Chapter 20: Reunion?
Aubrey knocks on the Beca's door for the fifth time now. Oh my god, what this girl is doing inside? Well I am so right about 'I will need too much patience for this'. Aubrey think. As she was about to knock one more time more like going to break down door, Beca opens it.
"What are you doing here?" Beca asks after a minute of silence of shock.
"Believe me I am not here by my choice. But whatever you have to come with me, back to the Barden." Aubrey says ignoring the anger inside her for this very brunette standing against her.
"What?"Beca says confusingly.
"You heard me. I am not going to repeat it and as much as I hate to admit but Bellas need you so you have to help us."Aubrey replied back maintaining her tone.
"And what if I don't want to." Beca says with challenging tone. Obviously Beca don't want get in mess again. She still hasn't forget Chloe for that she hates Chloe most and all this Bella thing means facing Chloe again which isn't exciting by her point of view.
"I don't care if you want it or not. I know how to make people listen to me anyway which you probably know by this time." Aubrey says mockingly for which Beca didn't even flinch back. "So you want this by hard way... hmmm... let me give that to your 'Dj equipment'?"
"You can't do that to me..."Beca shot back but after their glaring with each other Beca decides to step back. Because she knows it's nearly impossible to say against Aubrey she gets what she wants anyways."okay. I'll take some days off after talking with my boss tomorrow. So I'll be there the day after tomorrow? But I have one condition though."
"Spit it out." Aubrey says voice filled with irritation.
"I want room for myself. I'll not share it with anyone or else I'll make my stay in hotel if that isn't possible, your call."Beca asks to save her sanity.
"You will get your own room in Bellas house itself." Aubrey says without looking back she turns her heels and left Beca alone with her thoughts.
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Next few days are going painfully slow for all the Bellas. They all were dreading a unseen tension between them. Chloe and Aubrey decide to leave in their own apartment so that Beca will get their room for herself whereas all Bellas choses to stay in Bellas house as per their previous roommates except for Fat Amy who shares her room with Emily now. There is nothing they can do unless and until they all are gathered besides they wouldn't go forward without any set.
And as per Beca promise she finally comes in Bellas house. "Hey, shawshank!" Amy greets Beca as she enters into Bellas house to which she just ignore it as if she didn't hear it. She just keep dragging her suitcase inside and shut her bedroom door behind her.
"What was that?" Jessica asks confusingly. All Bellas exchange worried glance between them. "Maybe she met some jerks on the way here?" Emily offers hesitantly to which fat amy shrugs and says,"I should call Aubrey now she is probably chewing Chloe's head off by worrying so much."
"Yeah we won't want our captain headless." CR comments.
"So we wouldn't call her redhead right?"Flo point out.
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1 hour later
"I told you she would come." Chloe says to Aubrey while entering in Bellas house followed by Aubrey.
"Yes but that doesn't mean she isn't going to run away. She could run away never to find again." Aubrey reply back to Chloe to which she received an audible groan. "Just get with it, okay. Where is the hobbit?" Aubrey asks Bellas.
"In her room." Emily says. "Then call her. What are you waiting for?" Aubrey nearly bark at Emily but she gets result, Emily flinch and gingerly make her way towards Beca's room.
All gathered in room rather quickly including Beca.
"So what's the plan?" Fat Amy broke the silence looking at everyone's face.
"Right for that we need plan. We have to be 100% prepared. It's something huge and important_" Aubrey gets cut off by Beca saying, "last time I checked you weren't captain of Bellas. I was and I am. So I announce that set list will be prepared by tomorrow and we can't decide anything before that. So I'm gonna go and prepare setlist and you do whatever you want other than disturbing me." With that she gets disappeared in her room again.
"What's the matter with her?" Aubrey tried hard to suppress her anger down.
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Next day they gathered into rehearsal room.
"Okay.I finished our set list so we can start our choreography." Beca says while arranging her laptop on desk.
"Beca but we need to discuss on lots of topic before." Chloe approach her.
"I am a captain here and I think we will practice on over vocals today." Beca says without looking back at Chloe.
"Well I'm a co-captain and I need to discuss few things with you before I finalized them." Chloe argues with her.
"Exactly you are co-captain so you can handle those from now on I'm I am the in charge of Bellas set list, voice in charge while you can handle other things and please don't bother to ask me . We will be handling our responsibility separately." Beca says calmly with zero emotions.
"But that's not how things works." Chloe says back.
"Exactly now deal with it or quite." Beca says not changing her tone at all which causes redhead to drop her jaw and Bellas to be dumbfounded. Whole rehearsal went into awkward tension but no one gets killed or something.
Week went by similarly like a routine come, practice on songs, rehearse the choreography. No teasing, joking, even talking on between. Whenever Chloe goes to suggest or say something she always gets snapped by Beca.
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Another rehearsal day,
"Okay from top to bottom, again" Chloe says in authoritative voice.
All Bellas takes their position and starts to repeat their choreography.
"Beca, you are not doing it properly. Your hands should be on your hips and your left leg slightly back and right one bending... I'll show you..." Chloe approach and begins to direct Beca in correct position. As soon as she takes Beca's hands on her Beca snatched it from her.
"Jesus Christ! I don't need your help. Can you just back off?" Beca shrieked, " I need to revise the set list you all continue with your practice till I return." And then she goes to her safety zone towards her laptop.
"Girls carry on I'll be right back. I need to strengthen some things, like right now." Chloe says determinedly that gives all girls a stomach wrench feeling.
"What is wrong Beca. Something is bothering you and this is affecting US. We're not going to win this way. Whatever it is you can tell me." Chloe says cautiously.
"Nothing is wrong with me Chloe. You can go back to your place." Beca says to Chloe.
But Beca Chloe can reply there is knock on door. Beca and Chloe turned their heads towards door rest of girls stopped practice is standing there with bunch of roses and sheepish smile on face.
"Tom? What are you doing here?" Chloe asks Tom.
"I came here to visit you. I am here for my business meeting that ended early so thought we could hang out or something?" Tom asks Chloe hesitantly.
"Ummm... sure I would but as you see I'm little bit busy here." Chloe reply Tom feeling uncertain and little bit guilty.
"Yeah.. I... I'm really sorry I haven't thought about it... you know... you being busy...it's not like... you free all the time...maybe later...I mean tomorrow...I'll call you? If your busy then it's totally fine..I just thought... I.I... will stop talking...and just go." He rambled quickly and turned to leave but then again stop and, "It's for you." He handed Chloe roses. She eyes the rose but takes it anyway. As he turned to leave again.
"Thanks." Chloe says with small smile which makes Tom smile himself."For roses." She waves the bunch towards him. "I'll message you later." He just nodded at her leave.
Beca fuming was understatement. There is mixture of jealousy, lost, betrayal, heartbreak and many emotions she doesn't know. 'How dare she. First she confessed her feelings over a letter then she goes and kiss Tom from all of the people. I thought she loved me but see this lovely dovely couple. How can she loved me and the very next day kiss ex and make a date. Bitch.' Her thoughts was cut off when she realize Chloe comes back to her. All she want to do is scream at her, blame her for everything. Beca wandered her eyes on everything but Chloe and that's when her eyes landed on a costume which she supposedly for their upcoming event. She found her excuse a perfect way vent.
"What the fuck is this?" Beca point to the paper.
"It ...it's Bellas costume for next onstage performance." Chloe says back quietly realising sudden change in Beca's expression. She sees some emotions on Beca's face for the first time after Beca came back other than her robotic face.
"Are you fucking kidding me? This... this what you called a costume. It's worse than that flight attendant dress." Beca yelled throw the paper at Chloe.
"I suppose to tell... if you like or you want some changes_" Chloe cut off by Beca's high pitch voice."some change? You think that needs some change... that needs whole remake which remarks that you are not doing your job properly and you thought I am affecting Bellas it's clearly you."
Chloe is on the verge of tears but she attempts to say,"Beca... I...What happened to you? What have I done to you? Why are you so cold to me?"
"Really? You are asking me? God... you are so shameless..you fucking bitch. Just stay away... stay damn away from me." Beca yelled again ignoring Chloe's watering pleading eyes.