Every Beat of your Heart Makes a Song in Mine (A Victorious Story)

Chapter thirteen

The whole gang just stood there for a few seconds in shock. Hayley gaped at Beck and began massaging her jaw. And then, she jutted her finger at him and shrieked,

"ASSAULT!!!" The remaining color left Beck's face in his fear. "HE ASSAULTED ME!!!"

Beck turned just as fast as he had earlier and raced out of the restaurant. The rest of the gang packed up their things and then ran after him close behind. Robbie picked Cat up bridal style while Tori got her crutches and followed close behind. They all crossed the parking lot and Andre unlocked the car, all of them filing back in and Andre driving off.

This time, Beck was in the front beside Andre, with Robbie, Cat, and Tori in the back seat. The drive away from Karaoke Dokie was dangerously quiet, and Cat, holding her stuffed reindeer, tried to break the tension.

"Maybe this time when we watch Hamilton we'll notice something different than the last five times. I hear that the guy playing Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson limps when he's playing Thomas Jefferson cause Thomas Jefferson had a limp in real life." She suggested.

"Maybe..." Beck mumbled, his face in his hands.

"I don't see what the big deal is." Rex said, and Tori looked at him as if he had just given someone the death penalty.

"Seriously?!" She asked. "The big deal is that Beck socked a girl across the jaw!!!"

"And I got it on video." Cat piped in.

"She deserved it, Jade would have done the same." Rex remarked, and Tori rolled her eyes, but then turned to Cat.

"Why did you video it, again? And how did you know that Beck was about to do something?"

"Beck tensed up like my brother does when he's about to punch someone." Cat clarified. "And I videoed it to show it to Jade when she wakes up, so that she knows that she doesn't have to punch Hayley in the jaw." She looked at the floor in thought. "Although, I dunno if it's gonna keep her from punching her either way." She added.

"Look, can we please just drop the topic?" Andre asked. "Why don't we just enjoy some music while we drive to my house?"

He turned up the radio once more, and a talk show was playing where someone was interviewing Dwayne Johnson about his latest WWE battle.

"And then you just punched them across the jaw and it was K.O.?" The interviewer asked. Andre took one look at Beck's face and immediately changed the station.

Now, it was playing "I'm Here (Story 4)" from the broadway production of Matilda.

"At night, the escapologist's daughter cried herself to sleep, alone, in her room."

Great, Tori thought. A depressing song. Perfect for setting the mood. Andre seemed to be thinking the same thing, because he switched it to another station.

The only other station that wasn't complete static was playing Christmas music. In the middle of October. Eventually, Andre just turned the radio off.

"Anyone have any CD's handy?" He asked. When no one replied, he sighed. "Guess we're just going to have to enjoy the silence for a while."

Cat brought out her phone again and began scrolling through The Slap.

"Hey, guys? Did you see Sikowitz's latest post?" She asked.

"No. No, I haven't. I don't think I have." The other four murmured.

"What's it say, Little Red?" Andre asked.

"I'm not sure I should read it; it's about the crash." Cat said in a soft voice. Tori could see Beck thinking in the reflection of the rear view mirror. He then looked at Cat using the same mirror and replied,

"Well, now you've got us all interested. What's it say?"

"'I have been swarmed by cameras lately, from students and actual news stations alike, to be asked what I think about the recent crash that landed four of my students in the hospital. And the first thing that I think we should all address is how unprofessional and unsympathetic this is. No one cares or needs to know my opinions when human lives are at stake. I care about my students' safety, and their privacy. So I want to say to Tori Vega, Cat Valentine, Beck Oliver, and Jade West, I am so sorry for the crash that resulted because you were driving to a restaurant after the final show of my production. I feel as though I am partly the one to blame for it, and as such I will take responsibility. I'm just glad that you all are all right, and that the person that crashed into you has been locked away. As for the rest of you all who have been bombarding these students and myself with questions and constant cameras in our faces for the past few days, stop it. You need serious help. Mr. Lane Alexander is always glad to help in case psychos like you are aiming cameras at other people's faces. Just show some respect!!!'" Tori thought that Cat was done, but she added what sounded like a sort of footnote or after-message.

"'And to whoever's been replacing my teaching plans with old coconuts, I appreciate the thought, but please stop!!!"

"Huh." Tori thought aloud. "Looks like we aren't the only ones who sadly got kinda famous due to this crash."

"No kidding." Beck nodded. "But it's not Sikowitz's fault. He shouldn't be..." but then his voice trailed off, and he realized that he had pretty much been contradicting what he had said about himself being responsible for the crash about a half hour before.

"Blaming himself?" Andre asked. "Yeah, you're right. He shouldn't be."

"Sounds like someone we know, doesn't it?" Rex added.

Beck was quiet the rest of the way to Andre's house.