Chapter 17
Thank God It's Friday
Part 1
"Falling in love is more than just heaven or paradise. It's sacrifice, understanding, patience and… impromptu slow dancing to Rookie Season's 'Take It to Forever' at 3am."
2 years later
Beca yawns just as she parks her car at Amplify's private parking area. Looking down, she grabs her coffee, a to-go cup from her favorite coffee shop. Just what she needs to get a much needed kick early in the morning. It's a beautiful Friday morning with the sun out and the clouds high up above the sky.
Sunglasses on, holding her coffee on the right, hand bag and car keys on the left, she finally steps out the car before shutting the door with a click. She presses the lock in the remote because, in spite of the tight security within the company, one can never be too sure these days anymore.
Making her way inside Amplify's glass doors, she goes through the motions like a routine. Greeting people with a nod since she's not known for smiling at such an early hour. Well, she's actually not known for genuinely smiling at any hour, to be honest. Fake smiling is more her thing but that's still better than nothing.
Once she reaches the floor of her office and the elevator bell dings, her chin naturally goes up, shoulders squaring and her face unreadable before she confidently strides all the way to her newly furnished office. The room goes silent as she walks in like a radio on pause before pressing play again as soon as she closes the door of her office.
Amplify has taken upon a new layout, their office undergoing some huge physical changes. New art pieces are brought in, brand new wide screen computers, new sleek shiny work desks, a larger lounge and comfortable recreation area for the creative minds, and of course, a chic office with a view for its overall producer of live events.
Unbuttoning her black coat, she hangs it on the hanger then places her bag by the stylish cabinet behind her and puts her coffee cup on the table, careful not to position it near important papers, organized neatly at the center of her minimalist modern-esque work desk. Her office looks fancy, too fancy for her taste but at least they stuck to the black and white color scheme she requested. The only request she made, as a matter of fact. Although, they did put in a little of Amplify's signature green color in little shades here and there. A little smudge of life which clearly, they think she doesn't have.
Blue would have been better.
Settling down her office chair facing the view outside, she sighs, leaning back and closing her eyes for her much needed ten minutes of silence. It's part of her personal list of rules. Rules which she strictly abides by.
Rule 1: Surround self with peace and positivity before plunging towards the chaos.
Speaking of peace and good vibes, she picks up the remote control to press play towards her electric vinyl player and Youmi Zuoma's album, Willowbank, plays in the background.
Rule 2: Music always makes the mood.
The digital wood clock in the shape of a cube on her desk reads exactly eight in the morning. That means it's time to work.
Straightening up, she swivels her chair to face her table and review papers notifying her about suppliers, events, budget cuts, requests, announcements and sponsors.
Like clockwork, Jesse strolls in, with his violet NASA themed necktie and all, carrying all their schedules and well, more papers for approval before greeting her a good morning. This year's music festival is happening in five months and major preparations are already being arranged. This also means that the whole office will start being busy stressing out and working 24/7 on it. Especially when their main promotions and marketing position is vacant. As usual.
Which then brings Jesse to clear his throat.
"The applicant that has passed our initial interviews and assessments is here," he announces before placing all the files and evaluations from HR.
Beca braces herself for all the possibilities as she opens the file. It's another female. She slowly exhales, wondering how long this one's going to last. Their last promotions newbie had been fired for the questionable number of absences. The one before that walked out, screaming and crying, yet again. Of course, Beca gets called a bitch, and other names that are far worse than the first one, and security had to intervene after the crazy lady tried to throw a printer towards the glass walls of her office. And then there was the one before that, well, it's probably best not to speak of it. Basically, nothing new.
"When would you like me to send her in?" Jesse asks while she starts skimming all the information written.
Nothing she hasn't seen, honestly. Fresh college graduate. Has underwent a number of trainings, seminars and part time jobs. Big dreams. Loves music. Hardworking and dedicated. Blah. Blah. Blah. She already sees the advantage this individual could bring to the table and it's definitely not experience or achievements.
This one has youth which means someone who can relate to their biggest audience demographic. Although, disadvantages would be having to be open to more mistakes and could be easily pushed around by those whose had far more experience under their belt. But then again, there's this thing with new graduates, a hunger to prove that they can do whatever it takes. If she's a fast learner, thick skinned and has the confidence to face anyone in this industry then this might be the promotions newbie Beca had been praying for.
She hasn't failed a music festival event once and she's not looking forward to a first time.
"Now. Send her in now," she finally says, deciding that it's best to meet people in the morning, while her temper is still calm. Late afternoon Beca is the least patient and accommodating person in the office.
Jesse nods before walking out the door. He comes back a minute later with a young brunette following behind him. The file says she's 23 years old and was, interestingly, a part of an all-female a cappella group. They've won nationals. Beca raises her eyebrow at that. A cappella people are mainly nerds with talent.
It reminds her of someone. Another college a cappella alumni who worked under her for the same position two years ago. Probably the only person who, up until this point, has managed to impress her. The only one who actually deserved the position.
The potential newbie walks in and Beca quickly returns her focus back to the present. She can already tell that this one is definitely not thick-skinned. This one looks soft, fragile and has her head full of dreams that it almost reminds her of Benjie. She bets that it'll only take a day before she, unfortunately, makes this one cry.
Her finger presses on her temple at the thought because despite her track record, Beca hates making women cry. Her parents raised her well despite their imperfections. But when it just comes to working at such a challenging environment with such a huge responsibility to deliver, she cannot make any promises.
"This is our overall producer of live events, Beca Mitchell. She will be spearheading Amplify's annual music festival and all the live events we will be holding all throughout the year," Jesse introduces as the newbie instantly smiles widely at her.
However, it awkwardly fades underneath the emotionless front Beca always has.
Rule 3: Reserve smiles only for genuine and private moments. Always keep employees on their toes. Smiles are a reward in this field.
The newbie quickly stretches her arm and offers her hand for a handshake, "Emily Junk. It's an honor to work for you! I've been watching Amplify's music festivals for a long time and I'm just in awe at how you guys manage to create such awesome, awesome events!" she enthusiastically says, her happy energy already making Beca queasy. Also, this one is turning out to be very chatty. Jesse happily mumbles a 'why, thank you' and Beca shuts him up with a pointed look.
God, she hates the overly happy puppy ones the most. Those are the most dangerous ones, to be honest. Which, by the way, is based on experience and definitely a valid observation.
Maybe she should install double heavy duty locks on her apartment door later. To be sure.
For the meantime, she stares at the outstretch hand for a moment too long. Long enough to be considered uncomfortable for the newbie who seems caught in between not knowing if she should keep offering or slowly and embarrassingly lower her hand.
But before she decides Beca, reaches for the small yellow smiley bowl on her left—the only vibrant colored object in the room which she got as a gift for the new office. She picks a strawberry candy out of the small pile of fruit flavored candies and offers it to the newbie.
Looking surprised and uncertain, the young woman, Emily, takes it, eyes widening as she mumbles a genuine thank you as if she has given her a raise.
"The extra sugar is for the energy you'll be needing later but," Beca pauses as she takes out a neatly compiled folder. "You don't seem to need it."
She hands the folder to the newbie who scrambles to take it, "We're having a meeting later this afternoon. I want you to review all that and perhaps share some suggestions about it. The festival is in five months and we hired you in the last minute so it is much appreciated if you get the hang of things fast. I need reliable people and failure is not an option. Either you become the best or… unemployed. Also, you will get yelled at, at some point. Get used to it," she says, going straight to the facts. No need to butter things up at this point.
Emily gulps and visibly pales at the thought of the horrible reality laid out in front of her. But in spite of that, the young brunette nods, eyes filled with determination and somehow there's something in there Beca hasn't seen in a while. Passion.
"I'll do my best and I will not fail you," she says, straightening up as she holds on to the candy. It's almost endearing, like baby gazelle, and Beca really doesn't want to make her cry any time soon.
"Good," she comments briefly, eyes now fixed back to her papers. "Show her to her table," Beca says towards Jesse who pauses before he walks out the door to meekly say.
"Can I have some candy too?"
Beca eyes him for a moment, squinting a bit as he smiles sheepishly, "Just one! I need energy too! Preferably, mango. "
"Did you make that call I asked of you yesterday?" she asks monotonously.
"Of course I did, boss. It's already on paper," he says, pointing towards the papers he gave her.
Beca throws him a mango flavored candy which he catches excitedly.
She sighs, sometimes she does feel like she's managing a bunch of big babies. Leaning back, her fingers drum on the table as she goes deep in thought. They still as she goes to adjust the lady bug ring on her middle finger, softly brushing at the little red rubies on its wings. Her lips curve up a bit.
Hopefully, this music festival will be just as fun, if not more, as the others before it.
Rule 4: Ladybugs are always a sign of luck and as she'd been told, a friend that'll make you smile just when you need it the most.
It's six in the evening and Beca starts speeding up the last of her work for the day. Jesse and CR have already hastily left after she told them to go ahead. Besides, CR has brought her own car today anyway. It also happens to be the last Friday of the month after all, and Posen is going to start babbling about punctuality soon.
Organizing everything back in place, Beca starts shutting off her computer and checks her watch for the millionth time. Just before she turns off the light of her office, she hastily grabs her bag and her phone before rushing towards the elevator, willing it to come up fast.
Once she mumbles a 'good evening' to the security guard, she is almost running to her car. This night is the one night where she cannot afford to be late. She curses the traffic along the way until she stops by one of her destinations tonight.
Sunshine Blooms.
Trying to catch her breath, she only gives one look at the smiling lady behind the counter who already knows what she's here for.
"I almost thought you won't make it on time. I was just about to close for the day," she says fondly before carefully handing her beautiful bouquet of blue roses, wrapped in lovely special paper with a small teddy bear seemingly hugging it beneath.
"I would still be banging on the door even if you did," she replies with a smile of her own before rushing back out, muttering a quick 'Thanks!' as she does.
One last thing more, she tells herself as she rounds a corner and again mutters curses at the slow movement on the street. Her phone is blasting notifications every second. One quick look, shows that it's Stacie raining down threats at her. There's five missed calls from Aubrey and tons of 'where are you?' from all their friends on the group chat.
She steps on the breaks in front of a restaurant and hisses another batch of curses as she bumps her hip at the door when she hurriedly steps out. She jogs to the entrance and again breathlessly reaches the counter, a hand to her injured hip. Not the first time, she's going to have a bruise there, by the way.
Her eyes narrow however, when Bumper Allen, The Crescent Cat's manager, faces her. "Ah, the grumpy little monster has come," he says dramatically but just before he goes into one of his dramatic anti-hero monologues, Beca cuts him off like a blazing knife on butter.
"Just give me my damn order or I'm going to call Amy so she can squish you to death," she demands coldly while he visibly grimaces. It does still baffle her how Amy's ex-boyfriend, her long time arch nemesis, got the manager position to one of the best restaurants in the city.
"Paolo! Give this pesky raccoon her order so she can leave now," he says before muttering, "I don't want to fail the annual health inspection," emphasizing every word annoyingly.
Beca is handed her take-out which she gratefully receives at the kind employees before eyeing Bumper with a death glare, "Just a suggestion, you might want to get rid of the huge rodent walking around your restaurant first," she says motioning over at him. His employees snort around him as she turns around to walk out with a smirk. She could hear his angry yells even as she drives off.
Everything about his disgusting nature is forgotten when she finally reaches the Barden Theater, thankful for the parking slot reserved for her. She checks her reflection on the mirror for the last time before finally opening the door of her car. However, she pauses for a second, eyes glancing anxiously at her bag. She makes a quick decision in the last minute as she opens it to grab a little black box and carefully puts it carefully inside her inner jacket pocket. With a beautiful bouquet of blue roses and take-out in tow, she finally rushes inside the theater.
The play has already started by now and Beca instantly knows which part she has arrived to. She almost has the entire script and scenes memorized by now. Her footsteps slow down as she walks at the side, carefully makes her way to the front. With her eyes transfixed on the stage, she takes her time. It's a full house tonight, a success for such a much awaited premiere and her heart beams with pride at that. This production has been highly publicized for months now, calling everyone to get tickets to one of Lily Okanakamura's original masterpieces. She's certain to find big names in the theater industry and celebrities watching tonight.
This would also mark the official debut of the Victor Barden troupe's rising star on her first ever major role in a massive production.
The set is grand and colorful as one of the actors finishes his heartwarming monologue to start singing, the pit orchestra playing its powerful first notes with their violins. There's a flurry of colorful satin as dancers run across opposite ends and swirl around.
The actor reaches a high note, impressively holding it for a few seconds before slowly settling down. The lights dim a little until a spotlight turns on and the dancers part, a sea of color split in the middle of the staircase to make way to a new voice. One that Beca has the luxury of hearing every single day for the past two years.
She stops breathing for a moment, a smile breaking her lips as she stands in the side, forgetting to even go to her seat up at the front where the rest of her friends are. She's sure most of the audience has fallen into some sort of trance at this point. Just like her.
Chloe is impossibly stunning underneath such bright lights. Her auburn locks curled perfectly and her dress, a dazzling shade of deep blue that glimmers whenever she sways. Her voice doesn't waver even as she takes a step down the stairs and Beca's knowingly smiles because she couldn't count the times she had given positive reassurance about that staircase issue. Chloe had been obsessively worried that she would slip down of from nervousness or miss a step and die of embarrassment, on her debut nonetheless!
'Babe, babe, babe! I don't know what I'd do if I fall. My life would basically be over! I might as well run to the airport, go to Brazil, change my identity and enjoy about five months of vacation, at least,'
'Chlo, it's three in the morning. You will make it down those steps like the awesome star that you are and I will be there to cheer on you. Please, go to sleep, you psycho. Please, for the love of all that is good in this world,'
'Or, or! I can pay someone to cut the lights out like, like a black out!'
'If you don't shut up about failing when you are in fact the most talented performer I know, I will kiss you,"
'Yes but I just can't help—'
Chloe, in fact, makes it down effortlessly and Beca smiles even widely. The grace and elegance she exudes when she connects with the actor comes naturally as they dance perfectly. It is such a captivating performance that it makes her want to do fist pumps and scream in delight. But that would be a distraction and Chloe cannot be distracted right in this important scene.
She's so wrapped up in the performance that she almost jumps at someone's touch.
"There you are. I was about to go set out a search party only to find you drooling over here," Tessa says as she proceeds to hook an arm around Beca's neck, dragging her to the front seats, not embarrassed or conscious about passing by audiences who eyes them irritatingly for blocking the view.
She pushes her towards one of the plush red cushioned seats next to Stacie as Aubrey angrily whispers at her 'Where you've been?' while Rachelle reaches over to hand her tissue. Tessa snorts and snickers at the gesture.
"Shut up," she whispers, pushing the tissue sheet away, shaking her head with a smile that can't help but spread all over her face.
Amy hands out snacks from behind which Beca isn't entirely sure if that's allowed in theater. But then again, perhaps she wouldn't have if Lilly hadn't allowed it. Everybody knows not to piss her off. There will be consequences and they are… grave.
Chloe's performance for her first scene ends with a perfect turn, a graceful dip and a thunderous applause, specifically coming from the front rows. With that the set changes and another scene takes place.
The standing ovation concludes the night a success and Lilly takes a bow with all her performers on stage. The gang also decides to impatiently head over to the club under Aubrey's reservations while Beca obviously hangs back to wait for Chloe.
Rachelle however, heads to the airport with Tessa, having to be in another live event tomorrow at Vancouver. Three years ago it would've been awkward to hug her ex-girlfriend goodbye but Beca finds that some things really do work out for the better. They'regenuinely friends now which then had the rest of their group slowly get over the hate they initially had for Rachelle. She honestly has Chloe to thank for that because somehow she and Rachelle had developed a friendship of some sort. Frenemies is probably the accurate word and really, she's had to intervene multiple times when they started getting fiercely competitive during karaoke nights—Beca had hastily and anxiously arrived to find that they had rented out the whole karaoke bar for the whole night just so they can go on a one-on-one in what they called a riff-off without a scandal breaking out in tonight's entertainment news.
Shaking the memory away with a smile, Beca starts heading towards the backstage after a couple of minutes. This is the play's first night and Beca knows that the cast and crew will be celebrating which was why she decided to let them have their moment before stepping in to steal one of their main stars.
Roses and food in hand, she finally makes her way towards the actor's waiting and changing rooms. Chloe's room is by the right and Beca stops in front of it, adjusting all her stuff on to one hand so she can open the door.
She hears talking, one voice belonging to her girlfriend and one which most definitely belongs to a guy.
It may be very tiny yet Beca knows she just can't help it, the dread of all the horrible scenarios crashing in the back of her head. That small spark of fear whispering things painful to hear.
Taking a deep breath, she pushes that all away before twisting the knob and pushing the door open. The strong thought that Chloe loves her and would never even think of hurting her prevailing over the doubts trying to plague her mind. She knows Chloe is different. She is special. She is Beca's special person. She's simply the one.
Beca is sure of it.
Chloe's eyes light up as soon as she sees her face, smile widening before she literally throws herself at her, knocking the air out of her lungs and almost taking her down if she wasn't so used to it. Her body has now been accustomed to every single hug Chloe gives her that her fast reflexes are now trained to avoid falling.
"I made it down the stairs."
"I told you nothing would happen."
Chloe buries her face in her hair as Beca sways them slightly, "I'm so proud of you," she sincerely says, something most people in the office would totally not believe she is capable of doing.
"Where were you during the opening though?" Chloe suddenly asks as she parts from her a bit to look into her eyes.
Sheepishly she smiles before guiltily eyeing her girlfriend. "Problems in the office only I can solve? Also I come bearing gifts!" she offers before holding up the flowers and food. "I'm sorry. Festival season is trying to kick my ass," she quickly says as Chloe shakes her head with a knowing smile before cupping her face to kiss her. A gesture that lets Beca know that all is forgiven.
"Yeah, don't mind me here at all! Just keep being disgustingly sweet!" a voice interrupts them as Chloe looks up, seemingly giving up while Beca lets out a sardonic smile.
"Hi Kyle. It's nice to see you too. Congratulations on opening night," she says as she eyes one of the extremely talented theater actors and Chloe's close friend.
He rolls his eyes at them, "Ugh, I should go head out. The lovey-dovey atmosphere you two never fail to create is making me miss my boyfriend more than ever," he sighs before standing up to head for the door.
"Alex is coming to California next month though," Chloe points out as she holds Beca close, arms around her neck where her hands unconsciously play at the ends of her hair. Beca's natural response is to wrap her arms around Chloe's waist.
"I know. But until then, I have to keep up with this every single night," he says, circling his finger at them.
"Well, I'm sorry if I have the best, most gorgeous girlfriend in the world, okay?" Chloe teases as Beca hangs her head and groans.
Two years in a relationship still doesn't make her immune to Chloe's sugary sweet open affections and bold declarations. Even if she has publicly received them with her face not turning a deep shade of red anymore, the effects still make her want to lock herself in a bathroom cubicle, maybe even drag Chloe along with her.
"Whatever, just don't eat each other out in there! I do not want to disinfect the room again!" he intentionally yells as he leaves making Beca groan again.
Now alone in the room, Beca turns to Chloe, holding up the take-out she got for her. "I know we're supposed to be heading out to eat but I also know that you've probably went on stage with an empty stomach again so I got you your favorite, Beef with Broccoli," she explains as Chloe squeals in excitement, eagerly taking the small box and the roses.
"You're my favorite," she says and no matter how many times Beca hears it, her heart still dances happily. "And I am starving," Chloe admits as Beca takes a seat next to her near the small table at the corner near the wide vanity mirror.
Beca's eyes glance on to her watch, Aubrey's probably going to be hunting them down any minute now because she's already had this mini celebration scheduled by the hour. Everyone and everything can wait though. Beca has waited all day just so she can get her girlfriend alone. They've both been busy these past few months. She only gets to see Chloe late at night when they are both dragging their tired asses to bed. It has been a struggle yet when midnight comes somehow they end up sleeping in the sofa instead due to exhaustion, curled up in each other's arms, it's all worth it.
"So, how's preparations for the Music Fest going? Is Rachelle attending it this year or is she being lazy again?" Chloe asks as she opens the take-out box to eat.
"Well, she says she's not headlining the event unless you buy her candy and beg her to go," Chloe rolls her eyes at that. "And there's going to be hot air balloons this year," Beca adds with a smirk, waiting for Chloe's reaction to the news.
Her girlfriend pauses mid-chew, placing down the take-out box down the table to look at her, probably silently asking her to confirm it again.
Beca nods slowly. "Yup, I just signed the papers,"
"No way!" Chloe says, a smile creeping at the corner of her lips. "You really took my suggestion on hot air balloons?"
"It was a really good idea and it's going to be a hit," Beca says with a shrug as Chloe shakes her head.
"I'm not even working in Amplify anymore but I think I should still get paid for all my golden ideas," Chloe announces and Beca feigns shock.
"I thought you'd figure it out by now. I dated you for your golden ideas. You're actually still working for us. I'm the payment, babe," she teases which gets her a crumpled ball of tissue thrown her way.
They continue to banter back and forth as they always do. Laughter fills the room, soft lingering kisses in between it all. Chloe feeds her a spoonful of beef and Beca is already figuring out how to tell Aubrey that they just might not make it tonight.
The idea is crushed easily when Stacie calls to make sure they head straight to the club and that if they are currently doing funny business it needs to stop or she'll have Lilly go get them which is the worst threat anyone can make.
She starts getting ready to go when Chloe stops her. There's something in her eyes that Beca can't place but she is sure there's a crazy idea going in her head right now and when Chloe gets ideas like that, it's really hard to stop her.
"Come with me."
If only she knew that Beca would go anywhere in this planet with her for no reason but to simply go. No questions asked.
Hand in hand, Chloe leads her to the familiar path towards the brightly lit stage. The theater is empty now with the audience seats now dimmed. Only a few of the staff loiter around and Beca is in awe how just an hour ago it had been bustling with life.
Now it's just quiet. Just her and Chloe standing on center stage.
When Chloe faces her, nostalgia hits her and she knows Chloe feels it too. "Remember that time years ago when you brought me up this stage for the first time?" she asks and Beca nods, envisioning the moment just as if it were yesterday.
"You said that I should follow my dreams and I should start… here," she continues, glancing around the theater. "Now, here we are indeed! I just performed in front of hundreds of people an hour ago. A successful sold out event," she smiles and Beca's chest just fills with pride yet again.
"I just wanted to share this moment with you," Chloe confesses softly and Beca's hold on her hand tightens.
Years ago, she had no idea that someone would care for her this much. That somebody special would want to share something so important to her. That there was a Chloe Beale for her.
"You know, I've always thought of you as an angel," she genuinely says as she looks down to blink away the tears threatening to fall down her face. "You just came at a time when I needed you the most. You came and I just realized… so many things. But mostly the fact that I deserve to have more than just okay and average. To finally recognize and feel what love is."
The tears do fall this time and Beca is there to reach out and wipe them away. She looks devastatingly beautiful in that blue dress under these pretty lights and Beca just wants to hug her tight, to show her how much she appreciates her too and to kiss her all night.
But for now, she lets Chloe pour her heart out and settles with a tender kiss on Chloe's cheek instead. Hoping to convey all the words stuck in her chest right now in such a small gesture.
"I'm really happy right now," Chloe tells her, the brilliant blue in her eyes capturing all of Beca's focus. She could stare at them forever.
"And you are one of the biggest reasons why. You make me so happy, Becs," Chloe honestly declares and that's when it hits her.
Chloe looks anxious for some reason and that's when Beca's heart starts to beat loudly. Two years together and she can already easily spot all of Chloe's tells. They basically read each other like an open book and even going as far to adapt to each other's mannerisms. It is that exact same look Chloe had given her when she confessed her feelings to her years ago in the kitchen of their now shared condo unit.
Having been lost in Chloe's eyes and her heartfelt words, she's failed to notice just how strangely quiet the whole theater was or how for some reason the lights on the stage are still so bright even after the show. The slow transition from yellow to red and finally to blue is already an obvious hint that this isn't just a casual night.
"You used to hate Fridays because they remind you of pain and you drown yourself in blue because for a long time it's all you feel. But I want to change that, permanently," Chloe says, inhaling in deep before reaching into the pockets of her dress—an important must-have of any dress as Beca has always emphasized.
But none of that registers in her mind anymore because Beca's heart now stops for a second.
The lights all over the theater open and Beca's mind literally just goes blank out of shock. All the seats on the lower level are filled with people carrying blue umbrellas which all open at the same time. There in the middle of a sea of blue forms big bold white letters that read,
'WILL YOU MARRY ME ON A BLUE FRIDAY?'
When she looks back at Chloe, there's a beautiful diamond ring sitting in the middle of the little box Chloe is holding in front of her.
"I'm not going to kneel because you said it's ridiculous and that it's something men made up in the middle ages so, I'm not going to," Chloe says with a smile before getting serious again.
"But the point here is, and I'm going to say this again for like the billionth time because it's true, I still stand by what I said. I'm here, I'm staying and I want to stay permanently. I want this and I want it really, really, really bad. I want you, Beca and I want to make you just as happy for the rest of our lives." Chloe professes before exhaling shakily.
"So, will you marry me on blue Friday?"
She looks at the ring, speechless and stunned at all that is happening that the only thing that does come out of her lips are somehow, unfortunately,
"You can't be serious."
The second she says it however, she quickly realizes how wrong that sounds. Chloe's face almost falls into that of a heartbreak filled with disbelief. Which is why, in a flash, Beca is rectifying her mistake.
"No! It's not—I-I mean, yes! Well, what I really meant is—"
In the end, she sighs in a mixture of frustration and defeat before quickly reaching to her inner jacket pocket to take out a small black box which she had been carrying around for a month now due to the fact that she just didn't know where else to put it or who to entrust it with—even though she did hand it over to Aubrey for the first two days because of course, every Posen owns a safety box the minute they are born.
She opens the box to reveal a diamond ring and it's almost comical how a chorus of gasps escapes from the watching crowd.
"I love Fridays because I met you on a rainy Friday in front of Destiny Mart, of all places, and now I want to spend every Friday holding you in my arms, drowning myself in blue because the shade of your eyes has become my favorite color."
The second she lets it out, a smile blossoms in both their lips followed by laughter. She looks into Chloe's eyes and it's an easy read as usual. Chloe nods just before Beca leans to kiss her. It cancels out the noise breaking around them as she holds Chloe close to her.
When reality finally hits her, another important question pops in her head. "Just curious, where did… all these people come from again? Because I'm pretty sure that even if we invited all our relatives and friends it still won't be this big," she asks Chloe who only shrugs before spitting out the truth.
"I have connections."
"Babe… please don't tell me that those are Paris Blake's fans."
"Uhm… well, go big or go home?"
Beca groans again for the third time tonight, resting her head on Chloe's shoulder. Whatever solace she tries to find is gone when their little gang throws what seems as a lame version of confetti. Because of course, they are in on this as well and that the dinner party venue is really the theater itself. Even the fact that both Stacie and Aubrey had thwarted every attempt of her to propose to Chloe all month long was part of it all, stating that it was a bad idea every time she set a date. Only to find out that they only kept saying so because Chloe's proposal had taken almost three months of preparation and Beca would've ruined it all. The three damn months where she seriously thought that Chloe had been worrying so hard about a stupid staircase when all along the truth was that she had been anxious about this. That everything that had led to this point was somehow calculated in her being at that exact place and time. That maybe she had always been where she was supposed to be all along. Standing in front of Destiny Mart, one stormy shitty night two years ago with having nothing worth living for but her job.
Beca replays that night every time she feels so high with happiness. Because sometimes, it's the things that seem so small and unimportant that are the ones that would actually mean the most. She may have conceded to fate at that.
She eyes the diamond rings on their fingers and feels her heart grow thrice its size at the thought of what it truly means. What it promises.
She looks at Chloe, smiling so brightly enough to dazzle even the sun itself and it just occurred to her, how much her life would've sucked had she been a fool to have let this all go out of fear. To let her go.
So she spends the rest of the night doing exactly that, never letting her go.
Rule 5: Fall hopelessly in love with a redheaded psycho with big blue eyes whose name is Chloe and hugs you like it's the last day on earth.
Author's Note:
Hi loves.
Apologies for the delay. Life's been busy and the writing needs to be of quality. We can't have shitty writing. Nope, Bechloe doesn't deserve that. It's all or nothing.
Don't worry, there's still a second part because it had gotten so long that I decided to cut it into two parts.
Anyway, it has been a long journey hasn't it? Thank you for staying with me until this point.