The song used in this story, as well as the title, are from the song "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" sung by Laura Branigan (around 1995 or so). I was listening to my playlist on shuffle and this song came on and the next thing I know I'm writing another story. I don't own Pitch Perfec, or its characters, nor do I own anything to do with the song.

Beca was graduating in a few months. And, finally, so was Chloe. Just a few months ago Chloe had told Beca that she had applied for several teaching jobs in LA and Beca was excited. She had a job already lined up at the LA studios for Residual Heat after graduation. They would be in the same city, and maybe would even find a place to share. And maybe, she would finally sack up and tell Chloe that she was in love with her.

Beca's happy bubble burst when she heard the Bellas talking about Chloe going to New York. She found Chloe and asked her about it. That's when Chloe dropped a bombshell on her - Tom had asked her to come to New York with him and she said yes. She also told Beca she had accepted a teaching job at the prestigious New York Music Academy. To say Beca was blind sided by this would be an understatement. She didn't know what to say, so she just said, "Congratulations" and hurried away from Chloe. She didn't stop when Chloe called her name. She just ran. She found herself in the Auditorium. She's not even sure how she got there. Bellas rehearsals would be starting in half an hour so she decided to just sit and wait for the others to show up.

She slowly went to the stage and set her laptop up on the piano. She sat at the bench and played with the keys. "Fucking Tom," she thought. "Of course he asked Chloe to go to New York with him. He was able to tell Chloe he loved her." She should be happy for her best friend. So why did she feel so heartbroken?

She went from just striking any key on the piano to playing an actual song. Before she knew it, she was singing.

I could hardly believe it
When I heard the news today
I had to come and get it straight from you

They said you were leaving
Someone swept your heart away
From the look upon your face I see it's true

She was so caught up in the song that she didn't hear the door to the auditorium open. Chloe, Fat Amy, Stacie, and CR came in and stood back quietly watching their captain put all her emotions into the song.

Tell me all about it
Tell me about the plans you're making
Then tell me one more thing before I go

At this point the tears were flowing freely from Beca's eyes. The other girls were teary eyed as well. They didn't know where this emotion was coming from. Beca was always so closed off and never cried in front of anyone. Although they had not made their presence known; they all felt like the were intruding but couldn't make themselves leave either.

Tell me how am I supposed to live without you
Now that I've been loving you so long
How am I supposed to live without you
And how am I supposed to carry on
When all that I've been living for is gone

Didn't come here for crying
Didn't come her to break down
It's just a dream of mine is coming to an end

How can I blame you
When I built my world around
The hope that one day we'd be so much more than friends

Chloe continued listening to Beca pour her heart out in the song, knowing that she was singing about someone special to her. Her heart was breaking for her best friend.

The other girls were looking at Chloe. They all know how Beca feels about their co-captain. They also know how Chloe feels about Beca. It's too bad that they were both so oblivious to how the other felt. And now Chloe was going to New York because Tom had asked her to. Beca was pouring her heart out about how she feels about Chloe. This song was for and about Chloe and looking at Chloe, she didn't have a clue. This was not good.

I don't want to know the price I'm going to pay for dreaming
I need you now
It's more than I can take

Tell me how am I supposed to live without you
Now that I've been loving you so long
How am I supposed to live without you
And how am I supposed to carry on
When all that I've been living for is gone

The girls all jumped when Beca suddenly slammed both fists down on the piano keys. She stood, causing the bench to fall over, and swept her laptop off the piano. She then ran out the side door, never seeing the four girls who stood stunned at her actions.

By the time Chloe came to her senses and ran after Beca, she was too late. She was nowhere to be seen. She returned to the Auditorium with a heavy heart. CR stood there holding Beca's broken laptop. Stacie and Amy stood there with tears in their eyes. No one knew what to say or do.

CR was the first to speak. "This is really bad. Beca's laptop is her most prized position. Now look at it. From the look on her face when she ran out of her, she's as broken as it is."

Stacie faced Chloe and asked, "You don't see it do you?"

Chloe looked at her confused. "See what?"

"That Beca was singing that song for you, about you," Fat Amy spoke up.

"What?," Chloe asked. "How can you know that? It was obviously about someone she cares deeply about that is leaving. We're just best friends. She wouldn't sing those words for her best friend leaving."

"God, you both are such idiots," Stacie said. "She's in love with you, Chloe. And we know you're in love with her."

"I'm, she's, um," Chloe stutters. "We're just best friends."

"Yeah, and I've never had sex before," scoffed Stacie.

"How can you be so sure that she was singing about me?," Chloe asked.

"Who told her she was going to New York? Because her boyfriend asked her to?", CR asked. "Think back to the words of the song and tell us it's not about you."

Chloe looked at them all like they were crazy. "Beca couldn't feel the same way about her that she felt about Beca? Right?," she thought. She thought about the song and the words did make it seem like maybe it was her that Beca sang the song for.

"I need to find Beca," Chloe said.

They noticed that while they were talking the other Bellas had entered the Auditorium for practice. Chloe was just about to cancel practice when Beca came back into the auditorium. She hurried up to stand in front of the the girls and said, "Sorry I'm late. Something came up last minute. But I'm here now so let's start with some cardio and then we'll do some work on vocals. Okay?"

The girls just looked at her. "Let's go!," she said clapping her hands to get their attention.

Most of the girls starting running the stairs. CR just stood there holding Beca's broken laptop. "Uh, Cap? What do you want me to do with this?" she asked Beca.

"Oh. Right. I'll take care of it. Thanks," Beca said taking the laptop. "Better catch up with the girls so we can get to working on vocals for your solo."

CR complied because she didn't know what else to do.

Chloe stood next to Beca and put a hand on her arm. "Are you okay?," Chloe asked.

"I'm fine. Just feeling rushed since I was late to practice," Beca said in response.

"Can we talk?," Chloe asked. "You know, about what happened today."

"Nothing happened today that we need to talk about. You got a great job and you're moving to New York. I'm happy for you. What's there to talk about?," Beca said.

Beca walked away from Chloe and called the girls back to the front of the auditorium. "Okay, let's practice vocals for the solo performers. I also want the rest of your to practice your parts of the song as well. So, let's do Chloe first, then we'll have CR, and me. If we have time, we'll try and get in Stacie and Fat Amy's solos as well. If not, we'll start with them next time," Beca instructed.

Amy, Stacie, CR, and Chloe were all sharing looks that said "What the hell is going on here?". They all knew how emotional Beca was less than 30 minutes before and couldn't understand how she was so calm and composed now.

They went through the vocals for Chloe, CR, and Beca. Beca had them run through it several times because they sounded a little off. Chloe and CR were trying their best to put in a good showing but they were both consumed with concern for their captain. They weren't sure how to take her behavior.

Beca finally called practice after Chloe and CR managed to do their parts almost perfectly. She told everyone they would start with Stacie and Fat Amy the next day and also work some more on Chloe and CR's solos.

Everyone gathered up their stuff and left. Stacie, Amy, and CR grabbed Chloe and led her to the back of the auditorium.

"What are you going to do about this?," CR asked Chloe.

Chloe looked at the three and said, "What am I supposed to say? You all saw the same thing I did. Now she seems to be fine."

"She is not "fine." Something is really off. I don't know what to say,' Stacie said. "Maybe just tell her we saw her and see how she responds and go from there."

"Since we all were here, I think we should go as a group and talk to her. It will be harder for her to ignore all of us," Chloe suggested.

The girls all agreed and made there way back down to Beca.