Beca's POV
Wiping my hands on my jeans, I ring Chloe's doorbell. This is the second time I've been here and I'm afraid that her dad's going to start drilling me again.
"Hey,"Jesse says, opening the door. "She's upstairs so just head on up there." I nod and rush past him, knowing that he doesn't like me. When Chloe told me that he likes Aubrey, I shrugged it off like it was no big deal, but really, it scares me. Jesse's listening to Aubrey's rumors about me and now two of Chloe's family members hate me. I knock on Chloe's door and she yells for me to come in.
"Hi,"I say shyly, studying Chloe's room. The walls are a bright blue and it's all very neat. Her bed is completely pink.
"Nice room,"I tease and Chloe blushes.
"I really like pink and the walls were like this when we moved in."
"I like it."Chloe raises her eyebrows. "No, I really like it. It's….sweet. Like cotton candy." She laughs and throws a pillow at me which I catch and throw back.
"Now, come on. It's time to work." Obeying, I walk over and sit next to her on her bed. I pull out my science homework that kept building up during the week and we get to work. I was worried that she would find out about me not being able to read, but she ends up just reading out loud for us. The only problem is writing it down. I squint in concentration as we write down each answer.
"I can practically see the smoke coming out of your ears,"Chloe comments 20 minutes after we start. I smile and go back to writing the answer. We're only on question 5 since I take such a long time writing it.
"Sorry, I want to write nice. I have really bad handwriting." Chloe just shakes her head, assuring me that it's okay and reads the next question out loud.
"How's it going girls?"Mrs. Beale asks, poking her head in the door. Chloe gives her thumbs up and scans the science book for the answer. I try my hardest to read and find the answer so that Chloe doesn't think that I'm letting her do all the hard work, but I can't do it and a headache starts to set in. Stacie is the only one who knows that I have a hard time reading, but she's always too busy with the diner and all, to help me. It's totally okay though because I understand. All I have to do is deliver the food and even that can sometimes be crazy especially during rush hour. I can't even imagine how hard it is to run the diner.
I start massaging my temple, trying to get the massage to go away. It works for a couple of minutes, but my headache just comes back with a vengeance.
"Do you need a break?"Chloe asks and I panic thinking that she knows, but that quickly stops with what she says next. "Because I surely do. Come on. Let's go raid the fridge." I nod and laugh when she takes my hand, dragging me downstairs. Chloe's mom is sitting at the island, typing on a laptop.
"You guys all done?"She looks up, a huge smile on her face.
"No, we just needed a break."Chloe walks over to the fridge and starts pulling out random stuff. "What sounds good Beca?" I just shrug and she grabs a plate.
"Nachos it is then." Jesse comes in and sits next to his mom as Chloe starts to make the nachos, leaving me just standing there awkwardly. Jesse glares at me and I frown, not sure what Aubrey told him. Aubrey's told so many rumors about me over the years that I eventually lost track.
"Let's go,"Chloe says, holding a steaming plate of nachos and we go back up to her room. We sit across from each other on her bed, sharing the nachos. Chloe looks like she's lost in her own little world and I can't help but wonder what she's thinking.
"Got a lot on your mind?"
"Can I ask you a question?"She says suddenly and I nod, not sure if I should be nervous or not. "Why does Aubrey hate you so much?" Oh.
"I…"
"You don't have to answer,"Chloe reassures and I shake my head.
"No, it's fine. Aubrey and I used to be great friends actually." Chloe's eyes widen and I continue. "It all happened so quickly. One day, we're making plans to go to the movies and the next, she wouldn't talk to me."
"What happened?"
"I found out later that her boyfriend at the time liked me and when I turned him down, he made up this elaborate story about me sleeping with him. She freaked out and chose to believe him instead of her best friend."
"That's horrible,"Chloe states, putting her hand on my arm, sending shocks all throughout my body. A comfortable silence settles around us until Chloe speaks.
"I'm sorry but I just can't see you being friends with her. She's such a bitch while your-"She stops and looks away. Making a bold move, I grab her chin gently and make her look at me.
"I'm what?" She sighs and I can't help but watch her lips as she speaks.
"You're so quiet and sweet. The exact opposite of Aubrey." I blush and we stare into each other's eyes. I lean forward and our lips are so close to touching when the door crashes open, causing me to flinch and throw myself against the wall.
"CHLOE,"her dad yells and I hear footsteps running up the stairs. Her mom appears, looking very confused.
"What's going on?" She asks and Chloe's dad glares at me.
"They were kissing and probably about to have sex."
"Da-"
"Shut it, Chloe,"her dad screams and I flinch, hard. "You, out." He points at me and when I don't get up immediately, he comes over and grabs the back of my shirt, dragging me. Chloe starts screaming bloody murder and I work hard to keep up with her dad.
"Chris, what the hell?"Mrs. Beale screams and Jesse watches me from the living room, smirking.
"You will never set foot in this house again or go near my daughter."He literally throws me out, causing me to stumble and fall face first. I hear a door slam from across the street and suddenly, my mom comes over.
"What are you doing to my daughter?"She puts her hands on her hips and Mr. Beale backs down. Chloe comes over and crouches next to me.
"Are you okay?"I nod, wiping the blood off of my mouth and Mr. Beale starts up again. This time, he grabs Chloe and yanks her up, almost popping her arm out of socket. Mrs. Beale screams at him again and pulls Chloe to her. My mom pulls me up and starts playing the worried mother. She starts leading me to our house and I look back at Chloe and find her doing the same.
"Sorry,"she mouths and I just give her a weak smile and nod. My mom brings me inside and sits me down while she grabs an ice pack. I frown and wonder if this is real.
"Here,"she sets the ice on my fat lip and starts to wipe the blood away. "What. The. Hell?"She slaps my cheek and all signs of the doting mother is gone. "Go to your room now and if I see you talking to that girl again, I will kill you." I nod and scramble up to my room, tears streaming down my face. She can call me words and hit me all she wants. But she cannot take me away from Chloe.
