I Know

Stacie Conrad is currently riding shotgun in her best friend, Beca Mitchell's car just staring out the window in silence. She thinks back to the day her life changed.

Flashback

Seven-year-old Stacie Conrad had just sat down on the grass and placed her backpack beside her. This was her first day at her new school, she had just moved to Atlanta from Orlando. She wasn't enjoying this experience so far because let's face it, no one like being the new kid. The new kid always gets all the stares, and no one wants to be seen with them. No one ever wants to be the first person to talk to them. So, seven-year-old Stacie Conrad finds herself sitting alone just trying to get through this day.

She takes out her sketchbook that her mom had gifted her and opened up to her latest drawing. This had been something she had come to love, and for only being seven years old she was insanely talented at drawing. She was currently drawing a mad scientist who was in the middle of mixing. She was about to analyze the line she had just done when someone snatched the book from her.

"Hey!" She exclaimed as she looked up to see who grabbed it.

"What do we have here huh?" A girl with dark red hair asks as she flips through the pages.

"Give it, it's mine." Stacie says as she is about to get up.

"Sorry but I don't think so." The red head says as she pushes Stacie back down.

"Just stop and give it back." Stacie says looking up.

The other girl laughs "And what if I don't? What are you going to do about piggy?" The other girl says due to Stacie having pigtails.

The red head and her friend are laughing while looking through the sketch book meanwhile Stacie is just looking down sadly. Stacie was really hating this even more now. She was afraid to look back up towards the mean girls. That was until she heard a loud "ow" followed by a cry. Peeking up she saw a small girl with light brown hair and stormy blue eyes staring daggers at the red head.

"Didn't your parents ever teach you respect Stephany?" The small girl said as she stepped closer to the other girl who was on the ground holding her lip.

"Wait till we tell." Stephany said looking up towards the other girl.

Stacie meanwhile was just sitting there frozen not knowing what to do.

"Go ahead tell on me. But wait until I say you were bullying the new girl. I bet the adults would love that." The small girl smirked.

Stephany gets up holding her lip and runs away with her friend right behind her. Beca chuckles and looks in Stacie's direction staring at the new girl who has tears in her eyes and is sitting with her knees pulled to her chest. She tilts her head and reaches for the sketchbook fixing the page before cracking a small smile and handing it to the its rightful owner. She sits down next to Stacie and looks up at the sky.

"Thank you." Stacie says.

The smaller girl nods "You okay?"

"I am now." Stacie responds.

"Good." She responds before facing Stacie "My name is Beca."

"Stacie."

End of flashback

That day Stacie knew in her heart that Beca and her were going to the best of friends. She was never able to explain why she felt like that but she instantly loved Beca. That day changed Stacie's life; it gave her the best friend she could ever ask for. Beca soon became her lifeline of sorts, any problem she had Beca would soon find a resolution. If someone picked on her then Beca would intimidate the person. If someone said something about Stacie, then Beca would force the person's mouth shut. If someone hurt Stacie in anyway then Beca would hurt them 10 times worse.

Beca was always this tough as nails don't take shit from anyone girl. Beca had this tough and hard exterior but Stacie knew just how sweet and caring she was inside. Stacie knew Beca acted that way to protect her emotions and feelings. Stacie knew how vulnerable Beca was. Stacie thought back to when she first truly saw that side.

Flashback

Eleven-year-old Stacie has eleven-year-old Beca sobbing on her bed. Beca was sobbing so hard she began to shake and the noises coming from the smaller girl was breaking Stacie's heart. Beca's mom had taken off leaving behind only a note as her apology. The moment Beca's dad broke the news, Beca wanted to go to Stacie's. Beca's father called up the Conrad's and explained the situation, the Conrad's instantly understood and said Beca was more than welcome to stay over. Stacie's mom explained everything to Stacie before Beca arrived and told her daughter this was something that would likely always hurt her friend. Stacie automatically asked what she can do to make Beca feel better. Her mom just said be there for her always, you can't heal a broken heart that easily.

So that's what Stacie did, she wrapped her arms around her friend and placed two soft kisses on her head.

"Why did she leave me?" Beca sobbed into Stacie's chest as she hugged the taller girl tightly.

"I don't know Beca, but I never ever will."

End of flashback

Stacie's mom was right that day, that event did change Beca. She became reserved and kept to herself not allowing anyone close to her, except for Stacie. At times however Stacie had to pry Beca to open up and talk to her. The smaller girl never showed any emotion other than annoyance and anger. People thought she was this cold-hearted person who only cared about herself, but Stacie still knew that heart of gold was still in there. Stacie knew this was just her walls guarded herself.

After her mom left Beca and Stacie got even closer and the love Stacie had for Beca grew more and more each day. Stacie knew that she loved Beca probably more than anything but at the time she didn't know the impact that would have down the road in both of their lives.

Stacie thought back to how those years after the incident affected her best friends' life. Beca was never one to back away from confrontation but after her mom left, Beca seemed to seek it even more. Stacie thought back to how many times she had to drag her smaller friend away from a fight or pull her off someone. It was pretty much once a week that this would occur. She thought back to one night that'll forever stick with her.

Flashback

Thirteen-year Stacie is currently balled up under the covers in her room watching "Underworld" one of her favorite movies thanks in part to Beca. It had been a bad day for the tall girl, some girl at school had been spreading rumors about her and now she had been getting verbally assaulted by everyone in school. This had been going on for a week but today was the worst day, the girl Valentine had gone as far as putting up flyers spreading the rumors. It wasn't just one thing she was spreading no she had said something new every day. Valentine being the head cheerleader she was meant that all the kids just followed her and went with whatever she said, typical high school stuff.

To make matters worse Beca hadn't been in school all week which is why Valentine went harder with the rumors. Without Beca to protect Stacie she saw this as a chance to strike. Stacie just wished she had her best friend to make her days better but no she was serving a one-week suspension for confronting another cheerleader about leaving Stacie alone which led to Beca slapping the girl. Stacie sighs and closes her eyes for a second.

"Don't let those bitches get to you." Beca says leaning against the door surprising Stacie.

"Jesus Beca!" Stacie shouts "How long have you been there?"

Beca chuckles "Long enough to see Selene be the badass she is."

Stacie notices a bag in Beca's hand "What's with the bag?"

Beca tosses it to her friend "Got you all your favorites." She turns her attention back to film.

"How'd you know?" Stacie asks while looking in the bag.

Beca shrugs "People talk."

Stacie grabs the sour gummy worms "Thank you." She pats the spot next to her.

Beca kicks off her shoes and sits next to her "Don't listen to Valentine, she's a dumb bitch. You're too smart and beautiful to let her get to you." Beca says never taking her eyes off the movie.

Stacie beams while looking at Beca and grabs her hand "Thank you." Stacie sighs "It's just tough without you."

Beca looks over towards Stacie and squeezes her hand "Don't worry about her anymore." Beca says with a wink.

"Becs." Stacie says slowly "What did you do?"

"I caught up with her at dough boys and I may or may not have busted her lip. That'll keep her from talking for a couple of weeks." Beca smirks.

Stacie shakes her head "You and busting lips." Stacie chuckles "But seriously Beca you gotta stop punching people and getting in trouble."

Beca shrugs "She hurt my best friend and disrespected you. No one and I mean no one hurts my best friend or disrespects you. I don't care what the consequences are." Beca says grabbing three of the sour gummy worms.

Stacie just stares at her best friend and smiles thanking the universe for blessing her with such an amazing best friend.

End of flashback

That day changed something inside of Stacie, but she couldn't quite figure out what it was. It was almost as if she felt even more love and appreciation for Beca but couldn't quite figure out why that was. She always assumed it was because of how close they were and that they were best friends. After that night Valentine never bothered the two again and just like Beca said she couldn't speak for two weeks without her lip splitting open. Beca still got into her scuffles every now and then but Stacie knew how to calm her friend down.

It took some time for Stacie to figure out why she was feeling the way she was, but she finally did. Which leads us to the current situation. Two weeks ago, Stacie had talked on and on about going to the pumpkin patch since it was October and she really wanted to carve a pumpkin. She begged Beca to go with her since they announced the opening and Beca kept on trying to get out of it. However, in typical Stacie Conrad way, she convinced Beca to join her.

Two weeks ago

Beca had just bought Stacie a slice of pumpkin pie and they were walking until they came across a game. The objective was to destroy the four pumpkins stacked on top of one another using two swings with a hammer. Beca stepped up and smashed all four easily in one swing, she pointed towards the big Jack Skellington stuffed doll knowing it was one of Stacie's favorite characters. The man handed it over and Beca walked back towards Stacie who had just sat down at a table.

"How does someone so small use a sledgehammer with that much ease and win in one turn?" Stacie asked genuinely confused.

Beca chuckles "You know I like to break things. It's my specialty."

Stacie shakes her head "Why do you believe that?"

Beca stares at the doll "It's the truth. All I know how to do is break things."

Stacie shakes her head once more "That can be more far from the truth. You don't break anything, matter of fact you do the complete opposite. You fix everything, your able to mend anything. Remember when red head Stephany came and picked on me for being the new kid? You came in and rescued me, you fixed the page and became my best friend. Remember when Valentine was spreading all those rumors about me? Yeah you stepped in and fixed all that then came to my house with all my favorite snack and mended me back to my normal self. Don't you get it Beca? You don't break anything except for people's lips." Stacie said causing both of them to laugh.

"Beca you've never once broke me; you're always fixing me and saving me and that's why I love you as deeply as I do. That's why I will never leave your side, even when you try to push me away. I promised you that day when we were eleven that I would never, and I meant it." Stacie said looking her best friend in her eyes.

End of flashback

Stacie knew just what she felt and why she felt that way. She had discovered that she did in fact have feelings for Beca and always did looking back on it. Stacie knew how Beca was and knew how should could possibly react. Which is why she is currently sitting in Beca's passenger seat staring out the window looking at the pouring rain. Beca had been a bit distant from Stacie since that night and Stacie had gotten fed up with it. Beca would avoid talking about the situation at hand every chance she got, and Stacie just wanted an answer.

Stacie looks over at Beca who's as an annoyed look on her face. Stacie shakes her head having enough of this and opens the car door before proceeding to march down the sidewalk. She doesn't even care about the fact that it's pouring and she's only wearing a tank top and shorts. Stacie is just fed up. She doesn't know whether her cheeks are wet from the rain or tears, probably a mixture of both. She takes another couple of steps before a hand wraps around her elbow causing her to turn around.

"Are you shitting me Conrad!? What are you thinking huh? Get back in the car before you catch something and die! Your barley wearing anything and it's freezing out here." Beca shouts.

Stacie shakes her head and jerks her arm out of Beca's grasp "I'd rather catch something out here and be hospitalized then get back in there with you Mitchell!" Stacie shouts back as now she is certain those are tears rolling down her cheeks.

Beca is shocked that Stacie would say something like, that stung. She takes two steps towards Stacie only for Stacie to take two steps back. Beca stops and stares at Stacie "Why are you acting like this? What the fuck did I do to cause you to hate me? When have you ever not wanted to ride with me!" Beca shouts a little hurt.

Stacie shakes her head as a sob like sound escapes her mouth. A sound that Beca will never forget, a sound that causes something in Beca to snap.

"How could you think I hate you Rebeca? That hurts me more than anything if you think that. If you honestly believe that I could ever hate you then you really don't know me or a dam thing about anything. I could never hate you even if I fucking tried." Stace says through tears.

Beca shakes her head and groans while mentally scolding herself for being so stupid and oblivious. Beca closes the distance between the two.

"That's not true, I do know you Stacie. I know you more then I know myself honestly. I know your favorite color is blue, and not any blue but powder blue. I know that you enjoy watching horror movies just because you know I love them even though you struggle trying to sleep afterwards. I know your favorite candy is sour gummy's when you're sad but a cookies n cream Hersey bar when you're happy. I know your dream is to live in Denver because you fell in love with the mountains when we visited there. I know that despite your insane talent when it comes to drawing you want to major in space science and work for NASA. I know that you can't sleep if you're not wearing either the black t-shirt, I got you with your name written in the stars or the powder blue hoodie I got you with the spider-man comics on it. I know that you have the kindest soul out of anyone I know." Beca says with a crack in her voice from holding in her tears.

Stacie is staring at her small friend who is finally opening up.

"I know that I'm not easiest person to be friends with let alone be around. I know that I've probably giving plenty of reason to break off this friendship over the years. I know that I struggle with telling you things and that it bothers you. I know that I'm a bitch majority of time but, but I-" Beca stops as she bites her lip to hold back her tears, but one look at Stacie's eyes breaks that and the tears fall down "I know that I need you. I know that without you I wouldn't be here right now. I know that you make every single thing about my life a hundred times better. I know that no matter what you'll always be by my side. I know that I find your enthusiasm to be adorable and that it always puts a smile on my face. I know that your beautiful smile always brightens up my day. I know your dumb puns and dad jokes always make me laugh. I know you're the only person who can ever make me this way."

Stacie reaches out her hand "Becs."

"I know that for the past decade you've been my best friend. I know we've been inseparable. I know we've been there for one another always. But it's always been more than that hasn't it? Always been more than just friends? I know that you've noticed it and I know that we both knew it all along but were too young to understand what was happening. I know you realized that and probably did a while back but not me. I know it's you Stacie, always has been." Beca says reaching out for Stacie's hand.

"I know that I love you. Actually, most importantly I know that I am absolutely in love with you." Beca says softly.

Stacie smiled through her tears and pulls Beca in for a kiss, a kiss Beca eagerly returns.

Stacie knows this is the love that she always wanted. She knows this love will forever last.