Chapter 4 – Awkward

A few minutes earlier…

"Hey Stace, have you seen Beca yet?" Jesse asked as he saw his tall friend walking among the crowd.

"I just gave her a call. She's on her way here now." Stacie smiled. "Where's Bree?"

"Oh. She's…" Jesse turns his head and found his fiancé talking to some of her work mates. "…she's over there, talking to her colleagues."

Stacie just nodded. Then they were kind of just standing there for a few minutes, looking around.

"I'm still worried about her." Jesse murmured that Stacie didn't easily miss. She looks at him, and saw him looking at Aubrey with a bit of sadness in his eyes. She looks at the blonde, and can't help but see that bit of sadness in her eyes, even when she's laughing with her colleagues.

"Yeah…me too. And Beca also." Stacie said.

Jesse nodded silently. "I really don't get Chloe…why would she leave just like that? After 7 years of relationship, and we all know that they were doing pretty great…and she just leaves a piece of paper like everything was just a one-night stand." He ranted with the frustration in his voice that can be heard clearly. "She didn't even say a thing to us…especially Aubrey. Chloe's not that type of person. If it would've been Beca, I would understand because that's what she does sometimes…but Chloe?"

"I know, Jess. What do you think happened between them?"

"Well, the only thing I heard from Beca was when she got home pretty late after Chloe's birthday…Chloe's gone, and the note's the only thing left."

"You don't think Chloe left because Beca forgot about her birthday?" Stacie asked in realization. Jesse thought for a moment, he grabbed a glass from a waiter passing by and took a sip. He sighed and shook his head.

"That's pretty low. And Beca never forgets our birthdays…especially Chloe's." he stated. They stood there once again, in silence. Both of them thinking deeply on what could've happen between the couple they have witnessed through the years.

"Anyway, I'm gonna go talk to Benji and Donald. I'll see you later. Let me know if Beca has arrived." Jesse said with a light pat on her back and then turns to walk towards his high school friends.

Stacie looked at Jesse as he walked away, feeling sorry for her friend. She then looks at Aubrey, who was now alone in one of the tall tables and was drinking her cocktail drink silently. She walked over to the blonde.

"Hey."

Aubrey turns to her. "Hey, Stace."

"So, what do you think about your party?" the brunette asked.

"It's great, Stace. Thank you. Jesse and I owe you a bunch." The blonde replied with a wide smile.

"Please…it's the least I can do. I gotta give it to one of my favorite couples." Stacie winked as she nudged her blonde friend. Aubrey smiled, and then looked down at her drink as her smile slowly fades from her face. Stacie noticed this and puts her hand on the blonde's shoulder. "Hey, you okay?"

Aubrey looks up at Stacie with glossy eyes and a sad smile. "I…I invited her."

Stacie raised her eyebrow. "Who's 'her'?"

"I invited Chloe." Aubrey said, and Stacie widened her eyes a bit. "I-I took the chance to invite her through email and Facebook. I told her that I missed her and it would really mean a lot to me if she would show up."

"D-did she give you a reply?"

Aubrey looked down, and wiped a tear that has managed to escape. "No." she said, her voice laced with hurt and bitterness. "Up until now, I am still hoping…since we were best friends, she would show up."

"I hope so too, Bree. But, you can't blame me if I told you that I'm a bit pissed at her. Leaving Beca after everything they have been through, and then not even talking to us for a solid 10 months, it's something a friend wouldn't do." Stacie said as she rubs her friend's back comfortingly.

Aubrey nodded. "I understand."

"Now, I don't want the guests see the future bride crying or sad." Stacie said as she took Aubrey's face in her hands and wipes her cheeks with her thumbs. "You wanna go outside for some fresh air?"

Aubrey smiled gratefully and nodded. "Yes please."

They didn't notice that they have been talking outside for 45 minutes. Stacie took her phone from her purse and saw a message from Beca, indicating that she has arrived earlier than 30 minutes ago.

"Beca's here. Let's go inside." Stacie smiled as she informed her blonde friend. The blonde nodded silently and together, they went inside. Once they were inside, they looked around and noticed that the crowd got a bit more silent. Only the light music can be heard and the soft murmurs among the people around. Stacie spotted Beca at the bar, together with Luke and they were both looking at the entrance.

"What's going on?" Aubrey asked through a mutter. Stacie shrugged her shoulders, as she slowly glances towards the entrance.

"I don't –" but she cuts herself off when she saw them. "Oh my god." Was all she could say.

"What…? Stacie – " Aubrey turns her head in time to see a familiar face among the crowd, walking from the entrance. "Chloe…?" she whispered.

Dressed in an elegant white, slim dress and white heels; blonde shoulder-level hair in big curls, was Chloe Beale, with a tall scruffy-looking guy in glasses.

"Chloe?" Aubrey questioned a bit more loudly that draw the crowd's attention to her. She took a step forward.

"Bree!" the sweet high-pitched voice came from the now blonde, Chloe. They jogged and hugged each other tightly when they met halfway.

"Oh my gosh, congratulations!" Chloe says on her best friend's shoulder. They pulled back, and saw that they were both in tears.

"Y-you came!" Aubrey said, laughing while tears were falling from her eyes.

The two blondes were continuing their chat while Stacie stood in the back. She stared at Chloe, and it kind of baffled her how the used-to-be-redhead has changed so much. She glances towards Beca and Luke, and found them shocked as well.

Beca took a step backwards when she was witnessing her ex-girlfriend and Aubrey talking. Luke looks at her worriedly.

"Becky…?" he said.

Beca was blinking faster, trying to keep the tears in her eyes from falling. Her breathing became fast and shallow, and she continues to walk backwards. Until she bumped into someone, she turned around and saw Jesse looking at her.

"Bec – " Jesse said but was cut off as the petite brunette avoided his eyes and walked away. He looked at Luke who was wearing a worried expression on his face as he saw Beca walking away. Luke, glanced back to Aubrey and Chloe still talking, then he caught Stacie's look. Stacie has her lips pursed then nodded to where Beca had left, telling Luke and Jesse to go after her. Luke nodded and then turned to follow the other the brunette with Jesse.

Luke opened the door outside and found Beca standing, hugging her arms with her back on them, quiet.

"Becs…are you okay?" Jesse said as he approached the small brunette and put a hand on her shoulder.

"I-I can't do it." Was all the two gentlemen heard before she turned around and looked at them, scared looking eyes and a trembling mouth was on her face. "I can't look at her face without feeling everything I have felt when she left me."

Jesse wasn't able to answer. He looked at Luke, and the British guy just stared back at him, also doesn't know what to say. Both of them didn't know what to do besides comforting the little brunette. It was hard for them, but they knew that it weighs so much heavier for Beca. Beca loved Chloe with all her heart, and with Chloe gone from her life, her heart has shattered into a million pieces.

She looked at them as tears started to pool her eyes.

"What am I gonna do, guys?" she sobbed. Luke pursed his lips and took a step closer to Beca. He held her arms and his eyes full of determination locked with her deep-blue ones.

"Listen to me, Becky. I have a question, and I need a quick honest answer." Luke received a quiet nod in response. "Now, I asked you not too long ago what you would do if she shows up. You told me you were determined to get her back. And now that she really did show up, you're here doing the opposite thing."

Beca gulped as she heard Luke's authoritative tone, the very tone she only heard last when she was in rehab back in her younger years.

"I would, Luke. I'll do whatever hell thing I needed to do to just to get her back."

"Then what's holding you back?"

"Did you see who she walked in with?" Beca pointed through the door to emphasize her question. "Did you see that tall guy, who was by her side? That's probably her boyfriend by now! And she even changed her hair! Why would she do that?"

"Bec, we're not even sure if that guy's really a boyfriend." Jesse finally speaks.

Beca scoffed bitterly as she rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. Stacie told me the same thing, and the next thing I heard, Chloe and Tom were dating."

"But Beca that was high school years. And we all know how that relationship with Tom ended." Jesse reasoned out. Beca crossed her arms. "Look Becs, I'm not going to push you to pursue your plan on getting Chloe back now…but if you really want her back, you have to move and fast." Jesse said gently. "I'm going back inside, Aubrey's probably looking for me." He added then nodded at Luke before entering the backdoor. Luke nodded back, assuring him he can handle it.

A few moments of silence occurred. Luke was thinking on how he can make Beca the confident woman he knows. He knew he has to put something in the brunette's mind in order for her to get her shit altogether to be able to face Chloe.

"Kristen was the one who suggested in taking Chloe back. She told me to prove that what Chloe and I had wasn't just something to be thrown away easily." Beca said quietly.

"What did you tell her?" Luke asked.

"That she's right. And it all seemed so easy…until I saw her walked in with that big dude. Everything in my head flipped and suddenly, I thought that what if I did try and nothing changed? What if in the end she would still leave me?" Beca turned to Luke. She now has tears flowing from her eyes, subtly ruining the makeup she did to herself before leaving her apartment.

"Not everything goes the way we always wanted. But there are things worth doing things for." Luke answered. "I'm not telling you to get her now. You and I both know that courage takes time to build up…but if you think Chloe's worth risking for, then I think you should go for it. Think about it, Bec." Luke said before turning around and heading for the door. As he stood by it, his hand wrapped on the knob he turned slightly to face her.

"If you think you're ready, head inside. If you can't…give me a text and I'll let Aubrey, Jesse and Stacie know. And I'll take you home." Then he went on inside, leaving Beca to her thoughts.

...

"Jesse! Over here." Aubrey calls out as she saw her fiancé walks through the crowd. Jesse came over with his goofy smile and puts hand on Aubrey's lower back. "Jesse, I would like you to meet Dr. Kyle Reed, Chloe's colleague in the hospital she's working."

Jesse reaches out his hand, and Kyle stood up and gave his hand a firm shake.

"Nice to meet you, man. Wow, you're tall." Jesse said, that made Kyle stifle a laugh. Then he looked at Chloe with a small smile. "Chloe, it's been a while."

"Jesse, congratulations." Chloe gave him a quick hug, and he just patted her on the back. "I'm so proud of you. I saw Aubrey's ring, and wow. Just wow."

"Yeah." Jesse chuckled as he rubs the back of his neck. "Anything for this beautiful lady right here." He looks at Aubrey, and Aubrey gives him a chaste kiss on the cheek.

"Where's Beca?" Aubrey whispered on his ear.

"She's with Luke outside."

"How is she?"

"She just freaked out a bit, but she'll be alright. Luke can handle her." Jesse gave his fiancé a small smile and Aubrey just nodded. The four of them went to look for a booth to sit on, and finding a half-moon shaped one.

"So guys, where's Stacie? I saw her a while ago, and I have yet to tell her that her party-organizing skills never change." Chloe laughs, as she looks around the venue, admiring the place and everything. "She's still amazing doing these kinds of things."

"Yeah, both of us wouldn't be having this without Stacie." Aubrey said.

"Did someone just mention my name?"

The four people turned their heads to see Stacie standing with a blue martini on her hand, behind them. She was smiling but her thoughts were a bit worried. Chloe seemed to be having fun, as if nothing happened for the past 10 months. As if she didn't just disappeared on them and Beca for 10 fucking months. She wanted to ask the now-blonde haired girl, but thought it would only just make things awkward, since there's a new guy with them plus it's supposed to be Aubrey and Jesse's night.

"Stacie!" she sees Chloe standing up and giddily walking towards her with arms ready to wrap around her shoulders. Stacie welcomed her old friend with open arms, while carefully holding the martini glass so it wouldn't spill on the other girl's white dress.

"Gosh, I missed you so much!" Chloe squealed on her shoulder before pulling back with a wide grin on her face. "How are you? How's London? And I can pretty tell that your party-organizing skills haven't changed! You're still amazing on planning everything."

"Meh, it's nothing. Well I've been good. London's incredible. So yeah." The tall brunette just shrugged with a smile.

"That's awesome! Oh, I would like to introduce you to one of my colleagues, Dr. Kyle Reed. He's a doctor at the hospital I'm working in." Chloe introduced as the Kyle stood up with a smile and held his hand for a shake, which Stacie complied to.

They gave each other pleasantries, and talked for a while. No one was mentioning about Chloe and Beca's past nor did anyone mentioned about Chloe's sudden disappearance for 10 months. It also seemed that Kyle wasn't aware of anything since Chloe was just telling them that she missed her friends so much. They were laughing and smiling in their booth when suddenly, Aubrey saw someone standing beside their booth.

There stood Luke with Beca.

"Hey." Luke greeted, giving his best smile on everyone, especially to Chloe.

"Uh, Luke!" Stacie said. "Glad you could join us! Luke, this is Dr. Kyle, Chloe's colleague in work." she introduced as Kyle once again stood up to hold out his hand for a shake which was gladly returned by Luke. It was suddenly quiet as Chloe was just staring at him and Beca quietly. Aubrey and Jesse were looking among the rest of the group awkwardly, thinking how this interaction would unfold.

"Kyle, this is Luke Smith, an old friend of ours." Stacie added, trying to lessen the tension and awkwardness in the air. "And this," she pointed at Beca, "is Beca Mitchell. She's the owner of one of LA's famous clubs, was once a producer, and our friend."

Kyle smiled sincerely and reached for Beca with his hand, and Beca took it with her own, giving it a gentle shake.

"I'm Dr. Kyle Reed, but just call me Kyle. I'm Chloe's colleague in work." Kyle said as he pointed at Chloe with his thumb.

"Ah, well I'm glad to meet you Kyle." Beca said in a surprising confident tone, which made Luke and Jesse looked at each other quickly before returning their glance towards the tiny brunette. Luke and Beca sat down on the other side of the half-moon shaped booth that made Chloe and Kyle sit in the middle.

Luke, Beca, Kyle, Chloe, Aubrey, Jesse and Stacie were the order of their sitting arrangement.

"So you own a club right? That's pretty cool." Kyle said, and Chloe shifted a bit.

"Yeah, it's called Ti-CuBe. You ever heard of it?" Beca asked enthusiastically, as if she really was into talking to Kyle. Indirectly mocking Chloe about the name of the club, since it was the two of them who came up with it.

"Oh yeah, I heard about that club once, some of my friends said that that place is awesome. I told Chloe here that I wanted to go there some other time. Didn't we Chlo?" he asked the blonde, who just gave him an awkward chuckle and smile. "I also heard that the owner plays their own mixes in the club. So I guess since Stacie said that you were once a producer, you really did play your music in your own club."

"Yeah, well surprisingly having years and years of practice in your own laptop does pay off." Beca answered which was received with a few laugh from the group and Kyle. Beca took a quick glance at Chloe who was looking down at her own drink, obviously avoiding her gaze, before she looks back at Kyle. "I would be glad to invite you over, together with Aubrey, Jesse, Stacie, Luke and…" she pauses a bit, "…Chloe."

"That'd be a great idea! Right Chlo?" he turned his head once again to Chloe who just gave him a fake-enthusiastic nod and smile. Beca on the other hand was cringing inwardly on how he calls Chloe the nickname she usually used before.

"Uhm, I'd be right back." Chloe suddenly said as she stood up and head for the restroom. Beca followed the blonde with her eyes, taking everything in her to pull her eyes away before it get stuck on Chloe's behind.

Aubrey narrowed her eyes at Beca. She was sure the brunette was pushing Chloe's buttons and it somehow worked with how she was talking to Kyle. She's not sure though on what the brunette had in mind, but was just glad that she's not punching him on the face. Kyle seemed to be clueless though on how awkward the situation he's between on. If he knew better, then even he would be awkward in talking to Beca, but the tiny brunette was so accommodating just as Chloe's other friends, so there is no sign of whatsoever on how tensed it was among the group.

Jesse was a bit shock to see his best friend pushing through. He was wondering what Luke had told her when they were left outside, but never questioned it. If he hadn't witnessed Beca's nervous breakdown a while ago, then he would've thought that Beca is overflowing with confidence, much like the Beca he really knew through the years. He was just a tad bit worried about her attitude towards Chloe, because Chloe obviously had already given up the first round of interaction of the evening. It was only past 8, a lot of things could still go down.

Stacie was…well, very amused. It had been months before she had seen this side of Beca, and was yet anxious on what she would be witnessing more. Seeing Chloe being uneasy at Beca's presence wasn't what she wanted, but if she's being honest to herself right now, Stacie's on Team Beca, full time. She was rooting for her tiny brunette friend because she's the one who got her heart broken, not Chloe. Stacie knew picking which side she is in, is a very bitchy way. She has yet to know what's Chloe's side of the story is, – and is still willing to hear her out – but if she ever got the chance, she'll be giving the once-redheaded girl –that Beca loved and still love – a piece of her mind.

So it goes, this is going to be a very interesting night.

…

A/N: Greetings from the place of my humble home.

I AM BACK AWESOME NERDS!

Not Allowed to Fall in Love has been a huge success, thanks to all of the readers and followers and faves.

This time, I'm coming back to drama. *rubs palms together slowly*

I thought this was an epic fail. Hence, it kind of made me think about deleting this and re-write and re-upload everything. BUT, when I read the last chapters, I thought that I underestimated it and this could still have potential. After all, I already planned out the story plot line.

Quick note: When I read chapter 1, it said there that Chloe left on Marc 10th, and then at the present time it was already December. SO it was supposed to be 9 months long before Beca got the invitation from Stacie about Aubrey and Jesse's engagement get-together party.

The wrong thing about Chapter 1, was that Kristen told Beca, "It's been 6 months Beca. You should've moved on by now. Especially Christmas is nearing." Which is totally wrong because if you count 6 months from March that would only be September. SO I already fixed it. I'm sorry if some of you got confused.

Thank you all for reading this, for being patient with it and with me, who has been very shitty in uploading. I would really try my best to write the best story I could give you guys and the one you would all enjoy(I hope) .

Thanks for the faves, follows and reviews! If you would like to share with me of what you think about this story, go ahead. I'd like to know what you guys think. You could even help me out.

P.S. I imagine Kyle Reed's character as Tyler Hoechlin. If there are TH fans out there though, I mean no harm. And I don't have any intention to. I'm sorry though if you got offended.

P.S.S. If you want, you can also follow me on Tumblr. Same name.

P.S.S.S. To remind you guys, Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2 isn't mine. Never is, never was.

Thanks again!

Next up: How the night would turn out for these two idiots we both love and adore, and a few flashbacks.

Stay awesome you nerds.