Act On It
Chapter 3: Sorting out
The next couple of days neither girl were able to spot the newbie.
"Have you seen her today?"
"Sorry to disappoint red but nope," Cynthia said in a dramatic tone.
"Strange…"
In that moment Chloe decided to go to the secretariat and ask whether Ms. Mitchell has been at school this week at all.
"Hey Tina was just curious if the new one name's Mitchell, has been spotted anywhere this week and particularly today?" Chloe grins her typical cute redhead grin.
"Hey red! Uhm I think she's been here this whole week, including today!"
"Well, okay… thanks!
"If she's not in the teacher's room, maybe she's upstairs in the music department… since she's a music teacher you know?" Tina laughs.
"Oh… right, thanks!"
Not a bad idea. I could take a look upstairs. The music rooms are on the fifth floor of the school, they're also the top floor of the school building. There are elevators for teachers but she despises them, so she decides on walking.
Once upstairs she finds the door to the huge main music room (the one where the orchestra classes usually practice) open wide. She dares to peek through the door only to find it empty.
She enters the huge room, crossing the floor to the door in the back.
There is a small hallway in the back which leads over to the second, smaller music room. Music teacher's usually take a break or speak about business back there.
It was worth a shot.
"Mrs. Mitchell? Are you in here by chance?"
"Oh hey! I didn't hear anyone coming… she was here like seconds ago, just missed her," the music teacher said.
"Damn, well … okay thanks. Seems like I'm out of luck today!"
Chloe sighs, "Bye!"
So out of luck right now.
Meanwhile:
Beca just finished work, proudly.
She even stayed longer to work on some new music project. She's very close to finish it soon and is therefore very excited.
The past days have been rather stressful, there was no time for a real private life what so ever. But now that most things that revolved around the project were settled, she got some time to recall this week.
Strangely Friday came way faster than planned.
She made a mental checklist on her way home. Although she still had to make a stop at the teacher's room to get the rest of her things.
She'd usually stop by by the blackboard to see if there was anything new about this acting/musical club she had been invited to.
Nothing again… it's been a week now and it seemed rather strange to hear nor read anything on said club because the redhead was so very determined to make it happen in the first place.
Even if they didn't find enough teacher's she surely would get back at Beca if it wouldn't happen, wouldn't she?
She went back to her seat, gathering her things when a figure approached from behind.
"Hey, yo! You're Mrs. Mitchell right?"
Beca turns around seeing a not so familiar face, "Uhm, yes? And you are?" Beca laughs nervously. It would be rather embarrassing not knowing any important colleagues as a newbie.
"Oh sorry! I'm Cynthia-Rose, the one who held back the fierce redhead on your first day, remember?"
"Oh right, right! I knew your face was familiar, sorry! Actually I was wondering when it will start? I mean it's perfect to meet you here because you guys didn't get back at me and I really wanted to be a part of it," Beca smiles.
"Oh my! We never received your invitation back? To whom did you give?" Cynthia seems confused. But only half as confused as the woman opposing her.
"Urg, I put it in her shelf," Beca explains.
"And you're sure it was the right one? Beale?"
"What? That guy told me it was "Paulson"?" Beca already rages.
"No way… these people are as terrible as ever. Don't trust anyone, seriously!"
Beca's anger only grows and a somewhat sad smile appears on her face, "I'm sorry."
"No dude! Not your fault! This is great news, with you we have the perfect count of people for the team. Chlo will be super excited and happy!" Cynthia smiles big-time.
"Really? I can still join? Haven't you like started already?" Beca sounds really positively surprised.
"We only had one meeting no worries! We are only starting making appointments and creating formulas for students to join! Our next met will be on Monday. At 3. You free?"
"Wait, let me just check my schedule real quick," Beca pulls out her schedule, "having classes till 2:30 so it's perfect! Lucky me," Beca pumps her fist in the air, smiling.
"Awesome," Cynthia pulls up her hand, indicating for Beca to give her a high-five. Beca returns the high-five request happily.
"I'll see ya on Monday then. Have a nice weekend!"
"You, too Mrs. Mitchell!"
"Oh it's Ms. and also… Beca to you," she winks.
"Well then, Miss Beca," Cynthia grins. Never miss an opportunity to flirt, right?!
The Weekend flew by faster than imagined.
Monday came and Chloe was obviously happily looking forward to the meeting although she couldn't deny that she was still confused as to why the smaller brunette didn't ever get back at her.
"Hey red! How was your weekend?" Cynthia smiles.
"Alrighty… how was yours?"
"You don't sound very impressed?" Cynthia raises a brow.
"Was only grading papers and had huge headaches," Chloe sighs deeply.
"Sure sounds pleasant, girl. Same old, same old – didn't do much neither," Cynthia stretches in her seat.
"Great," Chloe laughs, "Well but I was looking forward to the meeting today. Also have a few ideas on which play to choose."
"That's awesome! I'm curious to know later!"
"I need to head to class now, seeya later Cynth," Chloe smiles. "Seeya, red!"
14:36: 'How will this not be awkward? I'm just gonna walk in there like I've always been there. Surely they won't notice. Oh my, how can I impress anyone like that? Feels like I'm back to being a student myself.'
She was early, way too early. Well okay, only 10 minutes but hey, early.
The door to the room they were supposed to meet was already open. That much she saw from afar.
Should she dare to go in yet? Well to be honest, waiting in front of an open door seems kinds even more dumb and also way more awkward. So entering, it is.
She was surprised to find no one inside.
'All the thoughts for nothin', well played, kiddo.'
She settled in one of the chairs in the front. The room had no stage or anything that would make you assume that people in here would be acting or anything of that matter.
Actually it was simply a classic classroom. Board in the front. On the left a small board for homework. About 30 chairs and 16 tables. It still was one of the smaller rooms.
So Beca Mitchell waited, her thoughts drifting.
'It would be great if Cynthia-Rose came in here first, I already know her and she could introduce me properly…'
But nope, life was never easy.
The first person to arrive was a blonde lady. Beca didn't recognize her. "Oh hello?" she asks rather than says.
"Oh, hey! I'm Beca Mitchell, I totally wanna join and help you guys out!"
'Crap, I don't even sound like myself right now, what am I doing?! What's going on?'
"I know who you are. We started working here at the same time. But you obviously forgot my name," she deadpanned. "Aubrey Posen," she adds bone dry. "Sorry Mrs. Posen. I don't really know anyone here, don't take it personally," Beca stats rather annoyed.
"Hey-ho girls!"
'Thanks whomever for Cynthia-Rose to enter at the right time, seriously.'
"Oh, hey Beca! Nice to see you've made it," Cynthia shows a thumbs up.
"Yeah finally did!"
"Why weren't you here last week?" Posen interferes. "Long story, blonde. Maybe we wait until the rest arrives and then she can tell, righty?" Cynthia winks at Beca.
"Sounds good."
Aubrey just rolls her eyes.
Benji happily skips in, "Hi! Oh yay a new face," he smiles widely, "welcome!"
"Hi, thanks," Beca even manages a small smile.
"So only Chloe's missing now," of course it is Aubrey who notices things like these first and has to blur them out, too.
"She'll probably be here in a second," Cynthia states.
'Shit, I totally forgot I still have to face the pretty redhead woman.'
Beca slightly flinched at the mention of Chloe's name. 'What is even wrong with me? I don't even know her, it'll be fine. I'm strange today.'
Chloe storms in, visibly stressed by something. Not even glancing up, she says "sorry for being late guys, student problems," she sighs.
Best of it was, she wasn't even that late. Beca glanced at the watch. 15:02: '2 minutes, duh…'
So she subconsciously mumbles, "no problem."
Chloe looks up "facing the crowd for the first time" and finding a familiar but unfamiliar face, "Mrs. Mitchell?"
"Uh, Beca… it's Beca to you," she smiles and Chloe still awkwardly stares her. "Guys," Beca quickly adds.
Cynthia senses the awkwardness of the moment and speaks up, "well, I managed to find our fifth person… clap for me please," she grins.
Everyone's eyes settle on Beca and she takes it as her queue to introduce herself, "okay so hi I'm Beca Mitchell and let me say I'm very happy to be here, to finally have made it!"
Beca continues to tell the part where it all went wrong and Chloe was, well she was stunned to say the least. Unable to act. Something inside her turned, she felt a mixture of anger, disappointment, shock, relief, incomprehensibility and happiness. She was unsure on what impulse sh should act and what she would say.
Deep down she felt that she wanted to tell Beca that everything would be alright because she is here now and that they would find out who fooled her and give this persona hard time.
Also she wanted to add that she was very haooy to have her in the team now even after all that happened.
Beca finishes her story and everyone is watching Chloe now. She is the leader, she has to say something.
"Oh god, this is terrible. We will find out who did this. I can understand if you don't want anything to do with us… thanks for coming and telling though," Chloe smiles shyly.
"Oh dude no. I'm very happy to be here now. If I wouldn't have met Cynthia-Rose last Friday, I didn't even know when and when the meeting was. So thanks a lot girl!"
Chloe's eyes shot a glance towards Cynthia. At first she's trying to say 'Chloe why didn't you tell me?' then she loosens up a bit, rather expressing a 'thanks, man, thanks.'
And then she smiles towards Beca, that heartwarming, real smile. Cynthia has been dying to see this smile again. She's happy for her best friend. Chloe still struggles though, "really?"
Beca smiles too now, "yes of course!"
"Thank you," Chloe whispers but everyone can hear it, they are all watching the interaction.
"No, thank you! For allowing me to still join," Beca sits up straight in her seat.
"It's been only a week, no biggie," Cynthia smiles.
It's set, Beca joins the teachers on their glorious try to make a musical happen. She is very pumped and motivated to make this work.
At first they present to her what they already achieved last week. Then they start talking about everyone's favorite parts of work.
"What is your guy's favorite department? What are you guys good at? I mean what do you like to do?"
"Well, I'd be interested in doing choreography," Aubrey states.
"Imma stay in the back, do all the technology stuff and the filming," Cynthia nods her head.
"Honestly, I'd be happy with anything," Beca blushes.
"Did you not study acting?" Aubrey asks quickly.
"Yes I did. I can work on the kid's acting."
"Great."
"I'm also in for acting but my speciality is all kinds of tricks and 'stunts' if you want to call it that," he smiles his goofy-nerdy smile.
"Oh wow that's a lot of stuff! Very cool," Chloe giggles.
"What would you wanna do, Chloe?" Beca asks.
"Oh, I'd probably be best with singing," she blushes.
"Great but we'd need costumes, too…" Aubrey states.
"True, true. But that's something for later. We'll find someone to help," Cynthia adds.
The group is really determined to make this work. "Let's cover one last point for today and then we can go," Chloe starts.
Everyone looks up from their notes, showing Chloe they're paying attention.
"Since we want to hand up the posters tomorrow we should think about which musical we should try to work on? Should they chose between a few or give them one? Which ones do you think are manageable?"
"How about…"
A/N: Hey ppl! I'm so sorry for the long delay! I got this stuff all written last Wednesday and then I forgot my pad /college block (? Dunno what's the right word for it) at work. So I couldn't type it all down. So now I got it covered.
But hey at least this chapter is a bit longer! :) Thanks for the fav's and follows! You guys are awesome…
If you have any ideas or things you think might fit with this story, pls don't hesitate to tell me! I'm really trying to make this right/good :)
I'm trying to update again soon!
Also: more Bechloe action in the next chapter. Like I said it'll take some time… stay with me!
Till then… have a good time, beautiful people!
Viv xx