I Wish I could Fight you, but I can't

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Beck's POV

My rust red Pontiac pulls up at a stoplight and I lean back into the seat. I'm running late to pick up Cat and Tori – which bothers me. Girl's love it when a guy is on time, I don't want Tori to think I'm not coming! Ugh, stop it Beck, she's Tori, she won't care. I look up in my rear view mirror and run a hand through my hair. The car behind me honks it's horn and reminds me that the light's green. I raise a hand to say sorry and step on the gas. Tori's house isn't too far from mine, so it only takes about 3 minutes to get there. Problem was that after I finished texting Tori, I fell back asleep. If it wasn't for my mom coming in to wake me, I'd probably still be crashed out on my couch.

I turn onto Tori's street and drive up their driveway. I've always loved the Vega house. It's so classy and modern, the front lawn is always trimmed to perfection and the palm trees grow so high it feels like you're on a tropical beach somewhere. I pull out my black pear phone and text Tori to let her know I'm outside. I look up to see the front door pull open and Cat and Tori step out.

She looks beautiful (then again, she could wear a paper bag and I'd think it was hot). Her chocolate brown hair just falls so perfectly over her shoulders and her honey gold eyes sparkle so nicely in the sunlight. Cat is bouncing around next to her, full of energy as always. "Hey Beck" Tori calls out with a dorky little wave. I unlock the door and the Latina climbs into the front seat next to me. I get a waft of vanilla as she turns to do up her seatbelt. "Hi Beck!" Cat squeals and hugs my shoulders from the back seat. I laugh and pat her wrists. "Hey Cupcake" I reply. I think everyone in my group of friends has accepted Cat's child like behaviour by now. "Thanks for giving us a ride" Tori says as I pull out of the driveway.

"Hey no problem, didn't think Cat would enjoy riding with your sister" I grin. Tori laughs and I instantly relax at the sound. Cat huffs from the back seat. "No, she yelled at me to shut up last night!" Cat whines. I merge lanes as she tells the story. "Well in her defence you were singing the Sesame Street theme at the top of your lungs while everyone else in my house was trying to sleep" Tori points out, a smile playing on her lips. I laugh at the thought. Cat pouts and crosses her arms. To keep Cat from continuing, I turn on the radio. Nirvana comes through the speakers and I tap my thumb on the steering wheel. I'm taken by surprise when Tori starts quietly singing along. I turn the volume down a little so I can hear her more; but she catches on and closes her mouth. "Hey why'd you stop?" I ask playfully as I drive along the freeway. "I'm onto you Mr Oliver" She replies with an accusatory glare. I begin to raise my hands in defence but Tori reaches across and pushes them back down. "Two hands on the wheel please" She grins. Her hand lingers on mine for a second, before she pulls away, deep red blooming on her cheeks. I feel my face start to burn and quickly turn the radio up. "I didn't know you liked Nirvana?" I say, changing lanes. "My dad loves them, he has all their old records and sometimes he'll play them on this ancient vinyl player he's got" She laughs at the thought, I smile too. A comfortable silence settles between us.

"You're being very quiet back there Cat" Tori says. Oh yeah, Cat's here. I look up in the rearview mirror. Cat's sitting in the middle seat, a smirk on her lips as she watches Tori and I. I raise an eyebrow as we make eye contact. She wiggles hers at me. Tori catches her and turns to look at her. Girls must have some sort of telepathic communication because Cat got the message and averted her gaze.

We're about a minute away from school when Tori turns to me. "Can we get coffee? I forgot to make one this morning and Cat and I didn't get much sleep last night" she yawns and scrunches her nose (which I think is adorable). I bite my lip. "Mm, but we don't know how long it'll take and I have Bradford first so I don't-"

"Please?" Tori gives me puppy eyes and sticks out her lower lip. She's never looked cuter. "Well who can say no to a face like that". Crap. Did I say that out loud? Tori blushes and tucks her hair behind her ear. My face burns with embarrassment and I divert my attention to the road. "But I don't like coffee, it's too sour" Cat pipes up. "Don't worry kitten, we can get you a milkshake instead" Tori replies. Cat smiles. "Kay Kay!" I turn into the Jetbrew parking lot and park next to the door.

"Alright, what can I get you girls" I say, unbuckling my seatbelt. Tori raises an eyebrow at me. "It's okay, I got it" She replies, gently pushing me back into my seat. "You sure?" I ask, reaching into my back pocket. "Here" I give her 10 dollars but she hands it back to me. "Relax Beck, it's three drinks, it won't break the bank" She laughs and I grin. "Vanilla milkshake please" Cat says and Tori nods at her. She looks at me. "Large cappuccino?" She asks. I'm surprised, I didn't know she knew my coffee order! "Uh yeah, thanks Tori" She winks at me and climbs out of my car.

Before she's even closed the door of the coffee shop, Cat's slipped into the front seat next to me, eyeing me expectantly. "Hey Cat?" I say, confused. She can't keep her excitement in and blurts out. "You and Tori should date!" I feel my eyes widen at her. "Really Cat? What gives you that idea" I ask nervously, running a hand through my hair. She gnaws on her lower lip. "Oh I don't know, you'd make a really good couple!"

I give her a laugh. "Okay Cat, that's enough skittles for you. Tori and I are just friends!" Cat shoots me a look of disbelief but doesn't reply. Thankfully, I spot Tori pushing open the doors of the Jet brew and Cat crawls back to the back seat. She climbs back inside my car and hands me my coffee. "Thanks" I say, taking a sip. Tori smiles at me, then hands Cat her milkshake. "Yay sprinkles!" She squeals and shoves the straw in her mouth. Tori laughs and takes a mouthful of her own drink. I make note of the order printed on the side of the cup "hazelnut iced latte with soy milk".

I pull up to Hollywood Arts and find a parking spot. We climb out of the car and Cat hands us our backpacks. She's bouncing off the walls, talking rapidly and tugging on the Latina's arm. Tori smiles and nods back wearily; I can tell she hasn't slept well in a few days. Wonder why...