Barb's apartment complex was farther than I expected, and since she lived off-campus it put an odd feeling around us as we walked. When we arrive I let myself in and lay her on the couch, I don't remember having been in this situation before, so I'm just going to make sure she's alright. Grabbing a rag from one of the drawers in the kitchen, I move to the sink to wet it, bringing it back to the living room to dab gently on her face. It takes her a minute, and another rinse of the rag, but eventually she stirs. When her eyes open she jerks upwards and pushes into the back of her couch,
"W-Who are you?!" The terror in her face shows the events of earlier are either gone, or she is a good manipulator. I offer the rag up to her, standing and moving a bit away so as not to startle her anymore. Having taken the rag she slowly wipes along her forehead, watching me closely as I answer,
"My name is Beca Mitchell, we just got done with the riff-off, do you remember?" Her eyes widen until they look like they might pop out of her head,
"I missed the riff-off?! Dammit! I was going to show how good we had gotten by beating the Bellas..." Tilting my head to the side I shake it slowly, my skin warming as I hear my sword chime in my ears,
*She can't recollect singing? That's an odd type of magic... perhaps she might remember something about beforehand?* Running my tongue along my lower lip I chew it idly, searching for the right words,
"No you didn't miss it... well I mean not exactly... you were there..." I then explain what happened, and the sheer horror of what she may have done is just enough to make me believe she had no idea what was going on, "So... I just wanted to make sure you were okay and see if you could remember anything... like what you were doing before the riff-off?" Relaxing a little her mouth hangs open while she thinks, her hand lifting to run through her hair,
"I mean... I was out with some of my friends..." Her eyes scan around the room as if it will give her all the answers, then suddenly, "My friends?! Are they okay?" I lift a hand to calm her, nodding to make sure she understands they are fine,
"Yes, my summoned took them all to their homes and should be headed back right now, I think you're the only one who knows what happened now, they won't remember unless they are told I'm assuming." Gulping softly she makes to stand and walk past me into the kitchen to guzzle down some water,
"Okay... alright... I'm sorry, I wish I could help more, and after my friends and I ate we were walking to the pool but... then it goes blank until you woke me up." She offers me up some water and I politely decline,
"Well if you feel like you remember something, please don't hesitate to come to see us at Bella's practice, or you can call my phone... here." I reach over for a pen and her small sticky note block, chuckling at the simplicity as I write my name and number down. When I offer it over she nods firmly,
"Uhm... Beca?" She asks softly as I pull open the door, and when our eyes meet I see the fear behind them, "I'm gonna be okay, right?" I let my face relax and I look her over with what I hope is a comforting smile,
"Yeah, everything will be alright, probably best we keep the story to ourselves though." I offer a small wave, shutting the door behind me before taking off down the steps and out of the building. Breathing deeply of the night air I look to my watch, realizing I've been gone for the better part of an hour between walking and talking. Shrugging to myself I trudge on my way, tired from the entirety of today's events, what I know awaits me at home only makes my feet drag slower.
My hand envelopes the long handle knob, a sigh pushing past my lips as I open the door and am greeted just like I expected. Arms enveloping me in worried embraces, lingering hands, and gentle kisses on the cheek, it's truly the epitome of affection. I'm far too tired to fight it, being guided to the couch to lay across one lap, another lifting my legs atop their own. The movie they were watching is continued and it seems everyone is content to just not talk about anything right now. When Chloe sits in front of me and leans her head back on my stomach, I simply close my eyes and let sleep take me without a word.
The next month, for the four of us who actually needed to talk, was spent actively avoiding one another. We barely saw each other out of Bella's practice anymore, and while I kept up with the other girls pretty well, I let the other three fall to the back burner. It was just easier this way, I definitely prefer avoiding the issue, and it seems right now they have no idea what to do about it. All of the tension when any of us are in the same room finally comes to a head when I finally give in to Jesse,
"Are you kidding me?" Chloe pops off first when I announce that's where I'm going and we had better be left alone. My brow quirks immediately and I feel myself pull to the defensive side, but right now I should let them dig their own grave, right? Tilting my head to the side I give her a look of confusion,
"Oh, so you don't feel comfortable with me going to watch a movie with my friend?" Chloe crosses her arms and immediately spouts,
"You two see each other at the radio station all the time, and we have barely seen you this month other than Bella's which doesn't count." My rebuttal is ready, but just before my mouth opens, Aubrey walks in,
"What's going on?" Looking pointedly at Chloe, she actively avoids my gaze, not that I'm complaining,
"Beca is going to hang out with Jesse, alone." She pushes the last word out disgustedly and I snort a laugh while my head shakes,
"Just because you three won't speak to m-..." Aubrey jumps between Chloe and me, stopping my words in surprise when it seems she's the one who will be trying to play mediator,
"Trebles are off-limits, Beca, you wouldn't want to get kicked out of the Bella's would you?" My eyes roll into the back of my head, and the scoff that leaves my lips is dry and irritated,
"Of course you would side with Chloe, so silly of me to think you might be a voice of reason, for once." I turn with a jerk of my hand, backpack flying up my shoulder as I push past Stacie who occupied the door frame to the hallway, silent until I get just past her,
"Becs please..." Is whispered, and I look over my shoulder, anger obvious in my feature,
"Yeah, Stace? Going to tell me how I shouldn't smash the Treble too? Cause I'm about fucking sick of this assuming thing you three have going on." The brunette balks, her eyes teary when I turn my back on her and shove through the door. I get about three more steps before the guilt pangs in my chest, a hand resting on my shoulder. Pulling away I look to find Lilly speaking swiftly, my brows pressing down as I work to hear her. She offers to walk me again and I nod slowly, no use taking out my anger on someone who doesn't deserve it. Reaching over she hooks our pinky's together, a chuckle leaving me at such a simplistic move, "Sorry about that, between Aubrey going so hard at practice, Chloe being so blunt and angry, and Stacie not knowing what to do with herself I'm a bit overwhelmed." The cute woman only squeezes my pinky in response, walking quietly with me until we reach the dorms where Jesse lives. She leaves me without a fuss, just a tight hug and a bounce in her step as she leaves.
"Okay. The Breakfast Club. 1985. The greatest ending to any movie ever. This song launched Simple Minds in the US. Could have been a Billy Idol song, but he turned it down. Idiot. Perfectly sums up the movie. It's equally beautiful and sad." I am barely listening as he drones on about the movie he is about to force me to watch, my eyes blinking a few times before they focus back on his expectant face,
"That is fascinating!" I spout sarcastically, "Tell me. What does Judd Nelson eat for breakfast?" The grin that pulls to my lips is immediate, the issues from earlier nearly gone from my mind as we get on with our usual banter,
"Well, like all misunderstood rebels, he feeds on hypocrisy. And black coffee to help him with his morning dumps." His face is completely serious as he sets up the laptop and rests it between us,
"You're an idiot." I shoot back immediately, nearly cracking into laughter as he settles himself on the bed and offers me a bag of chips,
"It's true. I'm full of fun facts." He smirks as I take the chips, rolling my eyes before letting them settle on him again,
"You should let other people tell you they're fun." Lifting his hand to press a finger to his own lips in a 'hush' motion, I definitely take it as a win.
We finally get to the end and I've nearly fallen asleep, the dark of the dorm room, and the way my headrests so nicely between the mattress and the wall almost does me in,
"You're missing the ending!" He suddenly exclaims, and I sit up immediately,
"Sorry, I'm sure the begi-..." The door flies open and Benji, the guy from my class that was kind enough to wake me up, steps in wearing a cape and black top hat. I puff my cheeks out as he looks to the both of us and flicks the light on, "And I'm out, catch you later Jesse." Before he can stop me I am out the door hearing Benji speak sadly,
"Those kids were really mean to me..." I have to cover my mouth to keep from laughing as I walk down the steps, finally letting it out at the bottom. Beginning the trudge home I lift my phone to my ear, calling Amy who is at my side moments later. She allowed me to summon her, happy I asked her to walk me home this evening. Her cheeks are bright red and I tilt my head upon her arrival,
"What were you doing Ames?" I ask while I gesture to her cheeks, the woman is swift to fix her hair and look inconspicuous,
"Nothing... it's just... being summoned like that really gets the gears moving." I scrunch my brows and look at her for a long moment, "You know... it releases the Kraken... it gets the train ready to depart..." The more she talks the more confused I get, finally shaking my head as she sighs heavily, her hands lifting in an exasperated motion, "Getting summoned gives us girls a rush... it makes us hotter than midsummer in Texas..." To drive her point completely home she tilts her head down and wiggles her eyebrows at me, to which I immediately look disgusted,
"Amy! Why didn't you tell me sooner! Is that why you ran away that first night?" I can't help but laugh, remembering the way she cut off the conversation so fast, her breathing rapid as she slammed the door shut. She has the semblance to blush but shrugs a little,
"Yeah probably, I didn't tell you because it was embarrassing! Tell me you would have immediately spilled the beans if you got your rocks off after being called like that by a certain someone, eh?" She flips it on me so quickly, and I suddenly find I'm glad I have yet to actually summon anyone else to my side,
"Well... no, I wouldn't have, and I'm glad you told me so I know when the others act weird after I call them I know why." We both laugh at this, Amy continued to tell me a story about how when I really was out for the trio I used to summon them for practically no reason. When we arrive home it's just like normal, and I find myself thinking a lot about the phases around my world, the separate realms if you will. This leads me to Lilly's room, entering after a knock and permission of course. Making my way through the darker room I sit at the edge of her bed, the woman in question reading a book covered in a blank leather binding. I know better than to ask, and instead cross my legs and look her over. Her lips move, and thankfully in the quiet of her room I can hear her a bit,
"What's going on Becs? Not that I'm not happy you're here, it's just I need to do some research on Alice in Wonderland Syndrome." I blink a few times, then slowly lick my lips to give me a few more second before I speak,
"Okay uhm... so I was told we used to hunt down the anomalies, was that for a reason?" Her eyes light up at the talk of the hunt, and she nods fervently,
"Oh yes! We used to hunt them because, for everyone we destroyed the power of the corruption decreased, we figured out together that if he or she had many of them around them that they could summon them at any moment and gain more power. Destroying the anomalies created a hole basically where the corruption had been, leaving a weak point on the base's armor." I nod with this information, smiling softly as she seems to get even more excited before blurting, "Are we going to hunt again?!" I chuckle at the way she bounces a little in her seat, nodding at her question,
"Yeah, I think we sh-oomph!" I'm tackled against the bed and Lilly hugs me tightly, giggling as she wiggles around,
"Oh thank you! I miss spending time with you, and getting to pulverize things that harmed you is definitely a good way to release some tension!" When she sits up I follow her, laughing softly,
"Alright we will start tomorrow, it's already late and I'm beat." With that, I stand, and with a wave to her beaming form, I head to my room. Plopping on my bed I hit a lump, yelping in surprise at the same time the form yelps at being laid on. My brows press together firmly as I move to flip the light on, Stacie popping her head out of my covers,
"Ahm.. I'm so sorry Beca, I didn't mean to fall asleep... I just needed to be in your scent for a while... I just... I miss you." She pouts, and judging from the red rings around her eyes she had been crying before this supposed nap. I stand there a moment before sitting at the side of my bed, staring at her, waiting for her to say what she needs to. She seems to understand that I'm giving her an opportunity, so she speaks quickly, "We are afraid Becs... it was so hard watching you fall... knowing we lost you... and then you were back again... we were able to hold you in our arms... Aubrey had a second chance to redeem herself... Chloe had a second chance to feel your love... and I had a second chance to have you be my world again... and to see you getting hurt already... coming to practice wounded and in pain... oh it drove us insane... so we followed you, and we shouldn't have, but we need to know you are okay... our hearts can't take losing you again..." By the end of her shpeal, she is back in tears, my hands grasping around her hips to pull her close, holding her quivering form in my lap for a while. When I feel the soft sobs lower into quiet whimpers, I lean down to kiss her head, speaking softly into her hair,
"I missed you too, Stace." Her fingers cling tightly to my clothes, and she buries her face harder into my neck, "Let's rest, we can talk more in the morning okay?" I know we are all tired, it's been a difficult week, between more practice, fighting with each other, and worrying about the corruption, I think at this point this entire house is spent. I guide her to lay back on the bed, cuddling into her gently before I press a small kiss to her lips, "G'night." I breathe, feeling her smile as she closes her eyes, forgiveness is quite the antidote.
I feel a nudge to my leg, eyes peeking open to find that according to my alarm clock it's one in the morning. Frowning I look to see who prods at my leg again, spying the silhouette of a woman, and as she moves closer I see the telltale signs of my favorite redhead. I can't help but let my chest swell with pride, the more I remember, the more I adore these women who stuck by my side and worked together to keep me grounded. Her feature is finally close enough that I can make out her facial expression, it is ever hopeful and quite nervous. Quirking a brow I pretend to be put off, opening my other arm to her which immediately gets a muffled squeal. My finger lifts to my lips as I gesture to Stacie, only for the Succubus to start giggling,
"I can feel her eagerness to be next to you from across the city, no one could have slept through that." I'm about to answer when I am bombarded with Chloe's body moving and adjusting and pushing her way against my other side. I am tense for only a moment, then relax into both of their embraces. Before Chloe can so much as open her mouth I say,
"Sh, Stacie already explained it, super sleepy, get some rest." I plant a quick kiss to each of their foreheads, willing them to stay quiet as I work my way back to dreamland.