AN: It's been a while, but I had mono, and haven't felt like editing, but im uploading the last two chapters. Sorry.
Chapter 4: Mistakes
Stacie and Aubrey went to work on Beca the moment she woke up, much to Beca's grumpy protests, " 'Stop! That hurts! Don't touch me in those places!'" They went on and on. Beca was used to this, but it didn't make her any less of an ass. It takes a village to make someone look good. Beca just didn't see the point in having them hide her identity for a ball. They were adamant that Chloe would love it though, so she let it happen. She didn't have to make it easy on them. Besides, Aubrey constantly barking orders at her was getting on her nerves.
The other Bellas were lounging around watching the drama with an occasional snarky comment. Fat Amy even brought out popcorn.
Beca looked in the mirror feeling uncomfortable to say the least. Aubrey and Stacie had decided to put her in a pant suit instead of a dress and not just any pantsuit, a slutty one. There was no undershirt, and they didn't let Beca wear a bra; it exposed some skin. Her hair was down, but it was all wavy and silky, and she decided she liked it. Her eyeliner was there and Aubrey let her keep her ear monstrosities in because, "For some reason Chloe finds those awful things sexy on you." She was uncomfortable, but in a good way, it was still her.
After four hours of every orifice of her body getting violated with hairspray and perfume, and God knows what else, Aubrey and Stacie turned Beca around to the rest of their costars singing, "Ahhhhhhh." Which was the Pitch Perfect way of saying that they were finished. They beamed at Beca with pride as they high-fived each other on their amazing handiwork.
Beca gazed apprehensively at the other girls , biting her lip, "Well…how do I look?"
The reason none of them had said anything was because they were shocked. Their jaws were to the floor.
"Dayum Staubrey, you guys did a good job on this one. Chloe's gonna have a hard time keeping her hands to herself if she knows what's good for her," Cynthia Rose said. The others nodded.
Beca smiled. Maybe she stood a chance. It was a long shot, but there was still a chance.
"Just one last thing," Stacie said elated. She took a beautiful white mask with a black pattern on it and sipped it on Beca's eyes.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
The club Aubrey had rented out was packed. Celebrity guests, normal people, family. It wasn't the typical bachelorette party. Beca was beginning to hyperventilate as she fiddled with her jacket.
"Oh calm down!" Aubrey ordered. "You look great. You're going to make a toast, and it will be amazing."
What?!
"A toast?! Aubrey, you said nothing about a toast!" she snarled, biting her cheek to keep from pummeling her blonde infuriating friend.
"You need to tell her how you feel, Beca."
"I am not doing that in front of so many people…Chloe's family would kill me, and the press would eat me alive, and I haven't talked with Jesse yet. I'm not betraying him again!"
Beca stalked off to the bar and sat down, taking off the stupid mask. She didn't drink anything. She just needed to think, but she couldn't. The loud music was ringing in her ears. All she could think about was how she might lose Chloe. Why was she even here? She shouldn't be. She needed to leave. This was a mistake. She had never felt so alone in a crowded place. She made her way toward the exit.
On her way out, she heard a voice ring out, "Beca?" Not now. Not right now. Chlo, I can't.
"Chloe, I gotta go." Beca was on the verge of tears when she saw how gorgeous Chloe looked in that one shoulder red dress. She wanted to tell her that she loved her and grab her and kiss her and call off this bachelorette party. She had to tell her but she couldn't tell her now. For Jesse's sake.
"But the party has just started. I want you to come dance with—" Chloe stepped toward Beca, reaching out to touch her.
She jumped away. There was nothing in this world Beca wanted to do more than dance with Chloe. But she couldn't do it. It was dangerous. She was Kryptonite, "Not now. I've got the flu. I'll call you tomorrow," Beca said, trying not to let the sadness be too evident in her voice. She had to get out of there. Chloe made her so weak, she might end up spilling everything if she didn't get out fast. She couldn't make a toast without things going south. It wasn't going to happen.
Chloe stopped in her tracks, pain and confusion written on her face. "Okay," she muttered as watched Beca leave.
That night Beca cried herself to sleep.
She woke up to a worried call from the Step Monster at breakfast, because guess what was all over the internet and all things social media this morning? Reports of Beca Mitchell and an Engaged Chloe Beale getting into a fight according to 'anonymous sources.' Someone at the ball must have thought Beca stalked away because they were fighting. The media was ridiculous.
What the media said: Costars Beca 'Superman' Mitchell and Chloe Beale appear to be in a spat. Will the palpable Sendrick sexual tension the Pitch Perfect fans love suffer for it? Will they snub each other forever? This breaks our hearts.
The Facts: There was tension between them, and it was causing a rock in their relationship.
The Lies: There was a fight, and they were snubbing each other.
In fact, they were texting each other daily, but it hurt. Chloe was getting married tomorrow, and she had to tell her how she felt tonight for the second time. It was not Beca's fault Chloe didn't remember when she woke up that morning. Chloe didn't remember anything.
It was the night Barrett broke up with Chloe. She had passed out in Beca's studio bathroom. She was laying on her stomach, half naked next to the toilet. Seeing Chloe in Beca's flannel did something to Beca. Butterflies erupted in her stomach at the sight of it. She couldn't help thinking that that was what she wanted to see Chloe in every night. It warmed her heart, but it also broke it knowing the surrounding circumstances.
"Come on, Chlo. Let's get you to bed." Beca strained to pick Chloe up, but she still did and carried her bridal style to her bed. Laying her down gently, Beca crawled into bed with her.
"Why are you so good to me?" Chloe slurred, grabbing a fist full of Beca's shirt.
Beca let out a soft chuckle, "You'd do the same for me."
Chloe broke down into sobs for the fifth time that night, "But I'm nothing."
"Now you listen to me, Chloe Beale," Beca lifted Chloe's chin up to look her in the eyes, "You are everything to me."
"That's what you're supposed to say," she choked, "Barrett left me because I couldn't give him what he wanted. How can I give you what you want? I'm going to end up an old spinster with like fifty cats. No one is going to fall in love with me."
Beca kissed Chloe's forehead, "That's the biggest lie I've ever heard because I already have fallen for you."
"You know, you always say the media is wrong about calling you Superman, but I think you're the one that's wrong," she said thoughtfully, snuggling closer to Beca. That was the last thing Chloe said before she fell asleep.
Yep, that's what Kryptonite did. It made Beca weak, turning badass Beca whipped. Chloe had her whipped since they met in that shower, though, so it wasn't anything new.
That was also the night Beca realized she was leading Jesse on. She was helplessly in love with Chloe, but every time she tried to tell him, something got in the way.
Needless to say, she felt gut-wrenchingly awful. She had to do something. This lunch was going to be anything but fun. She fucked up big time and was about to pay the price.
Jesse's flight came in late Thursday night. They were meeting each other at a small café in half an hour.
She got there early. People recognized her, so she ended up taking some selfies and autographs while she waited.
Beca's face lit up when she saw Jesse in the restaurant. He smiled back, "Jesse," she grinned, hugging him. She felt like she hadn't seen him in forever.
She slid into a booth across from him. His smile disappeared when their eyes met, and his demeanor became serious. He spoke in a low voice so others couldn't hear, "It's Chloe, isn't it?"
She didn't answer. She inwardly panicked, and the guilt felt like she had been hit by a train. How did he know? Her question must have shown on her face, because even though she didn't ask anything, he answered the unspoken question.
"Everyone knows. Gosh, Becs, even the fans know…You're not at the rehearsal dinner like the supporting friend you should be. You're not the Maid of Honor like you should be. Aubrey had to plan everything that you should have. I know you don't like him nobody does, but…." He trailed off, lost in thought, "You know, I had half a mind to propose before this got messy."
Beca stared hard at table, feeling terrible. She hurt Jesse. She brought him into her train wreck of a life, and he still cared about her. "Why didn't you?" was all she could get out. There were billions of things she could have said to him if she wasn't so messed up.
He hesitated for a second, "That would be incredibly selfish of me, and you know it."
"I'm such an awful person, Jess. I'm so sorry. Why are you such a saint?"
"You can't help who you love, Beca. Like the wand chooses the wizard, you can't help who you love. The love chooses you."
Beca's eyebrows knitted together in confusion, "I'm sorry, but what are you talking about?"
Jesse snorted, "I forgot I was talking to the only actress that hates her final product."
"I get bored."
"Yes, I know. Watching Superman on the screen isn't as good as being her." Jesse stood up, "I don't know about you, Kent, but food doesn't sound good to me right now. We have a wedding to break up."
The small DJ stared up at Jesse, "It might not work."
In a swift movement that caused Beca to shriek, Jesse lifted Beca to her feet. Grabbing her shoulders, he looked her directly in the eye. "Have you seen the way she looks at you?"
Beca was overwhelmed, "Why does everyone keep saying that?"
"Because when you two look at each other, it's like you two are the only ones on the planet. Oh, I'm sorry Superman, Krypton, and everyone notices. I did….it's the way I wish you looked at me."
"I'm so sorry, Jesse," Beca said, plowing into him. "You're such a good friend, and I don't deserve you."
He sighed. Stroking her hair, he placed a long kiss on her temple, "Let's just go get your girl, Bec."
When Beca got to Chloe's hotel room, she didn't know what to expect. Jesse gave her a pep talk, before shooing her from the car. She was shaking like mad and furiously trying to calm down, but she couldn't. Each step she took was an effort. She knocked on the door.
"Hey!" her cheery voice sounded like music to Beca's ears. The door opened and so did Beca's mouth. Her jaw dropped to the floor. There was Chloe Beale standing in front of her in a stunning white wedding gown. She was drop dead gorgeous.
"Careful, you'll catch flies."
Beca's cheeks heated up, "Y-you look like a marshmallow." Chloe frowned. "No! not a marshmallow. You're not fat, definitely not fat. I just mean, your hair's kinda like fire, and the—"
The redhead leaned in, stopping about an inch from Beca's face, "You're adorable when you're awkward, you know that?"
"Erm.." was all Beca could say.
"Are you feeling better?" Chloe asked, touching Beca's forehead.
"Huh?" Beca tried to ignore the tingling from Chloe's touch.
"You said you had the flu."
"Oh, yeah. I'm fine."
"Well, come in. I just got back from the rehearsal dinner which you didn't show up to either. I wish you could have made it. Barrett's out with his 'boys' at the bar," Chloe closed the door behind her, and they both went to sit on the couch.
I didn't want to be reminded of you marrying him. It hurts too much. I was selfish. I am selfish. I'm too selfish for Chloe.
"Why are you in the wedding dress?" Beca's question came out before she could stop it.
Chloe ran her warm hand up and down Beca's arm, "Admiring it."
"Well, you look beautiful,"
"Thanks," Chloe blushed.
Now or never, Beca. She got off the couch and moved in front of Chloe, who looked extremely confused. She took both of Chloe's hands in her own and pulled her to her feet. "There's a reason I came here, Chloe."
"Well, I figured that," she said, smiling, squeezing Beca's palms.
"There's a reason I turned down being your Maid of Honor."
"Other than the fact that Barret's a douche bag?"
Beca lost her focus, "He is a douchebag."
"Beca—"
She couldn't stop it. It came out like word vomit. "HE BROKE UP WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T GET PREGNANT!"
Chloe groaned, taking her hands from Beca's, sliding them down her face in frustration, "For the last time, he made a mistake."
"Right because dumping you and getting some random girl pregnant was just a mistake!" Beca yelled, tears threatening to pour from her eyes.
"Beca, stop it."
"No Chloe, I'm not going to stop it. He came back to you when the girl had a miscarriage. You were heartbroken."
"Why are you being like this? Are you trying to hurt me? Is that what this is because you're doing a good job," she said, a tear falling down her cheek.
"I would have never done that to you. It's not like I could have gotten you pregnant anyway. I want you just the way you are," Beca said, failing to keep the pain from her voice.
Chloe pulled her close by the hands, locking eyes with Beca, their faces, once again, inches apart. "Beca, what are you saying?"
The small brunette threw up her hands, "Do you not know? Everyone in the whole world knows, but you can't see it." Without warning, Beca grabbed Chloe's face with both hands, and kissed her-hard.
Unfortunately, she realized what she was doing too soon. Her closed eyes snapped open. Chloe wasn't kissing back.
"OH SHIT,NO!" She flipped, pulling away. I'm so selfish. "I'm sorry, Chloe. I'm so, so sorry. Have a nice life. I'm so sorry."
She fled from the room, running into Barrett Price in the hallway. Just her luck. His French accent hit her ears, "Beca Mitchell, what are you doing here?"
"I'm not in the mood, Price," she snapped, looking up at him. The guy was basketball tall, and Beca felt threatened.
Barrett put up his soft hands in surrender, "Whoa, someone is angry…"
"Do you want me to fight you, because I will. I got hauled off to jail for assaulting Justin Bieber because he was being a perv. What makes you think I won't do it to you?" Beca flared, a crazy look in her dark blue eyes.
"I know you do not like me, but ze fact—"
"Damn right, I don't like you!" Beca squeaked. "I hate you. Now move!" She shoved past Barrett, and went down the hallway, wiping the tears from her eyes.
It was a good thing she didn't hear him yell, "It is not my fault she does not return your feelings," or things would have gotten messy.
Beca didn't go back to her hotel room. She found herself going to the park about a quarter mile from the hotel. The warm southern air hitting her face was the only thing keeping from going insane. She texted Jesse to pick her up.
You're such a horrible person. What have you done? You're not Superman. You're the villain.
When Jesse pulled up, he looked pissed.
"YOU KISSED HER, AND YOU RAN? ARE YOU STUPID?"
Beca walked over to the car and got in, not making eye contact with Jesse. "She would have probably slapped me. She didn't kiss me back."
"Beca, I'm going to take you back to that hotel room, and you are going to tell Chloe how you feel."
"Aren't you listening to me? She. Didn't. Kiss. Me. Back."
"She was probably too caught off guard by you. We're going," he said like it was final.
"What are you, my mom?"
He punched her in the shoulder, grinning. "Of course not. I'm your loving Uncle Jesse."
"I don't get it."
He sighed, "I know you don't."
"You're taking me to your place."
"No, I'm taking you back to the hotel."
"If you don't take me to your place, I will personally tell Fox News about how you crapped yourself when we were filming our big stage kiss."
"I got food poisoning from a burrito!" he squawked.
"And I don't care. Take me to your place."
"Dammit Beca."
Beca grinned evilly. She knew how to get what she wanted, but the smile faded almost immediately, memories invading her mind.
"Why are you calling me, Price?"
"I know you hate me, but you are Chloe's best friend. I thought you deserved to know."
"Know what?"
"I am proposing to Chloe tonight."
Beca laughed hard, "Good luck with that, Douche Bag. You screwed up."
"How someone like Chloe became friends with a snake like you, I will never know."
"Hey, I may be a snake, but your legs are as soft as a baby's bottom."
What? Why did she just say that? You idiot Beca.
"Thank…you?"
She hung up the phone, feeling like her whole world was crashing around her. She had to tell Chloe.
"It's over, Jesse. She's marrying Barrett."
She felt vindicated in her actions. Throwing up her white flag and leaving was the right thing to do. Pitch Perfect 3 was going to be excruciatingly painful, but she would get through it. She was never going to act again after this. She knew that now. Chloe brought her into it, and acting only reminded her of bubbly blue eyes and an infectious laugh.
That night she didn't get to sleep until around four in the morning. She sobbed into one of Jesse's pillows, hoping that he didn't hear her. (He insisted that she take his bed)
