Author's Note - Happy Chinese New Year. (It is the 5th of February when I am writing this)
Sorry this took me so long but I have been freaking out about possible copyright issues that comes from using their characters. Uploads may take longer than before but I am trying to write a more complex book so please hang on for the next chapter. I will carry on the story but if anyone knows about getting around Copyright infringement that would be amazing if you told me.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Pitch Perfect or any of its characters nor do I have the rights to the franchise. All rights go to Universal Studios. Any Copyright infringement was not intentional, if required then send me a message and the story will be deleted. Sorry for any inconveniences.
If you are going through a hard time or are just needing to talk to someone then PM me. I am here for you even if I don't know personally what you are going through but I know it is easier to talk to a stranger than it is to keep things bottled up.
Warning: Swear word (You heard me one singular swear word right at the end).
Chapter 7 - The Day Out
The drive to collect Chloe was long and filled with tension as Aubrey remained silent but keep risking a glance to see the siblings' cut face. She knew Stacie had told her she fell down the stairs but then why or how did Brett get his? Was the person who hurt Brett hurting Stacie too? No matter what the blonde came up with it hurt her more, each theory got darker and darker until she reached the point of no return. Her body kicked into autopilot as she made her way to Chloe's house while she was stuck alone with her theories. It wasn't long until they wound up outside the redhead's house.
Stacie volunteered to knock on Chloe's door allowing Aubrey to ask her questions before they made their way back to the car. As soon as Stacie left the car Aubrey turned to face the brunette with s stern stare.
"What happened to Stacie. I couldn't help but notice the cut." Aubrey decided to play dumb hoping for some deviation in their stories.
"Oh, she fell down the stairs. I carried her upstairs and cleaned her cut." Brett's voice managed to hide his hesitation enough for Aubrey to reluctantly leave the situation alone.
"What about you?" Aubrey felt lucky knowing he couldn't create such a simple excuse "I doubt that you both fell down the stairs." That got Brett's attention, he knew he couldn't use the same excuse or say a half-truth without raising more attention to himself.
Brett tried to lightly chuckle hoping to through Aubrey off slightly "No, no I whacked it off the corner of the radiator when I was asleep, I woke up afterwards and was bleeding." Brett sighed internally with relief as he saw the look of suspicion die out in Aubrey's eyes.
An awkward silence fills the car as they wait for the others to arrive, both trying to think of the best way to continue. Brett with trying to get Aubrey to drop her questions fearing her safety, Aubrey thinking the best way to get the truth, she got him to speak once how hard would it be to do that again.
The duo was so lost in their thoughts that they both jumped when the door to the car opened. Stacie took the back seat, noticing the tension, while Chloe sat in the front next to the blonde unaware of the awkwardness in the car. Aubrey started the car listening to Chloe talk animatedly, guessing what they are going to do.
Chloe continues her rambling until she turns and finally sees Brett, her heart jumps knowing her is trying to repair their friendship, her heart soon sinks seeing the brunette's cheek. Her hand instinctively reaches for it but Brett moves away from her not wanting her to see him hurt.
Chloe got the hint and pulled her arm back before asking "How'd you get that?"
Brett froze trying to remember what he said to Aubrey moments ago but his mind went blank, he could see all the eyes on him. "It was nothing just a little accident. You know how clumsy I can be." The answer worked for Chloe enough that she dropped it and went on to talk to Stacie. Brett noticed Aubrey's disbelieving eyes and knew he said the wrong thing.
The rest of the ride was filled with Chloe's conversation with everyone about anything. Aubrey parked the car in an underground carpark which Chloe instantly knew connected them to the mall (neither Brett or Stacie knew this) and they all made their way into the building. Once the doors were open their senses were greeted by the mouthwatering smell of multiple food places making the siblings eyes grow wide, they haven't seen that much food in a while.
The siblings did have money but they had decided to only keep it for special occasions, such as if they knew that they weren't going to be allowed into the kitchen for a few days, but they always came through to the other side more cautious and more prepared. They would always keep a few snack bars, sweets and other small and easily hid in their rooms, for the next time.
Now was the first time in months that they willingly were going out to eat. They hadn't realised that they were staring until Aubrey came and wrapped her arm around Brett in a comforting action, understanding that this may be a new experience for him, while Chloe hugged Stacie. They made their way towards a Chinese restaurant after a long debate between the blonde and the red-head only decided by a flip of a coin.
They sat around the table and ordered their food while making idle chit chat for the majority of the wait. Once the food arrived both Brett and Stacie drooled at the sight of a real full plate of food, something they had only seen when making their father dinner. Aubrey watched as the siblings dug into their meal as if it was going to be taken away from them and realised just how much was going on in their lives. Chloe, on the other hand, laughed at the sight, food covered Brett and Stacie's faces, they both looked up at each other and laughed at the other's appearance.
Once the food was eaten, Aubrey excused herself from the table leaving the rest to continue enjoying themselves. Aubrey made her way to the front paying area and waited for her turn. When it became her turn she paid the man for their meal but had requested it to be an anonymous donation as well as ordering another set of meals in a take out box. Aubrey snuck her way back to the table making it look as though she was just in the bathroom.
As the conversation dies down the waiter comes along with 2 take out boxes filled and handed it to Aubrey who smiled and curtly nodded back to him before he left the table. The rest of the group stared at Aubrey who simply shrugged and walked out of the restaurant ignoring the looks from her companions. The rest of the group look at each other expecting an answer before they go to pay but get declined saying a previous customer paid for them. The girls were confused but decided not to question the curiosity of a stranger before running out to catch up with Aubrey, who stood leaning against the railing on her phone. She looks up and smiles before walking with them around the shops.
The day continued with Stacie and Chloe running from shop to shop, oohing and aahing everything in sight. While Brett and Aubrey hung back a bit watching the scene in front of them, happy. Brett would remain with his smile each time he saw Chloe looking at him, the guilt slowly dissipating seeing the grin she would send his way. Aubrey remained silent liking the fact Brett's smile was genuine and not another fake.
Soon the day came to an end and Chloe had bought at least four bags worth of items (to which Brett carried, despite the pain he felt in doing so, shifting them to his uninjured side). Stacie had only half a bag, wanting to keep as much money as she could. Aubrey had the two containers of food while Brett remained with nothing allowing Stacie to enjoy herself instead.
When they stopped at Chloe's house, both she and Stacie went to bring her bags inside leaving Brett and Aubrey in the car. Brett turned to Aubrey.
"It was you wasn't it?" his curiosity showed itself in his voice.
"What was me?" Aubrey planned on remaining ignorant despite knowing what he was asking about.
"Paying for the food." Brett received only a small nod causing him to smile knowing he truly had a friend. "Thank you but you didn't have to do that."
Aubrey smiled with admiration to Brett "And you don't have to pretend to be okay. I know that you and Stacie haven't eaten a good meal for a while. I saw it on your faces when the food came along." Brett looked down ashamed of that being both true and Aubrey noticing.
Noticing Brett's mood change Aubrey decided to add something she knew he needed to hear. "Don't worry I will neither tell nor ask...right now anyway but the food I got extra is for you and Stacie." Aubrey smiled at the boy but couldn't help feeling bad for both him and Stacie. Brett looked up at the blonde with tears in his eyes that broke Aubrey's heart even more.
"Thank you" that was all Brett could say before Aubrey pulled him into a hug, crushing his shoulder, causing Brett to hiss. Aubrey pulled back and saw the pain on Brett's face. Before Aubrey could get a word out Stacie came back to the car preventing her to get a word out not knowing if Stacie was aware of his new injury as she was aware her arms weren't near the injured rib.
The ride to the Mitchell house was in an uncomfortable silence for both Brett and Aubrey, Stacie was conscious of the silence but not the tension between the others, they refused to talk to each other and instead became concentrated on other things.
The closer to 'home' they got the more scared the siblings got not knowing what mood Warren was in. Aubrey grew aware of the added fear in the car but thought it was her imagination. Soon they were in front of the nightmarish building and Stacie looked to Brett for reassurance before stepping out the car at the small smile sent her way. Brett thanked Aubrey and was stepping out of the car when his name called his attention to the blonde who handed him the food boxes earning another thank you in return.
Aubrey waited for her friends to make their way into the house. As she waited she noticed that Stacie had reached for Brett's hand before he walked in first almost stealthily. Growing more observant she saw the fearful look on Stacie's face as she walked in behind the brunette. Her heart raced to know that something was wrong. She made her way out the car, with one of her old emergency coats in hand, making her way towards the house slowly not knowing what would be awaiting her.
The closer she got the more distinguishable the muffled shouts got. What sounded like the rambling of a drunkard and the submissive sounds of her friends compelled Aubrey to knock on the door three times. As she waited for an answer she heard a scream and a loud thud coming from within the house. Just as she was about to make a move and barge into the building the door flies open. She is met with the piercing (and angered) grey gaze of a drunken version of her English teacher, Mr Mitchell.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT BITCH!" Mr Mitchell's voice echoed through Aubrey's entire body.
