Chapter 25: To Save A Life
The final few weeks of school seemed to go by in a flash. Beca was shocked as she walked out of her Math class, having just taken her last final of her senior year. With school testing over and only about a week left Beca felt incredibly excited and anxious.
Not only was school about to end but Beca had just been given the dates for her mom and Theo's trials. They would be taking place the week after she graduated.
She was nervous about what was going to happen with them. She really didn't know how it was all going to go and was nervous to find out. But knew that the sooner it all happened the better.
Beca needed closure. She needed to be able to move on with her life. So she felt more at ease that the Trials would be sooner rather than later.
Beca began to walk over to a different table in the lunch room then where she normally went, and sat down next to Emily. Stacie was on the other side of her girlfriend, then next to Stacie was Benji, Ashley, Jessica, CR, and in between Beca and CR was Donald Jr or DJ.
"Hey, Bec." Stacie greeted.
Beca smiled in response. She wasn't really close to anyone other then Stacie and Emily but the others were nice and seemed fun. She really had started to enjoy her time with the group of friends.
"How did your math final go?" Benji asked turning to Beca.
"I think it went good." Beca nodded her head.
"That was your last one, right?" Emily asked, to which Beca nodded.
"Dude you're basically done with high school now!" DJ said as he looked to Stacie and Beca who the group knew had the same schedule.
Beca and Stacie smiled at each other. They really were honestly.
Yeah, they had a week left of school but honestly it was all about graduation prep and the regular old end of school year shit.
"So did you guys get your speech ready?" CR asked and looked at both Stacie and Beca.
"Yeah, mine is ready." Stacie explained. "I have a few more things to just edit but the speech is basically done."
Everyone smiled at her and then turned to Beca.
"Um. Yeah I do." Beca explained. What she didn't tell anyone, other then Mr. Weller, was that she was giving a small talk and then singing for her speech. It was something she wanted to keep a secret for a bit. At least til graduation.
"It's crazy that this is it…" Ashley breathed out. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Em, Benji what are you guys going to do without us next year?" DJ asked in a laugh. Both Benji and Emily were in their Sophomore year.
"We'll make it through together." Emily laughed. Benji nodded and laughed.
The group of friends ate together and talked about summer plans and graduation parties. Beca smiled as she listened to her friends happily talk.
Shortly later the bell rang signaling time to head to their next class.
Stacie and Beca walked together and continued to talk as they went.
It took a lot of time for Beca to get used to having someone to spend her days with during school. But it was also nice. It was good to have someone else there and not be so alone.
Chloe's POV
Chloe stood in front of her final class of the day and smiled as she looked out at all of them.
"Hey guys, find your seats." She called out and sat down on her chair that she had in front of the class room. "So let's talk about some stuff."
Chloe looked around the room. "So happy last Friday of school!"
Everyone cheered at that, causing Chloe to laugh. Next Friday was the day of graduation so there was no school, allowing the seniors to prep for the ceremony.
"So , not only is it the last Friday in here, but for our seniors, it's their last class." Chloe explained.
She watched as all the Seniors looked at each other in shock and confusion.
"What's going on?" Stacie asked in confusion.
"So with graduation coming up all of next week during 7th hour you're going to be doing stuff for that." Chloe explained.
"What! Why can't we do it like first hour?" One of the other seniors asked.
"Seriously though!" Stacie pointed out.
Chloe's eyes scanned over and she noticed Beca nodding her head at that and smirked at the red head.
"Well I'm sorry but Mr. Weller decided that that's when it would make the most sense." She explained. "So with that being said, our non-seniors in this class will be have to go to Mr. Matthews class, because I'm on the graduation board and I have to be at the practices and things."
"Why do we have to practice graduating?" Beca was the one to speak this time and everyone looked over at her in shock, including Chloe. She couldn't help but agree with her honestly.
"Beca's got a point." Stacie added again. Chloe shook her head and laughed at them.
"I know. I know. It seems a little over the top but it's more for the committee, then for you, so they can make sure that everything is set up right and there's no hiccups." The teacher explained. "Anyway, moving on. Since this is the last day we have this class I wanted to do one last writing assignment."
Everyone immediately pulled out their journals. And Chloe stood to move the rolling board to reviele the quote that was written underneath it.
"Beca, will you read this for me?" Chloe asked as she turned to the senior.
Beca smiled and began to read the quote. "'Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.' – Dr. Suess."
"Thank you." Chloe smiled and sat back down on her chair. "So who can guess what our prompt today is going to be?"
Emily raised her hand first so that's who she called on.
"A moment from this year that we now se value in?" Emily suggested.
Chloe smiled at that and nodded her head. "Yeah, that's it. I want you all to think of a moment from this school year, describe that moment, as small and insignificant it felt at the time, and tell me about what you learned from it. Any questions?"
No one spoke and Chloe just nodded her head. "Alright, you have 15 minutes."
After the 15 minutes was over Chloe made her way back to the front of the class and sat down on her stool. "Alright guys, so today I'm going to give us some time to read our entries. So anyone who wants to read part of or all of what they just wrote, or even paraphrase what you wrote, the time is now yours. Just stand up and make sure everyone is kind and respectful of each other."
A few people stood up and shared their entries. No one really read it out but just talked about the moment they wrote about, which Chloe was fine with.
There were only a few minutes left of class and Chloe was about to finish up class when she was surprised to see Beca stand up. Everyone looked at her in shock.
"So uh the thing I wrote about in my journal…" Beca began awkwardly. "Was uh a moment when I let someone in. I don't talk to people and I genuinely don't really want to most of the time. But I developed a friendship with someone because they allowed me to be real and honest with them. It was something that freaked me out but that person ended up completely changing my life. And giving me hope that I never thought was possible."
Beca sat down quickly and everyone clapped for her just like they did for everyone else. Chloe had to fight back the emotions that she was now feeling.
"Thank you guys so much for sharing. I want to also thank you all for such an amazing year!" Chloe said, the emotion breaking into her tone a little but she hoped that everyone just thought it was about the class and not what Beca had just said. "Please take your journals and continue to write in them. Express yourself through words and I know you'll do a lot of amazing things. Thank you for being such an amazing class."
Everyone awed at Chloe's words.
"You're the best, Ms. B!" Jared called out and a bunch of people echoed his response with yeah's and definitely's.
"Thank you guys," Chloe beamed. "I'll see you guys next week around the school."
Just as she finished saying that the bell rang and everyone got up and started walking out of the room. Some stopped and talked to Chloe while others just waved at her and smiled.
Beca's POV
Beca was the last student to clean up her stuff. She just wanted a moment to make sure that Chloe was okay.
"Thanks for everything, Ms. Beale." Beca explained as a few students lingered by the door.
"Of course, Beca. It was a pleasure to have you in my class. You're a really talented writer." Chloe returned in the same maner.
"Thanks." Beca accepted awkwardly. "I'll see ya around the school I guess."
Chloe smiled. "Congratulations on Valedictorian, Beca. You deserve it."
Beca shot her a smile and walked out of the room.
Walking out of the school that day Beca felt a strange sense of finality to it. Yes, she had another week of school but today was basically it. She was all but graduated at this point.
Her mind took her back to just a little over 6 months ago when this whole thing started. When she was walking into that school on a normal day and yet her whole world was flipped upside down. The day Chloe Beale came crashing into her life.
She couldn't help but smile at the memory. Chloe truly was the greatest thing that has ever happened to her.
In that moment, Beca knew that if given the opportunity she would marry Chloe Beale. She would keep Chloe in her life as long as she possibly could.
Beca's thoughts continued to be trained on Chloe as she walked. She didn't realize that someone was following her. Had been following her since she walked out of the school.
It wasn't until she felt a strong pair of arms wrapped themselves around her torso that she was even brought back to reality.
"Fuck!" Beca yelled in surprise.
A strong hand came around her mouth, keeping her from screaming out, and pulled her backward.
Before she could even begin to fight she was thrown into the back of a van. The door slammed closed as soon as she was in.
Beca started to look around frantically, as soon as her eyes landed on a dark figure wearing a mask in the back of the van with her, she felt a sharp pain to the side of her head and everything went black.
XxX
A blinding pain was the first thing Beca registered when she started to come to. Pain. Sharp and concentrated right on her left temple.
Beca tried to open her eyes but wasn't able to. She fought to figure out what the hell was going on.
What do you know? Beca thought to herself. There's pain. In my head. I was probably hit in the head with something. Okay. Um I'm laying down, I think. Whatever I'm on is hard. It's dark, but is it just cuz my eyes are closed or because I'm in a dark room?
Beca continued to list things. The more she focused on her thoughts and surroundings, the sensations she was feeling, the more with it she became and she was finally able to open her eyes.
The room was dim and she was alone. Her hands were tied behind her back and she was laying on her side.
Someone must have been watching her because Beca suddenly heard a door open and close from behind her.
"You're awake. Finally." A gruff, unfamiliar stated. Beca winced at the sheer volume of his words.
Before Beca could say anything she felt her hands untired and then a sharp pull to her head.
He pulled her up to where she was on her knees, and looked up at him. She knew him… Who was he… She'd seen him before, she just knew it.
"So this can be over quickly or painfully. Your choice." The man stated.
"What do you want?" Beca asked, her voice sounded dry and distant.
"You will not step up on that stand against Theo." The man stated. "You agree to do that and not tell anyone about this meeting of ours, you get to leave. You lie and get on the stand anyway, well then your pretty girlfriend is going to be visited next."
Beca felt her heart drop into her stomach. Theo knew about Chloe…
"If you don't agree, you die." The man continued. His last statement came out almost as casually as if he were telling her the weather. "So what's it going to be kid?"
"Tell Theo to go fuck himself." Beca sneered.
She cried in pain as her head shot backward, the instant taste of blood filled her mouth.
Bringing her head forward she stared at him and spit out the blood. She was not backing down. That was not happening.
Xxx
Beca hissed as his fingers dug into her scalp. The pain seared red hot through his touch. But she would not break. She would not back down.
Her eyes closed as she felt the gun press against her head. If this was it. If this was how she was going to die she was going to do it with dignity. She was going to do it while thinking about the only thing that actually mattered to her.
Chloe
Chloe
She just wanted to think about her Chloe.
"I don't wanna do this." His voice was rough, apathetic. "You just agree to his terms, we can both walk away from this."
"Go to hell." Beca breathed out as she glared up at him. He yanked harder on her head and dug the gun further into her temple. She let out a whimper of pain.
"You dumb, Bitch." The man said with a laugh. "You're honestly willing to die over this?"
"You're willing to kill over this?" Beca countered, her voice as even as she could get it.
"What about that girl of yours?" The stranger asked. "You're willing to lose her?"
"Don't you dare bring her into this!" Beca snapped. Her words followed by another loud hiss of pain as he yanked her head back again. The pain radiating from the back of her head and now down her neck.
"Maybe, when I'm done with you, I'll go have my way with her." The man sneered.
"Fuck you!" Beca yelled in anger and cried again as his foot made contact with her back.
"God, I'd be impressed with your resilience if it wasn't placed in such a stupid fucking thing." The man barked in laughter. "You've got guts of steal kid."
Beca wanted so badly to rip that gun out of his hands and shoot him with it.
The tears stung behind her eyes as she closed them, trying to steady herself. She had to stay calm or she was as good as dead.
"So, I'll ask you one more time." The man bent down and whispered in Beca's ear. "What's it going to be? Are you going to get up on that stand? Or are you going to do the smart thing, and leave town and not look back?"
Beca opened her eyes and looked up at him. "If I'm going to die, can I at least do it on my feet?"
He looked at her, a spark of anger flashing through her eyes. "You wanna die standing?"
The man pulled up on Beca's hair. She struggled to her feet but eventually was standing.
He pushed her forward. "Face me!" He ordered.
Beca turned, relieved to no longer have the sting of his fingers digging into her scalp.
"It's a real shame, kid." He stated.
Bringing the gun up to the center of Beca's chest he stared at her for a moment.
Beca closed her eyes. Willing her mind to shut off. Allowing only one thing to come into it. She pictured Chloe. The woman she loved. The woman who had saved her life. Who had changed her.
Chloe was the reason Beca had lived. Truly lived for the first time in her life.
Chloe was the person who taught her what being loved felt like.
Chloe was the only woman she would ever love, truly.
Beca took in a deep breath and resigned herself to her fate.
Just as that realization came, that if she died she'd be okay with it, a loud bang filled her ears. She took in a sharp breath. That was followed by another loud bang.