AN/ THE BEAST FROM THE EAST HAS YET TO LEAVE, GIVING ME PLENTY OF TIME TO WRITE UP THE NEXT FEW CHAPTERS. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED THIS, IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. HONESTLY, I HAVEN'T BEEN THIS COLD SINCE 2010, SO I NEED PLENTY OF LOVE (COUGH, REVIEWS, COUGH) TO WARM UP.
GIVEN THE FACT I HAVE BEEN UP TO NOTHING EXCEPT NETFLIX AND AVOIDING RESPONSIBILITIES, I DECIDED I'D UPLOAD THE NEXT BIT (SHOUTOUT TO FELLOW BRIT JESSIEJELLIETOTS WHO'S ALSO PROCRASTINATING BECAUSE OF THE SNOW – I CAN RELATE TOO MUCH) TO GIVE ME SOMETHING TO DO.
IT'S STILL REALLY COLD OUT, SO I'M LOOKING FOR SEVEN REVIEWS ON THIS, TO WARM MY HEART ENOUGH FOR ME TO POST THE NEXT CHAPTER.
SERIOUSLY, IT'S SAT THERE READY TO GO GUYS.
READ, ENJOY, REVIEW (YOU KNOW, THE USUAL). HERE'S ONLY FOREVER…
"I've been thinking 'bout the future, and I've been thinking 'bout the now
I know we're gonna be together, I just don't know how.
You know when we get close, can't deny the tension between us both,
And I don't wanna pressure you, but I think you need to make a move.
I've been waiting, and I'll keep waiting,
Only forever, only forever, only forever, only forever
Only forever, only forever, only forever, only forever…"
"So Beca, how was yesterday?" Demi asked as she walked in the next morning.
"Yesterday?" Beca said blankly, not even looking up from her laptop as she spoke. "Seriously though Demi, no 'morning Beca' or 'how are you Beca?' or 'it's pretty cold outside, isn't it Beca?"
"Jeez, Mitchell," Demi giggled, "it was that good then."
"What do you mean Lovato?"
"I haven't seen you this on edge since you last spoke to Chloe, so I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you two had a conversation yesterday, and maybe Bechloe might have figured something out?"
"We had a very long conversation last night…" Beca began, only to be interrupted.
"And…" Demi interjected, with the voice of an over excited toddler.
"Chloe was drunk." Beca said, looking up from her computer for the first time since Demi came in. Disappointed, Demi's childish voice quickly changed to a serious one.
"How drunk?" Demi inquired.
"Drunk enough for her to beg me to take her home to cuddle, and then to ask me to hold her while she had cried."
"Wow." Demi said, suddenly thoughtful. "And…"
"I didn't know what to do, so I just held her in Fat Amy's back garden, sobered her up a little, and then drove her back to Aubrey's. She was still pretty drunk though, so I doubt she remembers all that much of it."
"Wonder what made her drink that much."
"Probably the shock of seeing me there."
"She suggested inviting you though."
"Still… Doubt she actually expected me to show. Oh, and she was probably drinking away her feelings after Emily announced Benji proposed."
"Wait a second, Wizard-Boy finally grew a pair and popped the question to Junk? I need to call Em!"
Beca smiled at that. The two had collaborated for a few tracks on Emily's debut album 'Legacy' at Beca's insistence around the same time she produced Demi's album confident. The pair had hit it off immediately having quickly found a shared interest in dogs and Fabletics sportswear. Nowadays, Emily would dog-sit Demi's dogs, Batman and Ella, whenever Demi was out of town, and Demi would send Emily an abundance of Fabletics goodies whenever she did a DEMI X FABLETICS line (which was pretty often). They had one of those weird friendships where they just clicked from the get go, which made Beca's chest swell with pride because she just knew they were right for each other.
"Yep, I was just as shocked as you are. They're so cute together, it's lovely."
"Aww, and I thought Benji was still infatuated with me." Demi teased, winking at Beca as she spoke.
"He was, but the music vid for Confident made him kinda scared of you."
Demi could barely hold in their laughter at that. "And I daresay my impromptu rendition of Cool For The Summer at your place made him feel any better."
"Not when you and Posen were grinding against one another in the name of dance." Beca replied, cringing at the memory.
"Oh, shut up Mitchell. I know you were thinking dirty things when we produced that song."
"Don't know what you're on about Lo-va-to," Beca smirked, emphasising each syllable of Demi's surname, "Me, thinking dirty thoughts? How very insulting. I'll have you know that I'm as pure as…"
She then stopped, when she realised she couldn't actually think of anything pure.
"Proves my point Mitchell." Demi said, as they both laughed. "Anyways Beca, quit trying to change the subject. I want to know exactly what happened between you and Ginger."
"Exactly what I said happened. Nothing more, nothing less."
"So what, you just dropped her at Aubrey's and drove off?"
"I left her my number, and said that maybe she could call me. Then said goodnight and drove home."
"And… Did she call?"
"Nope. I doubt she even remembers any of it Demi, she was still pretty drunk."
"Still, it explains why your phone is sat right within your grasp."
Subconsciously, Beca looked at the iPhone that sat right next to her hand on the desk. Demi was right, there was no way she was missing a phone call from Chloe if she decided to call. Secretly, Beca was pretty disappointed Chloe hadn't rang her yet, but then again, Chloe calling was a long shot. She desperately wanted Chloe to ring, but she knew it was highly likely that there'd be a pretty awkward conversation if she did. She shook her head at that, Chloe calling was a problem for later. Right now, she needed to focus. Focus on the artist in front of her, the music they were creating together. Not on the beautiful redhead that had stolen her heart.
"Okay then Lovato, let's get down to business," Beca began, desperately fighting the urge to say 'to defeat the Hun', "where are you wanting to start today?"
"Not sure Beca, I'll leave it up to you."
"Well, maybe we could sit and work on the track we did last week? We still need to make some tweaks to it. It's missing something Demi, and I've tried adding to it at home, but I can't get it just right."
"So, 'Only Forever', it is then. Is there a reason we're doing that one?"
"Don't know what you're talking about Lovato," Beca said, navigating the many tracks she had saved on her laptop.
"You know what I'm getting at Beca…"
"Then enlighten me, 'o wise one."
"I'm not saying it's certain, but speaking to Chloe yesterday, and then wanting to work on the song about knowing a relationship is meant to be – regardless of the circumstances… Just seems too linked to be merely a coincidence. But then again…" Demi teased, deliberately letting her voice catch at the end of the sentence.
Beca looked at her, her smirk turning into a very obvious grin. "I guess I'm just in the right place to be doing a song about complicated love."
"The course of true love never did run smooth, Beca. When's love ever easy?"
"Seemingly never Demi."
"You're trying to figure it all out, aren't you?"
"I want her back. If drunk Chloe was telling the truth, I'm almost certain she wants me back too. So…"
"You go Mitchell!"
"Anyway, I'm waiting on her getting back to me. So, until then, let's just get this album nailed. It's going to blow the billboards away."
"I've got a feeling you're completely right Beca."
"Well, feelings don't write songs."
"They kinda do…"
"Get in the booth Lovato. You and I both know these tracks won't write themselves."
"Calm down Mitchell…" Demi whinged, smirking at Beca as she made her way into the booth.
###
AN HOUR LATER…
Beca sat comfortably in the chair, headphones on, as she added a beat to the track. It was good. When it was finished, it would be amazing.
"Hey Beca," Demi said, popping Beca out of the little bubble she got in when she was producing.
"Yeah Demi?" Beca replied, turning to smile at the artist.
"Would you mind if I call it a day here?"
"We've only been at it an hour Demi…"
"I know, but I want to call Em, or maybe prank her or something. I can't focus on the music."
"Okay then, that's fine actually. The vocals right now are perfect, so I guess it's a good idea for me to have some time to work my musical magic."
"Forget Beca Effin Mitchell, you should've gone by Magical Mitchell during your acapella days Beca."
"Nah Lovato, sounds too much like a stripper name."
"And on that note, I'm off," Demi declared, grabbing her bag and walking over to the door. "If Chloe calls, I want to know -"
"Demi-" Beca interrupted, but the singer carried on over her protests.
" – whatever the outcome of the phone call, I want to know and I'll be at yours within half an hour."
"So where are you going now Lovato?"
"Target."
"Target?"
"Well, where else am I going to be able to get party poppers and Ben and Jerry's in the same place?"
"Why are you buying those – never mind, I'll find out later, won't I?"
"You certainly will Mitchell."
"See you later Demi," Beca said, smirking at her friend because if she smiled, she knew she'd laugh.
"You work your magic, Mitchell, and you'll charm them all," Demi said as she opened the door, "You can fix it all if you put your mind to it."
"Thanks for your confidence Demi"
"You need more self-confidence Mitchell. After all, what's wrong with being confident?" Demi laughed then at her own wit, and began to walk down the corridor, shouting "You can do it Beca!" over her shoulder.
Beca turned back to her work, considering layering some of the vocals. In Demi's absence, a familiar silence had descended over the studio. This silence made Beca grin to herself as she worked. It was comfortable, yet intense at the same time. It was the silence that spoke how Beca meant business.
Unfortunately for Beca, the silence didn't last long. Less than ten minutes after she'd got settled into her work, she was disrupted by her phone. For a fleeting second, Beca looked at her phone with anxiety, especially when she saw the caller was an unknown number. But then, looking closer, she let out a grin, because that number belonged to one person, and one person only.
Nevertheless, Beca still answered it like she would a stranger, despite knowing exactly who was at the other end.
"Hey… who's this?"
"Hey Becs," said a familiar voice, almost nervously, "I think we need to talk."
Beca was struck by the uncertainty in Chloe's voice as she spoke.
"I think talking is a pretty good idea too, Chlo. How are you right now?" Beca asked.
"Slightly confused to be honest."
"Confused?" Beca enquired. That was better than angry, which Beca thought she would be.
"Yeah, last night's all a bit of a blur beyond Emily announcing Benji proposed."
"And…"
"And I was hoping you might be able to help me piece together what happened after."
"Of course, what do you remember Chlo?" Beca said, her tone soothing, as she was genuinely concerned for Chloe.
"Being sad – more than that, I was jealous." She said, feeling pretty embarrassed by it. "So I went outside to drown my sorrows in a bottle of Smirnoff."
"Pretty reckless, if I may." Beca said, with a firm edge to her voice, like a mother scolding a child, "You shouldn't have drank as much as you did Chlo – it was making you feel worse."
"I was crying, wasn't I Beca?"
"Truthfully, you were sobbing uncontrollably. It was heart-breaking to watch to be honest."
There was a pause at the other end. Beca decided it was a good idea to continue.
"So, I came out Chlo, and took the bottle off of you. You were pretty out of it and asked me to hold you. Being my badass self, I resisted at first, but obliged because I'm a charming person really."
"I told you I wanted us to get back together Beca, true or false?"
"True, Chloe. You said it multiple times, but you know why I couldn't give you what I wanted right?"
"Yeah Beca, I get it."
"Good Chlo. I wasn't going to let you make a drunken mistake that would make everything weird again. Not when I was sober enough to stop it. So, I took you inside, made you coffee to sober you up, then drove you back to Aubrey's."
"By any chance, did I sing 'Cool For The Summer' in the car?"
"Yes, it's pretty concerning that that is all you can remember."
"Then I'm guessing I asked for your number?"
"No Chlo," Beca said, suddenly uncomfortable. "You said you were scared I'd leave again and ignore you and never come back. So I put both my numbers in your phone, and told you I was always here if you ever wanted me."
"You then tried to flirt with me, didn't you?"
Beca then turned red in the studio, embarrassed. "Maybe…"
"Something about missing my pretty face?" Chloe mused.
"Perhaps…" Beca said, her voice catching.
"As smooth as ever Becs," Chloe said, laughing as she spoke.
"Well," Beca interjected, "it's true."
"God, I've missed this." Chloe whispered, completely at ease.
"As have I, Chlo," Beca breathed. "Honestly Chlo, I just miss everything about you."
"I'm just the same Becs," Chloe echoed.
Beca's face lit up hearing that. Chloe felt the same. Chloe missed her. She had admitted it last night, but Beca wasn't sure if that was just the vodka talking. But she was sober now, and she'd just said she missed her. Suddenly, Beca felt a new hope; she stood a chance at getting her girl back.
"So Miss Beale," Beca mused, "How are we going to fix that?"
"I don't know Beca."
"Well coffee this afternoon seems like a good place to start."
"What is it with you and coffee?"
"Coffee always helps Chlo."
"Is that your motto or something?"
"Might be, especially since I can't endorse any activities considered 'adult' - it's in my contract for the label."
"So what… 'Coffee's good until Beca can get her hands on booze' or at least, it is outside of working hours?"
"You said it, not me."
"Your answer to everything is coffee."
"The coffee always works, it did last night anyway."
"Can't believe you still know how I like my coffee."
"Of course I know how you like your coffee - you forget I made you it every morning for the better part of five years."
"It was a very good cup of coffee, Becs."
"Well, what can I say? My coffee making talents are equal to my music production skills, and the Grammy's on the wall in my house say my skills are pretty good."
"Way to boost your own ego there Mitchell. Can't wait to see you at the coffee Grammy's."
"I'd need to get nominated first, and to do that, someone has to actually taste the coffee. I think you should do that."
"I think so too."
"Cool. Then I'll pick you up in an hour or so. You still at Aubrey's?"
"Yeah – you really think I was heading out looking like I did?"
"Not when you were too busy singing Cool For The Summer."
"Maybe you could get an encore."
"I'd much rather you sing Titanium Chlo."
"Not before the third date, Miss Mitchell! What kind of girl do you take me to be?"
"Wouldn't I like to know," Beca teased, pausing for dramatic effect.
"Well, I daresay you'll find out pretty soon."
"I should very much hope so," Beca said, grinning.
"See you later Beca."
"Bye Chlo."
Both girls hung up, feeling truly content for the first time in months. They both whispered "I love you" into their phones, despite knowing the other one wouldn't hear them.
Beca turned to the mirror that hung on the wall and fist-pumped the air so hard Judd Nelson would be proud. Looking at the demo on her computer, she grinned as she saved it and slipped the laptop into her bag. Maybe she'd show Chloe it later. Switching the light off in the studio, she quietly shut the door and skipped down the desolate corridor in excitement.
Chloe stared at her phone for a few minutes after the call, trying to decide whether or not this was actually real. Looking into the mirror, she saw the way her eyes shone and how her mouth was beaming. She hadn't looked that happy – no, alive – in months. Getting up off of the bed, Chloe pulled off her top and threw it on the floor. She needed to change, and maybe do her makeup.
Both of the girls watched their phones closely as they got ready. Both couldn't stop grinning at the thought of seeing the other. Yeah, this was a bit weird, given everything that had happened, but surely it was a bridge for them, a way to figure things out.
Beca pulled up outside Aubrey's and checked her reflection in the mirror. This was her second chance. This was her shot at proving she was in this for the long run to the girl she loved the most. This was something she was not going to mess up. Running her hands through her hair like she always did when she was nervous, Beca told herself to breathe slowly, in, and then out.
Chloe climbed into the car, and Beca grinned at her. Chloe grinned back, and they both relaxed in their seats.
The song on the radio changed to play 'Cool For The Summer.' Chloe laughed hysterically while Beca rolled her eyes. Glancing at Chloe, she felt the eye roll turn into a smirk pretty fast.
"Are you going to sing Becs?"
"Am I hell."
"I bet that I can make you sing."
"Then prepare to lose because I know full well you're a bad gambler."
Chloe giggled at that and they fell into a comfortable silence for the rest of the journey.
As Beca turned the corner into the parking lot, she stole a quick glance at Chloe, who looked amazing. Sure, Chloe always looked amazing, but right now, she looked like the happiest woman on the planet. But Beca knew Chloe couldn't be, because she herself was the happiest girl in the world. Chloe's eyes sparkled, her smile shone; she was practically glowing. She was in the car with a completely different girl to the one she drove home last night.
This girl was more like the girl she knew. This was the girl she loved. This was how things were meant to be: they were meant to be together.
With this in mind, Beca stopped the car and looked at Chloe.
Surely, they had a long way to go, but Beca was certain of one thing: they were going to be okay.
AN/ THANKS FOR READING! PLEASE REVIEW!
AND, TO ALL OF MY LOVELY BRITISH READERS OUT THERE, DON'T FREEZE, PLEASE STAY WARM!