Hard Knock Life ch. 7
I spent most of the morning cleaning the entire apartment from top to bottom, making sure that it was absolutely spotless and immaculate before Chloe had to physically restrain me, stating that the apartment's cleaner than we first moved in. Everything has to be perfect because I want Dad's approval more than in as everything that I've done is to make him proud of me but nothing has measured up to his standards even when I was a small child. I'm glad that my amazing girlfriend is accompanying to the airport because my nerves are complete shot as I haven't see my father since I decided that I was going to study at Barden and of course, there have been phone calls and exchanged but they're rather short. I want to show him that I can handle being in a leadership position while juggling my studies and other activities as well as my brothers have often done in the past.
The med student thought that it would be best if she drove us to the airport because my hands are shaking so much from my nerves and the last thing that I need right now is to get into an incident. The twenty minutes to the terminal feels like hours as the redhead and I wait for Dad to show up and then my eye fall on the man for the longest time I have spent every waking moment trying to get his love and approval. He walks up to me with an impassive look on his face as I salute him and he return the gesture as Dad isn't a very affectionate person although when it comes to brothers and their accomplishments, patting them on the back with a gentle smile. I wish that he would look at me in that way and say the words that I've longed for him to say to me 'That's my girl' but nothing I have ever done has ever been enough yet it will always be something that I strive to achieve.
Chloe smile warmly at Dad, holding out her hand for him to shake which he politely does before grabbing his bag, following us towards the car in the direction of the motel that he booked for himself prior to the trip. The car ride was quiet and tense as neither my girlfriend nor myself was sure what to talk about as Dad seems unaffected by the silence or feels the need to break it before pulling into the parking lot. Dad saying that he would come by to check out the campus and apartment later before getting out of the car as the med student sigh in relief when the tension finally disperse as she normally thrives in any kind of social situation but not this one. Things with my father have always been complicated and his ideas of how I should be living my room rubs her the wrong way as she has tried in the past to get him see that I'm happier with my life is now.
In some ways, Dad and I are more alike than we think as we can be quite stubborn and it is almost impossible to change our minds once it set on something while striving for perfection in everything that we do. I know that this visit is just as stressful for her as it is for me, making me appreciate everything that she's doing for me right now as I lean over the console, kissing her on the cheek gently. The redhead looks at me lovingly with a small smile, knowing the reason behind it before kissing me on the lips before driving towards the apartment because we both have afternoon classes then Bella practice. We walk towards the door of the apartment, quickly gathering our things then heading for the campus and going our separate way although I didn't want to be away from her but I take comfort knowing that I would see her during practice.
I walk in the direction of the math building for the math course that I was taking this semester to see that there were a few people already here when someone calls my name to see Emily waving excitedly at him. She was gesturing to the seat next to her while Beca smiles slightly at her sister's enthusiasm as I walk towards them, sitting down next to the excitable eight year old as she wraps her tiny arms around me. I return the hug before looking up at the older Mitchell as she nods in greeting as I feel my spirits rising from just being near these two even the older sibling seems to love antagonizing me and going against my authority at times. The last few days she's been agreeable which is great but a part of me that will never openly admit it misses when she argues with me although at the moment I really don't need the added stress of it as the Bellas' first performance is coming up.
I'm worried that the girls aren't ready and need more time to prepared but it's too cancel and even if I could then it would reflect on the group as a whole, making us appear unprofessional and flaky as I cannot have that. I have a legacy to regain and uphold as I try to focus on the lesson that the professor was giving but it was proving to be rather difficult with so many things swirling in my head. Before I knew it, the class was over and my notes, if you could even call them that, was completely ineligible which is unacceptable when I feel someone tapping me on the shoulder. I look up to see the tiny DJ looking at me with concern in her eye before gesturing for me to follow and I do after collecting my things to the copier room to the copier machine then handing me the paper. I look at them to see that they're the notes that I need and they're impeccable at that as I look at the brunette who's looking down shyly at her feet, saying that I would owe her one.
I smile, knowing that it was her way of helping me as I wrap my arm around her shoulder before kissing her cheek in thanks as the three of us head towards the auditorium while Emily was trying to learn how to walk on her hands. I was nervous that she would fall over, hurting herself and there were a few close calls but her older sister didn't seem too worried. We were almost there when I stopped short a few feet of the door when I see Dad standing next to it with his arms cross over his chest with a slight frown on his face as a feeling of dread and nerves washes over me.
"Dad, I thought that I wasn't going to see you until later" I said walking up to him. "I thought it better to see the campus and watch your group practice. Is that a problem?" Dad asked raising an eyebrow.
"O-Of course not" I said smiling nervously.
"You're Bree's Daddy? You're really tall like the Giant in Jack & the Beanstalk story that my sister read to me last week" Emily said craning her neck to stare at my father.
"I am and you are, sweetheart?" Dad said bending down to one knee.
"Emily Mitchell and that's my sister Beca. She's in the Bellas with Bree and I want be one too but I'm too small" Emily said pouting adorably.
"I'm sure that you'll be Bella one day but for now, you'll just have to learn everything that you can from them" Dad said patting Emily's head. "Think that you can do that?"
"Yes sit" Emily said grinning.
"Good answer" Dad said with a nod.
I'm a little surprised at the tone that Dad adapted when speaking with Emily before turning his attention to me, looking expectantly as we walk inside the auditorium to surprisingly find all of the girls already but doing cardio. Beca set her stuff down, making sure that her sister starts her homework before joining the others while looking out the corner of my eye to see Dad watching emotionlessly as I sigh quietly because it's never been easy to get a read on him or what he's thinking. Once the girls are warmed up, we move onto to vocal warming and breathing techniques as things seem to be falling into place with minimal groaning from the girls as they follow my every commands which rarely happens. I raise an eyebrow at them because something is definitely going but I couldn't place my finger on although I know that shouldn't be looking a gift horse in the mouth as we work on choreography and for the first time in weeks, Stacie finally stopped touching herself inappropriately.
For the next two hours practice goes incredible well and I feel a bit better about the upcoming performance as well as their progress, hoping that we don't embarrass ourselves as the girls collected their things to leave. I ease the dry erase board when I feel someone's presence next to me to see Dad looking at the board silently as I'm not sure what's going through his head but I suppose that's nothing new.
"I've been talking with Emily and it seems that she has nothing but good things to say about you" Dad said after a moment of silence. "It's quite obvious that she thinks the world of you and her sister thinks that you're doing an exemplary job"
"Well I think the world of her too. She's a very sweet child and as for Beca, that's a very kind thing of her to say" I said erasing the rest of the board.
Dad nods once before heading towards the door, leaving me to wonder what that was all about before finishing up the auditorium to find Chloe, Beca and Emily waiting for me outside. The younger Mitchell launches herself at me with a big smile on her face before kissing the top of her head as my girlfriend's by my side with her arms wrapped around my waist while the older Mitchell stands off to the side awkwardly. I roll my eyes at her, holding one arm out towards her as she looks at me hesitantly before grabbing her arm so I could wrap my arm around her shoulders.
"Ugh, I'm surrounded by a bunch of saps. You guy aren't helping my badass rep" Beca groans.
"Oh please Mitchell, we all know that you're a big softie" I said ruffling her hair.
"Lies. All lies, I'm a total badass" Beca said pouting adorably.
"Softie" Emily mocks.
"Remember Em, you have to go home with me and they won't be able to save you from me then" Beca said grinning evilly.
Emily squeaks before hiding behind me with her arms around my arms as I glare at the tiny DJ who looks like a little scared.
"You will not harm a hair on her head, Rebecca Marie Mitchell" I said scolding her lightly.
"What the actual fuck? How the hell do you know my full name?" Beca asked furrowing her head in confusion.
"I may or may not have let it slipped. Sorry Beca" Emily said laughing nervously.
"Thanks Emily, thank a lot" Beca groans loudly.
"You have a nice name, Beca" Chloe said wrapping her arm around the smaller girl.
"It's so girly and it doesn't fit with my rep" Beca scoffs.
"I don't know why you don't like it and you're really not much of a badass, Mitchell so you really should embrace it" I said shrugging my shoulders.
"You take that back, Posen. I am so a badass" Beca said glaring at me.
"Make me… if you can" I said smirking smugly.
Beca stops suddenly as she turns on her heels to face with an impassive look on her face and before I knew what was happening, her lips on mine, nibbling and sucking on my bottom lip. I groan when the kiss ends sooner than I would have liked to see the tiny DJ looking rather smug while Chloe looks at us with desire and lust in her eyes before the Mitchell walks away towards the diner. Well played Mitchell, well played.
~Nicole The Dragon Rider signing off
End of ch. 7