Chapter 10-Road Trip
Beca woke to the sound of buzzing and movement on the bed behind her. A very tired, and very clumsy red-head ran into the wall on her way into her bedroom to shut off the noisy alarm.
"Ouch"..the disheveled ginger said rubbing her knee.
With the offending noise finally ending, Beca closed her eyes and fell back asleep.
"Beca...Beca, sweetie, you need to wake up."
"hmmm."
"Beca, really, I need you to wake up."
Squinting her eyes..Beca sat slowly up. "What time is it?"
"It's 8:30. Look, we have to be at breakfast soon, and you need to get a shower, you kind of still smell like alcohol."
"Oh, sorry."
"No, it's ok, just I don't want Aubrey to suspect anything, please just go get cleaned up, I'll set some clean clothes out for you."
Before Beca made it completely off the bed Chloe blurted out.. "Beca, what happened last night between you and me, we just can't."
"Wait, what happened?" Beca couldn't remember much. "Did we..uh..?"
"No" Chloe blushed "I meant the kiss."
"But why? I really like you Chloe, and I know you like me too"
"I do...I REALLY like you, but it's all moving too fast. I'd like us to be friends, is that ok for now?"
"Sure, I guess so." She said with a little sadness. Chloe sent her a comforting smile, hoping she could make Beca feel the love in her expression.
Chloe opened her dresser drawer and pulled out a few things. "Here is a T-shirt and some track pants that should fit, and NO they aren't pink! Go ahead with your shower, I'll make us some coffee."
"Thanks" Beca grabbed the clothes and headed out the back door to shower.
Chloe walked into the bathroom to brush her teeth and get ready. When she came out of the bathroom, Beca was sitting on the cot, already clean from her shower, smelling of Chloe's shampoo and soap, Sandlewood and Vanilla. Chloe couldn't' help but smile, Aubrey would pick up on this, there would be questions.
"Listen Chloe I'm really sorry that I showed up here last night, I'm not sure what happened, I don't remember a lot, but I know I woke you up, and I'm just really sorry for causing all this trouble."
"It's ok Beca, I want you to come to me, anytime you want to see me, or need me."
"But.."
"Listen, we don't have time now, and I'm really sorry about that. I promise, everything is ok." She brushed back Beca's hair to hook behind her ear, and dipped her head to meet her eyes. "Here, drink your coffee, and take these aspirin. I'm putting two water bottles in my pack, and I want you to finish them before the end of breakfast ok?"
"Ok."
"Alright let's head out, I'm lucky I'm so close to the mess hall." The two walked out the door.
"Oh God, the sun is bright."
"Here, take my glasses." Chloe handed her mirrored frame aviators.
"Nice, much better." Grateful, Beca smiled slightly and continued to focus on putting one foot in front of the other, hoping no loud sound would make her head explode.
As they approached the dining hall, Chloe reached out for Beca's wrist and stopped her short of the door. "Just stick close to me, and let me handle Aubrey."
"Ok, should I be worried?" Beca asked with genuine concern.
"No, just follow my lead, ok." Chloe looked at her, making sure Beca was ready.
As they entered, they saw all the Bellas gathered around the table. "Good morning everyone" Chloe sang out.
"Morning" Stacie eyed the girls.
"Morning Beca and Chloe." Aubrey called out raising her eyebrow slightly at seeing the pair walk in together, and noticing Beca in another set of Chloe's clothes, yet again.
Beca filled a bowl with some cereal and immediately sat down next to Chloe, taking off her sunglasses slowly, and keeping her head down.
"Hey, you look a little tired, didn't sleep well?" Stacie winked at the smaller girl. Beca just nodded, not sure of her suggestion.
Chloe engaged all the girls in a lively debate about skin care products...everyone seeming to have something to say on the subject, well everyone except Beca, who looked like someone had slipped something in her cereal, she could barely keep upright in her chair.
Cynthia slid down the bench next to Beca, startling the smaller girl. Beca straightened in her seat.
"You were awesome last night, never expected a skinny white girl to be such a good rapper, respect."
"Thanks, just wish it would have worked in our favor."
"Screw that, you killed it last night." Cynthia smiled genuinely.
"Ok ladies, today is a light day for us. We're going to go over the program schedule this morning and then some Cardio this afternoon, you all have the evening free. I suggest you make the most of your time, because starting tomorrow, we have a full schedule of cleaning and practice for our opening night ceremony." Aubrey finished "Chloe why don't you take us through the daily schedule."
"Sure thing Bree.." Chloe eyed her friend, knowing Aubrey was in no way fooled by her distracting behavior at Breakfast.
Aubrey looked over at Beca..the smaller girl had never been so quiet, she knew something was up, she just wasn't sure what it was.
"I've made copies for each of you." Chloe continued trying to keep Aubrey's focus on her. "Jessica, Ashley, Lilly...as you know you each are our Unit Leaders, so your day will be to ensure your kids make it to each of their lessons, and will be supervising them during their down time."
"Stacie" Chloe stood behind the taller Brunette and put her hands on her shoulders, and Beca couldn't help but feel a little jealous at the contact. Chloe continued "as our Choreographer, you will have the 8-10yr olds from 10:00a-11:00a each day, 11-13yr olds from 1:00p-2:00p, and 14-16yr old from 3:00p-4:00p."
"Beca, As our Modern Music Leader, you'll have the same schedule only at 10:00am you'll cover the 14-16yr old, from 1:00p to 2:00p the 8-10yr olds, and 3:00p to 4:00p the 11-13yr olds."
"And lastly...Fat Amy, as our Drama Leader, you'll have the 11-13yrs old at 10:00am, 14-16yr olds at 1:00p, and 8-10yrs at 3:00p."
"Also, each of the Activity Leaders will contribute an extra hour every day for an elective course either at 4:00p or 6:30p. I will need you each to give ideas, and we will let the kids sign up on their first day. Aubrey and I will also be filling in for these time slots. I'd love to hear your ideas, so let me know if you need any help, or any extra equipment. It's important that we put some exciting new ideas in the mix this year."
Everyone finished taking their notes, and looked up.
"Ok, that's it for the daily program schedule, thanks everyone, I really look forward to working with each of you this summer." Chloe finished, and sat back down next to Beca.
Aubrey stood up and addressed the group.."Alright then ladies, please head to your activity rooms, and get things there set-up. If you have items that we need to purchase, please make your lists now. Chloe will be driving into Atlanta to pick-up last-minute supplies today." She turned to Chloe, already knowing the answer to her question, but asking nevertheless. "Chloe whose going with you on your run?"
"Beca volunteered Aubrey, we'll be leaving in the next hour."
"Shocker"..she muttered to herself, "Ok ladies, please bring your lists to Chloe at the staff house, and she'll ensure we get everything you need. Dismissed."
With that everyone cleared their breakfast dishes and left the hall.
"I volunteered, huh?" Beca leaned back in her chair and eyed the red-head, who stared back expressionless.
"Well, you don't want to be stuck here doing cardio today do you?" Chloe asked.
"No, definitely not."
"Didn't think so..you can sleep in the car, since I know you need it, and I'll make sure you're back before dark, if you had plans for your free night." Chloe threw out the last bit to see if Beca was open to a longer than expected trip.
"No...no plans."
"Meet you at the staff house in thirty minutes then?"
"Sounds good, and Chlo... thanks."
Chloe looked at her, with big blue eyes, and smiled. "You bet."
Beca sat outside the Staffhouse, waiting for Chloe to show. She emptied her plastic cup of the 5th glass of water today, and looked at it for a moment. Looking around and seeing she was alone, Beca picked up the cup and starting playing out a beat...using her hands and the cup to make the percussion.
Just at that moment Chloe and Aubrey turned down the path towards the house and stopped at the top of the hill watching the young girl sing out..
I got my ticket for the long way 'round...
Two bottle 'a whiskey for the way..
And I sure would like some sweet company...
And I'm leaving tomorrow, wha-do-ya say?..
When I'm gone...
When I'm gone...
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone...
You're gonna miss me by my hair..
You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone..
When she ended, she let the cup make the final sound flat on the ground.
She suddenly heard applause from behind her, and knew she'd been caught.
"Impressive Beca", she could almost see the pain in Aubrey's face at giving the compliment. "Did you just come up with that?"
"No. I've been working on it a little, but it's just for fun."
"You ready?" Chloe ran out of the staffhouse with her car keys.
"Yep. Let's go... See you later Aubrey."
Aubrey watched as the two girls made their way over the bridge and down the rock path to the parking area. She hoped whatever Chloe had decided to do about her feelings for Beca, the trip would provide an opportunity to clear the air.
"That was really incredible Beca, I think you knocked her socks off just then."
"Is that what I did? I thought it looked more like confusion."
"No, that was definitely Aubrey being impressed by your raw talent."
They jumped into Chloe's Element and headed towards Atlanta, it was only an hour and half to the city, and Chloe knew a few short-cuts to bypass traffic.
Beca snuggled into the front seat, and gazed at the ginger, enjoying having an afternoon with the women who occupied her mind so thoroughly.
Chloe felt the gaze, and smiled.."I thought for sure you'd be sleeping on this trip, what are you doing over there."
"Just looking." Beca didn't want to seem creepy, so she grabbed her bag searching for her iPhone. "Hey, I brought a few mixes, are you interested?"
"Sure, here." Chloe handed her the Auxiliary cable.
The music began to play, it was a mash-up of multiple songs..including Titanium. "When did you make this mix?" Chloe asked.
"Yesterday."
Chloe smiled..remembering how the world had changed yesterday.
They were 45 minutes into the drive, and it was really nice. Beca took turns staring out the window and then looking back at the object of her affection. When the distance became too much to bear, she reached out to trace lines along the ginger's hand.
Chloe's breath hitched at the contact, and she looked into Beca's eyes, which were locked on hers. She turned her attention back to the road.
Finding no objection, and needing more contact, Beca moved her hand over to Chloe's leg. Continuing to lightly caress the red-head, who began to squirm slightly under the attention. Beca's hand continued its journey over bare skin, loving the feeling of it beneath her fingertips, also loving the sounds coming from the seat next to her, as Chloe's breathing became more shallow. Every so often, Beca could swear she heard a whimper come from the older girl's lips. It excited Beca in ways she had never experienced. She was coming alive sexually in this very moment, having never experienced any kind of relationship. Beca soon decided to push further under Chloe's Kaki shorts.
Chloe was quickly losing the battle of focus with the road, her mind racing from her rising desire. She saw a turn off, and took the first opportunity to pull the car over. Immediately she unlatched her seat belt and pulled Beca in for a passionate kiss. Hands pressing into each other, clumsily groping any part of the other girl she could find. Chloe needed her closer and climbed into the smaller girl's lap. She moved her lips to Beca's ear, breathing out slowly against Beca's, grabbing her ear lobe and sucking lightly. Beca groaned at the contact, her hands not knowing what to do other than rub up and down the ginger's body. She loved holding her close, feeling all of Chloe grind into her.
"You're driving me crazy, you know that right?"
"Umm, I kinda like you crazy." Beca licked her lips seductively.
"You're not going to stop doing this to me are you?" Chloe asked, not sure of the answer she wanted. She sat back in the driver's seat, regaining her composure for the moment.
"Do you really want me to stop?" Beca asked, desperately missing the attention, and reaching for her again, but finding Chloe's hand stopping her movement.
"Beca, I really like you, and I'm doing my very best to control some very strong feelings that I seem to have for you."
"What is it Chloe, why don't you want this to happen between us?"
Chloe sat staring forward for what seemed like minutes before gathering her thoughts for the talk she needed to have with Beca.
"You know I attend Barden right?"
"Well yeah, I wore your sweatshirt...so?"
"Well, I'm the reason you're at Camp A' Cappella."
"What do you mean, like destiny or something? Beca giggled, brushing the hair away from Chloe's face so she could see the electric blue eyes, that seemed to refuse to meet her own.
"Beca, I'm being serious...I work with your dad."
Beca's expression fell immediately. "What do you mean you work with my dad, he's a Lit. professor, you told me you're studying the medical field, why would you be working with my dad?"
Chloe could see Beca was beginning to get upset. "This is what I meant about things going too fast, you don't really know that much about me."
"Well, you've got my attention now."
Chloe kept her voice quiet trying to balance out Beca's energy.
"I am a Biology Major, and I am studying for Medical School, but I'm also pursuing a minor in English Literature."
Beca sat quietly now, realizing who her father's connection was for the position at camp.
"Beca, I'm your father's teaching assistant."