Chapter 4: Starting Over Again
Beca tapped her foot as she waited at the baggage claim area of the John F. Kennedy International Airport. Trio's tour had ended a month ago, but the brunette was already traveling again. She was in New York because Chloe had called her to inform her that she would be performing at Juilliard. Beca was already on thin ice, so she knew that she couldn't miss this performance no matter what. Chloe had been pretty distant from Beca after she mentioned her arrangement with Camila during that one phone call, so the brunette was going to make the best of this opportunity. She hadn't seen the redhead play piano since the Juilliard audition during their senior year of high school, so it was needless to say that she was excited for this concert.
After she got her luggage from the baggage claim, Beca ordered an Uber to take her to her hotel. Once she had checked into her room and unpacked most of her stuff, she started to get ready for the concert later that evening. The brunette decided to wear a gray plaid suit and a blue scarf since she was trying to go for a casual but dressy look. After she got dressed, she touched up her makeup a little. Once she had done that, she stepped back and looked at her reflection in the mirror. You got this, Beca. All you have to do is sit there and listen. That shouldn't be too hard, right? The brunette took a deep breath before checking the time on her phone. It was a little before six, and Chloe's concert started at seven. With New York's traffic, she would have to leave now if she wanted to get a good seat. Beca checked her appearance one last time before ordering an Uber for the second time that day, this time to take her to the Juilliard campus.
The traffic was awful like Beca had expected it to be, but she managed to get one of the last good seats available. The brunette started flipping through the program once she was in her seat, smiling when she found Chloe's biography. Next to the biography was a picture of the redhead, who looked as beautiful as ever. Beca looked at the picture for a few moments, her smile growing as she did so. She then started to read the biography, which said:
"Chloe Anne Beale is a member of the Class of 2022 at Juilliard. She was born and raised in Portland, Oregon but moved up to Seattle, Washington for her senior year of high school. Ever since she was little, Chloe has had a passion for piano that few others possess. Her parents, Cindy and Patrick, said that Chloe began playing as soon as she got her first piano. While her main focus is on the art of the piano, Chloe has many other talents like singing, dancing, and playing the guitar. Chloe finished at the top of her class at Juilliard and was offered many jobs right out of college. She now works as a resident pianist at Cafe d'Amore and Juliana's Italian Restaurant. In her spare time, Chloe visits low-income elementary schools around the city and teaches children how to play piano. She has received many awards outside of Juilliard, the most recent one being the Bach Medal for promoting the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Overall, Chloe is an extremely talented and kind person, and her accomplishments are only a small part of why we at Juilliard are so proud to call her one of our own."
Beca was about halfway through the biography when someone cleared their throat. The brunette looked up and saw a man with curly black hair and green eyes. "Excuse me, but are you Beca Mitchell?" He asked.
"Uh, yeah," Beca said, turning to face the man. "May I ask who you are?"
"I'm Freddie. I'm a friend of Chloe's. We work at Juliana's together," the man answered, holding his hand out for Beca to shake.
"It's nice to meet you, Freddie," Beca said, smiling and shaking his hand. "So, I take it you're here to watch Chloe perform?" She asked.
Freddie nodded his head. "Is this seat taken?" He asked, gesturing to the empty seat next to Beca's.
Beca shook her head. "Nope. It's all yours," she said, moving her legs to the side so Freddie could sit down beside her.
Freddie smiled and sat next to her as the lights in the auditorium began to blink, signaling that the show would start soon. "Chloe told me that you just finished your first world tour. Was it fun?" He asked.
"Yeah, it was. I'm still exhausted from it, though. My sleep schedule has been permanently ruined," Beca said with a chuckle.
"I bet," Freddie said, chuckling along with Beca. "So, have you been to one of Chloe's concerts before?"
"I haven't been to one of these concerts, but I have heard her play before. She's absolutely incredible," Beca said, a small smile making its way onto her face.
"Yeah, she really is," Freddie said, a smile on his face as well. "When was the last time you got to hear her play?"
"Oh, man. It's been so long. The last time I heard her play was at her Juilliard audition, which was when we were seniors in high school," Beca answered, scratching the back of her head.
"Are you excited to hear her play again?" Freddie asked, flipping through the program's performers section till he got to Chloe's biography.
"Of course I am. I haven't heard her play in five years. It's been far too long," Beca said, running her fingers through her hair before sighing softly to herself.
Then, the lights dimmed and someone from the Juilliard school board walked onto the stage. "Good evening and welcome to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Fundraiser Concert. We have a real treat for you tonight. Some of our current students will play a few songs, and then we will have a performance by Chloe Beale, one of our most distinguished alumni." As soon as Chloe's name was mentioned, the audience cheered wildly.
"She must be a pretty big deal here," Freddie observed as the people in the audience continued to cheer.
"Yeah, she must be," Beca said, nodding her head in agreement. As the opening speaker talked about Juilliard's partnership with the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Beca couldn't help but feel guilty that she didn't know about all the things Chloe had done in the last five years. From her Bach Medal to her teaching piano to underprivileged kids, Chloe had done so much good with her talents, and Beca hated the fact that she was only just learning about it.
"You know, we listened to "Sound of Your Heart" a few days after it came out," Freddie mentioned, turning his head so he was looking at Beca.
"Really? Did you guys like it?" Beca asked, biting her lip a little.
"Oh yeah, it was great," Freddie said in a genuine tone. "You certainly know how to write hit songs."
"Thanks," Beca said, smiling softly. After a moment of silence, the brunette spoke up again. "Did Chloe say anything about it?"
"Uh, sort of," Freddie said, scratching the back of his head as he trying to recall the moment. "She said that it was a good song. She didn't say much else, though."
Just then, the first performer came out to start off the concert, so the crowd went quiet. Beca tried to focus on the concert, but her mind kept wandering back to what Freddie had said. She said that it was a good song. She didn't say much else, though. Freddie's words were all the brunette could think about during the first half of the concert. However, that changed when Chloe walked onto the stage.
"Good evening, everyone. The first song I'll be performing for you is one of the songs I performed for my Juilliard audition. This is 'Titanium' by David Guetta," Chloe stated, getting another round of applause as she sat at the piano.
Beca couldn't help but smile when Chloe said this, and her smile grew even wider when the redhead started to play the song. The brunette began nodding her head to the melody about halfway through the song, and her eyes were on Chloe the entire time. Everything felt so familiar as Beca watched Chloe perform; it almost felt as if the brunette had never stopped listening to the redhead play.
After Chloe finished the song, she stood up from the piano and curtsied as the audience roared in approval. Beca and Freddie were clapping and cheering louder than anyone else, both of them smiling widely as they did so.
The concert ended after Chloe played for another half hour or so. As she curtsied once more, the redhead looked out into the audience and saw Freddie. She smiled at him and then froze when she saw that Beca was next to him. Her heart immediately sped up and she was unable to tear her eyes away from the brunette.
After the curtain closed, everyone left the auditorium and headed into the lobby. Beca and Freddie were making small talk when Chloe came up to them. "Hey, thanks for coming," the redhead said, smiling as she gave Freddie a hug.
"Of course. I wouldn't have missed it," Freddie said, smiling as he hugged Chloe back.
"You were spectacular up there, Chloe," Beca interjected, a small smile spreading across her face as she spoke.
"Thank you, Beca. I'm glad you could make it," Chloe said, smiling softly at the brunette before turning back to Freddie. "Did you like the concert?" She asked.
"Oh yeah. It was a great concert, and it was for an even better cause. You really are amazing at what you do," Freddie said, smiling.
Chloe and Freddie continued to chat while Beca stood there in silence. After awhile, the brunette couldn't take it anymore, and she cleared her throat to get their attention. "Uh, do you guys want to grab a bite to eat somewhere? I'll pay."
"That'd be great," Chloe said, briefly glancing at Beca. "I'm gonna go get my purse from the dressing room. I'll be right back," the redhead stated before she ran off.
"She's really something, isn't she?" Freddie said with a chuckle as he watched Chloe scurry away.
"Yeah, she is," Beca said, nodding her head in agreement. The brunette then looked down, putting her hands in her pockets and shuffling her feet awkwardly. "So, how do you and Chloe know each other again?" She asked after a moment of silence.
"I'm a part-time server at Juliana's. Chloe and I started hanging out a few months ago. She's a really great friend, and I admire her very much. She's one of the most kind-hearted human people on Earth, not to mention one of the most beautiful as well," Freddie said with a smile.
"You're right about that," Beca replied, unable to keep herself from biting her lip and clenching her fist as she listened to Freddie talk about Chloe.
Chloe rejoined them a few moments later. "Let's go get some food now. I'm starving," she said, giggling as she linked her arm with Freddie's. Then, the two of them walked out together, Beca following close behind.
While they walked together, Chloe and Freddie continued their conversation from earlier. As they talked, Beca started walking slower so she wouldn't hear them. After awhile, the brunette noticed that they didn't seem to be going anywhere in particular. "Guys, where are we going?" She asked.
"Oh, the place we're going is just down the street," Chloe said, not even bothering to look back at Beca when she spoke.
"Would you like to tell me what the place is?" Beca asked, a hint of irritation in her voice.
"It's called Francesco's Pizza. We're almost there," Freddie answered, pointing to a sign that was about a block away.
"It's classic New York pizza," Chloe said as they made their way to the end of the block.
"Cool. I've never had New York pizza before," Beca said, smiling softly since Chloe hadn't been harsh towards her for once. When they got to the restaurant, they were brought to a table in the upper part of the building, which gave them a good view of the New York skyline. "So, what's the best pizza here?" Beca asked.
"This might sound gross to you, but my favorite is the lasagna pizza," Freddie said with a chuckle. "What's your favorite, Chloe?" He asked, turning to the redhead.
"The Mediterranean pizza for sure," Chloe said, smiling and taking a sip of her water.
"Well, why don't we get one of each?" Beca suggested. "I'd love to try both," she added, shrugging her shoulders.
"Alright, sounds good. I'm gonna hit the restroom real quick," Freddie stated before getting up and walking away, leaving the two women alone.
"Freddie's pretty cool. I can see why you hang out with him," Beca said, breaking the silence between them.
"Yeah, he is. He's a great friend," Chloe said, nodding her head in agreement before looking down.
"How have you been, Chloe?" Beca asked. "We haven't seen each other in a few months, and we didn't talk much while I was on tour either. What's been going on in your life?"
"Not much, really," Chloe said, still looking down as she shrugged her shoulders.
"There's nothing you could tell me about? Not one thing?" Beca asked, leaning forward and tucking a stray piece of Chloe's hair back behind her ear. "I'm not trying to make you tell me anything. I'm just trying to make things right between us, and I genuinely want to hear what's been going on with lu since the last time we saw each other."
"Not much has been going on, okay?" Chloe said, her tone a little harsher than she intended it to be. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at like you like that. But I'm telling the truth when I say that not much has happened. I don't have much free time because of work, and I teach kids how to play piano if I do. That's it."
"What you're doing for the kids in this city is really awesome, by the way. It's yet another thing about you that amazes me," Beca started genuinely, a small smile on her face.
A small smile made its way onto Chloe's face and she blushed a little as well. "Thanks, Becs," she murmured softly. "You amaze me too," the redhead added, finally looking back up as she said that.
"Thanks, Chlo," Beca said, smiling when Chloe called her by her nickname. "So, how often do you go and teach the kids?"
"I try to go at least once or twice a week. I'd like to go more often, but I don't always have the time," Chloe answered.
"What are you two lovely ladies talking about?" Freddie asked as he made his way back to their table.
"Oh, just how cool it is that Chloe teaches piano to kids at low-income elementary schools," Beca said, smiling at the redhead as she spoke.
Chloe blushed a little more. "I don't understand why you're making this such a big deal. I'm just doing the right thing," she said.
"That may be true, but there are a lot of people who only care about themselves. You've always known what's important, Chlo, and you've put your talents to good use."
Chloe smiled and then shrugged her shoulders. "Like I said before, I'm just doing the right thing. I'm in a position where I'm able to make a positive impact on others' lives, so I'm going to try to do that as much as possible."
"You've definitely made a positive impact on my life," Freddie said, leaning over and kissing Chloe's cheek before they ordered their food. When the pizza arrived at their table a little while later, Freddie spoke up again. "My friend Casey is having a party at his apartment, and he was wondering if we wanted to go."
Beca shrugged her shoulders. "That sounds like fun. Sure, why not?"
"Great. What about you, Chloe? Do you want to go to the party?" Freddie asked.
"Yeah, of course. Let's head over there after we finish dinner. Casey's parties are always fun," Chloe replied with a smile before turning to Beca."Casey works at Juliana's as well. He's a really good cook, and he hosts rooftop parties at his apartment every now and then," she explained.
"Sounds great to me," Beca said with a big smile.
"Awesome. I'll text Casey and let him know that we'll be over in a little bit," Freddie said, a smile on his face as well.
After they finished dinner, the three of them headed over to Casey's apartment. At the party, Beca felt a little out-of-place because she didn't know anyone besides Chloe and Freddie, who had disappeared as soon as they walked up to the roof. To pass the time, Beca took pictures with a couple fans and tried to make small talk with some of the other guests, but her mind was focused on finding one of the two people that she knew at the party.
Beca looked everywhere but was unable to find Chloe, so she decided to ask Casey if he knew where she was. It took her awhile, but the brunette eventually found him. "Hey, Casey. Do you know where Chloe is, by any chance?" She asked.
"She was heading down to the bathroom last time I saw her. That was about fifteen minutes ago, and I haven't seen her since then," Casey replied before taking a sip of beer. "Oh, wait. She's right there."
Beca turned around and smiled when she saw Chloe, who was fixing her dress. The brunette was about to start walking towards the redhead when she saw Freddie, who was fixing the collar of his shirt, right behind her. Beca watched as he leaned in and whispered something to Chloe, and she clenched both of her fists when she saw him kiss her neck. Beca then turned back to Casey. "I'm gonna head out now. Thanks for having me. You sure know how to throw a party, by the way." After she finished speaking, the brunette made her way towards the exit, pushing her way past Chloe and Freddie as she did so.
"Where are you going, Beca?" Chloe asked as Beca brushed past them. When the brunette didn't respond, the redhead sighed and then looked at Freddie. "I'll be right back," she said. Chloe followed Beca to the stairwell and grabbed her hand to stop her from going down the staircase. "Why are you leaving already? We just got here."
"I'm tired," Beca said simply, pulling her hand away and then starting to walk down the stairs.
"Don't bullshit me, Beca," Chloe called after her. "You promised to be honest with me, and I don't think you want to break that promise. Tell me what's wrong," the redhead demanded, crossing her arms and setting her jaw.
Beca stopped and turned to face Chloe. "I am tired, Chloe. I'm tired of third-wheeling. I'm tired of you ignoring me. I'm tired of you acting like I don't exist," she said, unable to hide the hurt in her voice. "I get that you're mad at me, and I would be too if I was you. But can you at least try to acknowledge me?"
"Oh, you mean like how you acknowledged me for the last two and a half years?" Chloe asked, furrowing her eyebrows at Beca. "You're feeling the same way I felt when you didn't make any kind of effort to contact me," the redhead stated in a firm voice, walking down the stairs so she was face to face with the brunette. "I may have been a little harsh to you tonight, but that's nothing compared to the way you treated me. You made me feel like our relationship meant nothing to you, like I was just another girl for your list of conquests!" She said in a loud and angry voice.
"I made a mistake, okay? I made the worst mistake of my life, and I'm trying so hard to fix it. I know I have no right to complain about this. I know I deserve this. I deserve far worse than this, actually," Beca said, her voice surprisingly calm. "You weren't just another girl to me, Chloe. As for our relationship, it was was everything to me, and that's the truth."
"Really? It didn't seem that way when you told me that you're hooking up with Camila," Chloe retorted, raising her voice a little.
"You're hooking up with Freddie!" Beca exclaimed, raising her voice as well. "And don't act like you aren't, because I saw you two come back up to the roof together!"
"So you can have sex but I can't? Is that what you're saying?" Chloe asked, scoffing a laugh. "I hadn't been with anyone in five fucking years because I was waiting for you. I was waiting for you, Beca. I thought that I'd move out to LA after college and that we'd fall in love all over again," she said, looking down as tears welled up in her eyes. "When you told me about Camila, I felt as if I had waited for nothing. Sex doesn't mean anything to you; it's just something that you enjoy doing. Sex has never been anything more than pleasureful physical activity, whether it's with a drunk girl at a party or a fuckbuddy. And don't try to argue, because you know I'm right." There was a moment of silence between them before Chloe spoke again. "To me, sex has always been a way to connect with someone and show them that you love them. That may not be the case with Freddie right now, but it was the case with Tom, Chicago, and you. Especially you," Chloe said, sniffling a little. "I waited half a decade for you, Beca, but I never got a reply."
"Do you even want me back in your life, Chloe?" Beca asked. "Do you? Because it doesn't seem like you do. I feel like I'm carrying a boulder up a mountain. Every time I make a little bit of progress, I slip and fall down the mountain, and the boulder lands on top of me. I want to be in your life again, Chloe. I really do. But I can't fix the mistakes I've made if you won't let me."
"I've wanted you back in my life for a long time, Beca," Chloe said, her voice much calmer than it had been before. "But bringing you back into my life is going to take time, and you need to respect that. You just showed up out of nowhere and then left again for another three months. I'm still getting used to the fact that you're in my life again."
"I didn't leave again because I wanted to. I left again because I had to," Beca said, taking Chloe's hands in hers. "But I'm back now and I won't be going anywhere, unless you don't want me around," she said, squeezing her hands gently.
"I don't want you to to go anywhere, Beca. Freddie isn't going anywhere either, though. He's my best friend in the city, so if you're going to be back in my life, then you're going to have to treat him fairly," Chloe stated. "I'll do the same if and when I meet Camila," the redhead added a few moments later.
"Freddie's a great guy. There's no reason for me to not treat him fairly," Beca replied. "And you won't be meeting Camila unless you run into her on your own," she added, scratching the back of her head and looking down.
"Why not?" Chloe asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"We're not hooking up anymore. She has a boyfriend now, so…" Beca trailed off, shuffling her feet awkwardly.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Chloe said, cringing a little. "Well, I guess we really do have a lot to catch up on. I still don't know how you got your big break. Why don't we go for a walk and you can tell me all about it?"
"Sure. You might not believe me when I tell you how I got my big break, though," Beca said with a chuckle. She then held out her arm for Chloe to take. "Well, shall we?"
"Yes, we shall," Chloe said, smiling and linking her arm with Beca's. The two women then descended the staircase and walked into the night, leaving their troubles behind them as they did so.
Looks like Beca and Chloe are starting to get somewhere. Don't hate on Freddie, okay? He and Chloe won't be hooking up for super long, but he is a part of the story and he does have an important role to play as Chloe's actual friend. The next chapter will be happier, we promise.
Until Next Time.
