The Story So Far | Chapter Eight


Beca's POV

My ever first a Capella first gig was today. This was the first time I got nervous performing in front of people because being in an a Capella group was much different in being in a band. After all the work we've been practicing, most of us still doesn't know the choreography perfectly. But thank God this is just a gig, not a performance.

"Nervous?" Chloe asked while we were in the van. I didn't answer instead I nodded shyly. She giggled softly, "Don't be. You're in a band, right?"

I laughed at that. She doesn't know how different it is to be in an a Cappella group and in a band. "It's different, Red. Very different."

"As far as I know now, you're one of the most confident persons I know."

"That's not true," I disagreed. "I'm actually one of the shyest persons you will ever meet."

"I doubt it," she told me. "You made me listen to your songs without you being embarrassed and stuff."

"Because I'm actually confident about that!" Chloe didn't reply instead she just gave me a look. "Touché. But that's not what I meant, I mean that like it's different in an a Cappella group than it is with a band."

"I see," she paused. "You'll do great. I promise you that."

I nodded while awkward silence stroked our conversation. Actually, it wasn't that silent since I can hear Chloe's music from her earphones. I wonder if I would perform well in the performance but I don't feel like I will.

Arriving at the gig, Aubrey told us to perform Turn the Beat Around only which the song with the most steps in the choreography because since the other songs were just like using your hands and stuff. But this includes walking, if that's a step.

"Okay guys, do your best!" Aubrey told us while we didn't reply and we got to our positions. The whole performance wasn't natural at all, I don't feel like we were all doing a good job. Aubrey was the only one with the most energy while we were all kind of dozed off. The audience was giving us disappointing looks like they were expecting us to do well but they were so wrong. Chloe didn't sound like she usually does, her voice weren't high enough for me to recognize that bubbly voice.

"Okay stop! Stop!" a guy from the crowd interrupted us.

"I'm so sorry, Howie. I know we're not performance ready—" Aubrey apologized.

"I wanted the hot Bellas, not this barnyard explosion," a guy said now recognized as Howie pointed at us. "I'm not paying for this, come on, let's go."

Aubrey turned around and gestured us to leave, we all obliged while they looked all so disappointed.

"Well I hope you all remember the way feel right now so you will never feel so you will never wanna feel this way again," Aubrey told us while we were walking back. "Chloe, your voice didn't sound Aguilerian at all."

Chloe didn't answer instead she just looked at the lake, "Chloe, for serious what is wrong with you?"

"I have nodes," she admitted. What the hell are nodes?

"What? Oh my God," Aubrey said while she consoled her.

"I just found out this morning," Chloe told Aubrey.

"What are nodes?" I asked them.

"Vocal nodules," Aubrey answered while Chloe was frowning. "The rubbing together of your vocal cords above average rates without proper lubrication."

"They sit on your windpipe and they crush your dreams," Chloe added while I was thinking why would she still perform if she's already suffering like this?

"Isn't that painful?" I asked her. "Why would you keep performing?"

"Because I love to sing," Red reasoned.

"Yeah, it's like when my lady doctor told me not to have sex for six weeks but I did it anyway," Stacie chimed in.

"You should really listen to your doctor," Fat Amy told Stacie while Stacie just shrugged.

"The key is early diagnosis. I am living with nodes but I am a survivor, I just have to pull back because I am limited. Because I have nodes," Chloe preached while we were all nodding slowly.

"Well at least it's not herpes," Fat Amy said while Aubrey looked at her with wide-eyed look. "Or do you have that as well?"

"No, Amy," Chloe answered. "Let's just go back to Barden, okay?"

"Fat Amy, you drive," Aubrey ordered while Fat Amy obliged as we went back to the van.

I sat near the door then Chloe went and sat beside me. "Hey," she greeted while I waved awkwardly.

"I'm so sorry about your nodes," I told her sympathetically.

"Oh don't worry about that," she said. "I think you did a pretty good job though."

"Now this makes me miss your high notes," I told her which made her kind of red, I laughed at that it was too cute.

She suddenly frowned, "I want to hit high notes again. I miss it already. It's so painful."

I patted her back, "Don't worry. You'll still do well without your high notes. You're an amazing singer."

"Thanks, Beck," she thanked. "I'm so tired already." She leaned on my shoulder which caused me to grimace but she didn't remove her head from my shoulder. "Let me sleep on your shoulder, Beca."

I didn't answer, I was too uncomfortable to answer. I ran out of things to say because this girl was making me uncomfortable than usual. She's different from the other people who weren't giving me space. I don't know if I like being with her or not because she's making me perplexed sometimes.

Weirdly after 5 minutes, I was letting myself to be comfortable and I did. I think Chloe was already sleeping or she wasn't, I don't know. She told me that she likes to sleep alone though but does she prefer to be with someone?

"Beca?" she called me.

"He— What?"

"Nothing," she said while I rolled my eyes at that. "Are you comfortable? Because you haven't moved ever since."

"I—I don't know."

"Don't you like space?"

"I do but with you I feel like I don't like space anymore," I blurted out. Shit. What the hell did I just say? Oh no.

"Seriously? I—um.." she blushed.

"That's not what I meant! I'm sorry if it came out wro—"

"Shh," she put her finger on my mouth to shut me up. "It's okay. I feel flattered."

"I'm sorry if I say the wrong things," I told her. "I'm afraid to talk to people. I always think that I will always run out of words so I kind of blurt out some stuff."

"It's okay. Everybody at least makes mistakes like what happened back there."

Soon enough, we were back to Barden.


A/N: So sorry for the short chapter! It's all part of the plan. Also I'm sorry for the late update I've been suffering from too much Tumblr (follow my blog) and then school's gonna start here so I better make some chapters now! Please R&R, that'd be great. Thank you guys for your support!