A/N: Let's say goodbye to Chicago in this chapter, shall we? ;)
As usual, thank you guys for all the wonderful reviews! And come on, obviously I wasn't going to make Chloe say yes! Have some faith in me haha ;D Also, I'm moving all my replies to the end of the chapter. xx
Chapter 6
Let's get one thing straight. Beca Mitchell never made mistakes during her performances. She never forgot her lyrics, never messed up the notes. Never. Not even once. That was until, now.
When the manager approached her, and told her she needed to play that song for some guy who was about to propose to his girlfriend, she internally rolled her eyes. Proposing in public, she always thought it was a way to pressure the other to accept the proposal. But she started to play that song anyway. It was her job after all and she hadn't played that song in a long time. It reminded her of a certain someone from the past, and she had been avoiding it for so long.
She usually wouldn't get distracted mid-performance, but when she heard those loud gasps coming from her right side, she couldn't help but become curious and wonder the girlfriend's reaction regarding the proposal. So she turned her head a little to her right and tried to steal a glance.
And then she saw her. She saw that fierce red hair, that cute little nose, those pair of soft hands that she used to hold countless times.
Chloe.
No. Way.
She was at shock and suddenly lost control over her fingers, accidentally pressing the wrong keys and there came a jarring noise. But she didn't care, because Chloe's head snapped up at the noise and their eyes locked.
God, those eyes. Beca didn't think she would ever see them again.
But she quickly snapped out of her trance and forced herself to look back at the keys in front of her, continuing to finish what was left of the song, while her heart beat wildly in her chest.
Chloe. It's really Chloe. She stayed in New York all these years? And she…she's being proposed to by her boyfriend… Beca suddenly felt an urge to cry, but she pulled herself together and tried to finish this damn song for the proposal. However, she knew she didn't care about the performance anymore and her hands were even trembling a little. She just wanted to get it over with and she wondered if Chloe was going to say yes to the question.
Chicago was still waiting, kneeling on the floor and looking up expectantly at his girlfriend. However, Chloe did find the situation a bit funny, she didn't even catch his speech or his question! Seeing Chloe's hesitation, Chicago decided to push a little and asked the question again, "Chloe, will you marry me and come to Europe with me?"
Chloe instantly tensed at hearing this. She could hear the song had ended and she could feel Beca's eyes on her, as well as all the other people's in the restaurant.
This is why I hate public proposals so much. Chloe cringed a little and tried to think of a response.
Obviously, she couldn't say yes. But she couldn't straight up say no as well, because that would just humiliate both of them right there in front of everyone.
Therefore, the best solution she could think of is to whisper into Chicago's ear, asking him if they could leave this place and go home to talk. Chicago looked confused but he nodded, stood up, paid the bills and left with Chloe in tow.
When Chloe walked out of the restaurant, she didn't look back at Beca. And the other diners just shrugged and resumed their dinner, leaving Beca staring at the entrance long after Chloe had left.
She wanted to go out there and run after Chloe. But she knew she had lost the right to do so. She didn't even have the right to feel hurt when Chloe didn't look at her when she left.
So she just sighed and went back to playing the piano for the rest of the evening.
Once they were back home, Chicago turned to look at Chloe, waiting for an explanation.
Chloe sighed, and went to sit down on the couch. She ran her hand through her hair and finally gathered her courage to do this, "I don't think it's working out Chicago."
Chicago was confused, "What's not working out?"
"Us. I think we should take a break." Chloe said, letting out a shattered breath.
"What?" Chicago said incredulously, "Why? Is it because you don't want to come to Europe with me?"
"No, not exactly. It's about so many other things as well. I just don't feel like it's working out and I don't want to hold you back. You deserve someone who loves you with all their heart."
Chicago was silent for a moment. "So that's it? We are done? Just like that?"
Chloe was trying her best to fight back her tears, "I'm so sorry Chicago, I should have done this sooner. I guess I just thought I could love you and give you all my heart if I just give it a little more time or if I just try a little harder. But clearly that's not how love works. I enjoyed our time together and I love your company, but I just feel like I couldn't keep lying to myself and it's not fair to you either." At that, silent tears finally started rolling down Chloe's cheeks.
Chicago stared at Chloe for a while and eventually let out a heavy sigh, "It's okay Chloe…"
"No it's not okay, I'm so sorry, I'm such a horrible person." Chloe shook her head violently, and she couldn't look at Chicago anymore.
Chicago moved to the couch and sat down next to Chloe. He looked at the snuffling redhead sadly and spoke, "Really, Chloe, it's okay. I'm upset but I'll get over it." He thought for a few seconds, and added, "I can feel you were trying Chloe, but I know you are not in love with me. I guess asking you to marry me and move to Europe with me was my own way of trying to convince myself that you'll fall in love with me with a little more time and efforts. But…I understand."
Chloe looked up at him, tears still falling down her face, "Why are you so good to me?"
Chicago offered her a sad smile, "Because, you deserve the best love Chloe, we all do. And I'm kind of glad you did what's best for us." He reached out to wipe a few tears from Chloe's face and sighed, "You are still in love with her, aren't you?"
Chloe froze, "Who?" She asked in a trembling voice.
"That girl from your high school? The one who gave you that guitar?" Chicago pointed at the guitar resting in the corner of the living room beside the bookshelf.
Chloe shook her head, "No," She said, "I'm not."
Chicago sighed, "Okay… just… take care of yourself Chloe. And I hope we can still be friends? You'll visit me when you come to Europe?"
Chloe managed a small smile, "Of course I'll visit. You take care of yourself as well."
Chicago nodded, "I will. My stuff is all packed in my car already. And don't worry I'll stay in my office for tonight and tomorrow night. My flight leaves first thing in the morning the day after anyway."
Chloe felt bad, "Chicago you don't have to—"
Chicago cut her off and stood up, "That's okay, Chloe. I'm okay with it."
Chloe then decided, "Is it okay if I still come to see you off at the airport?"
Chicago smiled a little, "Of course." And with that, he fished out his apartment keys and placed them on the coffee table before he left.
ChloeMitchell: Oh trust me I pray that as well! I'm trying to add a different touch into this story and to show a relatively realistic version of a relationship falling out, and currently I'm going more for a 'Life happened' kinda situation… but I can only hope that I'll show something unique in this fic. You know sometimes I was thinking one thing before I started writing a new chapter but then my hands just started typing out a completely different plot so… yeah, fingers crossed that it'll all work out in the end!
RJRMovieFan: Oh boyyy! My heart literally grows 100000000 sizes just looking at this review! And I'm beyond honoured! I had to read your review twice to make sure I wasn't imagining things! XD And thank you sooo much! xx
theretheygoagain: I kind of set Beca and Chloe first meet in their junior year of high school, so they were both 17ish, and I'd like to think that Chloe is a few months older than Beca. Therefore, that makes Chloe 26 and Beca 25 at this point (to be exact, Beca will turn 26 as well in a few months. I have literally written a whole page to sort out all the timelines for both flashbacks and present days so that I won't confuse myself XD). Great question haha! And I guess after reading this chapter, there is no need to side eye me? [*Nervous laugh*] Ps. Definitely swoon-worthy, let's swoon together.
PiperCVause: Hahahahaha! I laughed at the name for a good 5 minutes lol! Definitely weird and just…wrong :D But hey no need to worry about that anymore! ;)
hakunamatatahum: Hmmm… I'll see what I can do! Wait… actually, I think I may already have something in my draft for you… so stay tuned! ;)
PoundItBecaMitch: But…but Chicago doesn't have Chloe's heart… :D
depressedhunter: No worries, I hear ya! And I think Chloe wasn't disappointed of the fact that Chicago didn't want to have kids with her, she was more disappointed that Chicago didn't fit her criteria or her perfect pictures in her head (ie. She loves kids, so she would want her future partner to love kids as well. And they didn't talk about marriage or kids very much, so here, she was just talking about kids in a general sense). Also, her head was trying to find reasons for her to love Chicago back and convince herself that he was the one, even though her heart was telling her otherwise. She was just a little afraid of listening to her own heart and facing her true feelings. So when Chicago failed to satisfy another one of the criteria, she was upset that her heart was right, yet again… Well, I don't know if that makes any sense? But anyway, that was kind of my intention there :) And thank you for telling me your opinions, I really appreciate it and it helps me to see if my writing was actually conveying what I wanted to say, and I would love to know more of your opinions. In later chapters I'll definitely reveal more about what happened all those years ago, so hopefully you'll see why Chloe was acting like this! :)
A/N: Annnd lastly, to answer the question from many of you, yes, we'll definitely learn more about Beca's life, her friends and what exactly happened 8 years ago pretty soon! xx