A/N: Hello folks! Hope we've all had a very good weekend. I didn't I broke my toe. But here is the next chapter. Aubrey is back and Staubrey is making progress. As is Bechloe as I adore them and strongly believe they are cannon.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pitch Perfect or the three songs used in this chapter… I don't want to spoil them here cause they have a bit of a build up but do look them up and listen to them when you get down to them. By the way, I use a mash up in this chapter. I am not in any way musically capable and unfortunately this mash up hasn't been created so I needed to invent it in my own mind myself. I hope it makes sense as it is and that you can imagine it without too much trouble. This chapter is pretty important to me, for reasons that will become apparent when you read it. Leave me a review or PM me to let me know what you thought about my take on something like that. I hope it doesn't disappoint. We are almost at the end now my friends. Peace.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Aubrey forced her tired eyes open and glanced at the bedside clock for the time. It was only just gone midnight.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Aubrey reached a hand up and grabbed her phone. Any lingering tiredness fled from her mind as she looked at the hundreds of calls, texts, emails and notifications. What had happened? She clicked on the most recent notification, which was a 'Chloe Beale' news alert. It had been chirping a lot recently, especially when her best friend's studio video had gone viral but this was something different.
"Chloe Beale is making headlines once again after a close friend released a video of the singer striping in front of friends-what!" Aubrey cried. She skimmed the rest of the article and found a link to Stacie's twitter feed, not even surprised that the brunette was involved with this mess. Of course she definitely wasn't expecting to see a very clear video of Chloe singing, stripping, dancing and lap-dancing to the seductive Beyonce song. "I'm gone fore two weeks!" Aubrey grunted as she jumped out of bed and began packing. Her time for sorting out her own mess was done because her two friends had created a shit-storm, once again.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Go away!" Amy yelled as the knocking interrupted her slumber on the couch.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Keep your knickers on!" Amy yelled again as she pulled herself upright. She moved too quickly and needed to grip her head in pain before continuing her journey to the door. The light streaming through the open curtains definitely wasn't helping. She'd barely unlocked the door when a flash of blonde was furiously pushing through it. Aubrey barely paused to glance at Amy as she walked into the apartment and to the first door in the hallway, hoping it would be the one Chloe was in. She'd tried Chloe's house first but no one had been home. She hadn't seen much of the interior of Beca's apartment on her first visit but she now recognised it as the location of Stacie's video. Aubrey didn't both with knocking as she threw the door open. She was lucky; Chloe and Beca were naked on the bed with only a thin sheet covering them.
"Chloe Beale!" Aubrey roared.
Chloe sat upright straight away, quickly clutching her head and groaning before focusing on the angry blonde standing at the foot of Beca's bed. She pulled the sheet up from where it had fallen when she'd sat up. "Aubrey?"
Beca had woken quickly and seemed just as confused.
"Do you understand what you've done? It was hard enough getting you through the Tom drama and you were the victim! Are you just addicted to the drama? Or do you enjoy needing me to clean up all your messes?" Aubrey yelled.
Chloe rubbed her eyes but made no effort to get out of the bed. "What are you talking about?"
"Your stripper video!" Aubrey roared.
Chloe blinked a few times as the information entered her brain. Once it did she slid out of bed, pulling on one of Beca's flannel shirts from the floor, and heading straight to Jesse's room where she assumed Stacie had slept. Chloe had the decency to knock first but that didn't stop Chloe and Aubrey (who had been hot of Chloe's heels) from opening the door to reveal a similarly naked but awake Stacie and Jesse.
"Aubrey!" Stacie gasped and covered herself when she saw the blonde. "This isn't-"
Aubrey held up a hand and forced herself to swallow her feelings. She tried to tell herself that she had no right to be mad, they were broken up, and Aubrey had other things to focus on right now. "Not now. We have worse problems."
Chloe gave Aubrey a sympathetic look before glaring at the brunette. "Did you record the dare last night?"
Stacie thought about it for a second before nodding.
"And did you post it somewhere?"
Stacie's eyes widened and she grabbed her phone from the bedside table. "No," she gasped as she looked through the phone. She tapped a few times. "It's deleted."
"It's too late," Aubrey sighed shaking her head at the brunette's stupidity. "I can't believe this."
"No. It's OK. I mean, it's not that bad. There's no nudity or drugs or adultery. It was a fun night with friends that involved a dare, drinking and my girlfriend," Chloe tried.
"Yes Chloe. American's love strippers."
"Well…" Stacie started before slamming her mouth shut after a glare from Aubrey.
"You can kiss Broadway goodbye. This has ruined your image Chloe. I don't even know where to start. We'll need to postpone or cancel the album. You'll need to give a statement apologising for yours actions-"
"Whoa," Beca interrupted as she entered the room fully dressed and handed Chloe some sweatpants. "You need to calm down and take a step back. It was a video, that's all, it's not the end of the world."
"It's the end of Chloe's world!" Aubrey snapped.
"No," Beca continued calmly, "It's not. Chloe isn't even interested in Broadway anymore. Hell this might help her career now that she wants to go into acting."
"What? Acting? Chloe?"
"You've been gone," Chloe began to explain before Beca jumped to her defence again.
"It's Chloe's life so she decides what to do. You don't get to come back and make her feel guilty for that. And although I don't want all of America getting to see that much of my girlfriend, I also know that they must be pretty damn impressed right now. I say Chloe owns it."
"You don't know anything about image, you are a nobody. Chloe, listen to me. You need to make a public apology."
Chloe's eyes flicked between her best friend and her girlfriend. Aubrey had always been there for her. Aubrey was there when her mother died, when her father left, when Tom cheated… everyday until the last two weeks Aubrey had supported her. But the last two weeks had been the best of her life and that was entirely thanks to Beca. Aubrey and Beca could see her hesitation and both stared at her awaiting her decision. Chloe took a deep breath; honesty was her only option. "Aubrey I don't know if I should apologise or own it, honestly I don't. I do know that I care about my career and I don't want to be the type of person that uses something like this to launch a new career and I do know that I love and trust Beca."
"Chloe-" Aubrey started.
"And I love and trust you. I'm not going to stand here and pick between my girlfriend and my best friend, especially because my best friend hasn't been here for the last two weeks, hates my girlfriend and stormed into this apartment uninvited to yell at us. We had a fun night, Stacie made a mistake and we will deal with it. I'll make a statement that explains that and we'll take it from there, OK?"
Aubrey blinked. She had known this woman her entire life but it seemed two weeks had almost made her unrecognisable. Gone was the girl who left everything to Aubrey to deal with and ignored problems. In front of her was a mature woman who wanted to face the problem and deal with it calmly. It was a maturity that assured her that Chloe didn't need her the way she once did. She had Beca now and she had her own strength. Aubrey glanced at the now dressed and guilty looking Stacie. Too bad her realisation was too late. "Well… I guess I'll go then."
"Bree-" Chloe tried.
"No Chloe it's fine. I wasn't invited. Call me later and let me know what statement to release."
Aubrey moved to leave but Beca stopped her. "Listen Aubrey. You being Chloe's best friend isn't going to change. You need to know that I'm serious about her and that means," Beca sighed, "Making a legitimate attempt to get along with you so stay, have breakfast and meet my friends."
Chloe smiled and nodded.
"Yeah Aubrey, you should stay," Stacie encouraged.
"OK. Thank you Beca."
"Oh you do know my name," Beca joked.
Aubrey glared at the smirking brunette as Chloe pulled them in for a group hug. "Look at us all getting along now, yey."
Beca, Chloe and Jesse left the room but Stacie lightly grabbed Aubrey's arm to hold her back.
"Can we talk for a second?" Stacie asked softly.
"You have nothing to explain Stacie. We broke up. You and Jesse are consenting adults and what you do in the privacy of his home is your own business," Aubrey said, her voice lacking emotion.
"It is your business Bree."
"Not anymore," Aubrey argued.
"Will you stop this?" Stacie snapped. "You can act like a cold-hearted bitch around everyone else but I know you better than that and I know this must have hurt you."
"It didn't."
"Well it should have!"
Aubrey broke. "You wanted to hurt me?"
"Of course not Bree. Hurting you is the last thing I want," Stacie said, apology in her eyes.
"Then why?" Aubrey asked, gestured at the messy sheets.
"Because he was there and he wanted me. For one night I wanted to feel what it was like to have someone want ME, not Chloe but ME."
Aubrey closed her eyes and nodded. "I understand Stacie." Aubrey opened her eyes and met Stacie's. "For what it's worth; I'm sorry."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that I had a lot of time to think, two weeks actually, two weeks of sitting alone in an empty apartment eating take-away. And for those two weeks it was you I was missing, not Chloe."
"Aubrey," Stacie gasped. She took a few steps and pulled the blonde into a hug. "Hearing those words from you… I honestly didn't think there was anything to salvage here Aubrey; I didn't think you were coming back and even if you did… Jesse may have wanted me last night but it was you that I wanted. It'll always be you that I want." Aubrey and Stacie stared into each other's eyes, reading the depth and emotion. There was something about this moment that felt different to all others between then and it took Stacie a moment to understand what it was. This was the first time Aubrey had looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered. This was the first time that she had been alone with Aubrey and hadn't felt Chloe's presence between them. This was the first time that simply staring into Aubrey's eyes was more important to her than sex.
"If we do this," Stacie ended the silence, "Then it's the last go for us. Three times is all I have in me Aubrey, I won't be able to forgive you if you break my heart again."
"I won't give you a reason to. Stacie… I want to take this slowly. I need this to be it as well because I'm done with heartache. There's a lot of healing we need to do as friends before we can try a relationship."
Stacie smiled. "Sure. Let's try slow." There was no kiss to seal the deal, no hug or handshake. There was only the silent agreement that they were both all in and that is all they needed.
Breakfast was awkward and long. Amy and Bumper had escaped as soon as they could so now it was just Beca, Chloe, Stacie and Aubrey sitting around trying to decide what to do first.
"I want to go home," Chloe said suddenly, "I want a nice long shower and midday nap."
"You can shower and sleep here," Beca offered.
"Thanks babe but my good shower stuff is at home anyway."
"Actually Chloe," Aubrey said, "You probably shouldn't go home right now."
"Why not?" Chloe asked.
"I went by there before I came here…" Aubrey trailed off, hoping Chloe would figure it out herself.
"There are paparazzi on my front lawn again, aren't there?"
Aubrey nodded. "We can put you up in a hotel for a few days and I can go get what you need, OK?"
"Chloe why don't you just stay here?" Beca offered.
"Are you sure babe?" Chloe asked.
"Yeah of course. I mean I know it's small and full of other people and my TV flickers and-"
Chloe pecked Beca's lips to stop her rambling. "I would love to stay here."
Beca grinned. "And by now I have a pretty good idea of your shower routine so I can be the one to go get your stuff. Besides, I'm a nobody so no one is going to pay me any attention going into your place."
"Thanks Bec," Chloe smiled, eyes shining with gratitude, "But maybe Bree should still go with because I have a feeling you may only pack me underwear for the week."
"I was actually thinking about packing no clothes," Beca smirked.
"I'm sure Jesse and Amy would love that."
Beca frowned. "Maybe I need to think it through a bit more."
"Maybe you do."
"Uck. Can we just go now?" Aubrey rolled her eyes at the back and forth.
Beca stood and followed Aubrey to the door.
"Be nice to my girlfriend!" Chloe called after them as they left.
"And now to relax with the E! Network," Stacie grinned as she turned the TV on and cuddled into Chloe's side.
"OK Beca just follow my lead and keep your mouth shut," Aubrey ordered as they pulled up to Chloe's house.
"Eye eye," Beca joked.
Aubrey turned angrily in her seat. "I'm serious Beca. This isn't some game. I understand keeping Chloe calm about everything but this is serious. There is more to this than a stripper video and when that news hits it is going to hurt. Brace yourself."
With that mysterious comment Aubrey climbed out of the car with Beca quickly followed. Lights flashed and questions were yelled as Aubrey and Beca pushed their way to the house.
"Ms Posen is Chloe ashamed about what happened?"
"Where are you hiding her?"
"Was she on drugs?"
"Did you link the video intentionally?"
"Who was the person Chloe was dancing for?"
"What was Ms Beale's intentions filming the video?"
"When was this video filmed?"
"Can you confirm that Chloe was still engaged when this video was taken?"
"Did Tom cheat because Chloe had already cheated?"
It was the last question that forced Beca and Aubrey to stop.
"Are you fucking serious?" Beca yelled but Aubrey put out an arm and stepped in front of the shorter brunette, giving a firm no-nonsense look, which quieted Beca.
"Chloe Beale will be releasing a statement later today. She will not be answering any questions and I am not at liberty to disclose any information on the matter except for saying that the video was taken last night without Chloe's permission and was accidentally leaked," Aubrey stated, quickly making the rest of the distance to the house, unlocking the door and entering.
Beca breathed a sigh when they were in the safety of the house. "That was crazy! Is that what it was like with Tom?"
"Yes. Chloe is famous, this comes with the territory. You're going to need to get used to it."
"What if I can't?" Beca accidentally said out loud.
Aubrey spun on Beca and poked a sharp finger into Beca's shoulder. "That is something you need to figure out and soon. Do not let Chloe lean on you for this if you are just going to walk out when it becomes too much. She will understand if this is too much but tell her now, not later."
Beca swallowed. Was this something she could handle? Chloe was already way out of her league and this… Beca brushed Aubrey off and headed to Chloe's bedroom to pack her things. She needed time to think about this.
Beca and Aubrey entered the apartment to find Chloe and Stacie staring at the TV with wide eyes and something akin to fear mixed with shock.
"What's happened?" Aubrey asked, placing a bag on the floor near the couch and taking a sit. Beca dropped the bags she was carrying and perched on the arm of the chair next to her girlfriend.
"It's Chloe's dad," Stacie started but she didn't need to say anymore as Giuliana Rancic's voice filled the room.
"Late last night a video was posted on a Twitter account belonging to Stacie Conrad, the personal stylist of Broadway actress and singer Chloe Beale. In this video Beale is seen to be stripping and giving an unknown female a lap dance. Ms Beale is yet to release a statement but her manager had this to say…"
Chloe and Stacie glanced at the blonde as the footage moved to show Aubrey standing outside of Chloe's house with Beca.
"Chloe Beale will be releasing a statement later today. She will not be answering any questions and I am not at liberty to disclose any information on the matter except for saying that the video was taken last night without Chloe's permission and was accidentally leaked."
"What happened to 'never speak without a script'? Isn't that what you always tell us?" Stacie questioned but Chloe was still very much focused on the TV as Giuliana reappeared.
"E! News was able to contact Ms Beale's father. Jason is live with Mr Beale in Chloe's hometown of Florida."
The screen shifted to show Jason Kennedy standing with a tall, thin, blue-eyed redhead that was Chloe's spitting image.
"Thank you Giuliana. Mr Beale, have you seen the leaked footage of your daughter?"
"Yes I have."
"And what do you have to say?"
The man looked straight at the camera and Chloe could feel his eyes boring into her own. "Chloe… You should be ashamed. You brought enough shame to your family with your decision to be bisexual, something I only discovered after watching your first shameful video. Now you disrespect me and the memory of your mother by doing crude and sinful acts with a person of the same sex for all of America to see. I am glad your mother isn't alive to see this."
For his part Jason seemed shocked and unsure what to do next. The footage quickly cut back to an equally shocked looking Giuliana who threw it to an ad. Aubrey grabbed the remote from Stacie and turned the television off.
"Chloe," Aubrey began when Chloe remained silent but the sound of her name seemed to pull Chloe from her trance as the redhead quickly found her feet and began to run to the door.
"Chloe!" Beca yelled, forcing the redhead to stop with one hand on the doorknob. "I know you are hurting but leaving isn't the right thing to do."
Chloe was hurting and angry but the person who deserved her emotions wasn't there, Beca was. "Are you kidding me right now?" Chloe screamed, shocking everyone in the room with the anger in her voice. "You are seriously going to try and tell me what the 'right' thing is to do? Have you ever had your father publically disown you? Have him say that your mother…" Chloe trailed off as she tried to choke down her tears. "So no, leaving might not be the right thing but it is what I'm going to do." Chloe pulled the door open but Beca slammed it shut.
"You promised me that no matter what happened you wouldn't leave. You are hurting Chloe but you are not going to walk out of this door."
Chloe's eyes flashed. "How dare you be so selfish?"
"OK fine, I'm being selfish but if you walk out this door then I won't forgive you." Beca and Chloe seemed in a stalemate for a moment. Beca knew that she was being harsh but Chloe was hurting and she would say whatever she needed to in order to keep the redhead somewhere safe.
Chloe released the door and stormed into Beca's bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
"That was quite a risk," Aubrey commented as the sound of the slammed door still echoed in the room.
"No. There was never a second that I wasn't sure what she would do," Beca said confidently. Beca stared at her closed door. Ever since the first time Chloe had locked herself in the room after Beca had asked her to leave Beca knew that Chloe could be trusted with Beca's heart. Beca couldn't believe that she had even doubted not having what it took to be able to handle public life with Chloe.
Beca was surprised with the handle turned in her hand and the door opened. Stacie and Aubrey had gone to Aubrey's hotel so that Aubrey could have some space to try and figure out some options. Beca had let Chloe have some space for the last two hours but wanted to check and see if the redhead was ready to talk or simply needed comfort. She was shocked to find the redhead sitting at her desk scribbling furiously.
"Chlo?" Beca asked softly as she walked into the room.
Chloe held up a finger and kept writing. Beca stood awkwardly behind the redhead and moved her weight from one foot to the other as she waited. After a few minutes Chloe dropped her pen and straightened. Beca took it as her turn to speak and stepped closer to her girlfriend.
"Chloe I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I didn't mean it. I just wanted you to stay here where you were safe and had people to talk to if you needed. I didn't mean it to be selfish-"
"Beca it's OK," Chloe interrupted. She turned on the chair and Beca could see dry tears trails and reddened eyes. "It's good that you made me stay. It wasn't selfish, well not entirely, I know you were trying to help me."
Beca stroked Chloe's cheek with a light finger and cupped her jaw. "Are you ready to talk about it?"
"Actually yes but not to you."
"Oh," Beca frowned as she tried to hide her disappointment and hurt.
Chloe saw it anyway and stood to look into her girlfriend's eyes. "I came out to Aubrey and her family when I was 15 and I had my first crush on a girl. They were the only people who I cared about so they were the only people that needed to know. Aubrey's father was always very strict, he was a military man, but he was the first person to hug me after I told him. I was never bullied in school and I've never been asked about it in interviews even though it is common knowledge. I hear so many stories about people experienced so many horrible things when they accept their sexuality but I was always lucky and I never once considered the possibility of how my estranged father would react. And honestly, now that he has… it wasn't his feelings that hurt me… It was what he said about my mother. My father was a very different person growing up and I've learnt to separate this man from the man I loved so his opinion means nothing to me. I want, no, I need to believe that my mother loves me for who I am. I've told you that my father knew mum the best so I believe him when he says what he thinks mum would believe. What is hurting me is the idea that he honestly thinks mum would hate what I've become but it isn't you I should be talking about. He told his feelings to all of America. In televisions across the country kids-homosexual, bisexual, transgender, straight, confused, and any other label they give themselves or the world gives them-were forced to watch a man hate them for being who they are. I wouldn't be able to stand up and sing songs about empowerment and overcoming adversity if I spent the week hiding in this room and letting them deal with this alone."
Beca's heart swelled with love and pride. "What are you going to do?"
Chloe handed Beca the paper she'd written on. It was a song. "I'm going on Ellen. Today." Ellen had agreed immediately, just as Chloe had known she would. In fact she'd been about to call Chloe to offer the same idea when Chloe had called. She'd offered Chloe her sympathy and a shoulder and Chloe had been grateful. Chloe had also called Stacie and Aubrey to inform them of her plans and although Aubrey had stressed they had agreed to all meet at Ellen's building in an hour.
Beca scanned the sheet. Chloe had written a new song and also mashed together two existing songs. Beca couldn't believe that she had never considered pairing the two songs for any remixes that she made… it was probably because musically they were very different; their similarities were in the lyrics, which was Chloe's area of expertise. "This is beautiful Chloe," Beca complimented, once again struck by how talented her girlfriend was. Her smile turned into a frown though as she read the music Chloe had messily added under the lyrics. "But some of this won't work."
Chloe looked where Beca pointed on the sheet. "It works."
"Yeah if there were two people singing."
"There will be."
"Chloe I can't-"
"Beca listen to me. I am not going to make you do this, at all. If you say no then fine, I'll do it or ask Stacie to. But before you do say no you should know that I think you'll be great. Your voice is amazing and I think having two women singing it may make it fantastic."
"Chloe you are asking me to stand on a stage in front of Ellen DeGeneres and hundreds of other Americas for the very first time I sing in public."
"I'm also asking for you to produce live," Chloe added openly. Although Chloe could and would play the piano for the original song she had written the mash up would need other instruments to pair with the piano and no band would be able to just play it without knowing it. Beca would need to add the beats and instruments as they were singing because she wouldn't have time to create an entire, edited, arrangement before the show started.
Beca opened and closed her mouth like a fish.
"I believe in your talent Beca, I really do."
Beca looked into Chloe's eyes and saw nothing but honesty and love. This was Beca's moment to prove to Aubrey, to everyone, to herself, that she was someone who deserved Chloe. "OK. I'll do it."
"Great!" Chloe beamed. "Let's go!"
"I am a lesbian," Ellen said proudly, eliciting a round of laughter from her audience. "Yes, I know, it's shocking. No one was more surprised than my wife," some more laughter, "Which is why I was not only deeply hurt but also extremely offended when a man-I refuse to call him a father-appeared on my TV and told his daughter that her passed mother could be disappointed in her for being bisexual. Chloe Beale is a very close friend of mine and someone who was only on the show recently after a viral video outted her and showed her fiancé cheating. She is not my daughter but I am deeply proud of the grace and maturity that she showed in dealing with her private heartache publically. I watched silently, along with America, as she began to rebuild her life. I watched her perform at a charity dinner she organised with two beautiful original songs. I watched her strength as she performed those songs and I was shocked when it was revealed that she had surgery the next day to remove vocal nodules, something that I needed to look up and now am floored that she was able to perform like that with them. I was sceptical that she would recover but in complete awe when Burning Gold was released. Chloe Beale is not the first person to have a night drinking with friends and she certainly isn't the first person to be dared to do a striptease and have it recorded and accidentally leaked. Mistakes were made and accidents happen. That man's words were not mistakes or accidents. But Chloe Beale is still standing and she is here today to share with us what she is feeling. So please, put your hands together for my friend, Chloe Beale."
Chloe walked onto the stage and gasped. Not only was the audience clapping but also they were standing, some were even crying. They were why she needed to do this. Ellen greeted her with a tight hug and then they sat down, the audience calming and retaking their seats.
"Thank you for coming in today Chloe."
"Thank you for having me."
"Any time. So how are you feeling?" Ellen simply posed the question, knowing Chloe was ready to openly talk in detail without any prompting.
Chloe turned so that she was mostly facing the audience because it was them she was speaking to. "Love is louder. When I used those words as the entire basis for a charity I don't think I realised exactly how strong they were. Last night my best friend made a mistake. Every time I sing she films it, which is exactly what she unconsciously did last late. It was a habit to post the video on Twitter and I won't be mad at her for that. I'm sorry that it happened and I am so sorry that there are young people out there who viewed me as a role model because that isn't something you should aspire to. I hope you can understand that I know I made a mistake but I also hope that you can understand that I was at home and in private with my very close friends doing nothing illegal. The next morning though, despite everything, one of my best friends flew across America to be here today and help me navigate the backlash. In fact, all of my friends were nothing but supporting because their love is louder than what anyone else had to say. After my father's interview-which I unfortunately watched live-it was my girlfriend who was right next to me. Her love was louder than anything he had to say. I want everyone-whether you are gay, straight or searching-to know that there is love for you that is louder than what anyone else has to say because they don't matter if they don't love you how you deserve to be loved. This year has been hellish for me but I haven't broken and I never will because love is louder. My mother died when I was fourteen and I know that she loved me, I have never and will never doubt that. So my father can say what he needs to because my memory of my mother's love is louder. My email address is on the charity website so if you ever face a day that is too hard and you start breaking then contact me because I already love you more than you know." Chloe turned back to Ellen, she had nothing more to say and hoped her message had been received. Judging by the tears in Ellen's eyes it had been.
"That was beautiful."
"It was the truth."
Ellen swallowed a few times and refocused. "And I believe there was a song you wanted to sing for us?"
"Yes I do. I have actually asked my very talented and amazing girlfriend, Beca Mitchell, to help me with this-we only planned it today-so please make her feel welcome." Chloe stood and moved to the piano Ellen had set up on the stage. The curtains were closed but Chloe knew Beca was waiting behind them for when she would be needed. The lights dimmed and a spotlight focused on Chloe. "I wrote this song today. It's called Sinners." Chloe's nimble fingers began stroking the keys of the piano, a soft melody filling the studio.
Our lives are stories, waiting to be told
In search of silver linings, we discovered gold
And judgment taught us that our hearts were wrong
But they're the ones that we'll look down upon
The rules say our emotions don't comply
But we'll defy the rules until we die
So let's be sinners to be saints
And let's be winners by mistake
The world may disapprove
But my world is only you
And if we're sinners then it feels like heaven to me
Chloe's voice was strong and heartfelt and the audience could feel the pain and strength surrounding them all and filling them with the same passion that Chloe was feeling with her love for all, especially Beca.
You showed me feelings I've never felt before
We're making enemies, knocking on the devil's door
But how can you expect me not to eat,
When the forbidden fruit tastes so sweet?
So let's be sinners to be saints
And let's be winners by mistake
The world may disapprove
But my world is only you
And if we're sinners then it feels like heaven to me
Our hearts are too ruthless to break
Let's start fires for heavens sake
Our hearts are too ruthless to break
Let's start fires for heavens sake
Our hearts are too ruthless to break
Let's start fires for heavens sake
Our hearts are too ruthless to break
So let's be sinners to be saints
And let's be winners by mistake
The world may disapprove
But my world is only you
And if we're sinners then
It feels like heaven
To me
And if we're sinners then it feels like heaven to me
Chloe seamlessly changed the notes she was playing to lead straight into the next song. Chloe could feel the recognition build as she played the very recognizable opening of 'Same Love'. Chloe surprised everyone when she instead sang the opening of Take Me To Church over the music of Same Love.
[Beca, Chloe, together]
My lover's got humour
She's the giggle at a funeral
Knows everybody's disapproval
I should've worshipped her sooner
If the heavens ever did speak
She's the last true mouthpiece
Every Sunday's getting more bleak
A fresh poison each week
"We were born sick," you heard them say it
My church offers no absolutes
She tells me, "Worship in the bedroom."
The only heaven I'll be sent to
Is when I'm alone with you
I was born sick
But I love it
Command me to be well
Aaay. Amen. Amen. Amen.
The curtain rose and a light found Beca standing behind a mixing board with a microphone in front of her. Beca added a beat over Chloe's piano, also familiar but from a second song, layering it over Chloe but somehow mixing as well. Chloe's eyes met Beca's as she began to sing the chorus for Same Love over the music for Take me to Church.
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
Beca cut into part of the rap verse for Same Love, deciding to keep it slow like Macklemore but singing the lines more than rapping them. Beca's voice was soulful and intense, the perfect accompaniment for Chloe's.
It's human rights for everybody, there is no difference!
Live on and be yourself
When I was at church they taught me something else
If you preach hate at the service those words aren't anointed
That holy water that you soak in has been poisoned
When everyone else is more comfortable remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolen
I am the same, but that's not important
No freedom 'til we're equal, damn right I support it
Chloe took over as the music began to build again.
That looks tasty
That looks plenty
This is hungry work
Beca kept going as she moved into the chorus from Take Me To Church
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life
Chloe sang the next verse in Take Me To Church. The audience was loving the song, deeply involved, but Chloe's entire being was focused on Beca, as was Beca's.
No Masters or Kings
When the Ritual begins
There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin
Beca cut in again with Same Love.
Whatever God you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it's all the same love
About time that we raised up... sex
Chloe pushed it back to Take Me To Church.
In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene
Only then I am human
Only then I am clean
Ooh oh. Amen. Amen. Amen.
Beca left her mixing board, it was paying and there was nothing more to do and she had set it up to fade out perfectly. Beca approached Chloe with her microphone in hand, Chloe stood as well, letting Beca's music sustain the song without the piano. Beca and Chloe met mid-stage and faced each other as they each sung the different choruses together, harmonizing perfectly and not overpowering either song.
Take me to church
(And I can't change)
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
(Even if I tried)
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
(Even if I wanted to)
Offer me that deathless death
(She keeps me warm)
Good God, let me give you my life
(She keeps me warm)
Take me to church
(And I can't change)
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
(Even if I tried)
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
(Even if I wanted to)
Offer me that deathless death
(She keeps me warm)
Good God, let me give you my life
(She keeps me warm)
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
Love is patient
Love is kind
Love is patient
Love is kind
Chloe's voice finished the last line and both women dropped their hands. Their eyes were focused on each other and in perfect unison they leaned forward and shared a sweet and loving kiss as the curtain closed. They were still lost in each other's presence behind the curtain when the entire audience burst into applause and cheering, giving them an unseen standing ovation.