Beca's POV
Chloe: 'Where are you? You ok?'
I don't want to talk to Chloe, but she's worried. Dammit. I respond.
Me: 'Sorry, I forgot to tell you. I'm driving up on Monday.'
Chloe: 'Oh, Ok. :( See you Monday then, I guess.'
Me: 'Yeah, see you Monday. I'm sure the time will fly. After all, you've got Stacie.' I hit send, then instantly regret it.
That was a low blow. Even for me. I thought I was over her, but am obviously not. I hate lying to Chloe. But I couldn't deal with telling everybody about Jesse and I yet, and since I'm not going to Barden today, I have some extra time. If I had driven out there today, it would have been all too likely that I would have seen him. He said he was going to be away on Monday in a neighboring town for Treblemaker business, so that's when I decided I should go. It's the least I can do, giving him plenty of space. I know that he'll stay away from the Bella house, and that will give me time to get settled before I have to deal with him and the reason we broke up.
It was hard enough to pretend like I was over Chloe this summer when I almost never saw her and had Jesse to distract me. Now I have to see her everyday, and I'm really nervous about that. I have to come up with a plan, before Monday, to seem uninterested in Chloe's sex life, and how to avoid knowing anything about it, while at the same time not letting Chloe know about my feelings. I have to be in the same house as them. I don't want to hear her have sex with another woman, or anyone for that matter. And I really don't want to walk in on them making out or something. I shudder at the thought. When you live in the same space as someone, but don't want to know anything about their sex life, that can really cause some problems. I don't want to move out of the Bella house, but I don't know how my sanity is going to survive if I have to see them together all the time, holding hands, being affectionate, being happy. I want Chloe to be happy, but I would much rather be the one to make her happy. I dream about that sometimes, walking in the park holding hands with the redhead, or cuddling on the couch watching Chloe's favorite movie.
As I'm thinking about this, my mom walks through the door, startling me.
"I thought you'd have left already Beca." I gain my composure, and answer her.
"Change of plans mom, I'm gonna drive up there Monday morning."
"Why is that sweetie?" She asks as she heads back to her bedroom. I follow her.
"Oh, this whole Jesse thing. He's not going to be at Barden on Monday, and I'm trying to give him space since the Treblemaker house is right next to the Bella house. Plus I thought we could spend a girls weekend together before I go back. You've been so busy this summer, I've hardly seen you."
"Aww, that's nice Beca." She says. She heads out of the room, kissing my forehead as she walks by. I smile at myself knowing that she probably only heard half of that. No wonder I space off all the time, I think to myself smiling, it's inherited.
We spend the weekend shopping and getting our nails done and just enjoying the time together. All the things we do are things that I don't necessarily enjoy, but my mom loves, so I just go along with it. It helps that I get some free stuff out of it for school. I even found a small girly trinket thing that Chloe will love. I shouldn't have gotten anything for Chloe, but couldn't help myself. I love the way her face lights up when I give her something.
I know my mom loves me, in her own special way, but she's in her head most of the time, and I've come to terms with that. It's all a part of being the daughter of Samantha Mitchell.
Monday morning I get up at about 7 am when I hear my mom leave the bathroom after her shower so I can use it. I didn't sleep a wink, but I'm too nervous about seeing Chloe and Stacie to try and sleep more. School doesn't start for a couple of weeks, but leading the Bella's takes a lot of work, and I can't avoid it any longer. As soon as I'm done with my lightning quick shower and getting ready for the day, I head to the kitchen to make some coffee. My mom always takes forever to get ready in the morning, so I know she's still in her room.
I'm still sipping on my coffee, worrying about the next 15 hours when my mom comes in all dressed, pressed and looking stunning.
"Thanks for making coffee sweetie" she says, pouring herself a cup to go.
"You're welcome." I say
"Alright, I'm off to work now. Have a safe drive, and text me when you get there. I love you."
"I love you too mom." She gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and she's out the door.
I go back to my room, and do the last minute packing. I decide I have time for one last load of laundry. It only takes 2 hours to get to Barden, so I can easily make it by noon. I don't want to get there too early. I'm afraid of what I might find. I make sure to get my toothbrush, and stuff from the shower. I wander around the house looking for anything else I want to take with me. I find a phone charger that I forgot and bring it back to my room. As I'm putting it in my suitcase, I see a picture frame that I don't remember putting in there.
I pick it up, and it's the picture of Chloe and I at ICCA's earlier this year. I smile my big uncensored smile, and remember the moment like it was yesterday instead of a few months ago. We had just come off of the stage after our performance, and Chloe came running up to me, so happy and alive, because we had performed better than ever before. Chloe gave me the biggest, tightest hug I've ever gotten. Amy had her phone out, and got a great picture of us at the moment of impact. I don't think I ever thanked Amy enough for capturing that moment. It was a great day.
I start thinking about Chloe and all the other girls, including Stacie, when suddenly I come up with a plan on how to stay at the Bella house. I'll have to talk to Chloe, and that will suck, but I think this is the only way I'll be able to live in that house without going insane.
Just after noon I pull into the driveway of the place I call home. Chloe's car is here, but Stacie's isn't. Good. That'll make this whole thing easier. After sending a quick text to my mom and my dad to let them know I got home safe, I grab my clothes hamper and head into the house. I open the front door and head up to the room in the attic that I share with Amy. On my way back down I run into Chloe on the stairs. "Hi Chl..." I start to say, but suddenly I'm knocked down and Chloe is hugging me tightly, half laying on top of me, grinning from ear to ear. I can't help the ecstatic laughter that erupts out of me at my best friend's enthusiasm.
It's moments like these I remember, when I consider letting her go all together, and I realize I could never do that. It is so good to see her there in the flesh, face to face. I missed her this summer, and it is not until now that I realize just how much being here with her means to me. She is way too important and needed in my life to ever be able to not have her as a friend. I'll just have to make my best effort to not want anything but friendship from this girl.
"I missed you Beca!"
I can't stop laughing. "I gathered that." She frowns at me, so I say to her "You know I missed you too Chloe." She looks at my fingertips as we sit up on the stairs, noticing the fresh polish on them, and asks about my mom.
"She's good Chloe. Thanks for asking. She's the same as always, you know." I tell her with a smile. Chloe knows all about my mixed feelings when it comes to my mom. I love her, but sometimes I wish she were a little more intuitive. She smiles at me, but a shadow crosses her face, and with a sudden change of mood, she grabs my ear and pulls me downstairs to the couches and sits me down.
"Ow Ow OW... Chloe... What the hell?"
"Mitchell, you've been weird all summer, and I need answers!"
"What do you want from me Chloe?" I ask grumpily.
"Tell me what's wrong Mitchell!"
"Look, you can stop calling me Mitchell. Ok? I've just been dealing with some things. It's not that deep." After glancing at Chloe, I realize that that is not enough information for the fiery redhead. I reluctantly keep talking. "It's just that about a week ago Jesse and I broke up. I didn't want to tell you over the phone." I'm afraid she'll see right through my explanation, so I can't bear to look at her. I find a very interesting knot on the couch next to my leg and start to pick at it.
"Oh, wow, Beca, I'm so sorry." Chloe says, suddenly calm, as she sits next to me on the couch. "Why did this happen?"
"I just realized that Jesse wasn't what I needed." I say vaguely.
Chloe grabs my hand, and I feel my face get hot. The knot on the couch is super interesting, and I lean in slightly to get a closer look.
"Do you want to go into any more detail?"
Unsure of what to say, I stay silent, hoping that she'll move the conversation along. Chloe knows me pretty well, so it doesn't take long for her to say something else.
"Beca, is there anything else that's bothering you?" She says with concern in her voice. I realize now is the time, so I have to look at her. Working up my nerve, I take one last look at the knot, and then sit up and look at the beautiful girl beside me.
"Well, there is one thing." I say, shyly.
"Beca Mitchell, are you blushing?" Chloe asks incredulously.
I know I am, but shake my head anyway. Meekly, I say "I was hoping that I could talk to you about your relationship with Stacie."
"Oh, OK, what did you want to talk about?" She asks expectantly
"Well, there's not really a good way to say this, so I'm just going to say it." Chloe adjusts in her seat, scooting just a little bit closer to me. I let go of Chloe's hand so I can get out what I need to, and out of the corner of my eye, I see her face drop? No, can't be. "I don't know how involved you and her are, but, could you two maybe keep the PDA to a minimum in the public areas? I'm worried that it'll create problems here in the house with the other girls. We've never let boys in the house, and since this is different..." I let my sentence trail off, hoping she understands what I am saying.
At first Chloe looks confused, like she doesn't understand what I'm trying to say. But then, her mouth forms into a stubborn line, and says to me "Sure, I'll try. But you know how Stacie can be. She's a pretty passionate person. Sometimes she just wants to take me right then and there".
Oh, my God, I stand up, panicking. I can't believe she just said that. I have to get out of here before she goes into more detail. "OK thanks", I practically yell as I turn around and head out the front door to get to my car. I yell something behind me about unloading my stuff, and go hide, thankful to have a reason for an escape.
