Chapter 4: Best Friends. Always.
Chloe left a cup of coffee, toast, and a blueberry muffin (her favorite) on Beca's nightstand. She also left a note "be home in a few hours, call me if you need anything. -Chlo xo."
"She awake?" Aubrey asked as she got her to-go coffee mug ready.
"No, probably better for her to sleep as much as she can."
"Well, everyone else just left so let's head out."
They chose to walk this morning, and as they passed the radio station Chloe's eyes narrowed as she looked in the windows to see if Luke was there. Aubrey, reading her mind as usual said, "Chloe...don't. Let's just keep walking."
"Just a sec." Chloe completely ignored her and marched over to the station. Aubrey closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Chloe stomped into the building and Aubrey followed behind gripping her bag uncomfortably.
"Hello." Aubrey nodded at the man at the front desk. She watched as Chloe barged into the back room. Chloe snatched the door knob with fury and swung it open and it slammed against the wall. Luke spun around in shock. It pleased Chloe to see there was a good shiner on his face knowing it came from Beca.
"What the fu-" Luke looked up to be greeted by a swift open palm of Chloe. She slapped him so hard you could see the handprint.
"Go near her again, asshole and I'll call the cops on your punk ass." She growled and then knocked over a stack of CDs on her way out. Aubrey had watched nervously waiting for someone to detain them or something.
"Let's go." Chloe walked back to her and smiled cheerily.
Beca returned to bella rehearsals not long after Chloe and Aubrey had arrived, ribs still a little sore and stitches over her eyebrow. Everyone was happy to see that she made it and gave her encouragement which she responded to sullenly. Chloe noticed immediately it wasn't the same Beca from before the Luke situation, which was commanded to Aubrey and Chloe to not discuss with the other bellas.
"Why is she not at home?" Aubrey whispered to Chloe, unsure of how to handle the situation.
"I don't know." Chloe folded her arms and glared at Beca for showing up when she knew she should be resting.
"Beca! Glad to see you here!" CR greeted her with a clap on the back. Beca groaned and flinched feeling a surge of pain on her left side. Chloe saw and winced for her. "Sorry, you okay?"
"Yeah I just took a tumble down the stairs, rib still hurts."
"Damn girl and your face and hand?!" Stacie stepped over and gave Beca the once over.
"It was a weird fall, okay? Nothing to see." Beca shooed them away with her hands. Chloe rolled her eyes at the terrible excuse Beca gave them.
"Alright Bellas." Aubrey started nervously. "We have some new moves to learn today. I'm thinking of adding a new set to "set" us apart." She grinned hopefully.
"You just spring a brand new set on us without talking about it?" Beca asked wide eyed.
"Well...technically you've been talking about it since day one." Aubrey smiled her signature fake smile.
"So you're just all of a sudden going to let me put a mix together for us today?" Beca scoffed.
"Actually...yes. With group approval." Aubrey nodded at everyone. Even Chloe was taken aback by this. Aubrey hadn't run this idea by her.
"What?" Beca replied dumbstruck.
"Do you want to do it or not, Beca?" Aubrey asked.
"Y-Yeah. I guess." Beca shrugged and looked at everyone else who were all as shocked as she was.
"Alright, now we're going to be learning a lot of new moves." Aubrey flipped the white board over and showed them the starting positions. "I'll save an hour at the end to run through our other routines as well to stay sharp."
Chloe's spot was next to Beca and she marched over and whispered. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Well, call me crazy but this is a Bella rehearsal, and I thought since I'm a Bella -"
"Stop, you know what I mean." Chloe groaned.
"I'm not sitting in my bed all day to mope by myself."
"I don't think you're ready to-"
"I can decide when I'm ready for whatever I want." Beca whipped her face to give Chloe a serious glare. Chloe sighed in frustration.
The bellas were clearly not perfect with the new dance moves since it was the first time they practiced, but Aubrey was pleasantly surprised. One of the moves had Chloe reach out to Beca's hand and pull her to the opposite side of the stage, switching Beca with Stacie's partner, Jessica. Without thinking Chloe grabbed her hand and was about to pull her across to switch with Jessica when Beca let out a yelp. Chloe immediately let go and watched in concern.
"Shit! Dammit!" Beca held her left hand then stood up and kicked a chair. Everyone froze watching her mini-tantrum.
"You good, Beca?" Aubrey asked hesitantly.
"Fine. Shit." She mumbled under her breath.
"That's why I said you should've stayed home." Chloe mumbled to herself but loud enough for Beca to hear.
"I don't need you to be my mom." Beca glared as she got into position.
"You did last night." Chloe immediately regretted saying that. It was unfair and she worried it would risk Beca every asking for her help again. Beca just shook her head and waited for Aubrey to give the signal.
Beca had put all the Bellas on edge the rest of rehearsal until Aubrey finally called it a day. Everyone filed out one by one when Aubrey called out, "Beca, could you wait please?"
"Well isn't this a fun flashback?" Beca grinned. "Gonna give me beef about my attitude or something?"
"Actually." Aubrey breathed in deeply. "I was going to see if you had thoughts on songs for a new arrangement." Beca felt a little bad. Aubrey was being pretty nice to her. At the same time it frustrated her because she felt it was out of pity.
"I have ideas, give me a day and I can give you some options."
"Great." Aubrey nodded.
"Anything else?"
"Since you ask…" Aubrey glanced at Chloe and back to Beca. "What's going on with you today? I mean last night was awful and you're still hurt. Do you need-"
"Oh my God!" Beca raised her hands in frustration. "What I NEED is for people to stop trying to pamper me!"
"Beca-" Chloe tried to step in.
"No! God, just let me be. I'm going home." Beca grabbed her bag and marched out the door.
"I hope this doesn't become a problem." Aubrey closed her eyes.
"I'm sure it'll be fine. She's just going through some rough stuff. She needs more than a night to get over it." Chloe nodded confidently but was nervous herself.
Throughout the next week Beca was short with everyone even though everyone just showed genuine concern. No one knew about Luke yet, but just knew she was dealing with something and Beca was known for not sharing a single personal thought that passed through her brain. It was starting to get to Chloe, though. She knew the truth and only wanted what was best for her friend, but her constant surliness and unnecessary rudeness to the girls needed to stop.
One night they were having Bella Bonding Night, watching a movie. Presence was mandatory. Beca sat on the couch with her arms crossed. Chloe brought her a drink as well as her own in her favorite yellow cup.
"Here." She said trying not to sound too cold but also not to friendly. She didn't know what would make Beca snap. This is ridiculous having to step on eggshells with Beca of all people. She thought to herself.
"Thanks." Beca took it and took a long sip.
"Yo, Becca. How's things going with your boy Luke?" CR asked innocently. How was she supposed to know? Chloe's eyes widened. Aubrey froze while putting the dvd in.
"We broke up." Beca responded shortly.
"Aw damn! Sorry girl. Is that why you've been in a funk?"
"I haven't been in a funk." Beca growled. Chloe scoffed under breath unable to contain it.
"We should hook you up with someone!" Stacie interjected.
"Please I don't need one of your STD reject boys." Beca shifted. Chloe felt heat rising to her cheeks. She couldn't take much more of this Beca. Stacie shrugged it off. She was pretty open about her sex life anyway.
"We can find you somebody for sure. And way better than Luke." CR encouraged.
"What would YOU of all people know about getting a guy and if they're good or not." Beca laughed harshly.
"Beca!" Fat Amy let out a groan. "Look, just because Luke tried to go too far with you doesn't mean there's not good guys out there for you."
"What?" Beca's voice was stoic and quiet. Chloe's eyes widened and felt her heart rate pickup.
"I mean so Luke doesn't get 'no means no', okay he's an asshole. But there's lots of fish in the sea. Believe me I like a catfish or two." Fat Amy grinned. Beca slowly turned her head to face Chloe whose eyes were already closed, not wanting to see the Beca death glare. The rest of the room besides Aubrey didn't realize the tension that suddenly overtook the room.
"Alright, movie time!" Aubrey chirped.
"How'd she know about that?" Beca ignored her and waited for a response from Chloe.
"She kept pushing me about what happened to your-" Chloe tried to explain.
"Ugh! You bitch!" Beca downed her drink and stood up from the couch. Everyone looked in puzzlement at the little brunette as she stormed out of the room. At first Chloe was shocked and hurt but it quickly turned to frustrated anger. She slammed her cup on the coffee table and also jumped up from the couch. Beca had already raced up the stairs but Chloe wasn't far behind.
"Chloe-" Aubrey tried to warn.
"Oh, I can handle her." Chloe growled as she grabbed the railing and jogged upstairs.
"Okay bellas." Aubrey's smile faltered as she heard Beca's door slam upstairs. "Let's try to enjoy the movie ourselves." Suddenly another door slam followed that one. "Let's turn up the volume."
"What the hell is your problem!" Chloe stormed into Beca's room slamming the door behind her. Beca ignored her and put her headphones in to work on her music.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Chloe stepped over and yanked the headphones off.
"What the fuck?" Beca shouted. "Don't touch my headphones!"
"Then don't call me a bitch. And don't treat the other girls like shit. And don't shut me out for no damn good reason!"
"Well don't tell my personal shit to everyone and their mom!"
"I told Amy. You know how she is, I didn't tell anyone else."
"Well now I know my best friend has a big mouth!"
"Oh please, if you would just-"
"If you ever were my best friend to begin with!"
"Don't you dare!" Chloe stepped forward. "Don't you try to push me so far away I don't come back. I am here for you, Beca. Open your damn eyes and let go of whatever it is that makes you shut people out. I don't understand what happened. We were so close that night and now I feel like all you want to do is fight with me...with everyone."
"Because you're babying me. I'm not a fucking child!"
"Well you're acting like one. Stomping and moping around and treating the girls like shit for NO DAMN REASON!"
Downstairs, all the bellas could hear the muffled shouting. They all kept exchanging uncomfortable glances. No one was paying attention to the movie. And no one knew what to say or do to help the situation.
"I don't want people to be close to me Chloe! Can't you understand that?" Beca nearly gasped getting her words out.
"Why, Beca? We want to be close to you. I want to be close to you."
"Well you're an idiot."
"I swear to God, insult me again and I will punch you in your ribs." Chloe growled. Beca knew with her skills she could probably take Chloe in a fight, yet something in the ginger's eyes terrified her.
"Okay, I'm sorry." She flopped down onto her bed.
"Please, Becs. Just tell me what's going on in there." Chloe sat next to her and rubbed her thumb across Beca's temple.
"I don't deserve it." Beca whispered. Chloe didn't say anything, just waited for Beca to continue. "I don't deserve best friends and boyfriends. Everyone I care about either ditches me when they realize I suck or I hurt them. I need to be alone, there's less risk that way. I'm so tired of getting my hopes up just to have someone remind me that I don't deserve to be loved and my love isn't worth anyone having."
"Becs…" Chloe closed her eyes. Hurting so much for her friend. "I want to personally kick the ass of everyone who ever made you feel that way. You deserve the best people in your life. You're such a wonderful person. You deserve love and so much more." Chloe grabbed Beca's chin to make her look her in the eyes. "You deserve -" Before she continued, Chloe just instinctively put her hands behind Beca's neck and kissed her. They stayed like that for a moment, when Beca allowed Chloe's tongue inside her mouth. Chloe felt a tear sliding down her cheek, just wanting so badly to show and prove to Beca what she was worth. Chloe's hands then slid down to Beca's waist to try and pull her closer. Beca pulled back, grabbing her side in pain.
"I'm sorry!" Chloe yanked her hands back and scooted an inch away.
"Its fine." Beca lightly rubbed her side.
Downstairs, Aubrey looked at the ceiling, confused by the now silence. "Hmm...its quiet now."
"They probably started their angry sex. Its the best kind." Stacie winked to the room.
"Or make up sex." CR chuckled.
"It'd be about time. To bloe!" Fat Amy raised her glass toward the ceiling. Aubrey just rolled her eyes at her fellow bellas.
Beca stood to her feet and Chloe followed her. Nervous about how Beca was going to react to their moment.
"I'm sorry for being a bitch to you this week." Beca stared at her feet.
"Thank you for apologizing." Chloe grinned. Beca looked back up and returned the favor from Chloe and gave her a short, but meaningful kiss. Chloe's heart fluttered as she tried to catch her breath.
"Friends again?" Beca looked expectantly.
"Best friends. Always." Chloe gave her a hug.
"I should probably apologize to everyone else too, right?" Beca chewed on her lip, not looking forward to a public apology.
Chloe and Beca descended the stairs together while the room was silent, scared to make eye contact or to speak.
"Alright so…" Beca rubbed the back of her neck and shifted awkwardly. "I'm sorry for being such a grouch this week. I've had some stuff to deal with. I shouldn't have taken it out on...my family. And...I...loveyouawesomenerds." Her eyes shifted around the ground. There was a chorus of 'we love you toos' and 'awws' as everyone gathered around for a group hug, gentle of course to not hurt her ribs. Chloe smiled widely as they finally had their Beca back.