A/N: Okay. I figured I'd let you off the hook. It's been long enough to leave you hanging. I did intend to have this written a while ago, but I've been in and out of hospital lately. Anyway, on with the show, as they say.
Beca's ringing phone causes her to snap back from the almost kiss and I try to hide my disappointment as she answers it, jumping up to walk a little way away from me. I don't hear a lot of the conversation, only picking up key words and Beca's tone of anger, or frustration maybe. A few moments later she walks back over.
"I should take you home." She says quietly.
I feel the disappointment run through me again. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah." She says after hesitating slightly. "I just forgot that I need to be somewhere."
I bite my lip and look up at her. I know she's lying but I let it go because she's looking at me like she's begging me to drop it. I clear my throat and nod.
"If you have to go, then I'll stay here a little longer and walk back to my apartment. It's fine."
I want her to disagree with me for some reason. This change in her mood has taken me by surprise. One minute she's playful and cute and trying to kiss me, then after one phone call she's acting like she wants to keep her distance. What the hell?
"Okay, if that's what you want to do. I'll see you at rehearsal I guess." She rubs the back of her neck and returns the stiff nod I give her before turning around and leaving me alone on the roof.
Did I scare her off? Who was on the phone that would change her mood so quickly?
"Chloe! You have rehearsal in an hour! Get your ass out of bed or I'll come in there and drag you out by your hair!"
Ugh, I really don't want to face today, knowing Beca will be there after what happened yesterday I don't really want to deal with it.
"Go away Aubrey! I'm awake!" I call back and listen for Aubrey's footsteps away from the door, before dragging myself out of bed to shower and get dressed. I'm too lazy today so I just throw on a pair of sweats, my old high school track hoodie, that's right, not just a theatre nerd here, and throw my hair up into a messy bun. It wasn't like we were working on any of my big scenes today, just mostly dance numbers.
I get to the theatre and immediately join the rest of the cast in stretching while we wait for the director. I look over my shoulder as I stand from a toe touch and notice Beca watching me, an intensity in her eyes that I've never seen before in anyone. It takes her a second to notice that I've caught her and she quickly turns around and starts fiddling with a couple of instruments. What is with her? Yesterday she was playful about her staring and today she's just being a little cold. I honestly don't get it. I don't have long to ponder on the thought as the director walks in and claps his hands.
"Alright guys, we're changing up the schedule for today. Where's my Brad?"
My good friend Jesse steps forward and I smile. I'm glad he's my Brad because we've been best friends since junior year of high school and he's so adorable and just a really great guy.
"You'll be working with Bumper on the Brad and Frank 'n' Furter scene, beginning of act 2." He nods and glares at Bumper. Bumper is a bit of an idiot and none of us really like him that much. He's great on stage and he's talented, but he's just a little too up himself.
"My Janet. You'll be working with Beca today on some vocal training for your final song."
I bite my lip and look over my shoulder at her again, but she has her back to me, organising the sheet music this time. Why would I be working with her on such a small song? It's not even the most difficult song, vocal wise, in the show. Nevertheless, I walk over to her and bite my lip.
"Hey."
She doesn't look up at me. "I think you need work on projecting your voice better for this song, you're too quiet." She says coldly as she hands me the sheet music. Is she serious? Not even a 'hi'? What have I done to her that is so terrible that she can't even look at me?
In any case, right now is not the time to talk about it. I just follow her into the soundproof booth backstage and place the sheet music in front of me. I get two lines into the song before she stops me.
"Project. You need to have your voice heard." I bite my lip and take a deep breath before starting over, only to be cut off again.
"No. Now there's no emotion to it. You need to be able to project yet keep the sweetness in the song."
I look at her standing in the corner, her arms folded as she watches me intently. It continues on like that, starting and stopping, until she throws her sheet music down.
"How is it so hard for you to project your damn voice?!" She yells and I retreat slightly as I watch her take a deep breath.
"We've been in here for an hour Beca and I haven't gotten through the whole song once! It's not even that long for God's sake!" I yell back.
I'm pissed at her for grilling me on this. I'm pissed at her for leaving me yesterday. I'm pissed because of this whole hot and cold thing with her.
"If you could understand a simple concept then we wouldn't have a problem!"
"If you told me exactly what you wanted then I would be able to understand!"
I know we aren't yelling about the song anymore and I know that she knows now too because her face and shoulders drop, like she's been defeated.
"You." She sighs and I look at her confused.
"Me what?" I see her raise her head to look at me, the intensity from earlier is back and suddenly my back is against the booth wall, her finger under my chin to hold my face up, keeping my eyes on hers.
"I want you." She breathes and I lick my lips before swallowing hard.
"Then have me." I reach up to wrap my arms around her neck until she pushes back and puts distance between us.
"It's not that easy." She puts her hands in her pockets and turns her back to pick up the sheet music she threw.
I let out a breath. Really? This hot and cold thing is getting old fast.
"Then explain it to me."
"Just drop it Red!"
Even though we're both angry that name still does things to my insides, but I'm still mad at her, so stop thinking about dirty things Chloe Beale. I'm an actress right? Master of the dramatic hair flick and exit. Well, my hair is up so no hair flick, but huff and exit. I slam the door on my way out for added effect.
If she was going to be cold with me, then I'll be cold with her.
