Title: We're Singing the Same Song (Even If the Lyrics Aren't the Same) - Part Twenty-Five
Author: slacker_d
Crossover: glee/Pitch Perfect
Pairing/Characters: eventual Rachel/Quinn, Beca/Chloe
Summary: Beca Mitchell is falling for Chloe Beale, while her roommate Quinn Fabray seems to be in love with Rachel Berry. Will they ever tell them how they feel?
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Word Count: ~2,085
Spoilers: Pitch Perfect and general glee spoilers
Part Twenty-Five
Though Rachel has over all enjoyed spring break, she'll still be glad when it's over for the simple fact that she doesn't have to endure eight hour rehearsals anymore. They're exhausting and kind of stupid. If they want to spend two hours rehearsing one scene, then everyone else should be allowed to leave.
Though it's probably a lot worse for Quinn, Rachel is still glad she's required to be here as well. It's partly for selfish reasons, but it's mostly because she's still worried about Quinn. She really hasn't said much about what happened with her dad, just bits and pieces, here and there.
Rachel expected as much, after all this is Quinn. However, Rachel's not sure if she should be pushing this. Her relationship with her fathers is so different than Quinn's with her parents.
For now, she knows things are pretty raw and should be left alone. However, Rachel thinks that perhaps talking to Beca about the situation might help her gain some insight.
…
Beca's hand is clutching Chloe's hand tightly as she enters the Bellas' rehearsal space. It hasn't been that long since she was here, but after getting kicked out and hearing about what went down the other day, she feels strange walking in.
Megan's the only one there when they arrive ten minutes early.
"Hey guys."
"Hi Megan."
Beca just nods.
"Glad you decided to show up, Beca," Megan says. "I wasn't sure."
"I said I'd be here," Beca replies.
"Yeah, well, people say a lot of shit."
Beca looks at Chloe who just shrugs.
Once everyone has arrived, they sit in a circle.
"So today's just going to be a brainstorming session," Megan says. "As I'm sure you're all aware, it's a whole new ball game."
Alice raises her hand.
"Yes?"
"Is Lizzie going to burst in here and try to take over?"
Beca raises an eyebrow. She'd been wondering the same thing.
"She better not, Al," Megan replies. "If she trusts you and I to run things next year, then this should be a good trial run."
Carrie raises her hand. "Isn't calling the ICCA finals a trial run downplaying the entire situation a lot?"
Beca barely holds back a chuckle.
"Point taken," Megan says. "However, Lizzie knows that if she tries to interfere after all the shit she pulled, there will be trouble."
Chloe raises her head.
"Yes?"
"What does that mean exactly?"
"It means that I have the means to make Lizzie's life rather miserable, which she knows," Megan answers.
Ominous, Beca thinks.
"Okay."
"So," Megan starts. "I did a little research and Lizzie was right. For some odd reason, you only need five members for finals. So technically, with the additional of Beca we're fine. However, I don't want to just meet the minimal. Do you guys?"
The other four shake their heads.
"Good. So first thing is that the old routine is out. We need to come up with something new and different. My only requirement is that all songs are still sung by women. Some traditions need to be kept."
Beca's hand shoots up.
"Yes, I'm fully aware that you probably have tons of ideas, Beca," Megan says. "People in other states probably know this."
Beca rolls her eyes as the others chuckle.
"And I promise, we'll get to them, but I want to clarify a few things first. Okay?"
Beca nods and barely holds back rolling her eyes again.
"Now depending on what we choose to perform, I do think additional members might be a good idea. But I think we should vote. So those in favor of possibly adding other members raise your hands."
Everyone's hands shoot up.
"Those opposed?"
No one raises their hand, though Carrie does look around.
"What are you looking for?" Beca asks her.
"I was just wondering who else would be voting," Carrie replies. "I mean, if the four of us raised our hands for the yes vote, is it really necessary to give the nay option?"
Megan shakes her head in disgust. "It is," she says.
"Why?"
"In fairness."
"Fairness to who?"
"Carrie, if you don't shut up, I'm going to pull a Lizzie and insult you to the point of tears."
"That seems a bit extreme," Alice observes.
"Are you guys purposely trying to annoy me?" Megan asks. "You're making me sympathize with Lizzie, which is the scariest thing that's ever happened to me."
Alice raises her hand, but doesn't wait to be acknowledged. "Even more than that time that you—"
"Al!"
"Sorry."
"Okay," Megan says, looking exasperated. "So we all agree that more girls would be a good thing. I have a couple in mind."
"I do too," Beca pipes up.
"Of course you do, Mitchell."
…
Chloe can't help but bask in the much more relaxed atmosphere. She's not sure if it's just the change in leadership or the added bonus of other negative members being absent as well. Or maybe it's just with so few girls it feels more like a study group than a competitive music group. She's pleased to hear that Megan plans on adding to their numbers. She's curious who she has in mind. Chloe's pretty sure she knows who Beca has in mind; though with Dames rehearsal, would they even have the time?
She brings this up to Beca as they walk back to the dorm.
Beca shrugs. "No idea. Quinn probably, since she's just in the chorus. Rachel, I don't know. She is supposed to be the lead. But she said there are plenty of songs she's not involved in. So maybe."
"Do you think they would have let her in if she'd auditioned?"
"Probably not," Beca replies. "Brooke really hates her for some reason."
"It's probably the same reason Lizzie hates you so much," Chloe says.
"Oh, so it's a stupid reason then."
Chloe just rolls her eyes.
…
The thing that's throwing Quinn off the most is that nothing's really changed. Her entire universe has been turned upside down, but everything seems the same. It's… disconcerting.
She's eternally grateful that her father paid for the entire year way back in August, so there's no chance he'll be able to take his money back and possibly get her kicked out. She wouldn't put it past him. He's done some terrible things in anger.
Quinn is also surprised by how little pushing Rachel is doing. Her girlfriend hasn't brought it up at all in fact. The most she has done is to ask Quinn if she's okay, eyes so full of concern and significance that it would be difficult for Quinn to think she's referring to anything else.
But other than that, the subject hasn't been brought up and Quinn appreciates that. She just needs a little more time.
…
At the radio station, while looking for Beca, Rachel runs into Matt first.
"Hi," she says shyly.
"Hey Rach," her greets, grinning. "It's been a while."
"Yeah," she replies, sheepishly. "Well, you know, with me and Mike…"
"Yeah, I know," Matt says. "Totally understandable."
"Yeah…"
"Hey," Matt says. "Don't be like that. Sometimes things don't work out. Mike understands that."
"Yeah?"
"And you guys are rehearsing together," Matt continues. "And that seems to be going fine."
"I suppose."
"I know hanging with Mike might be awkward still," Matt says. "But maybe you, me and Beca can hang sometime."
"That would be nice," Rachel replies.
"What would be nice?" Beca asks.
"Myself, you and Matt spending some time together," Rachel explains.
"Yeah, that could be cool," Beca agrees.
"Excellent."
"That's not why you stopped by, though, is it?" Beca asks.
Rachel shakes her head. "Do you have some time to talk? Um, privately?"
"Um, yeah," Beca says, looking around. "I guess we could go up…" She points to the upstairs.
"Slacking off some more," Matt teases.
Beca rolls her eyes and leads Rachel up the stairs. They sit on the floor, leaning against the wall, though Rachel does put down several newspapers that she finds scattered about instead of just sitting on the dusty floor. Beca finds herself smiling fondly at her antics.
"So what's up?"
"I'm concerned about Quinn," Rachel replies.
"Oh?"
"I realize it's only been a few days, but she's barely brought up this thing with her dad," Rachel explains. "Which I expected. I was just curious if she's said anything to you."
Beca shakes her head. "Not really. But I haven't really been pushing. Like you said, it's only been a couple days, Rach."
"I know," Rachel says. "I'm more wondering when I should be pushing. How long is appropriate?"
"You sound like you're trying to figure out the proper etiquette for a social situation," Beca observes.
"I suppose I am."
"I get that you're concerned," Beca says. "I am too. But we just gotta play this by ear."
Rachel sighs. "I suppose I'm just being paranoid. I'm just afraid she's going to retreat and she'll be impossible to reach again."
"It is definitely a possibility," Beca agrees. "We just have to keep reminding her that we're here for her, no matter what."
"You're right," Rachel says, keeping her eyes on her lap.
"But?"
"Feel free to mind my own business," Rachel says. "But are you still planning on going to LA this summer?"
"I…"
"Because I don't mean to be a bitch, but if you are, then I… I just worry that Quinn knows that and with what you said the other day about us being family…"
Beca groans and lets her head drop into her hands.
"And I know you meant it," Rachel continues.
Beca is silent.
"I'm sorry," Rachel says. "I've overstepped my bounds. Forget I said anything."
"It's fine Rachel," Beca says, eventually. "It's just… I haven't even had this conversation with Chloe, you know?"
Rachel nods, but then realizes that Beca isn't looking at her. "I do."
"I've been thinking a lot about that lately," Beca continues. "Turns out hanging out at the station late into the night is the perfect time to think about that stuff."
"Well you obviously figured some stuff out," Rachel says. "Chloe said you guys said those three little words to each other."
"Told you that, did she?"
"She was pretty excited, especially since you said it first," Rachel replies.
Beca shrugs. "How can you not love her?"
"But you're still leaving?" Rachel asks tentatively.
"I really don't know anymore, Rachel," Beca replies. "LA is still definitely where I want to be. But at the same time, the thought of leaving Barden and you guys… It honestly makes me feel a little sick."
"Well as your friend, I feel two fold on the issue," Rachel says.
"Two fold?" Beca chuckles.
"Yes," Rachel retorts. "Two fold."
"All right, weirdo, let's hear it then."
"Hmph. Fine. I fully support your dream and the want to make it happen sooner than later. Waiting, especially when it feels like it's literally within your grasp, is extremely difficult. I speak from experience. On the other hand, I must admit I would feel a small bit of resentment towards you and the fact that the three of us and everything else that has encompassed your Barden experience isn't enough. After all, I feel like this has been an amazing year. Especially now with the Bellas being run by someone a lot less strict than that stuck up witch."
Beca chuckles darkly. "You don't mince words, do you?"
It's Rachel turn to shrug. "Ultimately it won't affect your decision."
"Really?"
"No," Rachel says. "You'll figure out which you feel you need more and head in that direction. And I say this, knowing that you still might choose LA over us."
"But you're not angry?"
"Anger and resentment are different, though they do tend to feed each other," Rachel says. "And even if I am, it doesn't mean that I don't understand."
"This is one of the oddest, yet awkward conversations I've ever had," Beca says. "Though I think I can say that about half the conversations I have with you."
"Maybe you should go," Rachel retorts. "You're very mean to me."
"It's not my fault that you're strange," Beca smirks.
"Good riddance in fact," Rachel continues.
"If it helps," Beca says, quietly. "I might love you a little bit too."
Rachel feels her heart melt a little. "Me too."
"Things'll work out the way they're supposed to," Beca says, letting herself lean against Rachel.
"I hope you're right."
"I usually am," Beca smirks.
Rachel can't help but elbow her for that remark.