A/N: So I did a littler experiment with this chapter. I described a vision I have in my head for a routine for the Bellas with certain mashups. Its borderline impossible to put into words but I tried. Please let me know what you think, good or bad. I have other ideas for future mashups/routines but if its frustrating to read and distracting to the story I won't do it. Song links are below and it'd be VERY helpful to listen first. They're good songs anyway. Hope you enjoy!
Edit: Apparently fanfiction won't let me post links even though there's a hyperlink option...? Anyway just youtube Roar Me Home; Bad Romance/Bulletproof/Titanium; and Perfect Fight Song
Chapter 8: Regionals
Beca was tossing and turning. Aubrey had mandated an 8:00pm bedtime for the house. They would be taking a bus to Regionals at 6:00am and she wanted her girls rested and ready to go. She couldn't decide if she should calm herself by fiddling around with her music program, sneak downstairs for a little bit of alcohol, or actually try doing homework since that always put her to sleep. Instead she figured out a possible better option. She pulled out her phone to text a certain redhead.
Beca: can't sleep...can you come up?
Chloe: something wrong?
Beca: just nervous and wide awake.
Chloe: just a sec
Chloe silently pulled the covers off of her as she stared at Aubrey who had fallen asleep a little while ago. She quietly put her feet on the floor trying not to make a sound. She slowly stood up and tip-toed to the door. As she reached for the handle she heard Aubrey's voice loud and clear.
"Where do you think you're going?" Her eyes were still closed and she hadn't even moved in her bed. Chloe gasped and spun around, heart racing.
"It is so creepy when you do that!" She put a hand on her chest.
"Mhm. And where are you going? We have an early and long day tomorrow." Aubrey continued to keep her eyes closed.
"Beca can't sleep." Chloe mumbled sheepishly. To this, Aubrey peeked her eyes open.
"And...what exactly are you planning to do?"
"Nothing weird!" Chloe could sense what Aubrey was hinting at. "She just needs company and reassurance. She's nervous about tomorrow."
"Mmm…" Aubrey sighed and closed her eyes again. "Just remember we share a ceiling with her room and can hear basically everything." Chloe just rolled her eyes and left the room to head upstairs.
She snuck into Beca's room, still on stealth mode although now it was unnecessary.
"Hey…" She whispered as she walked over to Beca who was sitting up in bed flipping through her phone.
"Dude, I'm not going to get any sleep. And I'm going to be exhausted. And Aubrey's going to kill me." She leaned her head back on her headboard. Chloe couldn't help but smile sympathetically. Poor Beca was a classic overthinker and under-sharer. If she'd just talk things out she'd have so much stress relief. There's also other ways to relieve stress... Chloe smirked to herself and then shook off the thought.
"I heard somewhere that being on your phone in bed can delay restful sleep." Chloe snatched the phone from Beca's hand, put it on silent, and placed it in the nightstand drawer.
"But what about my alarm?"
"Beca, please." Chloe scoffed. "We live with Aubrey. We will have an alarm."
"True." Beca grinned.
"Scoot over." Chloe nodded at the bed and then sat next to the brunette when there was room. "So why are you nervous?"
"I don't know." Beca shrugged staring at her hands.
"Beca. If you're going to ask me to come up to your room when you can't sleep you're going to need to open up a little." Chloe crossed her feet, and stared holes into the side of Beca's face, waiting for her to spill her guts.
"What if the judges don't like the song choice? What if I trip? You know how clumsy I can be. What if I hit the wrong note or come in at the wrong time?" Beca started frantically rubbing the back of her neck. Chloe shook her head and grabbed Beca's hand.
"Hey, hey. How many times have we practiced our routine?"
"Like a gazillion times thanks to heir Posen." Beca huffed.
"And in the past week have you messed up once? No! Its been perfect. You know the routine like the back of your hand."
"But there's going to be a whole auditorium full of people. I've only ever been perfect when its just the bellas."
"It can be nerve wracking." Chloe admitted. "But you just have to tune them out and pretend we're all back at Barden during a rehearsal. And if you feel your nerves getting to you just look at me on stage and remember how flawless we've been during rehearsals."
"I just...don't want to let you...and everyone down. I'm not exactly typical bella material."
"You won't let us down!" Chloe inched even closer and put her arm around the brunette's shoulder. "You've done so much for us already. We honestly wouldn't have a shot at nationals if it wasn't for you. But if you tell Aubrey that I'll kill you in your sleep." They both laughed and Beca seemed to relax. She let her head fall against Chloe's shoulder.
"Turn over. Let's get some sleep." Chloe nudged Beca in the back.
"You're not cuddling with me, Beale." Beca shot her a glance before lying on her side.
"You're funny." Chloe rolled her eyes as she adjusted herself in the bed and draped her arm across Beca's waist. Beca couldn't help but grin and within minutes they were both sound asleep to be well rested for Regionals the next day.
"Okay, Bellas. We got this. Let's own that stage. Hands in!" Aubrey huddled the group together as they prepared to march out onstage. They did their team "ahh" and turned to wait and hear their name announced. Chloe slid her hand in Beca's and gave her a reassuring squeeze. Beca nodded in confidence.
(Bellas begin with a low hum and slow stomp)
Chloe: [Walk me Home - Pink] There's something in the way you roll your eyes (she winked at Beca)
Beca: Takes me back to a better time
(Chloe and Beca stood feet away performing similar slow dancing like in Pink's music video while Stacie and Aubrey sing their harmony and dance the same moves two rows and a few feet to their left acting as "shadows")
Chloe: When I saw everything is good
Beca: But now you're the only thing thats good
(the lights burst on illuminating the whole stage as the bellas start a more energized dance and clap)
Beca and Chloe in harmony: Walk me home in the dead of night!
(Beca wrapped her arm around Chloe's waist and spun her perfectly to her correct landing spot as they transitioned back into the dance routine without a hitch)
Stacie and Aubrey in harmony: I can't be alone with all that's on my mind
CR: [Roar - Katy Perry] Louder, louder than a lion
Beca and Chloe: [Walk me Home] There is so much wrong
CR: [Roar] Cuz I am a champion
Fat Amy: [Roar] Hear me roar!
(Bellas line up with their partners and link arms as they march)
Beca, Chloe, Aubrey, and Stacie: Walk me home in the dead of night!
Fat Amy and CR: You're gonna hear me roar
Beca: Say you'll stay with me tonight
Chloe: Cuz there is so much wrong
(The bellas then stop their hums and beats for Fat Amy's big note)
Fat Amy: I got the eye of a Tiger!
Beca, Chloe, Aubrey, and Stacie: Walk me home in the dead of night!
(Beca and Chloe are getting dizzy from all the spinning but keep stealing glances at each other to keep their confidence up)
CR: Hear me roar!
(Bellas quickly form together to transition to the next mashup while still humming and stomping)
Beca and Chloe exchange glances as they stand across from each other, they were both excited about one of the next songs.
Fat Amy: [Bad Romance - Lady Gaga] Ohhoohh ohhh oh oh oh
Bellas: [Titanium - David Guetta] ba ba ba ba ba da da da ba ba ba ba da da da da
Fat Amy: Ohhh caught in a bad romance!
CR: [Bulletproof - La Roux] Been there done that messed around I'm having fun don't put me down I'll never let you sweep me off my feet
Fat Amy: [Bad Romance] Love love love I want your love
Backup bellas in harmony: Love love love
(The bellas spread across the stage as Beca and Chloe start marching up side by side to the front.)
Beca: [Bulletproof] This time baby I'll be bulletproof Chloe: [Titanium] Fire away...Fire away
(They grab hands, spin around and switch spots on stage before spinning to look at the crowd.)
Beca: [Bulletproof] This time baby I'll be bulletproof Chloe: [Titanium] Fire away...Fire away
Fat Amy: [Bad Romance] I want your love and I want your revenge you and me could write a bad romance
Beca and Chloe in harmony: Shoot me down! But I won't fall! I am titanium! (They can't help but look at each other as they reach the high note)
(The bellas then hum and beat box in unison while dancing together around the stage in perfect sync.)
Beca as she makes her way to her new spot on stage: Bulletproof!
(They arrange themselves rapidly for their final transition and start a slow rhythmic stomp)
Aubrey: [Fight song - Rachel Platt] Like a small boat on the ocean sending big waves into motion like how a single word can make a heart open I might only have one match but I can make an explosion
(all bellas come in with harmonized "ahhs" and beats)
Aubrey: And all those things I didn't say wrecking balls inside my brain I will scream it loud tonight can you hear my voice this time
CR: [Perfect - Pink] Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel like your less than, less than perfect (she stole a glance at Beca who was on the other side of Aubrey) Pretty pretty please if you ever ever feel like you're nothing, you are perfect to me.
(Bellas begin a light stomping for the beat and swaying)
Beca and Chloe in harmony: [Perfect] It's enough I've done all i can think of chased down all my demons and seen you do the same, ohhhh ohhh
Chloe and Aubrey in harmony: [Fight song] This is my fight song (Beca: hey!)
(the bellas clap, stomp, and sing their backups while moving around the stage in perfect unison)
Chloe and Aubrey in harmony: Take back my life song (Beca: hey!) Prove I'm alright song (Beca: hey!) My power's turned up starting right now I'll be strong I'll play my fight song
All bellas: And I don't really care if nobody else believes
CR: [Perfect] Done looking for the critics cuz they're everywhere. They don't like my jeans they don't get my hair. Exchange ourselves and we do it all the time why do we that...Y-Y-EA-EAHHH!
(Fight song and Perfect sung at the same time over each. CR and Stacie are singing Perfect on the right side of the stage in front of Ashley and Fat Amy. Chloe, Aubrey, and Beca are singing Fight song on the left side in front of Lilly and Jessica. They all perform the same choreography while back up bellas stomp, clap, and hum)
Aubrey, Chloe, Beca: [Fight Song] This is my fight song! Take back my life song! Prove I'm alright song!
Stacie, CR: [Perfect] Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel like your less than less than perfect
Aubrey, Chloe, Beca: [Fight Song] My power's turned up! Starting right now I'll be strong! I'll play my fight song!
Stacie, CR: Pretty pretty please if you ever ever feel like you're nothing, you are perfect
Aubrey, Chloe, Beca: [Fight Song] This is my fight song! Take back my life song! Prove I'm alright song!
Stacie, CR: [Perfect] You're perfect! You're perfeeeect to meeee!
Aubrey, Chloe, Beca: [Fight Song] My power's turned up! Starting right now I'll be strong! I'll play my fight song!
CR: [Perfect] Pretty pretty pretty pleeeaasssee! Y-E-EAHHHHHH!
Backup bellas: And I don't really care if nobody else believes
(There was a brief silent pause as the lights dim)
Beca: Cuz I still got a lot of fight left in me. (The lights slowly fade out on each Bella, leaving Beca under the spotlight for a moment before the stage is dark.)
The applause was deafening. The bellas were out of breath and smiling from ear to ear wrapping each other in hugs. They all lined up one last time and took a bow for the audience who stood to their feet cheering and clapping. They all ran backstage together.
"Girls!" Aubrey squealed. "That was aca-amazing!"
"They loved us!" Chloe wrapped Aubrey in a hug.
"If we don't advance to Nationals I'm going to burn this bitch down!" Fat Amy raised her first.
"Beca, well done with the songs!" Aubrey tentatively reached to give Beca a hug to which she froze like a statue. "You are truly an amazing Bella!" Aubrey squeezed as Beca flinched under her arms. The rest of the bellas quickly joined in for a grand big hug before they ran out to find their seats.
Several performances later, the host announced that the Regional champion would be announced momentarily. Fat Amy crossed her fingers, Stacie bit her nails, Jessica and Ashley hugged each other trying not to cry, Lilly sat stoically with her hands in her lap, CR's knee was bouncing about a mile a minute, Aubrey just looked down with one hand over her eye, Beca fidgeted with her thumb ring, and Chloe (seated in between Aubrey and Beca) took a calming breath and reached out and grabbed both of her best friends' hands to comfort them.
"In third place, give it up for the Ransom Notes!" There was light applause throughout the arena.
"In second place and advancing on, let's hear it for the CrescenDudes!" There was heavier applause and a few cheers as the second place group jumped together in the back of the arena.
"There's no way we would've been scored worse than the Ransom Notes!" Aubrey squeezed Chloe's hand harder. "We've got to be regional champs."
"And taking home the trophy and title of Regional champs, make some noise for the Barden Bellaaaaassss!" He raised the trophy as the girls squealed and nearly fell over one another as they attacked the stage. Fat Amy snatched the trophy first and raised it over her head.
"Take that, aca-bitches, yeah!" They all jumped around the stage, giving each other hugs and passing around the trophy. Even Beca caught up in the moment and couldn't hide her glee.
That night after much celebration, the bellas returned home and placed the trophy on a bookshelf near the staircase. Aubrey had said she would be purchasing a trophy case for it in the near future. When most of the bellas had finally gone to bed, Beca sipped on a glass of water and admired the trophy, thinking about how far the bellas had come.
"I don't think we would have that right now if it weren't for you." Chloe startled her by coming around the corner.
"Eh, we all did it together." Beca shrugged.
"Yeah, but you made that happen. Beca, you are so talented and I'm so impressed with everything you do. And what makes you even more amazing is that you don't even realize how talented you are." Chloe whispered and shook her head as she stood closer. Beca smirked and just looked at Chloe in the eyes, her own darting back and forth. Chloe gulped and took a deep breath as she slowly started to lean in. Beca was about to close her eyes when they heard Aubrey come out of the room and they jumped apart.
"Ahh." She stopped beside Chloe and looked at the trophy. "Beautiful isn't it?"
"Mhm." Chloe smiled and nodded her head.
"Yeah." Beca just watched Chloe for a moment before excusing herself to bed. Chloe watched her up the stairs until she heard the door shut and then let out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding.