A/N
Hey guys, just a quick disclaimer. First off, there is some language in this chapter, not a lot, but a little. Next is that I am currently working on trying to understand the actual show of The Voice, so there might be some kinks where I tweak the competition to keep the focus on Beca and the gang. The last thing is that this is a Beca/Jesse story. There will be elements of affection from Chloe, but that's all it will be. Well enough with my ramblings, enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 3
Beca was sitting in her dressing room, waiting for Chloe to get done with her post audition interview so she could set up a rehearsal time with her. Beca still was in awe that Chloe showed up now in her life, when everything was perfect. She regretted pushing the button as soon as she did it. With anyone else with that voice, Beca could turn them into a champion. Chloe however, had a past with Beca that wasn't beneficial to her cause. Beca wasn't going to be nice with this, she was going to play it music producer style. She was lost in thought when someone tapped her on the shoulder, making her jump.
"Sorry," Jesse said. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"No it's fine," Beca said, calming down. "I was just thinking deeply."
"About Chloe?" Jesse asked and Beca nodded.
Jesse sat down next to her and pulled her into a one armed hug. Beca smiled and laid her head down on his shoulder.
"How are you going to play it?" Jesse asked softly.
"Music producer style," Beca answered. "What a professional would do."
"No fluffy stuff then," Jesse said.
"Nope," Beca replied. "Straight business."
"Well," Jesse said. "I have something that I think might cheer you up."
"What?" Becca asked with a grin.
"If I may introduce," Jesse said, standing up and walking over to the door that led to Beca's dressing room. "The Italian Stalion, Benji Balboa!"
Benji walked in and Beca jumped up and gave him a big hug.
"Oh my god," she squealed. "How are you doing? I haven't seen you in forever."
"I'm great," Benji said, returning the hug. "They just have had me on tour forever, and I made it back in town just for this."
Benji had become a professional magician, and one of the best around the states. A entertainment producer had picked him up and got him on a year tour.
"I'm so glad you're here," Beca said, pulling back.
"I'm glad to be here," Benji said with a smile. "How far are you along?" he asked, referring to her stomach.
"About four months," Beca said, and she guided his hands down to her stomach.
"Wow," Benji said. "I remember when Jesse called me to tell the good news. I couldn't get a word in for an entire hour he was so excited."
Beca looked over to Jesse with a grin who blushed in response.
"I was excited," Jesse said sheepishly.
"Nerd," Beca said teasingly, causing Jesse to give her one of his trademark warm smiles that made Beca melt inside.
Just then there was a knock on the door and Beca walked over to get it. Jesse and Benji moved over to the couches that were in her room and began to talk about the movies that Jesse was composing for.
Nerds, Beca thought as she opened the door. Standing there was the redhead herself, Chloe.
"Hi," Chloe said, nervously.
"Hey," Beca said. "Come on in."
Chloe walked in and Beca shut the door. Beca started walking towards the sitting area where Benji and Jesse were.
"Hey," she said to her husband and the magician. "Benji out of my spot and you can only remain if you stop talking about superman or whatever."
"Captain America and Iron Man," Jesse corrected. "And fine."
Benji got up from his spot on the couch next to Jesse and Beca took it, putting her feet up on the coffee table. Benji moved to a chair across from the couch and the only remaining chair was next to Benji. Beca let out a sigh of relief as her feet were finally off the ground.
"Need a foot rub?" Jesse asked with a chuckle.
"If you do, I will love you forever," Beca said.
"Deal," Jesse said and began to slide off her shoes.
Chloe didn't know why, but that comment hurt her deeply. She saw that Beca was pregnant and obviously head over heels with Jesse. She wanted to be the one to give Beca a foot rub, have Beca be the one to love her forever.
"Chloe," Beca said, loudly.
"Hmm, what?" Chloe said, snapping out of her deep thought.
"I've said your name like three times," Beca said. "Sit down, we have some things to discuss."
"RIght," Chloe said.
Chloe went and sat down next to Benji on a chair opposite of the couch. Beca had the look of pure comfort as Jesse was giving her a foot rub.
"This is like, the best thing you have ever done for me," Beca said to Jesse.
"I gave you a foot rub two days ago and you said the same thing," Jesse said with a chuckle.
"Well that event has been replaced," Beca said with a smile and then looked to Chloe.
"Alright Chloe," Beca said. "First thing you need to know is that I am approaching this like any music producer would. You're going to go through all the training and tests that I have, and then I will pick music that I think best suits you. My choices are suggestions, based on what I think is best. You have the last decision on what you will sing. You have to make the decision as quick as possible. We will go through 1 to 2 days of training, and then I will have a song suggestion. If you don't like it, then you can pick a song. But know that after those two days of training, we will not have another rehearsal until you pick your song. That way I know what I am working with and so do you. You have the potential to win this competition if you listen to me. Any questions?"
"Not about the competition," Chloe said softly.
Beca sighed, knowing that she would have to do this sooner than later.
"Alright," Beca said. "My actions after I quit the Bellas speak louder than words. I won another national title, became the luckiest girl in the world after being proposed to, finished my degree, got Emily a number one chart topper, secured a job in LA, got another number one chart topper with Cynthia Rose, opened up my own studio, got pregnant, and now I'm here."
Chloe looked like a kicked puppy and Beca knew that might have been a little harsh, but she was still angry at the redhead, even after all these years.
"Hey guys," Beca said to the two boys. "Can you give us some alone time?"
"Sure," Jesse said. "I'll go get the car. I promised Jesse that he could stay with us tonight."
"That's fine," Beca said. "Just know that you will be finishing this foot rub later."
"Yes ma'am," Jesse said, standing up and giving Beca a quick kiss. "Text me when you're ready and I'll pull the car around."
"Love you," Beca said as Jesse started to walk out of the room.
"Love you too," Jesse said as he walked out of the room with Benji.
This simple interaction with husband and wife hit Chloe the hardest in the heart. She wanted all of that, but she knew that she could never have it. Once Jesse and Benji were out of the room, Beca turned to Chloe.
"Spill," Beca said towards her. "Yell, scream, talk, say what you have to say."
Chloe took a deep breath and started in her talk softly.
"Why did you leave?" Chloe asked.
"I thought that part was obvious," Beca said sarcastically. "You all were taking that competition too seriously and I was too for a while. I realized that this wasn't why I got into this in the first place. So, I left."
"But you went and sang in another competition that night," Chloe said, her voice raising this time.
Beca's voice remained soft as she replied, "Because Jesse asked me too. Turns out, that night was the best of my life."
"So you only did it because Jesse asked you to?" Chloe spat, getting angry now. "You betrayed the Bellas for a man."
"For one there was no Bellas," Beca said, now getting a little angry. "Secondly, that man is my husband, and I would do anything for him."
"Like walk out on your friends," Chloe asked.
"I'm still in contact with my friends," Beca said and it was like a slap to the face to Chloe.
Chloe just sat back in amazement at the words Beca said. She wasn't even her friend anymore? What did Chloe do to deserve this? She only expressed passion for what she did.
"Okay," Beca said. "We are done now. First rehearsal is tomorrow at my studio at 10 am. The theme for your first competition is country, and I want to beat Blake. So, if you would so kindly leave so I can as well."
"One more thing," Chloe said, standing up as Beca did. "I have been holding this in since the last time we were together."
"Well sack up and tell me," Beca said exasperatedly.
Chloe didn't so much tell as show. She walked right up to Beca, grabbed her head, and brought her lips to Beca's. The kiss surprised Beca so much that it took her a while to react. When she did, she took both of her hands and pushed Chloe away roughly. Chloe only had enough time to react before a hand slapped her hard across the face.
"Get the fuck out of here," Beca hissed.
"Beca I-," before she was cut off by Beca's hand and a voice from behind.
"I believe my wife told you to leave," Jesse said, opening the door.
Beca was glaring daggers at Chloe, who looked like she was about to burst into tears. Chloe quickly ran out of the room, leaving Beca and Jesse alone.
"Jesse," Beca said. "You know that I didn't-," before she was cut off.
"Don't worry, I saw," Jesse said. "She made an unexpected move on you. You gave her what she had coming. Remind me to never piss you off."
"I thought you would know that by now," Beca said, walking over to him and wrapping him in a hug.
"It's nice to be reminded every once in awhile," Jesse said which made Beca laugh. "Now, c'mon. We have to fight through the press to get to the car."
Beca nodded and walked out of the dressing room, one arm still wrapped around Jesse. They made their way through the mass of reporters and to the crowd that Benji was standing by.
"And I thought that I was a big deal," Benji commented and Beca laughed.
Jesse climbed into the driver's seat and Beca went to sit in the passenger side. Benji hopped into the back seat, and they made their way back to the house.
Meanwhile
Chloe can't believe what she just did. Moving through the crowds who were screaming her name, she should feel adulation. Instead she felt the stinging on her cheek where Beca's hand had connected. Chloe was at a complete loss with herself. Should she even show up tomorrow for rehearsal? Whatever strings of friendships that she still had with Beca were completely shattered now. With one simple kiss, they were over. Chloe finally managed to get through the mobs of reporters and drive away in her car, towards her apartment.
Swanson House
"Oh my god Jesse, you're hands are magic," Beca said outloud, sitting on her bed.
"You know," Jesse said. "Taking that out of context makes it sounds very sexual."
"I don't care," Beca said leaning back. "I'm going to enjoy this."
Jesse chuckled and returned to giving Beca her foot rub. Beca was sprawled out on their king sized bed, with the TV on in front of them, watching the re-run of The Voice, that happened earlier tonight.
"Do you think I made a mistake," Beca asked out loud.
Jesse looked up at her with a look of confusion.
"A mistake about what?" he asked.
"About pressing that button," Beca explained further.
"Well in all honesty," Jesse said with a grin creeping onto his face. "I was just glad you figured out how the button works."
A pillow flew through the air and hit him directly in the face, which threw him into a fit of laughter.
"Seriously Jesse," Beca said. "I need some advice."
"Okay okay," Jesse said, stopping his laughing. "As a music producer and mentor, you made an excellent choice. Chloe does have a nice voice and you could work with that, you have before. As a person, and former friend, you really didn't have a choice. In a blind audition like this, once you hit that button, it was all up to Chloe."
"This is just going to be so weird," Beca said. "She kissed me dude."
"Yeah she did," Jesse said. "And you have to figure out how you are going to handle it. You obviously didn't like it, which I think was evident with your reaction. So you have a couple choices, you can play the strict music producer and only focus on the competition, or you can try to get to know her again and be a friend."
"What should I do?" Beca said.
"Well," Jess said, sitting up and moving over to sit by his wife. "As a husband who had someone just kiss his wife, I'm not too happy at this. But I am biased and I know that Chloe is probably just a confused and lost girl. She probably went crazy after the Bellas died, and that can cause people to do desperate things. Plus, who knows how long she has had feelings for you."
"But I can't return that," Beca said. "I love you like there is no tomorrow, and that isn't changing. Can this even work if she expects me to have those feelings?"
"Becs," Jesse said. "This has to work for her. You bring your approach, and if she can't deal with it, she loses the competition. Remember that you will get seven other people on your team. They all could be as equally good if not better than Chloe."
Beca smiled and leaned into Jesse's side.
"How is it you always know what to say," Beca asked.
"Practice," Jesse said, kissing the top of her head.
Beca smile and then groaned as she felt something pressing against her stomach.
"Look at that," Beca said, rubbing her stomach. "You woke up your daughter."
Jesse laughed and put his hand on Beca's stomach, feeling the baby kick.
"I'm sorry sweetheart," he whispered to Beca's stomach, or to the baby.
Beca just looked down at her husband whispering sweet nothings to her stomach and thought how perfect her life was. Yes, even with the setback of tonight, her life was still perfect.
A/N
There it is, the latest installment
Welp, Chloe makes a move and literally gets swatted away. How will Chloe and Beca deal with these events in the competition going forward? Stay tuned to find out. Next up, Chloe's first rehearsal and blind auditions part 2.
Big thanks to all that liked and followed this story. This is the fastest growth of likes and follows that I've had in a story to date, so I really appreciate that.
As always I do not own any of the characters
Reviews, likes, and follows are always appreciated
