Hey guys! I just wanted to say that, counting this chapter, there's only three chapters left! This will be complete by Thursday! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. This is my very first fanfiction, so to know that it's actually good feels... well, amazing. Love you guys so much!
Chapter 11
Beca's POV
As soon as Chloe walks out, I flop on the couch and grab my laptop, opening my hard drive and opening the files to my latest project. I have a bass loop in a ¾ time signature playing under a staccato, soprano violin loop, and I know it sounds good, but something's off. There's something missing. I tinker around with some of the sounds before I land on something that clicks- a deep bass guitar loop. I smile at the unusual combination of instruments. Before my… problem, everyone always told me how daring my music is.
I get lost in the music for a couple hours, and I jump out of my deep concentration when my phone rings. I check the caller ID and see it's Theo, and I pause my music before answering.
"Hey Theo, what's up?" I ask, and he sighs.
"Where are you?" He demands, and I suddenly remember that I was supposed to be at the studio at nine. I look at my phone and see it's 9:30, and I sigh.
"Theo, I'm so sorry. I'm working on the loop you sent me right now. I got so caught up in it I completely lost track of time. Do you want me to rush over?" I rub my forehead and close my laptop, standing up and walking to the coat rack.
"No, no, it's fine. Just get back to work. We need that track done by the end of the week to be ready for lyrics."
"Are you sure? I can come, no biggie." I ask, but even as I say it, I turn and sit back on the couch.
"I'm sure. Just stop by tomorrow sometime."
"When?"
"Whenever works best for you. Look, Khaled needs me to fix his piano, but I'll be in touch. Don't forget; Friday. Finished track. No later, you hear me?" He says, and I laugh.
"Yes sir, but don't forget who works for who." I hang up before he can respond, and I stare at my laptop for a long time before I push it off to the side and pull my phone out. I open the Bellas group chat (which I just recently rejoined) and send a quick message.
Hey guys, I have an idea. I hit send and wait a minute, then see Emily typing.
Ooh, is it what we discussed? She responds.
Yeah, so shh, Legacy. I wanna announce it.
Alrighty then, miss oh-so-famous Beca Mitchell.
News? What's up, pitches? Amy asks.
Oooh, something new! Are we burying bodies? Comes Esther's response, and everyone else starts responding.
Cynthia Rose: It better be something good. You know I don't like fake crap.
Jessica: Whatever it is, Ashley and I are down. I just got fired.
Ashley: Awww Jess, you didn't tell me you got fired!
Stacie: Guys, I'm in the middle of something. What's going on?
Aubrey: Stacie, be nice. I'm sure it's something important. I'm sure whatever you were doing can wait.
Jessica: Oh, sorry Ash, I was going to tell you. I just didn't get the chance.
Stacie: Well, babe, I guess you'll just have to wait and see.
Jessica: Who you calling babe?
Stacie: Not you.
I'm shaking with laughter, but I decide to intervene at this point.
Legacy and I have an idea that we wanted to share with you guys, if you'll be quiet long enough for me to actually send it without it disappearing and no one seeing it. I wait a minute, but when I get no response, I start typing again. This new album I'm working on has been super shitty, so Em and I were thinking- what if the Bellas got back together, and we all sang together again on my new album? I hit send, and for a minute, nothing happens. Then everyone starts typing at once.
Amy: HELL YEAH! But I'm offended. You talked to Legacy before you talked to me?
Aubrey: I'm in! I miss you guys.
Stacie: Count me in!
Jessica: Me too!
Ashley: SAAAAAAME!
Esther: Well, it isn't a dead body, but I'm in.
Cynthia Rose: Well, I just retired from the army, so count me in.
All of their responses fill my eyes with tears, and I reach up to wipe them away, laughing in happiness.
Thanks guys. I'm looking forward to this. I miss singing with you guys. You're my family.
Amy: Well, not all of use. It'd be weird if Chloe was your family, if you get my drift. Her response immediately makes me blush, but Chloe responds before I get the chance.
Shush Amy. I wouldn't hesitate even if she was.
Aubrey: Chlo, that's so weird.
Chloe: I don't care, it's how I feel. I crack up at her response, and I decide to intervene again.
You must admit, it does sound a little weird. But I agree ?. I hit send, then start typing again before she can respond. I should get back to work, but I'll let y'all know when we can get started.
Stacie: Ok, I'm looking forward to it! Everyone else agrees, so I type a quick goodbye before collapsing into the back of the couch and throwing my phone on the floor, closing my eyes and sighing in happiness.
I'm sprawled out across the couch when Chloe comes home, practically slamming the door behind her. She marches into her room and slams the door without even looking at me.
"Babe? What's wrong?" I stand up and walk over to her room, knocking lightly on the door. I hear a muffled sob from her side of the door, and I turn the door handle to walk in, but it's locked. "Are you ok?"
"Y-yeah, I'm fine." She opens the door and walks by me, but I grab her wrist and twirl her back around to face me. I gasp when I see the bruises covering her face and right eye, and her nose is swollen and obviously broken.
"Chloe, who the hell did this to you?" My voice quivers a little with anger, and she starts crying even harder, collapsing into my arms.
"It was T-T-Tom." She whispers, shaking uncontrollably with fear.
"Tell me everything." I pull away and drag her gently to the bed, sitting down and pulling her next to me against my side. She leans into me and wipes her tears, sighing.
"I went into work, and he told me he loved me. I told him I didn't feel the same, and he…" She trails off, another sob breaking out of her chest, and I hug her tighter, all the while fighting the urge to punch something. "He raped me." She whispers, looking at me for the first time since she came home. The anger must be evident in my face, because she immediately flinches away from me.
I wrap my arms around her again, hurt that she's so scared, but ignoring it, as I can see how scared she is. "Chlo, I'm not going to hurt you." She slowly leans back into me, and I rub her back soothingly. "I'm going to kill him though." I growl.
"Beca, please don't. I need my job." She says, her voice stronger now as she wipes the tears from her face and sits up, looking at me again.
"I can't just let him get away with this, babe. He needs to pay." My voice sounds distant, and I realize I'm clenching my fists, my skin turning pale white against my knuckles.
"I love that you want to help me, but I can't lose my job. This job means too much to me to lose." She whispers and leans in to peck my cheek, but I lean away, outraged.
"Are you fucking serious? It's a job, Chloe! You can always get hired into another clinic! You can't just let him do this to you!" I stand up, practically screaming. She flinches back momentarily, but then stands up as well, anger masking her face.
"I never said I was going to let him do this to me! But it took me two years to get this job!" My face falls slack with momentary shock, and she jumps on it before I can compose myself. "Yeah, of course you didn't know that, because you didn't care to talk to anyone! Me most of all!" Her face immediately softens when I take a step back, water flooding my eyes. "Beca, I didn't mean that. I'm so-" I cut her off, holding a hand up to stop her.
"You obviously meant it, because you said it. But you know what, you're right." I shake my head at her and turn around, getting ready to walk out, but her voice stops me.
"Can we please not fight about this?" I turn to look at her, slightly disgusted by her reaction- and hurt by her words.
"Yeah. Sure. I'm out of here anyway." I turn and storm out the door. She calls my name behind me, but I ignore her as I grab my jacket and walk out the door. As soon as the door slams behind me, I sprint down the stairs and into the parking lot, the tears uncontrollably streaming down my cheeks. My phone rings, and it's "Titanium"- Chloe's ringtone. I pull it out, debating whether or not to answer, then hit ignore and turn my phone all the way off. I stand at the edge of the road for a minute, then turn right and start walking south for a while, focusing on placing my steps on each crack in the road to distract myself from thinking about what Chloe said. Each word hurt, but everything she said was true- even down to the "Me most of all" part. I did ignore everyone, especially her. But for her to bring it up, and now of all times! Now, when her boss just raped her? I mean-
The sounds of happy children brings me out of my reverie, and I look up to see that I'm at my destination; the park. I sit down on the bench closest to me, leaning back and stretching my legs all the way out. The eyes finally dry out, and I gingerly wipe the semi-dry tears from my cheeks. I close my eyes and try to enjoy the sun beating down on my face, letting my thoughts take over.
"Beca, no! Please!" Chloe's on her knees, blood streaming from her right temple. I take off the safety on the gun in my hands, pointing it directly in between her eyes.
"But I want to. So badly." I smile at her twistedly and laugh as she cries even harder. "You won't feel a thing, babe." I laugh darkly, then pull the trigger. She screams, but the bang from the gun mutes it. She falls back, her eyes wide open in shock, and her chest falls still. "I'm sorry." I say emotionlessly, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
"Miss? Are you ok?" A small voice wakes me up, and I open my eyes to see a small girl of about maybe five standing in front of me, one of her hands on my arm. I pull my legs in and sit up, rubbing my eyes. "You were screaming." She whispers.
"I was? Oh, I'm sorry." I say in a light voice, pulling away and smiling tentatively at her. She smiles back, and mine widens. "Hey, where's your mommy?" She points to a woman across the park with blond hair, and I stand up, taking her hand. "Alright, let's get you back." She nods, and I slowly walk over to her mother. I clear my throat politely, and she immediately turns, her face lighting up when her daughter runs to her and wraps her arms around her legs.
"Thank you so much! I was so worried about her!" She smiles at me, and I smile back, nodding.
"No big deal, ma'am. She's a good kid." I nod in her daughter's direction, and the kid looks up at me with a big, toothless grin on her face.
"How can I ever repay you?" The mother asks, and I look back up to her.
"There's really no need. It was my pleasure. Just keep an eye on her." She nods, and I turn and walk away.
My dream flits back through my head, and a big difference comes to my attention. This time, I wanted to kill her… the thought makes me shudder, and I become angry with myself. I walk back over to the bench, then remorse floods through me as I think of the argument between Chloe and I. I realize she must be worried sick about me. Disgusted with myself for leaving, especially when she needed me most, I walk past the bench and onto the road, deciding to go back home. I turn my phone on as I walk, keeping safely in the grass so as to not get run over. I see twelve new notifications, and I sigh in frustration at myself as I read the messages Chloe sent.
Beca, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it.
Beca, please, come home.
If you're mad at me, I get it, but please let me know you're ok.
Beca Mitchell, you better text me back, I'm worried.
I understand if you're ignoring me. But I'm scared.
I'll quit my job if it makes you feel better.
Do you think I like Tom? Because I don't.
Please, just come home. We need to talk.
Dammit, Beca! Ignoring this isn't going to help.
BECA MITCHELL YOU'RE SCARING THE SHIT OUT OF ME.
BECA I'M GONNA CALL THE COPS
I guess you don't care.
The last message gets to me, and I feel my eyes watering again. I start to text her back, explaining why I didn't respond, when suddenly something whacks me in the back of my head. I hear dark laughter, then I fall into unconsciousness.