Something Worth Living For
Chapter 10
Beca was getting ready for gym class and, this time, there weren't any tall brunettes invading her personal space, trying to get her to go on a date.
She sat down to tie up her sneakers and that's when Stacie approached her. She sighed but knew that Stacie didn't want to flirt with her or ask her out this time, so she just chuckled and shook her head.
"Hey Beca, do you have a tampon?" She said.
"Sure." Beca opened her locker and dug through her purse before finally handing out a tampon to the taller brunette.
"Listen, I heard some girls saying something and I wasn't sure if I should tell you." Stacie said in a low voice.
Beca frowned as she listened to the other girl.
"Yeah?" Beca asked.
"They said Jake, from the basketball team, was gonna look for you at lunch time to make you pay for getting the 'best player' in jail." Stacie said.
Beca didn't know how to react. She was afraid, sure, but she was glad Stacie told her beforehand but still.
Beca could never explain how it felt, if someone asked her. How it felt to fear to be beaten up every single day, how it felt to have someone calling her names because of her sexual orientation and how it felt to have someone she didn't know who send her threatening messages and even threaten her teacher.
"Beca." Stacie called once she noticed the fear in Beca's eyes.
Beca looked up at her.
"You and I are going to the principal's office after gym and tell him that." Stacie said. "I won't let anyone hurt you."
"Thanks Stacie." Beca said, feeling a lot better.
Stacie smiled and left.
oO0Oo
Tom collapsed on top of Chloe, panting hard.
"Oh shit." He said.
Chloe let out a breathless chuckle and hummed, enjoying the one moment Tom was hers and only hers. The moment Tom was in her arms and she could pretend he would never leave.
Suddenly, Tom snapped her out of her little daydream because he stood up and started looking for his clothes, not even glancing back at Chloe.
The redhead suddenly felt very self conscious and sat up, using the sheets to cover her body. She watched as Tom got dressed and didn't say a word to her. She gulped and tried to be as quiet as possible and at the same time, call his attention.
"Don't you wanna stay a little longer?" she asked, knowing this wouldn't work. It never did.
"I can't." Tom said, buttoning his shirt. "I have an important dinner."
Chloe bit her lip and looked down, trying to get herself to stop crying even though the tears were threatening to fall.
"You know I can't." he said, finally looking at her, but his face didn't show he was sorry or anything. "You know you're just a distraction for me and nothing else. You knew this from the beginning, Chloe."
Chloe gasped and looked up at him. Hurt flashed across her eyes and face.
"Just a distraction?" she repeated.
"Yeah." he said. "Anyways I gotta go."
Tom just put on his shoes and left without another word, making Chloe feel ridiculously used, like a whore. And she didn't need him to throw her money to make her feel like one, she just did.
She clapped her hand against her mouth and started crying loudly, sobbing as her other hand flew to her stomach. She knew she would never be happy with Tom and that wasn't really what was making her sad. She knew she didn't love him, but feeling used, like a cheap whore and worse!, being pregnant and knowing the child's father would never be there for him or her.
Chloe then threw the sheets away and got dressed in workout clothes, putting on a pink jacket, her running sneakers, grabbing her iPod and disappearing out the door, bringing a small bag to put her water bottle, her keys and her phone.
Chloe went to the park and jogged, listening to music on a high volume to try and forget about how Tom made her feel. She knew she should end it with him, but she couldn't let go of him. It was making her feel worse everyday, every time she met with him, she felt worse. And she was growing tired.
Her legs started giving out and she took a seat on a bench facing a small lake. She took a few deep breaths and took a big drink from her water bottle before she started crying again. She buried her face in her hands and allowed herself to cry a little bit more.
"I may be a little socially awkward but I don't like seeing people cry."
Chloe looked up to find the source of the familiar voice.
Beca.
The redhead didn't know if she should admit it to herself, but she found herself growing fond of the girl, she was fun, even with her sarcastic comments and jokes. She secretly found it endearing their last tutoring session when Beca cracked a joke and turned very red.
Chloe chuckled and wiped her tears.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" Beca offered.
"I don't know if I should talk to you about it, you're a student." Chloe said, wiping more tears.
"Don't worry." Beca chuckled and Chloe looked up at her. "I won't tell anyone."
Beca winked and smirked and Chloe giggled and sighed.
"I guess so. I want to grab some tea." Chloe said and stood up.
"Sure." Beca said.
Chloe noticed the teenager was also wearing workout clothes as she looked down at her black running shorts.
"Were you running too?" Chloe asked.
Beca looked down at her legs and back up at Chloe with a smirk.
"Were you checking out my legs?" she asked.
Chloe blushed deeply and she would've choked if she was drinking water even though she knew she wasn't checking out the girl.
"What? No, I was—,"
"— Relax, Miss Beale, I was joking." Beca said with a chuckle. "As amazing as my invisible tan is."
Chloe laughed and shook her head.
"So where do you wanna go? I'm kind of hungry and it's nearly 7 o'clock." Beca said, looking at her watch and fishing out her car keys.
"Hmm I think we could go grab something to eat." Chloe said and then saw the teenager was going to her car. "Did you drive here?"
"Yeah, my house isn't that close and I wasn't looking forward to walking home alone in the dark." Beca said, opening the door and getting in, followed by Chloe.
"That's probably the smartest thing." Chloe agreed and fastened her seatbelt as Beca drove out of the spot.
Beca drove to the closest restaurant and they got out and chose a booth in the corner. Chloe ordered her tea and Beca ordered some shrimp fettuccini alfredo.
Chloe wasn't gonna order anything to eat, until the smell of Beca's food made her realize she was starving so she ordered some food too, the same as Beca.
"So do you wanna talk about why you were crying in the park? I don't really think you were crying because you pulled a muscle." Beca said with a raise of her eyebrow as ate more of her food.
"No." Chloe said and looked down. "It's a long story."
"I've got time." Beca shrugged. "If you're okay with telling me."
Chloe sighed and decided to tell the girl everything. Well, not about her being pregnant, but she told her the other things and she found herself crying again but she soon stopped.
"Well the question you need to ask yourself, Miss Beale, is do you see a future with this guy?" Beca asked, sticking a shrimp with her fork and bringing it to her mouth.
"I don't see a future." Chloe was quick to say. "I know we can't have a future."
"There you go." Beca said. "If he makes you feel used, he's not worth your time."
Chloe sighed and nodded.
"Yeah I know." she said. "I just can't seem to let him go."
"I know it's hard sometimes and it'll probably feel weird in the beginning, but you'll feel better." Beca said. "I promise."
"You promise?" Chloe chuckled.
"I can see that my promises don't have much credibility to you." Beca said and Chloe chuckled again.
"I'm sorry, Beca, but it seems.. I don't think you understand the whole situation." Chloe said.
"Yeah I probably don't. But if this asshole doesn't care about you, leaves you feeling like a hooker then yeah I think you should end this with him." Beca said. "Concentrate on that scholarship you're trying to get and go help the marine creatures."
"Wow." Chloe said.
"What?" Beca looked up at her as she wiped her face with a napkin.
"First, language." Beca rolled her eyes at that. "And second, you remember I told you about the scholarship?"
"First, we're not in class, so tough, I'll say whatever I want." Beca smirked. "And second, yeah I remember. I have a good memory and I remember interesting things."
"So I'm interesting?" Chloe raised her eyebrow.
"Not you, dork, your scholarship." Beca said and they both laughed.
Chloe didn't know how to explain the disappointment she felt and why her stomach turned when Beca called her 'dork'.
"Yeah." Chloe sighed. "See? You remember more things about me than Tom."
"See? I'm much better than that asshole. You should stop banging him and start hanging with me." Beca flashed her an over exaggerated grin and Chloe threw her head back laughing.
"Thank God you said 'hang'." she said, still laughing. "Why are you cracking so many jokes today?"
"Well, since I saw you crying in the park I decided to drop my awkwardness aside so I could.. see if you were okay. I hate seeing pretty women cry over assholes like Tom." Beca rolled her eyes.
Chloe was thankful the girl was still focused on her food so she didn't see her blush.
"You've seen other women crying over assholes?" Chloe asked, interested.
"Look at the teacher cursing!" Beca teased and Chloe rolled her eyes as the teenager laughed. "And to answer your question, my mom."
Chloe knew this was a delicate subject by how Beca grew quiet so she knew not to question her further about it.
"But thanks, Beca." Chloe smiled softly and Beca looked up at her.
"Oh, you're welcome. And I hope you'll end it with that asshole." Beca said, pointing a finger at her.
"Would you stop calling him that?" Chloe asked with a light chuckle.
"Any man who makes a woman feel any less than a princess is an asshole." Beca said. "So no."
Chloe rolled her eyes with a chuckle.
The two finished eating and each paid for what they had, which was no problem for either girl. Beca ordered a brownie and ice cream for dessert, while Chloe didn't order anything. She was trying not to eat that much sugar.
"Don't you have dinner with your mom everyday?" Chloe asked, curious.
"No. My mom spends all her time in court, today is one of the days she couldn't come home for dinner." Beca said.
"I see." Chloe said.
Beca ate her brownie happily, not even looking up at Chloe and the redhead was trying to bite back giggles.
"Come on, you can stop looking, you'll burn a hole through my head." Beca said.
Chloe let a giggle escape but quickly covered her mouth as Beca raised an eyebrow and looked up at her without moving her head.
"I'm sorry, you look like a kid eating your dessert." Chloe said.
"What can I do? I love this brownie." Beca said, eating the last spoonful of her brownie, humming in appreciation, closing her eyes as she did and she heard Chloe giggle again. "Shut up."
"I'll send you to the principal's office for disrespecting your teacher." Chloe said with a frown but she couldn't hold her laughter when Beca raised an eyebrow at her, knowing she was kidding.
"And I'll tell you you were checking out a student." Beca said with a smirk.
"That's not true." Chloe said.
Beca just kept smirked and cleaned her mouth.
"It's late, can you give me a ride home?" Chloe asked, checking the time on her phone.
"Sure." Beca said and stood up, her smirk still in place.
Chloe rolled her eyes as she stood up and followed the girl out. She just got in the car silently, hoping Beca would wipe that stupid smirk off her face, but she didn't. And that was driving Chloe crazy.
"You know your cockiness is so annoying." Chloe said.
Beca laughed.
"Yes, but at least it cheered you up, didn't it?" Beca raised her eyebrows knowingly at her on the red light.
Chloe smiled and looked down at her lap and Beca smirked again because she had her answer.
"I just wanted to tell you, Beca, that this.. isn't something that shouldn't happen everyday." Chloe said.
"What?" Beca asked, concentrated on the road.
"You and me, talking, eating dinner.." Chloe said.
"Alright." Beca shrugged. "It's no big deal."
"Do you understand why?"
"Yes, I'm not stupid." Beca laughed. "You're my teacher so it's inappropriate. I understand."
Chloe nodded.
"Good." she said.
"Though, there is something I feel obligated to say." Beca said, stopping in another red light.
"If it's another joke about me checking you out—,"
"— No, dork, it's not about that!" Beca giggled. "Though you totally was."
Chloe rolled her eyes and groaned, making Beca laugh.
"God, you're the dorkiest creature to have ever walked the planet." Chloe said.
Beca grinned proudly.
"Thanks." she said and Chloe laughed. "But seriously now."
Chloe sobered up and looked at the teenager, frowning when Beca turned suddenly very serious and she tensed up.
"The messages.." Beca started. "They're not only threatening me."
"Okay.. who are they threatening as well?" Chloe asked.
"You." Beca said and looked up at Chloe with a scared look. "They said they'll hurt you too if you keep defending me."
Chloe was shocked but she was more worried about the terrified and guilty look on Beca's face. She didn't want the girl to suffer anymore, to think this was her fault. Damn, she'd been through so many already!
"It's okay, Beca, it's not your fault." Chloe said. "I'll be safe, I promise."
Beca brought one hand to her mouth to avoid sobbing before quickly composing herself and taking a deep breath.
"It's gonna be okay." Chloe said.
Beca nodded and stopped in front of Chloe's apartment building, feeling much calmer.
"I talked to the principal already." Beca said. "And the police and the messages are not coming from Vince's phone or any of the guys that attacked me."
Chloe nodded and put her hand over Beca's.
"It's gonna be okay, they're gonna find this person." Chloe said.
Beca sighed and looked at Chloe, managing a small smile.
"Thanks." Beca said.
"Thank you as well." Chloe said. "For making me feel better."
"About that asshole?" Beca smirked and Chloe rolled her eyes again.
"And you're back." Chloe said and smiled at Beca.
Beca giggled and smiled back at her teacher.
"Thanks for the ride, Beca." Chloe said, opening the door.
"Bye dork!" Beca said and laughed when Chloe groaned.
"Bye dorkier!" Chloe said, fishing out her keys.
Beca laughed and shook her head. She made sure Chloe went in before she drove home.
oO0Oo
Beca walked in and hung her jacket on the hanger by the door with a sigh. She was going to make her way upstairs when she bumped into her mom coming down the stairs. The older brunette seemed surprise at seeing her daughter and she crossed her arms with a chuckle.
"And where were you, young lady?" she asked with an eyebrow raised. "And don't tell me you were running all this time."
"I wasn't." Beca chuckled. "I went to the park, I ran a few laps and saw Miss Beale sitting on a bench, crying. I asked her what was wrong and she said she wanted some tea, so we went out and we ate dinner."
"Beca!" Jill said with a frown.
"What?" Beca asked, not seeing what she did wrong.
"You can't go on a date with your teacher, she can get fired and you can get expelled!" Jill said. "Do you know how serious this is?!"
"Chill out, dude, we weren't on a date!" Beca said, raising her arms as if her mother was pointing a gun at her. "She was upset, I asked her what was wrong and she said she wanted to go out for some tea. I realized I was hungry so we went to this restaurant, I ordered food and she told me what was wrong, then I took her home because she doesn't have a car."
"Beca—,"
"— I know, Miss Beale explained to me that this shouldn't happen and it won't!" Beca said.
Jill let out a breath and relaxed. She believed her daughter, she wouldn't question her any further because she knew she was telling the truth. Though she was kind of suspicious about the smirk on her face.
"Why are you smirking?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
"I was just thinking about the jokes I made." Beca said with a chuckle.
"What kind of jokes?" Jill asked.
Beca chuckled and moved aside to go up to her room, not surprisingly, she heard her mom following her and she chuckled again and shook her head.
"Nothing, I joked that she was checking me out and stuff like that." Beca said.
Beca got in her room to see her cat sleeping on her bed. Upon hearing her owner's voice, she woke up and immediately jumped from the bed, coming to Beca and meowing at her.
Beca took off her shoes and sat on the bed, Zorka jumping back on the bed after her, wanting attention.
Jill crossed her arms again and leaned against the doorway.
"Beca, if you date your teacher, I'm not gonna defend you or her in court." Jill said. "And I'll report it to school."
Beca looked at her mom with a look that could be both anger and confusion.
"Mom, I don't even like Miss Beale like that, this was a mistake and it's not gonna happen again!" she said. "And thanks for showing your support with my relationships."
Beca walked over to the door and closed it, feeling angry that her mom — her mom! — wouldn't be supportive. Sure, she didn't like Miss Beale like that — that's what she kept telling herself as she tried to ignore the butterflies she got everytime she made her blush and everytime Miss Beale smiled at her — but she expected her mom to be some sort of supportive, she didn't have anyone else to count on. Literally.
Mmmmmmm what do you think? ;)