"Dad what the hell! How can you just sell me off to someone who I don't even know? Do you really despise me that much?" Beca's turning into a human tomato and even more so now that her father just looked at her with that same expressionless face that she usually wears. "Mom! Come on, say something. Tell dad that this isn't necessary." She turned to her mom who is avoiding her gaze.
Beca's father, Owen, stood up and went to his office to retrieve some folders? He placed it on the coffee table in front of Beca.
"Here, look at those pictures yourself. After you're done, tell me again if this is still unnecessary." He said in his awfully calm voice.
Beca picked up the folder and carefully scanned the contents of it. Inside the folder she saw pictures of her sneaking out at night, partying, drinking, and participating in illegal racing. Others are picture of her standing and a woman on her knees, crying. Different pictures, different girls. Damn it.
"But dad I can–"
"No Beca, no more explaining. I think I've seen and heard enough and to be honest I'm tired of cleaning up after your mess."
Owen heaved a heavy sigh, "Look kid, I know I'm not your favorite person right now. But trust me on this one. If after a year you want out, I'll let you do whatever you want to do." He patted Beca's back and waited for her to say something. When he heard nothing, he went to his wife to tell her that he's gonna head to their room first.
"Dad…" Beca managed to croak out before she completely lose sight of her dad's back. When she saw her dad turned to look at her, she tried her best to blurt out the only thing that bugged her when he said the words ' after a year' and 'let you do whatever you want to do'.
"They'll let me go? After a year? Isn't that unfair to her?" she asked, confusion evident on her face.
Owen smiled at her, "Don't worry about it. A year's a long time." He cryptically said which made Beca more confused about the whole thing. "Goodnight, sweetie." Owen kissed her daughter's head and continued his way to the master's bedroom
Beca turned to her mom, Layla, who was still seated at the couch. Layla looked at her and threw her that special smile that is only reserved for her.
"Come here pumpkin," her mom opened her arms and waited for Beca to comply with the hug, "we will never ever make a decision that will put you and your brother into a bad place, okay? You and Bran's our real treasure."
"I'm sorry mom." Beca sighed and looked at Layla. "About all the troubles and headaches I've been constantly giving you guys."
"Oh honey, none of that stuff. We understand, well more like I do." Layla let out a chuckle, "Come on, let's get you to bed. You need to look gorgeous tomorrow. We have to meet with your future wife and in-law."
Beca inhaled a much needed deep breath before she got up and hugged her mom before walking to her room. "Goodnight, mom."
When she entered her room. Well, fuck my life, she thought and flopped down onto her king-sized bed to try and sleep.
Beca groaned when she felt her bed shake and automatically knew who's the culprit. "Ugh dude!" she yelled on her pillow. She felt the shaking stopped and sighed a breath of relief, thinking that the shithead already gave up on waking her up. But just to make sure that Bran's out of her room she cracked open an eye to look around. To her surprise, Bran was waiting for her to do just that before he yanked the curtains open. When a strike of sunlight hit her face she closed her eyes tightly for a second then charged to where her brother was to start their daily wrestling. She tried to put Bran into a headlock but because her brother's practically a giant compared to her, she was the who was put into a headlock. She tried again and again to break free from his grasp only to failed miserably. She felt like she's already lacking oxygen, so she tapped on her brother's arms indicating that she surrenders. When Bran loosened his grip, Beca flipped him over. She twisted his arm and waited for the tap that came just after a few seconds accompanied by a groan.
"That was a low blow Bec." Bran said while stretching his arms.
Beca rolled her eyes, "You just lack training, kiddo." She heard Bran scoffed, "That makes it 34-28, in favor of me." She said smugly.
"Yeah, 'cause you cheated, again." Bran said with narrowed eyes.
Beca huffed, "Nonsense. You coming with us tonight?"
"Nah, that's just adult boring stuff. Besides, I have a date." He's wiggling his brows line a maniac which causes Beca to laugh a little. She saw that it's already 8 am and she still have some commitments that will require her presence so she pushed him out of the door. "Practice safe sex." She said nonchalantly with her blank expression before she slammed the door to his face causing Bran to laugh loudly.
"I will pray for your poor o'l soul tonight!" She heard his brother's voice boomed outside her door.
That's when she realized that no matter what they will decide for tonight, it definitely will change her life. So she reluctantly jumped in shower. After her somehow relaxing shower, she put on her black jeans, gray shirt, black leather jacket and black boots. All that's left to do is her make up, but before she can put on the usual amount of her eyeliner, she decided against it.
I mean it's not as if I need to impress my future wife, right? Right?! Ugh! Fuck me.
She rolled her eyes and put on a little bit of her eyeliner, just the right amount for her not to feel too naked in front of other people.
"Morning guys." Beca said when she saw her parents and walked straight to the cupboard to get her favorite cereal. She saw her dad looking at her like she's some sort of alien. "What?"
"We're meeting with your future wife tonight, sweetie. Make sure you wear something nice."
"Dad this is me, okay? I don't wanna dress girly like and shit for their convenience. Don't worry I'll change into something nicer later." She said while rolling her eyes. "Besides, can't you see I toned my eyeliner down a notch?"
Beca heard her mother snorted so she squinted her eyes and looked at her way. Layla saw how her daughter was looking at her so she wasn't able to hold her laugh anymore.
"Let Beca be, Owen. She has a point, she doesn't need to change who she is for other people to like her. She's amazing as she is." Layla winked at Beca and saw the corner of her lips curved up.
Owen raised his arms up in surrender, "Alright alright. Don't gang up on me. Where the hell is Bran when I need him?" He jokes which earn a few chuckles from his wife and another roll of eyes from Beca.
"Will they be here? Or will it be us going to their place?" Beca asked, sounding genuinely curious.
"We'll meet at Barton's so you better be here before dinner and get ready." Owen answered her question without looking up from the newspaper he's holding.
"Barton's huh? Well that's fancy, good to know I'm to be married off to a wealthy family." Beca commented sarcastically.
"Rebecca" she heard her dad say in a warning tone.
"I'm sorry. It's just –" Beca sighed, "– you gotta understand Dad that this is hard for me. And you know that I respect you and if you think this is what's best for me then okay, I'll try my best to behave and be good."
"That's all we ask, honey." Layla said with that thankful smile on her face.
Owen got up from his seat and stood beside Beca and put his hands on her shoulder, "I'm sorry too, really. But you are going to thank me for this."
"Yeah okay dad, whatever you say. I'm gonna go make sure everything's fine with the garage. Call me later when you guys are ready to go and I'll head back here and just convoy you or whatever. Sounds good?"
"Alright but be careful, okay?"
She threw a wave over her shoulder before she turned ans tilted her head a little to the side; her own way of saying she promise.
The moment Beca stepped out of their house, it's like her whole personality just flipped upside down. Playfulness is being set aside and that is when Beca's I-don't-give-a-fuck-to-anyone face comes out.
In her defense though, this is what she calls 'safety precautions'. Which is why maybe that damned folder consists of craps she can't even remember. Well she can, she's just choosing not to.
It's not like she does not believe in true love. I mean come on, how can she not when she can see the love radiating off of her parents? Beca just hasn't felt that kind of love, yet. Some of her friends, namely – Jesse, Stacie and Fat Amy – ask her absurd questions like "How would you know that none of those girls you hump and dump is not the one for you?" And she'll just answer it with an, "I wouldn't hump and dump her if I know she's the one."
She saw Jesse's car is already parked next to her bike's spot. Beca rolled her eyes, mentally scolding herself for coming in work this early. She can already hear all the questions brewing so she sat by her bike for a while enjoying the calm. In for 6, out for 7.
She jolted forward when she heard a loud honk causing her to fall on her butt. She winces and nurses her butt when she heard Amy snickers.
"You – should've seen – your face" Amy managed to say in between laughs.
"Ha ha real funny." Beca said in a such a deadpan voice.
Stacie came out of the car and put an arm around the Aussie's neck "Be nice, our lil Becs didn't have some last night." She said in playful manner which earned a finger from Beca.
Beca walks into the building before they can ask any questions knowing that Jesse will want to hear her answers too and don't really want to repeat herself again. When she got inside, she went straight to her office and waited for her friends, Jesse included, to settle down. "Ask away."
"So it's really true? The great Beca Mitchell will be off the market soon?" Stacie asked.
Beca shrugged, "Mom and Dad thought it is for the best."
There are rare occasions when they hear Amy talks with her 'serious' voice. This is one of those rare occasions. "So you just go with it? Just like that?"
Before Beca could answer she heard Jesse breathe out a heavy sigh, "Yeah Bec, that doesn't sound like you at all."
And again, all Beca could do was to shrug. "I'm already 27 years old guys, maybe they're right. It's high time for me to settle down and I don't know, live a life worth living?"
"Will it be worth living if you're gonna just doing it because you were forced to do it?" Stacie asked. Being the rational one between them friends, Beca expected these kind of questions from her.
Beca looked at her and smiled a little, "It's not forced dude. I agreed to it."
"Will that mean we can no longer hang out until we can see the sun rising?" Amy whines, seriousness already thrown out the windows.
Beca's little smile grew bigger and let a chuckle slip, "Dude why are being so damn dramatic!" She threw her pencil at Amy direction. "I'm gonna be married, not gonna be fucking detained in a jail cell."
They heard a sniff and turned to the direction of it to see a Jesse weeping, "Isn't that the same thing? Like isn't it even worse than being in a jail cell?"
That's when Beca let out a full belly laugh and three sets of eyes looked at her like she's grown another head. "Beca this is serious, why the fuck are you laughing?" Jesse asked incredulously.
"Come here you big oafs," Beca opened her arms and waited for them to get up on their feet to hug her, because yes it's not often you see Beca Mitchell initiate a hug. After the hug is done, they all settle on the couch and let some minute of silence passed before Beca eventually broke it.
"I'll be fine, alright? Plus, we still have this car business going and the club so you won't have to worry about not seeing my face. And if I did marry some crazy bimbo chick, I suppose I can count on you guys to help me hop on a plane or whatever. Besides, Daddy O said I have an out if I still can't do it after a year."
All of her friends looked at her again like they've seen an alien, "What?"
Amy shakes her head and mumbled something incoherent.
"It's just– we've been friends for years now and that's like the longest sentence you've spoken in one seating." Jesse said in surprise.
Beca chuckled at his statement and hit him on the arm. She then turned to Stacie who had been silent since they sat on the couch. She nudged her, "What's got you thinking Conrad?"
Stacie shrugs, "Who's this lucky lady you're gonna marry again?"
"Oh shit. Yeah about that, I don't know her yet." Beca said in her usual bored tone.
Beca stood up and went to her desk to look at some papers that needs her signature. A faint knock on the door was heard. She paused with what she's doing and looked at her door. "Come on in."
"Miss Mitchell, I'm sorry for the interruption but there's a Natalie Anders at the reception asking for you?" Beca's assistant, Rachel, said in an unsure tone.
Upon hearing the name, Beca's face grew a few shades paler. She's as white as a paper now. "T-that's crazy bimbo chick." When she heard herself stutter, she tried her best to clear her throat and muttered a, "Please, tell her I am dead."
"Hey Rach, don't worry about it. We'll deal with her Beca. Jess, Ames come with me."
"Stace, are you sure?" Beca asked softly which Stacie answered with a wink.
When she heard the door closed again, she let out a frustrated groan, "Can this day be more fun-fucking-tastic than it already is?!" With that she slammed her pen on the desk and walked to her cabinet where she usually stash her alcohol. She took the whiskey but before she could pour some to her glass, she thought it's not a good idea. Instead, she went to the elevator and push the button that indicates rooftop. Once she's on the roof, she took out her cigarettes and started smoking. She doesn't usually smoke, just when she's stress. And today is the epitome of that word.
After finishing her first stick, she walked the remaining steps to stood next to the railing. She wrapped her hands on the metal and closed her eyes. This really is her favorite spot to think and to just breathe. She moved back to the bench that is placed under a big umbrella and laid down on it. Once she felt comfortable, she covered her eyes using her arm.
Am I really ready to give up this life? She sighed again and got up. "You got this, Mitchell. You can do it."
After her pep talk to herself, she dialed Stacie's number. Stacie's voice comes in shortly after a few rings telling her that the coast is clear. And there won't be any crazy girl for a couple of weeks.
"Nothing too serious Bec, just told her that you are on vacation. Japan to be exact." Stacie said nonchalantly.
"So… crazy is going to Japan?"
"Yup, heard her firsthand when she called her assistant to book her a flight to Japan, ASAP."
"O…kay? I-uh will go home early today. Just wanted you to know."
"Oh yeah. Hey Bec, goodluck with the meeting later." Stacie said.
Beca isn't sure but it sounds a little off. Whatever it is Beca just shrugged it off and hang up. She went to her office again to get her helmet and key before telling her assistant that she'll be out and if something important comes up, Jesse, Amy and Stacie will know what to do.
Beca doesn't really have a destination in mind, she just knows that she needs some alone time. So she drives and drives till she feels how hungry she is. Lucky her, she found a diner. Charlie's. That looks good enough. When she entered the diner, she was a bit surprised to see it's jam-packed. She saw a vacant booth. Again, lucky bitch.
She was thinking about what's gonna happen in dinner. Will I like her? Is she beautiful? Maybe dad won't let me marry some crazy woman like that Natalie chick. God dad, I trust your taste. So please.
Beca was pulled out on her thought and jumped a little when she heard a clearing of throat.
"Sorry I didn't mean to–" the woman who was talking to Beca gasped sharply which made her look. Beca didn't expect what she saw, this girl in front of her still looks like an angel who fell down from heaven. "Sorry, come again?" Beca heard the woman said again. She shook her head as she tried to concentrate on what the girl was saying.
Beca cleared her throat again, "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"I was saying sorry, I didn't mean to startle you earlier but then you mumbled something about angels?" The redheaded girl said in a confused yet amused tone.
"Your eyes, they're so… blue." She said quietly but loud enough for the redhead to catch it. Beca saw the woman smiled and it's the most beautiful smile she's ever seen. It seems almost impossible to break the gaze but she knew she had to, so she did. She looked at the menu and saw that they have her favorites, so she went for it. "Uh I'll have a cheesy bacon deluxe and uh strawberry milkshake?"
The redhead's smile was still in place while she jotted down what Beca said. "Would that be all?"
"Uh yeah, thanks…" Beca looked at the woman's nametag, "…Chloe."
Chloe nodded and went to what looked like the kitchen but not without throwing her another look from her shoulder.
"What the hell?" Beca mumbled into herself. For a second there, she felt like she was under a spell. She slapped her forehead, what a fucking idiot. She can't believe it. She made herself look like a fool, blurting out things that weren't supposed to be said.
She was choosing a song from her iPod, trying to get her mind off of a particular redhead when she felt her phone vibrate from her pocket. The screen says it was her mom who was calling. "Yeah mom?"
"Honey, I called the office and said you went out hours ago?" She heard her mom's concerned voice.
"Hours ago?" she asked confusedly, when she took the phone away from her ear to check the time, her eyes widened. "Yeah mom, sorry. I lost track of time while driving. What time are we supposed to go?"
"You know you shouldn't zone out while driving, right? That's dangerous. Where exactly are you right now, young lady?" Uh oh, not the mom voice.
"I uh well, a diner mom. So what time?" Beca asked trying to steer the topic.
"Your dad will be home in an hour and reservations at 6 pm."
All the alarms inside Beca's head was blaring at that point. It's already 4 o'clock. She left her office around noon and have been sitting in this diner for almost half an hour. And this diner isn't even that far so she's been going around for about 3 hours. Damn, I really shouldn't zone out while driving. "Beca, you still there?" Beca heard from the other line.
"Yeah mom. I'll be home in an hour so that I could change and stuff. Bye." She said before she hangs up because she saw red from the corner of her eyes.
"Cheesy bacon deluxe and strawberry milkshake. Is there anything else?" Chloe asked in her cheerful voice.
"Uh yeah, can I have this to-go? I'm sorry I didn't mean to inconvenience you. I just lost track of time and I think I'll be late to a meeting me and my family – my family and I – are going and – now I'm rambling. Okay. I'm gonna shut up now." Beca felt her cheeks heating up because of embarrassment. She looked up however, and saw a rather amused redhead. She scratch the back of her neck, a thing she does when she feels awkward or embarrassed. "Uh so to-go?"
"Mm yeah sure and don't worry, not an inconvenience at all. You know what they say, 'Happy customers, Happy business.'" Chloe said with a wink before picking up the food to wrap it.
Now that wink made Beca blush hard. All hopes of not turning into a human tomato were crushed by that mere wink.
When Chloe came back with her food, already inside a small paper bag. She was still motionless. Like she's turned into a statue. Chloe set the bag on the table in front of her, that seemed to snap her out of daze. "Do I pay here? Or?" She asked.
"Oh don't worry about it. It's on the house." The redhead said. Beca can hear the gentleness in her voice.
"Are you sure? I don't wanna trouble you."
The redhead waved her hands, "Really it's fine."
"Oh, okay. Thank you."
When she stayed seated, the redhead spoke again. "I thought you were running late?" the girl said, amusement evident in her voice.
Beca scrambled up on her chair, almost tripping. "Oh yeah– right. Uh thanks again. And uh see ya later. I mean not later. Soon! I'll probably see you soon. Or you know. I'm rambling again, am I?"
God. Compose yourself Mitchell, damn it. In for 6, out for 7.
"Right. Thanks again for the food. Maybe I'll come back here again, then maybe I can buy you something?"
Beca saw Chloe narrowed her eyes, "Are you asking me out?" Mischief laced voice.
"What? Of course not. I mean no offense. But I uh just wanna repay your kindness and all that stuff." Dude hold your shit together and get the hell outta here, you are fucking digging your own grave. "So I'm really running late. Thank you again uh Chloe." With that being said, she upped and left without waiting for the redhead's reply. She also missed the genuine smile that the redhead threw her way.
On the way home, she's chastising herself mentally. She's back. And I'm getting married to someone else. What the fuck's happening? That was the only thing she has in her mind until she reached their house and walked straight to her room. She took out her phone and typed out the words only her brother will understand.
After that, she jumped in the shower and was thankful that it did help ease her mind. After her quick shower, she found a blue dress in her closet and decided to go with it. She thought her black heels would fit the look and of course, she won't be Beca if she's not wearing a leather jacket.
When she went down to the living room, she saw that her parents are already waiting for her to be finished. When Owen saw what his daughter is wearing, his brows furrowed and looked at his wife who looks just as baffled as he is, "I thought you're not gonna dress up for tonight?"
She rolled her eyes, "I didn't. I just can't find my favorite plaid." She said nonchalantly. She heard a giggle, whoever made the noise, she's not sure but she was certain she heard something.
"Whatever you say Bec. So, I assume you won't be riding your bike?"
"Yup dad, I'm gonna take the Shelby if that's alright?" She said, as if asking for permission.
"You know it's alright. Pops gave it to you and you can do whatever you wanna do with it. You just have to promise to always drive safely and not wreak it again." Her mom reminded her.
"Alright, you ready kiddo?" Owen asked.
In for 6, out for 7. You got this.
"Alright. Let's do this."