Chloe couldn't help but squeal and grin excitedly as she received her bone crushing hug from Fat Amy. The blonde Tasmanian picked her up and gave a little spin, like she had done with each and ever Bella present. Apart from Beca. Who wasn't anywhere in sight. This made Chloe's heart sink alittle, but she refused to show it. She couldn't, not with the news they now had.
"The aca-gods have looked down on us and given us a second chance!" Aubrey said with the most genuine smile she'd had all year. Since they'd returned from spring break all Chloe had heard from her room mate was plans and songs, of course from their tired old set, reused choreography, abd a slightly familiar battle plan drawn out on Aubrey's huge wall mounted white board. Chloe had nodded along and agreed because what else could she do? Even if she'd decided over the break that she would stand up for herself and Beca, it didn't matter now because the tiny brunette hadn't shown up.

"Fuck yeah!" Fat Amy said loudly, grinning widly,

"So let's get working!" Aubrey replied with a clap of her hands. Chloe decided then that she might as well tell her co-captain about Beca, what difference would it make anyway?
"I texted Beca," the red head said proudly,
"You did what?!" Aubrey practically screamed as she turned to the auburn haired beauty. Chloe held her ground, she didn't flinch when Aubrey stepped closer to her,

"she makes us better," the red head said, her tone holding firm.

"That's not an opinion for you to have, Chloe." Aubrey stated, she turned her back to the red head and Chloe felt the sudden realisation of what a drunken Beca had meant. Chloe wouldn't usual back chat, she remembered at the start of the year, at the freshers fair, when Aubrey told her to shut up and she did, when Aubrey had told her to give up her solo, when she'd practically told her not to date Beca. And that was the only think Chloe had done without Aubrey's permission. The red head ruffled herself up, finding her back bone and proving to Beca, who still wasn't there, that she had one,

"Why? Because it's different than yours? You're not always right, you know," around her Chloe heard the other Bella's take a collective intact of air. Like they where all waiting, holding that breath,

"Aca-what?"

###

"Jesse, I know you're in there. I can smell the popcorn. Seriously dude, that much better is insane," Beca called through the dorm door, rapping her knuckles against it. She waited, patiently, shifting awkwardly from side to side, "Jesse c'mon dude, open the door," she whined, resting her forehead to the flat surface. Still nothing. Beca sighed softly and took a step back as the dorm door opened.
On the other side stood a rather frowny Jesse. He was dressed in a baggy tee and sweats, holding the bowl of buttery popcorn in one hand,

"Hey, i've been trying to call you. I left you a bunch of messages," Beca said, her tone sheepish, her eyes down cast. She wasn't good at this appologising thing, but she knew she was seriously in the wrong,

"Yeah. I got em'. And all the texts, im's, Skype messages, all of them," the boy replied gruff,

"I'm sorry we fought. I was mad and I overreacted. And I just lost control, I didn't mean to, it's just, Aubrey drives me-"

"Seriously? You think I'm mad you yelled at me?" Jesse scoffed, rolling his eyes. Beca frowned hard, chewing her bottom lip as she tried to figure out what he was mad at,

"I thought-"

"Well you thought wrong. I don't care that you yelled at me, that happens, we're best fucking friends Beca. I'm mad because of Chloe," he said with a sigh, his shoulders sagging,

"Chloe?"

"Oh you dense nerd. You don't seem to know it, but you pushed away the one person who utterly cares about you. Why is that?" He said, his tone soft. Beca met his eyes and sighed hard, flipping he thank through her hair,

"I don't know,"

"Well you best figure it out, before its too late dude," he reached out with his free hand and grasped her shoulder, squeezing slightly, "Don't let it be too late Beca,"

"So, we're cool though?" she asked, smiling lopsidedly. Jesse grinned and nodded, quickly ruffling her hair,

"Ice cold."

###

Beca was hesitant to knock on the next door that day. She stood outside it, staring at the large brass knocker, frowning hard to herself. This would be a big step, a hard step, but she knew she needed to do it. As she reached forward to knock, the door swung open, her father stood before her, a gentle look in his eyes,

"You've been stood outside for ten minute now kid," he said with a sigh, beconing her inside the large house,

"I need you," the short girl said simple as she stepped inside. The door clicked shut behind them as her father led her towards the kitchen, it was a large room with too many cupboards to count.
Her dad moved around to the double doored fridge, opening it and staring inside,

"Do you want anything kiddo?" He asked as Beca slipped onto one of the stools around the kitchen island. She shook her head and ruffled her own hair,
"whats on your mind Beca? You look out of sorts," her father said softly, closing the fridge and moving around the kitchen. Beca didn't look up, just listen to the noises of the kitchen. The sound of running water from the tap, the click of a kettle being turned on, spoons dipping in and out of coffer and sugar, untill her father finally sat down on the next stool over. She took a deep breath and looked up, awkwardly meeting his eyes,

"No one's more surprised than me, but I liked those weirdos," she muttered, watching her father's same shade of navy eyes twinkle,

"You like being a Bella huh? So your old dad knew something would be good for you in college?"

"urgh," Beca groaned, dropping her head into her hands,

"But you thought quitting was the answer? After you made a commitment to them?" He pried, sipping his coffee,

"Oh, you're going to talk to me about the sanctity of commitments?" his daughter scoffed and Dr Mitchell couldn't help but frown hard. She was right though, he couldn't deny that,

"C'mon, Bec. That's unfair,"

"But true. You left us. Me. You don't know what it's been like, you've got Sheila and Matt now, and I've got what? An alcoholic mother that I'm terrified has rubbed off on me? And a dad who cuts out when he doesn't feel it anymore?"

"Alright, I did. Not my finest moment. But I tried to call you. I even learned how to text, but you just shut me out,"

"Yeah, well, I pretty much shut the whole world out. Don't take it personally. It made life easier. Till I got here," Beca traced the lined or the kitchen island with her finger, feeling the smoothness of the marble and wishing life was just like that. Beautifully cut and smooth, "Sometimes it was just easier. To be alone. To shut everyone out, not get involved. But I just had to take your advice. And I met her and my whole world turned upside down dad,"

"But you where lonely. That's why you let Chloe in Bec," her father said softly, smiling as his daughter met his gaze,

"How did you know..."

"Im not an idiot Bec. I've known Chloe Beale for 3 years now, I know her rep, plus when I saw her pick you up at Thanksgiving, I just put it together. I'm not as slow as you think kid," he said with a light laugh, mostly due to the shock on his daughters face, "Look, about your mom and I... we didn't work. So I made a really hard decision. But Beca, leaving you was one of the saddest days of my life. I should have... Well, I'm trying to make up for it now. Which is probably why I've been so stingy about you going to LA. So if that's what you still want, I'll support you. And with Chloe, if she makes you happy, then we are happy for you,"

"What do I do? I fucked up with the bellas and most of all with Chloe, I don't know if I can do anything without her dad," Beca was practically sobbing at this point, her face hidden once again in her hands. Dr Mitchell reaches forward, placing a hand on his daughters shoulder, squeezing slightly,

"What you do about the Bella's is your choice. This is one of those hard decisions. But, speaking from personal experience, if your that committed to something or someone, then don't let go, don't run away, grab it with two hands and cling the fuck on kid," Beca sobbed slightly, raising her head and rubbing the back of hand roughly against her face, causing her cheeks to burn red, "You know I'm proud of you, right?"

"Proud? Of me?" Beca couldn't help but scoff,

"Yes, proud of you, ya weirdo. You've put your all into Barden and found someone who makes you happy and your still being true to yourself,"

"Do we have to hug now?"

"Yes. Yes we do," Dr Mitchell laughed, tugging the short girl into his arms and hugging her hard. Beca hesitated a moment then hugged back, burying her head into her father's chest, remembering hugging him as a child and thinking her was so big compared to her. It felt like home.

"So your cool with me being gay?"

"Im more bothered about these tattoos Beca, then you being gay!"

###

"Sorry did I stutter? I said Beca makes us better, her voice is amazing, the ideas she has for songs are phenomenal and frankly the girls get behind her better then they do for you!" Chloe was yelling the words and her voice was coming out hoarse and rough by the end, causing her hand to go to her throat, massaging the skin there, she was shaking, flushed in the face and damn angry at Aubrey.

"What is happening to us? Chloe, you sound like you smoke three packs a day. Stacie, you're behind on the choreography. And Jessica and Ashley, it's like you haven't even been around all year!"

"Aubrey, give us a break. It's not the same when we're not all here!" Fat Amy chimed in, stepping behind Chloe, as if to back her up more with just her wide presence.

"We need Beca," This came from Cynthia Rose, who was now behind Chloe too. The red head puffed her chest out, happy with her sudden back up,

Maybe if Aubrey loosened up the reins..." Chloe shrugged as she said it, a smile playing on her lips. They where really poking the bear now,

"Shut it, Chloe!" Aubrey roared, fire in her eyes. The girls all gasped, many putting hands to their mouths in shock,

"Oh I'm sorry. That was rude," the blonde cleared her throat, "Chloe, could you please get your head out of your ass? It's not a hat!"