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“Beck,” sighs Tori in relief as she jumps to her feet at the sight of him. “Jade’s in surgery and-” She’s cut off by him giving her a much-needed hug.“Her appendix ruptured. I know. I talked to her Dad and the nurse.” He pulls back and smiles a little at their worried friend, “Thank you for getting her here. Everything is okay.” He lets her go completely when he sees Andre walking into the room knowing she’ll want his hug more. Once she’s out of the way he sees Cat curled on one of the waiting room chairs nervously playing with her hair. He smiles softly and slips into the seat beside her causing her to finally look up.“Hey, Kitty Cat,” he speaks softly and gently tucks a loose piece of her red hair back behind her ear. That’s all it takes before she’s over the arm rest and in his lap. He wraps his arms tightly around her and drops a soft kiss on the top of her head. “It’s okay to be scared. She’s going to be okay.”Cat nuzzles her head between his jaw and his shoulder, one of her safe places, and finally relaxes completely against him. "She was crying," she says, her voice trembling. "She never cries."Beck gently rubs circles on her back while waiting to see if she’ll share anymore. “I… I tried to help, but she yelled at me… I know she was just scared and hurting though.”Beck kisses the top of her head again and squeezes her reassuringly before saying, “she wasn’t mad at you, Kitten-” the special name only he and Jade use- “she was just hurting and scared. You’re right.”Cat takes a little breath, her thinking breath as the couple refers to it, before pulling back so she can look at Beck in the eyes. He holds her gaze quietly not wanting to rush whatever it is she needs to say. “I have to tell you something, but you have to promise not to get mad.”Beck fights the urge to raise his eyebrows. He forces himself to keep a neutral face and even tone when answering his and his girlfriend’s “child.” “I can’t promise that, but you know we don’t get mad at you just-”“-my actions,” finishes off the redhead nervously. “I know Beck, but this isn’t about me.” What could she be- “It’s about Ja-” His voice becomes more serious when he realizes. “Did Jade tell you not to tell me she wasn’t feeling well today?”Cat immediately looks down, her fingers playing with the buttons on his shirt. Beck sighs, his heart softening for her."Are you allowed to hide stuff like that from me?" he asks gently. "Or from Jade if it was me asking?"Cat bites her lip and looks up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "No, but—"Beck gently lifts her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. "It’s okay, Cat. But you know Jade and I can’t ask you to do that. You can't keep things from us."She nods, her face full of guilt. "I’m sorry."He leans forward and kisses her forehead which soothes her almost instantly, “The three of us will talk about it when Jade is better. You’re okay, and I’m not mad at either of you, alright?”“Promise?”Beck softly smiles and gives her head another kiss and pulls her close for a hug, “I promise.” The two settle into a comfortable silence for a while with Tori and Andre rejoining them a few seats over. After a little while, Beck’s eyes dart to the clock.“I forgot Riley!” Beck exclaims, holding Cat with one arm while digging through his pocket for his phone with the other. Six missed calls from the girl flash on the screen.“Her dad’s out of town!” gasps Cat, scrambling off his lap and looking around for his keys. “Did you drive? I can go pick her up so you can stay.”Beck stands quickly, calling Riley back. “No, no, Andre dro— Hey, Princess! No, I— Ri… I know, I’m sorry… Riley, I didn’t forget you on purpose, I promise!” His frustration is clear as Riley’s voice bursts through the phone, sharp and upset.Tori grabs her purse and steps closer, trying to catch Beck’s attention as he pulls the phone away from his ear, clearly overwhelmed by the emotions pouring out of the younger girl.“Is she at soccer?” Tori asks in a hushed tone. “I’ll go get her and take her to my house. She can stay with me tonight, and I’ll take her to school in the morning. Did Jade have her stuff or do you?”Beck shakes his head, trying to focus on Riley’s voice on the other end. “It’s in my— Riley Paige, I know you’re upset, but this is not how you’re going to speak to me.” He walks to the other side of the room to scold her in private, not wanting to make it worse with an audience.Tori holds out her hand to Cat with a soft smile. “Let’s go pick her up, swing by his place to grab her stuff, and then head to my house. You can spend the night too… we’ll all see Jade after school tomorrow, okay? It’s going to be a while before she’s done tonight.”“Kay kay,” Cat sighs, taking Tori’s hand. “What about Beck?” She looks over at where her “big brother” is pacing.“I’ll stay with him,” Andre assures her with a smile. “Don’t worry, Lil’ Red. Go with Tori and maybe help calm down the littler red… B,” he nods toward Beck, “doesn’t seem to be doing that right now.”Cat frowns and mumbles, “She’s going to be in so much trouble…” Tori squeezes her hand in response, understanding her concern. Beck’s usually the patient, level-headed “parent” between himself and Jade when it comes to Riley, but when it comes to disrespect, he doesn’t mess around with either of his “kids.”“They’ll both have time to cool off before school tomorrow,” Tori reassures her, giving her a small smile. “Let’s get her before she totally loses it. You know how she is when she realizes she messed up… or when her tantrum energy runs out.”“I gotta tell Be—”“Cat!” Beck calls, his voice sharp enough to cut through her thoughts. She immediately turns, seeing him motioning for her to come over while still talking to Riley on the phone. Hesitant, she skips over, but her heart melts when Beck wraps his arm around her to steady her, his warmth grounding her.“You’re getting one tomorrow, Riley. I get that you’re frustrated, but that’s no excuse for the way you’re talking to me.” Beck’s tone is calm but firm. Cat flinches at his words, feeling a lump form in her throat. Hearing Riley being scolded like this stings, and it’s hard to sit with. She wants to do something to help, but knows she can’t. Beck meets her eyes, noticing her discomfort, and quickly shifts the conversation.“Tori’s gonna take you both home, and you’ll spend the night there, okay? I’ll see you at school tomorrow, then we’ll go visit Jade after.”“Wait, why won’t Jade be at school? I thought she was picking me up.” Riley’s voice is confused, and Cat immediately looks at Beck, her frown deepening.She mouths, You didn’t tell her? Beck doesn’t answer, and her glare intensifies. Before he can react, she grabs his phone and starts talking. “Jadey’s appendix exploded, so she’s in surgery. She’s gonna be in the hospital for a few days. But Beck says everything’s okay, so don’t freak out.”Beck snatches the phone back quickly, his tone almost defensive. “Jade’s fine. I didn’t want you to worry, so I didn’t say anything. We’ll see her tomorrow, but I’ll text you when she gets out of surgery. You—” He looks over at Cat, making sure she knows he’s speaking to both of them. “—don’t need to worry.”Cat takes a small step away from him, crossing her arms, still wanting his comfort but also making sure he knows she’s not happy. “Ri, Tori and Cat will be there in just a few minutes. Shower, homework, and bed tonight, okay?” Beck’s voice softens a bit as he looks at her, sighing tiredly. “Please.”He says his goodbyes and hangs up, giving Cat a look that only makes her pout even more.“I’m not happy with you, mister,” Cat says, trying to sound stern, but her face scrunches in a way that shows she’s more annoyed than anything else. Beck fights a smile, clearly trying not to laugh.“You should’ve told her first,” she adds, crossing her arms and tapping her foot.Beck, now clearly holding back a grin, responds, “I didn’t want to freak her out.”“Well, you definitely freaked me out!” Cat pouts harder, but she’s clearly not mad enough to stay that way for long. “I’m sorry you’re not happy with me, but I didn’t tell her on purpose.” His tone is gentle but direct. As Tori walks over to get her, Beck quickly pulls Cat in for a brief goodnight hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her red hair.“Her bag’s in my car. You have your key to the RV, right?”Cat nods. “My keys should be on the table. Get the sleepy hot cocoa from the cabinet… you both can have one cup tonight. Then—”Cat cuts him off with a whispered, “Shower, homework, and bed. I heard you tell Riley.”Beck’s brow furrows in confusion. “What’s wro—”She cuts him off again, but this time with a slightly stronger whisper, “You’re being too… too Becky tonight. You’re embarrassing me.”Beck feels a blush creep up his neck, stepping back to give her more space. He can’t help but chuckle, knowing exactly what she means, but his embarrassment is clear. Cat smiles at him, letting him know it’s okay, before grabbing onto Tori’s arm.“Promise to text when she’s out of surgery?”“Promise, Kit—” He catches himself, “Cat.”She smiles, the tension easing, and waves as Tori pulls her away. “Goodnight!”Beck smiles softly and waves back as they head out. “Night.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The late bell for second period rings as Beck parks his car in the school lot. He slouches back in the driver’s seat for a moment, running a hand through his hair. After Andre dropped him off at home the night before, Beck had gone back to the hospital to sleep in the infamous recliner. He’d told Jade’s mom it was so she could go home and get a proper night’s rest, but the truth was, he couldn’t sleep knowing Jade wasn’t fully herself yet from the medication.
At least he’d managed to video chat with Cat and Riley before they went to bed. Seeing Jade, even groggy and barely coherent, had done wonders to calm them both. Riley’s endless questions had finally slowed down, and Cat’s nervous energy had shifted into soft smiles and reassurances. Jade’s half-mumbled “I’m fine” might not have been her most convincing performance, but it was enough for them to settle down for the night.
Now Beck trudges into school, the weight of a math test and a half-finished playwriting assignment hanging over him. His back aches, and the thought of a long day ahead isn’t doing much to lift his spirits. Still, the empty hallways are a relief—no noise, no questions, just a quiet walk to his locker.
When he opens it, Beck blinks in surprise. Sitting on top of his history book is a coffee cup and a bottle of ibuprofen. The tiny heart drawn on the lid in sparkly pink marker makes him chuckle softly.
He grabs the cup, noting that the coffee is far too sweet—exactly how Cat likes it—but he takes a sip anyway, grateful for the gesture. Before heading to class, he stops at the vending machine, grabs a candy bar, and tucks it into his pocket for later.
“Beck!” cheers Cat from their usual lunch table, waving her hand like she’s trying to flag down a plane. “Look, I got tacos for lunch! Do you want to sit by me?”
Robbie frowns, adjusting his glasses. “Hey, Cat! I’m sit—”
“Move, Robbie!” she demands, cutting him off with a dramatic huff. She pats the seat beside her, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Here, Beck! Ooh, can I have some of your fries?”
Beck chuckles, setting his tray down as he slides onto the bench. “Go for it.”
“Thank you!” Cat giggles, immediately snagging a fry.
“How’s Jade?” Tori asks, her tone soft but curious as she picks at her salad.
“Yeah, is she still all loopy from the meds?” Andre adds, leaning forward with a raised eyebrow. “I mean, the doc said that’d wear off, but… you know how she is.”
“She’s definitely more herself today,” Beck replies, grabbing a fry of his own. “Still a little groggy, but nothing like last night. By now, she’s probably convinced the nurses she’s the one in charge. I’m guessing they’ll be happy when I get back later—it’ll give them a break.”
The group laughs, picturing Jade bossing around hospital staff, and the conversation shifts to Andre’s latest song and the upcoming performance he’s planning with Tori.
As their chatter fills the table, Beck leans slightly toward Cat, lowering his voice so only she can hear. “Thanks for the coffee this morning.”
Cat lights up at the acknowledgment, her cheeks pink with pride, but then her face shifts into a more serious expression. “Jadey told me to get it for you,” she admits, fiddling with her napkin. “Did you really sleep on that chair?”
Beck smirks, leaning back. “I didn’t really sleep if that makes you feel any better.”
Before Cat can reply, the bell rings, signaling the end of lunch. Beck stands, offering her a hand. “C’mon, Cupcake. Time for class.”
Cat grabs his hand, letting him pull her up. “Almost done,” he adds, giving her a reassuring smile, “and then we’ll go check on Jade.”
“Hey, Princess,” Beck greets with a smile as he stands up from leaning on his car. “How was school?”
Riley sighs and turns so he can gently pull her backpack from her back. She looks up at him with a little pout. “I have a scene due on Monday, and it’s dumb. I have to pretend to like Daniel.” Beck smirks, and that lights a little fire in Riley’s expression. “Daniel!” she exclaims. “He’s gross!”
“It’s just a little scene, Ri,” Beck admonishes gently as he places her bag in the backseat. “Are you ready to go see Jade?” She nods and finally wraps her arms around him for a hug. He smiles, hugging her back and placing a kiss on the top of her head. “When Cat gets here, we’ll go.”
He pulls back to look down at her. “How was Tori’s last night?”
Riley shrugs. “It was fine.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t pick you up on time. I know it scares you when we’re late.”
She leans into his hug, not wanting to look up at him. “I’m sorry I was rude to you… I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”
Beck rubs her shoulder and sighs. “No, you shouldn’t have. We’ll talk more about it later.” Riley frowns a little at that; she’s still in trouble. He spots Cat walking out of the school and guides Riley into the car. “Let’s go check on Jade.”
“Riley!” Cat squeals, climbing into the front seat and turning to smile at the younger girl. “I had the best day! We did a science experiment with baking soda and vinegar, and I made the biggest fizz! It was like a volcano, but with bubbles, and I think I might be a science genius now. Oh, and I found a sock in the hallway! I don’t know whose it is, but it’s mine now. Look!” She holds up a purple polka-dotted sock for emphasis. “Do you think Jade will like it?”
Beck gives a light tap to her thigh, reminding her to turn and sit all the way down. Once she’s facing the front, she puts on her seatbelt so Beck can start driving. She looks back at the sock. “She might want to cut this up with scissors.”
“Well,” Riley says from behind Beck, “she likes doing that, so I think she’ll really like that, Cat.” Riley grins as Cat squeals in delight and pounds her heels on the passenger floor board in delight.
“This is perfect!” she gushes one last time before hugging the sock close to her heart. “If I squeeze it tight enough, maybe Jade will still feel like I’m giving her a hug when I’m not there!”
Beck smiles over at the bubbly redhead, “maybe Cat.” He puts on his turn signal and looks back at the road. He adds a gentle reminder, “we’re in the car so we can’t shout or kick.-” he lowers his voice to a mock whisper- “quiet voices.” Cat mimics his whisper and then giggles before going back to messing with the sock and contently staring out the window.
Beck glances through the rearview and catches Riley’s eyes. She smiles and he gives her a little wink.
The door to Jade’s hospital room swings open with an almost dramatic flair, and there stands Cat, her eyes wide with excitement. She practically bounces on her toes, her hands holding the purple polka-dotted sock like it’s the most precious thing in the world.
“Jadey!” Cat calls, her voice echoing off the sterile walls of the hospital room. “I’ve brought you the best gift ever!” She flings herself into the room, completely oblivious to the fact that Jade is lying in a hospital bed, now waking up from the nap she was just taking.
Jade’s eyes flicker open, squinting slightly at the bright light above her. She blinks a few times, as if trying to focus. Her expression is a mix of confusion and amusement as she sees Cat’s wild energy, her grin wide despite the medication still clouding her thoughts.
“Cat,” Jade mumbles, her voice a little rough but still full of that familiar sass. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to brighten your day!” Cat declares with an over-the-top flourish, “and Beck promised he’d bring me after schoo and it’s after school!” She suddenly holds out the sock as if it were a trophy. “Look! It’s purple, and it has polka dots, and I found it in the hallway. I don’t know whose it is, but it’s mine now. And I thought, ‘What better way to show you I care than to give you a sock that’s totally random?’”
Jade stares at the sock, then back at Cat, her brow furrowing in a mix of disbelief and amusement. Despite her grogginess, Jade can’t help but chuckle, her lips curling into a lazy grin. “You’re out of your mind,” she says, her voice soft but teasing. “But... thank you? I guess?”
Cat’s face lights up, her excitement not dimmed in the slightest by Jade’s sleepy response. “I thought you’d love it! You can use it for whatever you want! You could cut it up with scissors, or maybe make it into a headband—oh! Or you could wear it as a bracelet! The possibilities are endless!”
Jade blinks a few times, clearly still trying to process the whirlwind of Cat’s energy. She shifts slightly in the bed, the medication making her movements slow and deliberate. She grins, despite herself, the familiar warmth of Cat’s wild energy bringing her some comfort. “You’re insane, you know that?” Jade mutters, but there’s a softness in her tone. “But it’s a good kind of insane. Thanks, Cat.”
Cat giggles and climbs onto the edge of the bed, completely disregarding the hospital setting as she curls her legs underneath her. “No problem, Jadey! I thought it might help you feel like you’re not alone, you know? So you can carry my love around with you... even when I’m not here. I hugged it really, really tight so when you hug it it’s like you’re hugging me! ”
Jade’s smile softens, and she looks up at Cat with a tired but genuine expression. “You’re ridiculous. But I appreciate it. Really.”
Beck, standing by the door with Riley, watches the exchange quietly, a soft smile tugging at his lips. He’s always known Cat had a way of lightening the mood, but seeing it in action now—especially with Jade—feels like a reminder of how important this bond is for both of them.
Riley, standing next to Beck, shifts her weight from one foot to the other, still a little uncertain about the hospital room and its sterile environment. But when she sees Jade smile, even through her grogginess, Riley feels a small wave of relief. She steps forward just a little, offering Jade a soft smile.
“Hey, Jade,” Riley says quietly, her voice a little hesitant. “How are you feeling?”
Jade looks over at her, her grin still present but more subdued. “I’m alive, aren’t I?” she says with a small chuckle. “Still a little out of it, but I’m good. How are you, kid?”
Riley’s smile grows slightly, but there’s a noticeable sense of tension still lingering in her posture. “I’m okay,” she replies, then glances at Beck, as if seeking reassurance.
Beck steps forward, placing a hand on Riley’s shoulder and offering her a reassuring smile. “She’s doing great,” Beck says, addressing Jade now. “But we’re all glad to see you’re okay.”
Jade’s eyes flicker to Beck, her gaze softening. “Thanks, Beck,” she says, her voice still a little sluggish but genuine. “I think I’m gonna survive this.”
Cat, ever the bundle of energy, suddenly gasps. “Oh! I almost forgot! I also brought you a snack!” She reaches into her bag, pulling out a bag of chips and holding them out to Jade with a flourish. “Because no one should be in the hospital without snacks. And don’t worry, I got the good kind—the ones with the ridges.” She looks back down in her bag and gasps before pulling out a candy bar, “And we got chocolate! This was definitely the hospital fairies!”
Jade looks at the chips and candy with a mix of amusement and gratitude. “You really are something else, Cat.”
Beck shakes his head, a smile tugging at his lips happy she found her treat after he slipped it in there at lunch. “Only Cat would think to bring hospital snacks.”
Cat beams, completely satisfied with herself. “It’s all part of my genius, Beck. You’ll see.”