Chapter 17: Here's Reality

The rest of the week seemed to go by in a blur. After the conversation with Jake and Johnny everything seemed to relax and they were able to just hang out and have fun.

Chloe and Beca had been able to go on a real date. Chloe took Beca out to dinner, where they were able to be in public together and not worry about anything.

The conversation remained easy and fun. Both teasing each other as well as having very serious conversations about life, and values.

Chloe learned that Beca wanted to go to college to get her degree in music production and composition.

They talked about how Beca had been accepted to a few different colleges but wanted to stay in Barden and go to BU. Chloe wasn't sure if that had to do with her or if Beca just didn't have the finances. She didn't ask.

But now, they sat together on the final night of their time in Seattle. Beca had her head laying comfortably on Choe's shoulder and they were both just absentmindedly staring up at the screen of the tv. Neither actually watching it.

Beca was playing with Chloe's fingers as they did so.

"I don't want this to end." Beca sighed as she laced her fingers with Chloe's and she brought the back of Beca's hand to her lips.

"Me either." Chloe admitted.

Beca was terrified. This had been such a wonderful break of reality that the realization that she had to go back to Barden and back into that world. It was almost too much for her to handle.

"It's going to be okay, Bec." Chloe sighed and planted a kiss on the temple of her head.

"It's weird. I haven't thought about Janelle in almost a week." Beca explained. "I haven't thought of that life, or those people."

"I'm glad you got a little break. It's going to get better though. Soon that'll be something that will become an everyday thing." Chloe promised. She pulled away just enough to look into Beca's. "What are you going to do with everything going on with Janelle?"

Beca took in a deep breath. "I need to talk to the police."

Chloe nodded. She wasn't sure if she should be proud of her or concerned for her. "You're so strong."

Beca shook her head. "I just want this to be different. I want to be away from her and all of her shit. I need it to be over."

"I know and I really want that for you." Chloe explained. "I'm so proud of you."

Beca and Chloe sat there for a little while longer.

"Come on, let's head to bed." Chloe sighed. She then stood up and put her hand out for Beca to take. They laced their fingers together again and headed out of the living room and up to Chloe's bedroom.

The Next Morning

Beca was busying herself with packing up hers and Chloe's bags. She was trying to keep her mind off of everything but the inevitable reality is coming and she was going to have to face it.

Just as she was packing the last item her phone began to ring.

"Hey?" Beca answered.

"Sup Shawshank? How was your week?" Amy's voice called over the phone.

"Don't call me that…" Beca muttered. "It was good, how about you?"

"Mum and I went to New York." Amy stated without elaborating.

"Fun." Beca awkwardly answered. She ran her hand through her hair and stayed silent for a moment. "So uh what's up?"

"Oh right. So mum wants to know where you are and when you'll be back." Amy explained almost as if she had forgotten to talk about that.

"Oh, I'm not really sure when." Beca explained. "It wont be for another few hours at least. But I'll be back before too late tonight."

"I'll let her know." Amy explained, this was followed by Amy screaming. "MUM! She'll be home tonight!"

Beca winced at the volume of her friend. This did however make her smile, she hadn't realized just how much she missed Amy.

"Also, this guy named Carter called about you. Mum said she would have you call him back." Amy explained.

"Oh, I know who you're talking about." Beca nodded her head. "I'll talk to him tomorrow."

Just then Chloe walked back into her room and looked like she was about to say something to Beca but stopped when she saw she was on the phone.

"Is that all, Amy?" Beca asked.

"You better be bringing me something cool back from your top secret Spring Break trip." Amy demanded. This just caused Beca to roll her eyes.

"It's not top secret, Amy." Beca laughed.

"Then why haven't you actually answered the question on where you are?" Amy pointed out.

Damnit… Beca thought to herself. Amy was too damn smart for her own good.

"Oh look at that, gotta go." Beca called over the phone. "See you tonight."

"See ya, Shorty." Amy laughed.

Beca put her phone in her pocket and turned to Chloe.

"How's Amy?" Chloe asked as she walked over to where she was standing directly in front of Beca.

"She's good. Her and Pam went to New York apparently." Beca explained. "Don't know what they did there but I know they went."

Chloe laughed at that. "So what isn't 'top secret'?" Chloe's fingers coming up in air quotes.

"Oh she wants to know where I am and I've been avoiding answering." Beca explains with a shrug of her shoulders. "I don't think she really cares, it's just Amy being Amy."

Chloe nodded her head and a silence filled the room that Beca wasn't used to between them.

"It's going to be hard to go back to pretending like you're just my teacher." Beca sighed, vocalizing what they were both thinking.

Chloe pulled Beca into a hug. "Two more months until you graduate. We can do this."

Beca nodded and pulled apart just a little bit, only to attach her lips to Chloe's.

"We can do this." Beca mumbled against Chloe's lips before pressing them together again for another brief second.

In Beca's mind however she was praying that those words would turn out to be true. She needed them to be.

Xxttwyxx

The flight back to Barden wasn't nearly as exciting and energy filled as the one to Seattle. In fact this one carried a strangeness with it. A level of unspoken dread and anticipation.

Beca and Chloe had both decided that it would be best for Chloe to drop Beca off in their spot at the park so that she can walk to Amy's, instead of going right back to the red heads apartment.

They pulled up in their spot and Chloe put the car in park.

The tears begged to break the surface of Beca's eyes. She lay her head back against the headrest and just looked out at the now flourishing park. It's crazy how much can change in just a week.

"Beca," Chloe's voice cut through the silence. Beca turned to look at her girlfriend and she noticed that Chloe was crying. It broke Beca's heart and the threat of her own tears only grew stronger.

"Babe," Beca put her hand up and brushed away the tears, resting her hand on her cheek. "It's gunna be okay. Like you said, we only have to do this for 2 more months."

Chloe nodded her head. "It just sucks, you know…"

"Trust me, I know." Beca gave a small laugh, her smile seemed to pull one out of Chloe. "I'll text you tonight and then see you tomorrow at school. We can do this, Ms. Beale."

Beca sent Chloe a wink, however the name left a strange unfamiliar feeling in the air. Almost the thing that truly settled the reality of their lives.

"I love you, Bec." Chloe breathed out as she moved and kissed the palm of Beca's hand. Beca smiled easily at her.

"I love you too, Chlo." Beca leaned in and kissed her before getting out of the car.

She knew she needed to leave now or she would never be able to.

"Talk to you later." Beca called as she grabbed her bag and headed off toward Amy's. Forcing herself to stay looking forward.

As she walked away from Chloe, the immediate loneliness crept in and Beca felt most alone then she ever had before.

The Next Day

Beca walked into the kitchen of the Hobart's apartment and smiled to see Pam already busy making food. Beca often wondered how the woman was always so eager to cook food.

"Hey, need help?" Beca asked as she put her backpack on the chair of on of the bar stools.

"Oh no, I'm almost done." Pam smiled at Beca. "You can go see if Amy's up."

Beca nodded her head and made her way to the blonde's room. She knocked before calling.

"Hey, breakfast is almost ready, Ames." She explained.

The door swung up, "Sup shorty. What did you say about breakfast?"

"It's ready." Beca laughed a little. "Come on weirdo."

Amy smiled and headed into the kitchen with her.

After a few minutes all three woman were sitting around the table, eating and talking away the morning.

"Beca, I didn't get the chance to talk to you last night, but this guy named Thomas Carter called he would like to have you call him sometime today." Pam explained to which Beca nodded her head.

"Yeah, I will." Beca explained. "I'll do it after school."

Pam nodded her head but hesitated. Beca knew why.

"Pam, I know why." Beca explained and she saw Pam physically relax. "I was told last Friday before spring break."

"I just wasn't sure if anyone had told you." Pam explained.

"Has anything happened since she was arrested?" Beca asked curiously.

"Not that I'm aware of." She shook her head. Beca looked down at her plate for a moment, trying to focus on something.

"If you'd like I can be there with you if you need to go down to the station." Mrs. Hobart offered to which Beca shook her head.

"No, it's okay." Beca looked into her unofficial adopted mom's eyes. "I appreciate it, but I'm okay. It's something I need to do on my own."

Pam seemed to understand her words and didn't say anything more, but Beca knew that her offer would stand. She couldn't help but smile.

No, it wasn't just the Beale's. Beca had a real family in them and in the Hobart's. It would take her some time to get used to it, but she would.

Chloe's POV

Chloe walked into her classroom and a small smile played across her lips. She had honestly missed this room. The feeling of this school and the smell of the books.

She put her stuff down at her desk and pulled out the planner that held the weeks lesson plan.

Before she allowed herself to get too much into her work she pulled out her phone and smiled as she saw she had a message.

B: You look beautiful today.

Chloe looked around, almost like she expected to see Beca in her room. How had she not seen Beca?

C: Thanks, Can't wait to see you c:

B: 3

Chloe smiled and went back to her work. Now all she could think about was the beautiful brunette. God these two months needed to speed by.

Beca's POV

The stark realization that all of her teachers knew about her… about Janelle, came rolling in at the start of her very first class.

Mr. Swanson was always nice and understanding. But today he was being almost too much. It was like he was trying to subtly see how Beca was doing but the subtlety of it all was just nonexistent. This just left everyone in the room feeling awkward and staring at Beca.

It only got worse from there, each teacher continued to do the same thing.

It wouldn't have been a big deal if Beca hadn't had relatively the exact same schedule as one girl, who wasn't stupid and caught on very quickly that something was going on with Beca.

That realization hit when Beca was at lunch, by herself like normal, when someone came and sat down at her table.

"So spill, what's going on?" The voice of Stacie Conrad jolted Beca out of her train of thought.

Her head popped up and looked at the taller brunette.

Beca didn't mind Stacie. She was smart and fucking hot and never really bothered her. So this was new.

"What?" Beca asked looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Spill it. Why are all the teachers acting like they need to wrap you in bubble wrap and get you your blankie?" Stacie asked as she plucked up a fry from Beca's tray.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Beca feigned ignorance.

"Bull." Stacie countered. She looked at Beca for a moment, almost like she was studying her like some science experiment. "Something's going on with you. I just can't figure out what it is."

Beca didn't know what to make of that comment. "There's nothing to 'figure out' Conrad."

"There's always been something to figure out about you, Beca." Stacie explained. This only confused Beca more.

"What are you talking about?" Beca asked again, this time the ignorance was real. "You don't know me."

"No, not really but I know things about you." Stacie explained. "I know you're at the top of the class, not many people do know that because you're so quiet about how smart you are. I know you're an only child. I know you don't have friends and try to keep to yourself. I know you like music and have a good singing voice. I know that Luke really likes you. I know that most of the girls in school think you're stuck up and most of the guys want to get in your pants…"

Beca chocked on her water at that. How had Stacie noticed all this about her. She didn't believe the last one though. Not that it mattered anyway.

"I also know that you like being in the background, what I don't know is why. I personally think it has something to do with your family. Others think you're just socially inept." Stacie explains. Beca stared at her, wide eyed.

"O..kay." Beca wasn't sure how to respond.

"Most the teachers don't baby you because you don't need it. You're too smart for that shit." Stacie stated. "So, why are they now?"

She didn't know what to say. However she could feel the eyes of everyone in the cafeteria on them. It made Beca very uncomfortable and Stacie seemed to notice that.

"Beca," Stacie lowered her voice, her face turning from playful to serious. "You okay?"

Beca nodded her head. "I'm fine."

"You don't have to do that." Stacie explained. "You don't have to lie and act like nothing bothers you."

"What do you know?" Beca snapped. "No offence but most of those things you 'know' about me are either obvious stuff or just simply not true. You don't know shit about me. So if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone."

Stacie looked at her for a moment before nodding her head. "Whatever you say, Mitchell. You ever need someone to talk to, you can talk to me."

"Why?" Beca found herself asking. "Why do you care?"

"Because I know what it's like to be alone." She stated simply before walking away.

Beca looked at her back in disbelief. She was starting to get really sick of all these ambushing conversations. They made her extremely uncomfortable and it drew unwanted attention.

Beca's day continued in that same pattern. Her teachers treating her like she would break at any moment, the only difference was now she could feel Stacie Conrad's eyes on her, watching her. And was now very aware of the fact that her and Stacie's schedules were the exact same. How had she not noticed that before?

Today had not gone at all how she had planned. She just prayed her last hour of the school day would improve her mood.

She knew that there was at least one teacher who wouldn't treat her like she was shattered.

"That's the bell guys. Take your seats." Ms. Beale ordered from her desk.

Everyone did as they were told. Chloe stood and walked to the front of the class, she smiled out at them. Her eyes momentarily landing on Beca before scanning back across the group.

"It's so good to see you guys again. I missed you all this last week." Chloe explained.

Chloe pulled her barstool over and sat down so she was facing the class.

"So how many of you left Barden for spring break?" She asked and looked around the room. Beca raised her hand slightly and Chloe slightly acknowledged it.

"Wow that's like the full class." Chloe observed.

"What did you do, Ms. B?" Someone called out.

"Rules still apply Mason, you need to raise your hand." Beca fought the smirk that threatened to fill her lips. She loved when Chloe used her teacher voice.

"But to answer your question, I went home to Seattle for the week." She explained.

"You're… op." Mason raised his hand and Chloe smiled at him. She nodded and he continued. "You're from Seattle?"

"I am. Born and raised." Chloe nodded her head. "Anyway, that's enough about me right now. I have a writing assignment for you. I want you to write about something you did or tried for the first time during spring break. Use descriptive words about how it felt, what the smells were, what you saw, who you were with. It needs to be at least two pages and handed in by the end of class."

Josh Andrews raised his hand, to which Chloe acknowledged. "What if we didn't do anything new over spring break?"

"If you didn't do anything new talk about something significant or fun that happened. The same rules apply. I want you to describe it so well I'll feel like I was there with you." Chloe stated. "Write it in your daily journal document and submit it to me with the name 'Spring Break'."

With that Chloe left them all to silently work.

Beca knew exactly what she was going to write about.

She smiled as she finished writing her paper. The final line standing as a statue, high and strong.

Even when all falls apart, it's okay as long as you have someone who's falling with you.

She had talked a little about how all of her spring break was brand-new to her. But she mostly talked about finding a family outside of her blood relatives.

The good thing about this class was that Chloe never made anyone read their papers to the class if they didn't want to. At the top of the page you could put a simple 'y' or 'n' and she would know if she could ask you to read yours. Beca always put an 'n' on hers as writing had become a way for her to escape and had turned far too personal for her to just stand and read.

So even with this one, she submitted it with it's usual 'n' at the top, knowing it only needed to be for Chloe's eyes.

Xxttwyxx

Beca wasn't used to being followed. It wasn't something she'd ever experienced before. But she can tell. She can feel someone looking at her as she walks down the sidewalk.

She didn't want to look behind her out of fear that it would just cause the person to freak out or something. She had no idea who it could be. It could be nothing at all, or it could be one of Theo's men. That thought alone was enough for Beca's heart to begin to race.

She pulled her phone out and called the first person she could think of. After a few rings her voice filled Beca's ears.

"Hey, this is Chloe. Sorry I couldn't come to the phone right now but leave a message and I'll get back to you. Have a beautiful day!"

Beca couldn't help but smile at her girlfriend's cheesiness.

She hung up the phone and texted her instead.

B: Call me when you get a sec.

"Mitchell." The voice stopped Beca in her tracks.

What. The. Fuck.