Authors Note: Sorry about the long wait and the short first chapter with the abrupt ending. Hope this more than makes up for it. Reviews are greatly appreciated. This is the first story I've ever posted and I'm just happy people actually like it. If there are any recommendations or critiques on how to improve i'll take it all into account to make the story better.
Eternal Flame's opening swells around you...and if Rachel Berry has Don't Rain on My Parade as her song, the one that she knows with her whole heart. This is yours, Chloe Beale's.
You can sing, that you know about yourself...
You have a voice and this was a show that was looking for just that.
It had come as a pleasant surprise actually- in the family you only ever had your older girl cousins who just loved to perform during get-togethers. One in particular, Jean, always did love the attention especially when she got into her Spice Girls Wannabe routine complete with made-up costumes, she did most if not all the parts while your other cousins stood either swaying or readying her props...and usually you left it all to them, except for that one time, that you just happened to be singing along... when your Granddad passing by on his way to the kitchen had heard you.
"Was that you Chlo-singing just now?" There was this little twinkle in his eye when he asked.
He'd always claimed that you had a better voice than all of them put together and that you'd go somewhere with that voice and you believed him wholeheartedly.
You may not have been the singer that you are today but he gave you that all too necessary boost of confidence that propelled you to pursue music.
You remember that fateful day as he invited you to stand in front of the whole family..and asked you to sing- alone, all by yourself.
You didn't want to upset your Grandpa and so you began to sing
in that moment the past and the present sync into one...
Close your eyes give me your hand darling....
You falter a bit the words to one of his favorite songs hazy in your mind you feel a nervous energy with all the attention of the entire family on you- the youngest for once.
You see his reassuring smile over the sullen yet impressed faces of your cousins and you begin to recall it falling into it with an easy familiarity your voice carrying out with a fire you didn't know you possessed
Do you feel my heart beating... Do you understand... Do you feel the same
Or am i only dreaming... Or is this burning an eternal flame
How many times had he sang it to you too many to count, and now you sing it for him always for him
You miss him, and you dedicate every performance to him, and like that night long ago you give your all into the same song- but in front of a completely different audience.
You feel his presence alive there, like he is singing with you once again .
Say my name sunshines through the rain a whole life so lonely then you come and ease the pain
I don't wan to loose this feeling oh-
You're sure you've never sounded better... you give it your all knowing your grandfather is smiling up there-you're number one, albeit most biased fan.
The song is coming to a close and suddenly you hear a roar of applause breakthrough...
You dunno why, but you've only just realized- maybe cos your eyes were closed ...and that you were so into it, that not only have two of the regular judges already turned, so has another one-
3 out of 4 not bad... you allow a wide grin to breakthrough... feeling giddy and happy and crazed, all at the same time... the high coming from definitely getting a spot on the show- sure it was just the beginning there were plenty of more rounds to go. But it was a start.
As the last notes leave your mouth... you realize with a thud- as your senses come back and everything is put into focus- that the third person who'd turned wasn't Beca.
You feel disappointment creep in biting a little at your accomplishment-mostly you feel hurt, rejected ultimately just plain heart-broken.
Don't take it personally, she may be looking waiting for something else holding out for someone else, it's not you- But all you can think is, of course... she doesn't, wouldn't want you.
You're so involved in your inner monologue that you fail to notice that they're talking to you-
"So what's you're name?" you're not sure which one of the male judges asked you...
Oh God, shake it off you're on tv... you need to be "present" try not to come off as a complete airhead
"I'm- Chloe, Chloe Beale." there you recovered quite nicely
"Good to know the voice matches the face."
You're not entirely sure that's a complement. You smile-it doesn't quite feel real though. You're not sure how to respond...
"When you started singing, I almost imagined those fat baby angels coming in from behind the clouds together with a whole choir-there's this quality to you're voice. It's just so pure-angelic"
"Cherubs, Usher cherubim's what they're called," Beca says cutting in- her amused smirk is almost enough to remove that tight feeling in your belly just almost.
"Cherubims huh...Yes excuse me okay whatever they're called what I'm saying is that you Miss Beale, you have it and I think that you would sit nicely on my team-and we can make some soul music together."
You can't stop looking her way even if you wanted too...but you duck your eyes whenever you even feel her return your stare.
Adam Levine cuts in and he has everything going for him you think many a girl in your position would be swooning by now, but he's just not your-you were gonna say type but you amend with saying he's just not Beca.
"Personally I think she belongs in my team, from what I heard in that limited amount of time-your voice has so much potential- I mean we were, most of us-(here he glances at Beca almost in disbelief) Blown away- just by that performance so I can only imagine what more you could do-I have a feeling I'm your man, I can bring out, showcase... your full range."
"Mr Levine is right-"Blake Shelton says everyone sort of pauses waiting for the continuation of that sentence awaiting the playful bantering between the two regular judges,"-about the talent you have, cos man we were blown away. But he is definitely wrong since I believe that I've got the best bet of showing off your capabilities. You know I bet you could even do country. All I'm offering is a straight up win, just saying."
"Okay that's enough strutting roosters-settle down men...all the talk about angels ... I mean how is a girl ever to choose?" Beca kids
"Please, Chloe. You know it's all up to you, it's your decision... so go with the one you won't regret." Usher says while mouthing ME
"Chloe knows that she'll be guaranteed a spot in the finals if she chooses me."Blake says at the same doing his trademark finger thingy.
"Why don't we let her talk" Adam says motioning to you
You've been listening to the easy rapport between the judges; their chemistry this auditions. Beca actually fits right in, though she adds some sarcasm a little spunk.
"I was just thinking it's about time we did."
maybe a lot of plain smart assedness to the table
"So Chloe, Chloe Beale." she says, a teasing smile on her lips "who do you choose?"
You're weirdly tempted to say "Beca Mitchell, I choose you" like this was some Pokemon alternate universe duel or something... (this was just totally random) like it was that easy, picking out some random Pokeball... just saying if you were still going with the whole Pokemon analogy... Beca was your Pikachu, your first choice. And so now that you don't even have that option you have to go with...
"I'm just very flattered first and foremost, I really- I admire each and everyone of you-" And you I- I love you... you think as Beca catches your eye
"-but I'll just... go with my gut, cos it's always served me well-so... I'll have to choose... Adam."
Adam Levine clambers up to give you a hug and manages to say just above the noises of the music and the crowd that "You won't regret it."choosing him
Much later after being led to the room where your parents are and being congratulated...and taping everything required after. You are asked by one of the production assistants to wait a bit so they could brief you on everything: the schedule you'll be having...shooting dates, overall they'll tell you what exactly is expected of you, these coming weeks.
You feel like you've been waiting almost an hour when on your third boring walk back down the corridor, you bump into something or rather someone-
Beca Mitchell runs into you... you realize that you both might've been a little distracted since not only is it a light running into, she must've been in a hurry cos the impact is quite strong...(which is impressive as she is just an adorable little thing) so much that you teetered on the edge of falling until she reaches out to steady you. Your heart's racing around in your chest just from all that contact, you're sure you're brain had short-circuited as all it can think is that...
Beca is touching you...
"Shit, sorry texting while walking...bad habit." Her eyes are friendly, engaging, brightening up even more so when she finally recognizes you..."Chloe-Chloe Beale, isn't it?"
"You don't always have to say my name like that, you can call me Chloe..." You're relieved that you don't sound as shy as you feel.
C'mon Chloe you can do this-you're a pretty outgoing person.
"Hmm, maybe i'll think about it." she says, with that all to constant smirk gracing her features, you try to control the warmth from showing on your face-you think you succeed at the most part. She seems to have forgotten that she was in a hurry or that she had to be anywhere else at the moment.
"So um what you been up to? are you waiting for anyone?"
"Just um hanging around. I'm supposed to be briefed by one of the staff-they told me to wait here."
"And how's that going-I wasn't aware that they set up those kinds of meetings, and here of all the places,"
Then you realize exactly where you've just stopped here was right at the door to one of the washrooms. You see now, why she looked so amused.
" Yeah you know I had to pee and I just couldn't hold it and when you have to go, you just gotta...go." Okay- you are so mortified this isn't at all the ideal scenario for the first conversation you'd imagined with Beca-right outside of a washroom talking about you having to pee...this time you are really full out blushing.
"No-I understand completely there's nothing quite as horrific like a full bladder in the middle of a long very important meeting. It's up there with having the urge to scratch a maddening unreachable itch while you're in a very public location... " Her tone's serious but that tell-tale smirk appears...you realize she's teasing.
"What about discovering that there's no tissue paper only after doing your business"
But now she's laughing and you can't help it you join in too, she has the most infectious laugh ever.
"What about your skirt tucked into your underwear... that's always enjoyable."
And you like- how she took something that would normally have the potential of being awkward in stride and made it into something-sorta fun.
It's weird in just that one moment you've connected.
You're not quite sure what it is... but you keep on laughing at anything and everything. You are both too far gone, positively leaning onto each other for support -Your tummy hurts you feel like it's been going on for hours. You're sure your face is as flushed as hers...beaming so brightly you're afraid your face might stay frozen that way. You swear you could stay like this just like this-with her hands having found purchase on your shoulders, yours on her waist...
"Becaw!" You hear a guys' voice calling to her and suddenly, gone is the warmth- there is more space between you and her now since the beginning of your whole interaction. She takes the guys hand and leans in to kiss him on the cheek.
"Jesse, this is Chloe one of our contestants. She just auditioned today. Chloe, this is Jesse Swanson, the music producer. He works mostly on film soundtracks..."
"Oh aren't we formal today, just call me Jesse-" he says gathering Beca to him whilst interlacing their fingers, "-Beca's fiancee."
You knew about him of course, but last you heard -and you were pretty updated with all things where Beca Mitchell is concerned... especially her dating-life, they had decided to take a break and now apparently...they were engaged...to be married
You don't really get to reply-of course the last thing you'd be wishing them-especially him is Congratulations.
"Miss Beale, there you are thank goodness. I thought you'd left. I'm Benji Applebaum,I'll be the one to brief you, if you'll come with me." He starts leading you towards the general area where you were asked to wait earlier.
You start following after a few steps you quickly turn Jesse and Beca had began to walk in the opposite direction, she stops around the corner allowing Jesse to walk ahead and turns to look at you.
"It was nice having such an intimate talk with you Chloe..Beale. I'm glad there's no hard feelings about earlier."
She's of course referring to her not turning
"It's alright." you say, even if it wasn't ... not really... you give her a saucy wink along with it just too say you enjoyed the conversation as well very much so.
"Also...Miss Beale, Coach Adam wants to have a quick talk with you after the briefing..." Benji says his tone somewhat urgent.
"Well Good luck." she gives you a nod and a last smile... formal, detached nothing at all like earlier.
"Bye" you whisper almost to yourself as she continues walking ...watching her even as she disappears around the corner.
