CHAPTER THREE:
"Holy Shit!" Beca jumps back a foot and clutches her heart.
"Oh my goodness!" The pretty redhead screams just as loud.
The tiny Dj blinked a few times to see if it would take her back to the Baker Hall common rooms. But nothing.
"No one has ever actually come in before! You scared me" The stranger commented shyly.
"I… I don't..." Beca struggled.
"Me neither"
The two just stared awkwardly at each other before the brunette started to move around the room taking everything in. Just behind the redhead sat a king-sized bed and dressers on either side; to the right was a wardrobe and a door that lead to god knows where. But the thing that caught her eye the most was the beautiful, black grand piano sitting to the left of the room; her eyes lingered there for a moment before the stranger interrupted.
"I guess I should introduce myself, I'm Chloe," the beautiful woman, that Beca noticed couldn't be much older than herself, said.
"I'm Titanium" Chloe's eyes widened at this information.
"I've heard of you! You're that hot, new Dj yeah?"
Beca nodded.
"That explains why you're here then. There was a rumor going around that you might be joining the Treblemakers. But why did you choose me? You could've had your pick! I'm sure Stacie would've been more appealing, heck even Aubrey! Why would you choose me?" The confused redhead was more talking aloud to herself than the Dj.
"I… I didn't know what was going on. They… they don't exactly give you a rundown of what this Treblemaker's club is. I was kind of going in blind, to be honest," Beca's nerves were getting the better of her.
"Oh…" Chloe looked disappointed. For some reason, this made the brunette's heartache. She felt like she had just kicked a puppy.
"No, no! That came out wrong! Sorry. You… Ah… Your picture… I… yeah, your picture was nice" the usually confident Dj cringed at her awkwardness. "Sorry. I'm not the best at explaining my feelings. Or even talking really". Chloe's eyes widened at this and her body language became fridged.
"Oh, right. Um… Ok, sorry I haven't done this before so I didn't know if we should talk before stuff happens. Sorry. You're the first and I guess I'm nervous. You see, I usually just sit in here and read during my shift" she points to the battered, old book lying on the bed. "Or play piano. I've been doing this for two years so I just never expected anyone to pop up like you did. I don't know why nobody comes in, especially considering Stacy and Aubrey always talk about visitors constantly popping into their place. But I've never had anyone and now you're here and I guess I'm panicking. Sorry, I'm totes rambling. Please shut me up" Chloe awkwardly laughs.
Beca smiles slightly at this but then clicks on to what the redhead is saying.
"Woah… wait. Are you telling me this is like some weird sex hookup thing?" The brunette drags out the last three words unsure if she is understanding this correctly.
"Yeah.." The beautiful woman won't meet her eyes.
"And no one has taken you up on it?" The Dj can't hide her shocked tone. All she gets in reply is a shrug of the shoulders and piercing blue eyes narrows further at the carpet below their feet. Beca finds a confidence in her that she didn't even realize she had and takes a few tentative steps forward until she's close enough to touch the redhead. She slowly reaches out her hand and tilts the redhead's chin until ocean blue eyes meet stormy dark ones.
"Chloe, that's not what I'm here for" the eyes in front of her look almost saddened by this. "What I mean is, you're beautiful and God I'd love to. But not in this situation. If we met at a bar or something then I'd be all for it, trust me" the redhead's eyes lighten a bit at this. "But whatever this all is, it's not right. Did I hear correctly when the blond giant said that you're married?" Chloe snickers at this. "And to the sheriff of all people?"
"You mean Kommissar?" The brunette rolls her eyes and is met with light, sharp exhales out of the redhead's nose. Beca thinks it could've even been a laugh. "She's not my favorite person either" the redhead winks. "And yes, I'm married to Tom, the town Sheriff".
"Why are you here then?"
"Because I'm one of the 'prettiest in Barden'. It doesn't matter if I'm married or not. Any woman aged 21 to 25 in Barden or towns bordering Barden, when stock is low," the redhead rolls her eyes. "Must be offered up to the town's most elite as a thanks for putting Barden on the map. It's been this way for 20 years. My mother was one when she was the right age too". The crystal clear blue eyes begin to water like the ocean itself is captured inside them. "We're called the Bellas".
"I am so sorry, Chloe"
"It's okay, it could be a lot worse. I think because I'm married to Tom most people stay away from me, you're totes the first to even step foot in this room" the redhead shrugs.
"Lucky you married him then" the brunette tries to remain positive.
"Yeah, I'm so lucky," Chloe says with a hint of sarcasm. The Dj raises her eyebrow at this but doesn't comment. She just walks forward and sits on the edge of the wooden bed. Chloe follows her with her eyes and after a little contemplating joins her. They sit there for a minute or so in silence, not awkward but not comfortable either. After a while Beca can feel eyes on her so she turns her head and catches those captivating blue eyes long enough to watch them fall to her lips. She watches as the redhead slowly leans in. Their lips are so close to touching but Beca moves her head back abruptly.
"Chloe, please. You don't have to do this"
"But I'll get into trouble if I don't pleasure you. You're an elite member of the community, Titanium. I can't disappoint you"
"You haven't; I promise! No one will know, please! I can't do this when it's literally forcing you to do something you don't want to"
"It's ok, it's part of my job as a woman. I have to fulfill the satisfaction of a man. It's the same everywhere. I'm just lucky that I'm a part of an elite group and not on the corner of a street" the redhead moves in again.
"Chloe. Stop! How can you think like that?" Beca stands in anger. "That is not the job of a woman. Society is fucked up. You are capable of so much more than that! Every woman is brainwashed into believing they're worthless. They are too dumb to be educated higher than middle school. Too naive to know anything about politics so, therefore, their opinions and votes don't count. Too weak to work. What the actual fuck? Do you believe all this?" Beca paces back and forth the whole time. "Tell me honestly, Chloe. Do you think that pleasuring a man is all you're capable of? That all you will ever achieve in life is being married to an 'honest man', no doubt carry his children, do housework and keeping said man happy in the bedroom?" The angry brunette comes to a stop in front of the timid looking redhead who won't meet her eyes yet again. Beca sighs and kneels in front of her. The Dj reaches out one last time for the beautiful woman's chin and lifts it.
"Chloe, please don't believe anything they tell you" tears finally reach the surface of those ocean blue eyes and fall down the silky skin of her cheek. Beca catches it. "You are worth so much more than what they tell you. I don't even know you but I know this is true". And finally the redhead smiles. It's small, it's shy but it's a smile. And Beca counts this as a win.
*Knock* *Knock*
"Beca?" A voice the Dj hasn't heard in years wakes her from her dream. Wait. What? When did she go to sleep? How did she get home? The last thing she remembers was making small talk with a pretty redhead and promising to come back and see her again. Was that all a dream? No, it couldn't have been. It all felt too real for it to be a dream.
*Knock* *Knock*
"Beca? C'mon I know you're in there. It's your old man. Let me in"
The small brunette brings the covers all the way up over her head in hopes that if she thinks she's disappeared her so-called father will disappear from right outside her door. How did he even know she was here?
"I just ran into Mrs. Johnson at the supermarket and she said you arrived home yesterday. C'mon Beca, I know you wouldn't be up yet. Typical woman lazing about every day. Open up!"
Is he a mind reader now? Fucking Mrs. Johnson that nosy bitch of a neighbor.
*Knock* *Knock*
*Knock* *Knock*
"I'm not leaving here till you answer" the knocking gets louder.
With a huff, Beca throws her covers off, raises, and marches angrily to her front door. Just as she's about to open it she catches her reflection in the mirror. Or more so, Titanium's reflection.
I knew it! It felt too real to be a dream! And I'd never go to sleep looking like Titanium.
*Knock* *Knock*
The brunette quickly strips off her beard, wig, and male clothes. Hides them in the already messy closet and puts on a fresh set of Beca PJs.
*Knock* *Knock*
"Fuck me" the Dj mumbles to herself as she walks towards the door. With another sigh, she reaches for the doorknob. After a brief escape thought she surrenders and opens the wooden door of her apartment to reveal a tall, bearded brunette that Beca refuses to acknowledge looks anything like her.
"What do you want?" She snaps.
"Woah, nice to see you too"
"We all know you're here because you want something so what is it, Darryn?"
With an eye roll and a sigh of his own (they're still nothing alike!), Mr. Mitchell relents.
"I've been invited to a party tonight and I'd like you to come with me"
"Aw, and play happy families?" Sarcasm lacing the brunette's words. "Why the fuck would I do that?"
"Because you're my daughter and there are certain appearances I'm expected to uphold. Especially considering Mrs. Johnson is the town gossip so she's no doubt already told everyone my estranged daughter is back. Chatter will start about why you're not at the party if you don't attend" the older man crosses his arms.
"And you think I care about other people's opinions because?" Beca crosses her arms in defiance as well. (They're still nothing alike).
"I have some more of Jesse's possession… does that sweeten the deal?" Darryn huffs. Beca's stormy blue eyes almost pop out of her head.
"What the fuck? You told me you had nothing of his! Why did you lie?" The angry Dj pushes forward with her teeth showing like an angry dog marking their territory. "Well, for occasions like this where you don't listen to what I say. I thought there'd be times where his things would come in handy to persuade you". Beca clenches her fists by her sides and despite every bone in her body telling her to punch him she miraculously doesn't.
"You're a cruel asshole; you know that?" The older Mitchell just shrugs. "Fine, I'll come to the stupid party"
"Good"
"But you better bring everything you have of Jesse's!" All she gets in return is a small nod. But it doesn't fool the brunette. She knows it won't be everything.
"What's this party even for?"
"It's a celebration of 5 year's service as town Sheriff and at Tom's house itself. So dress nice! And by that, I mean wear a dress and take out the ear monstrosities'. With a glare, Darryn turns and walks away leaving a stunned Beca standing in the doorway.
"Fuck".
AN:
Thanks again for all the follows/favs/reviews! Hope you guys are still liking the story. I'll try and update as much as i can :)