This could've been two chapters but idc, it's becoming one. Thank you to everyone who read this story. The creds to all the songs I use in this chapter are gonna be in the end. Sorry for playing with your feelings during this, thank you again, please enjoy!
Beca sat on the couch flipping through the channels. She had stopped it on TLC because either Say Yes to the Dress for My 600LB Life was playing, so she was hoping for the obvious, wedding-related show, but to her dismay, it wasn't on. She had been so bored just sitting home while Chloe was at work. She had told the brunette to make herself productive but she hadn't gotten up off the couch all day. She was worried though, Chloe wouldn't be home for another hour so she had time before she had to pretend to do something.
Chloe had taken the week that Beca was released off of work, but that didn't come close to making up for lost time. Prison was fucking ass. Every day was the same bullshit over and over and over and over. The food was horrible. The people were scary–most of them anyway, she did actually make a couple friends. After the third day being there Beca promised herself to be on her best behavior for the rest of her life. She would give anything to never end up there again, really never end up anywhere that she'd have to be away from Chloe for that long. But the week with Chloe was good. Good isn't the word, it was comforting and heart-warming combined into one.
Beca was startled by the sound of the front door opening. Shit.
Chloe walked in and saw Beca sitting on the couch, the dishes still in the sink and clothes all over the living room. "Rebecca Mitchell. You had one job."
"I was gonna do it! You just came home super early for no reason!" she said, defensively.
"Not for no reason! Get dressed and hurry up cleaning this mess. We have plans at 4!"
Beca sighed and got up from the couch. She hated Chloe's plans recently. They already went to Beca's dad's house for dinner–that was horrible. The Bellas threw her a surprise party–also horrible, Beca had felt almost as guilty as the day of her sentencing. Who throws a "got-out-of-jail-early-even-though-you-still-killed-someone-party"? Definitely didn't deserve that one. But she didn't say anything to Chloe because she knew she was just trying to help.
After Beca finished cleaning and getting dressed, and Chloe finished the dishes, she followed the redhead out to the car.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see when we get there," Chloe winked.
Beca sat grumpily in the car, until the sight of a small coffee shop in the distance found her gaze. "There's open mic tonight?"
"Hmm, you sound more excited than before," she smirked.
"Ugh, I wish you would've told me. I could've at least brought my guitar."
"It's in the trunk."
Beca smiled, "Wow, I've never felt the need to marry someone more."
"Thank me later," Chloe winked, parking the car in the lot and getting out.
The brunette grabbed her guitar out of the trunk and ran after the redhead. Chloe sat down at a table while Beca wrote her name on the sign up sheet at the front. There were only two people in front of her. Perfect. Beca joined Chloe at the table and took her guitar out of its case.
"What are you going to sing?" the redhead asked.
"I don't know yet," she said, quietly tuning the instrument. That was a lie. She knew exactly what she was going to sing.
They sat and watched a man sing Perfect by Ed Sheeran. He was pretty decent, not really good though in Beca's opinion. A girl got on stage and as soon as she started singing Beca tuned out, she thought the dinner with her dad was horrible? Nothing was as bad as the torture they were listening to now. She turned to Chloe and whispered, "Yikes."
"Be nice!" the redhead scolded.
When the singing was finally over, Beca got up as Chloe started clapping. The brunette walked on stage with her guitar and sat on the stool, adjusting the mic.
She cleared her throat and began to speak. "I haven't sung here in years," she said with a laugh. "But this is a song I wrote while uhm... in prison." Beca shrugged, and continued, "This one's for my fiancée."
Chloe smiled as Beca began.
Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
May be surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
Just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know
And I've been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
"I'm fine baby, how are you?"
Well, I would send them but I know that it's just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that
Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I'm lucky, I know
But I wanna go home
I've got to go home
Let me go home
I'm just too far from where you are
I wanna come home
And I feel just like I'm living someone else's life
It's like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
This was not your dream
But you always believed in me
Another winter day has come
And gone away
In either Paris or Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home
And I'm surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel alone
And let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know
Let me go home
I've had my run
Baby, I'm done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It'll all be all right
I'll be home tonight
I'm coming back home
Beca looked up and only saw Chloe's tears. She ignored the cheers for her and quickly got off the stage, going over to the redhead. "Dude, why are you crying?"
"Why am I crying? Because that was amazing and touching and it made me emotional, okay?"
"I agree."
Startled by the extra voice, Beca turned around and saw a man in a button down white shirt and black tie standing next to her. His smile seemed genuine and his eyes kind, but it was still weird that this stranger just joined their conversation. "Uh, thanks?" she replied, awkwardly.
"My name is Hunter Grey. I'm a recruiter for Sony Music Entertainment, and if you would, I would love to talk."
"You're lying. You work for Sony? Labels like Columbia, Epic, RCA?"
The man laughed, "Yeah, you know your stuff, huh?"
"Uhm, yeah. Producing music is such a passion of mine."
"Producing? Not performing?"
"I mean, obviously I perform but making the music is more fun."
Chloe chimed in, "Maybe you two should finish this conversation sitting down. The table is empty, ya know?"
"Oh, yeah, right. Sit," Beca said, taking her seat next to Chloe.
Hunter sat down across from them and continued, "You never mentioned your name."
"Oh shit, sorry. Beca Mitchell."
"Babe, watch your mouth," Chloe said under her breath.
"Sorry."
"It's fine, we've all heard worse," he smiled. "Anyway, my recommendation goes a long way in the company, Beca. If I were to suggest you get signed to our label, would you be committed to making that a career?"
"Signed as what?"
"A performer, an artist."
"Not unless I got to produce too."
Chloe smiled. Beca was never one to not fight for what she wanted–even though that has definitely gotten her in LOTS of trouble before.
"We can talk about that, after I ask why you were in prison. You don't have to answer, but if it may be a deal-breaker for the company. See, I believe in second chances, but corporate just sees liabilities."
Beca stayed quiet. She wasn't about to tell a stranger that she spent 4 years locked up for murder. She glanced at Chloe and the look in her eyes agreed with Beca. Don't say a word.
"I'd rather not say," she replied.
"That's completely fine. Can you wait here while I make a call to my boss to see if we can get a self-producing artist signed? If they agree, they'll then listen to a demo, and then if they like it, they'll eventually do a full background check on you and decide whether your probably regretful past matters to your future at Sony."
"Uhm, yeah, okay." Beca said.
He nodded and walked outside of the coffee shop. Beca turned to Chloe and scrunched her eyebrows, "I'm not really sure if I like or trust him."
"Okay, agreed, but I googled him while you were talking and he definitely works for Sony so I think we can kinda trust him," the redhead shrugged.
"Anyway... Did you like the song?"
"Beca, I loved the song. It made me cry from sadness but it was so beautiful at the same time. What else have you done these last four years?"
"I learned how to tattoo."
"No, you did not."
Beca laughed, "Yes, I did too."
"I would say prove it, but I trust you with a needle as much as I trust this stranger."
"Your loss," she replied, shaking her head.
Chloe smiled, "I'll be right back, I'm gonna run to the bathroom."
Beca nodded, and sat waiting at the table. While Chloe was gone, Hunter came back into the coffee shop and up to Beca.
"Beca Mitchell, murdered her girlfriend's rapist who was a professor at your school," he said, sitting down next to her.
"Wha–How do you know that?" she asked.
"Come on, I knew as soon as I saw you. That story was HUGE, your mugshot was all over the news."
"So why did you pretend you didn't know?"
"I'm not going to bring up your girlfriend's rape in front of her. I'm not an asshole, but I can't make it seem like that's not an important factor in this deal."
"Oh, fiancée now but... uhm, thank you."
"Congratulations, but knowing what happened, I personally don't think you should've gotten any time for that, but the law is the law. I called corporate and they feel you committed an honorable crime, and are willing to take a chance on you as a self-producing artist, no demo needed. A straight signing."
"Are you serious?"
Chloe walked up to the table, next to them, "What'd I miss?"
"He wants to sign me to the label, like for real."
"I'll let you guys talk it over. Here's my card; I'll be here for another three weeks. Call me and we'll set something up. Congratulations again on your engagement, and I look forward to hearing from you," Hunter smiled, leaving the table and then the coffee shop.
"Dude, he knew who I was!" Beca exclaimed as she put her guitar back in its case.
Chloe raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"After you left, he told me that he knew why I was in prison because he remembered me from the news–which honestly kinda sucks because that means other people probably recognize me from that too–but he called and the people at the label think it was 'honorable' or whatever so he said they're willing to take a risk on me."
"Listen, you deserve this, Beca, don't get me wrong. What you did is going to follow you everywhere and that's not fair to you, so this opportunity is fantastic… but this is a huge decision you have to make, Beca."
"Yeah, I know."
"This means we'll have to move to New York..."
"And you don't want to... I see," Beca said with a soft nod. "Then, we stay. If you want to stay, we stay. You've done so much for me, so if you don't want to leave, we don't."
"Babe, it's not that I don't want to leave. I mean kinda... I got really close with your sister and your niece while you were away, and you know, I've been seeing that really helpful therapist to deal with the rape and you... I don't know what it is. I want to go; it would be really good for you to have a fresh start somewhere new and there's nothing better I could wish for you, I just–I don't know."
"I mean, I'm gonna try to convince you, but I'll respect it and agree if you want to stay. New York isn't that far. Yes, we'll be away from our families and I know you've been struggling with that, especially after what I did to you, but you are the entire essence of never distancing yourself from your family. You came to see me every single time I was allowed visitors. You took care of my niece for me while I couldn't. You gave my sister someone to talk to about something she struggles to talk to anyone about. And you've always been there for your own family, that's not going to change with distance or time."
"Yeah, you're right..." the redhead agreed.
"And I know you really like your therapist, and I hate to ask you to leave her, but I'm sure we can get you the best one in New York," Beca said, taking Chloe's hand and rubbing her thumb along the bump in the redhead's wrist from her scar.
She was quiet for a moment, looking down at Beca's hand on her skin. She looked up and smiled softly at Beca, "Honestly, I don't think I even need a therapist anymore."
"No, no it's okay. We can find the perfect one for you."
Chloe shook her head, "Beca, I have nothing to worry about anymore. I don't have any reason to even think about suicide again, and I never will. The people who abused me are either in jail or dead, thankfully. I just... I feel much better, like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders."
"Are you sure? I don't want you to not have the help you need, Chloe."
"I'm sure. I've only ever been more sure of one thing–wanting to marry you."
"So... we're doing this?"
"Not until after the wedding, Hunter better be able to make that happen. But yeah, we're doing this. You're doing this. Your second chance."
Beca smiled, "I love you."
"I love you more. Let's get out of here," Chloe said, grabbing the brunette's hand.
Beca grabbed her guitar case with her empty hand and gladly followed the redhead out of the coffee shop. Although she felt overjoyed at the news she'd just received, she quickly started to feel horrible at the same time. Beca stopped walking about five feet away from the car. Chloe turned to her with a furrowed brow.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I don't deserve any of this..."
"What?"
"I don't deserve to be signed to a record label, I don't deserve to be marrying you, I don't even deserve to be alive right now."
"Woah. Beca, where is this coming from?"
"Dude, I fucking killed someone!"
"Babe, we've gone over this... There's nothing you can do about it now except keep moving forward and make up for that mistake."
"Murder isn't a mistake, Chloe. I literally got a gun and shot a man, fully knowing I was doing so. I thought I accepted it. I was fine, but, Chlo, I can't do this," Beca said, going into a panic.
"Okay, you need to relax because you're going to start hyperventilating, I can see it coming on. Take a breath," she said, cupping Beca's face. "Good, keep breathing slowly. Beca, I think you need therapy. I was thinking about it for a while now, but you seemed to be coping pretty well... seemed being the key word there. You're obviously not okay, and you're going to need to learn how to forgive yourself–"
"Forgive myself?" Beca yelled.
"Shut up, I'm still talking. Yes, forgive yourself. I know it sounds impossible, but that's the only way this feeling of guilt and contemptibility is going to go away. You and everyone who knows you, knows that person who murdered someone is not you. Everything about that entire situation was horrible and shitty and any outcome would've been horrible... You know, I never told you this, but the real reason I actually started seeing a therapist was because I felt you were in jail because of me. Not because of the rape, not because being away from you for that long was too hard–like obviously those were factors, but I was beating myself up the entire trial, and two years after you were there."
"Why would you say that? How in any way would it have been your fault, Chloe?"
"I made you promise not to tell the police! If we would've just reported him, everything could've been so different..." Chloe said, as a tear fell from the pool in her eyes.
"Babe... in no way was any of this your fault," Beca replied, pulling Chloe into a tight hug. "I chose to overreact, and that was my fault and my fault only. I suffered the consequences for that because it was my choice."
The redhead pulled away and wiped her cheek, "Remember what you just said when you start to feel guilty again."
"What?"
"You suffered the consequences. You did something wrong and you suffered the consequences. You did it, it's done. Now it's time to continue your life."
Beca sighed, "We're both pretty fucked up in the head now, huh?"
Chloe laughed, "Yeah. But that's not gonna stop us from being happy."
"You're right. We can do this."
"Say that again."
"We can do this."
Chloe smiled, "We can do this. You will forgive yourself one day."
Beca grabbed the redhead's face, pulling it into hers and giving her an emotional kiss, "I love you."
"I love you too. Now come on, let's go home," Chloe said, kissing her once more before heading to the car.
Maybe this will work out. Just maybe.
Please welcome an artist who has earned her fair share of Grammy nominations and the two-time Grammy nominee–Katy Perry and DJ Khaled.
Beca's eye scanned the stage. She was still in shock. She was at the Grammys. The fucking Grammys. Beca released her first album, Too Much, a year after being signed. She had used all the songs she wrote while in jail and threw them onto an album, definitely not expecting for it to blow up as much as it did. She use to dream about winning a Grammy, and now she's nominated for three. Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Album of the Year. She looked to her right and smiled at the redhead beside her. Life was great at that moment.
"I just want to welcome everyone again to the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. This next award has never been won by the same artist twice," Katy Perry said into the mic.
"Major key alert: this years nominees for Best New Artist are the bomb and they are Anabel Marie, Noah Matthews, Notorious, Lil Metta, Finessa, and Beca Mitchell."
Chloe squealed and tugged on Beca's arm, "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh."
"Shhhh!" Beca replied, her heart beating out of her chest. She looked around at the other artists and took a small breath.
"And the winner for Best New Artists goes to..." Katy Perry started.
"Beca Mitchell!" DJ Khaled yelled into the mic.
"Oh my gosh! Beca!" Chloe yelled, the widest smile on her face.
"Holy shit. Holy shit!" she said astonished.
"Go!" the redhead yelled, pushing Beca out of her seat.
She walked on stage and accepted a hug from DJ Khaled and Katy Perry, then taking the golden trophy. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Beca was truly stunned.
She walked up to the mic and lowered it to reach her mouth, "Uhm, holy shit. This is like... something I never thought would actually happen. But before I say anymore, I have to give a huge thank you to my wife. Chloe, I wouldn't be here without your support. I love you. Also big thank you to Hunter Grey and Sony for taking such a big chance on me. I know my past has been a huge topic since my album came out, and I struggled for a long time with that, but that entire experience wrote all these songs and just won me a Grammy. So I'd like to give a message to all the young people who've found themselves in a place they never expected to be in; we all do things we regret, but it's what you do after that counts. Thank you so much."
The crowd cheered and Beca smiled as her eye caught Chloe giving her a standing ovation. She exited the stage, and made her way through all the people congratulating her off stage. She finally made her way back to where she had been sitting with Chloe and she wrapped her arms tightly around the redhead. She handed Chloe to grammy and took her seat.
The redhead examined the trophy excitedly, "Babe, I am so so proud of you."
"Thank you. Chloe, I love you so much. I literally owe you everything," Beca replied, wiping a tear from the redhead's cheek.
"I love you too."
"Okay, now this shit is about to be boring as hell until they get to Best Album."
Chloe laughed, "I know. Why is this so long? Like it's so cool to see all these celebrities–like I definitely fangirled so hard when Bruno Mars came up to us, Aubrey is gonna be so jealous–but wow this is a long event."
"And I'm literally starving. I can feel my stomach acid burning through my organs," Beca replied.
"Ok, Miss Drama Queen."
Beca laughed, "It's true–ooh, be quiet! Beyoncé is about to perform."
Chloe rested her head on Beca's shoulder and they turned their attention to the stage to watch the performance.
Put your hands together for the star of CBS's NCIS, Mark Harmon, presenting Album on the Year.
Beca took Chloe's hand, "I'm not gonna win."
"What? You don't know that?"
"My album is literally one of the most depressing albums to ever exist," she replied.
Chloe sighed, "The end isn't." She was kind of right, but it was only depressing to them because they actually know what each song is about. The album had seven songs:
1. Man Down–
I didn't mean to end his life, I know it wasn't right
I can't even sleep at night, can't get it off my mind
I need to get out of sight, fore I end up behind bars
What started out as a simple altercation
Turned into a real sticky situation
Me just thinking on the time that I'm facing
Makes me wanna cry
'Cause I didn't mean to hurt him
Coulda been somebody's son
And I took his heart when
I pulled out that gun
Rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum
Man Down ...
2. Let Me Go–
You made plans and I, I made problems
We were sleeping back to back
We know this thing wasn't built to last and
Good on paper, picture perfect
Chased the high too far, too fast
Picket white fence, but we paint it black
Ooh, and I wished you had hurt me harder than I hurt you
Ooh, and I wish you wouldn't wait for me but you always do
I've been hoping somebody loves you in the ways I couldn't
Somebody's taking care of all of the mess I've made
Someone you don't have to change
I've been hoping
Someone will love you, let me go ...
3. Home–
Another summer day
Is come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I want to go home
Mmmmmmmm
Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just want to go home
Oh I miss you, you know ...
4. Alone–
Oh oh oh ooh, oh oh oh ooh
Take the weight off my shoulders
Say, I won't make the same mistakes when we're older
'Cause with every step you take I'm getting colder
So come a little closer, just come a little closer
I don't want somebody else to call my name
No, I don't want somebody else when you could just say
Say that you're the one who's taking me home
'Cause I want you on my skin and my bones
Knocking me off my feet
Just say I'm the one that you need (oh, please)
Say that you're the one who's taking me home
So I can get you alone ...
5. No Peace–
I see you in the morning
Feel your fingers in my hair
Sometimes I still pretend you're there
It hits me without warning
Your reflection walking by
But I know it's only in my mind
Will you show me the piece of my heart I've been missing?
Won't you give me the part of myself that I can't get back?
Will you show me the piece of my heart I've been missing?
'Cause I'd kill for you
And darling you know that ...
6. I'll Find You–
Just fight a little longer my friend
It's all worth it in the end
But when you got nobody to turn to
Just hold on, and I'll find you
I'll find you
I'll find you
Just hold on, and I'll find you
I'm hanging on by a thread
And all I'm clinging to is prayers ...
7. Gonna Get Better–
I'm not gonna leave you now
Oh, I know it's gon' get better
I'm not gonna leave you now
Oh, I know it's gon' get better
I won't leave you for a money man
No matter what we go through
I'm not gonna leave you now
Oh, I know it's gon' get better ...
"Album of the year nominees are Anabel Marie-Nothing Feels Natural, Julia Michaels-Honesty, Kendrick Lamar-All Ears, Ed Sheeran-Minus, and Beca Mitchell-Too Much. This year's Grammy goes to..."
"If it's you I'm really gonna cry," Chloe said.
"Stop, it's not going to be me. No way, I'm beating fucking Ed Sheeran or Kendrick Lamar–"
"Beca Mitchell!"
"I told you! Oh my gosh!" the redhead shouted.
"No fucking way, dude, what."
Beca got up again and and went on stage, accepting her second Grammy. "I have no idea what to say, I honestly didn't think I was going to win this award. But, again, shoutout to my wife, I love you baby... and basically what I said before. Build up from your mistakes and your fears. Too Much really just describes what I went through and if I can get here, on stage at the Grammys, from that, writing lyrics while I was in pain, then anyone can turn their life around. Thank you again, and thank you to all my fans."
A week after the Grammys and Beca still found herself staring at the two trophies on the shelf in Beca and Chloe's bedroom. She didn't win Best Pop Vocal Album, but she got more than she expected in the first place. She pulled her eyes away to look down to Chloe, who was asleep next to her. Beca softly kissed the girl's forehead and took a deep breath.
The fame was really hard at first, especially with her record being public information and her going by the same name, despite the label advising her to use a stage name. She was getting so much hate, with people saying she doesn't deserve anything, and Beca agreed in the beginning, but with the help Chloe suggested, it got easier to forgive herself and ignore what other people had to say about it. Not all of the response was bad though, obviously if she won two Grammys, but a lot of her fans defended her actions, creating a view of her that was, like Chloe says, the equivalent of a small puppy. They argued how she did everything out of love and although Chloe agreed with that, Beca knew she did it out of pure fucking rage with some love really really deep down. The fans didn't need to know that though.
Beca turned off the lamp on the nightstand next to her and laid down, putting an arm around Chloe's sleeping body. Maybe everything happens for a reason. Life is hard but pain strengthens and Beca definitely knew Chloe was stronger, she was stronger, and their relationship was stronger than it ever was. For that, she would never regret her decision or guilt herself again. She had found her new strength.
THE END!
I honestly don't think those songs together would make a good album lmao but I used them for the lyrics. These are who the songs are actually by:
Home- Michael Buble
Man Down- Rihanna
Let Me Go- Hailee Steinfeld
Alone- Jessie Ware
I'll Find You- Lecrae ft. Tori Kelly
No Peace- Sam Smith
Gonna Get Better- Fifth Harmony
Please leave a review if you enjoyed the story. This caused me stress to write and I'm sure it caused y'all stress to read, so help me out and write down what ya thought in that lil box down there. THANKS FOR READING!
