First Semester Beca's Sophomore year
Over the first few weeks of the semester Beca completely immersed herself in the Bellas, determined to use them as a distraction from her impending breakup with Jesse. She had been on the verge of breaking up with him on four separate occasions in the week following the activities fair, but she couldn't go through with it as it would be like kicking a puppy. Once Beca realised that she wouldn't be able to the one to break up the relationship she tried a new tactic. She knew that it was a low move but she figured it would be worth it if it worked. Beca tried to do everything in her power to make Jesse break up with her, focusing on being difficult to get hold of and no longer changing things about herself in order to make him happy. The first thing to go was movies. Beca had always hated them and she was more than happy to start completely refusing to watch them. But Jesse just suggested they hang out instead, which was worse as it resulted in them talking or sleeping together, two things that she wasn't really interested in anymore. What Beca found the most difficult thing to come to terms with was the fact that she no longer had any romantic feelings for her boyfriend, and she was starting to find him irritating instead of endearing and kind. She found herself looking forward to the Bellas auditions as they would at least be a distraction.
As the reigning ICCA champions, Beca along with the rest of the Bellas sat at the front of the auditorium and were given the honour of choosing the audition song. As captain and resident DJ the decision fell to Beca who was happy to oblige. Her choice made sense considering she had been missing a certain redhead a lot lately, particularly on the anniversary of their shower encounter. Beca felt creepy that she had even remembered considering she was usually so bad with dates, but she had spent the day singing Titanium under her breath. So when asked which song she wanted the auditionees to sing Beca responded without hesitation.
"Titanium, if you don't know it get out."
Daisy had been watching nervously from the wings and could clearly see Beca from her viewpoint. The sophomore looked confident and relaxed, but what Daisy was most intrigued by was Beca's expression as she announced the audition song. Her face lit up and her eyes sparkled with mischief. There was clearly a memory connected with the song, Daisy was desperate to find out precisely what it was. Although nervous her voice was certainly impressive, and even Beca acknowledged that the girl was talented, and would make a decent replacement for Aubrey. Halfway through her audition Daisy saw Beca take her phone out, she tried to ignore the hurt she felt. The girl she maybe liked thought she was so bad that she stopped listening to her altogether. Daisy was unaware that Beca was using her phone to record Daisy's singing and sent it to someone she knew would appreciate it.
Beca: Hey Chlo, happy anniversary! Sort of, seeing as it was actually yesterday. Oh right yeah sorry, the anniversary of Titanium and you know… "all that". I picked Titanium for the audition song and this girl sounds a little like Aubrey. What do you think? * attaches the recording *
The reply came no more than two minutes later, while Daisy was walking off the stage feeling a little dejected.
Chlo: Hey Becs! Awh you remembered, I was going to text you but thought you might find it weird. Turns out you're the weird one (and I love that!) She is aca-awesome! You have to pick her, what else do you know about her? Do you think she would be a good fit for the Bellas?
Beca: Nope you're still the weird one Chlo. Okay great I'm glad you thought she was good too, I wouldn't pick her if you didn't approve. I mean this is the first time I've seen her so I don't know? She looks harmless enough so I'm sure she'll be fine
Chlo: I have to get back to the kids, but I'll call you later. Bye Becs xo
Beca: Bye Chlo x
Beca felt her heart start to race a little at the added "xo", this new development was something she felt inexplicably happy about and she tried to respond the best she could so Chloe didn't think it was a big deal (even though in Beca's mind it was a huge deal). Beca was so happy that she was starting to repair things with Chloe, and their weekly calls had certainly been helping with that. Beca loved hearing about Chloe's antics with the kids and her friend Charlie, she sounded great and Beca was so glad Chloe had made a friend when she was so far away from all her friends at Barden.
Time flew by and suddenly it was hood night. Daisy had been desperately trying to "accidentally" bump into Beca in the intermediary with no success. Beca didn't hang out in any of her usual places, and Daisy was struggling to guess where else she could look. She had given up and headed back to her dorm. She opened the door and felt a presence behind her, suddenly everything went black. Daisy knew she had some sort of sack over her head, but it took the voice behind her to snap her out of the mild terror she was starting to experience.
"Congrats dude. You're in. Oh, you're in to the Bellas."
"REALLLYY! That's amazing thanks so much for accepting me!" Daisy babbled on to who she thought was Beca as she was lead to the initiation, so overwhelmed and excited that she would have a legitimate reason to spend time with her. The initiation was short as there were only the two freshmen being initiated, Daisy and a red-headed girl called Jade. Daisy hoped that as the only two freshmen the two would become close friends. After the initiation and the party with all the other acapella groups Daisy was ushered by Fat Amy to an after party at her dorm. Daisy couldn't believe her luck when it turned out that this was also Beca's dorm. The Bellas piled into Beca and Fat Amy's dorm and swiftly made room on the floor by pushing the beds onto opposite walls. No one questioned how Lilly had appeared from nowhere, or why she was suddenly brandishing enough vodka and mixer to get them all blackout drunk. It was decided that a game of never have I ever was needed to get to know the two new Bellas. Daisy sat down, Jade on one side and Stacie on the other, with Beca one along from Stacie. Daisy soon gave up trying to learn all the Bellas names as they spoke, focusing instead on the questions being asked and Beca's responses, desperate to learn what type of girl she was based off of them.
"Never have I ever…
"Won the ICCAs"
"Cheated in a test"
"Worked at a radio station" – Beca drank to all.
Although they started boring and tame, the questions started to get more sexual and soon a pattern of targeting emerged. Daisy realised that the other Bellas, particularly Fat Amy and Stacie, were trying to get Beca drunk by targeting her. Daisy asked Stacie about it and apparently drunk Beca is a sight to behold and they all wanted to see it. Daisy felt bad but after hearing this she also wanted to see what Beca would be like when intoxicated, and the process of her getting to that state would also be beneficial, as Daisy would learn more about her. Daisy started to learn even more about Beca than she could have hoped.
"Never have I ever…
"Messed with a Bellas set during an ICCA performance"
"Had a toner for a treblemaker"
Daisy didn't know what a toner was but judging by the chuckle when it was said and Beca's blush in response she figured it must be something sexual.
"Worn ear monstrosities"
"Made a move in the Lincoln Centre"
"Unintentionally made by boyfriend jealous with my bestfriend"
Beca didn't initially drink at this but with a lot of not to gentle nudging from Stacie and Fat Amy proceeded to drink. Daisy noted that she looked a little sad at the mention of this mysterious best friend. Daisy wondered when she would get to meet her, as she must be something special to have such an impact on Beca.
"Shared a bed with someone other than my boyfriend"
At this Beca rolled her eyes at Stacie and actually whined in response.
"Cuddled a certain someone every night for a month."
Beca's reaction to this suggestion from Fat Amy was the most entertaining of all.
"Guys. Seriously! You're the worst. I hate you all. And we do not cuddle that often!" Beca was pouting and looking incredibly frustrated, Daisy found it both entertaining and oddly attractive. It showed that whoever Beca was cuddling with was Beca's vulnerable area, her weak spot. Daisy found it comforting to know that she had one. Suddenly Fat Amy took her laptop out and opened the photos app. She had made a "Bhloe Cuteness Overload" album that she proceeded to open. Suddenly Fat Amy shushed the girls and gestured to the screen.
"Now guys, look at these photos carefully, and you'll see that there is a time stamp on the bottom so Shortstack can't argue with me."
Amy proceeded to show them fifty photos on consecutive days. Daisy was stunned at what she saw. In every photo Beca was sharing a bed with the most gorgeous redhead she had ever seen. This must be the best-friend that had been mentioned a few times, maybe the one that Beca had spoken to on the phone during the activities fair. Daisy couldn't take her eyes off the photos, as they showed a side of Beca that she had never expected was there; the only way she could describe it was that it looked like she trusted the person next to her with her life. She looked completely at peace with the world, and had somehow managed to smile more in her sleep than Daisy had every seen while she was awake. In some of the photos Beca was the big spoon, with her head nuzzled against the other girl's shoulder and her arms wrapped tightly around her waist. In others Beca was the little spoon, with the other girl enveloping her in a tight embrace that Beca had somehow managed to sink into. Daisy had been trying to convince herself that the two were just friends, but judging by the intimacy of the pair in these supposedly private moments, they could have shared a relationship that was beyond the bounds of platonic friendship. The final few photos made Daisy's mind up. In these the pair weren't spooning but instead facing each other. Beca's head rested on the girl's chest with one arm under her neck bringing the pair closer together, and the other resting on her shoulder. The girl had her arms wrapped around Beca's lower back in what looked like a gentle and intimate embrace. Beca's entire body weight was on the other girl, which indicated to Daisy that Beca had been the one to initiate the embrace. There were fifteen photos of the pair sleeping in an almost identical position, Daisy felt herself start to resent the girl who Beca felt strongly enough to be so vulnerable with. She didn't exactly seem like the type to revel in physical contact, let alone sleeping in such close proximity.
"Amy! Seriously! That's just… ughh… you can't just go taking photos of people while they're sleeping." Beca's indignant pout was back
"Shawshank I can and I do. You never know when they come in handy. And I have another use for these but you'll find out when the time is right."
"Okay moving on."
"Wait no there's one more thing you guys need to learn about pintsized here. She will tell you that she's a badass, but I have unrefutable proof that she is actually a softie." Beca rolled her eyes and laughed. But she stopped laughing the moment she realised that Amy was playing a video. On the screen it showed Beca and the other girl fast asleep, with Beca snuggled on top of her. Daisy could see a hand lightly poking Beca, which she guessed belonged to Fat Amy judging by the slightly pudgy fingers. Beca woke with the most wonderful reaction.
"Mmmmm Chlo, stop. Go back to sleep." Beca almost inaudibly muttered this into the chest of her sleeping companion, and proceeded to shimmy a little, burying her face in the crook of the girls neck without opening her eyes. The video continued for a minute or so, with Fat Amy poking this Chlo girl this time. After a few pokes she started to speak in a sleep filled and remarkably melodious timbre.
"Becs stop. Go to sleep sweetie."
Daisy expected Beca to berate the girl for calling her such a name, but instead Beca grinned and kissed her bedmate's neck lightly, before doing the same to her shoulder and resting her head lightly on it. At such an intimate gesture the girl's eyes snapped open and she saw they were a breath taking cerulean blue that she felt inexplicably drawn to.
"AMY!"
"Hey Chlo, Shawshank. Don't mind me." At this interaction Beca's eyes opened in a flash and she sat up in record sleep. Her eyes widened and she looked both like she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't have been doing.
"Dude. Get OUT."
"Ugh fine. But someday you'll thank me for this Shortstack."
Back in the present Beca's eyes were frantically looking at Amy and she swiftly downed her drink.
"Right. New game."
"Ugh you're no fun. But fine, spin the bottle will be just as good." Stacie whined but looked pleased with herself for the new suggestion.
"Fine."
The group proceeded to get more intoxicated very quickly as the dares that were dished out were so outrageous that most of the Bellas forfeited. Beca swiftly proceeded to pick truth, probably to avoid having to streak through campus as poor Jade had been told to do. She probably hadn't even realised that Daisy would be the one picking the question. Daisy didn't want to make the girl dislike her any more than she probably already did, so picked what she figured would be a boring question with a straightforward answer.
"Why did you pick Titanium for the audition song?"
Beca whipped round to face Daisy, her face suddenly completely unreadable. The rest of the Bellas' mouths were wide open, suggesting that Daisy's question was far more personal than she had anticipated. Beca was silent for a few seconds, which seemed to prompt Stacie to fill the void.
"Beca has a thing for Titanium but she's never told us why. I think it has something to do with Chloe though as she played it a lot."
Daisy noticed the sudden sombre mood and the use of the past tense, maybe the two fell out and that's why she isn't around. Without saying a word Beca took out her laptop and proceeded to facetime one of her contacts.
"Hey Becs!" The beautiful redhead that Daisy had seen in the photos sleeping with Beca filled the screen. Somehow she was even more beautiful now that she was speaking and her personality was evident. This girl was like the sun, bubbly and bright, the complete opposite of Beca. The Bellas captain was unable to speak and passed her laptop to Stacie.
"Hey Chloe. We're playing truth or dare and this one wanted to know why Beca picked titanium for the audition song."
Daisy blushed as Chloe's attention was suddenly focused on her.
"Oh hey! You must be Daisy. It's nice to finally, sort-of meet you."
"What? Uhh how?" Daisy found herself unable to form full sentences to the beauty in front of her. She noticed that Beca had started to look particularly sheepish as Chloe spoke, moving to sit next to Daisy so Chloe could see them both clearly, with the other Bellas behind them.
"Becs didn't you tell them?"
"Nope."
"Honestly. Well Daisy during your audition Beca filmed some of it and sent it to me."
"Chlo—"
"She wanted to know what I thought of your voice and if I agreed with her that you could be a good mini Aubrey."
"Chloeeee." Beca whined and blushed an even deeper shade.
"Wait so that's what you were doing while I was singing? I thought you hated it!" Daisy interjected. Beca rolled her eyes and didn't respond.
"Becs be nice." Daisy was started to like Chloe and her ability to make Beca behave like a petulant child.
"It's not my fault she's—"
"Moving on. Chloe could you please tell us why Beca has a thing for Titanium and chose it for the audition song." Stacie's interjection was more than welcome to Daisy as it prevented Beca from finishing her no doubt unflattering sentiment about her. Chloe proceeded to tell the girls about how she had accosted Beca in the shower and forced her to sing Titanium. Chloe explained how this interaction and "all that" (whatever that means) was the reason Beca auditioned in the first place. Beca blushed profusely at this and even more so when Chloe added that it's her "lady jam".
"Dude stop please. It's like you're trying to embarrass me."
"Don't be silly Becs, it's not my fault you're a cutie that isn't as comfortable with your body as I am. I could've added about the mixes you made to apologise every time you did something that upset me even the tiniest bit. Or maybe the fact you sang it to me like a lullaby whenever I had a bad day. But I kept that to myself so you can thank me later." Beca had moved the angle of the laptop screen so Chloe had only been able to see her and must have assumed that the two were alone.
"Chlo. The Bellas are still here." Beca moved the laptop to show the other girls who all were sitting in silence with their mouths open in shock. Chloe giggled, a glorious sound that made Beca smile, a remarkable feat considering how mortified she must have been feeling.
"Awh sweetie I'll leave you to explain yourself to the Bellas. Don't forget to explain to the babies what a ladyjam is."
"Chlo I swear to—"
"—Love you BYE." With that Chloe was gone and Beca shifted uneasily, choosing to address them all at once but look at no one.
"Yes, Chloe made me sing Titanium with her in the shower. I like the song because we harmonised perfectly and usually that's really rare even with practice. And a lady jam is a song you use for… relief. So yeah, moving on. We are never talking about this again." Daisy was confused.
"Relief? What?" Stacie rolled her eyes at this.
"Oh sweet baby. Such a pure soul." Stacie proceeded to explain in painful detail how Titanium could be used for what Beca referred to as "relief".
The girls got back to their juvenile but incredibly fun game. Daisy was dared to flash someone. She obviously chose Beca and proceeded quickly to do so, hoping that maybe her body would help her cause. Beca scrunched up her face and looked away, apparently not reacting like any of Daisy's previous boyfriends. So frustrating. Beca unsurprisingly picked dare due to the debacle when she had been forced to answer a question. Due to her frustration with Beca and her current predicament, she figured out a way to find out if Beca understood her frustration.
"I'm going to ask you two questions. Drink one finger of your drink if your answer is yes to one of the questions, down your drink if your answer is yes to both of them." Daisy was rather pleased with herself, until Beca rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath, no doubt not PG.
"Have you had an unreciprocated crush? Have you ever thought about someone else during sex?" Beca downed her drink and stormed off.
After the disastrous end to the after party at Beca's dorm Daisy felt overwhelmingly guilty at pushing the sophomore so far. Over the proceeding weeks she tried several times to apologise to Beca after Bellas rehearsals which was the only time the two were in the same room, but the girl would always dash off either to see her boyfriend or to work. Daisy had initially doubted the truth of this until one day she not so stealthily followed Beca. She saw her meet the boy she knew was Jesse outside the radio station and saw his face drop when she uttered the words that no one ever wants to here.
"Jesse. We need to talk."
