The Amazing Spider-Girl
Chapter 4
I grumbled to myself and pulled my blanket over my face as the beams of sunlight shown through my bedroom window, right into my eyes.
"It's too fucking bright!" I complained to no one as I rolled over in my bed. I groaned once again as my alarm clock began to ring throughout the room, the loud buzzing filling my ears. I reached out from under my cave of blankets, eager to shut the thing up. I brought my hand down hard to hit the snooze button and jumped up when the clock fell apart underneath my hand. I pulled my hand back carefully, looking it over. I looked back to the now mangled alarm clock.
"What the?" I rolled my eyes in annoyance as I threw the covers off of myself and dragged myself out of bed to get ready for school.
"Ahh!" My foot had gotten caught in the tangle of sheets as I began to fall towards the ground. I braced myself, ready for my face to meet the hardwood. When the pain didn't come, I slowly opened my eyes and found that I had caught myself. I looked in confusion as I noticed that I was in a bear crawl position (Gym class actually taught me something). I pushed myself up into a push up position and then stood up, untangling myself.
"Weird…" I mumbled as I put my hands out in front of me, turning them over and inspecting them. I myself knew how clumsy I was, I couldn't even try to deny it, but somehow I had been able to catch myself fast enough to not fall flat on my face. I shook my head and made my way through the doorway into my bathroom. I took a side glance in the mirror to see my hair disheveled and my t-shirt hanging loosely off my body. I pulled it over my head and tossed it in the general direction that my dirty clothes hamper was in. I stripped myself of my shorts as well and turned the shower on to warm up. I yawned as I walked over to my vanity, pulling the drawer open to get a new bottle of shampoo.
"Whoa!" I exclaimed a passing glance at the mirror turned into a double take. I stood up straight and looked at myself in the mirror. I tentatively flexed my left bicep as I noticed the difference. Don't get me wrong, I already had been toned and in pretty good shape with noticeable muscles and abs, but this was definitely an improvement. I relaxed my arm and noticed that it still appeared as though I was flexing still. I noticed that my abs were much more defined, my abs were now a visible six pack and my 'v-line' stood out more.
"Beca? Are you awake? Are you feeling better?" I heard Aunt May knock on my bedroom door as I peeked around the corner of the bathroom doorway, being aware to keep my naked self-hidden behind the wall.
"Yeah! I'll be down for breakfast in a couple minutes!" I shouted back as I shut the door and went on with getting ready for school.
xxx
"As of today, Oscorp Industries has surpassed Quest Aerospace as the principal supplier to the United States Military. In short, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Board: costs are down, revenues are up, and our stock has never been higher." Mr. Osborn announced proudly to the Board of Directors. They were all gathered around the large black marble table in one of the meeting rooms at Oscorp. Twelve Board members sat in the black leather office chairs as Norman Osborn sat at the head of the table with a confident smile on his face. Dr. Ratha sat on the opposite end of the table, directly across from Osborn.
"Wonderful news Norman, wonderful." Mr. Balkan sat to Mr. Osborn's left. "Matter of fact, it's the reason we're selling the company."
"What?" Mr. Osborn asked shocked as his face dropped, the smile no longer present, instead a look of utter confusion.
"Yes, Quest Aerospace has re-capitalized, expanded." Mr. Balkan paused as he picked up his coffee in front of him and took a sip. "They made a tender offer we cannot ignore."
"Why wasn't I told?" Mr. Osborn shook his head.
"The last thing they want is a power struggle with entrenched management." He reasoned as Osborn looked at him bewildered.
"The deal is off if you come with it," Mr. Fargas spoke up from Norman's right side. "The board expects your resignation in 30 days."
"You can't do this to me, to this company." Mr. Osborn looked at each of the Board Members as he stood up from his seat. "I started this company! Do you know how much I've sacrificed?!" He yelled as he threw his arms out to the side, his face tinting red with anger. A few board members jumped at the outburst, while some looked away from him, embarrassed by the situation.
"Max, please…" Osborn pleased with Mr. Fargas as he outstretched his hand. "There has to be a way."
"Norman, the Board is unanimous...and we have also agreed upon who will be the next to take your place. We elected to choose Dr. Ratha. He is head scientist with the Cross Species Genetics and will take over Human Performance Enhancers as well. " Dr. Osborn looked around the table pointedly at each of the members, each one of them seemingly unable to meet Norman Osborn's gaze except for one. Dr. Ratha sat with his hands crossed in front of him on the table as he locked eyes with Norman.
"The only way that we would change our mind is if you managed to have the human performance enhancers ready for human trials by the end of next week. But after our visit and with Dr. Stromm's statement of needing to take the line back to formula…I'm sorry." He trailed off as Norman understood the statement. It would be nearly impossible to have to formula ready for human testing in one week.
"You're out of options Norman." Dr. Ratha spoke up as he and Osborn made eye contact again. Osborn glared at the man who had taken a sip of his coffee as if he was reading the morning newspaper. Osborn wiped his mouth on the back of his hand as he weighed his options in his head.
"Am I?" Norman whispered to himself as an idea came to him. He began to smirk at Dr. Ratha mischievously as he made his way out of the board room. Norman Osborn was not down and out, not yet at least.
xxx
"Hey Mitchell! I thought you were sick?" Jesse caught up to me as he threw his arm around my shoulders, clad in his signature plaid button up and khaki pants. I pulled my other earbud out as we walked through the hallway together.
"Yeah, I guess I got better. I feel fine now." I readjusted my backpack as we stopped at my locker in the Science wing of school. I began to twist the combination sequence into the lock as I droned out Jesse talking about this new movie that was coming out on Friday.
"Beca!" I turned around and saw Chloe coming up to me and wrapping herself around me in one of her signature Beale hugs. "How're you feeling?" Chloe frowned as she lifted her hand and pressed the back of it against my forehead and then my cheek. I batted her hands away playfully as she looked concerned, I mean Chloe was basically the mom of the group.
"I'm fine. Promise." I smiled at her as she slowly nodded, apprehension still present on her face. "I don't know though, I mean I did just let you hug me, maybe I am sick." I pretended feeling faint as Chloe immediately smiled at me and swatted at my upper arm.
"Oh ha ha! Very funny!" She held my gaze as I noticed how close we had gotten after the exchange. I watched and could have sworn that Chloe glanced down to my lips but before I could process that, I heard Jesse clear his throat behind us.
"Can you guys handle your toners for more than 5 minutes?" I rolled my eyes as I looked over Chloe's shoulder and saw Aubrey coming towards us. Jesse snickered from behind me and Chloe's cheeks turned the color of her hair.
"If you use one more acapella term, I'm going to strangle you." I threatened as she stopped beside of Chloe. Aubrey shook her head in annoyance at me.
"Easy tiger." I looked at Chloe who was smirking at me, I smiled back at her comment as I began to dig in my locker for my books. "I like that outfit on you." She winked at me as I could feel myself blushing. I looked down at my outfit for the day: simple black skinny jeans, all blacked out Vans and a crimson and gray fitted baseball tee. My lucky leather bracelet was on my right wrist.
"Thanks you look beautiful today. I mean you look great every day, but today- crap this isn't how it sounds." I sighed as I mentally face palmed myself. Chloe giggled softly at my embarrassment as she nodded slowly. Chloe was wearing a simple outfit but she still looked stunning. A shoulder-less white button top with skinny light blue jeans and a pair of brown boots.
"Thank you." She whispered to me as I smiled at her, Chloe Beale left me a blubbering mess.
"Oh!" I exclaimed as she jumped slightly, not expecting my outburst. I unzipped my backpack and dug out the mix CD I had made for her.
"I believe this is yours, downloaded the new ones to my computer in between classes. " I held it out to her as she took it carefully and smiled.
"Thanks Bec!" She wrapped her arms around my neck in a quick hug. I chuckled and lightly draped my arms around her waist in return.
"So Jesse, how'd the talk go with your dad?" Chloe asked him as she pulled away from me and turned her attention over. Jesse scoffed as he kicked at the floor tiles, his jaw clenching.
"Yeah, he didn't even make it home last night. He's so caught up on this one project, I haven't even seen him this week." He said bitterly as I felt for him. It was hard enough for me not having a father, but I couldn't imagine having one who it seemed had bigger worries and interests then caring and raising his son.
"I'm sorry Jess." Aubrey spoke softly as she placed her hand on his shoulder, comforting him.
"Yeah me too." He nodded and turned away, there was an awkward silence upon us as I bit the inside of my cheek awkwardly.
"So Becs, I was thinking that maybe tonight I could come by for a little bit?" Chloe changed the subject as Jesse fiddled with his notebook and Aubrey watched him. Seriously, she needed to handle her 'toner', she had no room to talk. I watched as Jesse and Aubrey walked down the hall a couple more feet to Aubrey's locker, both engaged in their own conversation.
"Yeah that's fine Chlo, you know you don't have to ask to see me." I turned back towards Chloe who was biting her lip nervously. She smiled brightly at me as I too couldn't help but mirror her, her smile was infectious. "I'll tell Aunt May to make dinner for four."
I cringed slightly as I felt a slight ringing in the back of my head. I reached behind me and gently rubbed the base of my neck, the tingling feeling still there and growing slightly more in intensity.
"What's wrong?" Chloe watched me as I shut my eyes for a second and then everything happened in slow motion.
"MITCHELL!" I snapped open my eyes and tensed my muscles as everything around me seemed in slow-motion. I could sense everything that was going on around me. The distant sound of a fly fluttering its wings and the crowds whispers as they were drawn out like when you slow down a movie. I could sense Bumper coming up behind me, his arm going forward. I ducted down as Bumper's fist flew through the air previously occupied by my head. His fist connected with the line of lockers as he pulled his hand back, cradling it. I spun around while still crouched and swung my leg out, knocking him off his feet.
By now a crowd had surrounded us much like had happened last time. However, there was no chant of 'Fight!' instead it was replaced by whispers and odd looks shot my way. I stood up as Bumper scrambled to his feet as well. I looked to my right and noticed that Chloe had backed up and was now standing in the front of the crowd, Aubrey and Jesse now flanking her.
"I don't wanna fight you Bumper." I told him, this was all getting a bit tiring and drawn out. He scoffed in my face as he raised his arms up in a mock boxer stance.
"I wouldn't want to fight me neither!" He sneered arrogantly as I clenched my jaw in annoyance. He paused one more second and began his swing. Once again, the tingling in the back of neck was there but this time it was the strongest I'd felt it. Instinctively I stepped to the side and avoided his fist as he drew it back to his body.
He growled as he threw more punches at me in a rapid fire motion, one after the other. I raised my forearms up and blocked each swing of his perfectly, the timing precise.
"Help her Jesse!" Chloe yelled at him as she was growing more and more nervous. Bumper huffed and threw one more hit my way. Instead of blocking it, I raised my left hand and caught his fist before it caught the side of my face. I tightened my grip on his hand as he cried out in pain. I could hear everyone in shock around me. "What's Mitchell doing? How'd she block all those? Jeez, remind me not to mess with her! Fucking weirdo."
"I think its Bumper that's going to need the help." Jesse said as he stood still, waiting to see what would unfold.
Bumper glared at me as I twisted his hand once more, making him drop on his knees, wincing in pain.
"I'm really sick and tired of your pathetic bullshit." I told him as I gave one final twist as I heard his wrist snap, no doubt I'd broken it, and he was screaming out in agony. I lifted my foot and rested it on his chest, my Vans leaving a mud mark on his shirt. I let go of his right hand and kicked off of him, sending him sliding down the hall about 10 feet before he collided with the lockers.
"Jesus Mitchell you are a freak." Donald shot at me as he went to check on Bumper.
Everyone gasped at me as all their jaws dropped and they looked shocked. I looked to my right and saw Chloe's eyes wide and her mouth hung open in pure disbelief as she stared at me. She looked scared to be honest. Jesse looked excited and ran over to throwing his arm around me. Aubrey looked like she was ready to blow chunks at any minute.
"Beca that was awesome! You totally kicked his ass! You looked like Hillary Swank from Million Dollar Baby!" He cheered as his smiled never faltered. I licked my lips as I looked down to my hands, looking at what I'd done. What was wrong with me? Where did that come from? I looked up and saw that Chloe was walking towards me, a frown forming at her lips, her eyebrows furrowed.
"I- I gotta go." I mumbled out as I pushed Jesse away from me, not even caring that all my stuff was still laying on the floor, I knew one of them would grab it for me. I took off down the hallway, opposite of the way I'd thrown Bumper.
"Beca! Hey! Wait up!" Jesse yelled from behind me. I knew that he was following me so I sped up. I pushed my way through the large metal doors at the entrance of school as they hit off of the brick walls loudly. I turned and saw that I'd dented the doors and the brick wall behind them had a chunk missing where the door had hit it.
"What the fuck is happening to me?"
I stopped running as I kept pace at a quick walk, leaving the school behind me as I walked down the sidewalk towards the street. The sounds drowned everyone out. Taxi drivers honking their horns, people yelling trying to flag one down, dogs barking… I could hear it all. EVERYTHING. It was like a radio and I could pick up on every station at once, all of it a muffle of constant noise in my head that I couldn't get to stop and it was giving me a headache.
I got to the corner and jogged across the street, despite the walkway sign warning me not to cross. A biker yelled a few choice words at me as I cut him off, but to be honest I didn't care.
"Beca stop!" I froze in place. That wasn't Jesse's voice, it was Chloe's. "Wait for me!" God if she only knew. I'd wait for her forever if she asked me to. I watched as Chloe jogged towards me, her auburn hair blowing behind her. She approached the crosswalk and ignored the warning sign, much like I had just done.
"Rebecca Jade Mitchell! I swear to the aca-gods if you don't-" She was huffing at me as her voice began to drown out in my head.
The sharp tingling was present again in the back of my head as I turned around and saw several things simultaneously. Whatever that tingling was in my head, it had my adrenaline going and I could absorb in clear detail what was happening. A taxi was speeding down the street, the driver not paying attention. Chloe was oblivious to the incoming danger as she stepped out in the street, her eyes set on me.
I felt my feet moving before I could register what I was doing. I ran towards her as fast as I could possibly manage, the taxi only about 15 yards from her. Finally, she looked up, her eyes widening and she froze in fear as the car raced closer.
I ran into the street and dove towards Chloe, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her with me towards the sidewalk. I wrapped my arms around her and turned myself, bracing for the hard concrete to come. I landed with my back against the ground taking the majority of the blow as Chloe landed on top of me. Tires screeched and I heard people screaming, but I had my eyes squeezed tightly shut, my arms keeping Chloe trapped to my body.
We both laid still as I could feel Chloe's erratic heartbeat, her breathing was labored too. I ran my fingers slowly through her hair, reassuring myself that she was here in my arms and that she was out of harm's way.
"Chloe? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Her voice sounded strange, unsteady.
"Chloe!" I opened my eyes finally when I heard Aubrey screaming. Chloe pushed herself up as she sat leaning against me.
"Be careful." I warned her as I too sat up. I leaned forward to sit on my knees, crouched in front of Chloe who had her head in her hands.
She was shaking slightly as I reached forward and pulled her arms away from her face. I looked over her body quickly for any sign that'd she'd been hurt. My eyes caught her upper arm, blood had begun to trickle down as she had a little bit of road rash.
"Chloe! Beca!" Jesse was next to yell as I could hear them getting closer to us on the sidewalk. Chloe looked at me and I felt awful. Her eyes were brimmed with tears that were threatening to spill at any second and she was cradling her injured arm.
"How in the…" She trailed off, her mouth opening and closing quickly. "How did you get over to me so fast?"
Before I could even attempt a logical explanation or even fathom for myself what had happened, a crowd was starting to form around us, shouting at each other, shouting at us, telling us to lie still and that an ambulance was on the way.
"I'm sorry." I whispered to her. I backed away from her and stood up getting my bearings together. I looked at her one last time and it killed me to leave her there sitting on the pavement, but I knew I had to get out of there. Something was going on with me, something that wasn't normal.
"Beca wait!"
I turned and ran. I ran down the street, as fast as my legs could carry me. I only slowed when I knew I was far enough out of their eyesight. I took a deep breath and turned into a small alleyway on the left. I leaned against the brick wall of the building and leaned forward, resting my hands on my knees.
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!"I twitched as the tingling in my head went off again. I looked up and noticed that between the various wires that connected into the side of the building was a spider web and right in the middle was a large black spider.
"Shit." I said to myself as it dawned on me.
Oscorp.
Cross-Species Genetics.
The Spiders.
The spider bit me.
The random burst of strength.
The tingling feeling.
Reflexes.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" I ran my hand through my hair as realization came over me. "The fucking spider bit me and now…"
I turned facing the brick wall in front of me. Curiously, I looked closely at me hand and then back to the wall. I placed my left hand on the wall first, and then my right. I closed my eyes and lifted my left leg up and pushed up. I did this again as I went up the wall more. Right, left, push. Right left, push. I did this repeatedly and finally I opened my eyes and found myself staring at the worn out wall in front of me. I took a deep breath and dared to look down. I must have been 30 feet above the alley ground, clinging to the side of the wall.
"Holy fucking shit!" I exclaimed as I looked up at how much further I had to climb until the roof. I pressed my luck more and continued, climbing the final few feet and hopped over the ledge on to the rooftop of the building.
"This is not happening."
xxx
"Dr. Osborn please! The performance enhancers aren't ready! The data just doesn't justify this kind of test." Dr. Stromm tried to reason as Dr. Osborn was looking over the computer screen, ignoring his pleas. He pressed a few buttons as the glass door to the vault of human performance enhancers rose up. He reached in and carefully pulled out a glass tube of the green liquid and carefully walked it over to the machine. He put it in the canister and pressed a few buttons on the machine, the vile disappearing into the injection site.
"Now I'm asking you for the last time, we can't do this!" Dr. Stromm was reaching his breaking point and Dr. Osborn was having none of it.
"Don't be a coward." Dr. Osborn responded calmly, still entering keys and formulas into the system. "Risks are part of laboratory science." He clicked one final button as the machine beeped loudly. He walked away from the computer screen as a silver stainless steel operating table slid out from the octagon chamber in the middle of the room.
"Let me reschedule, with a proper medical staff and a volunteer. I mean if you just give me two weeks-"
"Two weeks?! Two weeks will have lost the contract to Quest and Oscorp will be dead." Dr. Osborn took off his lab coat and tossed it to the side. He loosened his tie and began removing his pinstripe dress shirt as well. "Sometimes, you gotta do things yourself." He climbed up onto the table. "Get me the Promachloraperazine."
"For what?" Dr. Stromm walked over to the stand that contained various chemicals in vials and tubes.
"It begins catalyzation when the vapor hits the blood stream." Dr. Stromm grabbed the brown bottle and proceeded to hand it to Norman. Osborn held the bottle out in front of him as he examined it closely.
"40,000 years of evolution and we've barely tapped the vastness of human potential." Norman put the bottle to his lips and took the whole thing, throwing the empty bottle on the ground shattering it to pieces.
Dr. Osborn opened the steel arm restraints that were present on the table and laid back. Dr. Stromm closed and locked them back into place over Norman's chest, followed by the ankle ones. Dr. Stromm attached a few electrode suction cups to his chest and temples to monitor Norman's heart and breathing rate.
With Norman locked on to the testing table. Dr. Stromm walked back over the operating system and pressed the green button. Instantly, Dr. Osborn was slid into the octagon glass containment room and the table elevated so he was vertical. He locked the mechanical doors as a safety precaution and took one last pleading look at Norman, who nodded slowly for him to begin the test.
Dr. Stromm pressed entered the code for the test to begin and watched as the octagon began to fill with the green vapor from the performance enhancers. He watched as Dr. Osborn looked slightly apprehensive as the entire room was filled with green air, obstructing Dr. Stromm's view of Norman. A visual on one of the monitor's showed that the exchange chamber was at a 70% capacity. He looked at another screen that was monitor Norman and saw that the visual showed that his strength potential was increasing, as well as various muscles groups. Once they had maxed out, Norman's heart rate began to go erratic, hitting 150 bpm and continuing to rise.
Dr. Stromm looked in horror as he heard Norman began to have a seizure in the chamber, his body thrashing violently.
"Norman!" He ran over to the emergency kill switch and hit it. Venting Gas Chamber. The vapor in the room began to disappear, being sucked away from the ventilation.
"Oh my god! Norman!" A solid flat line rang out from the heart monitor and Dr. Osborn stopped convulsing as Dr. Stromm panicked. Once the vapor was cleared out of the room and the doors could be unlocked, Dr. Stromm ran up the metal stairs and entered the containment room from the side. He ran over to Norman's limp body, removed the restraints and began to give CPR as best as he could.
"Norman! 1, 2-" He pressed harder against Norman's chest as the flat line continued to ring out in the room.
When Dr. Stromm went to press for the 3rd time against Norman's chest, the heart monitor's beat changed and it was back to the fast beat, he turned and saw each wave indicate a pulse coming from Norman. Before he even had the chance to turn around, Dr. Stromm found himself being choked and lifted into the air. With my eyes, he saw that Norman was strangling him with one hand, his face contorted in anger. He huffed as he through Dr. Stromm through the glass walls of the containment chamber where his body crashed into one of the metal shelving units, where various machines fell crushing him and emitting electrical sparks. Dr. Osborn jumped up onto the broken ledge where the window had been and crouched low, spreading his arms wide and hissed, before he jumped down to finish Dr. Stromm off. The human performance enhancers had worked, but not without error.
xxx
Chloe knocked on the wooden door of the Mitchell's home eagerly. It was around 8 o'clock in the evening and she hadn't heard from Beca since this morning. She looked through the glass door and saw Beca's Aunt hurrying to let her in.
"Chloe dear, it's good to see you!" She was brought into a warm embrace.
"Is Beca here? It's just- I was supposed to come over but she's not answering her phone." Chloe rambled out as she skipped the formalities. She felt bad but she needed to know what was going on with Beca and why she'd chosen to blow her off like she'd done.
"She's up in her room, is something wrong? She's been locked up in there all day, more than usual?"
"That's what I'm here to find out." Chloe answered as she walked into the Mitchell's home. She kicked off her shoes and set them aside as she eyed the wooden staircase in front of her.
"Oh go on dear, you know you don't need to ask. You're practically family here." Aunt May was incredibly sweet, smiling to Chloe as motioned upstairs. Chloe smiled thanking her and bounded up the old staircase towards the top floor. Once she reached Beca's door, she raised her hand up to knock but hesitated. Maybe this was a bad idea, if Beca really wanted to see her, she would have at least texted saying so. She bit her lip as she contemplated what to do.
Chloe jumped when the door in front of her suddenly opened and revealed an on edge Beca. She motioned for Chloe to come in and gently shut the door behind her. Chloe took in the room that was Beca's safe haven. Various band posters covered the walls, clothes littered the floor and CD cases were stacked high on Beca's desk beside her mixing equipment.
"What're you doing her Chloe?" Beca asked grimly, she sat in the chair at her desk, putting distance between herself and the redhead. Chloe sat on Beca's unmade bed as she looked at her incredulously.
"Are you seriously asking me that question?" Chloe scoffed as Beca rolled her eyes. Chloe sighed as she crossed her arms over her chest defensively. Beca remained silent and Chloe knew it was going to take her having to drag answers out of Beca to get anywhere. "Talk to me. Stop shutting me out."
"I'm not shutting you out."
"That's bullshit and you know it." Chloe declared as Beca spun in the chair. Chloe sighed once more, growing aggravated at the small girl in front of her. She pursed her lips. "You left me." Beca looked down out of guilt at Chloe's words. "You left me on the side of the street Beca, no one has heard from you since. No one knew if you were okay!" Chloe cried out desperately. "I didn't know if you were okay!" Beca's jaw clenched as she ran her hands through her hair. "But it looks like you're fine so-" Chloe stood up as she went to leave, too upset to deal with the situation at the moment. She couldn't believe that after everything Beca was shutting her out just like when they'd first met.
"Stay."
It was just a whisper but it was loud enough to reach Chloe's ears. Chloe's hand paused on the door knob, she looked at Beca who was already staring. Beca rose and walked over to Chloe, placing her hand over top of the redhead's, pushing the door shut once more. "Please."
Beca entwined her and Chloe's hands as she walked them back to her bed and they both sat down side by side. Beca played with Chloe's left hand as she thought about how to explain everything to her best friend. Chloe rested her head against Beca's shoulder as she waited for her to speak.
"I'm sorry that I left you. I just, I needed to get out of there." Beca started as Chloe listened closely.
"Everyone was worried about you, and yes even Aubrey." Beca laughed lightly. "Just tell me what's going on because there's obviously something wrong." Beca sighed, she didn't want to do this tonight. She just wanted to forget about today, forget about everything that had happened.
"Where do you want me to start?" Beca gave in as Chloe sat up beside her. She turned and sat facing Beca with her legs crossed.
"How'd you get to me so fast? You were on the other side of the street and all of a sudden you're tackling me out of the way. Even Jesse and Aubrey didn't see you, they thought that you were standing beside me when it happened." Chloe asked in confusion as she replayed the scene again in her head.
"I had an adrenaline rush. It's very common in times of crisis. You can Google it." Beca held a small smirk at the last sentence as Chloe rolled her eyes.
"I know what an adrenaline rush is you dork. I just- there's something you're not telling me, I can feel it." Chloe confessed as Beca sighed in frustration.
"Can we just not talk about this right now? I promise I'll tell you, soon. I just want to relax tonight, can we please do that?" Beca bargained as her eyes pleaded with Chloe's. Chloe's determination at getting answers crumbled and she nodded.
"Yeah. We can do that." Beca released a breath she hadn't known she was holding and smiled. "But I get to choose what we do and we're cuddling because you owe me Mitchell." They both laughed at Chloe's outburst and Beca couldn't even try to fight Chloe on it. She did owe at least a cuddle session to the girl.
"Fine." Beca grumbled, feigning disinterest.
"Oh stop, you love it!" Chloe told her as the two adjusted themselves on Beca's bed. Beca laid back first and then Chloe curled into her left side, resting his head on Beca's chest. Chloe draped her arm over Beca's stomach and traced the brunette's abs with her finger.
"Have you been working out more?" Chloe questioned as she could feel the hardness from Beca's muscles beneath her skin.
"Checking me out Beale?" Beca smirked as Chloe hit her with a pillow.
"Shut up." Chloe yawned as she traced patterns on Beca's abs. The two laid in silence, basking in the comfort that the other gave, both completely content.
"I'm head of my Comparative Lit class, Dr. Connors is giving me an award at the end of the semester." Chloe confided softly.
"That's awesome Chloe! I'm proud of you, if anyone deserves it, you do. You're like a fucking genius or something." Chloe laughed at Beca's comment as she reached across Beca for her phone on the bedside table.
"Thanks Resident Badass. I actually had my picture taken with him the other day for the school's paper. Look." Chloe loaded the school's website and scrolled until she found the article. Zooming in on the picture, she handed her iPhone to Beca.
Beca's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at the picture and sat up abruptly.
"What's wrong?" Chloe was alarmed by Beca's actions. Beca hadn't taken her eyes off of the phone and Chloe was growing anxious. "Beca?"
"What's your professor's name?" Beca asked quickly as she jumped up from her bed and began to tear apart her room, looking for where she'd tossed her father's briefcase.
"Dr. Connors? Why? What's going on?" Chloe sat up and watched her friend dig around in her closet for about a minute. Clothes were being thrown left and right and Chloe had to duck in order to avoid Beca's signature leather jacket from hitting her in the face.
"Got it!" Beca exclaimed as she came out with the newspaper clipping that was stuffed inside the briefcase. Chloe's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as Beca sat down beside her again. "Look at this." Beca thrust the phone and the clipping back in Chloe's hands. Chloe turned her phone around right and examined the picture once more before turning her attention to the newspaper clipping Beca had gotten.
"Is that-" Chloe trailed off as she recognized one of the men in the newspaper's picture. Beca looked at her, waiting for her thoughts to be confirmed. "What's Dr. Connors doing with Dr. Ratha?" Chloe asked in confusion. She held out the newspaper to Beca again. Beca took it back as she stared at the man in question, the so called 'Dr. Connors'.
In the picture with Dr. Ratha, the man had short, dark hair with a receding hair line and a slimmed face. Chloe couldn't help but noticed how Beca and the man looked like they could be related. They both had a similar bone structure, with their noses and cheek bones, even their lips looked identical. Chloe and Beca examined the phone and that's when they both knew for sure.
It was the same man. Granted in the picture with Chloe he was older, a little bit of scruff now lined his jaw, his hair was a thinning grayish-brown, and glasses now adorned his face but there was no mistaking it was the same person.
"Because his name isn't Dr. Connors." Beca spoke quietly as she continued staring at both pictures. She felt Chloe place her hand on her back, as she continued. Beca's jaw tightened in anger, her tone dropping. "His name's Dr. Mitchell." Chloe stopped her rubbing circles against Beca's back as the new revelation came to surface.
"He's my dad."
END OF CHAPTER 4