After killing an entire bottle of wine and listening to the majority of Beca's most favorite playlists, which is admittedly, A LOT of music, the girls decided to call it a night. After readying themselves for bed in their oh so familiar routines (Chloe washes her face while Beca brushes her teeth, and then they switch) the pair headed to Chloe's room. Climbing into their respectable sides, Beca felt a wave of guilt wash over her. Here she was, sleeping in a bed with a girl who wasn't her girlfriend…who wasn't even just a friend in the least. She couldn't help thinking about how betrayed she might feel if it was the other way around with Catherine. And to top it all off, Catherine didn't even know what had occurred between her and Chloe, and Chloe had no idea Catherine existed…still.
Yet here she was, cuddling with the girl who had changed her life, yet she couldn't have her the way she wanted. And if it wasn't for Chloe wrecking her walls, she probably wouldn't have Catherine. She couldn't help letting out an overwhelming sigh that for the second time that night, she didn't want Chloe to hear.
"What's on your mind?" Chloe asked, her eyes still closed as her head rested on the DJ's shoulder.
"Nothing. I'm just comfortable. That's all." Beca told her.
"You sigh a lot. And I know which each one means, and that wasn't Beca's comfortable sigh, so don't try to pull that shit on me." Chloe replied, sitting up and looking at the brunette. Beca bit her lip, contemplating having this discussion with Chloe, quickly deciding against it because, oh I don't know, she was in her bed, maybe?
"You know my mind, Chlo. It doesn't really stop turning." Beca admitted, weakly.
"I swear, you are the queen of vague!" Chloe exclaimed with a slight giggle.
"Seriously, Becs. You can talk to me about anything."
Anything? Apparently not.
"I…I'm just nervous. I have a DJing gig coming up." Beca said. Not a total lie, but it was actually probably the furthest thing from her mind at that moment.
"Wait, what!? That's awesome! When and where?" Chloe asked excitedly.
"It's um, it's at the place we saw Girl Talk. I kind of know someone who works there." Beca told her.
Okay…getting warmer Beca.
"Well, when is it!?" Chloe asked again
"In a week." Beca muttered.
The ginger threw herself onto Beca, pulling her into a crippling embrace as she squealed with excitement and congratulations.
"It's not that big of a deal…it's like this radio thing. There's going to be a ton of talented DJ's from the area." Beca said
Plus, you know, my girlfriend is going to be there.
"Yeah but none of them are you. You're going to kill it! Just wait until I tell the Bella's, they're going to be stoked!" Chloe exclaimed.
"Phssh, I doubt they'll show." Beca told her in disbelief.
"Are you kidding me? They love you. And of course they'll show! Do you not remember the night you go arrested and we all waited up for you? Face it, you've got fans." Chloe told her which made Beca chuckle.
"If you say so." Beca replied.
"There's no need to be nervous. You're amazing. You need to start believing that." Chloe told her.
So amazing, yet you won't be with me.
Chloe snuggled back into Beca's side, pulling the brunette's arm around her.
"See, doesn't talking help make things better?" Chloe asked as the brunette just hummed in response.
It sure doesn't.
The next day Beca awoke to the sight of Chloe's hair sprawled across her chest. It was something she was sure she could wake up to everyday and never tire of seeing, however this time she felt extremely uneasy. As she slowly tried to extract herself from beneath Chloe, the older girl stirred awake and the sight of her piercing baby blue eyes distracted Beca of her flight plan.
"Heyyy, DJ." The ginger slurred with a yawn.
"Morning, Chlo." Beca replied lazily, completely humbled by Chloe's beauty. She swore, the senior was the only girl she knew who could look this beautiful after just waking up.
Snapping out of her daze, Beca quickly stood up and stretched out.
"What's up?" Chloe asked.
"Huh? Nothing…I just really need coffee." Beca told her with a shrug.
Chloe nodded in agreement and got up herself.
"Let's go grab some then!" She suggested as she made her way to the bathroom, probably to make her look even more perfect than she already did, which seems impossible but definitely isn't. Beca fixed her hair and changed back into her clothes from the night before, applying a slight layer of makeup and pulling her hood up.
After packing up her laptop, Chloe and Beca left the older girl's apartment and headed towards the coffee shop on campus since it was closer than their usual quad cart stop and neither of them could wait for their morning beverages.
As they idly chatted and strolled about, laughing at some stupid inside joke, Beca caught sight of Catherine up ahead walking towards the two with her headphones on. And she definitely spotted them, as she greeted Beca with a megawatt smile.
"Um, Chloe, I need to tell you something." Beca confessed
"What's up?" Chloe asked
"If it's about the Bella's, don't worry. I'll take care of it." Chloe said as Beca just nervously shook her head as Catherine got closer.
"No, it's not that, it's actually…"
"Beca!"
The sound of Catherine's voice caught both girls attention as they stopped and looked towards the brunette who was making her way over. Chloe turned and looked at Beca before turning back to Catherine who was now within a couple of feet.
"Hey babe!" Catherine greeted as she threw herself into Beca's arms.
"Babe?" Chloe mouthed, eyebrows raised in confusion as she looked at Beca who happened to look extremely uncomfortable at the moment.
"Hey, Catherine." She replied as Catherine kissed her on the cheek and pulled away.
"You must be Chloe!" Catherine said excitedly as she turned towards the red head and greeted her. "I'm Catherine, Beca's girlfriend. It's so nice to finally meet you!"
"Oh, wow, Catherine?…yes, it's nice to meet you too…" Chloe replied, obviously surprised at the revelation. And from the looks of it, not exactly pleased to meet the girl who currently had her arms wrapped around Beca's neck, sizing her up, like most girls do when they meet each other.
Catherine turned her gaze back to Beca.
"I'm on my way to the club to help my uncle set up for tonight's act but I hope I can make it up to you tonight for having to cancel last night?" the petite girl offered.
"Of course." Beca told her with a weak smile.
"Perfect. Well, I'm off…by the way, you left your favorite hoodie at my place the other night and I'm wearing it until you earn it back." She told Beca with a wink and a kiss to the cheek as she slightly pulled at the garment she was wearing and unwrapped herself from Beca and sauntered off.
Talk about a hit and run
As Beca came down from the momentary high that was Catherine, she turned to face Chloe, only to notice that Chloe was somewhat in the distance and Beca had to jog to catch up to her.
"Chloe! Wait up! ..Hey!" She shouted as she reached out and caught the older girl's arm. As Chloe was turned around, she flung Beca's hand off of her and crossed her arms, all while sending Beca the glare of the century.
"You have a girlfriend!?" Chloe exclaimed.
"Uh, yeah. It's a recent development…I was going to tell you about it!" She said as Chloe turned and began walking again. Beca grunted in frustration and once again threw herself in front of Chloe's line of travel in an attempt to explain herself.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me? That's a pretty significant thing, Beca." Chloe fumed.
"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't bring it up because you were having your surgery and I don't know. Everything happened so fast." Beca told her.
Chloe just shook her head and started walking again, which pissed Beca off to no end. She knew she should have told Chloe sooner but in her defense, talking about anything isn't her strong suit. And she figured this would be a sensitive subject and was trying to avoid just the reaction Chloe was giving her.
"Why are you so mad?" Beca huffed out. Chloe turned upon hearing this.
"Why am I so mad? You neglected to tell me a pretty big thing from your personal life, something I thought you had gotten over. You told me you would talk to me more! I even asked you if anything happened on spring break AND if anything was bothering you last night. It's like I directly asked you something and you lied. And..And…" Chloe stopped herself, and took a deep breath.
"And what?" Beca asked
"And, nothing. I'm totally stoked for you, Beca." Chloe said, in a tone that Beca knew was not a happy one.
"Dammit, don't lie to me Chloe, what were you going to say?" Beca asked with frustration.
"You're the expert in lying, why don't you figure it out!" Chloe told her, once again walking away.
"You rejected me! You made me feel like an idiot and then you insisted that we remain 'best friends' am I honestly not supposed to try to move on from that!?" Beca angrily asked her.
Chloe turned around and marched right up to Beca with a look of hurt and anger, and her eyes bordering on tears.
"You know it's way more complicated than that! And you could've at least been honest with me, at that. You know I have feelings for you too!" She said with her finger in Beca's face.
Beca shook her head, preparing to speak.
"Don't!" Chloe exclaimed. Lingering for a moment and trying to pull herself together.
"You better be at Bellas practice today at 3, no excuses." She said before turning once again and leaving.
Beca just let her go.
Sighing dejectedly, she pulled out her phone to text the only other person she knew could help her make things right.
Beca: SOS…Chloe met Catherine and it didn't go well…
Jesse: I'm at the station, come by dude.
And with that, Beca made her way to the station.
"Dude, she exploded." Beca said upon seeing Jesse when she arrived.
"I'm not going to say I told you so, really, I'm not." He told her as he stacked a few CD's on a shelf and made his way back to the desk to grab another pile. "Honestly, I think she would've reacted that way no matter what way she told you. That or she would've done that whole pout thing that would've made you go up to the roof of this place and throw yourself off."
"You know the pout?" Beca asked, eyebrows raised.
"Yup." Jesse replied, popping the P.
"What the hell do I do, Jess? I tried to explain my side and she flipped out. I tried to apologize and still, she was angry." Beca explained.
"I don't think there's anything you can do right now. You've gotta let her cool off and get over it. And maybe avoid her interaction with Catherine for a while." Jesse suggested
"I can't. I have this gig coming up at Catherine's uncle's club. She and the Bellas are supposed to be there. I mean, that is if Chloe is still planning on being my friend." Beca said sadly.
"Of course she's going to be there, Chloe isn't going to give up on your friendship. She kind of has a right to be pissed, but, I don't think she's the kind of friend to just walk away like that." He reasoned as he headed off to stack another bunch of CDs.
"I know she's not, but things are going to be awkward again." Beca groaned.
"And on top of that, she pretty much threatened me into showing up to Bellas rehearsal today."
"Oh yeah, hey I heard you guys were back in the competition. Congrats!" Jesse said as he flashed a wide, toothy, grin.
Beca rolled her eyes.
"I hate you." She mumbled.
"Listen, Bec, you just need to keep apologizing. She'll get over it sooner or later. Especially since you're both leaving soon." Jesse said.
"Geez, that makes everything better." She retorted sarcastically.
"I'm just saying, that's probably how it's going to be." He added.
"I've seen Chloe mad before, but this was explosive. She almost started crying…and she mentioned how she has feelings for me. God Jess, what am I supposed to do? Wait around forever for her to have enough time and be in a convenient place to be with me? That makes me feel so pathetic." Beca told him.
"Because you'd wait for her if she asked you to?" He asked
"Sounds romantic to me." He told her as he fumbled through the CDs.
"She never asked. And it sounds pathetic Jess. I need to have a life!" Beca defended.
"Easy tiger! I'm on your side. It's a sensitive situation. I can't offer much more advice than I have." He told her.
"I can however come to your gig on Saturday and help keep the peace. I'll bring some Trebles…it'll be fun." Jesse added as he swatted her on the back.
She winced at the sudden force and sighed as she heard her phone going off. She groaned as she saw it was her father calling.
Could this day get any worse?
"Hello?" She answered, unenthusiastically.
"Beca! Finally. How was spring break?" Her father asked.
"Um. Eventful." She mumbled.
"Listen, Dad are you home? I was hoping I could swing by.."
"Um. Of course you can come over Beca, I'm just readying some lectures for next week." He told her, surprised at her willingness to come to his house. He'd been trying to get her to come over since the year started, hell he'd been trying to just have an actual conversation with her.
"I'll see you in 20." She told him before hanging up.
Talk about hitting rock bottom. Beca was reaching out her father, someone she couldn't be more disconnected from, for advice on something he knew nothing about; love.
She walked the six blocks from campus and walked up the steps to the porch of his colonial house, breathing in deeply before she knocked on the door.
Being greeted by the step-monster didn't exactly thrill her, but Sheila didn't pry and showed Beca to her father's study, leaving them alone to talk.
After lingering for a few moments, she finally sat in front of his desk. He nervously scratched the back of his head, just as she does, before offering her something to drink or eat. She politely declined and the two sat there in another moment of silence.
"I can't talk to you in here. I feel like one of your students." She confessed, which actually amused her because he had always spent more time concerned with his students than with her growing up, or so she had thought, anyways.
"Let's go to the kitchen then. I could use a cup of tea." He told her. They made their way through the large house and into the kitchen where he immediately filled a kettle with some water and placed on the burner before flicking the switch and turning his attention back to Beca.
"So.. What's on your mind, kiddo?" He asked.
Beca winced at the nickname. She hated being called that. Talk about condescending. She set that aside, deciding not to comment on anything that might start an argument between them and decided to get right down to it.
She pulled on her hoodie and looked down as she took a seat at the island.
"Here's the thing. I'm in a bit of a situation and I guess I could really use some good old fatherly advice." She told him in a slightly sarcastic tone, which was the only way she could really talk to her father since there was so much animosity between them.
She hesitantly began to explain everything, from The Bellas to Chloe and Catherine and well, everything in between. It wasn't a secret she was gay, she had come out a long time ago and none of her parents seemed to have any problem with it, nor did her father ever inquire about her love life, since she just shut him out with everything else anyways. He decided to address the Bellas situation first, since he was absolutely thrilled when she had gotten involved at school.
"And you thought quitting was the answer?" He asked.
"Seriously? You can say that to me?" She asked with offense.
"Oh c'mon Bec. It's not the same thing. You were doing so well! I know it must be hard for you with all your musical ability to have to compromise, but sometimes that's life. Did you even play your mixes for any of the girls?" He asked her as he poured her a cup of tea.
"Other than Chloe, no. I never really had the chance." She responded.
"Never had the chance, or never took the initiative?" He challenged.
"Both, I guess." She admitted.
"Sometimes you have to put yourself out there, not everyone's just going to trust that you know what you're talking about unless you show them." He advised.
"I just can't imagine putting myself back in that situation, going back to those talented girls and compromising just for one girl's ego." She told him.
"Well, I agree with you Bec. But sometimes you have stand by your friends, for better or for worse, because friendship is a terrible thing to waste." He told her.
"It's easier to just shut everyone out and do my own thing." She said
"It's also a very lonely way to live. I'm sure if you're as close as you say you are to them, they'll hear you out if you hear them out." He said, taking a sip of his tea. She shrugged her shoulders. Maybe she shouldn't have just walked away, maybe she should've explained herself more and tried to get them on her side vs. pushing them away.
"And what do I do about Chloe? About Catherine?" She asked him.
"Ah, I can't tell you what to do there. They both sound like great girls. You have to follow your heart on that one, Becs. I know it's scary but sometimes putting yourself out there and taking risks…it can make a difference and be worth it in the end." He explained.
"I can't just dump Catherine and wait for Chloe my entire life. That doesn't seem right." She reasoned.
"It's not, I agree. But if Chloe means as much to you as she seems to, you guys need to have a serious talk. Maybe she needs to respect your feelings more or maybe you need to be more sensitive to hers, whatever the case, it seems like you girls benefit a lot from having each other in your lives. Let the smoke blow over and then try to talk to her, as her friend. That's the most important thing in all of this, you guys are friends." He told her.
Her mind was blown right now. Everything her father was saying was actually making sense and not pissing her off for once. She glanced up at the clock, noticing it was a quarter after 3.
"Shit, Dad. I'm sorry, but I really have to go." She told him, standing up hurriedly and heading for the door. He followed her out.
"I'm glad you came to me Becs, you always can. Differences aside, okay?" He told her.
"Right. Thanks Dad." She said. He held his arms out for a hug and she hesitated before pushing her hand out for a high-five, which he reciprocated with an odd look on his face. She smiled.
"We'll work on that." She told him with a smirk. He just nodded and chuckled as Beca left and made her way back to campus.
She reached the auditorium and re-thought of the scenario where Chloe just punches her in the face, and the one where the girls all just ignore her and shuddered at the thought. She turned around, deciding it maybe wasn't worth it, but was met with her father's words and turned around yet again, pulling the doors open and walking down the corridor to quite the sight.
She looked around and saw the girls fighting each other and screaming. Stacie was blowing her rape whistle, and there was throw up (presumably Aubrey's) on the floor.
"Guys! Guys! Stop! What is going on?" She screamed as everyone stopped their actions and stared at her.
"Nothing." Aubrey huffed, picking up the pitch pipe and walking over to Beca.
"This is a Bellas practice." She said firmly. Insinuating that the DJ did in fact not belong here.
"I know…" She mumbled, looking down.
As she looked up she caught Chloe's gaze. Her arms were crossed and her brow was furrowed, much like earlier today. She looked pissed, yet relieved at the same time. Beca couldn't exactly tell. She looked around at all of the Bellas who were now staring at her with questionable looks.
Fuck, this was a bad idea.