25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2020
Day 3 - You Don't Care
Author's Prompt: Beca Mitchell expresses her feelings through her music. Chloe finds a song Beca has been working on and thinks it's meant for her. She listens to it and thinks Beca wants to break up with her, and it's almost Christmas. Flashbacks will be in italics.
It was Christmas Eve when Aubrey opened her front door to find her best friend, Chloe Mitchell, standing holding three-year-old Sophie, as tears streamed down Chloe's face.
"Chloe, are you okay?" Aubrey asked as Chloe carried Sophie inside the house.
"No-oh," Chloe sobbed.
Aubrey wrapped Chloe in a side hug.
"What happened?" Aubrey asked. "What's going on with you? Is Sophie okay?"
Chloe sniffled and pulled away from Aubrey. "Beca wants to break up with me!"
"What?!" Aubrey yelled. "What are you talking about?"
"She wants to break up with me," Chloe managed to say through her tears. "A-And I st-still lo-love her, even if she doesn't lo-love m-me anymore."
Chloe began sobbing again. Stacie came out of the kitchen.
"Is everything okay out here?" Stacie asked, looking between Aubrey and a sobbing Chloe.
Stacie took Sophie and sat on the sofa with her, while Aubrey pulled Chloe to her into a full hug.
"Chloe thinks Beca wants to break up with her," Aubrey said.
"That's ridiculous," Stacie said. "Beca does not want to break up with you."
"Yes, she does," Chloe cried. "And right before Christmas, too. I can't believe this is happening."
"Chloe, sit down and you tell us what's causing you to think Beca wants to break up with you," Stacie said.
"Stacie's right, Chloe," Aubrey said. "Maybe we can work through this with you."
"Okay," Chloe said and sat on the sofa, taking Sophie and placing her on her lap.
"Take your time, Chloe," Aubrey said. "And start from the beginning."
~~ Day 3 of the 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2020 ~~
"Okay," Chloe said after everyone got comfortable. "Earlier today, Beca was working in her home studio. . ."
Beca's phone rang and she sighed when she saw whose name popped up on the caller ID.
"This had better be good, Theo," Beca said as she answered the call. "It's Christmas Eve and I promised Chloe I'd take Sophie to the park this afternoon so she can finish wrapping presents."
"We have an emergency and need your help," Theo said.
Beca sighed and said, "No."
"You have to," Theo said. "Khaled specifically asked for you to handle it."
"Too bad," Beca said. "I am on call 24/7 for you guys and hardly ever take a day off. It's Christmas Eve and I have a kid. I have to draw the line somewhere and I'm drawing it here."
"Khaled wants to talk to you," Theo said.
"No, Theo, don't-" Beca said before hearing Khaled's voice on the phone.
"I'm truly sorry, Beca," Khaled said. "But, Simon himself called and requested your help on this. We, uh, I am begging you to come in today. Just for a couple of hours. Please?"
Beca sighed and ran a hand across her forehead. "Fine," she said. "I'll give you two hours and that includes my travel time to and from the studio. The clock starts as soon as I end this call."
"Thank you, Beca," Khaled said. "I really-"
Beca ended the call and didn't hear anything else. She took a deep breath and went in search of Chloe.
"Chlo?" Beca called out as she exited her studio. "Babe? Where are you?"
"Sophie's room." Chloe's voice was quiet, but loud enough for Beca to hear.
Beca walked into Sophie's room and found Chloe holding a sleeping Sophie while rocking her in the rocking chair. Chloe looked at Beca standing in the doorway.
"Uh-oh, I know that look," Chloe said, as she moved to gently place Sophie in her toddler bed without waking her.
Chloe took Beca's arm and led her into the hallway outside Sophie's room.
"What now?" Chloe asked.
"I'm sorry," Beca said. "I have to go to the studio, but I'll only be gone for two hours. I swear."
"What am I supposed to tell Sophie when she wakes up and you're not here? It's Christmas Eve and you promised you'd take her to the park after she took her nap."
"I know I promised," Beca snapped. "And I'm going to keep my promise. It's not like I planned this."
"I wonder sometimes if maybe you do," Chloe mumbled, looking down at the floor.
"I'm sorry," Beca said. "What was that?"
"Nothing," Chloe said, looking up at Beca. "Just go, and we'll see you when we see you."
"Beca looked like she wanted to say more," Chloe said. "But, instead, she just left."
"Probably because she didn't want to fight with you," Stacie said. "Sounds like you wanted one."
"Why?" Chloe asked incredulously. "Because I expected her to honor her promise to me and Sophie that she had the day off. It wouldn't be the first time she promised something and then got called to the studio and forgot about us."
"This is nothing new with you two," Aubrey said. "Why is this time any different than the others?"
"I'm getting to that," Chloe said.
After Beca left, Chloe was going to their room when she noticed Beca had left the studio door open. Chloe went to close it and noticed Beca's laptop was left open as well; she went over to close it. As she reached for it the words you don't care caught her eye. She sat in Beca's chair and read what she assumed was a song Beca was working on.
Chloe's mouth dropped open and a soft gasp left her lips as she read:
(Oh) I don't wanna lose you
I don't wanna lose you
But it's so hard
when you don't care anymore
Our love was amazing
Now it's not worth saving
Something tells me you don't care
You don't care anymore
Sophie cried out and Chloe pushed the lid down on Beca's laptop. Chloe didn't notice the laptop lid was sitting half-open as she wiped a tear from her eye and hurried into Sophie's room.
"I changed Sophie and came straight here," Chloe said.
"I still don't see how you got to the point that Beca is going to leave you," Stacie said.
"Beca always uses music to express her feelings or emotions," Chloe said. "Everybody that knows her knows that. This song is about a relationship collapsing and one person feels like the other doesn't care anymore. Beca thinks I don't care about her and our love isn't worth saving."
Aubrey looked over at Stacie as Chloe started sobbing again.
"Mommy no cry," Sophie said, looking at Chloe her lower lip quivering.
"How can Beca think I don't care about her," Chloe sobbed, pulling Sophie tighter to her. "I tell her I love her all the time."
"I'm going to get you some water," Stacie said as she stood from the sofa.
"Thanks, babe," Aubrey said as Stacie went to the kitchen.
~~ Day 3 of the 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2020 ~~
Stacie pulled her phone out of her pocket as soon as she was in the kitchen and out of sight of Chloe.
"Come on, Beca," Stacie said. "Pick up, pick up, pick- Beca?"
"Stacie?" Beca asked. "I was just getting ready to call you."
"Why?" Stacie asked.
"To see if my wife and daughter were over there," Beca responded. "Chloe's not answering her phone."
"They're here," Stacie said.
"Why?" Beca asked. "I promised her I'd be back from the studio in two hours and it's only been a little over one."
"Maybe you should just come over here and talk to Chloe," Stacie said. "She's really upset."
"Why is she upset?" Beca asked. "Is she planning to leave me? Oh, God, what am I going to do if she doesn't want me anymore? What if she takes Sophie away from me. I can't live without them, Stacie, I swear I can't. They're my whole world."
Beca's breath hitched and Stacie couldn't help but smile at how quickly Beca jumped to such a conclusion.
"I swear you and Chloe are such drama queens," Stacie said. "Now get your ass over here so you and your wife can talk."
"Okay," Beca said, sniffling before adding, "I'll be there shortly."
Stacie ended the call and put her phone back in her pocket. She grabbed a couple of bottles of water and a juice box and went back to the living room.
"Here you go, Chlo," Stacie said, handing Chloe a bottle of water. "I also brought a juice box for Sophie."
"Thank you," Chloe said, taking the water and the juice box. "Look, Sophie. Aunt Stacie got you a juice box."
Stacie handed the other bottle of water to Aubrey. "Thanks, babe."
Chloe set her water on the table and put the straw in Sophie's juice box. She held the juice box for Sophie as she took a sip.
"What do you say, Sophie?"
"Tank you, Aunt Tacie."
"You're welcome, sweetie," Stacie said, brushing Sophie's hair back from her face.
"Chloe, do you and Sophie want to stay for dinner?" Aubrey asked. "I know you and Beca don't usually plan too much for Christmas Eve foodwise. We're planning to order in."
"That would be nice," Chloe said. "It will give me time to figure out what I'm going to say before I see Beca.
"You could spend the night, as well," Aubrey said.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Stacie said.
"Why not?" Aubrey asked.
"Well, for one, it's Christmas Eve," Stacie said. "And, two, Beca is on her way over here. She called looking for Chloe when I was in the kitchen. She was worried when she got home and these two were gone."
~~ Day 3 of the 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2020 ~~
Beca ran upstairs to change her shirt before going over to Stacie and Aubrey's. She noticed the door to her studio was open and looked inside. Her laptop was only half closed so she walked over to close it, and saw what was on the screen. She smiled as she realized that Chloe must have seen the song and jumped to the wrong conclusion.
Beca grabbed the laptop and rushed downstairs and out the door. She got in her car and hurried over to Stacie and Aubrey's place.
Chloe, Aubrey, and Stacie looked up when there was a knock on the front door.
"That's probably Beca," Stacie said, getting up from the sofa and going to the door.
Beca entered and saw Chloe looking at her, so she smiled. Chloe didn't return the smile, causing Beca's smile to drop. Chloe looked down at Sophie.
"Mama!" Sophie said, looking at Beca.
"Hi, baby," Beca said, walking over to sit next to her wife and daughter.
Beca kissed the top of Sophie's head.
"Aubrey," Beca said, turning to the blonde. "Could you and Stacie take Sophie for a few minutes? I need to talk to my wife."
"Sure," Aubrey said, taking Sophie from Chloe. "We'll be in the kitchen if you need us."
"Thanks," Beca said.
Once they were alone, Beca took Chloe's hand. "So, I hear you're upset with me."
"I am," Chloe said pulling her hand away.
"I think I know why," Beca said, setting her laptop on the table in front of Chloe. She opened the lid and the song lyrics were on the screen. "It wouldn't have anything to do with this would it?"
"Maybe," Chloe said, blushing slightly. "I mean, you always use music to tell me how you're feeling. And when I saw those lyrics I thought it meant you didn't want me anymore. That you wanted to break up."
Beca reached up and wiped a tear from the corner of Chloe's eye.
"Babe," Beca said softly. "You are the love of my life. I waited too long to be able to be with you to just let you go so easily. If I lost you and Sophie, my life wouldn't be worth living. I'd die without you; I thought you knew that. I love you, Chloe. Forever and always."
"I love you, too," Chloe said, as Beca wiped another tear from Chloe's cheek. Chloe leaned into Beca's hand. "Forever and always."
"Good," Beca said, leaning in to kiss Chloe. Beca pulled back from the kiss, saying, "Now, about that song-."
"You don't have to tell me," Chloe said. "I'm satisfied that it's not about me."
"But, I want to tell you," Beca said. "I wrote that song with Leona Lewis. She stopped singing about six years ago and wanted to try and get back into writing music. She came to our studio and I was asked to work with her."
"Do you know why she stopped singing?" Chloe asked.
"Yeah," Beca said. "She was suffering from depression and wanted to take some time off, but the label didn't want her to. So, she quit. The song is about her breaking up with her record label. Sort of an eff you to them."
"So, that's where You Don't Care comes from," Chloe said. "It makes sense now."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Beca said. "It's supposed to be a secret until the song drops tomorrow. I don't know exactly how I did it, but I got her to sing the song herself. She said no at first, but something I said changed her mind. And, if I do say so myself, the song is pretty good and she sounds amazing singing it."
"I can't wait to hear it," Chloe said, pulling Beca into a hug.
"Let's get Sophie and go home," Beca said, pulling out of the hug.
"Brey asked us to stay for dinner," Chloe said. "They're ordering in."
"I'd like that," Beca said. "But, we can't stay too long. We have to be ready for when Santa comes tonight."
~~ Day 3 of the 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2020 ~~
The next morning, the four friends were sitting around Beca and Chloe's living room after watching Sophie open her presents. Beca and Chloe were snuggled together on the sofa; Stacie was down on the floor playing with Sophie, while Aubrey watched from the chair.
"So, Beca," Stacie said. "When is the song coming out?"
"Um, it should be on all the music download sites by now," Beca said.
Stacie pulled out her phone and checked the sites.
"Here it is," Stacie said, excitedly. "I'll download it so we can all hear it."
"So, you helped write it," Aubrey said. "Who did you get to sing it?"
"Leona Lewis," Stacie responded. "Here, listen."
Stacie pressed play and the song started playing. When it ended, they all clapped and congratulated Beca.
"It's a good song, Beca," Aubrey said.
"How is Leona Lewis in person?" Stacie asked. "She looks really pretty in the pictures I've seen of her."
"She is very pretty," Beca said.
Beca looked down at Chloe, who was staring up at her with her blue eyes wide.
"What?" Beca said. "She is!"
"Do you think she's prettier than me?" Chloe asked, pouting up at Beca. "Is she prettier than your wife? The woman you call the love of your life? The mother of your child?"
Beca laughed and said, "No, she's not. You, my dear wife, are the prettiest human being on the planet."
"You're so whipped," Aubrey said, laughing as she looked at Beca.
"I don't care," Beca said. "She loves me and that's all that matters."
Chloe moved to straddle Beca. Beca blushed and smiled.
"What are you doing?"
"This," Chloe said, capturing Beca's lips in a kiss.
Beca put her arms around Chloe's waist and pulled her closer. The kiss broke and they both sucked in some needed air.
"Thank you," Beca muttered.
Aubrey cleared her throat and glared at Chloe. Chloe got off of Beca with a huff.
"Merry Christmas, babe," Beca said, kissing Chloe's cheek. "I love you."
Chloe turned her head and gave Beca a quick kiss on the lips.
"Merry Christmas," Chloe said. "I love you, too."