Her call just goes to voicemail so she leaves a message. "Hey, it's Beca Mitchell. Can I – no, I won't ask – I need to talk you. Well, it's nothing to worry about. We're all safe now. I just need to talk to you about something. When you get this, and you're free, can you come meet me at The West Café? Okay. Bye."
She should've been more formal considering she's never really had an actual conversation with this guy. 5 minutes later, she receives a text message. "Give me 20 minutes."
That's not too bad. For the record, she only has Chicago's number because it's mandatory at their first meeting to have their contact information. So technically, all the Bellas have his number.
At this moment that she's waiting for him, she's suddenly so anxious. Why is she in this situation again? Where she called Chicago and told him to meet her at a coffee shop? Like she asked him out? Gross. The thought sends shiver down her body. Erase it. What is she even going to tell him? He probably has no clue what this is all about and honestly speaking, neither does she. She regrets not thinking this through but for what it's worth, she can't really turn back and pretend she didn't leave him a voicemail. The lad already acknowledged it by replying to her. So for less than half an hour, Beca practices what she's going to say over and over again.
The little dinky bell chimes as the door opens, indicating that a customer comes in. Chicago looks around, finds the DJ, and gives her a tiny nod, as he goes straight to the cashier to order a drink. When Beca sees him holding a to-go cup, she is relieved just thinking how this means he won't stay long. Good. She just needs a few words to say, anyway.
He looks just like an ordinary guy, one she would pass by unnoticed in the streets, when he's not in uniform, and Beca takes a mental note of that. It keeps her at ease, seeing him in a casual scenario. She's not intimidated by him.
"Hello! Great show last night!," he starts as he takes the seat across the table from Beca. "This is my first break," he gestures on his coffee, " but I still have some reports to finish for the DoD. So uh, what do you want to talk about?"
The brunette doesn't know how to read this man, yet. Is he a super serious all-business dude? Or can he be like a regular person for a minute? She squints her eyes at him that goes unnoticed because Chicago raises his cup to his mouth.
"About Chloe." She sees him swallow hard and choke a bit on the liquid. He grabs a few napkins to wipe his chin and some spittles on his jeans. Clumsy Chicago? And this guy's in the army.
"I didn't know. If I had known, I wouldn't have-" He clears his throat and stares at Beca, which makes the girl uneasy. "My duty is to protect the Bellas on this tour. It has been my honour to be able to escort such wonderful group of talented females and I know, I'm certain that I've done my job well."
The DJ is so lost in this conversation. "Dude, what?" She blinks at him a few times. "Like, are you okay?"
"Hear me out first." The man puts on his serious face and firmly holds Beca's gaze. "I did not intend to break any relationship. Had I known, I never would have kissed Chloe." The brunette winces at the mention of this. "Believe me, nothing gives me more pride than serving our country and I'm able to do that because I follow the rules. I don't break them. I'm not that kind of guy." Chicago exhales. "I apologize if my behaviour caused any problems between you and Chloe."
Beca is as confused as ever. What is this dude talking about? This is not what she expected to happen in this "talk". Clearly, she doesn't expect Chicago to be this kind of person, who acts like a slave to his country (in a good way), and talks like he did something so terrible which he hasn't done before.
"Me and Chloe?" That's what she gets from all that. "I mean, yeah. But what, what do you mean "break any relationship"? Chloe and I, well we're – we're just," She can't finish that sentence.
Chicago fills her in, "Having a rough patch?"
The girl raises an eyebrow. Is this guy for real?
"Chloe told me." The poor guy looks confused as well.
This is interesting. Beca knows drunk Chloe can be a little too open but what can she possibly tell this man? "What exactly did she tell you?"
"Well, she told me a lot of things actually. We were at the after party thing last night and you weren't there. She kept talking about you, though. About how great you were in the performance. About your DJ-ing skills. About how if you were there when the club DJ mixed, "Beca would find this lame" because "Beca can do better". About how you're the best. About your sick dance moves." He chuckles. "She even mentioned how bad my dancing is and that I can never compare to you."
She's enjoying hearing this more than she admits. It's just how Chloe is, she reasons. There's one thing she wants to know, though. "Okay, but how do you remember all this? No offense, but none of the men I know ever remembers half of the things you just said."
"Oh, I get that a lot. So none taken." Chicago just scratches his head as he continues to explain. "Being in the army helps me, I guess. We are given orders all the time and most of them we have to memorize. So words just get stuck in here," he points to his temple, "so whenever someone tells me something, I just remember. It's a gift but it can be a curse."
Beca manages a quick smile. She still can't believe this is happening. "Why are you apologizing then?"
"Before I got called out and left Chloe, we were sitting by one of the booths. Just talking. But then there's tears. So I asked her what's wrong and she told me she's sorry. That you had to see her kiss me. And I just put it all together. You were just having a rough patch and I lead on Chloe because I thought she's single. I'm really sorry I let the man in me act in this situation. We don't see a lot of women in the army so I felt good with the attention she gave me. It was too late when I found out you're together."
"Chloe said that?"
"She kinda implied it. But it's all good. We talked about it. I told her it's okay because I can't leave the army, anyway. I live for it so we never would have worked passed that first kiss stage." Chicago's phone lights up and he goes to read it. "That's my cue. I have to leave now. Thanks for calling me. I'm glad I got that off my chest. It's been bothering my conscience."
He gets up and shakes Beca's hand. "You're one lucky woman, Beca."
He leaves in a hurry that Beca is left dumbfounded by what just happened. It takes her a few minutes to realize none of the things she's practiced ever made it to the conversation. She's not even mad.
"Hey, Aubrey!" Chloe chirps, answering her phone after two rings.
"Finally, you answered! Where are you? I tried knocking at your door earlier but there's no answer. Are you still in Beca's room?"
"Yeah. I kinda just got my crap together. I woke up about an hour ago with a really bad hangover but I took something and I showered so I'm really feeling much better now."
"Have you eaten? I'm just packing all my things and I have some leftover food from our breakfast this morning."
"No but I'm good. Beca will be here any minute now and she already offered to get me something to eat."
Aubrey doesn't say anything for a few breaths. Chloe recognizes this from all the times she has called the blonde in the past for what they call now "alt girl problems".
Chloe proceeds, "Aubrey, don't worry about me. Beca and I are fine. She doesn't sound like she's weirded out by last night. So I'm gonna be fine, too. Besides, Chicago is not even in the picture anymore."
"You cried about him last night! What do you mean he's not in the picture anymore?" Aubrey's tone reminds her so much of a mom scolding a child for forgetting lunch.
Chloe rubs her forehead with her thumb and two fingers. "I just remembered some of our conversation from last night. Ugh, I'm so embarrassed, Bree. I kept mentioning Beca's name. Also, the alcohol helped me talk to Chicago like Chloe usually talks to other people. I didn't stutter or ramble. You should've been proud of me."
"I am proud of you, Chloe. But what happened with Chicago?"
"Funny story. He's not that bad actually. He talks like a real softie. I didn't expect that from an army guy! I thought they're just all manly all the time. Now it makes sense why he said it's cheesy when he was talking about family. Anyway, so I may have told him Beca is the one for me."
"CHLOE!"
"I know! I know! That poor guy. He took it well enough, I guess. I mean, he said he should've seen it because it's so obvious. He told me his priority is being in the army so he would not have had the time for love and dating. He made it sound so sincere, I didn't see it as an insult or anything. We're just friends, now."
Aubrey let out a little laugh. "Well, I'm glad that worked out for you. Cuz you keep beating yourself up last night about how Beca saw you kiss Chicago."
"Yeah, well I can explain that to her later. I think I should just go tell her. Right, Bree?"
The girl on the other line rolls her eyes but it's a good thing she can't be seen. "I've heard that before. Years later, we're still on that. And Chloe, I know by now you've seen the picture in our group chat."
"For real this time! And I know! Lily posted it. It is what it is Bree. You can interpret that any way you want."
"That, too."
Chloe shakes her head and smiles. "Whatever. Love you! See ya later!" She hangs up.
She should just tell Beca. She moons over this idea as she stares at their picture together. Beca may have offered to carry her but it's rare that she does this. After all, it's Chloe who initiates a lot of things. This can't be any different. Except maybe there's still a slight chance her love won't be reciprocated and all this friendship will go down in history.
It's not helping her right now that she's basically wearing one of the DJ's hoodie and a pair of blue leggings she knows belongs to her. She found this attire in Beca's luggage right after her shower. This is the only time she's thankful for the brunette's disregard for order because yes, sometimes, their clothes get mixed up. She still hasn't gone back to her room so she has no undergarments but she's doing okay. It's better than wearing the same clothes she went out clubbing in or a hotel robe, which she expects Beca to find disturbing once she comes back.
Chloe sits on the couch, fiddling with her phone, while she thinks of ways on how to approach Beca. Of all the things Chloe is good at, it's impulse. So she just hopes that whatever feels right at the moment will lead her to finally confessing her feelings and not freaking out the other girl in the process.
"Chloe Beale talked about me that way to Chicago. And here I thought she was so into Chicago. I can never compare to Chicago. Chloe said that. She said that in a sense that I'm better than Chicago. She was so into me." Beca chants this to herself over and over. "How do I tell her how I feel? I screwed up the first two times I tried in that memory. What do I even do now?" She's basically talking to herself out loud but she's still at the farthest table in that almost empty café. It's probably because she's halfway her third cup which is also why she has stayed here longer than she should have.
Beca reaches out for her phone. She's been told she can just not do it. She doesn't have to do this but she's okay now. She's feeling better regardless of the rollercoaster emotion ride she had in less than 48 hours. Besides, she's convinced it would be a waste not to use it all. She carefully puts in yesterday's date and last night's time. It's still a fresh memory.
Beca can't move. She sees a familiar figure, one she has known for 7 years now, and her red hair flowing as she walks closer and closer to where she's rooted. It's as if there's only them left in this world and everything is in slow motion – exactly like the way they do in movies. (And to think, she's still not a big fan of movies!) There is nothing in comparison with what she's feeling right now. It's a mix between nervousness and excitement, like what one may feel riding a rollercoaster but leaning more towards I'm gonna die of a heart attack kind of feeling.
It's just Chloe, she reminds herself. Tell her. Tell her now.
"BECAAAA!" Chloe's voice makes everything else move again. She has the short girl wrapped in a tight hug in just one swift motion. "You were so amazing back there! I am so proud of you! I can't believe it!" She plants a big kiss on her right cheek and another one on her left. "AAAHH! Our Beca Mitchell is a legit artist now! You'll do great things, little one!"
The brunette tries to hide her blush when she pulls slightly away from their hug. "Okay, Chlo! I haven't started anything yet. It was just one performance."
"Yes, I know! And thanks for sharing the stage with us. It was nice for the Bellas to have that one last show with you. But Beca, really, I'm proud of you. And no matter what happens after this, I will always support you. Always! You know that right?", the older girl assures her. "I love you."
There it is. A lump in her throat. A sob in progress. Words waiting to come out. Feelings to be revealed.
But still nothing.
Anything at all will save her face right now. Any word. Oh no! She's ruined this. She has ruined it again.
Regret? No. This won't be a regret.
She quickly looks back and sees Chicago in a distance, smiling. She turns her head back at Chloe, trying to talk to her with her eyes. But breaking the staring contest, the redhead says, "Beca!" The younger gal blinks. "Beca, you okay? Hey, we're good. You and me. I just have to go somewhere quickly. Okay? Just, uhm, we're good."
She brushes past the brunette's shoulder but not fast enough this time, because Beca reaches out and grabs Chloe by her wrist. They're facing each other again.
"Where are you going?" Beca asks, even though she knows.
"Oh, uhm." The taller girl is lost for words. She looks at Chicago then Beca. "I uhm, I think he wants me…to go over there, I mean."
Beca takes this opportunity to emphasize each word she says next. "But I want you." She lets go of the wrist and put both her hands on Chloe's arms, steadying both of them in place. "And I want you here. Stay here. With me."
Chloe makes a move like she's gonna look at Chicago again but the DJ stops her. "Don't look at him. Look at me." So she does.
"Beca, I don't -" The brunette cuts her off by saying, "Beale, you do understand. You're not going anywhere. You just told me you love me."
The redhead opens her mouth and closes it again, clearly processing her thoughts, as if she isn't quite prepared for this response. "I, I just thought that freaked you out. You didn't really say anything after, you know. I'm sorry it slipped out."
"Did you mean it?" Beca asks.
"What do you mean? When I told you I love you? Did I mean it?" Chloe is the one freaking out now, letting out a nervous laugh. "I've been telling you I love you for years now. Of course, I do mean it."
Beca sighs. She understands now this reaction from her best friend. She probably would have said the same thing the first time she's in this situation. She runs her hands up and down the length of Chloe's arms. She then brings her left hand on Chloe's right cheek and enforces another staring game. "Chlo, do you love me?"
The ginger nods and verbally confirms it, too. "Yes, yes, I do."
Beca smiles. "That's all I need to know." She's thankful that her performance outfit made their height difference lesser so she doesn't have to tiptoe a little as she brings her face closer to Chloe's.
She finds herself back at the coffee shop. What the heck just happened? She didn't do anything wrong. She just played out the memory the way it was and tweaked it in the end. Nobody cried. Nobody said anything about the future. Nobody talked about anything life-changing! Well, aside from the I love you part which she expected already. It's nothing new, basically. This doesn't mean they'll have a bad future, right? There's only one explanation.
She quickly types a message to Stacie.
Yo! Your app has a glitch. Better fix that, too.