A/N sorry about the long wait but here it is...Thanks for all the reviews lovin' the love.
After almost two weeks of a lack of inspiration finishing this chapter-and then just the other I started typing non-stop and before i knew it I had typed up something that was normally the length 3 chapters. So yeah hopefully I'll post them one after the other these next few days. Feel free to comment if this story's goin to slow, and to recommend any possible scenarios that you wanna see for like Bachelorette party, bridal shower- strippers, exotic dancers. Group performances? I'll leave it up to your imagination and I'll try to accommodate it into this story.
Sorry I took the chapter down when I saw the numerous errors, I finished it like 3 am...so it was pretty bad...hopefully you'll see this edited version first. I think I was able to fix all of it. Oh and yeah I added a juicy bechloe bit. Hope you like it.
"It's like you're begging for us to throw you in," Stacie comments when you exit for a second time in one of the more tasteful outfits;a one piece, dark blue suit that you thought looked okay. Apparently you were wrong.
"Whatever. I'm so over this." you grumble, reacting defensively, crossing your arms and hugging yourself, prompting the rest of the girls to groan simultaneously. You can see them settle back into their chairs-knowing that they won't be swimming-joining or starting the pool party any time soon. They don't really have to say anything, you know that they're humoring you- not wanting to be pushy or impatient.
But you're feeling just about ready to give up and take being thrown into the pool in your clothes. It wasn't like it was the worst punishment you could think of.
Chloe, who ever since you two "made up" had resumed her heartwarmingly nostalgic ways of sticking really close to you at all times, is quick to pacify you-getting even closer- taking your hand and holding it loosely between hers.
"You still have the one try, you can make it count..." she says, "I know that we saved the best for last." You smile a little at that to show how much you appreciated her positive- upbeat self, her almost crazy belief in you.
And you sorta needed the boost of confidence. You talked big about being a bad ass but seriously, you never felt comfortable being looked at especially when out of your comfort zone- parading in less clothes than necessary, qualified as such a time. Seriously, your usual attire consisted mostly of several layers, no layer upon layer upon layer. Beach wear for you was rash guard/swim shirts with shorts. If you went with the really tiny bikinis you'd seen -you might as well just have jumped in naked. You made up your mind to stay far away from all things two piece, you were going to look great in something less revealing...
It's not like you were completely against looking pretty or sexy it was fine with you, because you could do sexy-work it when necessary -but Chloe was there-and so was the pressure to look totally awesome...to impress.
And you've been failing-why, because you're over-thinking things, letting your minor insecurity overtake, even outshine your usual cocky, assured, self- chipping away at your plain bad ass-ness that you usually exuded naturally.
"C'mon Beca, show 'em what you got!" Chloe says gripping you by the waist-did she just tickle you, yeah she did...you squirm away, trying to laugh of the nerves- the very violent butterflies fluttering about causing utter mayhem in your insides,
You're attention is quickly diverted by a noise- sounding distinctly like a scoff. Aubrey's special Yeah-right-Beca-sucks scoff. At the moment you get a surprisingly clear warp flashback of Aubrey in Barden; how she used to look down her nose at you, belittle you and your ideas, how she had called you a bitch upon meeting each other. You remembered all the reasons why you had disliked her so much in the first place and right now you can't even stand the thought of that annoyingly smug, I'm-smarter-better-than-you grin gracing her face once again as she witnesses your public humiliation.
"Beca...don't be a spoil sport, we all did it...subjected ourselves to humiliation" says Cynthia Rose in a just get it over with kinda tone.
Yeah, right. Some humiliation-she rocked it. She did surprisingly well. You not so much. Not at all.
"Well that was you guys. I, however, have a reputation to uphold...as much as you all want to see this rocking bod, it's not gonna happen." you say thinking maybe there was still time to talk your way out of it.
"Yeah right-weren't you the only one who publicly made a fool out of herself when she was trashed just the other night" Aubrey says, causing you to grit your teeth as you tense, Chloe sensing this starts to rub up and down your arms comfortingly. You expel an annoyed breath at how effective it was in calming you, almost turning you into mush, putty in her hands.
"C'mon Beca we all know you've got the goodies...be willing to flaunt them for a change. I mean I do at every opportunity...we're the ones who got to deal with the back problems, but these," Stacie says while once again groping her chest, "are the power we wield...so use that power Beca, but use it wisely... there's a certain amount you can expose that's a fine line between classy and trashy. I am the perfect balance between both" Stacie smiling confidently, shrugging her shoulders.
Right, okay...let go of your breasts now woman.
"Uh Thanks for the words of...encouragement. You have such moving words on woman empowerment there Stace, really." you say. She rolls her eyes and laughs, taking your sarcasm in stride.
"You go back in there and you better come out looking as fine as we know you can be..." Cynthia Rose says,
"Do it for us" Denise says.
"Do it for the Boys-hello!" Stacie says, Uh no. N-O. Maybe you're face betrayed a little disgust because Ashley says,
"Do it for Jesse."
"She should do it for herself..." Chloe says, turning you back to face the dressing room before she pats your behind which starts you walking.
"Don't worry, I know that we will all get to enjoy swimming...Beca will get to swim either way. It'll just be more enjoyable watching her get thrown in first..." Aubrey says, before she calls after you "let's see just how big a splash your rocking bod will make hitting the water."
The rest of the girls laugh and giggle a little, the sound traveling around the room.
You narrow your eyes and make up your mind to shut Aubrey up once and for good. You march back into the room and snatch up the black skimpy bikini that you had spied first and consequently thrown back into the pile once you saw how small it was. It hardy covered anything...Well, to hell with it...
C'mon you're hot. You know you're hot. The more you think it the more you feel it right?
Right now you're thinking that your silly little pep talk sounds a lot like you're trying to convince yourself of something that isn't true.
C'mon shake it off, shake it off,
This isn't working you need try something else. You'd heard something- some activity where you complement yourself aloud in front of a mirror, it did something like help in buiding up confidence or something like that.
You look around making sure you were still alone. You'd be more than mortified if someone walked in and caught you. You don't have to imagine what they'll think if they'll see you staring almost concentrating really hard on your reflection
this was like one of the weirdest things you've ever done but here it goes
"I am Beca Mitchell, I am a Bad ass, I am hot. I am hot as hell..I'm finnne." You were totally going to wipe the smiles off of their faces, you think confidently.
hey that worked pretty fast.
You quickly slip into the suit...and stop by the mirror to see the effect and you think you do look good, really good- you looked better than good 'cos the suit really fit, tight in all the right places- emphasizing all the good stuff.
Your pulling at the clingy material-still feeling a bit uncomfortable. Seriously you've never been in such revealing outfit...the only time you were this near naked in front of a whole entire audience was when your mother gave birth to you, and you didn't really even have a choice at the time...seriously what does donning a swimming suit do anyhow-you don't like how girls had to dress sexily to get other people's attention and how some certain people took advantage of the view.
Yes, you are aware you're being a hypocrite right now because the last part sure sounded a lot like you, like it was pertaining to you alone.
You never felt the need to dress up or dress down in this case to fit other people's standards but you might as well-you're already there...
"Will you hurry up, we can't wait all day you know..." Aubrey says loudly
Here goes nothing you think before you finally step out...
You cringe at the silence, but then...
"Damn..."
"Woah sexy mama"
is all you hear, next thing you know-people are on their feet applauding, slow clapping.
You look past the upright figures and find Aubrey. Aubrey who has been noticeably silent amongst the ruckus.
"In your face Posen!" you say reveling in shutting her up, basking in her inability to think of a single retort
Fat Amy is giving mock bows, "You the man, I mean- woman."
"Ditch normal clothes, you should totally wear bikinis all the time..." Chloe says, which causes you to blush heavily. It darkens when you're sure she gives a slow deliberate elevator look, all the while smirking to herself-when she meets your eyes she waggles her eyebrows at you before she breaks out of it and starts giggling.
You roll your eyes but you can't stop the wide, embarrassed goofy smile gracing your face at all the compliments most especially the last one.
"Enough of this I think it's time for us to start the party girls!"
The Boys sounds are deafening when you all walk out one after the other,
"Finally!"
"This is why we decided to wait so patiently- more than worth it girls"
You take a seat by the edge of the pool and dip your feet in enjoying feeling the cold water around your legs. But after a few seconds pass you stand up and walk over to the lounge chairs. It's weirdly, eerily quiet. You're looking around, wondering why no one is going in yet...Fat Amy's noticeably absent.
"I don't want to get my hair wet." You hear Aubrey say from one of the chairs as you approach her and Chloe- making you roll your eyes.
"Then you shouldn't have decided to join a pool party genius." you snort, sitting then leaning back on one of the chairs ready to soak up some sun, thankfully Chloe's right in between the two of you.
Aubrey's retort gets drowned out when your attention is grabbed by Chloe- She's started rubbing sun block all over her body, your eyes drawn like a magnet following the path of her hands- trying not to salivate- as she rubs up and down her legs...working her front first- her hand slipping underneath the suit occasionally. Then starts rubbing at her back...
"Like what you see?" she asks, and you stiffen when you raise your eyes and see her looking at you smirking in amusement-caught in the act.
Way to go- fuckin obvious- you should have slipped on shades to cover your blatant staring. She's cocking an eyebrow questioningly- awaiting your answer.
"No, I mean yes...but it's just that you... you missed a spot."
"Are you offering to lend me a hand?"
"Nah, You're almost done anyway...it's just here-" you take her hand and lead it to the spot..." you couldn't risk touching anywhere else, you don't think you'd be able to control yourself. Your eyes stay locked for a mere moment-you break it first, looking 'round to see if anyone was watching the two of you.
"Thanks Babe." she says, laughing lightly before she settles back down on the chair.
You let out the breath you didn't know you'd been holding and do the same. From here you look around, seeing what the other Barden people are up to. Some are by the pool splashing a little here and there, but no one's in the pool-guess the suits were just for show. Stacie's making quite a show-she's quite the spectacle, as most of the Treble boys including Luke hang around unable to take their eyes off her.
Most of the Bella girls seem content to laze around.
Fat Amy suddenly reappears, coming from the house armed with some snacks-a lot of snacks and drinks. She puts her things down and looks around to where the Bella girls are lounging about around the pool- confusion growing in her face as she takes in every single one of you-and your lack of... activity, of movement, of partying, or any sign of life, perhaps thinking that everything was a little to tame for her taste...she takes out a whistle and blows it-effectively catching everyone's attention. She makes you jump further still when she shouts-
"Let the pool party commence. Boys take out your weapons...LET"S GET WET!" Fat Amy hollers,
The boys start pulling water guns, pails, water balloons and even some hoses-not just any garden hoses with weak sprays freakin fire hoses with the strong jet stream- out of nowhere-drenching each and everyone of the girls but you just managed to get away relatively unscathed...
havoc ensues...all hell breaks loose; the music starts somewhere.
I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation
You're living in the past, it's a new generation
A girl can do what she wants to do and that's what I'm gonna do
The rest of the girls are shrieking scattering, running every which way around the pool trying to avoid the harsh strong steady stream of water coming from all sides as they boys follow, laughing maniacally.
An' I don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation
Oh no, not me
An' I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation
Never said I wanted to improve my station
An' I'm only doin' good when I'm havin' fun
An' I don't have to please no one
You spot Chloe cowering behind some chairs-you look left then right before you run up to her, grabbing her by the hand and pulling her along to follow you to safety.
"Chloe, follow closely. I'll protect you." you say, as you are both creeping stealthily- you're trying to pull her behind you in order to shield her but she keeps trying to do the same to you..." Someone has to protect my tail." you say reasoning with her
"Fine" she says and finally desists.
The two of you start running then just as quickly you duck behind a bush. It's a war zone right in the middle of the lawn but you have no choice, you need to gather supplies and what not, and you have to cross the field to get it.
"On three, we run okay remember stay close to me."
One... two... three!"
You're pushing past boys most of them twice your size...feeling yourself really getting into the fight, This song always made you feel like you could kick ass.
You've always secretly enjoyed competitive, extreme sports like laser tag and paintball...you dominated in those kind of activities. You weren't afraid to get hit, as a matter of fact it was you who got too rough and got carried away sometimes. It really was the best kind of stress reliever.
You made it a point to do so every other month, it really depended on your schedule. You even appointed it as one of the team building activities whenever you had company retreats. Funny how it was Jesse who had first introduced it to you when you had been dating and then you sorta got addicted. After a while you got better than him-he hates you rubbing it in though.
You think you loved it so much because you were really a combative, competitive person by nature...and these kinds of activities brought out the worst or maybe was it the best in you.
You grab one of the hoses before spraying several someone's hard in the face before managing to grab not one but two water-guns, ready to toss the other to Chloe...who's disappeared. That's weird she was right behind you. And you start firing at any man who crosses your path. You're water gun trigger-happy and then Jesse crosses your path...and you stare at each other hesitating "I don't want to hurt you Jess..." but he just gestures his hand in an unmistakable 'Bring it' motion before you fire at the same time, his spray narrowly missing you...Ha! you think, but nothing more comes out of yours-aw...your gun is empty.
"Sorry Babe" He says smirking when you put your hands up in mock surrender-and then continues to fire at you and you're simulatenously trying to back away and at the same time cover your face-where he keeps aiming, when you hear Jese give a yelp of surprise...
"Get away from her!" You blink away the water. Chloe had come to the rescue with he own fire hose spraying him right in the kisser,
"Sorry Babe" you laugh, running past him. He's still dazed, recovering from the attack; spitting out the water, shaking his head trying to get it out of his eyes, ears and nose...
An' I don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation
The other Bella girls aren't ones to go down without a fight as well-after initially running away the girls come back prepared... Fat Amy is a beast, together with Stacie and Cynthia Rose they have a whole pail full of water balloons, and they're throwing them like grenades running fearlessly into enemy lines
Oh no, not me, oh no, not me
I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation
I've never been afraid of any deviation
An' I don't really care if ya think I'm strange
I ain't gonna change
That's O.K., lets see how you do it
Put up your dukes, lets get down to it!
Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Why Don't You Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Fire Away!
You come on with a come on, you don't fight fair
But that's O.K., see if I care!
Knock me down, it's all in vain
I'll get right back on my feet again!
The epic battle soon comes to an end, and everyone's soaking wet, but people are cheering, laughing about it, looking like they just had the time of their lives ...so you could safely say it ended rather well with no hard feelings at all.
But HAha Trebles, the Bellas totally ruled that one.
A noise catches your attention-and you suddenly spot Aubrey who's still remarkably dry-appear out of nowhere, wait did she come out from hiding in the changing room ...that unfair, genius bitch...
Hit me with your best shot come and hit me with your best shot...
You think you're gettin carried away-you're blaming the awesome song choices- when you decide to up the ante. You are going to get Aubrey good. You're watching her waiting for the opportune moment-she's walking by the pool edge to get to the lounging chairs and you see the perfect opportunity. You don't take a second to think about the consequences, speedily running by "accidentally" nudging her with some excessive force.
You're biting down your laughter at witnessing Aubrey's attempt, how she's flailing trying-so hard, to keep in balance- before you hear the big loud SPLASH! and your control finally breaks as you collapse onto the floor in stitches, literally ROFLing and you hear the accompanying laughter from everybody else.
You're wiping away tears, clutching hard at your tummy,
"I am going to kill you!" Aubrey's gasping spitting out water as soon as she surfaces and seeing her appalled face does nothing to quell your laughter-only prompting you start a new laughing fit.
You watch as she tries to get out of the pool by herself, trying to pull herself up quickly (she had fallen in the middle of the pool nowhere near any of the steps or pool ladders) she was refusing all offered assistance-especially from Jesse trying to retain what was left of her dignity.
All at once it seemed like everyone wanted to join in, following your lead; either pushing, pulling or even throwing people into the pool-You jump in instead to avoid anyone doing it to you, and laugh when Aubrey finally pulls herself out only for you to now be in the pool. Chloe hands her a towel, which she grabs rather forcibly before she walks away, you follow her with your eyes till she disappears into the house-and there's a twist in your stomach, an unpleasant feeling, almost like guilt.
Aubrey is put out of your mind for the time being, when your attention's caught, hearing Chloe laughing and screaming "No no no!" seeing her being chased- struggling to get away from Luke. You're thinking of coming to her rescue, but before you can actually do something about it, Chloe's snatched up and thrown into the pool in one quick fluid motion, landing several feet away from you. Luke wastes no time jumping in right after her. You're swimming frantically, trying to get closer, when Chloe finally surfaces coughing followed by Luke, "Ass" she says pushing him hard on the chest. Luke grabs a hold of her hands firmly, trying to avoid-fend off further attacks.
You're like the ultimate creeper. You're watching them situated perfectly; not too close that you'd be noticed and not too far that you wouldn't be able to hear their dialogue.
Chloe's struggling to get out of his grip,"Let go of me Luke." Chloe says calmly but you can hear ice behind her tone.
"Only if you promise you won't hurt me..." Luke says still not doing so-sounding terrified. What a freakin pussy.
"I promise..." Chloe says ceasing with her struggling. He looks at her face for a moment, measuring how much she really meant it, before he quickly let's go- but doesn't take any chances. He starts swimming away from her as fast as he can.
Luke stops, looking back- maybe to see how far he had gotten, if he had successfully gotten into safety- but is surprised when Chloe's right a his tail..."You promised!" he shouts before he continues swimming faster,
"I promise to kick your ass Lucas Hubert Paxton!" Chloe shouts, catching up to him quickly. Okay that was pretty scary.
They're staring each other down before they both break into laughter, and you're feeling that familiar surge of jealousy watching them-at how comfortable they were around each other; she's slapping his arm, and he's making a grab for her but she's evading him nicely-That's my girl but he's persistent- chasing after her She doesn't want you, Luke, don't you get the picture you think. He manages to catch Chloe and then he carries her and throws her again. They're laughing freely, raucously the whole time She gets back at him, jumping up to push his head underwater. Wow she heard your thoughts, you too were thinking of drowning him. But it's all in good fun- proof of just how close they are. Almost like how you were with Jesse, the only difference? You were absolutely sure that there could only be friendship between the two of you. Them not so much.
Argh you hated your irrational jealousy, it's what got you into this mess in the first place, But you couldn't help it. Every smile she directed at him, every laughter, every touch they shared...you wanted only for yourself. It was a crazy thought...but it was so unfair. Luke has gotten to enjoy being with Chloe constantly, he was around her almost 24/7 the past couple of years -they were much too touchy, too at home with each other for your liking.
You're sure Luke never ever had to hold back with his touches, scared that he might not be able to stop touching her once he started, You're sure he never had to arrange his thoughts before he spoke, lest he revealed his true feelings to her. No matter what they said about their relationship being platonic- he said he thought of her as a sister eh, but the way he was looking at her right now...you're sure it's crossed his mind...that he entertained the thought every now and then and you couldn't really blame him...She was Chloe, she was the kind of girl you couldn't help falling for. And worse she could fall for him-you can totally see it happening, and that's what scares you. Maybe one day...they'll look at each other and out of the blue they'll think 'Why Not', and actually get together like everyone else says they should.
And you're snapped out of your thoughts-you realize that you had been standing there motionless for several minutes, probably looking like some weirdo loser- when you are being splashed and rocked by the mini tidal waves happening all around you, caused no doubt by the boys who have started roughhousing in the pool.
You quickly swim away getting as far away as possible from them pointedly ignoring Chloe and Luke when you pass by.
You reach the other end, and you climb the steps and make a beeline for some of the girls; Cynthia Rose, Lily, Stacie and Fat Amy, who are waving you over, hanging around the snack table just a few feet away from the pool.
"Dude that was balsy move you did back there with Aubrey..." Cynthia Rose says, as soon as you reach them, clapping your back before handing you a glass of Coke and a club sandwich which you accept gratefully- taking one huge bite. What is it about swimming that made you feel so thirsty and ravenous afterwards.
"I wouldn't have dared but Kudos to you for having the lady balls." Fat Amy says raising a glass to you,"To Beca getting one over the great Aubrey Posen. Beca, Aubrey slayer... All Hail!" she says,
"BECA AUBREY SLAYER ALL HAIL" you all chorus chortling before drinking.
"That was a long time coming, Aubrey totally deserved it," Your laughing, shaking your head, basking in everybody congratulating you for that awesome stunt you pulled.
Everyone's laughter suddenly dies down. And a lot of things seem to happen all at once.
Stacie ducks behind a chair. You see Cynthia Rose's eyes bulging up "Oh Man." she says. Lily's mouthing something, pointing frantically,
"Ah shit...that's scary" Fat Amy says, before quickly downing her drink.
"What is?" She doesn't get to answer however as she's starts coughing violently-apparently choking. Cynthia Rose is grabbing Fat Amy from behind performing the Heimlich maneuver,
"EVERYONE USE YOUR WORDS!" you shout exasperated. What the hell is happening. Everyone's acting so weirdly. Even Chloe is frantically trying to get out of the pool, waving- trying to get your attention. She looks terrified she's started shouting something like "Beca Run Behind you!" and everything's in slow mo when you do turn around and see what everyone is looking at; Aubrey running, charging at you at full speed, like some raging bull eying you the matador with the red cloth. You swore you just blinked- before "OOf"-next thing you know, you are on your back with Aubrey's crazy angry face above you.
Shit's about to go down.
Joan Jett-Bad Reputation
Pat Benatar-Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Haha Aw I love how some of you are really feeling the LukeXChloe friendship/pairing and are loving Mitchsen but sorry folks bechloe is endgame. But that doesn't mean I won't be filling the next chapters with plenty of interactions between these characters. It'll be fun to mix things up more drama and all.
