My Spy
Chapter 4
The Bellas had just returned from a meeting with the Dean and members of the Collegiate A Cappella Committee regarding the "vagina-gate" fiasco that had occurred during a performance for President Obama's birthday. They were sitting about the kitchen counter, discussing what they needed to do to fix things.
"What are we going to do?" Stacie asked, looking around at the rest of the Bellas. "We can't be responsible for the Bellas being disbanded."
"We'll just have to win the World A Cappella Championship," Beca said with a shrug.
"It's not going to be easy," Jessica said.
"You're right. It's not going to be easy," Beca said. "But we've been ICCA Champs for three years in a row. That should play in our favor, right?"
"I agree," Ashley said. "And I think we should start by checking out Das Sound Machine to see what we're up against."
"That's a good idea," Stacie said. "I bet we can find some videos of them on YouTube or something."
Stacie pulled her laptop to her and started searching for videos of Das Sound Machine.
"Wow," Stacie said. "There are a lot of videos of them."
"Click the first one," Ashley said.
Beca watched as the girls surrounded Stacie to watch the videos. She looked at Lily and nodded her head to the door. Lily nodded and walked out of the kitchen; Beca followed.
"Can we talk on the porch?" Beca asked, looking back toward the kitchen to be sure none of the Bellas noticed her and Lily leave the kitchen.
Lily nodded and went out the front door of the house. Beca followed and quietly closed the door after stepping outside.
"I know this is random, but have you heard anything from Chloe?" Beca asked as she faced Lily.
"No," Lily said. "Not since that time she texted me her number to give to you. And, that was almost three years ago."
"I thought that might be the case," Beca said. "And I did try to call her once I got back from Spring Break that year, but the number was no longer in service. I can't get her out of my mind. I miss her so much and every time someone even appears interested in me, I blow them off. I feel like I'm cheating on her or something. I can't get past what we had to even think about being with someone else. I just wish I could talk to her, to see if there was a possibility of rekindling our relationship."
"Even after all this time, you'd take her back?" Lily asked.
"I know it sounds pathetic," Beca said. "But, I would take her back in a heartbeat. She's it for me."
Beca could hear her name being called from inside the house. She thanked Lily and opened the front door.
"Beca, there you are!" CR said, seeing Beca and Lily entering the house. "Stacie is looking for you."
"Thanks, CR," Beca said, as she and Lily walked back to the kitchen. "What's up, Stacie?"
"We found out that DSM will be at the Metro Mall in downtown Atlanta next week," Stacie said. "I think we should take a road trip and check out their show. The videos we found of them look too perfect. We think they must have been edited, and seeing them in person will give us a more realistic idea of what they can do."
"We can do that," Beca said. "It will give us a better idea of what we'll need to do to beat them at Worlds."
~~ My Spy ~~
The next morning, Beca was up early. She walked into the kitchen to find Jessica and Ashley each with their laptops in front of them.
"Hey, Beca," Jessica said. "We're all signed up for the Worlds. It's in Copenhagen, Denmark, so we need everyone to check their passports so anyone who has to get theirs renewed has time to do that."
"We also made airline and hotel reservations," Ashley said. "The airfare was a bit higher than we expected, so we could only afford to reserve four rooms. That means we'll be doubling up."
"That's good," Beca said. "Thank you both for doing all that."
"No problem," Jessica said. "I have to call my mom and ask her to check my passport."
"Me, too," Beca said. "I think mine's still good, but I want to be sure."
"Don't forget some of the others may have to do the same thing," Jessica said.
"I'll mention it at rehearsals today," Beca said.
"I'd also suggest they ask their folks to express mail their passports, whether they need them renewed or not," Jessica said. "We have two months before our first break when most of us go home, so having them mailed to us now will help get the renewal process started for anyone who needs the time."
"That's a good idea," Beca said. "Thanks, Jess. I'll mention that as well."
Beca left the kitchen and went back to her room.
"You're up early," Amy said as Beca entered. "Where have you been?"
"I was talking to Jessica and Ashley," Beca said. "We were talking about Worlds and what we need to do over the next several months. You'll need to check your passport to be sure it's still valid."
"I know mine's still good," Fat Amy said. "I had to renew it four years ago to come to the U.S. for school and they're usually valid for ten years."
Fat Amy grabbed her phone and put on a light jacket.
"I'm going out for a while," she said, leaving Beca alone in her room. "I'll see you later at practice."
After Amy was gone, Beca pulled out her phone and called her mother.
"Beca?" Sarah's raspy voice said into the phone. "What's wrong?"
Beca winced as she looked at the time and realized it was only five-thirty in the morning in Seattle.
"Everything's fine," Beca said quickly. "I didn't realize how early it was for you."
"That's okay, I'm up now," Sarah said, yawning into the phone. "Sorry. So, why did you call me at such an early hour?"
"The Bellas are going to Copenhagen in May to compete in the A Capella World Championship," Beca said, rushing to get everything out quickly. "I need you to get my passport and express mail it to me. I have to make sure I have time to get it renewed if I need to. I'm sorry I woke you."
"I'll get it and take it to the post office later today," Sarah said. "What else is going on? I can tell by your voice there's something else you want to say. And don't tell me everything's fine because I'm your mother and I'd know if you were lying."
"I was hoping we could talk," Beca said.
"Hold on," Sarah said, putting her pillows behind her back and sitting up against the headboard. "Okay, I'm comfy now, what did you want to talk about?"
"Um, Chloe," Beca said hesitantly.
Sarah sighed into the phone. "I thought you were done with her."
"I can't help it, mom," Beca said. "I still love her. I know you don't want to hear that, but it's true."
"It's been three years, Beca," Sarah said. "She listened to me and has stayed away from you, why can't you listen to me and forget about her?"
"What?!"
Sarah sighed again. "Nothing."
"What do you mean by she listened to you?" Beca asked tersely. "When did you even talk to her?"
"I guess enough time has passed, I can tell you now," Sarah said, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. "She came by the house when you were here during Spring Break after your father was arrested."
"What did you say to her?"
"Beca," Sarah said, pleadingly.
"Answer the fucking question!"
"Watch your tone, young lady," Sarah admonished. "I'm still your mother and was only doing what I thought was best for you."
Beca laughed. "What was best for me? You mean, like when you shuttled me off to college so I could spend some time with my father? You know, the guy who is in Federal prison for the next fifteen years for being a drug smuggler and dealer?" Beca scoffed. "You know nothing about what is best for me."
"Your father said it was all a mistake," Sarah said. "He was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Wrong place at the wrong time?" Beca sneered before taking a breath and saying, "I didn't call you to talk about my father. But, I now want to talk about what you said to Chloe when she came to the house."
Sarah leaned back and closed her eyes. Sarah sighed again and took a deep breath, knowing in her heart what she was about to tell Beca may well be the thing that sends Beca running away from her and straight to Chloe. She took another moment before replying.
"I told her I didn't know what she hoped to accomplish by showing up here uninvited," Sarah said. "Then she had the nerve to ask me to have you call her because she really wanted to talk to you. As she was leaving I yelled at her to leave you alone; that she was no good for you. I told her that you were over her because you were out with an old girlfriend from High School. And calling her was the first thing you did when you got home."
"Un-fucking-believable," Beca muttered. "Do you realize what you've done? The pain and heartache you've caused me? I could have been with Chloe all this time if you hadn't stuck your nose where it didn't belong."
"I'm your mother," Sarah said. "I only-"
"Oh, for the love of God," Beca interrupted. "Give it a rest! You don't care about what is best for me, you only care about the fact that Chloe was part of the group that arrested dad. If you really want to do what's best for me, then stay out of my life!"
Beca ended the call without waiting for a response. She turned the phone off and threw it and herself down on the bed.
~~ My Spy ~~
"It's awfully quiet up there," Stacie said, looking up the stairs. "Do you think we should go check on her?"
"I think we should leave her be for now," Jessica said. "She sounded upset and may need a minute."
"Jessica's right," CR said. "Let's give her a few minutes, and then we can check on her."
Stacie nodded and remained standing at the bottom of the stairs. Just then, Emily and Flo walked into the house and immediately sensed something was off.
"What's going on?" Emily asked, looking around at the Bellas that were congregated at the bottom of the stairs.
"We just heard Beca yelling at her mom about Chloe," Jessica said.
"Chloe? Is that the girl who was a cop and arrested Beca's dad?" Flo asked.
"That's right," CR said. "Beca and Chloe were a thing when it all went down."
"A thing?" Ashley said. "Chloe was more than a 'thing' to Beca. She's the love of Beca's life. Beca loved her then, and she loves her now."
"From what we heard Beca saying," Stacie said. "Her mother said something to Chloe that made Chloe leave Beca alone. Beca didn't like whatever it was she heard from her mother."
"Is she okay?" Emily asked. "Should we check on her?"
"We were giving her some space," Jessica said and looked up the stairs. "But, it's still quiet; too quiet. I think we should go up."
"We can't all go up there," CR said. "She'll freak out on us. Stacie, you and Jessica know her best. I think you two should go up."
"I agree with CR," Flo said.
"Okay," Jessica said. "Come on, Stacie, let's do this."
~~ My Spy ~~
Stacie and Jessica stood outside Beca's door. Stacie put her ear to the door and listened.
"I think she's crying," Stacie whispered.
Jessica knocked lightly on the door.
"Beca?" Jessica said, opening the door. "It's Jessica and Stacie. We just want to make sure everything is okay."
"Come in," Beca's muffled voice called out.
Jessica and Stacie looked at each other. Stacie opened the door and the two went up the stairs. Stacie peeked around the corner when she reached the top. Beca was sitting up on her bed, staring at her.
"Hey," Stacie said, stepping closer to Beca.
"Are you okay?" Jessica asked from behind Stacie.
"I'm so pissed at my mother," Beca said, sniffling.
"We gathered that," Stacie said. "We could hear you yelling at her all the way downstairs."
"Oh," Beca said. "Sorry about that."
"Meh," Stacie said, dismissing the apology with a wave of her hand.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Jessica asked.
"No," Beca said, sighing as she ran a hand through her hair. "Yes. I didn't know it, but Chloe came to see me in Seattle and my mom never told me until now that she was there. Chloe wanted to talk to me but my mother told her I was seeing an old girlfriend and to stay away from me."
"Why did your mother do that?" Jessica asked.
"She said she was doing what she thought was best for me," Beca said.
"But you don't think that's the real reason?" Stacie asked.
"No," Beca said. "I think she was mad because she believed it was Chloe's fault that my dad was arrested. He hasn't taken any responsibility for his own actions and my mom thinks he is innocent and they got the wrong guy."
Beca sighed and looked down at her fingers, twisting her thumb ring.
"I know you girls are all still mad about Chloe lying to everyone," Beca said softly. "But, I want you to know that I'm still in love with her."
Stacie and Jessica both smiled at Beca.
"Beca, I think I can speak for all of us when I tell you," Jessica said. "We've forgiven Chloe. It didn't take long for us to realize she was just doing her job. If she had told us what she was doing, it would have compromised the investigation."
"Jessica's right," Stacie said. "We are all proud of how Chloe helped bring down a huge part of a major drug ring. That's pretty badass stuff."
"Really?" Beca asked, her brows furrowed. "You all forgive her?"
"Yep," Jessica said.
"You don't have to be afraid to talk about Chloe to us," Stacie said. "We all know how much you love her."
"Are you going to try and find her?" Jessica asked.
"I would love to," Beca said. "But I have no idea where to even start."
"I do," Jessica said, grinning at Beca.
"Really?" Beca asked. "Where?"
"Start with Lily," Jessica said. "I have a feeling she has some tricks up her sleeve and can help you."
"That's a great idea," Stacie said.
"I don't know," Beca said. "I've been talking to Lily and she hasn't mentioned anything about being able to find Chloe for me."
"She wouldn't just come out and tell you she could do it," Jessica said. "You'd have to ask her if she could find Chloe."
Beca chewed her bottom lip until she came to a decision.
"What the Hell?" Beca said. "It couldn't hurt to ask."
"That's the spirit," Stacie said. "Let's go see if everyone's ready for rehearsal."
~~ My Spy ~~
Later that night, after the Bellas had finished dinner and were settling down to watch a movie, Beca asked Lily if they could talk.
"Kitchen or front porch?" Lily asked with a smile.
"Kitchen," Beca said and started in that direction.
Lily followed and both sat at the counter.
"Is this about Chloe?" Lily asked, surprising Beca.
"Yes," Beca replied. "I was wondering if you, maybe, had any way of finding where she is? I just want to find out if she's one, okay, and two, if she still has any interest in me whatsoever."
Lily looked down at the counter and back up at Beca.
"I'll do what I can," Lily said. "I can't make any guarantees, but I'll do my best."
"Really?" Beca squealed. "Thank you. Let me know if I can do anything to help."
"I'll start looking now," Lily said, standing.
"I really appreciate this, Lily," Beca said. "If there is anything I could ever do for you, just name it."
Lily nodded and left Beca sitting alone in the kitchen.
After a few minutes, Beca got up and rejoined the girls in the living room.
"Well?" Jessica whispered as Beca sat next to her.
"She's going to see what she can do," Beca whispered.
Jessica threw an arm around Beca's shoulders and gave her a side hug. Stacie saw this and looked at them with raised eyebrows.
"Lily's going to look for Chloe," Jessica mouthed to Stacie.
Stacie smiled and gave Beca a thumbs up. Beca sat back, smiling and nodding her head. She just knew Lily was going to find Chloe.
~~ My Spy ~~
A few days later, Beca had bid everyone goodnight and went up to her room. Fat Amy was out, so Beca was alone. She was surprised by a knock on the door.
"Come in," Beca called out.
Lily came up the stairs, waving some papers as she came into Beca's view.
"I found something," Lily said.
"What did you find?" Beca asked eyes widened in surprise. "Do you know where she is?"
"It took some digging," Lily said. "I had to follow her trail around the U.S. and a few other countries. She's been busy."
"Okay," Beca said. "Do you know where she is now?"
"As of today, Chloe was in," Lily said as she looked through the papers in her hand. "Atlanta."
"Chloe's in Atlanta," Beca said, excitedly. "Oh, my God! I can't believe she's that close. Do you know where she is in Atlanta?"
"I can't pinpoint an exact location," Lily said. "I can keep trying, but I'm not confident we will know more than she is somewhere in Atlanta."
"Thank you for doing this," Beca said. "I feel so much better since I think it's safe to assume she's still alive and okay. If you find out anything more, please let me know."
"I will," Lily said, handing the papers with her notes to Beca. "Goodnight, Beca."
"Goodnight," Beca said as Lily made her way down the attic stairs.
Beca looked through the papers Lily left with her. The list of places Chloe had been was fairly extensive. Over the past three years, she has been to New York, Oregon, California, Germany, and Australia. And now, Atlanta.
"She must still be working as an undercover agent," Beca muttered. "I wonder what she's working on in Atlanta."
Beca continued reading until tiredness took over. She put the papers on the nightstand and climbed under the covers. She laid down and was asleep within minutes.
Chloe flopped back on the bed, laughing as Beca crawled her way up Chloe's body. Beca kissed every inch of Chloe's bare skin as she made her way up, finally landing on Chloe's lips. The kiss was full of passion and want.
"Ready for another round?" Beca asked in between kisses.
"I'm ready for round 3," Chloe responded, in between more kisses. "And round 4, and round 5,-"
"God, I love you," Beca whispered before fully capturing Chloe's lips.
"Wait, what?" Chloe murmured, gently pushing Beca back to look at her face. "You love me?"
"Yeah," Beca said, moving to sit on the bed and look down at Chloe. "Of course, I love you."
Tears came to Chloe's eyes as she stared at Beca.
"I love you, too," Chloe finally whispered.
A big smile came to Beca's lips as she slid back on top of Chloe and kissed her. Her smile suddenly fell when Chloe was no longer under her.
"Chloe? Come back!" Beca cried out. "I love you!"
Beca sat up with a start and looked around. She wiped both hands down her face and mumbled into the darkness, "Where exactly are you, Chloe Beale?"
A/N (actually just a friendly reminder): Next week is BeChloe Week 2021 and I will be participating. I may or may not have the next chapter finished in time to post on Thursday. I'll have to see how the week goes.
