Chapter III
The ride back to Stacie apartment was slow. Neither Beca or Stacie spoke many words, they were simply just enjoying the slight warm from the sun and the wind around their bodies.
Beca brought the motorcycle to a stop outside Stacie's apartment. Stacie tapped Beca's shoulder as she dismounted the bike. As Stacie walked towards the doors, she stopped and looked over her shoulder.
"Wanna come up for a coffee or something?" She asked giving her cousin a smile.
Beca thought about it, would it really be so bad if she became a part of that side of Stacie life. She was conflicted, some days she wished to be a part of it, other days it's the complete opposite.
Stacie could see the hesitation in her cousin's face
"You don't have to of course, but Bree and Chlo are at the gym."
Beca shook her head. "Sure, why not. Let me just park and I'll be right up."
Once she parked her bike, she made quick work of getting to Stacie's apartment. Beca tried her best to keep her head down, but it didn't stop a couple of fans to ask for a photo or an autograph. She had always been a people pleaser when it came to her fans. Without them, she wouldn't have made it in the world of entertainment.
After spending some time with her fans, she excused herself and continued towards Stacie's apartment. She buzzed the doorbell. She didn't even hear Stacie's voice. She just heard the distinct sound of the unlocking tone. Beca pushed the door open and took the elevator up to Stacie's floor. Once the elevator opened, she smirked when she saw Stacie's door slightly open.
It has been so long since she last saw the apartment. It was beautifully decorated with a big open concept. Huge windows were letting in so much natural sun that it was impossible to be depressed in this space. Beca's eyes instantly fell to the piano standing in front of one of the windows. Beca looked around the apartment, when she didn't see Stacie, she made her way toward the piano. She sat down slowly. She took a deep breath as her fingers glided across the keys, without ever pressing any.
"Go ahead, you can play."
Beca almost fell of the piano stool when she heard Stacie's voice coming from behind her.
"Dude! Are you trying to kill me here?!" Beca exclaimed grabbing her chest tightly.
Stacie just chuckled as she disappeared back upstairs.
Beca looked out the window as her fingers slowly, but steadily, started dancing across the keys. Beca was so focus on her playing, that she didn't even notice Stacie walking past her into the kitchen to pour two cups of coffee.
Her eyes were closed, and she was swaying gently to the music. Stacie sat on the couch and turned sideways to look at her cousin. She smiled looking at Beca playing, Stacie knew that this was her safe space. Music was her safe space.
The chords of the piano died downed as Beca slowly opened her eyes, a grin firmly planted on her lips. Stacie clapped and cheered as Beca stood up, making her way to Stacie.
"Stop it." Beca smiled ducking her head trying to hide the blush creeping up her face.
"That was amazing Beca. Here your coffee, just like you like it." Stacie handed Beca her coffee as she sat down.
"Dark? Like my soul." They stared at each other for a second before bursting into laughter.
After some time, Stacie got a notification on her phone. Both Stacie and Beca looked over at the phone laying on the table next to them.
Hey Babe, be home in ten. Chloe went to the café right after our workout to get some work done
"That's my cue to get going." Beca said while standing up from the couch.
"Yeah." Stacie smiled watching as Beca grabbed her helmet and jacket.
Beca hurried downstairs, not wanting to accidentally bump into Aubrey.
"Okay Chloe. You can do it." Chloe huffed as she opened her laptop. Chloe had decided a café was the best place to concentrate and get some work done, while giving Stacie and Aubrey some much needed alone time.
Chloe's fingers moved swiftly across her keyboard, trying to finish a report that had been hanging over her head like a dark cloud for some time. Chloe looked out the window as she took a sip from her coffee. Her thoughts started pulling her away from the work in front of her.
Chloe looked away from the window, when she heard the bell hanging in front of the door ringing. She watched as an elderly couple walked in holding hands. She smiled, however, her smile quickly disappeared when she remembered the news regarding Tom. Earlier Tom had confessed that he had been cheating on Chloe for some months. They had decided to split after that. Chloe had convinced herself that the café would be better for her concentration, when in fact she didn't want Aubrey and Stacie to worry about her.
Chloe sighed looking back down at her laptop. She ran her fingers through her hair, before putting it up in a low ponytail.
"Okay, Chloe. Focus." She mumbled to herself.
Just as she was starting to get deep into the zone of working, she heard the doorbell ring once more. She instantly looked towards the door, like she had done plenty of times before. Though it was different this time. Beca Mitchell had just walked through the door of the café. Chloe was instantly blushed when her mind drifted to their first meeting. Beca walked gracefully up to the counter to order something to drink.
Chloe let out a small chuckle when she saw how the young girl behind the counter almost fainted. Chloe could only imagine Beca throwing the poor girl her signature smirk. Beca took a step to the side and turned around leaning against the counter. Cobalt eyes instantly met with icy blue ones.
"Fuck." Chloe mumbled under her breath.
Chloe quickly looked back down at her laptop, desperately hoping Beca didn't notice her blush.
When Chloe finally got the nerve to look back up, she was once again met with Beca's intense look. A smirk crept onto Beca's lips as the brought her glass to her lips, taking a sip. She gently pushed herself off the counter. To Chloe, Beca was almost walking in slow motion towards her table.
"Nice seeing a friendly face here." She smirked and pointed towards the chair opposite of Chloe. "Is this seat free?"
Chloe followed her every moment carefully. Beca was just as beautiful now, as she was dressed up at the club.
Chloe tried starting her sentence several times, each time making a bigger fool out of herself. Chloe was sure she was in heaven when she heard Beca chuckle.
Chloe took a deep breathe before speaking. "Yeah, no, sure, sit down." It was like she was a little high school girl once more, not knowing how to speak.
"Thanks, my coffee definitely didn't get cold waiting for an answer." She giggled sitting down across from Chloe.
"Sorry, it looks like the cat got my tongue." Chloe laughed nervously.
"I'm only joking Chloe." She smiled, making all Chloe's worries disappear.
"Wait you remember my name?" Chloe gasped quietly.
"Of course." Beca grinned. "You are one of Stacie's friends."
Chloe started to wonder just how well her friend Stacie knew Beca Mitchell.
"So, tell me," Chloe folded her hands in front of her face, resting her head on top. "What is a famous producer doing here." She gestured around the humble Café.
"What? Can't I act like a normal person." Beca shrugged her shoulders. Chloe face instantly fell, now she had definitely fucked up. Seeing this, Beca continue, wanting to dismiss Chloe thoughts. "I know the owner. I've been coming here before my carrier took off."
"Oh." Chloe huffed. Maybe that was how she knew Stacie. Stacie's mom owned this very café and had for as long as Chloe remembered.
"Well, Mrs. Conrad is very sweet." Chloe smiled.
"She sure is." Beca said looking into her coffee. Beca was starting to wonder, if she was taking this too far. Befriending Chloe without Stacie knowing. Giving out more clues that they had a deeper connection, than the let on. Beca kept telling herself that she shouldn't have engaged in a conversation with Chloe.
However, the redhead intrigued Beca. She was able to make her smile without actually doing much. It had been a long time since a genuine smile had come so easily to her.
"What are you looking for down there." The words brought Beca's head back up to Chloe's eyes. Chloe swore she saw a slight blush in Beca's cheeks.
"Sorry, I was just thinking." She answered.
"No worries. You probably have a lot on your mind." Chloe smiled.
"Something like that." She took a sip of her coffee. Chloe decided not to press the matter further.
Chloe started working on her report again, while Beca was enjoying her coffee, clearly deep in thought.
Chloe swore she heard Beca sniffle. Her fear was confirmed when she looked up at Beca. However, it didn't stop Chloe from being shocked when she saw a stray tear making its way down Beca's cheek. Without thinking she leaned over the table, slowly wiping the tear away with her thump as she carefully grabbed Beca's jaw.
Beca tensed at the sudden touch. Chloe's fingers were warm, slender, and soft. Beca found herself leaning slight into the hand as the thump brushed her cheek.
Beca sighed slowly as the warm hand disappeared from her face. Looking up at Chloe she found nothing but care and concern in her bright blue eyes. A fragile smile crept onto her lips.
"Sorry, I should get going." Beca almost whispered. "Thanks for… Everything."
She looked so small to Chloe, so vulnerable, like she could break and crumble into nothing but ashes. It was a completely different Beca, than the fierce exterior she usually wore.
Chloe was pulled back to reality when she heard the bell once more. She saw Beca standing in the door looking back at her.
"Take care." Chloe simply said.
Beca gave her a grin and a nod before heading out the door.
"So much for work." Chloe huffed and started to park her things.
"Hallo!" Chloe announced as she walked through the door.
"Hey Chlo." Chloe heard Stacie call from the kitchen.
She let her bag slide down onto the couch when she passed it. Walking into the kitchen, she grabbed a freshly washed apple from counter. Chloe hopped gracefully onto the counter, sitting next to a standing Stacie.
"You will never believe who I met at the café." Chloe smiled taking a bite from the apple. Stacie was in the middle of cleaning some dishes. She put the glass back in the sink before drying her hands with a towel.
"Tom?"
"No." Chloe laughed. "Beca Mitchell."
"What?!" Stacie exclaimed, her voice raising several octaves. Eyes widening with something Chloe only could describe as utter fear.
"Apparently she knows your mom." Chloe raised an eyebrow crossing her arms over her chest. "Said, she's been coming to the café even before she was famous. Which means she been there while you worked at the café." Chloe was going for the kill with her questions.
Stacie sighed. "Seriously Chloe, I don't remember ever customer I've served." She picked the glass back up and went back to cleaning it.
"I don't know her, my cousin does, and she actually got us tickets to her concert, plus behind the mic next week." Stacie snapped dropping the glass making it shatter on the floor.
"God damnit." She growled.
They looked at each other with shocked eyes.
Stacie immediately went to grab a broom, leaving Chloe confused on the counter.
"I'm gonna kill you." Stacie hissed while digging the broom out from the closet. Stacie had no idea why Beca would even tell Chloe so much about her private life. Did Beca want to be a part of it now, or would it be different tomorrow. Sure, in that moment it had crossed her mind just confessing to Chloe. Telling her all about her and Beca being cousins, with a sister-like-relationship.
Stacie almost jumped out of her skin when she felt a set of hands settling on her hips.
"Easy there, tiger, it's just me." Aubrey whispered right below her ear before planting a kiss on her shoulder. Stacie turned around with a broom in hand. Aubrey gave her a small smile before she pulled her into a hug. Stacie instantly felt her worries disappear into a void of nothingness standing in Aubrey's protective arms.
"Chloe told me what happened." Aubrey said giving Stacie a peck on the lips. Stacie had always been bad at hiding her feelings from Aubrey.
"It's amazing with the tickets babe. I can't believe that we are actually going behind the mic, meeting Beca Mitchell, seeing her rehearse and the tour backstage. It's going to be amazing baby." Aubrey pulled Stacie into a tight kiss. Stacie kissed her back letting out a low chuckle as a few stray tears made its way down her cheek. Aubrey snaked the broom out from Stacie grip. She turned around and motioned for Stacie to follow.
As soon as Stacie came into view, Chloe almost ran to her and pulled her into a hug.
"I'm so sorry Stace." She huffed into Stacie's chest holding her close.
"It's okay." Stacie padded Chloe's back.
They shared a smile before helping Aubrey clean the kitchen.
After dinner Chloe went into her room to finish the report. Aubrey decided she needed a shower, leaving Stacie alone in the living room. She grabbed her phone when she heard soft music coming from Chloe's room, and the sound of running water from the bathroom.
She huffed waiting for Beca to pick up.
"Mitchell speaking." She heard her cousin say.
"It's me your dork." Stacie rolled her eyes, even though Beca couldn't she her.
"Oh, sorry Stacie, I'm just sitting at the studio. What's up." Stacie could hear a slight tremble from her voice. Her voice was also laced with something else, like she had been drinking again.
"At home or at work?" Stacie asked.
"At work."
"I'm gonna call Luke to pick you in three hours." She said sternly.
Beca sighed but agreeing without further comment.
"Chloe said she met you, even had coffee with you. You said you knew mom. Do you have any idea of the interrogation she did on me when she came home?" Stacie raised her voice slightly, looking around making sure she was still alone.
"I'm sorry Stace. She just drew me in, like a wasn't really me. She just sneaked past all my walls. I even got teary at one point." Beca almost whispered, like she was afraid someone would see her vulnerable.
"Beca you can't just go charming my friends, like they are some kind of experiment. Chloe is important to me." Stacie almost dropped her phone when she realised what she said.
"I'm sorry Becs. I didn't mean-" Stacie's sentence was cut short by Beca's harsh words.
"I've work to do. You call Luke or whatever." She instantly hung up the phone on Stacie.
Stacie felt her chest tighten she knew she fucked up, big time. She starred at her phone for a couple of minutes before sending Luke a text, asking him to pick up a probably drunk Beca from the office.
Luke was waiting for Beca in the parking lot outside of her office building. He tried calling her when he had been waiting for the better side of an hour. He sighed as he once again was met with her voice mail. He opened the door, letting a chill wind into the car. He pulled his jacket a little tighter as he walked towards the backdoor. When he exited on her floor, he called out for her. He stood still for a couple of seconds waiting for some kind of noise that would give up Beca's position. When all he was met with was silence, he made his way to the recording studio. He opened the door slowly but was only met with the darkness of the room. He sighed as he closed the door again.
Next her office.
The blinds were pulled down blocking the view into her office from the hallway. At least Luke saw light escaping through the small gaps in the blinds. He knocked on the door before opening it. His eyes instantly fell on the small figure passed out on the couch with a bottle of whiskey next to it. He moved slowly towards Beca not wanting to scare her. When he made it to the couch, he kneeled to Beca coming face to face with her. Her nose and cheeks had a slight hue of red, her eyes buffy, and her breath smelling of alcohol.
"Oh Becky." Luke whispered as he pulled some hair behind her ear. Beca stirred at the light touch.
"It's just me." Luke announced in his British accent.
Beca nodded opening her eyes slowly.
"Hey." She mumbled, her voice raw and dry.
"I don't think I can stand." Beca admitted holding her head as she sat up.
"Come here Becky. Let's get you home."
Luke carefully picked Beca up, and walked out the office holding her tight in his arms.