Chapter 23: A Father's Lies

Chloe's POV

Chloe, Jesse, and Aubrey sat together in the teacher lounge one morning before school.

"Can you believe this school year is almost over?" Jesse mused. "I swear it just started."

"I feel like it's not going to end." Aubrey huffed with a hint of a laugh. "How has this semester been for you, Chlo?"

Chloe shook her head and gave a small laugh. "It's been unlike anything I've ever thought it would be."

That was honest. Chloe had never imagined her life taking the turns it has. She never would have imagined when she first accepted the job at Barden as a sub that she would not only would she end up loving every aspect of it, she would end up finding the love of her life in one of her students.

In fact if you had told Chloe when she first started this job, this is how her life was going to look, she would have laughed in your face.

"Well, things are gonna get pretty crazy." Jesse explained. "Especially for the Seniors. With testing and the Thesis deadline coming up everyone's going to be ridiculously busy. Including us teachers."

"I can imagine." Chloe nodded her head.

"So, I feel like we haven't talked much." Aubrey stated. "What's going on? Anything new in your life?"

Chloe thought for a moment. The only new stuff in her life had to do with Beca. It's not like she could talk about that stuff. "Not really. Just work and home. I don't really do much outside of being here."

"You need to get out of the house, Chlo." Aubrey laughed.

"You're probably right." Chleo laughed but knew that it wouldn't happen. The only person Chloe need and wanted to talk to was Beca. She didn't need anything else in her life.

"We just need to find you a boyfriend or girlfriend or something." Jesse said thoughtfully.

"No, I'm good." Chloe shook her head and laughed slightly. "I've got it covered."

She didn't realize what she had said before it was too late. Her face morphing into one of shock… What the hell had she just done?

"Chloe, do you have something you wanna share with the class?" Aubrey asked with a raised eyebrow.

Chloe opened her mouth to say something when the first Bell rang. "Well, I'll see you guys later." She rushed out and left the teachers lounge before the other two teachers could say anything.

Beca's POV

Beca and Warren had talked everyday for the last three days and today was the final day he would be in town for a few weeks. He had promised that he would keep in contact with her and that he would come back soon.

On his last night they had decided they would do dinner again. Beca met him at the restaurant and smiled as she walked toward him.

Things were still pretty awkward between the father and daughter. It was definitely going to take more then just a few days to fix their broken relationship.

Beca knew this. And in all honesty she was okay with it as she still had concerns about Warren Mitchell.

Beca nodded at her dad, in a form of greeting before taking her seat.

"How was school today?" Warren asked as he poured her a glass of water from the pitcher that was left on the table by a waiter.

"It was good." Beca smiled in thanks. "I had a test for my English class that I feel pretty good about and Bio we have a project coming up."

Beca continued to talk about her school day and her dad attentively listened as she did so.

Their diner went by smoothly for the first half. It wasn't until they were about halfway through their meals that things took an interesting turn.

Warren's phone, which was on the table, began to ring and Beca noticed it was Sheila who was calling.

"You can take that." Beca nodded.

Warren just shook his head. "It's alright. I'll call her back later."

"Seriously, it's fine." Beca said with a small laugh.

Warren looked at her for a moment before picking up the phone and answering it.

"Hello?" He spoke into the phone.

"No. No it's fine." Warren continued. "Yes, it went well. I should know with in the next few weeks."

Beca face changed from content to one of confusion.

"Nope, I'll be home tomorrow morning." Warren continued. He wasn't looking at Beca so didn't see the strange expression on her face. "Yes. Kiss Sam for me. Love you too."

Warren hung up the phone and looked up to Beca, who was looking at him with a now unreadable expression.

"You okay? Warren asked concerned.

"You're here for a job interview?" Beca asked.

Beca didn't make it a habit to overhear people's privet conversations. But apparently her dad couldn't hear worth shit because his phone was loud, even when it wasn't on speaker phone.

"What?" He asked in confusion.

"Sheila, she asked about your job interview." Beca said as a statement and not a question.

"Bec…" Warren began but stopped as he really didn't know what to say.

"Does she even know about me?" Beca asked. "Does she know that you're here with me? Or is this really about a job interview?"

Warren's face twisted from confusion to worry. "Beca, there is no job interview. I'm here for you."

"Oh, so I'm such an embarrassment that you lied to your wife about coming to see me. Your daughter." Beca barked back. "Does she even know I exist?"

Warren didn't answer. But honestly he didn't have to. The look on his face spoke volumes.

"Wow." Beca sighed. "Okay then."

Beca shook her head and stood up.

"Beca, wait." Warren sighed.

She just looked back at him, shook his head, and continued to walk away.

"Bec!" Warren stood up and followed after her.

Others in the restaurant were looking at them as Warren rushed after her.

"Beca, wait a minute! Let me explain." He called out. Beca stopped in her tracks in the middle of the restaurant. She flipped around and the rage and hurt that filled her face reminded Warren of Janelle. So much of Janelle, but there was something different about it as well. Something far more fragile. Less rough around the edges, and more honest.

"Fuck you." Beca breathed out, not bothering to even care who was watching them. "I told you. I told you to go home. That you were off the hook from being my father. I told you I was fine! So just go back to your family! Go back to the daughter that you actually want, Warren!"

"Beca that's not true." Warren sighed as he took a few steps closer to Beca, who only backed further away.

"Your wife, doesn't even know you have another daughter!" Beca yelled in anger. "Jesus Christ, if that doesn't scream embarrassed, what the hell does!?"

"Just let me explain, please." Warren sounded broken. The look on his face screamed sorrow. But Beca didn't care.

"Explain what?" Beca asked. "Forget it. I don't need you in my life. I have survived this long without you. I'll be fine. Just… Go."

With that Beca flipped back around, brushed away the tears that had begun to fall and left the restaurant. Not bothering to look back at Warren once as she left.

Chloe's POV

Chloe sat at her kitchen table, laptop in front of her. Her fingers resting, motionless on the keys. It had been a long time since she'd been able to write. Like actually write and tonight she was going to make the first steps to actually writing her book.

Taking in a deep breath, she began to type.

The words seemed to flow out of her mind, through her fingers, and onto the computer screen. She smiled as she went. The words almost writing themselves.

Soon before she knew it she was finishing up the very first chapter of what would eventually become her novel. The novel she'd been wanting to write since she was a teenager.

Yes, she knew it would change and look different but she felt like she could breath a sigh of relief. She'd done it. She'd actually taken her first step to writing it. If was like she could feel a physical weight being lifted off her shoulders.

Smile, Chloe saved her progress and turned to her phone, that had sat abandoned for the last hour or so. She looked at it to that she had four missed calls and a bunch of texts, all from Beca.

B: Hey call me.

B: I need to talk to you, please call me back.

B: Chlo, I'm coming over. Please call me.

B: I'm freaking out. Oh my god I'm so fucking stupid…

Chloe hurriedly clicked on Beca's contact information and called her.

"Chlo?" Beca's voice filled her ears after a moment.

"Beca, where are you?" Chloe asked, worry lacing her tone.

"Park." Beca stated, not bothering to explain further.

"I'm on my way." Chloe rushed to put her shoes on. "Baby, are you okay?"

"I uh…" Beca began but couldn't seem to find the words. "I just really need you right now."

"I'm on my way, baby." Chloe promised. "I'll be there in five minutes. I am so sorry. I was writing and didn't even hear my phone."

"It's okay." Chloe could hear a change in Beca's tone. It was one she had never heard before and couldn't quite figure out what to call it. Almost, like betrayal. But it didn't feel like it was directed to Chloe.

What did Warren do?

That was Chloe's first thought. Beca was supposed to be at dinner with him. Something bad must have happened.

"I'll be right there, Bec." Chloe promised again. "I love you."

"I love you too." Beca sighed and Chloe could hear the emotion in her tone.

Chloe isn't a fast driver. She generally follows the speed limits but not this time. This time all she cared about was getting to the park. She just needed to find Beca.

She pulled into the parking lot, that her and Beca would meet in and looked around. She couldn't see Beca anywhere.

Fear began to fill her heart but immediately dissipated as soon as her eyes landed on Beca, who was walking toward her car.

Chloe immediately got out of the car and ran up to her.

"Beca, are you okay?" She asked as she pulled the younger girl into her arms. Beca seemed to just sink into her embrace.

"I'm so stupid." Beca whispered in such a small tone, one that just broke Chloe's heart.

"What happened?" Chloe asked as she placed a kiss ontop of Beca's head.

"Can we go home?" Beca asked, to which Chloe quickly nodded and they walked over to Chloe's car.

Beca remained quiet the entire drive back to Chloe's apartment, but never let go of her girlfriends' hand. She didn't cry or really show any emotion at all but Chloe could tell that something was very clearly wrong.

Once back at the apartment, Beca and Chloe immediately headed for the couch together. Chloe sat down first and pulled Beca over to her, who followed Chloe's lead without even a second thought.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Chloe asked after a few minutes of silence. Her head was resting on Beca's should. Beca's back was resting against the front of Chloe's right shoulder and her head leaned against the red heads'.

"He uh lied." Beca explained meekly.

"Your dad?" Chloe asked.

"Yeah." The brunette gave a slight nod as she continued. "Apparently his wife doesn't even know I exist. He told her he was here for a job interview or whatever… Sheila doesn't even know he has another daughter. Like… he claims he fought for me but he never even told her about me."

The tears began to stream down Beca's face.

"God, I'm so fucking stupid…" Beca laughed humorlessly. "To think that one of my parent's would give an actual fuck about me…"

Chloe didn't know what to say. She really, genuinely didn't. Her heart ached for Beca and she wanted so badly to slap the shit out of Warren Mitchell.

How could someone as amazing as Beca have parents this shitty? Like for fucks sake… She really was dealt the shittiest hand.

"I am so sorry that he lied to you, Bec." Chloe sighed as she placed a soft kiss on her shoulder. "That wasn't right."

"You would think that I would have learned to stop trusting people so fucking easily." Beca bit back.

"Of course you trusted him, Beca. He's your father. He should have treated you a hell of a lot better then that." Chloe explained. "Beca, baby look at me."

Beca turned slightly so she could see Chloe. "I promise you that I will never lie to you. I will always tell you the truth, even if I know it will hurt."

Tears filled Beca's eyes and she nodded her head.

"I love you so much," Chloe whispered as she pulled Beca into a hug.

Beca cried into Chloe's shoulder and held onto her.

It was in this moment that Beca knew there was only one person she could truly trust, other then herself, and that was Chloe.

Chloe would be the only person she let in and that was perfectly fine with Beca. It meant she was less likely to be hurt or let down.

"I love you," Beca muttered into Chloe's neck as she held onto her girlfriend, her entire world. Her safety.

Two Weeks Later

Warren had tried many times to contact Beca and they all went unanswered. Beca had decided that Chloe was the only person that Beca really needed or wanted in her life.

Yes there was Amy and Mrs. Hobart but they had just informed Beca that they were moving back to Australia after the end of the school year so Beca was losing them too. Mrs. Hobart had offered to let Beca come with them but that was honestly not something she really wanted to do.

She loved Barden. This was where her future school was. This was where the love of her life was.

She wasn't leaving.

Beca decided that her best thing to do would be to put her head down and push through the last month and a half of her senior year.

She buried herself into her Senior Thesis. She spent most of her time either at school or at Chloe's apartment.

She stopped going to the support group and didn't talk to Stacie or Emily. She barely talked to Amy and her mom and that was just to tell them that she was safe.

Chloe was the only person she wanted in her life.

Beca could tell Chloe was worried about her, but also seemed to respect that there were somethings that Beca just didn't want to talk about.

Even now as they sit in silence, in Chloe's living room working, Beca can tell Chloe is watching her. Not in like a creepy, stalkery way. But just a sort of checking up on her kind of thing.

"Chlo, I'm fine." Beca sighed as she felt Chloe's eyes on the back of her head for the millionth time in the last hour.

"What? I didn't say anything." Chloe mumbled as if she wasn't just staring at Beca. The brunette turned and smirked at her girlfriend.

"I didn't say you said something." Beca pointed out. "But you have been watching my like hawk over there."

"I have not." Chloe laughed lightly.

"Babe," Beca sighed. She put her laptop down on the coffee table and stood up, making her way over to where Chloe sat. She sat down and pulled her legs up, resting her head on Chloe's shoulder. "I am okay."

"I know." Chloe sighed. "I just can't help but worry about you."

"I know, and I love you so much for caring." Beca explained as she moved her head and placed a soft kiss on Chloe's neck.

Chloe smiled at the touch. "Can I say something?"

Beca looked lifted up her head. "Of course."

"I really think you should consider going back to the support group." Chloe explained. Beca didn't really react so Chloe decided to continue. "I know that you are struggling right now, Bec, and I really think they helped you feel less alone."

Beca didn't respond as she rested her head back on Chloe's shoulder. She took in a deep breath. "I'll think about it. But no promises."

"That's all I ask." Chloe smiled as she turned her head and planted a soft kiss on the top of Beca's head.