Day 7 – Free Space – The Closeted Music Therapist
Summary: Aubrey has been with Stacie for years, but she's still in the closet. This is Stacie and Aubrey's part of the fic I wrote where Chloe has a young daughter on the autism spectrum. If you haven't read that one, this isn't going to make a whole lot of sense. This one's a two-parter.
Part 1: Set during chapters 4-7
Aubrey took a deep breath. She'd just turned in her resignation for the school system where she'd been working the past few years. She loved her work and the school district, but she knew it was time to take the next step in her life. She'd begun dating Stacie while they were in grad school. Stacie had gotten her doctorate and had been working for the early intervention program near Barden. She worked with very young children, helping their parents understand their children's difficulties. It was hard telling parents that their child had any disability, but she'd figured out a way to explain it so their parents wouldn't feel so hopeless.
The two women had been frustrated with the long-distance aspect of their relationship for a while. It had been about three years since they'd lived in the same state. While they didn't live far enough apart to require a plane ride, they were far enough apart for time together to require a fair amount of planning in advance. After careful consideration, they agreed that Aubrey would be the one to move. Stacie had offered to have Aubrey move in with her, and Aubrey had finally agreed. She hadn't yet secured a job in town, and she figured signing a lease on a new place wasn't a great idea without income. Stacie promised her she'd happily support her while she looked. Music therapy wasn't a huge field, so finding work might take some time. Besides, if Aubrey was moving to town to be near Stacie, she might as well just live with her.
She'd known the area around Barden well, having attended the university for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She'd kept in touch with Jessica Smith, one of her previous mentees from back in her grad school days. She knew that Jessica had been working for Beca, another of her mentees. Aubrey had been sure that Beca's tattoos and ear spike would frighten young patients, but Jessica told her it hadn't been a problem yet. Aubrey went ahead and sent Jessica an e-mail, hoping that maybe she knew someone looking for a music therapist. Jessica replied that she'd ask around, so Aubrey figured this would likely be a dead end.
Aubrey was pleasantly surprised when she heard from Beca a few days later. Her music therapy business had grown and they were looking for an additional therapist. Aubrey replied that she'd be in town the following week. She immediately heard back from Beca inviting her to their Friday lunch meeting. She replied that she'd see them there. She was so excited, she texted her girlfriend.
Music Therapy Guru: Hey, babe, guess what?
Hot Psychologist: What?
Music Therapy Guru: Beca invited me to the lunch meeting at her music therapy business for Friday.
Hot Psychologist: That's great news! Is everything set for you to move on Monday?
Music Therapy Guru: Sure is.
Hot Psychologist: Can't wait.
Music Therapy Guru: Me neither.
It was Thursday night, and Aubrey and Stacie were having dinner together.
"So, are you excited for your lunch meeting tomorrow?" asked Stacie.
"Somewhere between that and nervous, I guess," said Aubrey.
"Why are you nervous?"
"I don't know what to expect. Beca said it was a lunch meeting, but she didn't say it was an interview. I don't know what to wear or anything."
"Relax. You've known these women for years, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm going to guess they're planning on making an offer or at least scheduling an interview."
"I hope so. I appreciate you supporting me, but I want to pull my weight."
"I know you do. I promise I'm fine, though. Something will come through for you. If it isn't this, you'll find something soon. I'm sure of it."
"I hope you're right."
"Do they know why you moved to town?"
"No," said Aubrey. "They didn't ask."
"Do you plan on telling them?"
"I will if the subject comes up. I don't like sharing my personal business." Aubrey was still in the closet, something Stacie respected. She knew her girlfriend would rather she came out, but she wasn't ready yet.
The two returned to their dinner. Aubrey looked through her closet, trying to decide what was best to wear to the lunch meeting. She wished she'd asked Beca whether or not this was an interview, and she kicked herself for not thinking to just ask. It felt a bit late to ask now because she'd already agreed to attend the meeting. Stacie convinced her to wear a nice blouse, pants, and ballet flats.
Aubrey paced outside the Barden Bellas Music Therapy Company's office. She was a few minutes early for the lunch meeting. As soon as she heard footsteps going toward the front door, she willed herself to stop.
"Hi, Aubrey!"
"Hi, Beca!"
"It's good to see you," said Beca as she opened the door to the office. "Have you been waiting long?" Aubrey shook her head. "Good. The conference room is this way," she said.
"Aubrey!" exclaimed Flo and Jessica, running up to hug her. It really had been too long since they'd all seen each other.
"I got us a tray of sandwiches to share," said Beca. "Help yourselves. Aubrey, we're going to get started. Just listen in so you can learn about our clients, and please feel free to offer suggestions. We like to collaborate on all of our clients. We find it's very beneficial."
Aubrey nodded. She didn't have much appetite due to nerves, but she grabbed a sandwich anyway. She hoped once the meeting got underway, she would relax a little.
Aubrey learned about a lot of different clients. There was Benji, an autistic boy who loved Pokemon. There was an eight-year-old girl who had been learning how to play the ukelele.
Beca began to blush furiously as she talked about a little girl named Megan. Megan had just begun to greet Beca appropriately, she'd colored with a crayon, and she'd said a word. She hadn't been talking before then. Flo and Jessica had been excited, but Beca had been flustered. She quickly admitted that the client's mom had kissed her. Aubrey was shocked when Beca said she'd kissed her back, her shock increasing when Flo and Jessica had squealed in excitement. This was inappropriate, and they were certainly going to have to drop Megan as a client. That was what Aubrey had assumed, so she was really confused about Flo and Jessica's reactions.
Flo and Jessica explained to Aubrey that there had been a clear and obviously mutual attraction between Beca and Megan's mom, Chloe, right from the start. They'd both been listening to Beca pine for a while, and they were thrilled to see things escalating. It had been inappropriate, but they had put that idea aside because they were so happy for their friend.
Aubrey had felt very self-conscious when Jessica had said, "But here we are with a potential new therapist for the business." This had happened when Flo had reminded Beca that she'd offered to take Megan's case and Beca had reminded her that she had a full caseload.
She was really surprised when Beca handed her a job offer, stating that she felt it was silly to interview her mentor from grad school. She reviewed the paper. The salary would easily cover her half of the expenses of living with Stacie, and they also offered a benefits package. She immediately accepted the offer, hugging all three women.
By the time she left, she'd even agreed to join Beca at Megan's next session. She felt comfortable enough to tease Beca about her inability to control herself around a cute girl.
She smiled to herself as she left the meeting. As soon as she got back to the apartment, she texted her girlfriend with the good news.
Music Therapy Guru: Guess who has a job!
Hot Psychologist: Really?
Music Therapy Guru: Yup.
Hot Psychologist: I'm taking you out tonight to celebrate.
Music Therapy Guru: It's a date.
Stacie took Aubrey out for sushi. Aubrey told her all about the job. Stacie was really interested in the idea that all of the therapists met and collaborated on ideas to help their clients.
"So, it looks like I'm working with Beca on Friday morning with a little girl on the autism spectrum."
"That's great. You've always been so good with kids."
"I hope I'm good with this one for Beca's sake."
"Why is that?"
"Beca and her mom ended up kissing at their last session. She's hoping to move the little girl to my caseload. There's apparently been some mutual pining for a while."
"If this girl has a cute mom, do I have anything to worry about?"
"Never. I'm a one-woman kind of girl." She squeezed Stacie's hand.
"That's what I like to hear."
Aubrey met Beca at the office, and she rode to Megan's house with her. Beca gave her a general idea of Megan's behaviors, abilities, and goals.
"I think I'll probably start working with her and see if she'll let you take over."
"Okay."
"She's seriously one of the most adorable kids I've ever met."
"Mitchell, you're such a softie."
"Only when it comes to this girl and her mom."
Aubrey joined Beca for Megan's session, and she was thrilled when Megan accepted her. Beca gave Megan's case to Aubrey, and Chloe immediately looked alarmed when Beca declared Megan to be Aubrey's first case. Aubrey was quick to point out that she'd been a music therapist for years; Megan was her first case with Beca's company.
Aubrey couldn't help noticing when she was working with Megan that Beca and Chloe had a huge amount of sexual tension between them. She waited until the car ride back to the office to tease Beca about it.
By the end of the lunch meeting, Aubrey had another tentative case, and she'd also be taking over weekly group music therapy sessions at the nearby children's hospital.