A/N: So, I have thought about it. And it's decided. DOUBLE UPDATE! This chapter has more drama and some angst. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THIS STORY! I LITERALLY love you all.
Chapter 9: Acceptance & Heartbreak
Everything seems to be in slow motion…like a moment in a music video or a movie scene where the lead actor/actress walks through a hallway and everything around them slows down. The students' chatter noise begins to blur, like the sound you here when you're under water. She walks slowly through the hall way with her eyes tired, red and puffy from all the crying. Her world looked like it had crumbled down, and the walls that she has built to protect her were like paper…and the vulnerable Beca was struck down in an instant. She closes her eyes and sighed. I have to stop on being pathetic and move on, that's what he told me.
It's a real sentimental moment for her, since this is the first time she got out of her room after three days of recollecting herself. She had talk to her mom and some important person she really cared about, but that's not the point here. She found out that she's in love with her best friend when her best friend's in love with someone who is not her. Someone who is beyond perfect than her. Someone who is far more perfect for her best friend.
"REBECCA!"
Beca tripped on her foot and winced at the sound of her real name. Way to ruin a moment, she thought. She turns around in hope to see the person who would dare to say her real name, well shout actually…and most of all, in a public place such as the school hallway, where almost all of the student body is. She saw Stacie running towards her and she narrowed her eyes as Stacie stopped in front of her, a little bit panting. "Didn't I tell you to NEVER use my real name? Ever? And in such a public place." Scolded Beca just as Stacie was able to regain her normal breathing.
"Well, I wasn't using it for like 3 minutes and was calling you by your usual name, but you won't stop walking. So I gotta get your attention somehow." Stacie chuckled. Beca didn't get affected of Stacie's light vibe and just maintained a straight face. "I was sort of having a moment with myself…and you ruined it." She deadpanned.
"I'm sorry. But I'm pretty sure you know that you have a lot of explaining to do, right? What the hell happened to you? It's like you disappeared on the face of Earth! And that stupid text you gave me. It didn't make any sense to me. I tried calling you, but your phone's out of reach! I left you a bunch of messages, and I don't even know if you received them…"
"Yeah I got them." Beca said while looking down on the floor while walking.
"Even Aubrey and Jesse tried to contact you! We tried visiting you in your house, but your mom always said that you're not in. What's gotten into you?!" Stacie ranted at Beca. Beca's face frowned and wasn't able to answer Stacie. She knew that. Exiling herself from the outside world for 3 days is something she does when she's really down or when she's really angry. Her phone dead, her social networks closed. Any communication from the outside world, she blocked out. Except her other phone with only one contact in it, because that's what she used in talking to that important person, but let's not focus on that right now. Her mom knows that if she doesn't want to go out of her room, no one can make her. Not even her mom, and that's a rule that both of them have lived with.
"Beca, for the love of God, answer me! What the hell is goin' on?!" Stacie said loudly in an angry tone as she stopped walking and grabbed Beca by the arm. Beca flinched a bit, but she knows that she shouldn't be surprised if Stacie gets mad. Some students looked at them weirdly, it was only in the morning and yet there's already a fight in the hall way. Beca took a deep breath and looked at Stacie seriously. "I will. I'll explain everything to you but…not here. We need somewhere more private."
"So you just saw them kiss, and then you left?" Stacie asked. Beca nodded silently and fiddled with the hem of her shirt. They went to the bleachers of the soccer field because that place is pretty empty during class time, especially in the morning. So basically, these two skipped their first classes just to talk about Beca's issues for Chloe. "But Becs, they're in a 'truth or dare' game. That probably means nothing." Stacie claimed, but Beca shook her head. She let out a little bitter laugh and said, "No. It was pretty real. When they pulled apart…I saw them looking at each other's eyes, lingering in each other's presence. I myself felt something about that kiss and I was 2 meters away."
Stacie leaned back from her seat and looked at Beca sadly. Beca's arms were resting on her thighs, and her head was buried in her hands. Stacie took notice about Beca's appearance. Her eyes were red and puffy, there were even dark circles under her eyes, and then her hair isn't combed properly and neatly. It was tousled in different direction. Her clothes were ragged. In some other people's opinion, Beca looks like she's suffering from a bad hangover…but the truth is, she's suffering from heartbreak. The last time Stacie saw her like this was when Beca's dad left them for another woman. Beca was so mad at him that time, and if only she wasn't only 13, she could've killed her own father out of hatred and anger. Stacie wasn't able to say anything anymore…she couldn't give any more comments or opinions to stray Beca out of her thought that Chloe and Tom is a thing because one: She wasn't there when it happened. Two: She was too wasted to remember, and three: She's already tucked in bed, sleeping and snoring. All she could really do at the moment is to be there for Beca, give her a comforting rub on the back, and a shoulder to cry on. Beca leaned on Stacie's shoulder and started crying again. She hold on to her like her life depended on it. Stacie wrapped Beca in her arms, looking at the little brunette of how vulnerable she is.
"I…I don't know what to do Stace. How the fuck am I going to face them?! I can't see them when I'm like this…messed up and broken down. I can't let Chloe see me like this. It just hurts too much. No matter how hard I try to forget my feelings for her…I'm still the miserable little shit who's secretly in love with her when I know that I don't have a fucking chance." Beca ranted as she nuzzled on Stacie's neck and sobbed. Stacie continued rubbing Beca's shoulder and wasn't answering, but she had an idea on how to make Beca a little bit better. "Hey, you wanna skip class today? Let's hangout, go wherever we wanna go, eat somewhere else…let our minds free from all of the stress we have right now. I'm sure it'll make you feel better. So, you down?"
Beca lifted her head from Stacie's neck and looked at her. She seemed to brighten up at the idea, but she was a bit hesitant. "But what about Aubrey and Jesse?" she asked. "Oh…uhm, I'll tell them we wnet out. I'm sure Chloe and Tom would join them for lunch anyways. We will have our own date, because I think we haven't done that for a while." Stacie said with a grin on her face. Beca laughed a bit and agreed. "Although, we better go back here before the last class. We have quiz on French today, and we can't miss it." Beca smiled and nodded. Stacie smiled big, she was glad she was able to make Beca smile out of her misery right now. Beca hugged her tightly and said "Thanks a lot Stace…thanks for everything." Stacie returns the hug and patted Beca on the back. "It's no biggie."
"What?!" Aubrey said, her eyes blazing and her eyebrows furrowed. "When?" said Jesse right after. It was lunch time, and Stacie told them that she and Beca went somewhere else to eat. Also, Stacie told them what happened to Beca for the last 3 days. Aubrey and Jesse were at their usual table, eating their lunch together in peace when Chloe and Tom showed up, walking together hand in hand and announced that they're a thing now.
"Well, we've been dating for the past few days." Said Chloe in a smile then looked at Tom. "We're really sorry for not telling you guys sooner…we thought that we could just surprise you." Tom said with a smirk on his face. Both Aubrey and Jesse sat speechless at the revelation laid down in front of them. It was literally too fast, and Chloe entering a relationship without the consent of her friends is a definitely no-no. "Anyway, where's Stacie and Beca?" asked Chloe as she took a seat and Tom sat down as well. Aubrey wasn't planning on speaking, because she was really pissed. How can she date this guy for 3 days, and not able to know what happened to her best friend?, she thought. Clearly Aubrey's not gonna answer so Jesse decided to step in. "Uhm…they went out. Stacie decided to take Beca out for a fresh air because Beca wasn't really feeling well." There was a tinge of slight jealousy on Chloe's face when she heard that Stacie is the one with Beca, but at the same time made a worried look on her face. "Oh no…what happened? Is she alright?"
"Well…uhh…" Jesse looked at Aubrey; he's a bit hesitant in telling Chloe what happened to the little brunette. He was really sure if he's The right guy to tell Chloe, especially when Tom's there. Aubrey was crossing her arms over her chest and wasn't showing any sign of telling the redhead so Jesse put the decision in his hands. Chloe was looking at the both of them, she was tensed because she knows that there's something they're not telling her. She knows that she's missing something. Aubrey looked upset about something and Jesse's actions were hesitant and unsure. She arched her eyebrows and looked at Jesse expectantly. Jesse knew that Chloe couldn't wait any longer for the answer so he rubbed the back of his neck and said, "Uhh…well, you see…" Chloe nodded slowly, encouraging Jesse to continue. "Beca…" he began but was cut off suddenly when Aubrey slammed her hands on the table and stood up.
"Did you know that Beca locked herself in her room for 3 goddamn days?!"
Aubrey couldn't just take it in anymore. Chloe was taken aback from Aubrey's sudden burst out. Even Tom and Jesse were shocked. Jesse put his hand on Aubrey's arm to calm her down, but Aubrey ripped her arm from Jesse's touch.
"W-what?" Chloe asked nervously and a little bit embarrassed in herself.
"That's right. Beca locked herself in her room for 3 days without talking to anyone, without letting anyone know what's happening to her in there."
"We tried contacting her, but her phone's unreachable. W tried to visit her in her house but her mom says she's not there. Although I'm pretty sure Beca just didn't want any company." Aubrey stated furiously.
"But why?..." Chloe asked helplessly.
"Why don't you ask her yourself? You're her best friend, right?" Aubrey scoffed bitterly. "But don't trouble yourself Chloe. Go have fun with Tom." With that, Aubrey took her things and walked out. Jesse, Chloe and Tom were left speechless about what just happened. "Aubrey!" called out Jesse, but the blonde didn't turn around so he took his stuff and stood up to follow his girlfriend. Before he left though, he looked back at Chloe and gave her an apologetic look. "I'm…I'm really sorry Chlo." Then he left, catching up to the blonde.
Chloe sat there with her face buried in her hands and was on the verge of crying. Tom gave her a comforting rub on her back and said, "Chloe, I'm so sorry. Aubrey shouldn't have snapped on you like that. It's not fair…" Chloe looked at him and shook her head.
"No…she's-she's right. Beca's my best friend and I wasn't there for her when she needed a friend to comfort her." Tom was silent for a moment then breathed out a "Sorry". Chloe gave him a sad smile and held his hand. "Don't be. You didn't do anything wrong. I just…I need to talk to Beca."
"Alright." Tom said with a soft smile then reach for Chloe to give her a kiss on the cheek.
Dismissal time came and Chloe hurriedly headed out to the parking lot to look for Beca's car. When she saw the car parked on its usual spot, she noticed that it's still empty. Beca's probably still in class, she thought so she leaned against the side of the car and waited for the brunette to arrive.
Sooner or later, Beca arrived and while walking towards her car, she was digging for her keys in her bag. When she got her keys, as she looked up she saw Chloe looking at her with a half-hearted smile while leaning against her car. Chloe walked towards her and held both of her arms. "Becs…I-I'm so sorry."
Beca smiled a tight-lipped smile and said, "Hey it doesn't matter."
"No, it DOES matter. Aubrey told me that you locked yourself in your room for 3 days! Who knows what could've happen to you in there?" Chloe stated hurtfully.
"Chlo, I'm not that kind of person."
"I know…but, I want you to open up to me like before Becs…I'm sorry for not being there by your side…I was…busy with something."
"Something to do with a certain Tom Daniels?" Chloe looked at Beca and saw that she was looking at her with hurt in her eyes too.
"See, Chlo? You're not really opening up to me too."
"I was supposed to tell all of you during lunch…but you weren't there. I suppose Aubrey told you?"
"She texted Stacie…I was with Stacie at the moment so she told me."
"Bec, I…"
"Congratulations by the way…"
"Uhm…T-thanks…"
"Look, Chloe you don't have to worry about me. I'm fine. You should go spend your time with Tom. It's probably for the best…"
"Becs…"
"I uh…I gotta head home. So, I'll see you around." Beca passed Chloe and head into the driver's seat. She drove off while Chloe was left a little bit heartbroken.
She felt like she's really far away from Beca, even though they're friends. It feels like they're slowly drifting apart from each other. Even that special bond that they had was slowly fading away in an instant, and that thought broke her inside and out.
A/N: Woah…I feel so sorry for everyone in the story. (Yes, including Tom) because everything's out of place, out of time. But it happens. Sometimes life isn't just fair, but all we can do to make life better is by making the right decisions, am I right? THANK YOU GUYS FOR READING! I am truly grateful for everyone who supports this story. Thank you, really. So, what do you guys think of this chapter? Put them in a review please!
Next on There's Something More Than This: Hope For Tomorrow
Stay awesome guys!
*salutes and winks*
FREAKIN BECHLOEEE!
