Nothing could bring her down today. Everyone she cares about is here, her grandpa is alive and well, and she is finally getting married.
Chloe looks into Chicago's eyes and squeezes his hands while her grandpa finishes her favourite Bible verse about love. She's not very religious, but after watching A Walk to Remember at too young an age, the verse had really clicked for her.
Her grandpa launches into a personal speech about love and Chloe and it's very sweet, fueling happy tears in her eyes that she works hard to fight. Chicago grins at her and mouths I love you.
Chloe almost feels good about her decision.
Finally, the time is almost here, they can just about say 'I do,' and Chloe's grandpa calls for objections.
Almost as a reflex, Chloe turns toward the crowd gathered behind her and finds a single empty seat beside a brunette with her head turned to the entrance instead of the front.
Where is Beca?
"Wait," Chloe says, and pulls away from Chicago. She walks back along the aisle to Stacie's row as quickly as she can in her dress.
Stacie looks like she'd rather be anywhere else as Chloe stops at the end of her row.
"Where is she?" Chloe demands, holding part of her modest train in one hand.
"I don't know."
The answer turns to bricks in Chloe's stomach. "No, she needs to be here!"
By now, Aubrey is at Chloe's side. "What's wrong, Chloe?"
"She's not here!" Chloe whispers harshly, trying not to draw more attention to the situation. She doesn't even look to the front to check on Chicago. Her breathing increases to shallow panting.
"Okay," Aubrey says, her take-charge voice coming out automatically. "I'll go to Chicago, Stacie go get her, and Chloe-"
"No," Stacie says, standing up to meet Aubrey's gaze. "I'm not going to bring her back here, Bree." She shifts into a whisper, "It was hard enough getting her here in the first place. She had to go, okay, you and I both know it. Chloe needs to do this without her."
Aubrey stares back, "She can't."
"Too bad. I am not going to find her and drag her back here. Even if I knew where she went, I wouldn't do it. So you guys need to get on with it because Chloe's fiancé is looking lost and people are starting to talk."
"Okay, Chloe," Aubrey says turning from Stacie. "Let's get you back up there. You don't need her here to marry Chicago-"
"Yes, I do!"
"Guys-" Stacie tries to warn as Chicago approaches.
"Hey, Red, what's wrong?" Chicago asks, placing himself in her direct line of sight.
Aubrey steps in. "Sorry Chicago, we just need a couple of minutes." She grabs Chloe's arm and looks menacingly at Stacie as she guides Chloe back through the entrance. "We'll be right back!" she calls over her shoulder.
She practically pushes Chloe into the bride's dressing area.
"Chloe, are you sure you still want to do this? You don't have to, I can-"
"Yes, Aubrey," Chloe interrupts. "I just. I need her here for this. She's always been in this. I compromised on so much for this wedding, because that's what you do in a relationship, but I never compromised on her being here. She's always been in the plan — she has to be here."
"She couldn't stay, Chloe, okay, so either get back out there and marry the love of your life, or stop the wedding," Stacie lays it out for her, no bullshit.
"Stacie!" Aubrey hisses as Chloe starts to cry.
"I'm not going to apologize, Bree, and I'm not going to explain myself because I swore to Beca I wouldn't." Stacie crosses her arms. "They're both my friends, Bree, but I'm the only one still in Beca's corner."
"Damn it, Stacie, this isn't about the hobbit! Can't she just suck it up for literally five more minutes?" Aubrey spits angrily.
Stacie rises to meet her tone, "No! Clearly we just tried that and it didn't work!"
"Guys, stop," Chloe says as she dabs tears away from her eyes. She could see Aubrey winding up to go full-on control freak. She turns to Stacie. "So there's something Beca has to tell me? Something so horrible she'd rather leave on my wedding day than be here?"
Visibly, Stacie deflates. "It's not like that, Chloe. But I did promise Beca I wouldn't say anything."
Chloe nods. "Okay," she says easily and both Aubrey and Stacie look at her in concern. "Aubrey go stall for me, please. Stacie, you've got a car right?" She continues right past her rhetorical question, "We'll go find Beca."
When no one moves, Chloe claps, "Let's go!"
"Chloe, you can't leave in the middle of your own wedding," Aubrey says.
"Yes, I can," Chloe counters. "And I am. So either help me or get out of the way, Bree."
Aubrey dashes off back to the crowd. Chloe gathers up her train again and struts off to the parking lot.
It takes a few seconds before Stacie darts after her, trying not to hope that maybe this time, Beca won't be left behind.