CHAPTER 2:
One week later, Stacie came home with a very sad face.
"Hey, Mom. I'm home," Stacie said, bummed.
"Why the long face?" Stacie's mom asked.
"I just got fired," Stacie said.
"Awww, I'm sorry," Stacie's mom said, hugging her.
"Thank you. I needed that job so I can afford to raise Bella," Stacie said.
"I understand. But if you need help finding another job, I have an idea for you," Stacie's mom said.
"I'm listening," Stacie said.
"Before I explain, I hope you wouldn't mind having to move," Stacie's mom said as Stacie's phone rang.
"Hold that thought, Mom," Stacie said as Aubrey was calling with a FaceTime request. She answered.
"Hey, Stacie," Aubrey said.
"Hey, Aubrey. How've you been?" Stacie asked.
"Chad and I just moved into our new home in Paramus," Aubrey said.
"New Jersey?" Stacie asked.
"Yeah. We wanted to live someplace close to some of the other Bellas," Aubrey said.
"At times like this I could use being around our fellow Bellas," Stacie said.
"Is everything okay?" Aubrey asked.
"Not really. I got fired today," Stacie said.
"Sorry to hear that," Aubrey said.
"Thanks. My mom is talking to me about moving someplace else to look for a new job," Stacie said.
"Well, there are plenty of homes available here in New Jersey. Why not look for a place here," Aubrey suggested.
"That's a wonderful idea. I'm going to go talk to my mom about it right now," Stacie said.
"If you move here, I can definitely help you look for another job," Aubrey said.
"I would appreciate that. I'll call you later when I know what I'll be doing," Stacie said.
"Talk to you later," Aubrey said as she hung up.
"Sorry about that mom. Did you have someplace in mind you wanted to move to?" Stacie asked.
"Well, after overhearing you on the phone, I was thinking if it's New Jersey you'd want to move to, that could be arranged," Stacie's mom said.
"Really?! Oh my god, Mom, you are the best!" Stacie said as she and her mom hugged.
"I care that my daughter and my granddaughter are happy, and if my daughter wants to live close to her friends, we'll make it happen," Stacie's mom said.
"Thank you so much. The Bellas will be so happy to see me, and even Aubrey offered to help me find a new job," Stacie explained.
"Well, let's look at what's available, and then we'll move within a couple of weeks," Stacie's mom suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," Stacie said.
Two weeks later in mid-October, Stacie, her mom, and Bella moved into an apartment in Trenton, New Jersey. Hours after Stacie got settled into her new place, she texted her address to Aubrey who showed up three hours later. When Aubrey showed up, she knocked on the front door and Stacie answered.
"Hey, Aubrey. Come on in," Stacie said as Aubrey entered the apartment.
"Nice place you got here," Aubrey said as she and Stacie sat down on the couch.
"Thanks. I will admit moving to a new city can be overwhelming at first, but if it means living close to the other Bellas, then it's totally worth it," Stacie said.
"I agree. When Chad and I moved to Paramus, it was a big first step for us. But at the same time, it's great getting to meet up with other Bellas," Aubrey said.
"Yeah. I'll be spending the next week looking at things to do around the city. Maybe you could take me job hunting while I'm at it," Stacie suggested.
"Sounds like a plan. You tell me if you see anything that might interest you and we'll look into it," Aubrey said.
"Yeah. I have some ideas in mind, but I'll have to see if they're even available to offer," Stacie said.
"Well, can you name a few?" Aubrey asked.
"I could be a barista," Stacie said, imagining herself behind a counter at a Starbucks.
"Okay, but I think you could do better than that," Aubrey said.
"Alright, well maybe I could get a job as a bartender," Stacie said, thinking about corkscrews and wine bottles.
"Maybe...that is if you don't mind being out till 2 a.m. serving drinks. But maybe you should look for a job during the day," Aubrey said as Stacie thought hard until an idea popped out.
"I GOT IT! You know how I'm a rather good dancer, right?" Stacie asked.
"How could I not forget?! Your dancing skills during those Bellas competitions were amazing," Aubrey acknowledged.
"Exactly! So maybe I could get a job as a dance instructor," Stacie suggested.
"O.M.G.! Stacie that's a wonderful idea!" Aubrey said.
"You really think so?" Stacie asked.
"Totally!" Aubrey said.
"Well, in that case, how about tomorrow we drive around looking at dance studios that have job openings," Stacie suggested.
"Sounds like a plan. I'll pick you up at 10 a.m. tomorrow," Aubrey said.
Stacie did get a job at a dance studio teaching. Her students ranged between the ages of six and twelve. It was a full-time job so she was able to earn enough money to keep supporting her daughter Bella. The studio she worked at was only a few blocks from her apartment, so she could easily walk to work and back.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: In case you were wondering what job Stacie got fired from, please refer to what CinemaSins would call the "my life sucks" montage from the third movie.