A/N: Hello Readers! Here is the latest installment.
Hopefully you like it.
I know I wrote this was going to be a slow burn, but the pace of my writing is making it even longer.
Sorry.
I am very impressed with any writer that can keep a schedule, or produce content at a rapid and/or regular rate. Unfortunately my life doesn't allow for that. I'll keep chugging away, and will finish this story, but I think the pattern is set, that there's always going to be a few weeks between posts.
Sorry ;-(
As always, I do not own Pitch Perfect or any of the characters, but I do love them.
CHAPTER 16
***Tension***
It's half past seven on Monday night when the apartment door opens and Aubrey walks in, pulling her small black rolling luggage behind. The first thing she notices is Chloe and Beca sitting in the living room, each sitting on opposite sides of the couch.
The sound of Aubrey entering causes both women to look up together, Beca from her laptop, Chloe from the latest guilty pleasure on Bravo.
"Hey Bree. Welcome back," calls Chloe with a wave. It's an innocent gesture, done thousands of times in their shared past; yet Aubrey's Chlodar kicks in instantly. Something is off with her best friend; Aubrey can tell there's, a change between the two roommates. The air in the room is heavy with tension.
No eye contact whatsoever from her best friend.
Beca keeps her head down, locked in on her laptop.
Chloe not in her usual spot on the sofa; snuggling up to Beca.
Beca not squashed between the armrest of the sofa and Chloe.
Aubrey fixes them with a look, there's just too much space between the two of them. She fixes her best friend with a questioning look, and Chloe drops her eyes demurely. She then notices Beca glancing over to Chloe before darting her eyes back to her laptop.
Before Aubrey can pursue the matter though, the redhead's attention is diverted to the person following behind the tall blonde. Aubrey can see the redhead's eyebrow raising in question as she asks, "Hey, Stacie?"
The tall brunette stops just behind Aubrey flashing that model quality smile that is helping her to not only live in Los Angeles California, but also pay for graduate school. She enthusiastically waves at Chloe and Beca, saying, "Hey ladies, how was your weekend? Hopefully as good as mine…"
Chloe arches an eyebrow in question, even as she returns the tall brunette's smile. As she returns her focus to Aubrey, questions clearly in her features, her blonde best friend can see the smile doesn't touch the redhead's eyes. Chloe's voice also betrays something as she answers, "Yeah it was an interesting weekend."
Beca sheepishly looks up from her computer, mumbling, "Yeah, not what I was expecting…"
Stacie's attention is on Aubrey, and doesn't really notice the tension in the air. The tall brunette's face suddenly lights up, and she faces Beca, waggling her eyebrows suggestively, "Ooh, this was the weekend getaway you were planning with Jesse. Tell us all about it, and make sure you include all the kinky details."
Aubrey notes the look on Beca's face, and the furtive look Chloe gives through a sidelong glance. Aubrey instantly knows there's more to the story as Beca nervously says, "No, no kinky details; actually rather boring…"
Stacie plops herself in the recliner and pouts, "Aww, come on, I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours…"
Aubrey's head snaps from studying Chloe to focus on Stacie. "You don't have any kinky stories from this weekend!"
Chloe's head shoots up, and she jumps in, asking Aubrey, "Wait, how do you know she doesn't have any kinky stories?"
Beca's actions mirror Choe's exactly as she asks Stacie at the same time, "Wait, why are you arriving with Aubrey?"
Suddenly Aubrey feels her face warming with blush, and has trouble formulating an answer. "Umm, Stacie…" She is flustered in a way that the tall blonde is never flustered.
Stacie can't help but smirk at the agitation of the always put together woman. She decides to help her friend out, in a very Stacie way. "Bree invited me to go to San Francisco for the weekend." Stacie states with a very satisfied smile and a wink at the blonde.
This is enough to shake Aubrey from her flustered state. She swings around again to pin Stacie with her infamous glare. "I did not! I told you about my trip and then you got in my car and refused to get out!"
"What?!" Chloe exclaims in total shock.
Beca can't help but laugh, "You did what, Stace?"
Stacie smiles impishly in response to Aubrey's glare, "I'm pretty sure the invitation was implied…" Her words are slow and sultry.
Aubrey's fights the urge to roll her eyes, and though it's very strong, she manages to control herself. "Just like you assumed we would share a room."
"Oh that was to make Jackie's life easier. Why should she have to prepare two guest rooms?"
"Aunt Jacquelyn was shocked at the suggestion…"
"But didn't really argue against it…"
"You didn't give her a chance, you just took your bag to my room…"
Beca has to jump in here. "Wait, you two shared a bed at Aubrey's aunt and uncle's place?"
Both Aubrey and Stacie answer 'Yes' at the same time; Aubrey's in resignation, Stacie's in excited glee.
"Doesn't Bree's cold feet bother you?" Chloe asks Stacie in all seriousness.
"I don't have cold feet!"
Chloe and Stacie turn to the frustrated blonde and answer simultaneously, "Yes you do!"
"... but I love warming them up." Stacie continues with a seductive wink at Aubrey.
"TMI!" Declares Beca, though she's ignored.
The redhead's face lights up with genuine joy. "Wait! You have a method of warming Bree's icicle feet?"
"Uh-huh," replies Stacie with a devilish smirk.
The blonde blushes bright red. "That's not important!"
Chloe giggles, "Oh I think it is Bree."
"My feet are not cold!"
"Not when I was done, they weren't," Stacie's voice is deep and with a suggestive husk. Her eyes betray real feeling behind the teasing mirth.
"Does anyone understand what TMI stands for?" Beca asks the ceiling in a huff. She can see Aubrey going crimson, and the triumphant smirk Stacie's sporting, and decides to give the blonde an out. "I have to agree with Posen. Some things are better left unsaid."
"The hobbit's right…"
"Hey! I'm on your side!"
"... Sorry; force of habit. This conversation is st an end. We're taking our bags back to Chloe's room." Says Aubrey emphatically as she takes hold of Stacie's elbow, and guides the tall brunette back towards the bedrooms.
"You know I love it when you take charge Bree," says Stacie as she allows herself to be dragged along.
Chloe's laughing hard now. She holds her hand up to her head mimicking a phone and mouths the words, "I want details."
Stacie winks and yells back, "We'll talk later…"
"No you will not!" Aubrey's words are emphatic, causing Beca, Chloe, and Stacie to throw their heads back and laugh out loud.
[*+*X*+*X*+*X*+*]
[*+*X*+*X*+*X*+*]
Beca's and Chloe's laughter continues for a bit after the door to Chloe's room slams shut. But as it peters- out, the weight of the tension returns, and both Beca and Chloe grow quiet.
Neither knows what to say or do, so Beca again fixes her eyes down, staring blankly at her computer screen, which has gone black from lack of use. She can't decide if she should wake up the computer, so she can instead stare at the song she's been trying to work on for close to two hours, or just leave it. It all seems like a futile effort at this time.
Chloe on the other hand turns on the television to watch more of 'Vanderpump Rules', or at least have it on in the background. She hasn't really been paying attention to it.
A few moments later Stacie practically skips back into the living room, her face a showcase of self-satisfaction. She plops down on the overstuffed recliner, throwing one long leg over the armrest. Before either Beca or Chloe can comment upon anything, Stacie nods to the instruments that line the wall, "You got the instruments!"
"Yeah," answers Chloe, a bright smile stretching across her face. "We went to Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's yesterday. She had the stuff all set."
"That's fantastic Chloe! You must be so happy. Your idea for music lessons is one step closer."
"Yeah, I am. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy really hooked us up. It's even better, she actually gave us a second piano, a Yamaha Arius YDP‑181. That's it there."
Stacie sees the guitars and the piano, but doesn't spot the second one. "Where's the other?"
"We placed the Korg Kronos workstation in my room," replies Beca.
"That way she can use it to work on music for her club gigs, or for Residual Heat assignments." Adds Chloe helpfully.
"That should be really helpful Becs…"
Beca nods, closing her laptop. "Oh it will be. I spent a good deal of last night working on it. You know getting to know the controls, finding my sound."
Stacie is looking about when she notices the vases, and asks "Oh hey, who got all the roses?"
The question catches Beca off-guard "Ummmm, what?" Beca cringes at he inability to formulate a better response to her leggy friend as she flings herself back into the recliner.
Stacie points to the two vases on the end tables with her nail filer. "You have these, and there's a vase in Chloe's room…" She states as she begins filing the nails on her left hand.
"There's also a really impressive bouquet on the dining room table," adds Aubrey as she returns, two bottles of water in her hands. She hands one to Stacie as she asks, "Who's the lucky lady?"
"That would be Beca," answers Chloe. Aubrey can't help but notice something in Chloe's eyes; a sadness mixed with fear, a mixture Aubrey has never seen before. She can't read it, and that is disconcerting, because that never happens. She has no idea where Chloe's hurt is coming from, or what it means, though she plans to get to the bottom of it quickly.
Beca sighs, closing her laptop, "Yeah, those would be mine." It comes out as resignation.
Stacie can sense there is an underlying story. "That's a lot of roses."
"You have no idea." Beca exclaims.
Chloe jumps up from the couch rather suddenly, causing Beca to jolt. "I'm thirsty," declares the redhead with forced enthusiasm. "Who else is thirsty?" Chloe asks as she heads for the kitchen. "I'm feeling like wine? We have a rather nice Spanish Moscato d'Asti in the fridge." She continues to call out from the kitchen. Chloe's move off the couch and out of the room was so sudden that her three friends are caught flat-footed, standing around exchanging confused looks.
Aubrey is the first to move and follow, with Stacie close behind. Beca actually contemplates remaining in the living room, but feels that this will only be remarked upon. Besides she feels bad for the state that Chloe is in.
Chloe holds up the wine, showing it to her three friends as they come in. "It has a really nice fruity sweet wine. I love that it's semi-sparkling." She opens the cabinet where the wine glasses reside and grabs two. "Who wants some? Anyone?"
"Hmm, yeah Chlo; I'll have some," Aubrey says.
"Me too," Stacie offers.
Beca mumbles her own affirmative. A grin spreads across Chloe's face, as she hears her friend's answers. It goes megawatt when she hears Beca. The redhead quickly retrieves four wine glasses, and hands them out.
"So you had a good time Bree?" Chloe asks as she opens the Moscato. The redhead desperately wants to take the conversation in a different direction.
The blonde sighs as she studies the large bouquet on the dining table. "Yes, it was a really good time." She admits as she holds out her glass for Chloe to fill.
A happy little squeak slips from Stacie. Aubrey blushes and rolls her eyes as Chloe giggles. Now it's Aubrey who wants to change the subject. She spies the bouquet arrangement sitting in the center of the dining table, and makes an appreciative sound, "It's a really fine bouquet Jesse chose for you."
"I guess," says Beca shrugging distractedly.
The blonde knows the flowers are a part of the tension she's feeling in the apartment. She decides to pull at this thread, hoping to better understand what's happening. She fixes her gaze on Beca and asks, "Do you know the meanings of the flowers he picked out for you?"
"Huh? Umm, no, no I don't," answers Beca. She had been so distracted by the sheer number of roses that were filling her home, it never dawned on her that there would be any more meaning than 'I'm sorry'. She looks up at Aubrey and asks, "The flowers have meanings?"
Aubrey nods and then gestures towards the large bouquet, "There's a lot of love messages in this particular bouquet of flowers. For example the red roses are, as you know, a symbol of love."
Beca rolls her eyes, telling Aubrey that even she knows that.
Aubrey smiles as she continues, "The pink orchids mean pure affection whilst the orchids as a whole mean love and beauty." She then indicates the white flowers, "These white flowers are called Gardenia which mean 'you're lovely'. These small ones are asters, they're known as a talisman of love and a symbol of patience."
Beca just stares at the bouquet and asks, "How do you know this?"
Aubrey shrugs, "There's a lot of quiet time at the lodge, I do a lot of reading."
Again gesturing towards the bouquet the blonde says, "Altogether the whole meaning of this bouquet is love and forgiveness. You have red roses, baby's breath, I'm sure you know it, it stands for innocence. As I said these little ones that look like daisies are the asters. They're a symbol of love. As for the spiky ones, they are purple hyacinth and they stand for forgiveness, and these last ones are pink carnations. Carnations typically carry the meaning of devoted love, but pink blooms are particularly appropriate when wanting to apologize."
Beca can only say, "Oh…"
Aubrey turns on Beca, fixing her with a very steady stare. Her tone solid, and suggestive that she wants nothing but the truth, and will not accept anything but the truth. "So what did the treble do that required such a gesture of love and apology?"
"Umm, uhhh, well, Jesse kinda ended the weekend early…"
Both Aubrey and Stacie say 'What' together. Both knew Jesse had really been pressing Beca for a getaway. Beca had let slip that Jesse was feeling neglected and had basically demanded a weekend of just them.
Stacie asks, "What count possibly have torn Jesse away this weekend? Your getaway seemed…"
"Perfect…" Chloe says, just loud enough for everyone to hear.
A quiet pall seems to fall over the room, and Beca can only stare at Chloe, who keeps her head down. Aubrey looks back and forth between the two roommates, trying to discern what is going on. "So yeah, what made the treble leave?"
"Spielberg…" Beca mumbles.
Aubrey couldn't understand, "What was that?"
"Steven Spielberg…" Beca says a little clearer.
"Oh, I can see that," says Stacie with an understanding smile.
"... So he filled our apartment with roses." Continued Beca, her voice a bit dejected.
Aubrey looks at the bouquet and says, "Well it's nice, and big, but I wouldn't say filled."
"No, he filled it," says Chloe. She grabs a second bottle of wine from the fridge, as she asks, "Stacie, would you grab the bottle opener, and Bree, bring the open bottle?"
Beca seems like she's just awoken from a deep reverie. "Umm what?"
Chloe looks at Beca, and again flashes a sad smile. "They are going to want the whole story, Becs, we might as well get comfortable," she says as she lifts her glass and the bottle of wine. "Come on."
Beca stares at Chloe's back as the redhead walks out of the kitchen and to the living room. It's a moment before Aubrey and Stacie follow; and another before Beca shrugs her shoulders, swallows her remaining wine in one gulp, and then grabs the last bottle of wine in the fridge and follows.
[*+*X*+*X*+*X*+*]
[*+*X*+*X*+*X*+*]
"So Chloe, you took almost all the roses to local rest homes and the hospital?"
Chloe smiles sheepishly, "Yeah Bree…"
Stacie grabs the bottle of wine as she says, "Wow, Chloe, that's just, I mean just…"
"Perfect," states Beca to her glass sitting before her.
The room falls silent again as everyone looks at Beca, who just continues to stare at her wine glass, oblivious of what is happening around her.
Aubrey is actually surprised at Beca's comment because she didn't think the petite DJ was paying attention. Beca had started the story about the weekend, giving just cursory description of her weekend. When she had trailed off, Chloe had picked up the narrative. And while her best friend's story telling was head and shoulders above Beca's, Aubrey could sense she was getting an abridged cliff notes version of the retelling.
Breaking the silence, Aubrey looks over to the redhead. "Hey Chloe, can I borrow you a moment?"
"Sure Bree; what can I do for you?"
"Oh, no big deal. I'm moving into my apartment tomorrow…"
Stacie perks up, "When do I get my key?"
The blonde rolls her eyes as she folds her arms across her chest, a clear demonstration of her exasperation. Still when she answers there's a tinge of resignation. "We'll talk later…"
"Yeah we will…" Stacie's smile is one of triumph.
"Anyway, Chloe, can I borrow you for a moment, I want to discuss where I can pick up some necessities, plus," she holds up an empty bottle, "Also I have a couple bottles we brought back from our trip."
Chloe smiles brightly and gets up from her seat on the floor. "Sure Bree."
Once in Chloe's room, Aubrey closes the door and focuses all her attention on her best friend. "So Chloe, are you going to tell me what's going on?"
Chloe slowly lowers herself down until she is sitting on the edge of her bed. However she can't answer and just sits quietly her eyes not lifting from the carpet. Across the room, Aubrey clears her throat, studying her best friend with querying eyes.
"Nothing Bree." It's barely a whisper and Aubrey isn't sure Chloe even said it.
Aubrey's signature frustrated sigh makes an appearance. "Chloe." This is so infuriating for the blonde. If there's one thing she knows in this life it's Chloe Beale. She's known the redheaded woman for years, known her well, like the sister she never had. It isn't very often that she can't recognize and articulate what the redhead is thinking or feeling just by looking at her; so this situation is unsettling, and therefore unacceptable. She repeats, "Chloe," much closer in tone to her drill sergeant persona, developed while the Bellas Captain, perfected at the lodge.
It has an effect on Chloe, seemingly waking her. "I-I don't know what you mean, Bree." Answers Chloe as she worries at the nail of her thumb. She can just feel the intense glare of her best friend watching her carefully.
Aubrey uses her ever ready commander-in-chief tone to emphasize her words. "No Chloe, we don't lie to each other. That's the promise. We're always honest, because there is literally no need. We have each other's back, we support one another. So?" Aubrey has always had an uncanny ability to cut through Chloe's, for lack of a better word, bullshit. It was one of the reasons Chloe has always stood by Aubrey, trusted and loved Aubrey, and seen her as more of a sister, instead of just as a friend. Aubrey can with just just an inflection in the tone of her voice, cut right through all of Chloe's obfuscations in a way no one else ever has.
A breath she didn't realize she was holding escapes the redhead, as she makes a valiant effort to answer. Though as Chloe releases the slow, shaky breath, she doesn't have any intention of spilling her guts, or being completely honest with her best friend. She doesn't really want to talk about this thing she has for Beca and how it's growing. She's embarrassed and heartbroken, and knows Aubrey will think she's been stupid.
Yet Chloe also knows the feelings she's having are growing, and she needs to deal with them; so at the last second she changes her mind and begins to speak hesitantly but honestly, "I… I don't know. I really don't, there was a moment yesterday morning, where I think we almost kissed…"
"You kissed?!" Aubrey's voice is a shocked hiss.
"Almost!" Chloe hisses back. "I-I think…" Chloe's thoughts are spinning in circles.
"You think? Wait you're not sure?"
"Well she initiated a hug. Then she pulled back and we were just looking into each other's eyes. It felt so perfect. Like it was where I was meant to be. I swear she dropped her eyes to my lips, but I kinda looked down at her lips, so maybe I was wishful thinking. Then it felt like she leaned in, and I know I did, and I closed my eyes…" Chloe trails off at the memory of what happened next.
"Chloe?"
"We didn't kiss…"
"Oh thank God…"
"Bree!"
"I'm sorry Chlo; but I don't think you two kissing at this point is a great idea. What were you thinking?"
"I wasn't thinking!" Chloe's voice echoes the frustration she's been feeling. It's been building in her chest, and now erupts when Aubrey makes a dismissive sound, "What do you want me to say, Aubrey? That I'm in love with Beca Mitchell, that I've been in love with Beca for years." It all just spills out before Chloe can stop the words. She's just too tired to hide it anymore. "That every day I'm so glad to be a part of her life, yet I know I'm on a count down, till the day Beca and Jesse moves on to the next phase of their relationship. That I know she's with Jesse. That she chose Jess…"
Chloe trails off, a soft sob escaping as she fights to hold back tears. There's an air of vulnerability and fragility in Chloe's appearance that physically hurts Aubrey to take in. The way Chloe looks up at her best friend with glassy eyes is just so heart wrenching.
"I'm sorry…" Aubrey says softly as she moves to sit beside her best friend. She gently places her arm around Chloe's shoulders, and pulls her into her shoulder. A lone tear escapes and trails down Chloe's cheek.
"Not your fault Bree," Chloe sniffs, "It's mine. I knew what I was doing when I followed her…" Chloe sniffs again. "You would not believe the look of fear and disbelief in Beca's eyes as she pulled away." Her voice is filled with a sad hopelessness.
"Oh honey…"
"Bree, the look on her face. It hurt so bad to have her look at me like that." Chloe's voice cracks, and she stops short, completely dejected.
"I'm sorry Chlo, I've known you had a crush on the hobbit, but, I didn't realize it had progressed this far."
"I love her Bree." The words are spoken with resignation.
Aubrey sighs, Chloe can actually hear the eye roll the blonde is suppressing. The redhead responds with a tinge of vehemence, "I'm serious, Bree."
"I know honey. I know." Holding her best friend close, Aubrey whispers, "But at this moment, I'm only worried about you, Chlo."Aubrey falls into silence, waiting, presumably patiently, for Chloe to speak more, but the redhead needs a moment, not only to collect her thoughts on the subject, but to decide if she really wants to discuss this with her best friend.
"I don't know what to do, Bree."
"Honestly, I'm not sure either, Chlo."
"That's not as helpful as I expected Bree."
"What can I say Chloe? I don't think there's any easy answers. She's been with Jesse a long time. And yeah he can screw up from time to time, but who doesn't? So yeah, I think there's a countdown till the day he proposes. I just want to make sure you're alright. I like and care for Beca, I really do, but I love you, and you'll always be my priority."
Chloe gives Aubrey a sad smile, and mouths a 'Thank you.'
Aubrey just hugs the redhead tighter. "It's going to be okay Chlo. It really is…"
"I don't know Bree, the way she looked…"
"Honestly Chloe, knowing what you do about the midget, do you really think she could have reacted in any other way? Other than music, what defines Beca?"
Chloe smiles weakly, "Loyalty…"
"Exactly! She's loyal to a fault. She may have reconciled somewhat with her dad, but she never wants to do what he did." Aubrey's words are tinged with empathy.
Chloe's eyes grow round as realization hits her, "Oh my god, Bree! I almost pushed Beca into cheating! No wonder she's been so stand-offish. She must be so mad at me..."
"Chloe…"
"... I'm a terrible roommate, and friend…"
"Chloe…"
"... It explains her decision… It explains everything…"
"Chloe! Stick with me. You're working yourself up."
"But Bree, you didn't see her face, and how she acted at Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's. She's my best friend, and I've betrayed her…"
"No you haven't…"
"Then why has she put up her walls?"
"Chloe, you do remember that this is Beca Mitchell we're talking about, right?" Aubrey's tone is one of exasperation.
"Yeah?"
"Yes Beca went behind her walls, but I will point out she didn't run away, she didn't go hide."
"I guess I didn't really think about that," Chloe replies honestly. "I just feel so guilty and weird and- confused," she sighs tiredly.
"I know honey, Aubrey rubs the middle of Chloe's back gently. "Just remember the Hobbit has a tendency towards being emotionally stunted and oblivious to what others feel."
"Be nice Bree…"
"That is me being nice. Me not being nice is pointing out that Beca tends to where her ass as a hat!"
Chloe can't help but giggle.
"Right Chloe…" Aubrey says. "Well, I suppose the best advice I can offer now is to hang in there. I can't say what's going to happen… I don't think either of you know that. But I know you, and that you'll be there for her, and she cares for you. So whatever it is that's happening, or whatever it is you're feeling, it's going to be okay. And I will be here to talk with you about it, and help you both if I can."
As always, Chloe's touched by Aubrey's kindness and understanding. She knows most, even the Bellas know her mostly as 'General' Posen, or the Aca-nazi, but Chloe knows the truth. She's known her best friend to be thoughtful and sympathetic, and very considerate when it came to her friends. She smiles and leans in resting her head on the taller blonde's shoulder. Aubrey again places her arm around Chloe and holds her tight.
They remain that way for several moments, till Chloe just needs to talk about something else. "So you and Stacie?"
"Don't…"
[*+*X*+*X*+*X*+*]
[*+*X*+*X*+*X*+*]
The second Chloe's door closes, Stacie is up and over to the couch. Her speed and grace in making the move catches Beca off-guard. It's impressive enough, Beca can't help but think Stacie might actually give Lily a run for her money in the freakish human abilities category. Though this train of thought is derailed as the leggy brunette settles in on the opposite side of the couch from Beca, when she asks, "So Mitchell, are you going to tell me what's going on?"
Beca freezes at first, eyes growing. Moving her right hand to rub the back of her neck, Beca looks to stall her answer. She's feeling so incredibly awkward right now, and not sure she wants to talk about it. Scratch that, she knows she doesn't want to talk about it. But then she considers the fact that Chloe is most certainly telling Aubrey something about it at this moment. Beca's pretty sure this is why her former blonde nemesis grabbed Chloe and took her back to her bedroom. Beca has to wonder if maybe it would be beneficial for her to have someone else's perspective and advice.
Over the years Stacie has become a very dear friend, a best friend, maybe second only to Chloe and Jesse; and Beca had often found herself in conversations with Stacie that had been rather surprising for the snarky DJ. There had just been a few times where Beca really couldn't go to Jesse or Chloe, and she had needed someone she knew she could trust. That had ended up being Stacie and Cynthia Rose. Yet Beca hesitates; even in the most intimate conversations she's shared with Stacie, Beca has always maintained a certain level of distance, not letting her tall friend to get to close.
She's unsure of how much of this problem she wants to reveal to her tall friend. If she says much more, she'd be revealing the confusing maelstrom swirling in her head. She would be revealing things she hasn't faced herself.
As Beca has this internal debate, it's pretty transparent to Stacie, who sits quietly taking in the DJ's visual cues. The taller brunette long ago noticed Beca has this peculiar need to rub the back of her neck when she's uncomfortable about something. Stacie also notes, Beca's eyes keep flicking up so they look past her, and those eyes have a sad guilty quality to them.
Stacie silently counts to ten, then asks again, "Come on short stuff, what's going on?"
Beca swallows and tries to deflect by playing naive, answering, "On with what?"
Stacie fixes a Beca with a knowing look, it's rare that Beca doesn't at least roll her eyes at a height reference. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, the tall brunette decides to go with the shock factor, "With all the sexual tension between you and Red."
Beca's jaw drops, this was not in anyway what she expected Stacie to say. Her eyes flick to Stacie, expecting to see the taller woman's usual teasing look. However the expectant look on Stacie's face indicates her good friend is being serious. It's a trick Beca has seen Stacie use to great effect before to throw someone off, and get them to answer truthfully. Beca's been the recipient of such interrogations in the past, and it has proved successful, much to her chagrin.
She answers quickly, hoping to quash any talk with the word sex in it quickly. "What? Oh my god! That's fucking crazy. There's absolutely No sexual tension in this room!" Beca attempts to be as emphatic about that as possible.
Stacie gives Beca a sly look. "Smooth, Mitchell; want to try again?"
Beca grumbles under her breath,"There's nothing…"
Stacie doesn't buy it for a minute, she locks onto Beca's eyes and asks again, "Then what is going on?"
Beca doesn't reply, she really isn't sure how to answer this question, or even how to describe this situation. She continues looking past her tall friend, and in the direction Chloe and Aubrey just went. She can't help being worried that Chloe is alone in the same room as General Posen.
Stacie glances over her shoulder to confirm where Beca's attention is. She can tell her smaller friend is fixated on the redhead's door, just visible in her current position. Turning back towards the tiny DJ, she smirks knowingly. Yes she has a pretty good idea of what is going through her smaller friend's mind.
Beca shifts in her seat restlessly, she can't help but be worried about what Chloe might be telling her former nemesis at this very moment. This fills the DJ with dread, images of a furious blonde, coming at her with intents of bodily harm for hurting her best friend run through Beca's mind. To the point that she's considering making a break for it. Running away has always been considered an acceptable solution for Beca to life's problems. Glancing down though, at Stacie's legs tucked under her good friend, leaves her pretty sure Stacie would stop her. Seriously with those abnormally long legs, the certified Bellas genius would catch her before she even made it to the door.
Still if things get bad enough, Beca feels it might be an option of last resort.
Stacie can't help but feel a smile tug at the corners of her lips as she reads her friend's myriad of expressions gracing her face. That Beca has also started to glance towards the front door does not go unnoticed, though Stacie knows catching Beca wouldn't be much of a challenge. She remembers those short legs from their aca-nazi cardio days.
"So you know you can talk to me, you know… if you need to?"
"Yeah… I know…" Yet Beca doesn't sound like she truly believes in her half-hearted response.
"Scouts honor, Becs." Says Stacie as she holds up a hand in an approximation of a scout's salute.
"Were you really a scout?"
"No, but I may have had a few in high school."
Beca just can't help herself, "Boy or Girl?"
"Uh huh," Stacie nods with a mischievous smirk. "Seriously though Beca, you can trust me to be discreet with what you say. I'm just here for you."
"Yeah, um… Thanks. I-I-I… appreciate your concern." Her words this time come out still a bit broken, but sincerity is clearly heard.
"Well that's a little, tiny bit better; but then again tiny should be expected from someone as itsy-bitsy as you."
"Hey!" Beca says in outrage, but the tug on her lips tells that it's feigned.
"I know how much of a little badass you are, don't worry. So, can you open up a little bit?"
Groaning, Beca buries her face in her hands, she doesn't have a clue what to say, where to start. "I honestly don't know Stace…"
"How about this, why don't you tell me what specifically has you and Chloe walking on eggshells?"
Beca looks down at her feet and shifts slightly, subtlety putting a little more space between herself and Stacie. How does she tell Stacie that she almost kissed Chloe? That she wanted to kiss Chloe?
Images of her best friend's lips have been dancing in her head ever since, and she has been picturing the spread of the redhead's lips into a smile, shy and sweet. Then there's her blue eyes, wide and stunningly iridescent with warm happiness. Yet as always these memories are marred as they morph into a look of hurt and loss that came after their near moment yesterday.
That look is painful to remember, she lifts her eyes and reconnects with Stacie's before again trying to answer. The petite brunette lets out a deep sigh, turning her whole body so she's now facing her tall friend properly.
Stacie narrows her eyes which scrunches her brows closer watching Beca draw this out. She's seen this before; Beca stalling. Becoming impatient with all the squirming, she says, "Come on, Becs. I've told you before, you can always come to me when you need to talk, and we both know you need to now."
The petite brunette takes several deep breaths, in an attempt to calm herself, to settle her mind into a place where she can manage to speak. Yet her mind won't settle, so Beca continues to say nothing, just sits silently, eyes down, shaking her head at herself, at the situation she has put herself into. She desperately wants to be able to better articulate her feelings in a clear and sensible manner. Explain what is going on, so someone can tell her how to fix it.
"Beca?"
Beca still says nothing, though she does nod, absently.
Of course it's growing harder for Stacie to just sit and wait patiently for an answer. Thus after a few more moments pass, she prods again, "Did I lose you?"
Beca's answer is a mumbled, "No…" and more silence rushes in. She just can't seem to speak about it. Now she keeps picturing Chloe's face in the car, just after Beca revealed her decision.
Stacie releases a loud sigh. "I know there's something you're not saying, something you're wanting to tell me."
Beca mumbles, "I made a mistake…"
"So…"
"A big one, and it hurt Chloe…"
"So, apologize, fix it."
Beca rolls her eyes and gives Stacie a look that suggests this is the most obvious advice ever. "I don't know if that will be enough."
"You know Beca, you'll never know unless you talk to Chloe. My money is that it'll be a start."
"Really not sure…"
"Come on Beca, if this is bigger than just your average apology, then you've got to give me a little more to work on."
"Jesse…"
"Jesse?" Stacie is actually perplexed by Beca's answer. She wasn't expecting that answer "What about Jesse?"
Beca internally scolds herself, because she literally no idea what possessed her to mention him. She definitely didn't want to bring him into this conversation. In retelling the events of the weekend, Beca had intentionally kept out all the stuff that had happened in Idyllwild, the arguments and Jesse's request. She didn't want to really recount any of that. "Nothing… Doesn't matter to this…"
This whole weekend has been a bit jarring for Beca, and it's left her at a loss. At the same time she just doesn't want to see Stacie's look of disappointment when she comes clean. Again she deflects, not yet ready to be forthcoming. "I just don't know what to tell you Stacie. This is so hard for me…"
Stacie smiles sweetly, "Well shortstuff, you can be a little closed off emotionally."
The DJ scoffs back kat Stacie. "In my defense I've come a long way in the last five years."
"Yes, in large part because a certain ginger has always been there for you. She cares deeply for you Becs, and I feel confident she always will. She'll be here for you now."
Beca freezes as Stacie's words sink in. For a long moment she's completely still; her breath caught, and her mind is blank. Her heart aches for her friend and all she can say is, "I didn't mean to upset Chloe. I would never intentionally hurt her. But I did." Beca sounds more defensive than she had intended
Stacie raises her eyebrows incredulously. It's so frustrating not knowing what actually happened. She probes more, "Why did you then?"
"I… don't know." Beca answers honestly, her voice tinged with sadness. She hasn't yet found the words to articulate why she hurt Chloe with her decision about the show; a decision she hasn't even come clean with to Stacie or Aubrey about.
"You don't know?" Stacie sounds skeptical.
"No!" Beca practically shouts, but then realizes Chloe is in the back with Aubrey. Craning her neck to make sure neither is coming back out, she hisses, "No, I don't know. If I did I would have fixed it. Okay?!"
Beca knows she probably overreacted a little bit, but truth be told, she's a little afraid because she really doesn't know why she's doing anything over the last few days. She feels like she's adrift in a maelstrom, tossed about, not sure where she's going or end up.
"Okay! Okay, I get it," Stacie concedes. "But don't you think we maybe might want to try and figure that out?"
Beca rolls her eyes as she lets her head fall back, as she stares at the ceiling she has to remind herself that Stacie is just trying to be helpful. And truth be told, she did, in fact, kind of need Stacie's help, because she sure as hell wasn't figuring it out on her own and here. It's also not like she had any other options. After a minute of silence she looks at her taller friend and concedes, "I guess." But that was all she was ready to offer.
"So then, without getting more into the details of this particular whatever this is. Is it possible the issue more about, like, what it all means to you?"
"What do you mean by what it means?" Beca asks, actually confused by the question. "I don't know what that even means…"
"Look Beca," Stacie sighs, "I'm completely working in the dark here. Something happened this weekend, you feel you've hurt Chloe…"
"I know I hurt Chloe."
"... Fine, you hurt Chloe, but you're not sure why you did it. So I have to ask what that means to you? Why do you think you might have hurt her? What are you afraid of?"
"I - I - I'm not…" Beca starts to deny, but then snaps her mouth shut, because she is afraid; yet at this moment she isn't even sure of what. "You're right Stace," she sighs, "I am afraid, but I'm also honestly not sure of what."
"Afraid I can't help you there Beca, you have to figure it out. Maybe, and this is totally out of left field, but maybe you should talk with her."
"Ugh! Chloe's my best friend. And I love her,"
The taller girl's eyes grow wide as she registers the DJ's words.
Beca sees this, as she realizes the words that just passed her lips, and hurriedly adds, "As a friend…" She prays that Stacie believes her.
Stacie's lips started to raise at the corners of her mouth, but then fall into a frown when she hears Beca's hurried add-on. Stacie had hoped for more of a breakthrough.
She takes a moment to regard Beca. Over the last few years, the tiny DJ has been one of her closest friends, and she truly cares for her. Stacie's seen Beca come a long way in the five years she's known her, and while she would never claim the DJ has completely taken down the walls she had spent a lifetime building up, she has made sizeable progress, thanks to the Bellas, thanks to Chloe Beale.
Beca releases another heavy sigh, she feels stupid for not being able to better articulate what she's feeling. Of course examining her feelings hasn't exactly been her strong suit. Repression has always been her much preferred option. Of course that doesn't seem to be working here.
"You know, as a friend," Stacie quips with a wink, letting her shorter friend know she did catch that little slip, "Chloe won't bite…" the tall brunette's face turns mischievous, "much. But when she does it's worth it."
Beca's face grows purple with blush at Stacie's joke. Though the revelation from Fat Amy's party actually leaves a burning shoulder of jealousy in the pit of her stomach. She chokes at first trying to respond, but finally finds the breath to snark, "I don't know why I continue to associate myself with you."
"Because I'm awesome, and I totally call you on your BS, when it's warranted. Like now, talk to Chlo. She will never leave you,"
"I don't know, Stacie," Beca responds honestly.
""I know you can, Beca." Stacie's words are sweet, and the truthfulness of them make Beca blush. She can feel the heat in her cheeks which makes her flush even more with embarrassment.
The truth is though Beca is beginning to feel a little less stressed about the whole thing with Chloe somehow. Beca has been so confused since Sunday morning – and well, scared really – by the ramifications of what nearly happened in their kitchen, and the decision she made as a consequence.
Now Beca's finding herself thankful for Stacie. The leggy brunette isn't quite at Chloe's level of closeness with Beca, but then no one is; not even Jesse. Stacie, though, is someone Beca knows she can trust. Someone she can talk to even about this.
At least, when she is ready to talk to about this.
She's not there at the moment - not yet, but it's good for Beca to know there is someone she can talk to; if and when she is ready to do so… and with someone who is genuinely judgment-free about the whole thing.
Yet, still, Beca is not ready, so she desperately seeks some other subject for them to talk about. She just has to change the subject; immediately. Her discomfort with this particular topic is really starting to get to her.
Beca meekly asks, "So, uh – you and Aubrey?Is this something?"
"I know what you're doing Mitchell…"
Beca rolls her eyes, but does concede. "I know." Stacie arches her right eyebrow, causing Beca to concede, "I know," the sound of the front door opening interrupts Beca's train of thought. She lights up as she sees Legacy enter. "Oh Emily… Welcome home." She turns from Stacie and flashes a huge smile.
"Hey Beca, Stacie!" Exclaims Emily as she enters, full of pep and energy.
Stacie covers the annoyance she's feeling at this interruption. She can see Beca's relief as she ducks out of the she calls to Emily and her boyfriend who follows carrying her suitcases. "Legacy, Benji, how are you doing?"
"Hey Stacie, Beca," waves Benji who drops off Emily's two suitcases. "How is everybody this fine evening?"
Aubrey walks back into the living room and greets the newcomers. "You just getting back into town?"
Beca notices immediately that Chloe is not with Aubrey, and looks to see where she is, while pointedly ignoring the looks being directed to her from both Aubrey and Stacie.
"Yeah, Benji was sweet enough to fly back to Atlanta with me. I hate flying alone." Emily smiles sweetly at Benji, who drops his eyes and blushes. Despite how far he's come, he's still at heart the shy awkward kid they met in his freshman year.
To deflect some of this attention, Benji throws a question to the group. "So you guys ready for the meeting with the suits?"
Aubrey answers first. "I guess, other than the location and time, I'm not even sure what we will be doing." An annoyance can be heard in her voice.
"It's driving Aubrey crazy," say Chloe as she enters the room. She had had to make a quick pit stop at the bathroom, to redo her makeup and clean away all traces of her tears. Now refreshed she flashes a warm reassuring smile towards Beca, who's looking a bit pale.
"I'm surprised," says Benji, "Jesse's been blowing up my phone, though he hasn't said much. I guess he wants to surprise me with something, but wants to do it in person. But, it seemed like he had been given some information about the meeting."
Stacie asks, "That's odd, can you remember what he said?"
Benji pulls out his phone, and scrolls through his messages. "When you getting back… Major news…. Can't wait to tell you… Building a team for the show…"
Beca stiffens as Benji mumbles his way through the messages. Based on the lack of comments from Benji, Beca's assuming that Jesse hasn't told him of her decision, she's hoping at least. Before he can accidentally reveal something, she decides to distract Benji, "Yeah, Jesse's pretty pumped about this competition."
The look on Chloe's face tells Beca that she's a dumbass, and really should think before she speaks. She tries to cover, "But what he's really excited about is who he met this weekend."
Benji looks confused. "Didn't you two go out of town for, as Jesse kept referring to it, a 'Romantic Getaway'?"
Beca nods, internally kicking herself, and for good measure, Benji, in her head. He's sweet and all, but he was truly making her life hard at this particular moment. "Yeah, we did, but Jesse got called away. He had a huge meeting."
"With who?"
"I'll let him tell you, don't want to ruin the surprise."
"So what do you think the meeting will be like with the suits?" Chloe asks, jumping in, not wanting to hear anything more about Jesse.
Aubrey chimes in "I think they will want us to sing."
"Wait, what?" Beca asks, whipping her head about. "You think we will have to sing?" The look on her face conveying what she thinks of this idea.
Stacie sits up, touching her chin with her index finger, her face contemplative. "Makes sense."
"What do you mean?" Asks Emily.
Stacie smiles as she works through the problem, "Well, the concept for the show works," she spreads her arms out. "We'll have a room full of attractive people," Stacie winks Aubrey.
Aubrey blushes as she cuts off Stacie, "And characters, a room full of characters…"
"That's an understatement," grumbles Beca.
Aubrey actually smiles at Beca's injection, "... that we will be arriving with a roomful of characters, will I think will be quite apparent to the executives we'll be meeting with. So…"
"The only thing left to sell the show will be to hear us sing!" Finished Chloe.
Emily laughs awkwardly. "That could be really cool."
"Don't worry Legacy, you were born for this," assures Beca.
"Yeah, you'll be great, Ems. You're the most likely to have a career in the music business next to Beca," adds Chloe.
"I'm just concerned that we don't have any prep for this," says Aubrey. Not prepared isn't in the blonde's wheelhouse. She strives to always be prepared.
"We got this,"says Stacie, again winking at Aubrey. "Watch… 'Ladies of the Eighties'..."
The rest of the room just looks at Stacie in confusion. Stacie repeats herself, "Ladies of the Eighties…"
It's Chloe who catches on first. With a huge smile she starts singing.
Color me your color, baby
Color me your car
Color me your color, darling
I know who you are
Come up off your color chart
I know where you're comin' from
Beca, Benji, and Emily are surprised at
Chloe's singing initially, and just stare, though smiles creep up their faces. Aubrey on the other hand seems to catch on fast and she jumps in and starts singing backup with Chloe.
Call me (call me) on the line
Call me, call me any, anytime
Call me (call me) my love
You can call me any day or night
Call me
Chloe can't help but smile brightly, it's been too long since she sang with her blonde friend.
Cover me with kisses, baby
Cover me with love
Roll me in designer sheets
I'll never get enough
Emotions come, I don't know why
Cover up love's alibi
Call me (call me) on the line
Call me, call me any, anytime
Call me (call me) oh love
When you
Beca jumps in here with the first song from an Eighties lady she can think of.
You must understand though the touch of your hand
Makes my pulse react
That it's only the thrill of boy meeting girl
Opposites attract
It's physical
Only logical
You must try to ignore that it means more than that ooo
Emily laughs and she grabs Benji's hand and pulls him over to Beca. They both start singing backup for Beca as she starts the chorus.
What's love got to do, got to do with it
What's love but a second hand emotion
What's love got to do, got to do with it
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken
Chloe can't help her smile growing till it splits her face. For the first time since the kitchen incident, Beca looks happy.
It may seem to you that I'm acting confused
When you're close to me
If I tend to look dazed I've read it someplace
I've got cause to be
There's a name for it
There's a phrase that fits
But whatever the reason you do it for me ooo
What's love got to do, got to do with it...
Chloe decides to jump in again. She steps forward right in front of Beca and belts out.
It must have been love but it's over now.
It must have been good but I lost it somehow.
It must have been love but it's over now.
From the moment we touched 'til the time had run out.
Beca feigns outrage at being cut off, but only laughs as Chloe winks at her.
Make-believing we're together,
that I'm sheltered by your heart.
But in and outside I've turned to water
like...
Now it's Stacie who jumps up from the couch.
Like a virgin
Touched for the very first time
Like a virgin
When your heart beats
Benji cracks everyone up as he jumps in backing up Stacie after first time, "With your heartbeat. Stacie laughs and saunters over to Benji, creating quite the duo.
Next to mine
Gonna give you all my love, boy
My fear is fading fast
Been saving it all for you
'Cause only love can last
Stacie being well Stacie, of course had to add a little sex appeal which did throw off Benji for a beat, and earn a glare from Emily, who then burst into laughter as Stacie gave her a quick wink and then Benji a quick kiss to his cheek. Scarlet might be the best description of the color of his cheeks.
You're so fine and you're mine
Make me strong, yeah you make me bold
Oh your love thawed out
Yeah, your...
Now Aubrey isn't jealous, she's sure of that, but she does feel it's a good time to put a stop to Stacie's impromptu duet, and she has a personal favorite that will do the trick.
You're a real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts like the one in me
That's okay, let's see how you do it
Put up your dukes, let's get down to it
Again everyone laughs as Aubrey again make a sexy little boxing motion while squatting down; a replay of what she had done at the Riff Off back when she was the Bellas Captain.
This time everyone jumps in, and begins singing the chorus of the Pat Benatar classic.
Hit me with your best shot
Why don't you hit me with your best shot
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away
You come on with it, come on
You don't fight fair
That's okay, see if I care
Knock me down, it's all in vain
I get right back on my feet again
Hit me with your best shot
Why don't you hit me with your best shot
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away
Well you're a real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts like the one in me
Before I put another notch in my lipstick case
You better make sure you put me in my place
Hit me with your best shot
C'mon, hit me with your best shot
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away
Hit me with your best shot
Why don't you hit me with your best shot
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away
All six are still in the throes of laughter when a knock interrupts them. As Chloe makes her way to the door, Stacie is telling everyone that this is proof that they'll be fine for the meeting.
Chloe's still laughing as she answers the door. She sobers quickly as she opens it to the one person she really doesn't want to see now. "Hey Jesse?"
"Hey Chloe, Beca round?"
"Yeah… Umm, yeah, come in…"
Beca stops laughing instantly when she hears Chloe say Jesse's name; her eyes widen in shock. To her friends she has the appearance of a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She spins about to see her boyfriend entering the apartment, and a cold weight settles in the pit of her stomach.
"Sounded like quite the party going on… Oh hey Benji, I didn't know you were going to be here…."
Benji flashes a smile and throws his arm around Emily. "Yeah, Emily and I just got back in town. I was dropping her off before I came back to your place."
"How was the flight? Man, it's good to have you back… I have so much to tell you. Beca have you told him?"
Beca is still trying to figure out why Jesse is here, at this moment. Things were already confusing. And no she hadn't told Benji, she hadn't told anyone save Chloe, and she was regretting that ever since. She stammers out an, "Umm no…"
Jesse gives Beca a perplexed look, but his mood is too buoyant to stay focused on that, and so pushes forward. "Oh, that's cool. I wanted to tell him anyways. So Beca, you ready?"
Again, Beca is caught flat-footed."Umm what?"
Now Jesse does give her a look, very confused by his girlfriend's reaction. "I texted you, asked if you could come over tonight…" Jesse fishes his phone out. "You responded 'sure'."
Beca swallows hard; Jesse had sent a number of texts throughout the day. She hadn't really focused on them, especially after the twelfth. Had she really responded 'sure' to an invitation to stay at his place? She couldn't be sure, but he looks so pleased and happy, Beca can only assume the answer is yes. "Uhh yeah; sorry, lost track of time, a lot going on..." She looks around at her friends sheepishly, "Can you just give me a moment, I'll grab my stuff."
With that she starts across the little circle of friends, that had formed during their singing. Unfortunately she has to walk right past Chloe.
Chloe looks Beca in the eyes, the tinge of hurt showing clearly in her cerulean blue, "You heading out Beca?" The question is soft, but in the silence everyone hears.
Beca looks over her shoulder at Jesse, who looks very pleased with himself. The DJ sighs, "Uhh, yeah, guess I'm going to stay the night at Jesse's."
Chloe swallows, then grins brightly, "Oh, that's cool. Too bad you'll miss our next Riff-Off category…"
Beca makes a thin smile, and hums noncommittally, then heads back to her room.
As Beca moves to her room, Chloe focuses on Jesse. "So Jesse how was the meeting with Steven Spielberg?"
"Wait you met with Steven Spielberg?" Emily asks incredulously spinning about.
"Steven Spielberg?!" Benji cries. "That's amazing bro," he runs up and hugs Jesse.
Jesse returns the hug and starts talking a mile a minute in his excitement. "Yeah, yeah I did; it was amazing! You wouldn't believe it. It was like the greatest thing ever.
"Too be honest this has been the most incredible weekend ever! I mean, Beca took me on a great romantic getaway."
Jesse can't help glancing over to Chloe as he continues. "It was perfect, Beca really out did herself with the planning. It was so nice to getaway for a romantic weekend, you know just the two of us."
Aubrey can see the knives that Jesse is stabbing at Chloe. Subtlety is not his forte. She decides it's time for an intervention. "It was too bad you had to cut it short; especially with all that planning," the blonde's words sound sweet, but hold the promise of retribution if Jesse keeps after Chloe.
Jesse gives Aubrey a look, but continues. "I know, we're going to go back someday… maybe for the holidays…" He then looks about, as if trying to find something.
Stacie has an idea of what, so she asks, "Looking for something Jesse?"
He looks over to Stacie, "Yeah, uhh yeah, I purchased some roses…"
Emily points to the two vases on the end table, "You mean those."
"Yeah, I was expecting to find more…"
Aubrey adds, "There's a huge bouquet on the dining table…"
"It's just I thought there would be more…"
Chloe speaks up, "It was a really amazing gesture, Jesse."
Jesse lights up, "It was the least I could do. I mean the truly Amazing thing is how understanding Beca was. I feel so fortunate to have such a supportive girl, who totally sacrificed for the betterment of my career."
"Beca's pretty special that way," says Emily.
"You're telling me!, Because of her I got to meet with Steven Spielberg! I couldn't ask for better."
Stacie speaks up, "That's amazing Jesse. Congratulations!"
Aubrey concedes, "That is amazing, Treble."
"But that's not the best thing she did this weekend.! The absolute, most amazing act Beca performed this weekend is when she called me yesterday to let me know the great news…"
Aubrey is confused, and asks, "What news is that?" Even as she says the words, she sees the turmoil on Chloe's face, and she knows the answer is the real reason for the tension between Beca and Chloe.
"That she's going to team up with me on the show!"
Beca is just returning from her room with her bag over her shoulder, trying desperately to arrange the items she haphazardly tossed in it. She can't get it to close right. She so much wants to get out of the apartment before her decision is revealed. However as she enters, she hears the news being revealed. The petite brunette freezes, a look of guilt is etched into her features. Her culpability made worse by the fact that her friends, her sisters, are finding out about her betrayal of them in this fashion.
Instead of the way Beca had planned to reveal it, after copious amounts of alcohol had been consumed, and everyone was too tired to kill her.
Aubrey and Stacie's head snap in unison, first towards Jesse, and then towards Beca. They ask simultaneously, "Wait, what?" They then turn to Chloe for clarification. "What?" Beca looks down at the floor, her features conveying the guilt she's feeling.
Chloe keeps her focus on Beca, and she recognizes distinct look of caution in the petite brunette, sorrow, and maybe even some fear in Beca's eyes. And it kills her. She does want to ring Beca's neck, but she also wants to wrap her younger friend in a hug, and tell her it's going to be alright. Chloe understands that Beca was placed in an unenviable position.
"Oh, hasn't she told you?" Jesse looks a little confused.
Stacie jumps in, "Well we only just got back a little while ago." Now she better understands the conversation on the couch, and why Beca was so apprehensive to talk.
Jesse focuses on Emily, "Has she talked to you Emily?"
The tall teenager shakes her head, "No, we've literally only been here for fifteen minutes. What was she supposed to ask?"
Jesse's smile has the distinct edge of a salesman, "I was thinking you might want to join too?"
Emily looks at him incredulously, "What?"
"Yeah you know, maybe you might want to team up with Beca, Benji and I. I was going to talk to Benji first and have him ask you, but since the cat-is-out-of-the-bag.
Emily still is in shock at the request. "You would want me and Beca to leave the Bellas?"
"Well, it wouldn't really be leaving the Bellas, since you wouldn't be competing as Bellas on the show."
Stacie gives him a look, "What do you mean by that, Jesse?"
"Well the Bellas are a collegiate a capella group. They can't compete in a televised contest like this. You may all be Bellas for life, but on the show you can't compete as Bellas."
A look of dawning realization crosses Aubrey's features, "The Treble is right..." She mentally kicks herself for not thinking about that.
Beca looks back at Chloe and feels a cold heavy weight in the pit of her stomach, as the usually bright redhead currently looks as if someone kicked her puppy. But through sheer will, the redhead brightens up. "Yeah, Beca told me. We were going to talk to you guys about it, but then the riff-off happened. You know this could be cool. It will be a chance to compete against the great Beca Mitchell, DJ and Music producer extraordinaire!"
Beca smiles shyly at Chloe, hoping her eyes convey the gratitude she's feeling. Aubrey picks up on what's going on and adds, "Yeah, it will be interesting going head-to-head against the hobbit."
"That's what I was thinking," says Jesse.
Beca hasn't taken her eyes off Chloe. She sees the mask Chloe is projecting for what it is, and she's both thankful and remorseful. The feelings swirling inside her are too much, and she needs to move. "Sorry," she says towards Chloe, before turning to Jesse, "... to cut this short, but we should get going. I have a ton I need to do before tomorrow…"
"Oh, sure, let's get going then," Jesse looks like he wants to stay, but Beca is determined, packing up her laptop and heading for the door. "Guess I'll see you all at the meeting."
Benji turns to Emily, "I'm going to head out too." She throws her arms around his neck and pulls him into a hug, giving a quick peck to his lips.
Soon the three have left, and a silence falls on the room. Chloe sighs, and with it the mask she'd been projecting. She looks like she's about to cry, and her three friends come in for a group hug. No one says anything though, they wait patiently for Chloe to open up because none of them want to make the situation worse by saying the wrong thing.
They keep silent as Chloe gathers her thoughts. When she speaks, it's directly to Legacy, "Emily, would you do me a huge favor?"
"Anything Chloe," says the teenager.
"Please join Beca…"
[*+*X*+*X*+*X*+*]
[*+*X*+*X*+*X*+*]
A/N: So the Bellas will need a new name, and will be down Beca, Emily, Fat Amy and Flo. Not looking good for our favorite Aca-Awesome A capella group.
Which leads me to a question, what should the Bellas call themselves for the show?
Please let me know what you all think.
So in this chapter the lyrics for the following songs were used for the quick Riff-Off:
Blondie's Call Me
Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It
Roxette's It Must Have Been Love
Madonna's Like a Virgin
Pat Benatar's Hit Me With Your Best Shot
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A/N: Recommendation Time - If you haven't been reading it, I highly recommend 'The Life of Beca Mitchell' by CallmeRy. This is a very angst ridden tale, that fans of Chloe might have issues with, but it's a really compelling story, and the author has been posting basically a chapter a day. So the complete opposite of me. It really is an amazing story.