Chapter 3 – Changes

4 years, 2 months and 5 days ago

Chloe and Beca decided to get them pampered and ready for Beca's club's grand opening, because of course, they have to make an impression. Beca was getting manicure and pedicure, then will be getting her hair done in elegant waves while Chloe's gonna get some foot spa and her hair some trimming.

"Chloe, darling, have you ever thought to change your hair color?" Joan, Chloe's stylist and friend, asked as she runs her fingers through Chloe's hair as she looks at the redhead in the mirror. Hearing this question, Beca raises her head from reading a magazine and looked at Chloe.

"Oh, uhm…I haven't really thought much about it." Chloe answered back with shrug. She turned to her girlfriend. "What do you think, Becs?"

Beca just stared at her and tilted her head, observing her girlfriend and imagining on what could be a possible hair color. She pursed her lips on the side.

"Well, I think you can totally go well with blonde, but I love your red hair." Beca smiled. Chloe smiles back, then looks at Joan.

"I think I'm good with my hair color, Joan. Thanks." She said with a contented smile. Joan just nodded politely with a small smile as she walks away to get some hair-styling materials.

"Just so you know…" Chloe turns her head towards Beca, as the brunette started reading the magazine again with a grin on her face. "…I think whether you change your hair color or not…" Beca raises her head and looked at Chloe directly in her eyes.

"…you would still look gorgeous. You always do."

*rings rings*

Beca jogs through the hallway of her apartment as she was putting her other earring. Her phone have been ringing non-stop and she was very sure that it was Stacie. The party starts at 6:30pm, and it's nearly past 7:30. She picks up her phone from her bed and saw a bunch of missed calls from Stacie and Jesse. She sighs, then after a few seconds; her phone came ringing once again. She slides through the screen and puts it on her ear.

Before she can even say 'hello', an angry voice came from the other line.

"Rebecca Jane Mitchell, where the fuck are you?! You're an hour late already!"

Beca cringed and had to get her phone away from her ear to prevent it from having some hearing damage. She slowly puts it back.

"Okay, Stace. I know I'm late, but I'm really on my way there. I just woke up a bit late, that's all." She said calmly with her signature eye-roll.

"A bit?! You call an 'hour late' a bit? Get your ass over here, Mitchell. Bree and Jesse are looking for you. Even Luke's here, dammit. You have 30 minutes to get here or I will be the one to drag you all the way here myself."

"G-got it. Bye." Beca hangs up. She furrowed her eyebrows from the conversation she just had. Stacie really is serious when it comes to her organized parties, if you don't go; you might as well be dead…especially when she invited you. She walks one more time to her full body mirror and runs her hands through her dress to make it neat. She was wearing a peach sleeveless dress, where the neck line goes a bit low, and there are rose prints at the bottom part matched with her beige pumps. She leans in a bit to get a closer look on her make-up before deciding that she looked decent enough. She grabs her keys, phone and purse before taking her coat from the coat-hanger, and then going out and into her car.

She arrived in the Couture Los Angeles by 7:55pm, she took off her coat and a waiter took it from her. When she got in she saw that the place was packed, full of Aubrey and Jesse's friends and colleagues. Some were even from their high school friends. She saw a glimpse of Fat Amy, who was looking bold in her olive green, one-shoulder, knee length dress. Beca also saw a glimpse of Donald and Benji somewhere by the bar. She walks around a bit, looking for her friends.

When she wasn't that much successful, she went straight ahead to the bar and grabbed a drink before sending Stacie a text, letting her know that she has in fact arrived less than 30 minutes and there won't be a need for dragging her to hell. She was subtly drinking her cocktail drink when a sudden pair of hands covered her eyes.

"Shit!" she cursed as she almost spilled her drink.

"Lookin' good, are we?" says the voice behind her. Beca turns around with wide eyes and a smile as she saw her blonde friend smirking at her.

"Jesus, Luke! You scared the shit out of me!" she laughed as she reached for a hug. When they pulled back, they just smiled at each other. "How've you been? How's your recording studio doing? How's Laura?"

Over the past couple of years, Luke went to England and started a recording studio business with his father aside from being a psychologist in one institution, but Beca and Luke managed to stay updated and in touch with each other. Luke got married with Laura 2 years ago.

"I'm good, I'm good. The studio's doing pretty great actually, and I'm having more clients than I have expected. Laura's good, although she wasn't able to come because she's pregnant." Luke smirked.

"Oh my gosh! Congratulations! For how long?" Beca said excitedly.

"Uhm, 5 months now." Luke smiled.

"Dude! You're gonna be a dad! That's so awesome! I'm so happy for you." Beca gave him another quick hug. "So, when did you get here?"

"Just 2 days ago. I'm staying at the Holiday Inn, and I'll be staying for like a week then I'll fly back to England by then. But I'll be coming back here for sure with Laura on Jesse and Aubrey's wedding." He informed. "But enough about me, how are you?" his face suddenly turned a bit more serious.

Beca just shrugged. "I'm good."

Luke tilted his head a bit. "Don't bullshit me, Becky. I know you. It's been 9 months…how are you coping up? Have you heard from Chloe lately?"

"No, I haven't. Neither did Jesse, Aubrey, nor Stacie. But we are all hoping that she would somehow show up here, y'know…because she's Aubrey's best friend and it would really mean a lot to her if she shows up. Not to mention, she's also our friend. Some people here are actually Chloe's friend way back." Beca said, as she took her glass and took a sip.

"What if she shows up? What's your plan?"

"I am determined to get her back, Luke. I mean, without Chloe…life is kind of pointless." Beca glanced around to avoid the look on her friend's face. She took a sip from her glass once more when suddenly, she froze.

She blinked once. Twice…scratch that…make it thrice, when she saw a familiar figure on the entrance. Luke furrowed his eyebrows when he saw his friend stunned looking at something…or someone. He followed her line of eyesight when he saw a woman with blonde short hair in big waves, wearing a white slim dress together with a tall, buff guy in glasses. Luke glanced down to Beca, only to find her a bit paler.

"Becky, is that…?"

"No way…"