Beck had been surprisingly easy, and she was beginning to understand more about him – not just as a classmate, but as someone she genuinely wanted to know better.