I do not own Pitch Perfect
6: Act 3: Breath Easy
It was pure and utter torture, at least for Chloe. The whole third act had been designed for the three of them so that Chloe kept singing about her feelings of forlorn love while Jesse sings about getting the girl. How the act ends was nowhere near easy to portray either.
Beca had been scowling the whole time. She didn't get home until late last night to the Bellas flat and she assumed that Beca and Jesse must've made up. But between Jesse acting like a wounded puppy and Beca grumbling about how immature he was acting, Chloe knew that everything was far from perfect between the two of them. And Chloe wasn't exactly sure if she was happy about this or if she was feeling bad for Beca.
Aubrey wasn't much help either. She was hoping for a heart to heart talk about what had happened the day before when the blonde returned, instead the usually fierce leader of the Bellas looked uncertain and a bit shaken. She pulled Stacie somewhere private to talk after dinner and they weren't seen until the group's rather strangely familiar breakfast, with the exemption of a few awkward instances mostly revolving around Beca and the Bellas trying so hard not to bring up the topic of her current undetermined relationship status. Beca was acting a bit strange around her, being all jittery and nervous, with CR trying to calm her. Stacie and Aubrey were all touchy feely, which Chloe was still trying to figure out how and when the thing between the two actually started but she was happy for them nonetheless. Amy was quite possibly sexting bumper, Jessica and Ashley were in their own little world, Lily was being Lily, and Emily endlessly chatting about something with Flo jumping in whenever appropriate.
"Chloe, if you could at least focus. We went over the basics yesterday. Beca and Jesse can you please just focus on the now, you can go back to your little squabble later." Fate commanded sounding a little bit exasperated.
"Sorry." the redhead quickly mumbled and Fate just nodded with a look of understanding.
"From the top." Fate said. Chloe gave a nod and looked back at the Bellas to give them a signal. The glare Aubrey gave Fate before getting into position hadn't gone unnoticed to Chloe though. What was that about? she asked herself.
They started act three. Beca was with Jesse, the smile on her face was a little bit forced but she was really trying, Jesse on the other hand got into the loving-boyfriend role with ease.
The Bellas start to lay down the groundwork for Chloe to begin her song and the redhead started singing as Beca and Jesse began their montage of doing coupley things.
He could be a sinner, or a gentleman
He could be your preacher, when your soul is down
He could be your lawyer on a witness stand but
He'll never love you like I can, can
He could be a stranger, he gave a certain glance
He could be a trophy, of a one night stand
He could have your humor, but I don't understand cause
He'll never love you like I can, can, can
The Bellas and Trebles take over the stage. Beca still wit Jesse, Chloe was following them at a distance while she sang. In the background, Stacie seemed to be pleading with Aubrey while she's looking at Unicycle. The other couples pairing off and simply being together. Stacie joins Chloe when they hit the chorus.
Why are you looking down all the wrong roads
When mine is the heart and the soul of the song
There may be lovers who hold out their hands but
He'll never love you like I can, can, can
The group continue with the song until Jesse leads Beca away and they exit stage left. The Trebles exit stage right, leaving only the Bellas with Bumper and Benji staying behind to be with their respective counterparts. Cynthia Rose walks over to gloomy Chloe and starts to sing as Jessica and Ashley were quick to back her up when she got to the second verse.
Too much of anything can make you sick
Even the good can be a curse, curse
Makes it hard to know which road to go down
Knowing too much can get you hurt
Is it better, is it worse? Are we sittin' in reverse?
It's just like were going backwards
I know where I want this to go, drivin' fast, but let's go slow
What I don't wanna do is crash, no
In the background, Benji and Emily look like they had their first fight while Bumper tries to serenade Amy only for Amy to remind him that their thing was just a casual affair. Aubrey looks torn as Luke enters telling her something about getting with the boy on the unicycle because of wealthy parents while wearing a different set of wig and beard – he was playing the part of Aubrey's father – while Stacie was quick to comfort her. Sure enough, Unicycle briefly enters with one of the Tone Hangers shaking hands with Luke before quickly exiting the stage. Stacie briefly takes over the song.
Just know that you're not in this thing alone
There's always a place in me that you can call home
Whenever you feel like we're growing apart
Let's just go back, back, back, back, back, to the start, oh
And CR quickly takes the lead while pulling Chloe towards her waiting friends. CR singing to both Emily and Amy as well.
Anything that's worth havin'
Sure enough worth fighting for
Quittin's out of the question
When it gets tough, gotta fight some more, oh
We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
We gotta fight, fight, fight, fight, fight for this love
If it's worth having, it's worth fightin' for, oh
The Bellas, led by CR, exit their side of the stage leaving Chloe somewhere upstage. Beca once again enters the scene and sees Chloe, as she makes her way towards her Jesse and the Trebles quickly steal the scene with a Bruno Mars song.
It's a beautiful night ,
We're looking for something dumb to do
Hey baby
I think I want to marry you
Is it the look in your eyes?
Or is it these dancing juice?
Who cares baby
I think I wanna marry you
Jesse gets down on one knee and proposes to Beca. With no prop ring to use, Fate had handed him a pop ring for Beca.
The DJ looks back at Chloe who looked absolutely torn by what was going on. She brings her attention back to Jesse who quickly slips on the ring without even hearing her say anything. Jesse wraps his arms around her and drags her off the stage with the rest of the Trebles while they continue the song. The Bellas enter the scene once again. An awkward silence fills the stage while Benji and Bumper stay behind, the former looking apologetic at Emily, the latter shooting a dejected look at Amy. Unicycle renters the stage and crosses to the other side as Aubrey enters. He plants a kiss on the back of her hand before leaving and Stacie groans. Before anyone is able to say anything Stacie starts to sing. Amy and Emily quick to follow in her lead. All the Bellas join in once they hit the chorus, the Trebles – sans Jesse – also rush into the stage to join in the song. CR and Chloe were the only ones not singing as the redhead cries on her fellow Bella's shoulder.
Everybody put up your hands
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love
Feel the beat now
If you've got nothing left
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love
Back it up now
You've got a reason to live
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love
Feelin' good now
Don't be afraid to get down
Say I don't wanna be in love
I don't wanna be in love
Stacie flirts with a few Trebles, making Aubrey upset as she storms out of the scene. CR breaks up the whole party and the Trebles leave. She starts lecturing Stacie as they exit stage right. Before completely disappearing, CR gives Chloe a nod. "You know what to do red. Don't waste your time trying to think about what might've been and just go for it."
Chloe returns the gesture. She walks towards the center of the stage and fishes out her phone from her pocket to call Beca so that they can meet up. Chloe exits the scene and the lights fade.
The light returns when Beca walks into stage. Jesse following her as he tries to finalize their plans. Some of the BU harmonics and Tone Hangers join them on the stage playing the parts of the different wedding coordinators they meet, caterers, and such as Jesse starts to sing.
When your legs don't work like they used to before
And I can't sweep you off of your feet
Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love
Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks
And darling I will be loving you 'til we're 70
And baby my heart could still fall as hard at 23
And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe just the touch of a hand
Oh me I fall in love with you every single day
And I just wanna tell you I am
Beca stops Jesse, who was crooning away, and the song silently fades into the background when she answers a call from Chloe. She agrees to meet up with her and excuses herself from Jesse's company but not before the Treble sweeps her off her feet to dance a bit.
So honey now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Before Jesse could finish the song, Beca manages to escape his clutches and exit the stage, leaving him behind. The lights fade once more.
The lights come back with Chloe on center stage, starting her song. She starts singing softly as some of the BU harmonics start walking in the background, the scene set in some busy street corner. They hum silently to match Chloe's soft voice providing her with some back up.
Hey, from the first time that I asked your name
It's like a drug that went straight to the vein
I feel a high coming on, and it's all because of you
The song picks up as some of the Bellas mix with the members of the thinning BU Harmonics. Amy and Emily joining in the song as they two girls meet up with Bumper and Benji on separate spots.
We, could get it going like one, two
Freeze, put your hands up and surrender to me
I know I'm easy to read, and it's all because of you
The song focuses back to Chloe with Cynthia Rose building the redheads confidence up by backing her up as the two couples patch things up.
I don't care where we sleep tonight
I don't care if it's in or outside
You know what to do
Make a move
You could throw away your phone
Make believe that we're all alone
I'm talking to you
Make a move, 'cause I'm ready
The Bellas start to exit the stage as Chloe and CR wraps up the chorus just as Chloe sees Beca somewhere off stage. She calls out to her and a loud crash is heard. The look on Chloe's face changes from happy to distraught in 0 to 60 as she runs off stage in a great rush. The lights fade and everything goes black as the third act ends with Beca's accident.
Fate calls a break after the first run through. Chloe finds herself following Aubrey who quickly pulls on Stacie and Amy as they hide somewhere backstage to talk. "What's going on?" Chloe asked as soon as she caught up with the three. "You guys have been acting a little weird."
"Chlo!" Aubrey exclaimed looking unsure if they should tell the redhead what they suspect is happening. But it can't be helped, they had to fess up what they know, if only the determined look on Chloe's face was anything to go by.
Beca leaned on the wall just by the door outside the main auditorium. She looks up as she hears Cynthia Rose walking towards her asking if she was okay. Beca nodded, she was okay, but will she be okay the coming days? That was a different question.
"Have you made up your mind yet? Have you made a plan?" CR asked and Beca gulps.
"I don't know." she answered honestly. "I messed up. I've missed so many chances, and I honestly don't know if Chloe deserves me with all that. And I still don't know what to do with Jesse, he's still my best friend you know? I mean, I love them both, I just love them differently. And what if I make a mistake again? What if I was right the first time around? What if I was wrong then but I can't make it right anymore?"
Cynthia Rose gave Beca an understanding look. Somehow she was at the same crossroads she was in during their first year. Only back then, it wasn't so complicated, it wouldn't have been if she just allowed herself to be open to what was right in front of her. Now, well, now so many things have happened, and the hurt she'd end up giving will only be much worse.
"Hey little bit, just promise me one thing." CR started and Beca immediately nodded. "Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you choose whatever makes you happy."
NOTES:
**Act three title taken from Blue's Song Breath Easy
**Songs in the chapter include
- Like I Can (Sam Smith)
- Fight for This Love (Cherly Cole)
- Marry You (Bruno Mars)
- Dance Floor Anthem (Good Charlotte)
- Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeran)
- Make a Move (Gavin DeGraw)