Chapter 5

If Chloe were to be asked to recount all the worst memories of her life she'd most definitely have only one name tumbling out of her lips before one could even blink.

Beca Mitchell.

Actually, that awful memory of her complete and utter humiliation with regards to her lack of sexual experience on that stupid class debate wasn't the only scar Beca has given her. Even though college paved way into a more peaceful university life for Chloe due to the different courses they were in, it was still hard to forget the Du Pont heir's verbal attack and cruel mind games that have certainly been the reason for all her nightmares back in her last two years in high school.

Why the last two years you might ask? Why didn't Beca decide to target her hatred towards Chloe before that?

Well, that's because the last time she saw Beca was back when they were on 6th grade, also known as the age of self-awareness and mood swings—and lots of anxiety. If asked, Chloe would say that she does not remember much that time due to the fact that she chooses not to remember or dwell too much on it so she completely shuts her mind when it comes to those specific memories. What she does allow herself to remember is halfway through that very school year, the young Du Pont had disappeared without as much as a concrete explanation. The general knowledge is that Beca had went back to France due to family matters and was said to never to return again.

Not until finally when Chloe had reached junior year in high school.

She remembers that day clearly. It was a cloudy night, the stars were nowhere to be found since a storm was brewing up ahead and strong winds had started blowing through the accumulating gray clouds. It had been a week since school has officially started and the cold drizzle happening in the night was making Chloe want to crawl back sleepily underneath her thick bed sheets. That was until, out of the blue Chloe's senses are quickly assaulted with a DNA scent so familiar to her that it makes her gasp and drop her notebooks. When she clumsily tries to recover from it, hastily picking up her stuff from the floor, then comes Beca Mitchell sauntering through the double doors of Constantine Albert behind her cousins. Everyone had instantly gaped at the newcomer as if they were pulled in by some strong force.

How could they not?

She, with her head held high along with that confident stride and dark Parisian fashion, well-toned abs courtesy of that crop top peeking through that black leather jacket, was a startling contrast to the awkward and shy girl she had been, the girl whom most people wouldn't even give a second of their time to notice unless they find out about her family.

Beca's arrival was honestly, at least in Chloe's point of view, is just like those scenes where the main love interest walks in slow motion, looking fine as hell, headphones hanging around her neck, the wind gently blowing her hair while a fresh and sexy Robyn Dell'Unto upbeat track suddenly plays in the background.

It had stunned Chloe so much that she literally stood rooted to her spot, unmoving, eyes glued at Beca who just passes her by without as much as a glance her way. The light fresh scent of her perfume trailing behind her—it could also probably be her hair conditioner or body wash but whatever it is doesn't really matter because she smells so good.

So damn good.

Beca had changed drastically that Chloe had almost believed that the girl in front of her must certainly be her secret twin sister. Her damp hair—thank god for the rain—was let down and parted to the side in a messy but beautifully styled way and not the thick dark brown mop—as Beca herself had described—that also serves like a veil to hide most of her face back then. Her face has now more contoured into more defined features without a trace of even a single blemish on it. Her stance, proud and confident unlike the old Beca who would always look down on her shoes, body slouching as she gets flustered and extremely self-conscious. So, it wasn't a surprise when Beca Mitchell had instantly sprung up—well, she literally came in bringing a storm—on the 'hottest females of Constantine Albert' list that very day. A list that includes Chloe on it by the way, not that she felt threatened by it.

As a matter of fact, she actually agrees.

That was the first time she saw Beca in five years.

And never did she thought that her life was just about to flip and shake to its core.

Now, the first of these 'attacks' officially started happening during that damn school project. It was exactly two weeks after the school's annual grand race relay, the one where Chloe's team had won over Beca's. The brunette who has by now earned notoriety for being the school's black sheep as she literally redefined the term 'hot badass chick' has certainly garnered fame amongst the whole student body. Rumours have circulated that Beca took part in illegal racing, entered clubs that minors like her aren't allowed in, got herself into gang fights and hung out with people outside school whom anyone would find really shady. Basically, everything that screams wrong, dangerous, cool and oh, so hot.

Nevertheless the Vanderbilt wasn't really one to believe in baseless rumours. So, when fate decided to kick Chloe in the head she finally realizes that she'd been gullible to believe that Beca was just some misunderstood teen.

She wasn't.

She had been paired with none other than Constantine Albert's 'black sheep'—a complete shocker to everyone actually since never has a Vanderbilt been paired to a Du Pont in a long time because last time ended in a hospital and a lawsuit—and boy was it a twisted and cruel ride. Nevertheless, they got high marks, the highest one in terms of content and presentation, yes, but it left Chloe feeling like she had partook in a war that lasted for 20 years.

Beca hadn't made it any easier for her at all. Aside for always being late to their project meetings, no matter how Chloe had been trying to cooperate for the sake of peace, the brunette would always find ways to oppose every single one of her ideas and just when Chloe was close to losing it suddenly agrees with the very first idea she has suggested. It doesn't even help that Du Pont would then proceed to drink illegally stashed alcohol and doodle the very realistic chest area of the female anatomy on Chloe's notebook while the redhead scowls in a corner trying to explain the importance of deadlines and passing the subject. Then there goes the strong 'accidental' shoulder bumps that is followed by a highly sarcastic, "Oops. Didn't see you there" when the hallways were wide and have barely any other students that time. In addition to that, there are those irritating instances when Chloe, who admittedly is a bit of a klutz sometimes, has her notebooks or pens slipping from her hands. She reaches for it instinctively only to have Beca beat her to it, holding the object in front of her. She would've been so grateful if only Beca wouldn't drop it right back in the ground when she is inches away from reaching to get it—just like that golden trophy on that damn grand relay race, the one now sitting on her study table. The Du Pont whose face is devoid of any emotion would then proceed to walk away like nothing happened as a fuming Chloe kneels back down the floor to pick it up.

And before anyone asks, Chloe has indeed tried to talk to Beca about what happened during that controversial grand race relay. Technically there was no foul play with what she did as kissing an opponent wasn't included in the list of 'don'ts'. She was even willing to apologize sincerely—even if she did no wrong—but then before she could even get that out of her chest, Beca would slam her down with insults that stings more painfully than a wasp, or those Tracker Jackers in the 'Hunger Games', could and crush her in every competition they'd both find themselves in.

But then those were just the small stuff.

Chloe had crushes just like any teenager and on her last year in high school the object of her affection happens to be Brett Dashner. Brett wasn't an elite but he was famous for his good looks, his tall height and his reputation as the school's star tennis player, which is also the main reason why Chloe got into said sport. But don't get her wrong, she did become genuinely fascinated in it along the way. It's just that the biggest credit for her new hobby goes to Brett for introducing her to the world of tennis. And despite the Vanderbilts' reputation of being a strictly pure bloodline who only chooses elites to well, mate and reproduce with, her unstoppable young heart wants what it wants.

So, here's the story, Brett happened to be invited in the same house party Chloe was invited to, much to her delight. She remembers walking in with her friends and thinking that maybe fate was really bringing them both together, that maybe it's time that this huge crush turn into something more. Which is why, Chloe had come prepared, dressed in a little cute peach dress with the perfect shoes to match, hair styled to impress, make-up light and fresh and a special smile meant to disarm the dashing athlete. Blessed by her friends' support and encouragement, Chloe finally drinks a bit of liquid courage, Smirnoff Malt Ice, of course,before approaching the guy.

It was amazing how the conversation between them came easy and comfortable. At some point, they were laughing and having a good time dancing. Certainly, the night was going to end in a romance that Chloe had been dreaming of.

Except that it never happened and Chloe went home in tears instead of stars.

Why?

Beca Mitchell. Again.

Chloe had excused herself for a minute to go to the powder room where she met up with her friends. She was a bundle of nerves as she breathes in deep, preparing to confess her feelings towards Brett. If the night goes well then Chloe would finally get herself a boyfriend, her first serious relationship, and so this was such a big deal to her. However, the minute she returns after a series of pep talks and some retouches, she doesn't immediately find Brett. Scanning the rooms amongst the crowd of teenagers dancing and chatting, Chloe finally finds him.

Only, she wished she hadn't.

Brett was by the pool, on one of the sofas and he wasn't alone. Straddled on his lap is Beca who takes a sip from a glass of blood before leaning down to meet his lips. Their kiss is heated, filled with lust and because her body seems to have lost its ability to function, frozen in slow motion, Chloe could only stare as her eyes start to feel a prickling sensation. The Du Pont then turns her head to the side, dark blues catching hers while Brett trails a series of kisses down the brunette's neck. There was no remorse on those deep blue orbs at all and Chloe felt like she had just been stabbed from behind with the way Beca smirks her way.

The worst part was?

Beca then untangles herself away from a confused Brett, who desperately calls to her, and walks away as if she'd already done her mission, breaking Chloe's heart. She wasn't even interested in him. She just wanted to hurt Chloe. That's how evil she was.

That's how much she hates her.

This is just one of main the reasons that Chloe takes into account as to why she would never trust a Du Pont for the rest of her life. It's the same when it comes to making compromises or any sort of deals with them. Chloe swears that she'd die first before she even thinks of making one with a Du Pont, especially Beca Mitchell.

Lies, Chloe.

"I'm here to make a deal with you," she confidently announces.

Although the second the words slip from her lips, a wave of fear and regret already hits her straight to the gut. She just hopes that it doesn't show on her face and give Beca the satisfaction of seeing her weak and vulnerable. She'd already decided that she's going to go through this black hole with her chin up—I mean what's the worst that could happen? In fact, the worst has already happened, as she bitterly recalls her demise in the Du Pont's hands through the years. Beca, who has already made her life hell, has already shown just how much hatred she has for her. She won't go farther than what she's already done to her, right?

Wrong. The depths of her hatred are still unchartered.

The silence is broken with a dry chuckle and Chloe's brows deeply furrow down the Du Pont who finally picks herself off the ground to level her stare. Her elbow resting on the tree's bark, hand against the side of her head and body leaning a bit to the side as she carefully studies Chloe. The sudden close proximity makes Chloe take a small step back, something in her chest doesn't feel right and she can't exactly pinpoint what it was. Only that Beca's deep blue irises slowly turn into different shades lighter, a mixture of blues blending exquisitely when you look at them closely.

"You really love that guy, huh?" Beca finally says, a brow perfectly arching up at the words. "Sweet, noble, brave and so, so dumb," she drags the last few words as she squints her eyes a bit and shakes her head like she's looking at something that smells of disappointment even from afar. Suddenly Chloe feels like she's just about to punch someone on the face. The one in front of her to be exact.

But would you really want to do so?

"Excuse me?"

"God, I wish I could capture this moment forever and play it on repeat," Beca groans mockingly while Chloe closes her eyes and slowly counts up to ten before opening her eyes once more to that devilish smirk.

"I'm being serious," she almost growls and Beca hums as a response, looking up as if contemplating the situation. She straightens up after a few moments, the playfulness of her features disappearing.

"Of course you are," the Du Pont sighs and it just pisses off Chloe even more.

"Look, let's just get this over with. I'm here to make a deal. You're going to hear it out and eventually agree to it, everybody gets what they want and that's it! You can go back to your own dark miserable world and me on my own,"

Beca hums yet again before taking in a deep breath, "Alright, Vanderbilt. Let's hear this… deal of yours then," there's scepticism in those eyes and Chloe is determined to make that disappear.

"You'll take down that video of Tom and help me fix that mess your cousins made…" Chloe carefully says before trailing off, her eyes becoming distant as she readies herself for the inevitable. Every fibre of her body wanting to turn away but then desperate people have the inability to decipher the line between right and wrong. Chloe is desperate and she's certainly going to regret this later.

But then isn't that's all you have? Regrets.

"And what could I possibly benefit from this?" Beca asks in a bored tone, head tilting to one side and arms crossed in front of her as she slowly drums her ring-clad fingers against her arm. A habit Chloe recognizes Beca has whenever she is impatient or anxious. Of which it was, she wasn't sure.

Chloe swallows hard as she returns her focus on those magnetizing blue orbs, "I'll… do anything you want. Anything. I shall be of service to you whenever and wherever you please until Tom finally gets released from all those rumours," she says slowly in a defeated tone.

She's sure Beca would consider this. Heck, the brunette would love this. This would be the ultimate revenge for what Chloe did in the past.

The question is, which one of those two is it?

For anyone who doesn't understand this concept of lowering oneself like this. All anyone needs to know is that it's the ultimate humiliation an elite, especially a Vanderbilt can get. It's like a great and noble king heading down the countryside to clean up the pig pen, like the president of a country coming over to your house to scrub your dirty bathroom clean or in a much more simpler analogy for the common folk, leaving the comfort of your home to go live in the South Pole and swear fealty to the penguins.

Chloe's most definitely the only Vanderbilt in the history of their bloodline to have done something like this. Her ancestors would've probably plunged a dagger to their heart or choose beheading over this, this slavery and to a Du Pont at that! But Chloe is desperate and desperation causes insanity which leads to miserable doom.

She expects another sarcastic laugh or some mocking comment about her dumb decision but the only thing she gets is silence. Beca's slowly straightens her head and for a quick moment there, Chloe thought she could see those eyes soften. But she wasn't thinking straight so it could all be in her head.

"Let me clarify this," Beca starts, her stance now more domineering than ever. "That video disappears, I help clear all the rumours and issues until sweet, sweet Thomas Vanderbilt's reputation is squeaky clean as it once was. In exchange for my heroic actions you," the brunette pauses to slowly walk around her with careful steps, hands behind her like an observing supervisor, stopping once she is standing from behind before leaning in close to her ear to whisper, "Chloe Beale, shall be mine,"

Chloe almost shudders at the warm breath gently hitting the skin of her neck and the dark tone used. The weight of the deal suddenly dropping on her like a ton of bricks. She blinks, trying to focus, to be strong, to hide her fear of the path unknown. There are a lot of horrible scenarios being painted in her head but this was the only way. There's nowhere else to go.

"Yes," she says, it comes out soft and shaky but nevertheless, she was sure. Chloe doesn't just make decisions half-heartedly. Not when it comes to family and love.

Tom is both.

Beca continues to circle around her like a predator to a prey, finally stopping back to the spot she first stood. "I'm not entirely cruel as you people think. I understand that you wouldn't want this to become public, right? Besides, a Vanderbilt being a slave to a Du Pont is going to cause unnecessary war and that's not really going to help with what you really want to achieve out of this deal," Chloe nods, internally sighing in relief at Beca's words.

"I'll never get to have my peaceful world back either," Beca muses, more to herself than to Chloe as she looks to the side, eyes getting lost in the sea of trees.

"It's going to be a secret. Tom doesn't know. He must never know," Chloe voices out and this time it's Beca who nods.

"Fine, that can be arranged. How do you suppose we seal this deal?" the Du Pont asks in a challenging tone and it's already something Chloe has given thought of so she answers without hesitation.

"By blood,"

A blood contract. It's the ultimate pact, one that is unbreakable and unescapable. Every vampire knows how heavy of a deal this is. Most of those who enter such contracts by blood are the elders. Usually this kind of contract involves issues that are bigger and heavier with regards to the entire vampire race or agreements between bloodlines. But Chloe needs Beca to know just how serious she was with this. She needs the Du Pont to stop treating her like an innocent child or look at her like she's stupid and incapable of holding up her end of the deal. Chloe has always been genuine and sincere but sometimes it is mistaken for trying to please people or getting people to like her.

She has never been fake.

She knows Beca thinks otherwise.

You know it's your fault why, Chloe.

"I don't have a knife with me but I can get—" Chloe doesn't finish as Beca reaches down to her boot to take a small dagger hidden within it.

Sensing her questioning look, the brunette only shrugs and answers monotonously, "You never know,"

Chloe doesn't even want to know the implication of those words.

Beca then looks at her, free hand facing up towards her as if asking for something while the other clutches on to the dagger. Chloe's heart hammers in her chest and she unconsciously rubs on her palms nervously before slowly offering it towards the waiting Du Pont.

"Well, isn't this familiar," Beca comments wryly as she takes Chloe's hand, facing her palm upwards while the Vanderbilt watches carefully, chest tightening at the memory. The Du Pont's eyes look back up to hers like a silent question of confirmation. The Vanderbilt spirit in her, eyes Beca back with the answer she doesn't hesitate to give.

Beca's hand is soft, there is a tenderness with the way she holds Chloe's yet also a feeling of assertiveness, another trait a worthy leader should have. And even if her palms were cold in contrast to her warm ones, it didn't bring any sense of danger. Or maybe these very hands brought about a memory like something that reminded Chloe of a time when she felt safe and… happy.

"Now we'll never be truly apart, Chloe. Forever connected to each other,"

"Always and until the end,"

Chloe's clouded thoughts are abruptly cut short by a sharp stinging pain as her eyes quickly look down at the blade slicing her skin and drawing out dark red blood pooling in her palm. She sharply gasps at the action, frowning at not being given a fair warning first. But she keeps it to herself instead as she watches Beca release her to do the same to her own. The Du Pont doesn't even flinch nor does Chloe see any trace of pain in those empty eyes.

"Ready?" Beca asks as if giving her just one more chance to back out.

Chloe looks down at her bleeding palm for a moment. After this, the deal will be sealed. She will be bound to Beca for some period of time, a servant to a Du Pont master. The lowest and most humiliating experience any elite could ever get. The thought almost makes her want to turn back and forget this ever happened. But Chloe had been taught that love doesn't come without sacrifices and Chloe loves with all her being until there's nothing left to give.

Liar, its guilt that drives you. A voice speaks inside her and it continues to taunt her. You are desperate, desperate to alleviate that guilt you carried for years, Chloe. She closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath, willing those thoughts to disappear, to shut those taunting voices inside her.

You are pathetic.

Her eyes open, bright sky blues connecting with deep ocean blues and this time there is not even a trace of hesitation in them. She doesn't waver when she looks back up at Beca's steady gaze. She doesn't look away as she takes out her favourite handkerchief at the pocket of her sweater and stretches out her palm for the Du Pont to take. Wounded palms touch silently and soon blood from two different elite bloodlines meet, dripping down the white cloth as one.

She's made her choice.


She's down with a fever.

"Seriously, what were you thinking going out in the sun and soaking up all that nasty vitamin D?" Aubrey reprimands her while she groans incoherently against her pillow. She feels an ice cold damp cloth being gently dabbed on her neck and she sighs in relief.

"I've already called uncle and aunty to tell them that you're fever's gone down. Although I think they didn't entirely buy the excuse that you took a nap at the bench near the garden and forgot the time—I mean I would never buy that," Aubrey sighs as she pulls the blanket up her chest.

"Thanks, Bree, and sorry for making you lie. I know you hate it," she mumbles, curling up on one side and hoping that her cousin stops asking why she got home late or where she went during sunrise.

"You owe me a five course meal, Chlo," Aubrey says while slowly brushing Chloe's hair to the side. Even Aubrey's fingertips are cold against her burning skin, a reminder that a vampire must never walk out in the morning sun for more than ten minutes. Chloe offers a weak smile and just when she thought she can finally rest, Aubrey's question makes her heart almost stop beating.

"Where'd you get this?" her cousin inquires with a worried tone as she feels a hand inspecting what is now a faint scar in her right palm. Normally one wouldn't easily notice but family is different, especially if said family happens to have vampire senses and can easily spot a freshly acquired wound. By instinct, Chloe withdraws her hand from Aubrey's, closing her palms into a ball and tucking it underneath the thick blanket.

"Well, you know me, careless and clumsy. Besides, I was a little distracted… with Tom and all that's happening," she says softly, thanking the heavens that she can use her fever as an excuse to drowsily close her eyes as she lies in front of Aubrey. Lies she seems to be full of these days. The funny thing is, Chloe's eyes were always known to be expressive which meant she wasn't really good in hiding things. One look into them and she knows that Aubrey could already spot the lie.

The blonde doesn't push it though and Chloe is immensely grateful for it. She just hopes that Aubrey won't take it the wrong way and think that she has resorted to cutting herself to forget her problems. That just wasn't her. She'd never do such thing! Also, she wouldn't want to be sitting in front of some therapist, sputtering angst and deep seated childhood issues just so she could hide the truth.

With those thoughts weighing heavily inside her head, she finally gives way to sleep.

Chloe dreams of being swallowed by the Winter Forest, drowning in the darkness and crying for help until someone reaches for her in time, gripping her firm yet tenderly by the wrist. She looks up to find gentle deep ocean blue eyes and a comforting curtain of brown tresses falling against her cheeks. She feels herself being pulled up, weightless and a wave of relief washes over her but it doesn't last long.

"You promised… you and me until the e— b-but why?" A child's small shaky voice asks softly, echoing all around pleadingly and as Chloe looks back up again she finds tears spilling in those gentle eyes, hurt and pain evident in them. She tries to say something, trying to reach out and wipe those tears but Chloe feels her slipping out of the girl's grasp as fingertips desperately cling around her own, trying to hold on.

But still, Chloe falls into the darkness.

The alarm breaks in like a car crashing onto the window and Chloe is jerked awake by it, chest heaving, heart beating loudly and beads of sweat dripping down the side of her neck. It takes her a few moments to realize that she was in her bed, the sun had already long set beyond the horizon as indicated by the time. Time which was screeching back at her and somewhere around the Vanderbilt manor someone—probably Arthur—is groaning complaints at the noise.

Frowning, since she doesn't remember setting an alarm before passing out—must be Aubrey—she reaches out to tap the alarm away and silence reigns in the house once more signalling the start of her night. Although, this night didn't start quite right, Chloe picks herself up sluggishly towards the bathroom to splash her face with cold water. The bite of the cold snaps the sleep and heaviness off of her as she stares at her reflection in the mirror and sighs. Her mind travels to the images that haunted her in her sleep and followed her even as she opens her eyes like shadows creeping up behind her.

But Chloe was good in suppressing things. So good. If that was a sport, she'd have awards by now. When she heads down to the kitchen, freshly showered, hair styled in the perfect beach waves and dressed for the day, all of those nightmares are gone as if they never came. By now, she's had already missed two classes and in spite of the very tempting urge to stay in bed for the rest of the night she knew she had one more class past midnight and being absent the whole day just didn't feel right. She'd take any distraction at the moment.

She was just about to head out when her phone rings. Fishing it out of her bag, her heart sinks and dread washes all over her as she reads the caller's name.

Evil Queen

It's a bad sign and Chloe knows it. Breathing in deep before swiping the answer button, she closes her eyes as she puts it close to her ear.

"What is it?" she asks.

"Is that annoyance I hear, slave?" Beca's voice comes in, a tone of mockery and sarcasm dripping down from those words. If this happened a week ago, Chloe would have fought back with another insult and ended the call even before anyone could say 'Goodbye' but that was a week ago. Tonight however, Chloe just swallows down all her anger and smiles the most painful smile she'd ever had to do before answering in the most cheerful voice she could muster.

"No, your highness. Hearing your voice is like the cherry to my ice-cream," she says as she grips on to anything solid, in this case the small center table in the foyer, in order to restrain herself from throwing away her phone at the wall. "What can I do for you tonight?" she asks, silently praying that whatever it was, wasn't going to be as hard as the morbid visions in her mind.

"Good," Beca comments, sounding distracted as if she was flipping the pages of a magazine in some salon. "I gave your number to somebody. They are going to ask for me and you're going to tell them that I'm… dead or whatever excuse you can come up with out there that will get them to fuck off,"

Chloe's frown deepens with each word, although she's also curious as to who this person is that Beca is trying to get away from so badly.

But before she could even get any more details Beca continues, "Also, don't get sick. A sick slave is a useless slave. Come to the house after class," and before Chloe could even breathe out a word the line goes dead.

As soon as she realizes that she'd just been hung up on, all that bottled up anger bubbling inside her explodes as she lets out a frustrated growl—which is very hard to evoke out of her, by the way.

"I am going to smother her in her sleep, feed her dog poop and drag her to the sunlight so she could burn—"

Her words are cut short as her phone starts to ring once more. Only this time it was an unknown number. She hesitates for a few seconds before deciding to just get it over with.

"Hello?" she answers.

"Hi, Beca?" a female voice answers back and Chloe wonders what this woman did that has the Du Pont making up a bunch of excuses just so she could get her to 'fuck off'.

Wracking her brain for any excuse because she certainly can't tell the woman that, Chloe settles with, "No, uhm Beca's not here. She is in… France! You know, family matters," she says, hoping the woman would just buy the lie and leave it at that.

But of course, things with regards to anything that involves a Du Pont doesn't always come easy.

"Is that what she told you to tell me?" the female asks, there's a hint of disbelief and hurt in there and Chloe is internally panicking at this point because only then does she make sense of the French speaking in the background and the accent the female clearly has. Which means she's been caught. She tries to say something, anything but she comes up with nothing.

The female on the other hand, has quite a lot to say, "Is this her way of breaking up with me? Are you her new girlfriend?" this time the female's tone goes deep and very deadly. "Okay, listen up, bitch, you give the phone to Beca right now or I will rip you to fucking pieces!" she screams along with a couple of French insults and Chloe has to actually put the phone far away from her in order to save her ears from bleeding.

This may have been a negative start of the day but she isn't Chloe Beale if she doesn't find anything positive out of it. She could actually vent her anger and frustrations to somebody, something she badly needs to do right now or she'll explode. Besides, she can't possibly tell any of her cousins her dilemma.

Thus, the misplaced venting begins.

"No, you listen to me, bitch. She doesn't want to talk to you ever again. She'd rather die than be anywhere near you and your whiny little ass. So, stop calling my girl or I'll make sure you and your family will vanish off the face of the universe! Oh and by the way, fuck off!"

She presses the end button with much force that it almost creates a crack on the screen, her chest heaving from so much emotion as she massages her temples. She had to admit, it kinda' felt good to throw away some of that negative energy piling in her chest. It's only then that she feels a presence behind her. She whirls around and finds Scott standing behind her with a dumbfounded look on his face.

"I think you should rest some more. You clearly still have sun fever," he says monotonously, which irritatingly reminds her of a certain Du Pont, as he passes her by and walks out the door before she can even explain herself.

Sighing, she follows him out but her phone is ringing again and Chloe's blood is starting to boil once more at the sight of the unknown caller flashing on her screen. "Oh, she better be apologizing or I swear, I'll hunt everybody she loves," she grumbles before answering.

"Hey babe," a guy's deep voice beats her to it, much to her absolute confusion. She checks the number twice and finally realizes that it's a different person this time. When she places the phone back to her ear, she catches some of the guy's words.

"Want to hang out on my place tonight? We could continue where we left off last time," he says suggestively and Chloe couldn't take any more of this cringe-fest so she finally replies. "I'm sorry, you have the wrong number,"

"Oh, I thought this is Beca's." and as he says this Chloe should have known that this wasn't entirely a coincidence. "Well, if you see her can you tell her that I can't wait to see her at the party on Friday. You can come along too, you sound beautiful. The three of us could maybe have some fun, if you know what I mean—"

"Nope, not happening. Bye," she hits the end button again and shakes her head in disgust. As it seems, Beca seriously has questionable taste in people whom she hooks up with.

However, Chloe has barely had time to recover from that last call when her phone goes off for the third time tonight. With her hands on her hips, she hangs her head down as she finally gets why Beca made her do something she initially thought was simple. Of course, it isn't. Apparently, Beca has given her number to throw her one night stands—those who can't understand the concept of a one-night stand—off.

"Hey sexy, remember me?" the next caller says and this time it's another female.

"Beca's dead," Chloe replies quickly before finally turning off her phone and throwing it down her bag. She pauses for a moment looking up ahead towards her original path before turning in her heels and walking off in the opposite direction instead. To hell with her class. It's not like she's going to be able to concentrate anyway.

If she can't have a peaceful evening then Beca shouldn't have one either. As a matter of fact, hating someone is like a double edged sword. As much as you'd want to see them suffer at the same time you wouldn't want to see them around all the time either.

Guess, she's just going to see just how much Beca can tolerate her presence or just how long until the Du Pont starts running off to the hills only to avoid her. If those phone calls are anything to go by, Beca gives a lot of importance to her personal space, her own peace and quiet.

And if there's one thing anyone should know about Chloe Beale, boundaries and personal space don't exist in her world.

Careful there, Chloe. This looks familiar.


A/N:

A little Bechloe history here. High school junior Chloe, keep it together please, you're sparkling rainbow heart eyes on Beca's abs is showing, sweetheart.

And so the fun begins. It's going to get even crazier from this point. Chloe may now be a slave to a Du Pont but that certainly isn't going to stop her from challenging Beca. Guess this also means our cute Vanderbilt is going to be hanging around the Du Pont manor a lot. There are more hidden secrets and unresolved issues here but they'll all unfold in time. Be patient. We'll get there eventually. But for now, may the best elite win or that the odds be ever in their favor.

Parziwolf : Uhh uhm well I have to admit... as you sent that comment of yours, I was just in the process of... recovering from the flu.

Yuzu-chi01 : YES to badass Beca. She may look chill and all but you have no idea yet just how badass this girl is. You'll see it soon.

Kasia143 : Hope you like this new cliffhanger for you to think about. *evil laughter in a distance*

Thanks for reading! Stay safe and healthy guys! Even these pretty vampires get sick. So, take care and drink lots of water- 'cause some of you are obvs sooo thirsty ;)