Hey all, what's up! Update of 2020! Yay! Now we'll just have to wait and see when the next one is. Oh well, on with the show!
Disclaimer:
Aubrey: Welcome Bellas to our sporadic meeting of what to do next! Any suggestions?
Stacie: You know guys, someone last time didn't like our fourth wall breaking disclaimers.
Chloe: What do you mean they didn't like it?
Fat Amy: Yeah, what's not to like? It's got me in it, so it's great!
Lily: I say we go find this person and throw them into a bear trap.
*everyone stares at Lily*
Beca: Sooo.. all in favour of not doing that, sing 'ah'.
All (but Lily): 'aaahhhhh'
Beca: Cool, so we're not doing that. Umm, we'll save that idea for another day, okay Lily.
*Lily nods*
Emily: Can I say the disclaimer? *everyone whips their head around to look at her, and gets subsequent whiplash*
Stacie: When did you get here Legacy? *rubbing her neck*
Emily: Um… Starglow21 does not own the Pitch Perfect Franchise, and the wonderous world that exists within it.
Chloe: Okay, thanks Emily!
Cynthia Rose: But we didn't vote on-
Fat Amy: And on with the story Pitches!
Chapter 13 Rehearsals…Again? Songs on the Radio and Bus Rides
Beca swears her eyes are going to become permanently stuck rolling backwards. They've gone through this set like 1000 times. Seriously, haven't they paid enough for Fat Amy's transgression at Regionals.
"Beca! Are you paying attention?" Beca eye twitches, "Yeah, remind me how much I should pay?" It flew out of Beca's mouth before her mental filter could kick in. The auditorium fell silent. Beca felt the burning stares.
Damage control – and salvation – came in the form of one Chloe Beale. "Beca, Aubrey was just saying how everyone needs to be doing their part and not mess up the group at the Semi Finals in a few days."
"Gotcha Chlo," Beca cowed from Aubrey's glare, but Chloe is shown again to be the group's peacemaker. Chloe's warm smile almost had Beca believing Chloe had liked her joke.
Rehearsing the routine around a dozen more times, the Bellas were set free to stagger back to their rooms. Several of the Bellas fled as soon as Aubrey gave the word.
"Hey Becs, do you wanna hang out together?" Chloe catches Beca's attention before she too could escape the Aubrey Posen tornado. Beca's in desperate need of a shower and a nap, but Chloe's pretty blue eyes compel her. "Sure Chloe. Meet up in half an hour?" The responding smile is blinding, leaving Beca a stumbling mess as she leaves.
When they do meet up, Chloe enthusiastically drags her to the nearby ice cream shop. "Strawberry please!" Beca laughs, of course Chloe picks the ice cream that looks like her hair. "Licorice with chocolate sauce."
As Chloe waits for their ice cream, Beca grabs a table, and pulls out her laptop and earbuds. Chloe joins her, inserting an earbud into her ear. Beca pulls up a few mixes she'd been working on, "Whatcha want? Some rock? Pop? Blues?"
Chloe contemplates, "Let's go with soulful country." Beca just shakes her head, switches they playlist and then selects a song.
BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE
It was a miracle. Flipping randomly between the stations, Beca landed on Barden's channel. She wondered….what if this time, her music would be played. Switching to 95.7 WBJ 'Music for the Independent Mind' (heavy sarcasm there), she received a pleasant surprise.
Beca bolted, flying to the station. Shaking, as she raced across the quad. "Hey, that's my song! You're playing my song!" Beca stormed into the station, nearly bumping into Luke.
Luke's grin makes her heart soar, "It's good. The DJ at the Garage does a good cover but yours? It's better!"
"Yeah it is," Beca's head bopped along to the music. She barely notices Jesse upstairs. Luke's invitation to join him at the club was enticing. Beca could imagine it – dark room, full of people (admittedly not her favourite part), and most importantly, the beating heart of the club, driven by the pounding baseline. The revel in music and how it transported people. And yet, "I can't. I have a thing tonight, the Semifinals".
Luke's mocking tone makes Beca's shoulders hunch – Jesse's poor choice in commentary doesn't help much either. He's been more salty lately, it's not her fault that he can't take a hint. She even takes care to wear beanies and flannel when she's around him. Boys.
Luke heads back into the booth. Beca simply takes a deep breath and turns the volume up. A gentle smile crosses her face as she leans against the wall.
BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE
Beca's wondering if she could risk going to jail again. Bumper's burrito toss did nothing good for the Bellas, and has Beca wondering how she could get away with slashing the tires of their stupid bus. Thankfully it didn't hit Fat Amy's face, neither bruising her or burning her.
"Come on Amy, let's get back into the bus and go." Unsurpisingly, Fat Amy seems more interested in eating the burrito rather than driving. That, and declaring to 'finish Bumper like a cheesecake'.
Aubrey takes one look at them, and orders Fat Amy to go clean up in the gas station's bathroom. When they do finally get back on the road, the calm mood they started the trip with has been shattered. Aubrey's stiff shoulders holds Beca's and Fat Amy's lounges.
When Beca notices that they missed some of the burrito (how the hell did it get behind her ear?), Beca makes sure to ask quietly, wanting to avoid the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (Aubrey).
Once again, they were all saved by Chloe. Seriously, Chloe had to stop doing this – Beca wasn't sure if she could take much more of Chloe Beale being Chloe Beale without wanting to kiss her.
Of course, Miley Cyrus wasn't the greatest…like why… it was only thanks to Alice singing the song for 3 solid months when they were younger that she knew any of the words. Everyone was singing along… and of course Aubrey joined in. For once, she sounded kinda nice… Aubrey's smile warmed Beca's heart. Not by much, but it was the first time in years that Beca felt anything warm towards the blonde.
Beca got her own prompt from everyone… why, she had no idea. It was like she was the main character in a movie or something. But in the name of solidarity (and maybe due to a pair of pretty pleading blue eyes), she too joined in on the song. (Again, thank you Alice for your eardrum rupturing screeching of this song for 3 months)
Dark blue eyes meet green ones. Identical grins stretch across both faces, the world for once in perfect harmony with all its living Bellas.
When they start slowing down, it's startling, yet weirdly not surprising.
"What the hell?" Aubrey's voice contains disbelief and a hint of fear.
"It's actually all cool in fact. We've just run out of gas." The bus comes to a shuddering halt.
"No, that's not possible you just filled up the tank!" Aubrey's voice raises.
"Yeah I did… but maybe I didn't… because I got hit by flying Mexican food." Fat Amy has very little shame, which is always fun to witness.
"What are we going to do?" Beca wonders if she should move away from the windows.
"You know we could call –"
"No Chloe, how dare you even suggest that?" Yup, it's time to scoot away from the windows.
"Actually, that a good idea! I've got Bumper's number somewhere –"
Aubrey interrupts for the second time "WHY do you have Bumper's number?"
Beca chokes on her laughter, as Fat Amy makes nonsensical noises. It get better (or worse, depending on how you see it) when Aubrey's arms just flop onto the seat.
Step-siren does however eventually relent, with Donald taking charge and driving back for them. They board the bus, and Jesse clearly tries to flirt with her. Chloe's next to her, so she does her best to ignore the boy and curls into the redhead's side.
BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE
Chloe's this close to strangling Jesse. The only thing stopping her is that Aubrey would then strangle her if she was sent to jail. That, and the fact that Beca is cuddling with her, so she settles for shooting the freshman a smug grin instead.
Of course Fat Amy and Bumper banter – Chloe can just see the steam rising out of Aubrey's ears. It's a shame – they were all getting along so well.
For once, Aubrey didn't look at Beca like she was the devil's incarnate. For once, Aubrey saw Beca the way she saw Alice – a valued member of her family, both real and a capella ones.
But now Aubrey looked every inch the general's daughter. Chloe prayed to any deity she could think of that any of the girls wouldn't do something rash during their set.
Beca shifts against her. Chloe looks down to see the brunette offering her an earbud. Smiling, she accepts, letting her mind be filled with fascinating remixes borne of the mind of one Beca Mitchell.
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