Hey guys, inspiration has been hitting hard lately hence all the updates. Thought I'd do a chapter on Chloe's POV but don't worry CR and Beca's new talent in the next chapter. But as always drop me a review or PM me. I love hearing your thoughts on how to develop the story. That's all from me for now! Enjoy and see you guys for the next chapter!
Chapter 4
Chloe's POV
I lay in my bed feeling tired and vulnerable. Tom's hand was resting on my bare chest, as silent tears rolled down my face. I was lost in my own story, and I felt so alone. My parents loved Tom, he always was the kind, sweet man that I met in the bar, the one I wished was laying next to me. I wiped away the tears that had fallen and turned my back to him, causing his hand to fall from my stomach and he began to stir next to me. I could feel his hand tighten around my waist, making my entire body come up in chills. My hair was strewn to the side of my head a few strands falling across my face as I pushed them behind my ear.
I had always loved my hair, it was flame red like a firecracker. I had gotten bullied for it as a young kid, but by the time I was in High School and college, I was known for it. My entire family was redheads, my mum had met my dad at a party. I suppose that's why they liked him so much, it reminded them of their love story except theirs was still as true as when it was thirty-five years ago. They'd had me after my older brother Alex, he was three years older than me, and we used to be super close until I moved to go to College, and we'd just naturally distanced and now I was in California working and he was a doctor back in Florida so we hardly spoke but when we did see each other it was like I'd never left.
Alex was married to a girl, he'd met at work called Steph. She was really nice and we'd get on well. She was sweet and funny and made my brother happy and that was all I cared about. He'd had a lot of bad experience with girls in the past, most of them either cheating on him or not being interested him. To be honest, I'm not sure why, he was good-looking, he worked out, was good at his job, funny, smart, caring and it hurt me to see him be hurt by all these other girls that had no respect for him, there weren't many nice guys around anymore and she didn't get why girls never saw what she did. Steph had fallen pregnant two months ago, and the whole family was ecstatic, especially my parents. It would be their first grandchild and he/she would get the full on Beale experience. My entire family was fairly close and always got together on important holidays, and everyone was round. And I mean everyone. Uncles, Aunts, Grandparents, Cousins, Great Uncles and Aunts, Dad's stepfamily would sometimes popover in the afternoons normally but wouldn't stay for the whole day, but it was Beale tradition. Her mum had always loved a full house, she said it always made a home feel warm and comforting and I had to agree with her. I missed Florida sometimes but loved my job just as much otherwise I'd still be out there.
I looked over at the clock on my bedside table and saw the clock reading . I knew I wouldn't get back to sleep, no matter how hard I tried, so I moved really carefully from the sheets and removed Tom's hand placing on the bed beside him. I tiptoed over my dresser and got my running stuff and went to the bathroom to change.
After changing, I put my earphones in walked out towards the door stopping to look at the picture of me and Tom at Alex's wedding. We looked so happy. Well, we were. I managed to stop staring and went over to the door making sure not to make it slam as the lock clicked shut. I made my way down the stairs and stepped out into the crisp cold air. I started off with a quick walk then transitioned into a jog, I had always liked running it gave me the chance to think about things and that often meant anything work-related, my job was hard don't get me wrong but I loved it. I loved being able to take care of organising events and meetings between people, meeting lots of new people and also experiencing new things, I'd never worked in the music industry side of things before, I'd done actors and actresses the odd comedian, and some CEOs of a few smaller companies in LA but never music and I was excited to learn. One thing I'd learned over the years is that every industry works in a completely different way, different processes and different methods of completing things and of course new knowledge and information gets passed with each job.
After around 40 minutes of running, I stopped at my favorite smoothie place, called Amy's. It was open really early for people like me who like to workout and it shut relatively late as well so I usually ended up here. I walked through the door and heard the 'ding' of the door signaling my entrance. A blonde girl came out from the back and leaned across the counter flashing a wide smile.
"How's my favorite ginger," she said in an Australian accent, she was from Tasmania and in her words, 'the best dingo and crocodile wrestler there'. She always managed to bring a smile to my face with her exaggerated stories from when she was younger and all the crazy adventures she had been on. One thing I liked about the girl is that she called herself 'Fat Amy' she truly accepted her for her and didn't care what anybody said.
"Hey Ames, how have you been?" I asked sitting on one of the bar stools.
"Yeah I've been good, how's Tom doing?" Amy asked casually while preparing some fruit for my smoothie that I'd ordered for the last year and a half. I'd found the place when I'd been running late at night, it was only the red neon sign that caused me to see it, it was blindingly bright but luckily it only came on in the depths of the night when hardly anyone was around, why I don't know but she decided to keep it on.
"He's okay, " I replied with a convincing smile.
"You'll have to bring him in soon,"
"Yeah, "I said finding my fingers all of a sudden very interesting.
Silence filled over the smoothie bar and the only noise being the chopping of Fat Amy's knife cutting through the fruit on the chopping board and the whizzing of the blender. I had ordered the same drink every time I'd been here, which was most days. It was banana, mango, raspberry, acai, kale and whey protein. I had always tried to remain healthy, it made me feel good and Tom had always made a point of me keeping in good shape.
After talking to Amy for the next half hour I decided it was time to leave as I saw the sun creeping out from the hills, lighting up parts of the sky.
"See you soon, Ames," I said over my shoulder as I walked outside and made my way back, hopefully getting back before six so I could get ready. It was Monday morning and my first day at BM Atlantic started today and I didn't want to be late. As I walked through the streets back to my apartment music filled my ears and I couldn't help but relate to the lyrics being played by Shawn Mendes.
Shawn Mendes - Mercy
You've got a hold of me
Don't even know your power
I stand a hundred feet
But I fall when I'm around you
Show me an open door
Then you go and slam it on me
I can't take any more
I'm saying, baby,
Please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart
I'd drive through the night
Just to be near you, baby
Heart open, testify
Tell me that I'm not crazy
I'm not asking for a lot
Just that you're honest with me
My pride is all I got
I'm saying, baby,
Please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy on me
I'm a puppet on your string
And even though you got good intentions
I need you to set me free
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart
Shawn's words pulling on my heart and before I knew it tears and silently fallen down my checks for the second time today and it wasn't even six in the morning yet. Pull yourself together Beale. You are stronger than this. You've got this.
My self-pep talk seemed to have worked as my tears had dried and I was determined to make it through today. Today was a good day, and today would not fail. Today I will be happy.
After walking for another 20 minutes of walking I was in front of my building and I headed upstairs. When I returned back, I was happy that Tom was still asleep which would give me time to wash and dress before I would have to head off to work. After washing and picking an outfit, I was smoothing out the creases of my black formal dress, it hugged my curves in the right places and was short enough to be considered business worthy. Presentation was important to me, I always thought it could tell you a lot about a person. I had decided to straighten my hair and then leave it to fall just below my shoulders. I did my makeup which consisted of black mascara and a bold red lip. I never really applied too much makeup, I always tried to keep it natural, except Tom always insisted on me wearing it especially to cover up my scar that was above my right eyebrow, but how I got it was a story for another time.
It was around 7.30 when I did the last check of everything I needed: notepad, pens, phone, purse, and keys. She took one last look at her appearance as when she deemed herself as presentable she grabbed her bag and walked out the door.
Today would be a good day.