AUTHOR'S NOTES: My normal rating for my stories is K+. The reason why this one is a T rating is because one of the scenes in the first chapter is rather...dark. When I wrote this, I really ended up pushing the envelope compared to what I normally write. I also would like to point this out: When I wrote I Love Cupcakes, I stated that future stories would have little or no Aubrey. Well, this has now changed. So, let's just see how this one turns out. Enjoy.
This story takes place in August 2021.
CHAPTER 1:
At a Starbucks, Aubrey goes up to the counter to place an order.
"One grandiose iced coffee please." Aubrey said handing the cashier money.
As she stepped out of line, she noticed a familiar face behind the cash register and the nametag gave it away. "Nah, that can't be her...can it?" She said slightly worried.
As the barista handed Aubrey her iced coffee, she sat down to drink it questioning why she started to feel sleepy.
"This tastes different, I don't remember ordering decaf." She said confused by the taste. "So...(yawning) why do I feel...sleepy?" She asked herself slowly nodding off to sleep.
WARNING: This next scene is rather dark.
Hours later, Aubrey woke up in a strange room with her arms and legs tied up.
"What the...where the heck am I?" Aubrey asked confused as to how she didn't wake up where she was sitting back at that Starbucks when she heard an evil laugh.
"Oh, Aubrey...haven't you figured it out already?" A sinister voice asked. When the voice stepped into the light, it was revealed to be her former Bellas captain.
"Alice?" Aubrey asked. "I thought that was you working the register at that Starbucks." She realized.
"You're darn right it was." Alice said.
"Then can you please tell me where we are?" Aubrey asked.
"We're in my basement." Alice said.
"You dragged me all the way down here?" Aubrey said.
"Sure did. Wasn't that hard to get you all the way down here." Alice said.
"Okay, then explain this: Why'd you give me decaf?" Aubrey asked.
"Silly...I wouldn't give you decaf unless you ordered it. I spiked knockout gas in your coffee while the barista wasn't looking." Alice said.
"How?" Aubrey asked.
"After I graduated, I did some research on the proper formula for knockout gas in case our paths were to ever cross again one day. After I got married, I began to give up on hopes of us ever crossing paths again. But luckily I kept a bottle of that knockout gas hidden all these years. And now it was a good thing I did." Alice explained.
"Wait, you WANTED to knock me unconscious? WHY?" Aubrey asked.
"Simple: Remember 10 years ago?" Alice asked prompting a flashback to Aubrey's junior year when she projectile vomited at Lincoln Center.
"Oh, that? Come on, Alice...that was a long time ago." Aubrey said trying to reason with her.
"I know. But I still hold a grudge over that painful loss." Alice said.
"FYI: That loss wasn't just painful for you, it was for me as well. After that day, I became an online laughingstock. And the only real friend I had left for several months was Chloe." Aubrey explained.
"It doesn't matter, soon you won't have her or ANY of the friends you've come to know since I graduated." Alice said.
"What are you talking about? What do you plan to do with me?" Aubrey asked as Alice took out a kitchen knife.
"I've been waiting 10 years for this moment." Alice said with an evil smile.
"Are you planning to stab me to death?" Aubrey asked.
"You guessed it. You made us lose the ICCA's 10 years ago, and now I shall get me revenge." Alice said. "Any last words?" She asked.
"Yes...Chad, Finn, Bellas, I love you all, and I'll miss you forever." Aubrey said tearfully.
As she slowly drew the knife closer to Aubrey's right arm, Alice laughed evilly.
"NOOOOO!" Aubrey screamed. As the knife was inches away from Aubrey's skin, she woke up in her own bed breathing heavilly.
When Aubrey woke up, Chad turned on the lamp near their bed.
"Aubrey, are you all right?" Chad asked concerned as Aubrey was too busy breathing heavily to respond.
"It was all a dream?" Aubrey asked surprised and relieved at the same time.
"What happened?" Chad asked.
"I...I...I..." Aubrey said trying to get a sentance out.
"Come here." Chad said giving Aubrey a hug. "It'll be okay...You're going to be fine..."
"I'm sorry, Chad. A haunting memory from my past came back." Aubrey said.
"Was it really bad?" Chad asked.
"The only person we know that knows about it is Chloe." Aubrey said.
"Tell me what's wrong." Chad said prompting a flashback.
"Okay...yesterday morning, I went to Starbucks to pick up my morning coffee on the way to work. When I walked into the door, I noticed a familiar face behind the register." Aubrey said.
"Who was it?" Chad asked.
"It was the woman who was captain of the Bellas during my first three years at Barden." Aubrey remembered.
"Did you talk to her?" Chad asked.
"Only for her to take my order. Anyway, when I noticed it was her, I ran back to my car to put on a hat & sunglasses as an attempt for her to not notice me. I went up to the counter to take my order, and luckily the disguise worked so she wouldn't try to make conversation with me." Aubrey said.
"Okay, why would you try to hide from her?" Chad asked.
"She was so mean to me." Aubrey said.
"Okay, I get it. Listen, don't worry about it for right now. If it's getting you down, we'll work on this problem in the morning." Chad said.
"Okay. But right now I'm hoping my screaming didn't wake Finn up." Aubrey said.
"I'll go check." Chad said as he got up to do so. Surprisingly, when Chad went to check, Finn was still sound asleep. "Oh, thank goodness." He whispered before heading back to bed.
"Is he okay?" Aubrey asked.
"Yep. Good night, Aubrey." Chad said turning off the lamp.
"Good night, Chad." Aubrey said as they both went back to sleep.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: That scene with the warning message was the only dark moment in this entire story. See how Chad tries to help Aubrey overcome her nightmare as the remainder of this story continues.