Stone Heart loves Bulletproof Glass
Story Summary:
Beca Mitchell's rise to fame happened in the blink of an eye. The problem with fame is that sometimes, temptation comes near. In the hustle and bustle of the spotlight, giving into that temptation is so simple. Before you know it, you have hit the bottom so hard that the only way out will be with you in a body bag.
Chloe Beale didn't have control over anything in her life. Her father controlled every single breath that she took. So she took control over the only thing that she could, eating. Choosing not to eat or how much to eat gave her a sense of power that was sometimes overwhelming. The problem with being deprived of power is that when you get a taste of it, you become obsessed with feeling that power on a constant basis. Regardless of the outcome.
Author's Note:
Hey Y'all! So this is my first dive into the Pitch Perfect/BeChloe fandom. I am obsessed with anything and everything Pitch Perfect right now, so we will see where this little ditty takes us. I hope that you all enjoy and feedback is always welcome. I do not have a beta so all mistakes are mine.
Thank you for reading and I hope that you all enjoy!
Chapter 1: I won't fall
Beca Mitchell's rise to fame happened in the blink of an eye. The problem with fame is that sometimes, temptation comes near. In the hustle and bustle of the spotlight, giving into that temptation is so simple. Before you know it, you have hit the bottom so hard that the only way out will be with you in a body bag.
Chloe Beale didn't have a control over anything in her life. Her father controlled every single breath that she took. So she took control over the only thing that she could, eating. Choosing not to eat or how much to eat gave her a sense of power that was sometimes overwhelming. The problem with being deprived of power is that when you get a taste of it, you become obsessed with feeling that power on a constant basis. Regardless of the outcome.
Beca Mitchell didn't have a traumatic childhood. Yeah, sure her parents got a super messy divorce when she was only eight, but the marriage was toxic by the time they called it quits. It didn't really help that he was screwing around with one of the other professors at the University that he was working at, while Beca's mom was raising a hellion of an eight year old by herself. The last year of the failed marriage was the longest year of Beca's life. Her parents tiptoed around each other while she was awake, once she was in bed, World War three erupted in the house. The only evidence of the screaming matches that Beca was privy to in the morning were the puffy red eyes that stared at her while she ate breakfast before school. Her mom Laura was always good at hiding behind a fake smile, even though Beca knew that she was suffering on the inside. So Beca did the only thing that her eight year old mind could think of, hug and kiss her mom as tightly as her tiny body was possible of.
Even though she was only eight at the time, Beca knew what divorce was. Her best friend Stacie's parents had gotten divorced last school year. Stacie still couldn't talk about it without crying, she thought that it was her fault that her dad left. She felt like he left because she wasn't good enough. Her dad left because maybe sometimes Stacie lied about eating her vegetables when they had dinner, and she really slid them under the table to the dog. No matter how many times Beca told Stacie that it wasn't her fault, that her dad was the buttface, Stacie still lets the blame eat her up inside.
The day that Warren and Laura sat Beca down, she burst into hysterics. Laura dropped to her knees beside her daughter, pulling her tightly into her arms. Laura ran her fingers through her daughter's hair, while Warren leaned on the kitchen counter with his arms crossed against his chest.
"It's going to be okay Rebecca."
Beca wrenches her body out of the hug, placing her balled fists on her hips. The look of incredulity on her face causes her parent's jaws to drop.
"Are you guys for real?"
Warren kneels next to his daughter. He places a tentative hand on her shoulder, which is immediately shrugged off.
"I didn't mean for this to happen Rebecca. Sometimes adults just fall out of love."
Beca scoffs, turning to face her father with a glare.
"Don't talk to me like I'm five Warren. I'm eight; I know what a divorce is. I also know that you have been with someone else for the past five months. I heard Stacie's mom talking about it on the phone last weekend when I stayed over at her house. I just can't believe that it took you guys this long to finally grow a pair and do it. I've heard every fight, every screaming match for the past year. I am the one that crawls into bed with mom while you run off with your whore. I am the one that holds mom while she cries herself to sleep. You haven't been a part of this family for a long time; don't bother trying to start now."
As Laura continues sitting on the kitchen floor, staring at her daughter in disbelief, Warren stomps out of the house. Laura winces as the front door slams, her head falling into her hands. Beca curls her tiny frame into her mother's body, hugging her tightly as their tears begin to fall.
~*~Nine Years Later~*~
Stacie Conrad softly pushes open her best friend's bedroom door, hoping desperately that her best friend is already awake. The leggy brunette sighs softly when she sees her small friend hunched over her laptop, bulky headphones firmly in place. Stacie stills her movements, taking in her best friend as she expertly moves her hands across the mixing board. Stacie smile as Beca hums along to the song that she is currently mixing. After a moment of allowing her friend peace, Stacie tentatively places her hands on the petite brunette's shoulders, careful not to startle her. Beca cocks her head up, smiling up at her best friend. Stacie slowly slides the headphones off of Beca's ears.
"Did you stay up all night again, short stack?"
Beca pushes up out of her computer chair with a grunt, gently placing her Beats headphones on the desk. Stacie's eyes widen as she takes in her best friend's attire, or lack thereof.
"Ugh, you've been hanging out with Amy too much Stace. You know that I hate being called that."
Beca rises up on her tippy toes, arching her back until it pops back into alignment. A small yelp escapes her lips as a small amount of pain shoots through her body.
"Damn girl, you have the height of an eight year old and the bones of an eighty year old!"
Stacie laughs hysterically as Beca flips her off.
"You're so precious when you're angry Bec, like a little grumpy elf."
"Fuck off Stace. Remind me again why I am friends with you?"
Stacie dramatically blows her best friend a kiss.
"We've been friends since we were in day care; you're my not so hetero life mate."
"Ew Stace, why would you say it like that?"
"Well honey, it's totally true. We have been friends forever. Remember we made that pact in first grade to be together forever. You like the ladies, and the hunter isn't picky. We are both super hot; I don't know why we haven't hooked up yet. Besides, you are practically undressed already."
Stacie raises her hand up and down, gesturing to the lack of clothing that her best friend is currently sporting. Beca glances down at her body, eyes widening as she recalls that she is only clad in a dark blue bra and a tiny pair of matching boy shorts. Beca crosses her arms over her chest, trying to regain a modicum of her modesty.
"Becs, I have seen you in all of your naked glory before. We used to bathe together."
Beca scoffs, grabbing a black tank top that is haphazardly thrown over the top of the computer chair. She pulls the tank top over her head, running her fingers through her mane of hair to regain control.
"Dude, we stopped bathing together like ten years ago. Plus, we haven't hooked up yet because we freaking grew up together. We potty trained together. I have no interest in hooking up with my sister. That's totally disgusting. Regardless of how" *Beca clears her throat, faking a small cough.* "much you have filled out since seventh grade."
"Awww Becs, I didn't know you thought that I was hot. That makes me feel all warm inside. Are you sure that you don't want to give into the hunter?"
Beca scoffs loudly, rolling her eyes at the taller brunette as Stacie squeezes her boobs dramatically.
"No Stace. Thanks for the offer but I will have to pass. It would make our friendship way too awkward. It's weird enough that we were each other's first kiss. Having sex with you would….I would never be able to look you in the eyes again."
"Girl please, once you give into the hunter, you yearn for more."
"Gross dude."
"Whatever. I didn't come over here to seduce you. As irresistible as I clearly am, we don't have time to roll around in your sheets. I came over here to make sure that we get to school on time. If you are late for AP Chem one more time, Mr. Hicks is going to kick your ass. You can't get kicked out of this class, we are almost done. FOR GOOD"
"Dude, we aren't even close to being done. You are going to Barden University for pre-med and that douchenozzle Warren is forcing me to go to Barden too. I won't be able to escape to L.A. for at least another year."
"I know that. I was talking about being done with high school. Soon we will be in college, all of the alcohol and sex we can handle. It's going to be AWESOME!"
"Dude, I would rather chew on glass than spend another year in fuckin' school."
"Becs, don't be so fuckin' dramatic. Warren said that if you go to school for one year, he will pay for you to move to L.A. Or if you decide to stop being such a dick, you can move to San Francisco instead of L.A. That way, when I go to med school at Stanford, we can get a place together."
"By the time you finish pre-med, I will be famous enough to have a place in L.A. and in San Francisco."
Stacie laughs at her friend, pulling out her phone. Her eyes widen as she notices the time.
"Shit! Becs, we need to go. We are barely going to make it on time if we leave now."
Beca slides back into her computer chair, fingers furiously moving across the keyboard of her laptop.
"Gimme a sec, I gotta email this demo mash-up out before I forget. It's the best one yet."
"You say that about all of your mash-ups Bec."
"And I am always right Stace."
A few more clicks of the keyboard echo around the silent room before Beca slams the screen of her laptop down. She pulls her backpack out from under the desk, sliding her laptop into the mostly empty bag. Beca hastily slips her Beats across her neck, standing up from the chair. She walks over to Stacie with a cocky smirk on her face, dumping her backpack onto her bed.
"I emailed you the mp3 of the mash-up Stace. You're going to love it."
"What songs did you mash-up this time?"
"Just the Way you are by Bruno Mars and Just a Dream by Nelly. It's fantastic dude."
"That actually sounds like it might be awesome Bec."
"Trust me, it is. Are you ready to take off? You're driving by the way. I got like zero sleep last night. You know how it is when inspiration strikes."
"I get it Bec, I'll drive. You might want to throw some pants on before we go. I mean your ass looks fantastic, but I don't know if that will fly at school. You know how the German dictator has it out for you."
"You mean that perfect blonde specimen? The bane of my existence? The woman that made me realize without a shadow of a doubt, that I am one hundred percent gay?"
"Yes Bec. Principal Kommissar will not let you get away with wearing lacy boy shorts to Chemistry. What is it that she calls you?"
"Little Maus. Which I don't think is really appropriate for her to call a student."
"Bec, she is just calling you little mouse. It's not like she is calling you something derogatory. Plus it's pretty fuckin funny to watch you get all flustered when she calls you out."
Beca scoffs, pulling a pair of skinny jeans off of her floor. She places her feet into the jeans, shimmying her legs into the impossibly tight denim. Buttoning the jeans, she walks over to her closet. Beca pulls the first plaid shirt that she sees off of a hanger. She shrugs into the dark purple plaid shirt, leaving it completely unbuttoned. Beca saunters back over to Stacie, pulling her backpack off of the bed and slinging it over her left shoulder. She then grabs her cell phone off of the bedside table, sliding into her back pocket.
"It's not my fault that I get flustered. I blame the scent of cinnamon. Whenever she steps into my space, all I can smell is cinnamon. It's like my weakness dude."
"It's cute. Let's get the hell out of here. We now have 15 minutes to drive through Atlanta traffic to school. Our high school that on a slow traffic day is still 20 minutes away. If I get pulled over again, you had better hope that we either get a guy cop or a lesbian. That last bitch did not appreciate the girls and my mom will be pissed if I get another speeding ticket."
"After you, babe."
Stacie loops her arm through Beca's, leading her out of the bedroom.
~*~Later That Day~*~
Beca is sitting at a picnic table, mindlessly picking through her leftover chicken salad. Stacie plops down next to Beca, landing mostly on her best friend's lap with a grunt. She places a wet kiss to the side of Beca's head before sliding onto her own bench. Beca groans, furiously rubbing her hand over the spot that Stacie just kissed.
"Gross dude."
"Don't hate the player girl, hate the game."
"Ugh, that saying is so five years ago."
Stacie snatches Beca's fork out of her hand, shoveling a bite of the chicken salad into her mouth.
"Get your own food, hooker."
Stacie chews, swallowing hastily.
"Well sorry that I forgot my lunch at home. I was worried about making sure that my bestie got up in time for school. Plus you aren't doing anything but staring off into space and stirring that delicious concoction. Give it up girl."
Beca sighs loudly before sliding the container over to Stacie. Stacie grin wolfishly before digging into the chicken salad.
"MOVE YOU BITCHES!"
Beca slides over to Stacie's bench as their other friend Amy saunters over to the table, holding a pizza box. She takes the seat that Beca just vacated before digging into the pizza.
"Dude, how did you get pizza delivered to school?"
"Does it really matter Short Stack? If you have to be so nosy, one of my boyfriends brought it to me. He doesn't understand that we are through and he keeps tryin' to get me to take him back. That boy is crazier than a dingo fightin' a kraken."
"That doesn't make any sense Amy."
"I understand exactly what she is talking about Beca. You just don't listen to her stories about Tasmania. You are usually too busy mixing on your laptop. I'm actually surprised that you aren't working on something right now."
"I can't turn it on. I'm afraid. I sent out that demo to Residual Heat today. I don't know what I am more afraid of, that they didn't email me back, or that they did."
"Don't be such a scaredy crocodile, Beca."
"Um. Amy, that's not a thing."
"Yes it is Short Stack, I told you guys about it last week. You were busy staring at the German dictator."
"Shut up Amy."
Beca jumps as her phone buzzes in her pocket. She pulls out of her jeans, smiling slightly when she sees that she has a text message from her mom.
Mom: (12:55) Bec, I don't know if you and Stacie have plans after school today, but you should come home immediately.
Beca: (12:55) Is everything okay Mom?
Mom: (12:56) Everything is fine love, somebody called for you today.
Beca: (12:56) Was it the douchnozzle?
Mom: (12:56) Language honey. And no, it was a man from a company called Residual Heat in L.A.
Beca's eyes widen, her fingers going slack as her phone slips out her hand, clattering onto the table.
"You okay Becs?"
Beca looks over at Stacie, her mouth opening and closing like a fish as her brain refuses to make words come out of her mouth. She uses her limited cognitive function to point at her cell phone. Stacie looks at the device on the table, picking it up. She slowly scrolls through the messages that Beca had opened, Amy leaning over to look over the messages with Stacie. A grin making its way across her face as realization kicks in. When she is finished reading the text conversation, she looks back up at her best friend.
"Do you think that it's possible Becs? You think that they want you?"
"Who wouldn't want Short Stack? She may have a prickly, abrasive attitude and spikey monstrosities in her ears, but that skinny bitch has talent."
"Eff off Amy."
"Wow. Are you sure that you didn't have a massive stroke? That is the worst attempt at an insult that you have ever thrown this way Beca, and I would know. I was the world champion of boomerang insults in Tasmania for four years in a row."
"I know that I am going to regret ask this, but what is a boomerang insult Amy?"
"Duh. It is when you have a one versus one insult competition. The only catch it that your insults must be comparing your opponent to a boomerang."
"I have no idea what you are talking about Amy."
"Exactly. This is why I said that you had terrible insults Beca. It is probably loss of cognitive function after that stroke."
"Shut up Amy."
The girls' attention is ripped away when Beca's phone buzzes again on the table. Beca scrambles to grab the phone. Beca unlocks the screen of her iPhone, opening the text conversation that she was having with her mom.
Mom: (12:57) He said that he needed you to call him back as soon as you got home from school. Something about a demo that you sent in.
Mom: (12:58) Are you there honey?
Mom: (12:59) Did you pass out?
Mom: (1:00) Do I need to call Stacie?
Beca furiously slides her fingers over the keyboard on her screen.
Beca: (1:01) I'm here Mom. Sorry, I dropped my phone in shock and it took me a minute before I could function again. I think that my brain short circuited. Are you joking me? Please tell me that I am not dreaming and I did actually get a call.
Mom: (1:02) It's okay honey. Stacie texted me and told me that you were having a freak out moment. No I am not joking about this. You really got a call from L.A. The guy on the phone asked for a Reggie Mitchell. I almost told him that he had the wrong number but I remembered you telling me last week that you were working on a demo for them. Do you have time to call them now? I can text you the number.
Beca: (1:05) I can't believe it! When did Stacie have time to text you? She was looking at my phone the whole time.
Beca glaces at her brunette friend. Stacie catches Beca's eyes, a mischievous gleam flashing across the blue-green irises. Beca scrunches her nose, glaring slightly at her friend. Stacie shrugs, turning her attention back to her phone.
Beca: (1:06) I have like 9 minutes left until lunch ends. Go ahead and text me the number.
Mom: (1:06) Okay baby. The number is 310-555-2410. I think that his name was Michael.
Beca: (1:06) Thanks Mom. I will be home right after school.
Mom: (1:06) Okay HUGS AND KISSES BABY! GOOD LUCK!
Beca rolls her eyes, closing the message. She opens the call screen, quickly typing in the number that her mom texted to her. She stands up from the picnic table to give herself some privacy. The phone rings four times before it is picked up.
Receptionist: Thank you for calling Residual Heat in Los Angeles. How may I help you?
Beca clears her throat quietly before beginning.
Beca: Hello, yes. My name is Beca Mitchell. I sent in a demo to you guys this morning. Well I missed a call from a Michael and I was just returning it.
Receptionist: Hold one moment please.
Beca sighs loudly as the annoying musak begins assaulting her eardrums. After a few tense moments, the line is picked back up.
Man's Voice: This is Michael. Who's this?
Beca: Hi, this is Beca Mitchell. I sent you in one of my demos this morning and you called me. Sorry that I missed your call. I was at sch…
Michael: I don't care where you were Reggie. When I call you, you answer. This is not a very good beginning to our business relationship. How do you expect me to sign you as a dj when I can't even get ahold of you on the phone?
Beca: I'm sorry. I was at school. I didn't mean to….wait a minute; did you just say that you want to sign me?
Michael: Did I stutter Reggie? I don't repeat myself. My team is getting a contract together right now. Your mash-ups are good. We want to hire you on as a dj. We don't normally bring on dj's as artists, but your sound is different. It's unique and we want it. How fast can you be in Los Angeles?
Beca: Um….holy crap! Are you fuc….freaking kidding me?! I still have to talk to my mom but it shouldn't be a problem.
Michael: What are you, five? You have to talk to your mom? Maybe I called the wrong number.
Beca: No! No! You called the right number. I am seventeen. I will be eighteen next week. I can be there this weekend.
Michael: Hold on Reggie. I have a phone call from another dj that can be here tomorrow. I will call you the next time we have an opening, maybe in four years.
Beca: No! I'm sorry. I can be there tomorrow. I have to get my crap together but I can take the first flight out of Atlanta tomorrow.
Michael: That is what I like to hear Reggie. See you tomorrow.
Beca: Thank you for….
Beca drops the phone from her ear as she hears the click of it hanging up. Sighing, she opens her contact list. As soon as she locates her mom in her contact list, she swipes to dial the number. After two rings her mother picks up.
Mom: Hey Baby. Did you call them back?
Beca: Hey Mom. Yeah I called them back.
Mom: And?
Beca takes a deep breath, tears filling her eyes. She places her free hand over her eyes so nobody can see the tears falling.
Beca: They want me Mom. They want to sign me immediately.
Mom: Oh my god! Baby that is so great! This is everything that you wanted. When do you have to go sign paperwork?
Beca: *coughs* Tomorrow.
Mom: What? Baby, you have school. You can't skip to go down to their office and sign a contract.
Beca: Mom. It's not the Residual Heat office here in Atlanta. It's the Los Angeles branch.
Mom: L.A. Baby. No, you can't. You are just one month shy of graduating. Then you are Stacie are off to Barden. You promised your father.
Beca: Mom. I don't have to walk with my class. I already have the credits to graduate. I have basically just been taking extra classes to fuck around with Stacie and Amy this year. As far as Barden goes, I don't owe douchnozzle anything. He left us Mom. He cheated on you for god knows how long. He left and married that stepmonster Sheila. Then they go and have a baby so he can have a completely new family. We hadn't even heard from him in seven years. I need to go to Los Angeles. I am almost eighteen; I can make the choice myself.
Mom: Baby. Think about what you are doing. You are so close; don't throw away the dreams that your father has for you. L.A. will still be there in a year.
Beca: No Mom. I don't owe him shit. I am going. They are not going to offer this to me again. I have to go. Whether you approve or not.
Mom: You know that I am going to stand by you no matter what baby. Even if I don't agree that this is what's best for you. You have always been stubborn baby, but I will always let you follow your dreams.
Beca sniffles as a fresh batch of tears begins to fall.
Beca: Thank you Mom. You don't know how much this means to me.
Mom: You're welcome baby. You know that I will always stand behind you. I just don't know what we are going to tell your father.
Beca: Fuck that asshole, who cares?
Mom: Language honey. Shouldn't you be in class right now?
Just as Beca is about to reply, the first bell rings to signal the end of lunch. Stacie and Amy walk up to either side of Beca.
"Let's go Shawshank."
Beca looks over at Amy incredulously.
Beca: I gotta go now Mom. Love you. Talk to you later.
Beca ends the call, sliding her cell phone into the back pocket of her jeans. She takes her backpack from Stacie's outstretched hand, slinging it over her right shoulder.
"What the fuck Amy!?"
"What? It isn't like she heard. Even if she did, she wouldn't know what it meant."
"That doesn't mean that she wouldn't either eventually figure it out or ask me about it. You know that I can't lie for shit, especially to my mom. How well do you think that it will go over if I have to tell my mom about the time that I spent the night in jail? There is no way that she will ever let me move to Los Angeles if she finds out about that."
"It was so funny Short Stack. You were so pissed when you punched that cop in the face."
"I wasn't even angry."
"No babe, what Amy means when she says that you were pissed is that you were shitfaced. Pissed means drunk in Europe."
"Oh….well then yeah, I was pretty drunk. It's a good thing that you ooze sex appeal, otherwise, I would have a record right now."
"I would do anything for you Beca, we learned how to poop together."
"Gross dude."
"Whatever. Anyway, Amy and I caught the last half of your conversation with Mom. I hear that we are moving to Los Angeles."
"No dude. I am moving to Los Angeles. You are doing pre-med at Barden and I have no idea what Amy is doing."
"Actually Becs, I was kind of banking on you getting a job in L.A. before we graduated. I applied to UCLA for pre-med last year after we took the SATS. I got accepted there too. So since you got the job, I am going to go with you!"
Beca jumps into her best friend's arms, making an undignified squeal that she will deny later. Amy wraps her arms around her two friends' as the jump in place. The late bell rings, making them jump apart.
"Have I mentioned that I may own a house in Los Angeles?"
Both brunettes turn to the blonde woman, with matching shocked expressions on their faces.
"No Amy, you neglected to tell us that."
"I have an eidetic memory; I would remember being told that."
"Well technically, it belongs to one of my boyfriends, but he's technically in prison. For life…..for running an underground kangaroo fight club. So the house is ours for the next 500 years."
"I guess we're all moving to Los Angeles."
TBC
