Ditched
"I'll be right back, just have to use the bathroom." Is what Nick Watkins, Stacie's date, had said ten minutes ago.
Now here she is sitting alone in a fancy steakhouse all dressed up feeling awkward and embarrassed. She sighs as she checks the time on her phone and watches people smile and enjoy their dinners. The more Stacie looked around the restaurant and saw people on dates, hanging out or just catching something to eat made her feel worse and worse. She was contemplating just leaving but realized the food was already ordered and most likely wasn't going to be cheap by any means. She placed her head in her hand and took a deep breath. As she was talking to herself mentally, she heard the chair across from her move as if someone sat down.
However, it wasn't Nick, no it was Beca.
"Why the long face princess?" Beca asked with a smirk as she leaned back on the chair crossing her arms across her chest.
Stacie looked up "Great, as if this night can't get any worse for me." Stacie mumbled as she looked towards the shorter girl.
Stacie had to admit Beca did look stunning. She was used to Beca having a more casual look then other females.
Beca who was wearing a ribbed burgundy mock neck cropped tank top with a black leather jacket, black ripped skinny jeans to go with her black and red combat boots. Her hair was curled at the ends and she clearly put more effort than normal into her makeup.
Beca chuckled "Aww is someone not happy to see me?" She asked in a mockingly sweet voice.
"What do you think Mitchell? Look I don't why you're here or what game you're playing, but I'm not in the mood to deal with it. Just please leave me to my date." Stacie said.
Beca pouted "Boo, your no fun."
"I swear to God, Beca get your tiny ass out of my dates chair." Stacie said in a sharp hush tone.
This was quite possibly the worst-case scenario for Stacie right now. Having Beca, the girl who she didn't even know if she could call a friend, sitting there when she had most likely just got ditched. See the thing with these two is they share the same friend group but yet Beca always gives Stacie a hard time. Sure, Beca gives everyone a hard time and has that "I don't care" attitude to go along with her "Mean girl/Rebel" persona, but Stacie always seems to get the worst of it. Beca constantly acts as if she couldn't care less about the taller girl but at the same time is always there when she needs help. Stacie wishes she could call Beca a friend because in Stacie's eyes, despite the way Beca is, Beca is her best friend.
"Let's see what kind of taste this "date" of yours has." Beca said as she examined what the boy ordered.
"T-Bone, I prefer a sirloin or ribeye." She said as she cut into it "Well done? Hate to break it to you, but this kid has problems. Everyone knows medium rare is the only way you eat a steak." Beca said with a shake of the head "Fries and garlic mashed, geez someone loves their potatoes." Beca said eating a couple of fries.
"Bec-" Stacie stared as Beca raised her hand.
"Iced tea? Oh, come on Conrad, have better taste in who you agree to go on a date with." Beca groaned.
Stacie, who was sure she'd have strangled this girl by now if they were alone, quickly leaned in closer.
"Mitchell what in the actual fuck are you up to? In case you haven't noticed I don't need your help. I'm on a date if you haven't noticed and the last thing I need in this world is for you to fuck this up. Now leave." Stacie said.
Beca raised her eyebrows due to the fact she's never seen Stacie so fired up.
"Feisty. I like this side of you, you should let it out more." Beca commented.
"It only comes out when I'm around your agitating, annoying, bitchy sarcastic ass." Stacie said.
"Wow tell me how you really feel." Beca said.
"Leave before my date comes back. That's what I feel." Stacie said.
Beca nodded "Right, you mean the date that ditched you? Or stood you up? Which one do you prefer?" Beca asked.
Stacie who tried to hide her shocked expression looked taken back "What are you taking about? He just went to the bathroom." She said defensively.
"That was about what? Fifteen minutes ago now?" Beca asked checking her watch.
"How the hell do you even know?" Stacie asked.
"Well, I arrived about twenty minutes ago, saw the two of you here. Ordered a drink and drank it, that took about three minutes. Spent the other two observing and then he left, now here we are." Beca recapped.
"So, you were spying on me?" Stacie asked.
Beca shrugged "Spying, looking after, protecting or watching. Whatever works for you."
"Why do that?" Stacie asked eyeing the girl suspiciously.
"I didn't trust jolly old Saint Nick." Beca joked.
"What did he ever do for you not to trust him?" Stacie asked.
"Be best friends with Bumper and the rest of the fuck boys." Beca answered as she ate another fry "Jessie told me Nick has a tendency of pressuring girls to sleep with him after he takes them to some fancy dinner and well, I didn't like that, so you know." Beca shrugged.
"No, I don't know Beca, what are you trying to say?" Stacie asked.
Beca sighed "I simply told him that if he tried anything then he will have problems trying to have sex if you catch my drift. That always seems to scare guys away." Beca answered.
Stacie nodded "So you're telling me he just wanted to sleep with me?"
Beca nodded slowly "It would appear so, if not then he'd still be here."
Stacie just nodded and looked down fidgeting with her napkin. Not only did she feel awkward but now she feels stupid. Stupid for believing that Nick could be different from the other guys she's dated. Stupid for being excited for this date. But she wasn't going to be stupid and let Beca enjoy her misery.
"So what? Come here to bask in the glory of me getting embarrassed? Want to take a video of me being sad for your enjoyment? Or are you going to use this as new material to make my life hell on earth? If that's the case then fuck this and you, I'm not giving you the satisfaction. Not today Mitchell." Stacie said harshly.
Beca raised her hands "Easy princess. Relax and loosen that tiara." Beca said calmly "I'm not here for any of that. Like I said earlier I came here to make sure he didn't try anything, and I guess he must have noticed me and dipped. I swear on everything that I only wanted to ensure your safety." Beca said.
"But why? You don't like me; you pretty much hate my ass. Why do you care? You've said it yourself, "We're not friends Stacie" ring a bell?" Stacie asked mocking the many times Beca has said that over the years.
Beca sighed "I don't hate you."
Stacie didn't say anything she just looked at Beca giving her a look to continue.
"Look Stace, I know I'm a bitch to pretty much everyone except for Emily. I know how I am and how I always come off as if I don't care about you or the rest of the crew but that couldn't be farther from the truth. In reality I actually do care for you, to the point where I'd kill for you. Besides Emily I feel like you're the only other person I truly have in my life and can count on." Beca said letting her nerves show and her vulnerability.
"Then why do you make it seem like you hate me?" Stacie asked softly.
"You remember how when we were all little kids, and the boys would pick and tease the girls that they had crushes on?" Beca asked.
Stacie nodded.
"Well, that's what this is. I hid my feelings behind this act because I don't get close to people. Getting close to people means opening up and opening up means giving people the chance to use your struggles and insecurities against you. I've seen it happen to my parents and when they got divorced so when I was in middle school made a promise to myself that I would never give anyone that chance." Beca said finally opening up.
Stacie sat there and took all this in. In the now three years of knowing Beca since transferring high schools, she'd never seen Beca be this open and vulnerable. She'd always wondered if the girl had anything she was hiding and now it was just pouring out.
"You know I'd never do that right? Or the others?" Stacie said.
Beca nodded "I know. I just never wanted to take the chance."
"What made you change your mind?" Stacie asked.
"Isn't it obvious? You." Beca answered.
"Me?" Stacie asked confused.
Beca nodded "I like you Stace. Like a lot. That's why I'm always quick to act when it comes to standing up for you. Like I said I may act bitchy to you and give you a hard time but that's just how I show my love and affection, I know that doesn't really make sense but that's just how I'm wired. I may act like that, but I'll be dammed if I let someone take advantage of you and hurt you." Beca answered.
Stacie, who was a bit, stunned at this confession wasn't sure what to say so she just said the first thing that came to mind.
"Thank you for that. For always looking out for me and telling me how you feel." Stacie said.
The two sat there in silence for a few before Beca cleared her throat.
"Uh seeing as your looking beautiful and we're here for a date, do you mind if I'm your date for the night?" Beca asked hesitantly.
Stacie smirked "Is the Beca Mitchell asking me out?"
"Yes? If that's ok. If not then it's totally fine, I can just pay for the meal and take you home. You may not even like girls and that's cool I don't want to make you feel weird and what not. Oh god this is bad, please say something before I keep rambling." Beca said desperately.
Stacie laughed "Your cute when you ramble you know that? But yes, I'd love to be your date tonight."
Beca smiled "Awesome. Now let's get this horrible order out the way." Beca said as she waved for the waiter.
"Ah Beca glad to see you again. How can I be of service?" The waiter asked.
"Hey Cici, can I get this to go also can I have the usual?" Beca asked.
Cici nodded "Of course Beca, I'll take this and box it up. It'll be at the checkout counter for when you two are finished. Be right back with your order. I'll bring you a fresh meal as well." Cici said looking towards Stacie.
"Oh, well thank you so much." Stacie smiled.
"I thought you said that order was horrible? Why box it?" Stacie asked once Cici left.
"Ghost loves him some steak." Beca answered referring to her four-year-old pit bull.
"I'm sure he does. Seems like your well known here." Stacie mentioned.
"Yeah, I may or not know the owner." Beca said.
"A family friend?" Stacie asked.
"Something like that." Beca answered with a smirk.
Stacie chuckled and shook her head. She looked at Beca and smiled at her happily. What was a disappointment of a night quickly turned into one of the best nights Stacie has had. She truly did enjoy her date with Beca and was happy the girl showed up when she did.
The date ended with Beca paying for everything and driving Stacie home. She walked the girl up to her door before the two made plans for a second date. Stacie smiled as Beca gave her a kiss before leaving.
She went to bed that night thankful that Nick Watkins ditched her because she came out winning.