Power to the Players

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created originally by MonkeyxMonkey and are copyrighted to him/her, any reposting or archiving without written permission is an infringement on the copyright of this series. So in other words You damn well better ask before you steal it.

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Summary: In the ALL NEW 13th episode of 'Power to the Players', Beck finally visits Melody and tries to figure out once and for all if she made the right decision. Meanwhile, the disaster that is now Lee and Jessie's relationship is laid out for everyone to see when Natalie and Beck play host to either party and hear the details of what is going now. Later, Beck comes out!

Original Airdate: Monday, August 13th, 2012 @ 9:30 p.m.

Story Codes: no sex

I parked my dad's car in Melody's driveway and looked up at her house. This was the right thing to do right? She'd had feelings for me for so long and I know I'd regret it if I didn't act on them…but…my heart was telling me differently.

I loved Melody…right? No, there was definitely love there…but what kind of love. Friendly…? Yes, maybe it was! Maybe it would be wrong of me to do this only for her, to go into the relationship when I didn't totally feel the same.

I'd only be hurting her in the long run…and Natalie looked so crushed when she confessed to me. I felt like such an ass. What could I say to her? Could I really tell her how I felt when I knew my best friend was in love with me? Of course someone was going to get hurt but…I didn't want it to be her. I didn't want it to be Melody either. Damn it! Why did they both have to fall for me? Why couldn't Melody have stayed with Daniel…I mean, Duncan. Yeah, Duncan.

This was all too confusing…but I had made my choice and there was no backing out now…so, I got out the car and headed towards Melody's front door.

Natalie's House

"How long has she been like this?"

"For a while. I didn't know where else to take her. I mean, I know you're going through too now with what happened with Beck…but I just didn't know what to do!"

"It's Ok Mark. I forgive you. Besides, I've needed something to distract me from…"

"…Yeah, I'm really sorry Nat. I don't know what Beck's thinking but she would never hurt you like this on purpose"

"…I just feel like such an idiot. I thought she liked me but…I guess I'm wrong"

"No! Don't say that. She does like you! The only reason she's going out with Melody is because she's afraid to hurt her. Melody's liked Beck for a long ass time and I guess this is Beck's way of apologizing for being so dense"

"Beck's a prick! Lee's a prick! I hate them both so much!"

Natalie and Mark both looked over at a sobbing Jessie and the both of them felt for the girl. "Jessie, I'm so sorry to hear about what happened between Lee and you. He's an ass for doing that but you have to be strong now. Show him that you're not going to take his shit" she said, walking over to the girl.

Jessie sniffled and looked over at Mark, who nodded his head in agreement. "I just can't believe everyone knew but me!" she exclaimed, tearing up again.

"If it makes you feel better, I didn't know either Jessie. No one told me" Natalie said, trying to calm her down.

"Really?" Natalie nodded and Jessie ran her hand over her face, wiping away at some of the tears.

"Look at me. Crying to you when you have your own problems. Stupid Beck. She's my friend but…I can't believe she would want to be with that bitch Melody" she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.

"It was her choice Jess. And we promised to support her" Mark reminded her. "I know but it still pisses me off. I mean, Natalie's so nice. She's much better for Beck" Jessie stated like a mother talking to her child's ex-fiancée.

Mark sighed and looked over at Natalie in apology. She just smiled and waved him off. "I know. I'm mad at Beck too but…for different reasons. I still love her very much and…I guess, and don't think bad of me for saying this but, I'm hoping things with Melody don't work out" she said mischievously.

Jessie looked up at her and a small smile crossed her facial features as well. Mark looked between both the girls and slowly shook his head.

"Unh-unh. This will not end well. I don't know what you two are thinking of but, whatever it is, don't do it" he warned.

"Why Mark. Whatever could you mean" Natalie said innocently, bashing her eyebrows at him. "Nope. I know that look. Hope does it to me all the time. This is not a good idea!" he exclaimed.

Jessie just smirked and Natalie did the same. "If Beck and Lee wanna play…then we'll play back full force" Natalie said, getting off the couch and walking over to her phone.

"Oh! Please don't do this" Mark begged, realizing he was witnessing something that could get him in trouble with both Beck and Lee.

"Mark, if you tell Beck or Lee about this, I'll chop off your sack" Jessie said bluntly, picking up the phone and dialing a number.

Mark cringed and looked down at his pants. "Maybe staying quiet is a good idea too" he thought.

Natalie looked out her window at Beck's house and sighed when she realized their car wasn't there. She didn't know exactly how she was going to get Beck but she knew she wasn't going to go down without a fight.

Melody's House

I knocked on the hard brown door with my good hand and waited for the door to be answered. It swung open and Melody looked at me wide eyed.

"Beck…" she whispered, pulling me into a gentle hug. I smiled and hugged her back. She felt warm. A bit warmer than I anticipated, but warm none the less.

"How are you doing? God, you don't know how scared I was when I saw you hit that pole" she said, her eyes running down at my cast and back at me with concern.

"I'm fine. Thanks a lot for calling the police or I probably would have…" She cleared her throat and I took that as a sign to stop talking.

She opened the door wider for me and I stepped inside and walked over to her living room couch. "The doctors told me you had been sent home when I went back to visit you but I decided to come see you another time, I didn't wanna just rush you when you got home after…"

"You felt like it was all your fault…Brandon told me" I said, interrupting her. She looked down at her lap and nodded slowly.

I groaned but she quickly defended herself by saying, "It was Beck! If I hadn't sprung all of that on you at one time, you would have paid more attention to the road."

"Melody, that isn't your fault though. I'm in this cast because of me. Just because you told me you loved me, doesn't mean I have to go crashing into a ditch" I exclaimed.

Melody got quiet and I turned around so that I was facing her. "…I thought about it" I said softly. She looked up at me and blushed a little.

"And?"

"And I'm willing to give this a shot. I'm so sorry that I was so dense but…maybe this could work out. I just feel like if I didn't, I would regret it" I replied.

She took my hand and smiled at me…but her smile faded a little and she asked the one question I didn't want her to ask. "And Natalie?"

I looked down at the ground for a second and stopped myself from doing my usual nervous quirk. "…My feelings for Natalie…aren't as strong as I thought" I lied.

Melody seemed happy with the answer because she leaned in and kissed me soundly on the lips. I tried to kiss her back but all I saw was jet-black hair and brownish green eyes. Damn Natalie. You've got me bad.

- - - - -

I sat on my bedroom floor, staring at the TV screen and moving my player left and right as he tried to dodge the barrage of bullets that we're coming his way. I liked games. I always had. But recently, I wasn't so sure.

Games were what I used to escape real life. When I was mad, or upset, or bored; I would just pop in a game and I instantly felt better…but I couldn't do that anymore. I couldn't just run away whenever I felt bad about something, because life wasn't a game.

In a game, you can reset something when you mess up. In a game, you have a manual to where you need to go to get to the next level. In a game, you can die repeatedly and still be brought back to life. But in the real world, life wasn't that easy.

When you fucked up, you fucked up. When you died, you died. When you got lost, you got lost. There was no reset to life. There was no manual to life. There was just…life itself.

I guess when you think about it, these games do have one good point to them. You have to be strong to do some of the things you do in real life. You have to think about the choices you make. So, in a way, we're all players…we're just not in a video game.

Hm. The power to the players really does rule all.

"Beck! Beck! Beck let me in!"

I glanced over at my door as Brandon jolted me out of my thoughts. "Hello little brother. Nice to see you too. What do you want?" I yelled through my bedroom door.

"You can't look yourself in here forever. Kylie told me Natalie's been doing the same thing". At the mention of Natalie's name, I paused the game and quickly opened the door.

"What do you want?" I asked, looking down at him. "What's wrong with you? You've been upset ever since Natalie ran out a couple of days ago. Is it the cast? Is it bothering you?" he asked, examining my arm.

I sighed and opened the door wider so that he could come in. "Brandon, I gotta tell you something. But you gotta promise not to tell mom and dad because I'm not ready to tell them yet" I said, hoping he could keep a secret.

He nodded and I inhaled and exhaled before looking back over at him. "Alright. Remember that talk we had when I was in the hospital?"

"Yeah. You said being with Natalie would be 'complicated' or whatever"

"Right and you do understand that being with Natalie wouldn't be…friendly"

"…Yeah, I know. She'd be your girlfriend"

"…And you're fine with that?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be? Dad always said that if you like someone you should give it 100%. And if you like Natalie then what's the problem?"

"That's just the thing. I'm not with Natalie…I'm with Melody"

"Melody? Your friend? But what about Natalie?"

"Don't get me wrong B. I still like Natalie, it's just, I have to at least give Melody a chance. You know, to see if things would work out between us"

"But that's not giving it 100%. You can't go out with someone just to see what it's like. That's like using somebody!"

"No it isn't!"

"Yes it is. You're using Melody and you know it. If you don't like Natalie, just say it. Don't make up some dumb excuse"

"Brandon, this isn't an excuse. I like them both!"

"But who do you like more? Who do you really think you can give 100% with?"

"…I'm not having this discussion with you! You're ten. I just wanted to tell you I'm gay, now get out"

"Whatever"

Brandon sulked his way out of my room and I sighed before looking at the ground. "Man, it's sad when your own little brother has to set things straight for you" I said to myself.

"My thoughts exactly"

I looked over at my door and saw Lee standing there with his hands in his pockets. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair was tousled all around his head.

"God, you look like death" I groaned, frowning at him. "Thanks. I feel like death too" he replied, walking in and laying on the floor. I rested my stomach against my bed and leaned down to look at him.

"Jessie?" I asked. He nodded slowly and then groaned in pain. "I'm such a fucking idiot Beck. I don't know what I was thinking" he replied.

"Yeah you are but I'm sure she'll forgive you if you tell her it was just a kiss" I said. He shook his head and my eyes widened.

"Lee…please tell me you didn't" I exclaimed, glaring at him. "I didn't mean to! I swear to you Beck. Just…please don't freak out. I've lost everyone. Hope won't talk to me and I'm pretty sure she got her claws into Mark too because ever conversation we have is composed of one sentence. Beck, I just really need a friend right now and I know you do too" he said quickly, his eyes begging for me to understand.

I sighed and shook my head. "I can't believe you slept with her. After everything you and Jessie went through…" "I know. I know. God, Beck I've been punishing myself enough lately. I can't sleep. I can't eat. And my friend, Michael said that Chase and Jessie went on a date last night. A date! It hasn't even been a full 72 hours and she's moved on from me" he groaned, throwing my pillow across the room.

"Lee calm down. I'm sure Jessie's hurt too. Mark told me over the phone about her break down at Wal-Mart. She's got to be hurting right now and we all know Chase is just a rebound" I said, rubbing my hand over his shoulder.

He sighed and crossed his legs, staring off into space. "How's things with Melody?" he asked. "She's happy. She wants me to come out to my parents" I replied bluntly.

"Are you?" he asked, looking up at me. I shrugged my shoulders. "I just told Brandon a few minutes ago. He seemed fine with it and then went on a rampage about how I wasn't giving Melody 100% and that I was using her" I said, rolling off my bed and sitting down next to Lee on the floor.

"In a way, you are Beck. I mean, don't get me wrong, but you know you don't love her the way you love Natalie. I saw the way you two looked at each other. All the touching. The flirting. The sexual tension that seemed to light the room on fire whenever you two were near each other. It's only been a couple months and she already had you wrapped around her little finger. Face it. You've been whipped since the start" he stated.

I thought about what he said and stared up at the TV screen. Had it really been that obvious that I liked Natalie? Did everyone else see it too? Brandon saw it. Lee, Hope, Jessie, my mom, even Melody could feel the vibe between. So why hadn't I made a move?

"I think you're afraid Beck. I think you're so afraid of giving this girl your heart that you gave it to someone that you thought it'd be safer with. But you can't always play it safe. Sometimes, you just have to give it all you got, play all your cards, and hope that things work out in your favor".

Lee looked over at me and that's when I realized we were having a moment. "I'm gonna get Jessie back. I already know that. Because I'm gonna do everything in my power to get her back together with me. So Beck, I'm saying this as a friend. Think really hard about what you're doing with Melody…because believe it or not, Natalie won't be waiting for you forever".

With that said, Lee got up and left the room, leaving me to my thoughts. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, things like this never were. I got up to close my door but jumped when I saw my mother standing there.

"M-Mom"

"Beck, we need to talk".

Natalie's House

"Why do I have to be here?" Mark grumbled, holding his girlfriend tighter in his lap. "Because Jessie needs our support right now" Hope replied, running her fingers over Mark's larger hand.

"But all she's doing is picking out clothes" he stated, motioning toward Jessie who was rummaging Natalie's closet.

"Date clothes, Mark. Something she can wear to tempt Chase but also make Lee jealous" Natalie corrected. "You know, since Lee is technically still my best friend, I'm positive I'm breaking some type of guy code. Like, 'don't help your best friend's girl pick out clothes to go on a date with another guy" he said, sighing.

"Ex-girl, Mark. We're not together anymore so you're not breaking any guy codes" Jessie corrected, holding a top up against her torso. "Either way, if Lee finds out about this he's gonna be pissed" Mark added.

"I don't care how Lee feels about this. I'm going on another date with Chase because I want too" "Or because you're on the rebound" "Mark!"

Mark groaned as Hope frowned at him. "I'm just saying. Just because Lee and Jessie aren't together anymore, doesn't mean I can't still hang with him. I mean, he's my best friend…and the same goes for Beck" he said, directing his attention to Natalie.

The girl shrugged at him and continued helping Jessie. "I didn't say you couldn't keep talking to Beck" she said bluntly. "I know but whenever I'm on the phone with her, you give me those death glares" he mumbled.

Natalie quickly looked over at him and arched her eyebrows. "Death glares? What death glares?" she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "You know that look that says 'why are you talking to her?' It's a death glare".

"I don't look at you like that!"

"When I'm talking to Beck you do. Besides, I heard there's trouble in paradise"

"What?" All of the girls in the room suddenly stared over at the male and he stiffed a bit. "Uh…Beck is having second thoughts about Melody" he said nervously.

"Second thoughts like how?" Natalie pressed.

"Just that…she thinks she may be making a wrong decision. I don't know. I talked to her about it last night when she came home from Melody's. She just kept saying when she kissed her she saw your face over and over again" Mark said quickly.

Natalie stiffened and looked down at the ground. There was a small smile on her face before she let it drop. She went back to her prior task and just said, "Oh".

Hope and Jessie both looked at her before continuing what they were doing before. Mark sighed and leaned his forehead against Hope's shoulder. "Promise me we won't ever have drama like these two" he whispered to her.

Hope laughed to herself and leaned back against him. "I promise" she whispered back.

Natalie tried to focus on what she was doing but she couldn't stop thinking about Beck. Maybe she still had a chance with her after all. So harmless flirting wouldn't be so bad right?...Right.