Chapter 8
THE AFTER PARTY
They arrived at Taylor's home ten minutes away from Beca's place. The girls were still on a high as they sat down a limo rented by Taylor.
"Beca, I don't think we could ever thank you enough for making us live this lifestyle." Flo said.
"No need to thank me. I wouldn't be here without you, girls." Beca answered.
"Stop being cheesy, it's time to party!" Amy shouted as they went down the limo.
Blake decided to grab Beca by the arm.
"Shoot your shot, Mitchell." Beca laughed. She'll definitely miss this banter with Blake after touring.
Taylor heard her best friend so she decided to talk to Beca herself.
"Anyone can see it, Beca. You and Chloe are something else. Now let's get in."
The place was stacked. There was a dessert buffet, a bartender, and sushi chef.
"Why did I expect this to be a small gathering. Of course it has to be this extra." Silver said. She's been to numerous parties but this is her first Taylor Swift party.
Taylor went up the mini stage and went in front of the mic.
"Good evening, ladies. Let's get this party started shall we? Just tell the band which song you want to sing and perform like there's no one watching." She went down and encouraged each of the Bellas to go ahead and sing.
"You're Taylor Swift. How can we pretend you're not watching?" Taylor laughs at everything Amy says.
"I think it's inappropriate to sing first. It's your house." Beca made an excuse to hear Taylor Swift sing in a private setting. She couldn't even afford tickets to Taylor's concert back in college but look at her now.
"Good point. In that case, Enchanted." Taylor told her band.
It's Chloe's favorite Taylor Swift song ever. She always felt like it was a magical song that describes the way she felt for a particular someone during college. The first few chords were strummed by Taylor's guitarist and the girls were standing in front of the stage, eyes glued on the pop star.
There I was again tonight forcing laughter, faking smiles
Same old tired, lonely place
Walls of insincerity
Shifting eyes and vacancy vanished when I saw your face
All I can say is it was enchanting to meet you
Chloe was taken back to the aca-initiation night. She was drinking a lot and Beca was standing alone at the quad. She couldn't believe she convinced Beca to be a Bella. Little did she know it was just the start of a beautiful friendship that she'll always wanted more of.
Your eyes whispered "have we met?"
Across the room your silhouette starts to make it's way to me
The playful conversation starts
Counter all your quick remarks, like passing notes in secrecy
And it was enchanting to meet you
All I can say is I was enchanted to meet you
Taylor was singing it like flawlessly. The girls stood there without saying a word, trying to take in all that's happening right in front of their eyes.
The lingering question kept me up
Two a.m., who do you love?
I wonder till I'm wide awake
Now I'm pacing back and forth, wishing you were at my door
I'd open up and you would say, hey
It was enchanting to meet you
All I know is I was, enchanted to meet you
Chloe's thinking of all the times she and Beca stayed up late doing random, silly things. And when they were apart, she would always miss the younger Bella. As she reminisces all their time spent together, the song was building up to the bridge.
This is me praying that this was the very first page
Not where the story line ends
My thoughts will echo your name, until I see you again
These are the words I held back, as I was leaving too soon
I was enchanted to meet you
Chloe unknowingly held Beca's hand. Aubrey and Blake were behind them so they were the only ones who saw it. It's Chloe's favorite part of the song and she screamed the lyrics on top of her lungs.
Please don't be in love with someone else
Please don't have somebody waiting on you
Beca never knew what "magic" means, but when Chloe held her hand and sang the lyrics. She was sure this was magic. She looked at Chloe the whole time and the redhead didn't even notice because of how much she poured her heart out singing.
The song ended and the Bellas didn't want to sing after that. How could they even sing after witnessing Taylor live like that?
Taylor went down the stage and received hugs from the Bellas. It was their way of showing her how thankful they were for everything. This may be the best night ever.
The girls all had their turns singing, Beca and Chloe were the last ones left. Taylor enjoyed the performances and sung along with the Bellas.
They thought it was proper to take a break from singing and just spend some time hanging out at Taylor's backyard.
Beca's phone rang and she stood up to answer it.
"Ivy, hey. How are you? It's been quite some time."
The girls were puzzled thinking who would call Beca on thanksgiving. She never celebrated it with anyone apart from the Bellas for the past 6 years.
"Who's Ivy?" Amy dared to ask.
"A girl she went out on a date with when we were filming." Blake laughed as she shared.
"Oh right. That girl who sent Beca flowers for weeks." Silver laughed along with Blake.
"We don't mean to be rude. We were out for dinner and we dared her to ask Ivy out on a date because she was talking about how single she was. They went out on one date and the girl really tried to pursue Beca."
"Why is she calling in the middle of Thanksgiving?" Emily asked.
"Trying to get Beca's attention. That girl doesn't take no for an answer." Silver answered.
A few minutes passed by and the girls thought it was a good idea to go back in the house.
Chloe went straight to the mini stage and showed the band the chords to the song she wanted to sing. She just felt like she had to let out some steam after hearing about Ivy. As soon as Beca walked in she started singing the first verse.
I'm up all night
Thinking about how you love me
How you touch me, how you acted like no one above me
This ain't right
You been on some other shit like
Drinking all night, thinking you should be with me instead, right?
Beca was surprised to find Chloe singing a Chelsea Cutler. She was their little secret. They always sing her songs when they're having sleepovers and want to have a mini party of their own.
You keep going through your phases
I keep running out of patience
You've been different and I hate it
So I'm asking you to
"Oh boy, what did you to this woman?" Blake asked. Beca couldn't find the answer. She knew it was directed to her cause no one in the room knew about Chelsea Cutler.
Chloe looked straight into Beca's blue eyes as she sang the chorus.
Tell me you still want me
You know
That I've been fucking lonely, alone
So tell me you still want me
You know
That I've been spending way too many nights without you
Yeah
The Bellas and Taylor looked at Beca trying to understand why Chloe sang with all those emotions. Beca found Chloe hot as hell in that moment. She didn't know what went into her as she joined Chloe up on the stage singing the next verse.
I swear you got the worst of me (worst)
Why you gotta say it like that?
Don't you know you're hurting me?
I always say I love you right back
Well you know it's true
I made mistakes and I lied to you
We took a break when I stayed in school
I still don't know that side of you, yeah
Even when I wanted thrills
You keep hittin' all my feels
I don't see a way to chill
I'm not over you still
They sang the chorus together and the girls couldn't even ignore the sexual tension going on.
Tell me you still want me
You know
That I've been fucking lonely, alone
So tell me you still want me
You know
That I've been spending way too many nights without you
They kept their eyes on each other as the Bellas cheered. Taylor was jumping up and down, ecstatic about what she saw. Finally, a group of girls who love music as much as she does.
"How dare you sing a Chelsea Cutler song without me, Beale." Beca smirked at her best friend.
"That's what you get for keeping secrets." Chloe shot back winking.
Beca knew she was in trouble.
"Mitchell, you're so screwed." Ryan teased the girl.
"I know, Ryan. I'm a bit freaked out."
"It's time. Invite her to the tour. She'll forget about it." Ryan said.
"I shouldn't have done the dare." Beca regrets taking out Ivy on a date.
"My wife is a troublemaker. She was showing you the ropes on being careful with people in Hollywood. Paris is the most romantic place in the world. If that doesn't show Chloe how much you love her, then I don't know what else will."
Beca thought it was Ryan's best advice yet.
They ended the party at 4 am and Taylor made sure to give the girls her number to make sure they party again soon.
"I'm sleeping at my place tonight. I'll be back early in the morning to help you clean up. Good night, Beca." Chloe said as Beca was about to down the limo. They were the last ones to be fetched.
"Not tonight, Chlo. I have something to tell you. Spend the night with me, please." Beca looked at her.
And just like that, Chloe's walls were down again. This brunette knows how to work her way into her heart effortlessly.
They were in Beca's bedroom, getting ready to sleep. They brushed their teeth together, wherein Beca tried to make funny faces just for Chloe to forget about the Ivy situation. Unfortunately, Chloe was tougher than she thinks.
Beca gave her spare pyjamas. When she went back out, Chloe was wearing her undies as she walked closer to Beca. The brunette swore Chloe walked slowly as she took the pyjamas from her.
"Thanks, Beca." She smiled as Beca try her hardest to look away.
She went straight to her side of the bed and waited till Chloe was settled.
"Chlo? Are you dressed?"
"Yes. Why did you want me to stay tonight?" Chloe faced Beca while they lay down the bed. Beca's heart was pounding. But she remembered Blake's words, shoot your shot.
"Would you come to Paris with me this week?" Beca did her best to look at Chloe's eyes and say it as calm as possible.
"I'll never say no to you. Good night, Beca." She gave Beca a quick hug and went straight to sleep. She's a few seconds away from doing something unplanned if she didn't force herself to sleep.