A/N: I've been very stressed and busy with exams, still am but I managed to write this on my downtime. I apologise for any mistakes, confusion or... anything you may find wrong, I'm barely stringing sentences together. I had original written twice this but added in scenes, moved some things around and cut it into two chapters. The next one will be soon. Enjoy, read and review.
EDIT: I have now updated this chapter, do reread this again before continuing on. Also, I appreciate that Kimmy Jim is OOC later in the chapter.
Kimmy Jin doesn't know whether to roll her eyes or get mad at the sight she is greeted with. The white girl and her over-friendly friend, and Kimmy emphasises on the over friendly in this situation, are tangled up in the bed sheets, naked and wrapped around each other. Her eyes travel over the room, clothes on the floor and she notices a bra hanging off the end of her bed and scowls. Snatching the material quickly Kimmy Jin threw the material with as much force as she could muster at Beca's face. A pair of confused eyes snapped open before slowly closing again, a disgruntled noise came from her mouth. Beca brought up a searching hand to feel for the source of irritation on her face, she held the item up from her eyes and quirked a brow. Through half lidded eyes, she noticed the fuzzy outline of a dark figure slowly coming into focus and was startled by the glare coming from her Asian roommate. She jumped enough to wake the other occupant of the bed, Beca felt an arm tighten around her waist and a soft moan muffling against her neck. Beca's eyes widened, bra in hand, Kimmy Jins glare and... a very almost naked Chloe Beale in bed next to her.
'Oh.' She weakly offered to Kimmy Jin. Rolling her eyes, the Asian made her way to her side of the room, muttering loudly about what an inconvenience Beca was and she preferred it when Beca was the loner weirdo without the lesbian sex.
Beca sucks up any pride and takes a deep breath before speaking. 'I'm sorry Kimmy Jin, we didn't mean to leave the room in a mess or fall asleep before you came back.' The muttering stops, and Beca can feel Chloe holding her breath beside her.
Kimmy Jim gave an acknowledging nod before setting up at her desk and making sure she kept her eyes glued to her laptop screen, realising that they'd probably be dressing (she hoped) behind her.
To be honest Beca is just as shocked at the steady tone and lack of defensive comments that would usually be the norm, for any position much more PG than this, that she uses. There is certainly the usual sense of dread and fear disguised as a dull sensation in her chest but it's smaller than normal, she feels like she can just about fight through this situation. It's not like her roommate would have had anything good to say about her, so why not at least be amicable about this potentially awkward situation. And that's when it struck Beca. It's because she knew that Chloe would be around a lot, because she wanted her to be around and she swore she felt a flurry of excitement inside of her. It wasn't something unusual when she spent time with Chloe but Beca was starting to feeling something akin to affirmation within her.
Her internal analysis was interrupted by soft lifts firm against her cheek. She turned to face a wide-eyed redhead, eyes searching Beca's face. As the frown began to form on Beca's face, Chloe responded to the unasked question. 'You didn't freak out or kick me out half naked.' Both the teasing and skepticism could both be heard in her tiny whisper.
'I...' Beca took a deep breath and brought a hand up to stroke Chloe's cheek. The intense way Beca looked at her causing the butterflies to flutter in her stomach and a light blush to stain her cheeks. Beca shook her head, 'No.' The apology for her previous behaviour thick on her tongue, Beca couldn't believe how emotional she had woken up.
Chloe glanced at her lips, and Beca did the same but instead leant up to press a kiss to her forehead. The moment was only disturbed by the clicking of Kimmy Jin's laptop keys. It was then that Beca realised they should probably get dressed. She glanced up at her desk to check the time, realising they had only been asleep for a couple of hours and that Kimmy Jim must have been getting back from her late class. She grabbed at the towel she had at the end of her bed, wrapping it around her with glances over at her roommate every two seconds. Holding the bed sheets to her chest and watching with amusement, Chloe bit her lip and snickered at the playful eyerolls Beca sent her way. Quickly pulling on her sleeping shorts and an oversized shirt she let the towel fall to the floor and grabbed some sleepwear and threw them on the bed. Underneath the sheets Chloe pulled on the clothes as Beca slid in next to her and smiled.
The bus journey had started out a little bumpy with Fat Amy being burrito attacked by Bumper and the rest of the Treblemakers, but when Chloe started humming out a song and the rest of the Bellas eventually joining in, Beca looked at each other the Bellas a little differently after the song ended. Despite the fact they had made her openly sing a Miley Cyrus song. She wished she could get to know them all better, they were increasingly fun when they let their hair down - or rather when Aubrey let them enjoy Bellas time. Her thoughts were stopped in motion as the bus started to jerk to a halt and everyone had a worried look on their face. The bus had ran out of gas and they had to catch a ride with the Trebles. Most of the journey had been spent with Bumper and Fat Amy bantering whilst Beca sat quietly avoiding Jesse's eyes and trying to not send a flirty smile back at the adorable stare Chloe was aiming at the side of her face.
When they had made it to the performance, Beca watched the The Footnotes perform and the lead singer take the stage by storm. She had quirked her face in interest at the set list they had put together and the talent of the boy, even beginning to feel envious of the performance. The lead glanced at her arrogantly and that feeling quickly went away.
When the Bellas took the stage Beca saw the energy of the audience drop and glanced around at her fellow Bellas and sucked up any resentment towards the setlist and Aubrey when she saw Chloe smiling proudly. She wanted the Bellas to do well, she wanted each of them to do well and she definitely wanted Chloe to be happy. It was all going to plan, but the boredom was bubbling within Beca and as she glanced over and saw the members of The Footnotes snickering and making fun of their performance, she decided to do something. The tune of her recent mix of Bulletproof had been on her mind and she pieced it into the Bellas performance with ease despite Aubrey's glares. Beca noticed the sudden interest, however minute it was, from the judges and just smirked back.
When it was over, she stalked off the stage first, already tensing in preparation for what Aubrey was going to throw at her.
'What the hell Beca! Were you trying to screw us up?!' Once all the Bellas had gathered around, Aubrey towered closer to Beca, face heating up in anger and annoyance. Her patience long gone and bitter disappointment at the performance sinking in. '...Newsflash, this isn't the Beca show!'
Beca held her hands up defensively but scowled all the same. 'I'm sorry that I messed you up, but if you hadn't noticed everyone pretty much dozed off during our set!'
'It's not your job to choose what we do and when we do it!' Aubrey gestured to the other Bellas, 'Why don't you ask how the others felt about your little improvisation?'
Beca glanced around at the nervous faces, many not making eye contact with her or speaking up. She noticed Chloe tugging at her scarf, lips tightly shut, and Beca felt the air being punched out of her. She willed her eyes not to tear up or her voice to start trembling.
'Amy?' She hoped the loud and outspoken Australian would stand up for her at least, she had suggested similar ideas of changing up the setlist and perhaps performing a fun solo when they had spoken about it. Even supporting her when she had put it forward to Aubrey, despite the fact they had always been shut down.
'It was cool... but it did take us a little by surprise.' Fat Amy winced, frowning slightly and Beca tried to keep her emotions in check. 'A lot by surprise!' Aubrey interjected loudly, as Fat Amy signalled she had only meant a little. 'I told you she wasn't a Bella!'
Finally the redhead interjected at the statement directed at her. 'Aubrey don't...'
'No thats okay, you don't have to pretend you're allowed to have a say in the group right.' Beca bit out in Chloe's direction, eyes glimmering with hurt and jaw tight.
'If this is what I get for trying...' Beca swallowed hard, ready to turn on her heel and storm out of there. '
'Trying?! All you've done since you got here was undermine my opinion, even going so far as to fool around with my best friend and use her!'
Everyone looked shocked bar Fat Amy, as they looked between Beca and Chloe. The easy avoidance of eye contact, defensive posture and silence spoke for itself. When Beca didn't say anything, Aubrey stepped menacingly closer and tried to keep the emotion out of her tone. 'I hope it was worth it Beca.'
'I'm done with this.'
Beca took one last glance at the all the Bellas looking a mixture of shocked and upset at how things had gone down, Chloe looking downright ready to burst into tears. She turned and stormed away through the exit door, heels cutting through the noise of crowds of people. Out through the clear open doors into the open outdoors, she looked around and took many breaths to get her emotions under control.
Back inside, the rest of the Bellas shot questioning looks at Chloe before each of them gradually dispersed in the direction of where Aubrey had previously stormed off. The redhead stared off into the distance, only being knocked to her senses when some of the Trebles came bundling past and she looked up to make eye contact with a confused and hurt looking Jesse. She frowned in his direction, but looked overhead when she heard the announcement of those making it through to the finals. The Bellas weren't. She blinked back the tears, and ran in the direction of where Beca had left since she had nothing to stay for.
When she saw Beca through the plain glass doors, she saw her about to walk off and stormed outside.
'Beca wait!'
Beca turned to face her, a scornful look on her face. 'Why? Did you want to get your digs in as well?'
'Are you serious right now?' Chloe glared at her as they she came to a stop near her.
'Am I serious? I was just called out by Aubrey of all fucking people in front of everyone, how do you think that makes me feel?!'
'Whilst I don't condone what Aubrey said, you really can't say that what you did was a ballsy move! She had every right to be pissed off.'
'Pissed off? We actually got some points of the scoresheet this time around Chlo! I hate to break it to you but we were not going to make it through to the Finals!'
Emotions were running high and Chloe tightened her jaw at the rawness of the brunettes words. 'I tried to stand up for you but she is my best friend, she's worked hard to get to here and you've been here mere months and question everything she says!'
She took a deep breath as Beca continued to glare back at her, retort at the ready but Chloe held a finger up to signal she wasn't done.
'As much as I wanted to stand up for you and reason with Aubrey, she's been stressing so much over leading the Bellas and I askedyou to join. I feel responsible for how everything is turning out. I feel bad because she's been getting so worked up by you and I agree with you! I'm her best friend and I feel guilty cos even though she treats me bad, I'm always with you.'
'Chlo... I never wanted to put you in the middle. I only wanted to give those girls a chance to win, for you to smile and be proud out on that stage! We have so much talent and it's frustrating to see it stifled!'
Chloe sniffled and crossed her arms defensively, her bottom lip jutted out. 'It's nice that you care Beca but what does it really matter?'
Exasperated she swung her arms out in a confused manner. 'Does what matter?!'
'All this, I mean you're leaving at the end of the year, you didn't really want to be in the Bellas to begin with but Aubrey has worked for this for years and her hopes at redeeming herself are gone. And I... what even was I?'
Beca realised that meant they were out the competition. 'I'm sorry that we're out the competition, but you cannot say that we would have made it through to the Finals even if I hadn't done what I did.'
When Chloe didn't say anything she sighed dejectedly, smiling the saddest of smiles. 'As for you and I... you're the exception. To everything, you were and are everything I wasn't expecting to find when I came here.'
There was a long pause as Chloe wrapped her arms around herself tighter at the breeze nipping at her bare skin. Beca stepped closer at seeing her shiver, an arm outstretched but Chloe pulled away.
'But you still don't know what that means.' Chloe surmised choosing to take that from Beca's words, when the brunette didn't say anything right away she continued.
'I should go.' She all but whispered.
'Can't we talk more about this?'
'What's there to talk about? You're done with us, you're not ready to really say what you feel... you're done with me so...' Chloe turned to walk away, heels clacking at the floor as she moved quickly.
'Chloe wait!' But the redhead just kept strutting away, she followed as quickly as she could yelling as she did.
'I was going to tell you I was planning to stay! At Barden that is, I wanted you to be the first to know.'
Suddenly Chloe was stopping, back still to her and Beca stopped quickly too heels scratching against the concrete of the sidewalk. She saw a slight nod as Chloe looked over her shoulder.
'That's great. College will be good for you.' The redhead offered monotonously. 'I'll see you around Beca.'
'That's it with us too?'
'What "us" Beca? There never was more than what you made us.'
'W-we were getting somewhere, I thought-'
'You thought Beca but you never said. And then you quit on all of us.'
'I'm saying. Now. I want you.'
'I need to think about this Beca.' Beca didn't try to stop the tears anymore as they ran down her face as she stood there alone, watching Chloe walk away.
Following the semi-finals, Bellas were over for the year and from then on were no longer required to attend practices or even see each other. That was the thing that Beca noticed first and foremost, the lack of Bellas she saw around. It was almost as if she was trapped in an alternate universe where there was no one to be seen around, the setting was an abandoned Barden campus and Beca just kept wandering around like a trapped ghost. Every time she crossed the quad or walked to class she'd keep her eyes peeled and it seemed like anytime she'd see a glimpse or the back of a Bella, they'd be gone by the time she tried to catch up with them. The texts on her phone recently had only been from her dad, Jesse and Luke. Each time her phone buzzed, or even moved in her pocket Beca was checking it and hoping it was Chloe or at least any of the Bellas, especially Fat Amy.
Beca had been working on her mixes on the quad when she saw Fat Amy trudging along the path not too far away, busy with her phone. She had packed up her things into her backpack as quickly as she could, keeping an eye for Fat Amy's movements and jumped up to head in her direction, bundling past many disgruntled students. Just as Fat Amy followed the path round the bend of a building, Beca came to a quick halt after seeing her chatting animatedly with Chloe and Jessica. Her feet moved slowly closer, her brain not catching up with her decision but as soon as Chloe looked up and saw her coming, her eyes became narrow slits and Beca stopped, watching as the redhead guided her two friends in the opposite direction to Beca.
Letting out a disappointed sigh, she checked her watch for the time and wandered towards the radio station. She had been spending most of her time there since everything had gone down, stacking shelves and staring longingly into the booth where Luke hosted the show. But she never said anything as she saw her many mixes sitting untouched on the desk. Any other time was spent at class, in her dorm or on the quad. She had actually made some acquaintances in her classes, but as Laura from her psychology class talked about her interest in the sexual and Freudian aspects to psychology - repeatedly, it just reminded Beca of Stacy. And the same thing continued to happen wherever she went, Beca was beginning to annoy even herself with the longing she felt for these girls. Which quickly turned into anger towards Aubrey, then more resentful wistful feelings for a certain redhead. It was a vicious cycle of emotions that was confusing and making Beca question her decisions everyday.
She cared for these girls, she really did. And it was frustrating that she knew that Chloe was right, she shouldn't have just left like that and in turn it meant that Beca was beginning to understand Aubrey's position. Aubrey was Chloe's best friend and had supported her no matter what, she had dedicated time to the Bellas and even though Beca and the other Bellas were slightly resentful for the tough practices, they had gotten better and become close. None of them would have known each other otherwise. The thought of Cynthia-Rose walking past Stacy without even checking her out because she been too preoccupied with a girl that she met at the Barden Gospel choir just because none of them had joined the Bellas, left a bitter taste in Beca's mouth.
Beca walked into the foyer of the radio station lost in her own musings, that was until she started nodding along to a familiar beat, humming the tune to 'Bulletproof'. Holding open the door, she suddenly stopped and her eyes widened comically when she realised she wasn't wearing her headphones and the noise was playing from the radio show. Most importantly it was her remix of 'Bulletproof' playing. On the radio show. The radio show that was playing all around Barden. HER mix was playing on live air! She quickly ran to the booth, slamming her hand against the window plane grinning like a maniac. 'This is my mix! You're playing my mix! Dude!' Luke grinned back and held two thumbs up before slipping off his headphones and stepping out the booth.
'I've heard many attempt remixes at this song, dubstep, techno... even the DJ at the Garage did a cool mix.' Luke referenced his favourite local club as he slid more CDs off the shelves for his show. 'But none were as good as yours Beca.'
If it was possible Beca grinned even wider, feeling the childish glee and rush of having her music played on the radio. She watched Luke as he placed some CDs on the desk in the booth and turned to her pensively, eyes narrowed playfully. 'I have some news and since you are a freshman, it's really not the kind of thing that I would do.' Beca's eyebrows shot up and she thought of what Luke was hedging at but he just smiled, in a way that was akin to a cheshire cat.
'Beca... I want you to DJ the night shifts, I think you'd be great.' Beca surprised both of them when she let out an inhuman sounding squeal and throwing her arms around him briefly. 'Oh my God! This is amazing.' She was beginning to think that not everything was that bad after all. 'Thanks Luke!'
He pointed at her seriously. 'But that doesn't mean that you won't still have to stack CDs, seriously this place just gets scattered especially when Jesse gets into the movie soundtrack section.' They both chuckled at that and Beca nodded her agreement. 'Really dude, thanks.' He smirked and gently guided her out the booth by her shoulders. 'Your first shift starts on Monday, until then I've left a load of boxes over there.' Turning to face the stacks of boxes full of CDs, Beca still couldn't get rid of the grin on her face and felt herself strangely excited to put them away. The more CDs she put away, the quicker the shift will go by and the sooner Monday will come. Plus she could find some more CDs for more mixes, she was definitely feeling inspired.
'You've been more irritating since that redhead stopped coming around.' Kimmy Jin commented.
Beca glanced up from where she had been staring at her hand. She had held tapping her pen to the beat of 'Titanium' on her desk and hadn't realised how loud she had been until that moment. She didn't know whether or not the comment could be considered caring or thoughtful. But despite its callous nature, Beca felt as though there was more to her comment than getting her to stop making so much noise. Kimmy Jin still had her back to her but her fingers had stopped typing and were poised over her keyboard as if she were waiting for a response.
'I'm sorry.' Beca offered helplessly, she knew that with Chloe around she was better, she was more bearable and definitely more considerate of others. No one was more caring and thoughtful than Chloe, it made Beca want to be better. 'She's mad at me, I think. Or disappointed. I couldn't really tell, I mean I know she's upset about the Bellas but I don't think she really blames me for that.' Beca sighed, she had stared at pictures of Chloe on her phone for countless hours as if she would suddenly be beamed inside her head and would understand what was going on in there but she could only do as good as the many theories she'd come up with.
'Did you sleep with her and never call her back?' The question took Beca by surprise, almost as if she'd forgotten Kimmy Jin was there. Her eyebrows drew together in a confused frown as she glanced at Kimmy Jin's back. 'Why would you think that?' Beca asked.
Finally Kimmy Jin swivelled around on her chair and gestured to where Beca was laying on her bed half heartedly. 'Because you guys were all in bed together and she hasn't been around so...' Beca had mostly asked why Kimmy Jin would think she wouldn't call her back and she voiced it so. 'We didn't, we were just...' She started awkwardly as Kimmy Jin rolled her eyes. 'It's not that, we fought, over what, I don't even know anymore. Everything is so cryptic, she's disappointed that I didn't say how I felt about her sooner, but I didn't really know what I was feeling and I still don't but I want her and I told her so.'
'When did you tell her?' Kimmy Jin asked.
Beca bit her lip as she answered. 'At semifinals, after we fought.' As if Beca could hear Kimmy Jin's eyes rolling without even looking up, she pursed her lips tightly. 'You were both upset, of course she isn't going to take your declaration to heart. If the conversation was 'cryptic' as you described, then she's obviously just as confused as you.' A sheepish smile irked its way onto Beca's face as she shrugged and played with her fingers. 'She did say she needed to think about things.'
'Just as I was beginning to think there was some hope for you.' The sarcastic comment barely grazed the deflective armour around the brunette.
Beca couldn't hold back the mocking smile. 'Oh my God KJ. Are we best friends now?!' Eyes widened comically as she pushed out her bottom lip at the death glare that Kimmy Jin shot at her. 'Don't ever call me that, it's Kimmy Jin. Best friends is pushing it, but don't think I don't notice the things you've been doing for me lately.' When Beca didn't respond, choosing to instead to chew the inside of her mouth as if it was difficult to admit that she had been doing small things to try and make Kimmy Jin hate her less, it had been more difficult than Beca thought to be without the Bellas. 'You stock the fridge with energy drinks when I have to pull an allnighter, when I'm trying to study you take your mixing to the quad and when I have friends over you offer your side of the dorm instead of glaring and storming out. I notice Beca.'
'Oh, I was just.. ' Kimmy Jin cut her off. 'You're a good person Beca and from what I can tell you were a great friend. I just don't understand, why did you wait so long to tell her how you felt?'
Without missing a beat, Beca fired back her own question. 'Why would you think I wouldn't call her back if you think I'm a good person?' Kimmy Jin smirked and quirked an eyebrow. The Korean girl gathered her thoughts before answering, speaking as carefully as she could as to not offend the brunette. 'You don't seem like the type of person to have relationships, it was confusing that you had even made friends and let Chloe into your life. But it doesn't make you a bad person to have.. flings or whatever you call them. Commitment... to anything just didn't seem like your thing. I didn't even know that you were...' Kimmy Jin trailed off hoping that Beca would chime in. Beca swung her legs from her laying position on the bed, gripping the sheets tightly as she leaned over herself in contemplation.
'I didn't know I was...' Beca made a face in Kimmy Jin's direction and was glad when she caught on with a nod. 'I didn't really think I'd get so attached to these girls or the idea of commitment even platonically and then Chloe came along. I don't know what I am...'
Kimmy Jin had only wanted to see what was bothering the tiny girl, especially since she'd been nice and acted civil towards her, she didn't realised she had inadvertently opened up the alt-girl and deep qualms were all over the place. The Asian didn't really do talking about emotions in depth, things were pretty straight forward to her, that's why Beca's current position in life was both intriguing and agitating. And her current place on the bed, looking at her with wide eyes was very unnerving to say the least. 'It's okay to not know, you just have to trust what you feel and try to be comfortable with wherever that takes you. Whether you're... gay or bisexual, or just like Chloe then that'sokay.' She emphasized on the 'okay' and watched as a smile graced Beca's face, the kind to stop the tears falling.
Beca needed to hear that, it didn't matter from whom, in fact, it was almost better that someone she was certain hated her and seemed to tolerate no one had actually been accepting and supporting.
'Thank you Kimmy Jin. You have no idea how much that means to hear.' Beca sniffled and furiously wiped the tears away on her sleeves. The Asian girl shrugged, instantly feeling the strangeness of the situation building up as the intensity of the conversation dwindled. She gestured to her work. 'I've got a paper to write so...'
Beca nodded and smiled her thanks once again. 'I'm gonna go take a shower.' Kimmy Jin turned back to her laptop, took a deep breath and tried to remind her brain where she was. Quickly changing into her robe, Beca grabbed her shower rack, towel, slipped on her flip flops and headed out the dorm. Humming 'Titanium' once again.
Beca had been sat at the large desk in the middle of the radio station, leaning on her first, a moping and annoyed expression on her face. Her phone lay before her, untouched and not a single buzz, twitch or even beep coming from the device. She had sent a couple of text messages the past week, she had text Chloe multiple times informing her of the show at the radio station she'd got, a few to see how she was and to say that she was sorry and wanted to talk. Even texting Fat Amy and Cynthia-Rose about her news had resulted in minimal response. They had apologised for not talking to her more but they had been busy, Fat Amy with her many boyfriends and Cynthia-Rose didn't really elaborate on her underground 'club' she had joined and Beca didn't ask. They congratulated her and said they would tune in but that was it. It had given Beca a brief stint of euphoria at some interaction with them, but it was a high that she should have been weary of and had dropped to a low just as quickly when the texts stopped.
The cursor on her laptop flashed on the word document she had opened, untouched and expectant. Beca glared at it with her all her might, jumping when Jesse rushed through the door, a fast food bag in his hands. Luke leaned expectantly against the doorway of the booth, Jesse threw a burger at him from the bag and he instinctively caught it smirking. 'Took your time.' Letting out an exasperated sigh, Jesse looked at him with that ridiculously goofy face, arms outstretched. 'Dude I came here before my class, which I should be rushing to right now, just to bring you your burger.'
Luke strolled towards him, unwrapping the burger from its packaging and took a large bite. After he swallowed he spoke again. 'And the last time you were hungry here, you got popcorn everywhere. So this burger makes up for it.' He took another bite and 'mmmm'd voicing his enjoyance. 'You know, you're not gonna be 22 forever man.' Putting the burger down on the desk next to Beca, he pulled up his shirt to reveal his perfectly sculpted body and Beca laughed at Jesse's forsaken face. Still chewing Luke spoke, 'I think I'm good.'
Beca nodded along jokingly. 'He's good.' Jesse was going to comment but quickly remembered he had a class and stalked out the radio station. Beca sighed heavily, the frown returning to her face as she turned to her laptop again. Luke grabbed his burger and did what could only be described as 'destroyed his burger', light amounts of grease around his pale pink lips. Beca watched out of the corner of her eye with a mixture of disgust and amazement. Once he was done, he stared at her a long moment. 'You've been moping around here an awful lot Beca.'
It was true, she was getting in before her shifts earlier and leaving later, even going as far to use breaks between lectures to come in and either work at the desk or find CDs for her show. Even though Luke didn't mind the dedication, he'd been a bit miffed at her changing behaviour and tepid mood. Beca rolled her eyes. 'Stacking CDs has become a huge part of my life Luke, please tell me you aren't going to take that away from me?'
He scrunched up his wrappers and shot them into the bin as if he were making a basket, shaking his fist proudly when it went in smoothly. 'I wouldn't dream of it. But ever since you stopped doing your flight attendant thing you've been... less you. Cheer up chum.' His English accent as strong as ever and Beca couldn't help but be slightly enamored by it. She shrugged at his words nevertheless and said nothing.
'I gave you your own show, what more could you need?' He groaned as she mockingly held her hands to her heart with a thankful expression. '...you've been spending too much time with Jesse.' Beca rolled her eyes at that, Jesse was nice, he made stacking shelves bearable sometimes and he had a light goofy attitude that anyone could fall for but he just wasn't taking the hint from her. She was very much so preoccupied with her own romantic woes, or the issue of the lead role of her romantic partner not talking to her. 'Mister Luke, you've been so good to me, however can I repay you for giving me the late night show?'
He swallowed the smile that was trying to make its way onto his face and glared at her fake English accent. He paused, waiting for her laughing to fade out. 'Listen Becky, I'm going to this party on Friday, you should definitely come. I can't stand to see you like this anymore.' She glared, just as she was starting to get used to him calling her by her actual name, he resorted to using Becky whenever he was using his 'life lesson and college advice with Luke' voice or annoying her.
'Really Luke? Why? It's not like I'd know anyone there.' He offered her a pathetic glance. 'Actually it's a huge party, most people you know have been invited, Jesse and his dancing monkey's included. Oh even your flight attendant group are going, the hot redhead you hang around will be there too.' Beca glanced at him suspiciously. 'How do you know all of this?'
Luke rolled his eyes and sighed. 'Jesse talks. A lot, I don't know if you've noticed. But you should go, really.' Beca nodded, noting she'd think about it if Chloe was going to be there.
It wasn't long before Luke was kicking her out the radio station. After spending a solid 20 minutes asking questions about the party and what Jesse had said, he had demanded she take her work and leave. Even going so far to threaten more stacking hours.
She stepped out into the light breeze, pulling her leather jacket around her tighter. Looking left and right, Beca saw no reason to not put her headphones on and pulled out her ipod as she started strolling in the direction of her dorm. She was feeling tenser than usual, it was like there was the heavy weight of someone's eyes on her back. Picking up the pace, she glanced over her shoulder and rolled her eyes at herself when she saw there was nothing.
As she turned the corner to the path that crossed the quad, she felt a cold hand on her shoulder and swung around quickly to face what could quite possibly be her death. Letting out a loud yelp, she yanked the hand from her and went to shove the person away before being held in place by two large firm hands. When she stopped struggling and looked up, she saw the wide eyes of Fat Amy.
Pulling herself away from Fat Amy's hands, she yanked her headphones off and breathed out, 'Jesus Amy! What the hell?!'
Beca rolled her eyes at her own overreaction. 'I tried yelling your name shorty, we both did but you couldn't hear us.' The familiar Australian accent soothed Beca's ears.
It was just then that Beca realised that Cynthia-Rose was stood just behind Fat Amy, the African-American woman gave a small wave. The small DJ let out a deep breath to calm her nerves, and a grin crept onto her face. 'Sorry, you scared me. What's up guys?'
Beca started walking in the direction of dorms, the other two girls walked either side of her at a slow pace. 'We miss you. All the Bellas have hardly seen each other recently, everyone just needed some time apart I guess.' Cynthia-Rose shrugged at her own words before continuing. 'So we thought we'd organise a little reunion thing.' The brunette smiled, the warmth flooded through her, the feeling of being a part of these girls lives was humbling.
Cynthia-Rose smiled in her direction and nudged her shoulder. 'So what do you say DJ? Do you think you could take time out of your busy life to come?' Beca wrinkled her nose at the teasing tone but smiled anyway. 'I would love that!' She paused to gather her thoughts, 'Anyway, I wanted to apologise for-'
Cynthia-Rose cut her off. 'Beca, you can save your apology.' For a moment Beca looked taken back at her swift tone but relaxed when she saw her smiling. 'We should have supported you more and especially when Aubrey was saying all those at semi-finals, we let you down.'
The tiny DJ could hear the earnest feelings behind the words, she looked up when she saw Cynthia-Rose hesitate. 'What is it?'
'What Aubrey said wasn't cool, outing you like that. We should have stood up for you! But if it makes you feel any better, Aubrey has been a mess and Chloe definitely ripped her a new one.' The eyebrows on Beca's face shot up and she quickly came to a stop.
'Chloe really did that?' She bit her lip waiting for the response.
Knowing looks were on both Fat Amy and Cynthia-Rose's faces and Beca held back an eye roll. 'Chloe was upset with being put down all the time and when Aubrey brought you up... it was kinda scary to see!' Neither girls were expecting the sudden pensive expression and tense behaviour of the brunette.
Beca shrugged at the unasked question and started walking again, fingers pulling at the straps on her backpack. 'She hasn't text or called me back, I know what Aubrey said was hurtful to her too but I thought that we'd be able to talk about this sooner. I mean even you guys have spoken to her!'
Fat Amy grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her so they were facing. 'Shortstack! Chloe would never ignore you out of spite, you know that! Between Aubrey and organising tomo-' Fat Amy's eye went wide as she cut herself off and pulled an extremely awkward smile.
Beca frowned. 'I thought it was just a get together, what's going on?'
'Ummm... Just be there tomorrow afternoon okay? Us Bellas have something we want to show you.' Beca looked between Fat Amy and Cynthia-Rose's awkward smiles and sighed. She wouldn't expect anything but strange from these girls, her friends.
'And there's nothing I can do to get your guys to tell me what you've planned?' Two shaking heads resulted in another sigh from Beca. 'Fine. I'll be there.' Both Cynthia-Rose and Fat Amy let out breaths of relief.
From then on Fat Amy discussed how stressful it had become to have multiple boyfriends, only stopping to share a smirk with Beca when Cynthia-Rose had commented on how she couldn't relate. You're not the only one CR, Fat Amy thought whilst eyeing Beca.
Thank you for reading. If you want me to cut down these chapters for more frequent updates, do tell me.
