It was a week before Christmas and Beca had stopped by Chloe's room before she left for her shift at the campus radio station. She hated Christmas but Chloe loved it so she wanted to give Chloe her gift before she left for Tampa. Well, truth be told she didn't want to give her anything. Chloe had threatened her with her pout and puppy dog eyes if she didn't stop by to pick up the gift Chloe got for her, so she decided to reciprocate and got Chloe something. The Bella House was unusually quiet as everyone was either studying or sleeping. Standing in the middle of Chloe's room, Beca handed Chloe the gift she got for her. It was wrapped in plain brown paper. Chloe squealed and Beca stopped Chloe when it looked like she was going to open it.
"What?" Chloe asked.
"Aren't you supposed to, like, wait until Christmas or some shit to open it?," Beca asked.
"But, Christmas is a week away," Chloe whined.
"I'm well aware," Beca said frowning.
"Don't you want to see me open it?," Chloe says with a pout.
"Chloe," Beca said. "I really don't care. You're the one running around talking about Christmas traditions being so great and everything. You told me that you always take all your presents home with you so you can open then on Christmas morning."
"Fine," Chloe says with a huff. "I won't open it now."
Chloe suddenly gives Beca a smile and grabs something from under her bed.
"But that just means you can't open this until Christmas either," Chloe tells Beca with a smirk as she hands her the gift.
"Okay," Beca says and just stands there holding the gift like she was holding a bomb.
"Becaaa!," Chloe whines again. "I want to see you open it."
"Chloeee!," Beca mocks. "I appreciate the thought but you're lucky I'm even taking it. You know how I feel about all this. I just want to be left alone until it's all over."
"I hate that you're going to be alone again this year," Chloe said rubbing Beca's arm. "I wish you'd come home with me for Christmas. My family would love to have you."
"I'll be fine, Chloe," Beca said. "My last final was today and after my shift at the station I'll be going to my grandma's house to stay until this is all over. I'm just going to hang out in my old room and make some new mixes. Alone. I can pretend Christmas isn't happening. Which is the way I like it."
"Come on, Beca," Chloe begged. "It's not too late to change your mind. Come to Tampa with me. Aubrey will be there."
"Thanks, but no thanks," Beca said. "I'm not third wheeling it with you and Posen."
"You make it sound like we're a couple or something," Chloe said with a laugh. "Aubrey is my best friend and so are you. You wouldn't be third wheeling anything."
"I love you, Chlo, I really do," Beca said. "But, I need this time for myself. You know I don't do Christmas. For me, it's just another day. Please understand. Okay?"
"Okay," Chloe says with a sigh. "But, if you change your mind, Brey and I are leaving tomorrow around 11:00 am."
"I won't, but thanks," Beca said. "Now give me the hug you've been holding back on because I need to get to the station."
Chloe smiled and grabbed Beca in a hug. Beca hugged her back.
"I'm going to miss you, Becs," Chloe whispered to Beca.
"I'm going to miss you, too, Chlo," Beca whispered back.
The two stood hugging each other until Beca finally pulled back. She gave Chloe a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Okay, Beale," Beca said. "I gotta go. Tell your family Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or whatever. I'll see you when you get back."
"Bye, Becs," Chloe said and walked Beca to the door.
Beca left and gave Chloe a small wave before Chloe closed the door. Chloe leaned against the door for a moment thinking how she wished she had the courage to tell Beca how she felt about her. She shook her head and went back to continue packing.
Beca left the Bella House and slowly made her way to the radio station, thinking about Chloe the whole way. She really wished she could love Christmas like Chloe does because she was in love with the girl. She didn't have the guts to tell her because she was afraid it would mess up their friendship and Chloe would walk away if she knew how Beca really felt about her. It was just too risky.
Beca walked into the station and got settled in the booth. No one else was around and the place was eerily quiet. She had offered to take a double shift since she was done with her finals and everyone else either had to study or take their finals. She queued up her playlists so that the first would play from 11:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m and she could get in some sleep.
"What's up, Barden?," Beca called over the air waves. "This is DJ BMitch and you are listening to WBUJ, music for the independent mind. I'm not going to bore you by talking so here's a 3 hour block of music to study by."
With that, Beca hit the button and her playlist started. Beca set the alarm on her phone and leaned back in her chair and fell asleep.
"Beca?," a voice called. "Beca, I need you to look at me."
"What the hell?," Beca said as her eyes opened. "Mom?"
"Yes, Beca," Mrs. Mitchell said. "It's me. I came to tell you something very important."
"But," Beca stammers. She jumps up and puts her back against the wall. "You-, you're dead."
"That's right," her mom said. "I am. I have been sent back to tell you that you need to change the path you're on or you will not find your true destiny."
"Change my path?," Beca asks. "Find my true destiny? What does that even mean?"
"You will be visited by three ghosts tonight," her mom said ignoring her questions. "The first will arrive as the clock strikes midnight. Listen to what they say. You need to find your destiny."
The image of her mom fades away leaving Beca with a tear running down her face.
"Mom?," Beca called out. "Are you still here?"
Beca sat up suddenly and realized she was still in her chair. The playlist she had started had only been playing for about an hour. She looked around the booth and didn't see anyone or anything moving about.
"Wow," Beca thought wiping her eyes. "That was some dream."
She yawned and checked her phone. It was almost midnight so she double checked her alarm and settled in the chair. She had only been asleep for a few moments when she heard her name being called. She jerked up in her chair and looked around. She didn't hear or see anything. She settled back down and closed her eyes. She jerked forward when someone smacked her in the back of her head.
"What the hell?," Beca yelled jumping up. "Stacie! What the fuck, dude?"
"I am the ghost of Christmas past," Stacie said. "I'm here to show you where it all started."
"Where what started?," Beca asked rubbing the back of her head.
"Your hatred for all things Christmas," Stacie said.
"You don't need to show me anything," Beca said. "I know exactly when it began."
"Well, then my job should be easy," Stacie said and grabbed Beca by the hand.
"Whoa, dude," Beca said as she felt like she was hurtling through space.
Suddenly she was in her old living room staring at a Christmas tree with presents underneath. She saw her mom sitting on the sofa with her head in her hands. She reached out to comfort her but her hand went right through her mother.
"What the hell?," Beca said and looked at Stacie.
"We are only here to observe," Stacie told her. "They can't see or hear us."
Beca looked toward the stairs when she heard heavy footsteps coming down them. Her dad was carrying a suitcase in each hand.
"Why are you doing this?," her mother asked her father. "Today of all days."
"It doesn't matter the day," her father said. "I'd still be leaving. Sheila is waiting for me to spend Christmas with her. I'll get the rest of my things later."
"Did Santa come?," the voice of a 5-year-old Beca asked as she came running down the steps.
"He came, he came," Beca squealed jumping up and down.
Beca looked at her mom and saw that she was crying. She walked over to her and put her hand on her shoulder.
"What's wrong, mommy?," Beca asked.
Her mother looked at her and cleared her throat.
"You're father's leaving," her mother said.
Beca looked over at her father and saw him standing there with his head down, holding two suitcases tightly in his hands.
"Do you have to leave now?," Beca asked quietly. "Doesn't your work know it's Christmas?"
Her father just stood there not saying anything.
"It's not for work, baby," her mother told her. "He's leaving us and he's not coming back."
Tears started to roll down Beca's face as she ran over to her father.
"No," Beca screamed. "You have to come back. You're my daddy. Daddy's are supposed to come back."
Beca put her arms around her father's leg and held on, crying for him to stay.
Older Beca looked at Stacie with tears in her eyes.
"Why would you make me relive this in person?," Beca choked out.
"It has to be this way," is all Stacie said. "We must start from the beginning."
Beca's father put his suitcases down and pulled young Beca off his leg.
"Will you get your daughter?," he says to Beca's mother angrily. "I need to go."
Her mother stood up and went over and picked Beca up. Beca fought her and kept calling out to her father.
"Daddy!," Beca yelled struggling against her mother. "Please, daddy! I'll be good. I'll eat my vegetables. I won't make noise. Please, daddy, don't leave!"
Mrs. Mitchell held Beca tightly while the two cried. Mr. Mitchell smoothed down his shirt and picked up his bags. He walked out without saying another word. Beca's mother stopped trying to hold her daughter back and finally set her down on the floor. Beca looked up at her mother with tears streaming down her face. She turned and walked back upstairs to her room. She never did come back down to open her presents. Her mother had someone come and haul everything away the next day.
Stacie took Beca by the hand and before Beca knew it they were in her grandmother's house the following year. She knew the day well. It was three days after Christmas. She was six and they were burying her mother, because three days before, on Christmas, her mother killed herself.
"Come on, dear," her grandmother said. "We have to go now."
Beca slowly stood up and let her grandmother take her hand. They drove through the quiet streets and ended up at her grandmother's small church. The two of them and the minister were the only ones there. The minister spoke some words about life and death and ended with a prayer. Some men came and took the casket that held her mother and pushed it outside. Beca didn't cry. Her mother left her just like her father, and neither one of them were coming back.
"She killed herself on Christmas day," Beca told Stacie. "The divorce from my father was finalized the week before. My father leaving on Christmas and my mother killing herself on Christmas, is why I don't do Christmas."
Stacie gave Beca a sad smile. "I'm sorry," was all she could say.
Stacie took Beca's hand again and then they were back in the booth at the radio station.
"You will be visited by two more ghosts," Stacie told her. "Please, listen to them so that you can find your true destiny."
"What the fuck is my true destiny?," Beca asked angrily. "That's the second time tonight I've been told I needed to find my destiny."
Beca looked back at Stacie awaiting an answer. Stacie wasn't there. She turned in circles looking for any sign of Stacie, but Beca was alone again. She ran her hand through her hair and sat back down in her chair. She pulled out her phone and saw that it was almost 2:00 am. She put her phone back and queued up another playlist so she would have at least 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
She settled back down in her chair and got comfortable. She fell asleep thinking about Stacie and her parents. She doesn't know how long she had been sleeping when she suddenly jerked awake to find Amy staring her in the face.
"What up, Shawshank?," Fay Amy said.
"Jesus, Amy," Beca yelled as she almost fell out of her chair. "You scared me half to death."
"I am the ghost of Christmas present," Amy said and Beca snickered.
"Christmas present?," Beca asked.
"Come on, Beca," Amy said. "I'm going to show you how your actions affect those around you."
Before Beca could say anything, Amy grabbed her hand and they were flying through space. Or that's what it felt like to Beca. Once they came to a stop, Beca blinked and saw that they were in Chloe's room. She saw Chloe sitting on her bed with Aubrey's arms around her and her head on Aubrey's shoulder.
"I knew there was something going on with those two," Beca said.
"Shut up, Shawshank, and listen," Amy told her.
"I can't help it, Brey," Chloe said with tears in her eyes. "I just want to know how she feels about me."
"Maybe you should just tell her," Aubrey said. "Then you'll know one way or the other."
"So, they're not together?," Beca asked with a furrowed brow.
"Shh," Amy said.
"But, she's Beca," Chloe said and Beca gasped. "If I tell her that I love her, she'll run. I just feel so bad about her being alone on Christmas."
"She loves me?," Beca whispered.
"Does anyone even know why she hates Christmas so much?," Aubrey asked.
"She's never told anyone that I know of," Chloe said. "She just says she hates it. She doesn't accept presents, she hides out at her grandma's house, and she walks around sad and angry throughout the holiday."
"She accepts gifts from you," Aubrey told her.
"Yeah, but barely," Chloe says. "She actually gave me one this year. I really hate that she spends Christmas alone every year, hiding out in her room. Remember last year when that freaky ice storm kept most of us here until after Christmas? Jessica, Ashley, and I did everything we could to make it festive so we didn't miss our families so much. No matter how hard we tried, we couldn't get Beca to come out of her room to celebrate with us. We made a nice Christmas dinner and she came down and got a bowl of cereal and went back up to her room. I begged and pleaded with her to join us. She got really mad at me and didn't speak to me for almost a month."
"I'm sorry, Chlo," Aubrey said. "I think you should just try and forget about having anything other than a friendly relationship with her."
"I've tried to move past this," Chloe said with tears in her eyes. "But, other than Christmas, she's always laughing and doing nice things for me. Sometimes I think she actually does like me more than as her friend. But, maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part."
Beca looked at Amy and Amy took her hand. They were now in the Beale home and it was Christmas morning. Beca saw Chloe and Aubrey laughing at something Chloe's dad had said. The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Chloe called out and ran to the door and pulled it open. "Tom? What are you doing here?"
"Hey, Chloe," Tom said. "I heard you were home and wanted to see you. Can I talk to you?"
Chloe let him enter and then grabbed him in a hug. She pulled back from the hug and looked up at him. Tom looked down at her and smiled; Chloe smiled back.
"What the fuck is he doing here?," Beca asked nostrils flaring. "He broke her heart 3 years ago and comes waltzing over like nothing happened back then."
"Come on, Tom," Chloe said taking his hand. "We'll go into the kitchen to talk."
Aubrey was the only one who was paying attention and saw Chloe holding Tom's hand as they passed by the living room. She raised her eyebrows and smiled when she caught Chloe's eye. Chloe just winked at her and continued leading Tom into the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, Chloe and Tom sat at the counter. Tom turned to look at Chloe.
"You look really good, Chlo," Tom said.
"You, too," Chloe said and smiled shyly.
"Look," Tom said. "I know I was a real dick to you back at Barden. I'm not the same guy I was then and I can't stop thinking about you. I miss you, Chlo."
Chloe looked at Tom and bit her lower lip.
"Oh, come one," Beca said. "She's not buying this whole 'I've changed' shit is she?"
"Just watch and listen," Amy said.
"I want to apologize for everything," Tom said. "I was wondering if while you're here we can maybe get together and I can show you how I've changed. I'd like a second chance. I, I still love you, Chlo."
"She'll say no," Beca said with a smug grin. "I was there when she swore that Tom was nothing to her but a memory. He hurt her too bad and she'll never forgive him."
"I'd like that," Chloe said with a smile. "I still care about you, too, Tom. And, I think everyone deserves a second chance."
"What the fuck?," Beca exclaims.
Before she can see any more, Amy takes her hand and they are back in the booth.
"What the hell, Amy?," Beca said. "Does Chloe really get back with that douchebag?"
"That all depends on you," Amy said. "If you find your true destiny, you will know."
"There's that fucking destiny thing again," Beca said. "Why won't anyone tell me what my true destiny is?"
Beca looked around and found herself alone again.
"Of course," she mutters.
She sits down in the chair and thinks about Chloe being with Tom. Her brows are furrowed and she's not sure what it is she's feeling right now. She jumps when she hears an alarm go off. She checks her phone to see that it is 5:00 am. She hurriedly adds another 3 hour playlist to the queue and tells the listeners they were listening to a commercial free WBUJ. She hit play and the next set of songs begins. She falls asleep and is suddenly wakes up when she feels a hand land on her shoulder.
"Fuck!," Beca yells and turns to see who it is. "Lily?"
"I am the ghost of Christmas future," Lily said and takes Beca's hand.
Beca finds herself in what looks to be a small dining room. Chloe is sitting at the table holding her head in one hand and an almost empty bottle of what looks like whiskey in the other. She watched as Chloe took a drink directly from the bottle.
"Come on, Chloe," Tom says sounding frustrated as he entered the room. "Your folks are expecting us for Christmas dinner."
"Fuck off," Chloe slurs.
"Chloe," Tom says. "You have to stop this. I get that she was your best friend, but it's been a year since she killed herself. Killing yourself with booze isn't going to bring her back."
"What part of fuck off did you not understand?," Chloe yells at him.
"Chloe," Toms says in exasperation. "This is not healthy. I love you but I can't stand to see you like this. I know you cared about her-".
"I didn't just care about her," Chloe yelled. "I loved her. I still love her. I can't understand why she would do that to herself. To me. Why couldn't she just love me."
"You're making it really difficult for me to want to be with you," Tom said. "And, if I walk out that door without you, I'm not coming back."
Chloe just looked at Tom and downed the rest of the bottle of whiskey.
"Bye," is all Chloe says.
Tom angrily stormed out the door. Chloe just laughed and staggered to the cupboard and pulled out another bottle. She twisted the cap off and took a big drink. She leaned against the counter and slid down to the floor.
Beca watched all this with tears in her eyes. She looked at Lily who was just staring back at her. Suddenly, the door to the apartment opens and Aubrey is entering.
"Chloe?," Aubrey calls out. "Chloe?"
Chloe doesn't answer and Beca looks back at her. She is still sitting with her back against the counter and she's not moving.
"No, no, no," Beca screams out and runs over to Chloe.
Beca tries to pull Chloe to her but her arms just go right through her. She watches as Aubrey drops to her knees next to Chloe. Tears fall from Aubrey's eyes as she grabs Chloe and shakes her. Chloe doesn't respond and Aubrey tearfully dials 911 and tells them she needs an ambulance. She then sits there and holds Chloe as tears continue to silently fall down her face.
Beca runs back over to Lily.
"Do something," Beca begs her tears streaming down her face. "She can't die. She just can't."
She looks back at Chloe and Aubrey to find they've disappeared.
"What happened to her?," Beca asks Lily. "You have to tell me."
Beca jerks awake when she hears an alarm go off. She wipes her face and looks around. She's back in the booth.
"What the fuck is happening to me?," she mutters as she runs her hands through her hair.
She looks at the time and sees it is now 8:00 am. Only three more hours and her shift was done. She queued up another playlist to make it through the next three hours.
"Okay, Barden," Beca said into the mic. "This is WBUJ and we're on the air until 11:00 am. We'll then be off the air. We will return at 6:00 pm tonight with Christmas music to carry you through the night. This is DJ BMitch and I'll be signing off now so you can enjoy another 3 hour block of commercial free music."
Beca was just sitting there, bopping her head to the beat of the mix that was playing, when she hears a voice call out her name. Beca turns toward the voice to see Emily Junk standing there next to Lily.
"Emily?," Beca said confused. "Why am I seeing you? I'm not asleep. Am I?"
Emily just turned to look at Lily.
"I'll take it from here," Emily told Lily.
Lily just nods her head and fades away.
"Emily, please tell me," Beca begs. "Is Chloe going to be okay?"
"I am also the ghost of Christmas future," Emily says. "I am here to show you the alternate future. The future that could be yours if you find your true destiny."
"Show me," Beca said. "Please. As long as it's a future with Chloe still alive, I'll take it. Just please don't let her die."
Emily takes Beca's hand and they are in a huge living room decorated to the nines. There's a very tall Christmas tree in the corner with presents all around. The whole place screams "I love Christmas and I'm not afraid to show it." Beca looks around and lets out a low whistle.
"Wow," Beca said. "Somebody struck it rich."
"Come on, mommy," a little voice calls out.
Beca looks over and gasps. The voice belongs to a little girl who is nothing short of a Chloe Beale clone. She looks to be about 4 years old.
"I'm coming, Soph," the angelic voice of Chloe Beale calls out.
Beca smiles as she looks back and sees Chloe. Chloe is carrying another little girl with brunette hair. Beca guesses she's about two. She watches as Chloe takes Soph by the hand and they walk over to the tree. Soph pulls away from Chloe and starts reaching for the presents.
"Not yet, Soph," Chloe says. "We have to wait for mama."
"Mama?," Beca said. "Chloe married a woman?"
"Just watch," Emily said with a smile.
"Go see where she is," Chloe told Soph.
Soph went running by Beca and Emily and Beca watched as she ran around the corner out of sight.
"Mama, mama," Soph could be heard yelling. "Santa came."
They heard a muffled voice but couldn't make out what was being said. They heard Soph squeal and giggle. Suddenly, Beca let out a gasp and her mouth hung open. She watched in awe as she, herself, carried Soph over to Chloe.
"Merry Christmas, babe," Chloe said kissing the other Beca.
"Merry Christmas," Beca said and pulled Chloe into a deeper kiss.
"Stop kissing," Soph said squished between them. "So we can open presents."
Chloe pulled back and laughed.
"Of course, your majesty," Beca said putting Soph down.
Beca stood there with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face.
"I get it now," Beca said. "I know what my true destiny is. It's Chloe."
Emily smiled and clapped her hands and Beca's head snapped up.
"When did I fall asleep again?," Beca asked softly.
Beca looked at her phone and saw that it was almost 11:00.
"Shit," Beca said.
Beca grabbed her computer bag and ran out of the studio. She ran as fast as she could to the Bella House. She was almost there when she saw Chloe getting into her car.
"Chloe!," Beca yelled. "Chloe! Wait!"
Chloe turned her head to see who was calling. She saw Beca running towards her and stepped away from the car.
"Beca?," Chloe says.
"Chloe," Beca panted as she ran up to Chloe. "I'm glad I caught you."
"Beca?," Chloe said. "Are you okay?"
Beca nodded and panted, holding her side. Aubrey got out of the passenger side of the car and opened the back. She grabbed a bottle of water and walked over to hand it to Beca.
"Thanks," Beca said as she took it.
She opened it and took a drink. Her breathing slowed down and she looked at Chloe. She set the water bottle on top of the car.
"Do you love me?," Beca asked staring at Chloe.
"What?," Chloe asked looking confused by the question.
"Do you love me?," Beca asked again.
"Of course, I do, silly," Chloe said. "You're one of my best friend."
"No," Beca said shaking her head. "Do you love, love me?"
"Beca," Chloe says softly.
"Please, Chloe," Beca said taking Chloe's hands in hers. "I have to know. Do you love, love me?"
Chloe looks at Aubrey. Aubrey smiles at her and mouths 'here's your chance.' Chloe looks back and Beca and clears her throat.
"Yes," Chloe says looking directly at Beca. "I love you. I'm in love with you."
A large smile spreads across Beca's face.
"Good," Beca said as she pulled Chloe toward her. "That means I can do this."
Beca puts her hands on the sides of Chloe's face and crashes her lips into Chloe's. Chloe is shocked and hesitates for a moment. She then finds herself falling into Beca. She puts her arms around Beca's waist and pulls her closer, deepening the kiss. Aubrey steps away and stands on the other side of the car, smiling.
Chloe pulls out of the kiss first and puts her forehead on Beca's. Both are left a little breathless from the kiss.
"I love you, too," Beca whispers to Chloe. "And I want a future with you. I want to spend this Christmas with you. I want to spend every Christmas with you for the rest of our lives. You are my true destiny Chloe Beale."
Chloe just smiles and pulls Beca into another kiss. Beca pulls back this time and grabs Chloe into a hug. Both are laughing and crying at the same time.
"It's about time, hobbit," Aubrey says from the other side of the car.
Beca just smiles at her and Chloe pulls out of the hug.
"Get your stuff," Chloe said. "We want to get on the road."
"Bossy," Beca teased. "I like it. I'll just be 5 minutes."
She gives Chloe a quick kiss and runs toward the house the grab her stuff. Chloe looks over at Aubrey and smiles. She also gives a little squeal and a does a happy dance. Aubrey just shakes her head at her best friend and smiles back at her.
Beca sees Stacie, Amy, Lily, and Emily standing on the porch, smiling at her. She smiles back and them as she walks up the steps.
"Looks like somebody found their true destiny," Stacie said as Beca reached the top of the steps.
Beca stopped and looked at Stacie and Stacie just winked at her. The four girls went down the steps and started walking over to Chloe's car to say goodbye to her and Aubrey. Beca smiled and shook her head as she ran into the house to grab her stuff. She was so glad she had taken the time last night to pack her stuff to take to her grandma's so she didn't have to make Chloe wait. She'd waited for Beca long enough.
Beca ran to Chloe's car and threw her bag in the trunk. Chloe opened the door but before she got in, Beca grabbed her arm.
"Hey," Beca said. "Would you be my girlfriend?"
"Yes," Chloe squealed and pulled Beca into a kiss.
They jumped apart when they heard the car horn.
"Come on you two," Aubrey called from the passenger seat. "We're burning daylight."
Chloe gave Beca another quick kiss and they both got into the car. As Chloe drove away from the Bella House, Beca smiled and caught the wink Chloe threw her in the rearview mirror. Yep, she had found her true destiny.
