"Hello? Hello? Sorry, I can't hear you. Let me just-"
Loud party music booms out of Beca's phone. She has to hold it away from her ears for a few minutes until she hears a muffled voice. Only then she knows it's safe to bring it back near her ears.
"Yo, Aubrey! It's me."
"Beca! Beca! Sorry about that. It was just really loud and I have to find a safe and quiet spot just to hear you."
It works a little bit because she can actually comprehend the blonde's words despite the music still playing in the background.
"Thanks, Aubrey. I just want to ask a quick question. Is Chloe there?"
"Wait." She does. "Yup. I can see her from here. She's on the dance floor. With, wait, who's that? Ohhh. She's on the dance floor with Chicago. Getting cozy in there, I might add."
She doesn't know why she has to do that, hurt herself by asking the obvious. "Well, thanks. Have fun!" Acting like she's not fazed by it becomes her thing. Before she hangs up, she hears Fat Amy's screech of "Heeeeey, is that, Shawshank? Heeeey, you can still come here, yo-" to fade until the call ends.
No, thank you. She can't go there and see Chloe dancing with another man. What kind of masochist do they think she is? Besides, she has this app that's been practically yelling to be tested.
Beca takes a deep breath and pressed on the logo.
Stacie has said it's just a date and time thing and it turns out to be exactly what she said. The brunette doesn't know why she expected more. If the engineer is aiming for simplicity, well, she's got points for that. She should include that in her feedback.
Now, all she has to do is pick a date.
If she were to, for example, confess her feelings for Chloe (at this point, she can't deny that she doesn't have any), when would she have done it? How far back is she willing to go?
She carefully watches her fingers as she types in April 28, 2012. She's uncertain with the time so she guesses and hopes for the best.
The audience fills the hall with loud cheers and yells. The Bellas are striking their last pose and proceeds to hug each other. Even Beca is hugging Aubrey in delight.
Out of reverie, the DJ finds herself very aware of where she is and what happens next according to history. She's taking in her surroundings. They are still on a rush from a successful performance, waving their hands to the crowd as they make their way down the stage.
She makes it to the bottom first and looks back to her girls. She can see Chloe in the far back, close to CR. Let's be honest here, she can spot her easily, no doubt.
This is where she's supposed to stride over to where Jesse is so they can share their first kiss.
Yet, this is another chance. This is another take on what she only dreamed of before. This may be an answer to a what-if. She can do something entirely different this time. If only she gets enough courage to do so.
Ultimately, she still walks over to Jesse. "Told you endings are the best part." He wears that stupid puppy smile on his face and Beca almost forgets to stop herself. Instead of kissing him, however, this time she goes for a big hug.
"You're such a weirdo." She can't help but say that to him. After all, she feels like he's been good to her until their LDR breakup. "Thanks, Jesse. For being such a good friend. I hope you like my apology because dude, I included that soundtrack in our set. If I'm not the sweetest girl you've met, I don't know who is. I mean, you're welcome."
Jesse chuckles to himself. "Oh, come on, Beca! That was indeed a very smooth trick. If that kind of move doesn't sweep your girlfriend off her feet, I don't know what will."
Beca casually shrugs, "Well, I don't have a girlfriend." Upon realization of what has been implied in that sentence, her wide eyes freak Jesse out a little. He has to hold her shoulders firmly with both his hands and give her a little shake until she can speak again. "Wh- what made you say that?"
"Aren't you and Chloe a thing? Oh, sorry. I just assumed that you have a crush on her and you actually told her already."
Jesse Swanson is actually saying that to her. Has she been this oblivious this whole time? Even Jesse knows?
"I'm working on that actually. Thanks?" Baffled Beca gives him a quick kiss on the cheek and hurries to check on her girls.
She spots Aubrey and asks, "Where's Chloe?"
"She went to the bathroom, I think. Or outside for fresh air. I'm not sure which one since that's where that alley leads to," she says pointing at the Exit direction to Beca's right.
As she tries to go for a run, a tall lady blocks her path. "Conrad! Thanks!" She gives her a quick hug and disappears in the alley, leaving a confused but indifferent Stacie. She fails to see the knowing looks the other Bellas share when they watch her dash out like that.
There's no sign of Chloe in the bathroom so she bolts outside the door. She sees her – her red hair, old Bella's scarves tied around her as a belt, and deep blue eyes that sometimes look grey depending on the light – with her back on the wall a few meters to her right. Only, she looks forlorn. (Forlorn? Does anybody say that anymore? Boy, Chloe does bring out the archaic gal in her.)
"Chloe!" She breathes out. Thank heavens for cardio but she's still small.
Chloe dares to look at the owner of that voice. A forced smile plays in her lips, "Beca, what are you doing here?"
"I should be asking you the same question. Dude, we just killed it tonight! We were aca-awesome! I think the girls are planning on getting wasted tonight. So, why are you here?"
"I just needed some fresh air. I still have the jitters from being on a stage with a crowd. So, I kinda have to get away. Also, I saw you with," she hesitates, "never mind. It's nothing."
Beca learns about that jitters a year later actually when they're together in the Bellas house. Not now, not in this scenario.
"I was actually hoping I got the time right. So you didn't have to see anything. I'm glad I did. Boy, if I added an extra hour, this could have been a bad comeback."
"Beca, what are you talking about?"
Beca brushes her hair with her right hand as she takes a few steps closer to the redhead. "Nothing. All I'm trying to say is I can't believe you attacked me in my shower on that particular September night and forced me to sing your lady jam with you."
"Beca, wh-"
"I can't believe you actually convinced me to join an aCappella group. I can't believe we really became fast friends. I can't believe I haven't told you for the longest time how much I appreciate you standing up for me."
That last sentence she doesn't know where it came from. When Jesse tried it with Aubrey that one time, Beca snapped at him and walked away from the Bellas. Now, she's telling Chloe she's appreciative of it? She surprises herself!
Chloe can visibly see how the brunette has been acting weirdly off. "I'm worried about you, Beca. Are you okay?"
"I told my dad I shut people out. Yet, I let you in. No one's really been this close to breaking down my walls before. Until you, Chloe."
They are just a few feet apart now. Beca still inches forward. "I don't want to wait for years anymore."
She takes a big step closer to the taller girl, gently reaches up her left hand to grab the back of Chloe's head, and pulls it slowly as they lock their lips together. She is kissing Chloe! Beca Mitchell finally knows how it feels like to kiss Chloe Beale! She has been missing out on this for 7 years? How is that even possible? And of course, to make it an even greater experience, Chloe is actually kissing her back!
That is until a tear escapes from Beca's eye. Or is it really from hers? She ever so steadily pulls back from the kiss, still within a breath's distance.
Chloe is crying. Shoot, Beca, what did you do? Oh wait, she's actually crying, too. They're both crying!
In between sobs and giggles, the older girl manages to choke out, "Why are you crying, silly?" She uses both her hand to help the younger girl see through the tears.
Thumbs rubbing her eyes feels heavenly. She catches one of Chloe's hand in her face and lets out a little laugh, "You have no idea how long I've been wanting to do that." She doesn't let go of the hand easily.
This triggers more happy tears for the redhead. Now, it's the DJ's turn to wipe her cry away. Chloe composes herself and admits, "Did you know I actually was going to fail one of my subjects so I can stay longer here in Barden? I want to be a Bella longer so I can have more performances with you. Also, I want to be with you another year. See how close we can get. You know, bond. But boy oh boy, I did not expect you to be this bold."
"What?" Beca is genuinely shocked. Is that why Chloe stayed behind? How much more cluelessness will she discover about herself?
"Why do you sound so surprised? You just said it yourself. You shut people out. I thought it will take me longer to get you to open up to me. Or even see me as someone you can trust. Yet here we are." Chloe ends what she's saying with a wink. The heartbeat she feels in her chest seems so loud. "The first time I saw you, I know I wanted you and that I'd find you very interesting. It's like I'm drawn to you, my little alt girl."
Beca draws in a breath and enunciates each word. "I. can't. believe. this." She tiptoes and gives the other girl a chaste kiss on the mouth.
And she's back in the hotel. She blinks a few times to make sure she's real and that everything else is, too.
Her phone beeps and a message from Fat Amy appears.
Shorty, get your girl here. I don't like seeing her dance with this army hunk! Also, I'm losing all my bets. Hurry!
Chloe is still at the club with Chicago. Nothing changes.
She opens up her messages and writes a new one.
I did it. I went and came back. Nothing changes. In the memory, I spent at least half an hour reliving my past. Here, I was only gone for like a minute or two. Thoughts?