AN: I'm back guys.
Chapter 10: Bodies
Brand got his conceal to carry license. It took a month. So did Chloe and Aubrey, and the three of them bought guns. They are currently down at the shooting range, trying them out.
It was Jesse's idea really. Jesse got his as soon as he turned 18. Turns out his mom is a real worrier. She still calls him twice a day every day to make sure he's okay, and has even went as far to show up every other weekend, and every time without fail, has left in tears.
"Really, Chloe, a pink gun?"
"It's fashionable."
"A gun is not there for fashion. It's there for protection."
"Shut up. I still shoot better than you."
"It's true, Brand, All of those shots either went to the head of the target or to the chest. Your round went all over the place."
"No one asked your opinion, Aubrey," he spits, firing another sporadic round into the target.
"How did you even pass your test?" his captain asks, surveying his target.
"Not every one can be good at everything. I'm good at music, you are good at being a ninja, and Chloe is apparently good at shooting a gun."
"It's the power of the pink pistol. You should try it."
The freshman DJ just groans in response as Chloe fired a perfect round into the target's head. Chloe chuckles at him, "I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I took archery as a kid because, like I said, I was invisible. Shooting a gun and shooting a bow aren't so different, ya know. It took me a couple tries, but I got the hang of it. You will too. Just don't make fun of my pink gun."
Living with women is awful sometimes.
XOXOXO
Brand walks across campus toward the radio station the day of semi-finals with Jesse when his phone starts blaring Titanium.
He grins down at it in spite of himself.
"Juliet's calling Romeo," Jesse says with a snort, pushing him in the shoulder.
Brand snorts, shoving his roommate's face away, "Will you stop? And Romeo and Juliet is not a love story. It's about two stupid hormone crazed teenagers who lusted after each other," he asks Jesse before answering Chloe's call.
"So you admit you love her?"
"NO!" Brand quickly covers his phone speaker, glaring at his roommate. "You're the one who has the hots for the Aca-Nazi."
"She's not that bad," Jesse says, his eyes on his shoes. Brand knows. Since the elevator, they've come to a mutual understanding of each other. Brand thinks it gets on Chloe's nerves, but at the same time, their new bond makes her happy.
There's a high pitched squawk on the other line that causes Brand's world to come crashing around him. Did the Rose Killer get to Chloe? Is she going to die?
The rage bottled up inside Brand since the beginning bubbles to the surface. "CHLOE! ARE YOU OKAY? LISTEN YOU SICK FREAK, YOU TOUCH HER AND I'LL CHOP OFF YOUR BALLS, SHOVE THEM DOWN YOUR THROAT, AND CRUCIFY YOU!"
A girly laugh comes from the other end of the phone, "I'm fine, Brand. I'm fine. I have been having a stalker problem with Tom, though. I see him everywhere."
Brand's knees almost give out as he breathes a huge sigh of relief, "Don't do that, Chloe. I was freaking out."
"Just turn on your radio!"
They walk across the parking lot of the radio station when a familiar song reaches their ears. Brand and Jesse beam at each other. Jesse was there when Chloe and Brand recorded this a few weeks ago. Brand had put Chloe's voice on his track because she was feeling down about her nodes and being cooped up in the apartment. Jesse even helped with the bass line.
"HOLY—"
"I know!"
Brand turns around to see Chloe running toward him.
"My song's on the radio!"
"I know!" Chloe squeaks, plowing into him. The three friends jump up and down in celebration.
"That's awesome, Brand!" Jesse shouts.
"And it's all Jesse's doing," Chloe quips, "Luke called this morning, and told me about it, so I showed up here."
Brand looks at Jesse, "How did you—"
He shrugs, kicking up gravel, "I've been trying to get him to listen to your music all year. It's amazing, and I took the flash drive to him, told him to listen to it. He didn't do it, so I sort of forced my way into the booth, and threatened to play it over the radio if he didn't listen to it. Turns out, he played it anyway."
"You are literally the best roommate ever!" He can't contain the joy bursting within him and he pulls them both into a hug. He hasn't been this happy in a while. He's been so focused on this murderer that he forgot to enjoy himself.
A car horn sounds, and Aubrey's head pokes out of her car window on the edge of the parking lot, "Chloe Kate Beale, we are on a tight schedule. We have to pick up the bus, and you don't have your crap packed. Get yourself together and come on. Good luck tonight Jesse!"
Jesse waves at her cheerfully, "You too!"
"Alright, you two have fun on your shift," she glances back at her best friend who is about to lay on the horn again, "You know how Aubrey is," Chloe says, kissing Brand on the cheek. "Bye."
Brand stares after Chloe as the redhead prances back to Aubrey's Prius with a last wave at them both.
"You really need to do something about your toner, man," Jesse says, clapping on the back.
I know. I'm just scared.
Luke invites Brand to play his music in the booth over spring break. Can this day get any better?
"Listen, I'm going to check that DJ out tonight. You should come with," he says.
"I can't," Brand says, scratching the back of his head.
"Flight attendant training?" he asks, surveying Brand's Bella attire.
"Barden Bellas. The Semi-Finals are tonight."
"Really?" Luke asks like it's the lamest thing on earth, "I gotta hand it to Chloe. She's got you whipped."
Brand groans, "I'd love to be whipped, I can't be whipped if she's not interested. She doesn't even have a boyfriend anymore, and nothing between us has changed."
Jesse begins howling with laughter, and it jars Brand, "That's because you guys have never been real friends. Yes, your friendship is real, but how many friends do you know who sing each other's masturbation songs in the shower together? When I was into you, I would've killed for you to let me do that."
"Okayyyyy, that's not something I want to know about my employees." Luke's dart in-between Jesse and Brand like he's watching a tennis match, "Remember no sex on the desk you two. I mean it."
XOXOXOX
On the Bus.
Brand stares at Chloe while she hums along to her I- Pod. Everything about this girl is stunning, from the fiery red hair that is now tied back in a bun to her soft pale skin to those eyes. Those dreadfully blue eyes. Brand could look into them all day, and don't even get him started on that uniform. Dang.
"You're drooling there, Frodo," Aubrey whispers, turning around to smirk at him as they pull into a gas station.
He shrugs, not even denying it. The three of them have become so close, he doesn't even care anymore, and Chloe is so immersed in whatever song she's listening to that she doesn't even hear Aubrey.
"Don't you flat butts worry, I got this," Amy says, parking the bus, "I'm just gonna pump and dump."
Brand feels as if he should be the one pumping gas because he's the dude, but Amy is happy to do it, and Brand is distracted by Chloe as usual.
"Hey, Amy! SABBATOGE!" Brand's head whips around to see Bumper throw something out the Treble bus window. What the hell?
"I'VE JUST BEEN SHOT!"
Brand is the first one off the bus holding the titanium bat in his hand (the gun will only be used if necessary as he's not confident about it) , bolting around the tail end followed by CR, Lily, Aubrey, and Chloe to find Fat Amy on her back covered in some orangish chunky substance… he sniffs the air as he lowers the bat…Mexican food? Surely not…
"Fat Amy, I got you. I got you," Cynthia Rose says, bumping into Brand. She bends down, like she's going to kiss her or he guesses do CPR, judging by her hand on her nose. "Okay, okay, mmmhhhmm."
"No, no, no, no, nooo, I'm sitting up. I'm sitting up! There's no need for that," Fat Amy panics.
"Okay, alright. Cool," Cynthia Rose says brushing herself off.
"No mouth to mouth," Fat Amy sits up as Brand attempts to brush the substance off of her jean jacket. That's going to be awful to clean later. Amy studies the mess, "Oh shoot, Bumper threw a big ass burrito at me!" she complains as Brand, Lily, and CR steady her and check her over.
"At least it's not herpes," Chloe offers as payback for the nodes comment.
"I'm gonna kill him, I swear! I'm gonna finish him like a cheese cake!"
"I thought we agreed kill was an inappropriate word," Aubrey says with unease.
They all get back on the bus, and the girls, alright mostly Chloe, coerce Brand into singing Party In the U.S.A with them all. He feels like he's on a bus full of cheerleaders. Then, he reminds himself that Chloe was on her high school cheer squad, and Aubrey's been a cheerleader practically her entire life. No wonder they are also peppy on competition day. He secretly enjoys it none the less. The Bellas are the best decision he's made in college.
"Party in the U.S—"
The bus rumbles, and the singing stops.
"What the hell?" Aubrey barks.
"Oh no! It's the killer!" Stacie yelps, as she begins to dial Jace.
"Calm down, we have weapons! Don't dial him, Stacie," Brand warns, choking up on the bat for the second time this trip.
"Guys, we're just running out of gas." Fat Amy informs them all.
"But that's impossible, you just filled the tank," Aubrey says clutching her stomach.
"Yeah, or maybe I didn't because I was hit by flying Mexican food.."
Brand is desperately trying not to laugh as they come to a full stop. This is serious. They are now stranded, but it's because of a burrito….so….
"Aca-scuse me!" Aubrey asks.
"Aca-believe it," Fat Amy sighs. "Man, what are we gonna do?"
"Maybe we could call—"
"Don't even say it Chloe. How dare you!" Aubrey snaps.
"Oh, no that actually is a really good idea," Amy says, reaching for her purse, "I have Bumper's number."
"Why do you have Bumper's number?"
"Uhhhh…ehhh…ehhh…"
XOXOXO
The only sounds on the Trebles' bus are coming from Donald's beatboxing while Lily watches him in adoration. It's pretty much the cutest thing Brand has seen today, other than Chloe Beale of course. Wow, he sounds so queerballs right now.
"So Bellas, what boring estrogen filled set have you prepared for us this evening?" Bumper asks.
"Um excuse me," Amy says.
"Huh."
"You guys are going to get pitch slapped so hard your man boobs are going to concave."
"Nine miles guys," Donald calls from up front.
Lily mimics his beat boxing skills.
"You're pretty good," he tells her.
She whispers something Brand can't catch, something about fires and joy.
"That's adorable."
Their toners are very noticeable.
"I like it when boys dress up in drag and perform for me," she whispers.
"Slow down baby, we got all day."
XOXOXO.
The Bellas are so screwed.
The lead singer from the Foot Notes is amazing. Like Ne-Yo good.
"Five minutes Bellas," Benji calls.
"Where'd he come from?" Stacie panics at Aubrey who shushes her.
"It's over. There's no way we can beat the Trebles and the Foot Notes." That's the first time Brand's ever heard Fat Amy be pessimistic, and it's unsettling.
Aubrey starts talking, but Brand cuts her off completely. This whole serial killer thing has made him realize that he doesn't give a crap about anything anyone thinks anymore.
"Maybe, there is a way to beat them, you guys," Brand pipes up. They all look at him like he's insane. He clears his throat awkwardly, "Well, we were amazing at the riff-off. That wasn't rehearsed either. Let's do something completely different. Stacie and CR are our best dancers. Follow their lead. I got the song." They all ignore Aubrey's indignant protests, and right now she is letting out noises that remind him vaguely of dying chickens.
In truth, Brand doesn't have a song, and there's only one that keeps popping into his head which given the circumstances, that song is totally inappropriate. He steps up to the mic. Oh dear Lord, screw his inappropriate brain.
Too late to turn back now. He rips the sleeves off his dress shirt, and he whispers into the microphone-
"Let the bodies hit the floor.
Let the bodies hit the floor.
Let the bodies hit the floor.
Let the bodies hit the FLOOOOOOOOOR!"
Aubrey's eyes bug out as the freshman screams bloody murder into the microphone. The rest of the Bellas back Brand up. The audience digs it. Oh no, Aubrey gags.
"Beaten, why for
Can't take much more," he sings, feeling much more comfortable with the song choice. The audience is loving it because of what's happening at Barden. Which makes him feel like they are all terrible human beings, but he is too for having the audacity to sing this song so…he can't blame them.
They are all taking off the tight uniforms, sleeve ripping and head banging. People are shocked. Lily looks right at home. She's stealing the show. Stacie is predictably, singing straight to Berry in the front row.
"Here we go, here we go, here we go now," Chloe sings.
"ONE!" the girls shout. They all count it out on their fingers.
"Nothing wrong with me," Brand leads and he can't help thinking how B.A. this sounds right now. The commentators can't stop complementing them, and they just began the song.
"TWO!"
"Nothing wrong with me."
"THREE!"
"Nothing wrong with me."
"FOUR!"
"Nothing wrong with me."
"ONE!"
"Something's got to give."
"TWO!"
"Something's got to give."
"THREE!"
Brand catches Aubrey's eye. Her anxiety level is not looking good.
"Something's got to give, NOWWWWWW!
Let the bodies hit the floor!
Let the bodies hit the floor!
Let the bodies hit the floo—"
"BLARGGGGGGHHHH!"
Yep. It happened again.
Vomit. Everywhere. All over the front row and all over Officer Berry who looks murderous. The commentators are flipping out. Aubrey's flipping out. Everyone's flipping out.
All Brand and the rest of the Bellas can do is stand there open mouthed.
"I'm so sorry Jace," Stacie says. He stays still, eyes open wide, expressionless, and thoroughly repulsed.
Aubrey runs off stage crying, and Brand goes after her.
XOXOX
"Aubrey open up!" Brand bangs on the restroom stall. "I know you're in there," he says, both hands, laying on the door. He sighs as he hears sobs from inside the stall.
"Just go away… haven't you messed me up enough?"
"Aubrey—"
"I don't want to hear it, Brandon."
"You know we wouldn't have won with Eternal Flame. That song is tired, and people were on their feet with Bodies… Isn't it more fun when it's not about tradition and legalism? Isn't it easier?"
A muffled, "Yes," is all Brand hears.
"Then why did that happen? Are you okay?"
"I'm not used to l-lletting go…on a moment's notice I choked…my dad is right. I am a failure."
"Aubrey Anna Posen," Brand scolds, "You are not a failure!"
"Yes, I am."
Brand starts listing things off with his hands very loudly, "You have a 4.5 G.P.A, you sing like a boss, you work out at least an hour every day, you are captain of the Barden Bellas who successfully made it to semi-finals even if we just got disqualified, you can shoot a gun, you freaking stole a case file right from under the cops' noses, you are a ninja, and you saved my life. I love you like a sister Aubrey. You're the most badass person I know…other than myself."
"You don't mean that," she sniffs. "I've been nothing but a bitch to you."
"I do too. Now come out of that stall before I pull a Chloe and barge in. It may not be a shower, but it's the next most awkward thing in the world."
"Hey, I resent that," Chloe says, walking in with a great big smile on her face.
Aubrey walks out of the stall, her hair down, and mascara everywhere. She may smell like vomit, but her two teammates don't care as they pull her into a giant hug.
They stand there for a good twenty minutes, before walking out to the bus.
Everyone's shouting. Cop cars are everywhere. Sirens are blaring.
There's a body being carried out of the Treble bus in a body bag.
Cynthia Rose is sitting cross legged on the cement ground, leaning against the bus, weeping as other Bellas surround her.
It's Rape Whistle girl. It's Welcome Committee. She was here to cheer on Cynthia Rose. Cynthia Rose had a girlfriend and no one knew about it because Cynthia Rose didn't want people to give her a hard time.
Cindy Jones. She was Cynthia Rose's secret. This is CR's punishment. Brand wraps his arms around Chloe's waist, holding her to him as tight as he can, trying to block out the noises. His ears are ringing. He can't hear a thing. The claustrophobia makes everything worse as the place starts to swarm with people.
Just when they think the panic is over, Donald comes running over screaming his head off.
"WHERE'S LILY? WHERE'S LILY? HAS ANYONE SEEN HER?" He collapses on a bus seat as one of the cops attempt to calm him down. "NO! NO! NOT HER! NOT LILY!
"Donald! I know. Donald, calm down!" the officer says, but nothing does anything to stop his hysteric crying. The same can be said for Cynthia Rose.
Oh no. Not a Bella. Not Lily. He's got Lily
This is chaos.
Brand is numb. Everything feels like a dream, but it isn't. This crap is real life.
They aren't leaving North Carolina tonight.
It takes no longer than two minutes and they are all in tears. Even the Trebles. Bumper ran to the back of the bus, and his back is turned from everyone, but that doesn't matter. He's not fooling anyone. Not even Amy has a joke for them all.
And it's all Brand's fault. He asked her about the body. If he hadn't, none of this would have ever happened.
He kisses the top of Chloe's head, and she buries her head into his bare shoulder. Her hot tears are the worst thing he's ever felt. He can't keep from shaking with anger.
Lily's missing, and she's probably dead.
AN: Told you it was going to get messy. There's only a three to five chapters left. I'm thinking sequel. What do you guys think? We're almost to 100 reviews. Think we can do it with this chapter? I think we can. That's the goal. Now, if you guys don't mind, I have to turn off pitch perfect so I don't have to watch the Jeca kiss. It's so painful to watch. What did you guys think, though? I wanna know.