Chapter 38
THE DORCHESTER, LONDON, ENGLAND
Harris was too excited for the proposal that he already mentioned bits of it during dinner. James, Andrew, Stella, and of course, Chloe found it to be an excellent idea. Not only do they get inspiration to do their respective art, they would also be helping Beca and Jesse get more publicity for Helping Hands.
"You know, Rebecca, I would like to thank you for considering us as a partner for your upcoming project…" Harris stated.
"Don't overdo it, Harris." Beca snickered. "I heard about your causes too, and I would like to work with someone who has the same cause as mine. It would be easier."
"I can assure you that my team would feature Helping Hands at its best." He boasted.
"I don't have any doubts with your team, Harris." Beca commented. "I just want the best for my organization." She added.
"Well, everything seems to be settled then?" Harris grinned. "You and I… Strokes and Helping Hands…"
"Everything is not settled unless we have the paperwork." Jesse interrupted. "We would still need to go over terms for the collaboration."
"Yes. Yes." Harris assured Jesse and Beca. "Chloe would drop them off by your hotel tomorrow."
"We won't be staying longer, Harris." Beca replied. "Jesse, you see, has business trips in line for his dad. We're flying out of London tomorrow…"
"That won't be a problem." Harris didn't mind the overlapping of schedules. "Chloe could go to your office."
"We don't have an office here." Jesse stated. "It's in New York."
"Then, as soon as the papers are ready, Chloe would fly out to New York to hand them to you." Harris stated.
Upon hearing Harris' suggestion, Chloe choked on her drink. "Me? Head to New York?"
"That won't be necessary, Harris." Beca interrupted. "We'll see how we could fix Jesse's schedule, and maybe we could make adjustments… You know, so Chloe won't have to fly out to New York."
"I agree." Jesse stated. "We'll just let you know, alright? No rush." He added.
"Well, if that's the case then, if you ever find yourself back in London in a day or two, maybe we could take you to our gallery. We would love to show you around. Right, guys?" Harris turned to his friends who were listening to the conversation all along.
"Yes! Absolutely!" Each replied in unison.
"Thank you." Beca smiled in acknowledgment. "We'll try to make time."
"I'll be looking forward to that." Harris grinned.
The dinner went on smoothly as expected. Chloe and Beca didn't have direct interactions, and Jesse was relieved. He didn't want to escort Beca out of a dinner nor make Chloe look like a fool infront of her colleagues.
"You know what, we should take them out for drinks tonight." James suggested. He looked at Harris with hopeful eyes.
"No. No. I don't think it would be good for Rebecca and Jesse since they have important business to attend to in the morning." Harris hesitated.
"Well, why don't we ask them?" James whispered before he turned to Beca who sat opposite him. "Miss Mitchell, would it be alright we take you to that bar infront of The Dorchester?"
"Uhm.. I don't really drink so…" Beca replied shyly. "You could ask Jesse…"
"Sir?" James directed his gaze to Jesse.
"Uh…" Everyone was awaiting Jesse's response. He didn't want to drink but he didn't want to be rude to decline. "I think a few drinks would be okay?" He looked at Beca at mumbled a "Sorry."
James rejoiced, since Beca would still be tagging along. Andrew, Stella and Chloe knew that they had to be there too, since Harris would be joining them as courtesy.
Chloe was still in a state of shock since she saw Beca. She studied Beca all through out dinner, and yes, Beca was still the same Beca she knew back in Atlanta. She was still the same intelligent woman she loved-the same person who still holds her heart.
Chloe itched for a conversation with Beca, but based on dinner, there was no way she could get close to the brunette. Harris, Beca and Jesse were so into the discussion of the proposed collaboration. In addition, when there was an opportunity for Chloe to strike up a conversation with Beca, James would be ahead of her-his crush on Beca already becoming too obvious for everyone to see.
She secretly hoped that she would be able to talk to Beca before they fly out. She wanted to explain, or even, apologize. And by tagging along for drinks after dinner was the perfect plan A.
RUE BOURBON, LONDON, ENGLAND
As soon as they entered, Beca eyed the stage. "Live band, huh. I love bars with live bands." She turned to Harris who laughed at her comment.
"You never changed, Mitchell." Harris laughed. "I remember how we used to spend free days around live bands. I assume you still sing?"
"Don't you dare ask me to sing." Beca shook her head. "Last time I sang in a bar, it was…"
"It was?" Harris pressed for more.
"It was for someone special." Beca admitted.
"Oh well." Harris sighed as he handed Beca her iced tea. "We win some, we lose some, eh?"
"Right." Beca said as she took the drink from Harris.
Harris and Beca separated themselves from the group to catch up. Jesse was so caught up talking to James, Andrew and Stella-they asked him more about Beca, of course, but Jesse didn't mind. Chloe was there too, standing close by but she was subtly glancing at Harris and Beca by the bar.
As soon as James rounded up Andrew and Stella to dance, Jesse decided to have a quick one on one with Chloe.
"It was really nice to see you, Chloe." Jesse stated. "Man, 3 years without any contact from you."
"I know. Unbelievable how I managed to do it, right?" Chloe replied without tearing her eyes away from Beca who was into the conversation with Harris. "So, you and Beca…"
"No. No." Jesse quickly replied. He knew what Chloe was thinking. "We never got back together. I mean, I have fully accepted that best friends are all that we could ever be." He grinned. "Will always love her though."
"Oh. I assumed that you probably got back together." Chloe stated. "I saw covers and pictures on the magazines, you know." She chuckled.
"Enough about me. Tell me what happened to you." Jesse was straight forward. "3 years was a long time, Chloe. You cut of communication from everyone else, except for Aubrey. And of course, Aubrey won't tell." He confronted Chloe now that he had the chance to without Beca standing beside him. "We were all rooting for you and your dreams, Chloe. But…"
"I'm a terrible person. I know." Chloe admitted. "I'm sorry. I wish I could turn back time." She sighed. "Maybe I thought that I would be bothering you guys if ever I'd reach out when I had no one else to talk to, or maybe I'd hurt Beca more if I continue our relationship…" Chloe couldn't find the right words to make it all okay, but Jesse continued to listen. "I was so scared, I guess."
Jesse nodded his head and urged Chloe to continue. "Go on. I'm listening."
"I was a mess, Jesse. I hurt Beca." Chloe held back a sob. "I hurt everyone else, and I was just too scared to know if whether you'll let me back in your lives again."
"You will always be welcome in my life, Chlo… You know that… You're like the sister I never had, remember?" Jesse looked at Chloe with comforting eyes. "I'm not mad at you, I was just curious how come it was easy for you to cut us off."
"I thought it was the easy way to make it through my life here." Chloe stated. "Start all over. But, I never forgot each and everyone of you." She added.
"Of course. Most especially her." Jesse eyed Beca who was still conversing with Harris, and Chloe seemed to get the message.
"Yes." Chloe admitted. "I still hurt her, either way."
"I'm not denying that." Jesse snickered.
Jesse studied at how Chloe looked at Beca-still full of admiration and love. "You still love her."
"Too obvious?" Chloe giggled.
"Not much." Jesse replied sarcastically.
"Jesse, is she mad at me?" The redhead asked.
"You know, I think it's better if you figure it out yourself." Jesse suggested. "Here. Take this to her." Jesse handed Chloe his glass of champagne. "Tell her that I want her to taste it. Beca's a fan of champagnes, you know that. Tell her it's one of the best I've tasted for tonight."
"I can't do this right now, Jesse." Chloe didn't take the glass, she didn't want to. "I'm not ready to go one on one with her."
"Chloe. If not now, when? You're both searching for answers." Jesse argued. "C'mon, take it." He forced the glass into Chloe's hands. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes." Chloe replied. "I do."
"Then, do it. Go over there and interrupt that conversation Beca and Harris is having. You have to save her from the boredom she's experiencing right now." Jesse winked at the redhead.
"Thanks, Jesse." Chloe hugged her friend.
"Don't thank me yet." Jesse whispered back. "Just go over there and do yourself a favor." He stated as he walked away to be out of Beca's sight.
Chloe nervously walked over to the bar where Harris and Beca were currently in. She could overhear Harris talking about their Boarding School days, and Beca enthusiastically agreeing to what the man is saying.
She didn't want to be rude, but she knew that Jesse was right.
If she still wants Beca in her life, and considering the collaboration that they are bound to work on, she had to do something-for strokes, and for herself as well.
"Chloe!" Harris pulled the redhead out of her thoughts. "I was looking for you."
"Oh… I was with the group." Chloe's voice was shaking, and she could feel Beca's eyes on her. "Uhm…" She turned to Beca now, and she wanted to chicken out as soon as Beca met her eyes. "Jesse was telling me about this champagne." She held up the glass. "And he told me that you should try it out." Chloe handed it to the brunette, and hoped that Beca would take it. "He says it's the best champagne that he had for tonight." Chloe smiled to ease the awkwardness. "So, care to try it?"
"Jesse, eh?" Harris looked around the bar. "I didn't know he's a fan of wines. Might as well have a conversation with the lad." Harris laughed. "Excuse me, ladies."
Beca continued to sit still and eyed the glass that Chloe was handing out to her. Chloe was still hoping that Beca would take it from her, and when the brunette slowly held out her hand to take it, she was nothing but relieved.
The brunette took a small sip, and Chloe couldn't help but smile.
"Is everything alright?" Beca asked.
"Uhm. Yeah." Chloe nodded. "I'm just glad that you took it. It's going to be embarrassing, if you don't."
Beca didn't say anything, but she fixed how she sat on the stool. She put the glass down, and searched the bar for anything to interest her.
"Beca…" Chloe sighed. "I was hoping that we both could talk?"
"About what?" Beca turned to the redhead. "We already talked about the papers. You don't need to go to New York."
"Not about that." Chloe sat beside the brunette. "I want to talk about us."
"Oh." Beca snickered. "That."
"Yeah." Chloe fumbled with her hands. "I just want to apologize, you know…"
"For fighting for your dreams?" Beca interrupted. "You don't apologize for your dreams, Chloe." She added.
"Not only that…" Chloe bit her lower lip. "For… cutting you off… for 3 years…"
"Thanks for reminding me." Beca grinned.
"You have the right to be mad at me." Chloe stated. "I completely understand."
"Look, to set things straight. Number one, I am not mad at you for fighting for your dreams. Everyone fights for their dreams, it's human nature. Number two…" Beca sighed. "I can't believe we're doing this right now, but okay, since you're here and you brought me champagne, might as well go with it… So, yeah, number two, I'm okay, really. I'm just hurt you know, I was not informed that I would be losing my girlfriend and one of my best friends at the same time."
"Beca…. I'm so sorry, okay?"
"No need. It's all in the past." Beca shrugged. "I learned how to move on, like you did. What I don't really understand was the "cutting Beca off" part. I mean, were you even aware that even after the break-up, I reached out to you? But from you, there was nothing? Actually, since we're talking about this, I'll probably lay all my cards on the table now…" Beca put up her arguing face on, and Chloe knew how serious things were going to get. "Honestly, I was hurt on how you could easily drop me off, like that. I don't know, I was a fool to assume that you'll be willing to do long distance, or maybe you'd fight for us, like how I fought for you infront of my parents…" Beca was teary-eyed but she still went on. "But, don't get me wrong, I understood that it was on me too, since I disallowed you to defer-I could live with that. But cutting me off, Chloe? Completely? That, I do not understand."
Chloe was now crying, and no matter how hard she tried to hold back tears, she couldn't. "I'm so sorry, Beca. I have no words but sorry. I'm selfish, I know. And, I know that I do not have the right to hurt you, but I still did." She sobbed. "You should know that there was never a day that went by, without me thinking of you. You were everywhere to me, Beca. And, I don't know, maybe I was too scared that whenever I would think of you, it would make me forget what I was here for."
"That's complete bullshit." Beca muttered.
"I know. You can judge me all you want. But, it's the truth. It was the least thing I could do to save me from myself." Chloe admitted. "I did it to help me live with what I chose. And I was an idiot to think of the effects of my own doing. I completely and utterly lost you when I cut off ties with you. And, seeing you right now… here, in London…" Chloe wiped her tears falling. "… is a living proof of a missed opportunity I refused to take or fight for… Because, last time I checked, you should be here in London…" Chloe sobbed. "..with me."
It was as if something with Chloe's words had something to do with how Beca currently loosened up. She stared at Chloe who was sitting beside her, her face buried with her hands, completely broken. Beca was not someone who held grudges after finding out an acceptable reason for a person's shortcoming.
She held out her red handkerchief for Chloe to take. Chloe eyed it for a long time-she had to double check if it was really Beca handing it out to her.
"Come on, take it." Beca urged the redhead. "You don't want to completely ruin your make up, do you?"
Chloe gladly took the handkerchief and wiped her tears with it. "Thanks, but you didn't have to, you know."
"You know me, Chloe. I'm a nice person." Beca grinned. "I couldn't really hold a grudge against a person."
"Not even me? Who completely hurt you?" Chloe asked.
"I forgave my dad. Isn't that enough proof?" Beca smiled.
"Does that mean that you forgive me?" Chloe's eyes glistened, as she looked at Beca. "Because, if you don't, it's alright, it's my fault anyway, but you know how I don't give up easily…"
"Whoa. Slow down!" Beca chuckled. "Of course, I forgive you, Beale. It's been 3 years. I guess I just needed to hear your side."
"Really? We could be friends again?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know. You tell me… Can you be friends with your ex?" Beca laughed.
"Well, I can…" Chloe seriously replied. "Especially if I want her back in my life again."
"It's going to take me a long time to get used to you all over again though." The brunette admitted.
"It's alright. Uhm, we could take it easy… Baby steps…" Chloe lightened up the mood. "But that's okay if you don't want me to waltz into your life again."
Beca kept quiet, and it bothered Chloe. She thought that Beca was only forced to forgive her due to the pending project, or maybe out of courtesy. "Beca?"
"Yeah?"
"Will you let me in again?" Chloe asked. "Let me be a part of your life?"
Beca stared at the ocean blue eyes looking at her intently. She couldn't resist Chloe's blue orbs ever since Barden. "Yeah. But…" Beca mumbled. "Like I said, I would have to get used to you all over again."
"I completely understand." Chloe couldn't stop the smile on her face. "Like I said, we'll take it one step at a time. Like you know… how we used to." She added.
"That…" Beca smiled. "sounds nice."
"So, what do you say? Friends?" Chloe extended her left hand for Beca to take.
Beca paused for a moment before she took Chloe's hand to shake. It made Chloe really nervous though. But, when Beca took it and she felt Beca's skin on hers again, made it all right. "Friends." Beca replied.
"Thank you so much, Beca." Chloe unexpectedly pulled the brunette into a warm embrace.
Beca, on the other hand, being the awkward person she is at hugs, had no choice but to linger. She didn't know whether to hug Chloe back or not, but when Chloe felt Beca's hands on her back, the redhead knew it was going to be a start of something new-something beautiful like it once was.
Jesse saw the exchange, and he maintained his position- close enough for Chloe to see him, but not too close to interrupt the two girls. He smiled at Chloe who was able glance at him during the hug because he was really proud of how it turned out.
Jesse raised his glass at Chloe's direction-his grin was the usual Jesse grin everyone loved.
Chloe saw the act, and smiled in return. She really appreciated how Jesse urged her to talk to Beca that night-if it weren't for Jesse, she and Beca wouldn't be where they are right now. They were friends. Again.
She wanted to run and engulf Jesse in a huge bear hug, but she couldn't let go of Beca that moment. Instead, she looked at Jesse and mouthed a sincere "Thank You" which Jesse returned with a mouthed "Always."
Chloe felt whole again-it may not be much, but she'd rather have Beca back in her life as a friend than not have Beca in her life at all.
Now that they were friends and would start over again, Chloe took a mental note of how to win her girl's heart like how she did before.
She was positive that they would pass being friends.
It was just a matter of how, and most of all, when.
Of course, she almost forgot the most important one of all-she has to find out if Beca still feels the same way after 3 long years.
Is still her after 3 years? Was it always her?
Chloe needed to know.
And again, just like the old days, Chloe was back to being hopeful.
She hoped that Beca's feelings never faded nor went away. She hoped it never did.
A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews for the pervious chapter. I appreciate them all!
So… They're friends again! Do you think Beca still has feelings for Chloe? Because, evidently, Chloe still does have feelings for Beca.
Also, tell me how should Chloe win Beca back? x