PROLOGUE

"What did you think was going to happen Mitchell? " Beca scoffs to herself as she finishes to pack her things. It's been three months now since Chloe left. Three excruciatingly painful months where she had to pretend like she was having a good time. The thing is, she's not; not even a little bit. The old Bellas are trying their best, but it's just not enough. "Because you messed up. Again." She growls at herself, furiously throwing clothes in her suitcase, being done with her mixing equipment. She really did messed things up this time, really bad, and she doesn't think it can be fixed. Chloe is gone, and she barely has time to text her once a day, always sorry and promising she'll answer faster, but she never does. Three months where Beca has been anxiously waiting for her feelings to go away now that their source was gone. Three months since she saw Chloe's bright smile last.

Three months she didn't hear her call her name.

Beca slumps on her bed and groans in frustration. She's been over this for million times, but it's always the same. She finally gathered the courage to call her dad and ask if he was still willing to pay her way to L.A. For once, he didn't ask any questions and simply made the necessary plans for her while she packed. There she is now, waiting for him to get here so she can fly to LA.

She didn't mean to leave like that, but things became too overwhelming for her. Not having Chloe around was too hard for her, and instead of just telling the redhead what she was feeling, she opted to disappear, thinking it was better anyway. Beca worked herself up against Chloe by convincing herself the ginger never really cared that much since she left without proper goodbyes. "What were you expecting Beca?!" she hisses at herself as she thinks of their last night together.

The Bellas had a party to celebrate the graduation of Aubrey and Chloe. Beca numbed her sadness in beer and other alcohol until she passed out on Chloe's couch in the middle of the evening. Three hours later, Cynthia Rose woke her up and took her home. The next morning, Chloe texted her a final goodbye with no winking smiley or any smiley at all.

Three months and Beca still hasn't apologized for how stupid she'd been that night.

Three months and she was now leaving, head down in shame but still unable to get over her pride.

The worst wasn't not telling Chloe she was leaving; the worst was not knowing if her feelings for Chloe were mutual.

That's what you get when you can't let your last wall fall down.

Damn pride.

Six years later.

"Ok guys! That's a wrap," she called through the microphone. The men in the sound booth clapped and cheered enthusiastically. Beca watched as they hugged, their faces split in half by a huge smile. They froze seconds later, nodding to each other. The brunette was busy shutting down all of the mixing equipment she used. She didn't see the crooked grins replace the genuine smiles. She heard the door open, the guys chatting suspiciously, but she didn't pay enough attention. Before she could retreat in her office next door, she was lifted from her chair and surrounded by the men.

"No! Guys! Let go! Come on! That's no fair!" She yelped as she was dropped in one of the guys' arms and choked in a bear group hug.

It didn't take more than five seconds for her to surrender though, because there was really nothing she could do. Those men were all at least five foot ten and they were looking more like football players ― the ones on the defensive line― than musicians. They laughed whole heartedly and she did too. They let go of her after a minute or so, and she tried ― in vain ― to smack them, only hurting her little fist.

She rolled her eyes and shooed them out of her office. Beca's day was done, and she was glad for the week-end to be there. She needed the rest, having pushed herself to the edge of a burnout by accepting all these new albums to produce. She learned that she couldn't say no to a new record, though, and that'd always been a major problem in her career as a music producer.

The air was chilly and it made her shiver a little, but only because she couldn't stand any form of cold. Hopping in her car, she drove home, but decided she needed a drink after this exhausting day, so she headed for the other side of town. Since she was working so much, she never really developed any habits; she doesn't have a favorite bar, nor a favorite coffee shop; the only favorite she has is her house, which is on the far end of town, almost outside of it but not really.

Tired of driving around, she decided that the next bar she'd see will be where she'd go. It was a shady looking façade, but she shrugged the strange feeling that tickled the back of her mind. When she set foot inside, she was greeted by shocked looks, and delighted smiles. Plus a stunning redhead behind the bar, who smiled too. It wasn't the same kind of smile, though, it was a mysterious smile, one that wanted to be pleased to have a new customer, but the corners of her mouth were slumping a little, making it more like a professional and very-well practiced smile.

Beca took a seat at the bar; the moment of surprise having passed, everybody was now back to their own occupations.

Chloe sighed and rolled in her bed, frustrated. She checked her phone; still no texts. She groaned and sat, wincing as she did because her back was still hurting a little. She gently shook the mass sleeping ― more like being in a coma ― next to her. She heard a groan of disagreement and shook the blankets a little more roughly this time. Emerging from under the covers, Maddie looked at Chloe with what she swore was some kind of hate. Instantly, the ginger's face brightened and she grabbed her whole face to kiss her.

"I hope you slept well you evil spawn! You twitched all night and hit me at least five times in the back." She said, dragging Maddie out of the blankets. Another groan of disapproval, but Chloe rolled her eyes simply.

She scratched her belly and was immediately forgiven. Maddie's paw started to shake furiously as if she was the one scratching her exposed skin. Chloe laughed, as always, and pushed her dog out of the bed. The Mastiff protested, but not for long because the redhead asked her if she was hungry. Automatically, Maddie barked and jumped around Chloe's legs until her food was set on the floor. Drooling like Niagara falls, she waited patiently for her master to say the magic word.

"Boomchicka!" chirped Chloe and smiled tenderly as her dog rushed to her plate.

While she was eating, the woman went on with her routine. She let the hot water run down her body, sighing heavily as her muscles relaxed with the heat. Chloe's eyes shut tight when she passed her hand over her shoulders and felt the little bump of her scar. Every day she was reminded of what happened and it never failed to break her heart. Sighing, she let her hands fall down on the sides of her body. Over the running water, she heard a small bark and knew it was time to take Maddie out.

Her morning went on just like the others; she ate breakfast as she watched Maddie roll on the backyard, took her for a walk when her hair was dry, locked the door when they got back and kissed Maddie goodbye. The dog slumped with a "humph" on the front porch and watched as her master drove away. Chloe felt safer with Maddie than she ever did before, she'd bought the huge dog as a guard for her house after somebody broke in and stole for more than a thousand dollars' worth of merchandise. It had been five years now and Maddie was the only thing that kept her going.

She came back when the sun was beginning to set down, smiling as she saw her dog still lying down on the porch, eyes half closed. Maddie jumped on her feet when she heard the car door slam and barked once, her tail wagging furiously. She stroked her head gently, went inside and grabbed the leash. On her way out, she checked her phone and her features darkened a little.

When they came back from their walk, Chloe changed her comfy jeans and her flannel shirt for a pair of tight light blue jeans and a black tank top over a pink lace bra. She applied black eyeliner to make her baby blue eyes bulge out even more, and combed her fire red hair before braiding a strand of hair to the side of her head, making sure her face was fully discovered. She came out of the bathroom looking like a complete stranger from an hour ago and waited outside for her lift to arrive.

As her friend pulled in her driveway, her phone buzzed. Jumping at the sensation in her hands, Chloe looked down and felt relief flood through her as she read the words: "She's okay and will be waiting for you tomorrow." A smile appeared on her face as she climbed in the car and closed her phone for the night.

For the past two years, she'd been working at the same bar, and she liked it, some nights. Tonight was a good night though, and when she let herself behind the counter, she felt her confidence rise to the ceiling. This was her turf, she knew what she was doing here and she knew how to get respect. It wasn't a big bar; mostly it was men living nearby that came after work for a beer or two before they went back to their wives. They tipped her well because she was gorgeous ― sexy some might even say, especially when she wore those kind of clothes ― and she was beaming with confidence ― that was sexy.

Suddenly, the door opened and a small brunette walked in, stopping momentarily when the men's faces shot up to see who entered. They were shocked to see it was somebody new, because most people would go to the bar across the street, especially young people like this woman. Chloe smiled at her, her usual professional smile, and she saw a quizzical expression darkened the stranger's face, as if she could see through her.

She sat right in front of her and Chloe squinted her eyes at her: she knew her from somewhere. The memory of this girl was at the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't push it further. Before she could give herself a headache, she grabbed a glass and poured two ounces of whiskey in it, adding two ices and sliding it towards the brunette. She beamed with pride when the woman shot her a surprised look.

"How did you know? I didn't even say anything!" her voice was tired, and when she quirked her eyebrows she looked like a kid: Chloe couldn't help but notice every detail of her exhausted features.

"It's my thing" she winked and the stranger chuckled. "What's your name, stranger?" she asked after the girl took a sip of her drink.

"Why?" she shot back quickly, immediately regretting her wary tone as Chloe's smile twitched a little "I'm sorry, I'm just really tired." She offered with a sheepish smile.

Chloe nodded but noticed she didn't say her name anyway, which made her frown a little, but she decided to leave her alone. She opted for cheering her up instead and tried a joke. "It's okay, Stranger kinda fits you, don't you think? I might just call you that." She smiled brightly this time.

"Stranger… feels good to me" the brunette answered in a breath, taking another thoughtful sip of her drink.