Chapter 21: Warren Mitchell

Walking into the building Warren looked around in awe. These halls were the halls he had walked down when he was a teenager and it was like walking down memory lane as nothing had changed.

It was all the same.

It made Warren smile to know that Beca was here. He made him feel somewhat connected to her.

The anger built inside him again. He had been so angry for the last three years. He had been upset and angry at the way Janelle had treated the whole divorce. But this last two weeks had been absolute hell. The anger had only grown.

When Warren had been called by Officer Carter two weeks ago, informing him that Janelle had been arrested, the anger and hurt had boiled over. It was only made worse when later on he was told about the charges Beca was pressing against Janelle.

He had been working to get down to Barden but wasn't able to leave as soon as he found out and Beca wouldn't answer his calls. But he was here now. He was here now and he was going to be here for his daughter.

"Hi, can I help you?" The office Secritary asked as Warren walked in.

"Hi, I'm Warren Mitchell, I need to pull my daughter, Rebecca Mitchell out of school for the rest of the day." Warren explained.

The secretary gave him a look and raised her eyebrow. "I'm sorry but I'm going to need to talk to Mr. Weller about that."

"Who's Mr. Weller?" Warren asked in confusion.

"He's the Principal here." The woman explained. "We've been given some strict instruction regarding Beca and he needs to be made aware of anyone coming in asking about her."

"Of course, I understand." Warren nodded his head. "I'd actually really like to talk to Mr. Weller, if that's possible."

"Right, let me go see if he's busy." The woman stood up and walked further back into the office, leaving Warren alone for a few minutes.

It didn't take long for the secretary to come back. "Mr. Weller would like to speak with you. If you'll follow me."

Warren walked back with her and headed into an office. A man was sitting there and stood up as soon as they walked in.

"Mr. Mitchell, please come in." Mr. Weller smiled and put his hand out for Warren, who took it and gave it a firm shake.

"Mr. Weller," Warren nodded.

"Please, have a seat." Mr. Weller gestured. The two men sat and the woman excused herself to go back to the office, as it had been left unattended. "So, what can I do for you, Mr. Mitchell?"

"It's actually Dr. Mitchell, but please just call me Warren." Warren smiled.

"Right, Warren." Mr. Weller smiled and nodded.

"I just need to pick my daughter up from school." Warren explained. "I just barely got to town today and I haven't seen her in almost four years."

"Are you here in regards to what's been going on with Janelle?" The school Principal asked.

"I came back for my daughter." He stated. "What Janelle has decided to do is on her own shoulders. I'm here to support Beca through this mess."

Mr. Weller nodded. "Well, school is nearly over, would it be possible to wait until the end of the day to speak with her?"

"I'd prefer to do it now. I have some pressing matters to attend to after school lets out and I just really need to see my daughter." Warren stated. The pressing matters was a lie. But Weller didn't need to know that.

"Right, well I can take you down to her." Mr. Weller stood up and he and Warren walked out of the office. "She's in Creative Writing with Ms. Beale right now."

Warren nodded his head and followed the man down the hall and to the English and Literature wing of the school.

They walked all the way down until they were at the end of the hall. Weller turned to the left and opened the classroom door.

"So when you write, we need to make sure we are describing, not just telling. I don't want to read, it's hot." A woman's voice could be heard once the door was open. Warren looked over to see a red headed woman standing at the front of the classroom, who stopped talking when Mr. Weller walked in. She turned her attention to him.

The two adults whispered back and forth to each other for a few minutes, low enough that Warren couldn't make out what they were saying. But his eyes were wandering around the students in the class, when they landed on Beca in the back of the room. Her head was down, so he wasn't sure if she'd seen him yet or not.

His eyes watered slightly as he looked at her. She'd grown up so much in the years he hadn't seen her.

Warren did blame himself for that. It wasn't just Janelle. He should have fought harder. Done more. He shouldn't have left like he did and he sure as hell shouldn't have stayed away as long as he had.

Now after everything, he barely even recognized her.

She was so different.

"Beca, can you please grab your stuff." The woman called out. Beca's head snapped up and she looked at her teacher and the principal with confusion written on her face.

"Oh uh, yeah…" Beca said the confusion evident in her tone. "Am I leaving?"

"Yes," Mr. Weller nodded.

She started clearing her desk off and putting it in her backpack but stopped when she spotted Warren standing in the doorway.

Her face went from confusion to shock.

Warren sent her a soft smile, that wasn't returned.

Beca continued to put her stuff in her back and eventually stood up and walked toward the front of the room.

She whispered something to Mr. Weller and the writing teacher, Warren was unable to make out what she had said but was confused as Mr. Weller shook his head and Ms. Beale the teacher, put her hand on Beca's shoulder and sent her a soft smile. Beca ducked her head and moved out of the touch.

She shook her head but followed Mr. Weller out of the room regardless.

Beca just looked at Warren, and didn't say a word to him. The three of them walked down the hall in an awkward silence.

"I'll let Mrs. Harper know that you're checking out, Beca." Mr. Weller explained. "Why don't you head to your locker and get what you need. You can meet your dad at the front office."

"Sure." Beca spoke for the first time. She looked at Warren one last time, her expression unreadable, and walked away from the two men.

"Is she okay?" Warren asked the principal when they were alone.

"Beca's quiet." Weller explained. "She sticks to herself and gets her work done. That's basically what she's known for in the school, quiet and smart. I think this whole thing with Janelle has just really took a tole on her and brought unwanted attention to her."

Warren nodded. Beca had always been a bit of a quiet, antisocial person but she just seemed so… different. So much less happy. The sparkle in her eyes was gone.

"Do you know who she's been staying with?" Warren asked. "I went by the apartment earlier today and it looks like no one's been in there in weeks."

"I'm not sure. In talking with Officer Carter I was made aware that she doesn't have to report where she's staying or who she's staying with due to her being 18." Weller explained. "I tried to find out as many of our staff members have been worried about her well being. Including Ms. Beale, the teacher you just saw."

Warren nodded, unsure what to say.

Beca came back a few minutes later, sent a look at Warren, and continued to walk toward the front doors. Warren basically had to run after her.

"Beca, wait." Warren called. She ignored him and walked out the door and down the steps of the school.

"Beca." Warren called and ran up, putting his hand on her shoulder. Beca visibly flinched and spun around and out of his grasp.

"What the fuck are you doing here!?" She yelled at him. The pain and anger encompassed every one of her features. "What do you want?"

"Beca, I'm here for you." Warren sighed. "I'm so sorry, I should have been here sooner."

"You're damn right you should have! Like four fucking years sooner." Beca yelled in anger. "Just leave. I don't need you here."

"I know." Warren nodded his head. "I know okay. I screwed up. I'm so sorry."

"Sorry doesn't change what happened." Beca countered. "Sorry doesn't erase all the shit they did to me."

Warren felt the tears brim his eyes. "Bec, honey I'm… I wish I could do something to fix this. To change the past. To fight harder for you."

"Fight harder for me? Are you serious?" Beca laughed humorlessly. "That would mean you fought at all for me."

"I did." Warren whispered and put his head down. "I swear I did."

"Really? Then why haven't I heard form you in nearly four years?" Beca asked bitterly. "Why didn't you ever answer my calls or write me back? I never heard from you after you got married. Was it that easy to forget about me?"

The pain filled Warren's heart. Of course Janelle would have played him out to be the bad guy to Beca. Of course she wouldn't have told Beca how Warren offered to let her move to Seattle with him and Sheila. Or again when he moved to New York two years ago. Of course, she would keep all that from her and let her think that Warren gave up on her.

"That's not true." Warren sighed. "I tried. I tried so many times to contact you. I tried to get her to let you come stay the summer with me and Sheila. Beca I… I took her to court on more then one occasion fighting her on our custody agreement. She didn't comply with it. She kept telling me that you didn't want to talk to me, that you hated me. If that's true. If it was your choice to not talk to me, I get it. But don't doubt that I tried. I did everything I could think to do."

Beca looked at him with a questioning look in her eyes, almost like she was unsure if she should believe him.

"Even if she did that. And I don't doubt that she did." Beca's voice had lost all it's heat but she was no longer looking up at him. "Even if it's true, why didn't you come. Why didn't you save me?"

The pain in her voice was the breaking point as the tears spilled out of his eyes. He hesitated but reached out and put his hand on Beca's shoulder. She tensed but didn't pull away.

"If I had known." Warren's voice broke, the anger and hurt filling his tone. "God, if I had known I would have been here. I would have stopped her."

Beca looked up at him, tears brimming her own eyes. "So why didn't you?"

Beca backed up away from him and turned, so she wasn't facing him.

"Look, I get it, okay. I get that you couldn't possibly have known. But dad I… I don't need your help." Beca stated. She looked up at him. "You can go back to Seattle now."

"Come back home with me." Warren suggested. Beca looked at him in shock.

"What?" She asked, a hint of a laugh in her tone. "Are you insane?"

Warren looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm not just leaving Barden." Beca stated, the anger back in her tone.

"Beca, I'm in New York City now, there's so many amazing opportunities for you there. You can do so much more there then in Barden." Warren explained. "We can rebuild our relationship. You can meet your sister."

Beca's eyes widened at his words. She let out a humorless laugh. "Jesus Christ… My mom's insane and my dad's a dumbass. I really am destined to be just a massive fuck up…"

Warren looked at her with a raised eyebrow, not sure what to make of her outburst.

"Just…" Beca began and sighed heavily. "Just go back to your family, Warren."

The use of his first name stung. It was fair and he knew it but it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

"You are part of my family, Bec." Warren stated.

Beca took in a deep breath. "Look, I know you feel obligated to be here. Okay I get it. You're not a bad guy. But I'm not your problem. Don't feel like you have to be here for me. I'm fine. I have a place to stay, and people who are looking after me. I'm going to graduate, then go to BU on a full ride and start my life. You can go home and be with the ones you really want to be with."

Warren looked at her in surprised. "You're going to BU on a full ride?"

Beca simply nodded her head. He smiled at her.

"That's awesome, Beca." He smiled brightly. "You must have worked so incredibly hard to earn that."

Beca nodded again, unsure what to say.

"Beca, you aren't a problem to me." Warren stated. "You're my daughter. I know I've been a really shitty dad to you. I know. And I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make up for that. For not being there for you. I know that saying I'm sorry isn't going to take back the horrors you've been through. But please, just let me try to make this right."

Beca looked at him questioningly. "How do you want to do that? And it's not going to be me moving to New York or Seattle or anything like that. I'm from Barden and I'm staying in Barden."

"That's fair." Warren nodded his head. "Can we start with dinner?"

Beca thought for a moment before nodding her own head. "Yeah, I guess we can do that."

Warren smiled genuinely.

"Why did you pull me out of school?" Beca asked curiously. "And my favorite class too."

Warren laughed slightly and raised his eyebrow. "Wouldn't have pegged you for the creative writing type?"

"Honestly I wasn't until this year. I've just found a lot of escape through writing." Beca explained.

"That teacher, she looked pretty young." Warren observed as he and Beca walked out to the parking lot and to his car.

"Yeah, she just graduated from college. She's actually just technically a sub right now but I'm pretty certain she's going to stay on next year as the actual teacher." Beca explained. "Ms. Beale's a really good teacher."

"Seems like it." Warren nodded his head. They both slid into their seats in the rental car. "You wanna head to my hotel room so I can check in and then we can go find something to eat?"

Beca smiled over at him. "Yeah, that's fine."

They drove in silence for a moment. It wasn't exactly an awkward silence but it wasn't comfortable either.

"Beca, are you staying somewhere safe?" Warren asked. He didn't feel like he really had the right to parent her. Yes, he was her father, but he had also been absent from her life and admittedly did not know that much about his daughter anymore.

"Yeah," Beca nodded her head. "I'm staying with my friend Amy and her mom."

"I'm glad you have someone you can be with." He smiled at her. "But if you want, I can stay in Barden. Rent an apartment for the rest of the school year."

Beca shook her head. "No, it's okay. You need to be with Sheila and your daughter."

Beca's face seemed to wince at the last word. It hurt him to know that there might be some ill feelings about his other daughter Sam.

"I do still want you to come visit." Warren explained. "Not to stay, but just like for a weekend or something."

"I'll think about it." Beca stated, showing that she really didn't want to talk about it.

"Fair enough." He explained and continued to drive. "So uh do you still work on your music?"

Beca looked at him cautiously. Music used to be their thing. It used to be one of the biggest connections they shared.

Beca fell in love with music because of her dad and he was the only one who ever encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a music producer. That is until she met Luke and then Chloe. But they were the only three people who really knew about Beca's passion.

"Yeah." Beca nodded her head awkwardly. "Yeah, that's what I'm going to study when I go to BU."

"Good." Warren stated, happiness evident in his tone. "I'm glad."

Beca looked over at him and he looked at her for a moment as well before turning his eyes back to the road.

Beca sighed and pulled out her phone, as they drove in silence.

She smiled as she read something but didn't make to say what it was about to Warren. He did however notice how broken her phone.

"We need to get you a new phone." Warren observed. Beca looked up at him.

"Oh, no it's okay. It's my fault." Beca explained.

"What happened?" He asked, noticing how the front screen was completely shattered.

"I uh…" Beca stopped and laughed a little to herself. "I might of thrown it across the room in anger."

Warren's face turned from one of shock to laughter. "When did that happen?"

"Two days ago." Beca said with a hint of a laugh and ran her hands awkwardly through her hair.

"Something with your mom?" Warren asked turning serious.

"Janelle." Beca corrected. "And yeah."

Warren nodded. He couldn't help but think how incredibly lonely Beca must be. How sad it is that two of the people she's supposed to be closest two, that are supposed to be her parents she feels like she has to refer to them by their first names as if she's not even familiar with them. It made the pain in his heart grow and the guilt become increasingly more undeniable.

"We can go see about getting you a new one after dinner." Warren explained.

"No, like I said, it's fine." Beca stated. Her tone wasn't angry but there was definitely a sense of finality to it. "I don't want you to buy me a new phone."

Warren looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Beca, you're gunna cut your hand up with that thing."

"I appreciate the offer." Beca stated meeting his eyes with her own steel eyes. "But I don't want you coming in and just buying me shit."

Suddenly he understood what Beca was worried about.

"Becs that's not…" Warren began. "That's not what I'm trying to do. I'm not trying to buy back your trust."

"It's just a phone." Beca stated simply.

"You're right. It is just a phone." He nodded. "But if we're going to be able to talk while you're here, and I do want to, then we're gunna need to get you something that isn't capable of skinning you alive."

Beca chuckled at the stupid joke but didn't say anything for a while.

"I guess uh…" She began after the silence had gone on for at least three minutes. "I guess if you don't mind. But like I don't want to be like in debt to you or take advantage of you so I'll pay you back when I can."

Warren wanted to protest and tell her she didn't have to pay him back, but he could tell it was important to her. "Okay. If that's what will make you feel better."

"It will." She said with a curt nod of her head.

"Then phone shopping after dinner it is." He smiled at her.

This was going to be okay. It was going to work itself out. It had to. Right?

Warren just hoped it wasn't too late. He just hoped that Janelle hadn't completely destroyed his daughter. The girl he knew. Who was quirky and sarcastic and loved stupid dad jokes. The girl who sang like an angle and just shined when she was creating music.

He just hoped that his Beca was still in there, past all the scars and pain.

Chloe's POV

Chloe watched as her last class filed out of her room for the day. But was interested to see that Stacie and Emily were hanging back.

She knew that both the girls knew about Beca's mom being in jail. She's not sure if they know to what extent Beca was involved but they must know that the other knows as well.

So when the classroom is finally empty but the three of them Chloe stands from her desk and walks over to where they are.

"What's up girls?" Chloe asked curiously.

She sat down on the top of one of the desks and looked between the two girls, reminding herself that Ms. Beale doesn't know about their involvement in her student, Beca Mitchell's life.

"We're worried about Beca." Stacie stated, rather matter-of-factly.

Chloe nodded her head. "And why is that?"

"We know that her mom was arrested and we know that all of the teachers know." Stacie stated, basically telling Chloe she can drop the ignorance act.

"Girls, that's not something I can openly talk about with other students." Chloe explained.

"Can we just ask you something?" Emily was the one to speak this time. Chloe nodded for her to continue. "Who was that man that came in here with Mr. Weller? And why was she taken out of school?"

Chloe sighed. She was super worried about what had happened earlier as well.

"That was her dad." Chloe explained. "I'm not sure why he was taking her out of school though."

Stacie and Emily shared a look. And Stacie turned back to Chloe.

"Ms. Beale?" She asked.

"Yeah?" Chloe asked turning her attention back to the senior.

"Beca's a good person, who's faced a lot of shi… crap in her life." Stacie explained, catching herself on the swear word. This caused Chloe to smile a little. "I just… I worry that she doesn't have very many people actually in her corner."

Chloe nodded and sighed. "I understand your worry. Trust me, I'm worried about her too."

Way more so then you know. Chloe thought to herself.

"I think the best thing you can do for Beca is make sure she knows you're there for her. That you'll support her through whatever." Chloe explained. "She's the type of person who I can tell doesn't like feeling pushed into talking, but even juts being there for her. Sitting in silence together. It's something powerful."

The girls nodded.

"Thanks, Ms. B." Emily smiled at her and Stacie nodded in agreement.

"Have a good rest of your day." CHleo smiled at them, hoping they would take the hint. She really just wanted to have some alone time and send Beca a text. Making sure she was okay.

The two students walked out of the classroom. Chloe quickly pulled her phone out of her pocket and clicked on Beca's contact info.

C: Hey, let me know that you're okay. Was that really your dad?

C: Call me when you get a sec.

C: Love you!

She put her phone down and sat in her desk chair with a huff.

Chloe was extremely worried about Beca. After her breakdown a few days ago they hadn't really had the chance to talk. She was hoping they would be able to do that tonight.

She just wanted Beca to be happy.

And god she just wanted this whole mess to be over. Beca didn't deserve this shit.

No one did. But especially not Beca.