A/N: Hey guys! I felt bad leaving you off with uncertainty for chapter 12. Anyways, here's chapter 13. It's a bit long to make up for all the trouble I've caused your poor little hearts (I honestly have no idea how I finished this in a span of 24 hours... but it was in my head, so, enjoy?). I know, it's still bittersweet, but we have a lot of things happening here. Good things! Bechloe things! Amy things too!
On that note, I'll take a week off (or maybe two?) and then keep up with the daily updates at least every day or every other day starting with chapter 14 until chapter 20 (mostly because I feel terrible at leaving you for so long at either chapter 16 or 19…). Then I'm planning to take some time off again because of work related stuff.
Songs featured are 'Lost Stars' by Adam Levine, 'Without You Now' by Jon McLaughlin (I might've been listening to Jon McLaughlin's albums on and off while writing this; I'm not going to lie, I think we'll encounter 2 or 3 more songs from him in this fic), and 'Bright Lights' by Matchbox 20.
I don't own pitch perfect.
Aubrey huffed. They were about to head over and have a nice dinner with the new Bellas to celebrate their victory earlier that day but she was a little annoyed at Beca's disappearance.
What's more was that Emily was looking for her earlier, claiming she saw her during the Bellas performance, and then she was gone like the wind. That's why she excused herself with Stacie and Amy from the group, claiming on checking on something and promising to catch up with the huge group at the restaurant. She grabbed Beca's address from her assistant – which to Aubrey was quite a surprise to know that neither Amy nor Stacie knew where Beca lived exactly – and headed straight to where the DJ lived.
"That munchkin better be dead or dying if she promised to be there with us and decided to bail on us." Aubrey huffed as they made their way through the lobby of the posh residential tower. She kept on impatiently hitting the button on the elevators until it opened for them.
"Why didn't you tell us Chloe was dating someone else?" Stacie finally asked in the confines of the lift, just the three of them on it. Aubrey didn't have to turn and look at the expression on Stacie's face to figure out she was very much annoyed. "We could've avoided setting up the two the day before, granted that was a very sketchy Hail Mary of a plan to begin with and we still have no idea of what happened. But, Amy and I saw her earlier. Beca saw the group and left, I think she figured out who Eli was when she saw him."
"Because I was hoping the guy was just a phase, like Tom before. Someone temporary. Didn't realize he was actually nice and charming." Aubrey replied before taking a deep breath and sighing. "But, I know my best friend Stacie, and as much as I hate to admit it, that munchkin is the only one I know capable of making Chloe smile her brightest of smiles. She's with Eli now, but it doesn't take a genius to realize or see that she can't give all of her heart to him. And something's happened for sure, Chloe's been unusually quiet." she continued to say until the elevator doors opened, unveiling Beca's floor.
"That's why I want Beca there. Is it being too foolish to hope those two would realize that there's still something between them, despite everything that's happened?" Aubrey asked, her tone dead serious and desperate before looking at Stacie. "Tell me that's not what you think and I'll stop and turn back and leave with you, just tell me Stace."
Stacie sighed and shook her head. "You know I can't."
"Look, nice guy might be nice but he's essentially just Tom 2.0, we can all agree on that right?" Amy then spoke up. "We need to get out fun-sized leader back with Red, or at least on that right path of healing so they can find their way to each other again. Are we not cupid's very own deputized matchmaking angels? We did this before, push 'em in the right direction, by all the gods we will do it again!" she said with determination. "We already failed and let Tom 2.0 get in the way – who was in charge of keeping an eye on Chloe? I thought you had that covered captain? – we can't let Beca go back to her old ways and run away from this."
Aubrey and Stacie exchanged looks, they were taken off guard by the passion and heart of Amy's speech. The Bellas were a family, of course they were all heartbroken and suffering about the break up too but they all agreed to let them be and take their own time to heal. "Amy's right, if we have to drag her out of her apartment, we'll do it. Beca needs to be there, size up her competition and fight for Chloe." Aubrey then said.
"We can't force her to do something she doesn't want to do." Stacie pointed out as they walked through the hallway. "Why am I being the rational one here?"
"Because we can all agree that Beca wants to. She just have a record-breaking slow pace of realizing her feelings." Aubrey then replied, she was getting ready to knock when Amy poised herself to kick down the door. Stacie thankfully managed to restrain the Australian in time and Aubrey was allowed to do what she does best.
Starting with a knock.
But no one answered.
Aubrey checked the door, it was unlocked to begin with. Not the safest thing in the world, despite living in such upscale accommodations, as anyone can simply break in. Case in point, they were technically uninvited and they were breaking in. The only reason they were allowed in was that the doorman knew Luke and Kaelyn and they had called in advance to let them know that some of Beca's friends were coming and that the DJ was too sick to be bothered.
Aubrey took a deep breath and looked for reassurance from both Stacie and Amy. They both nodded. And thus, she opened the door.
Who are we? Just a speck of dust within the galaxy?
Woe is me, if we're not careful turns into reality
Don't you dare let our best memories bring you sorrow
Yesterday I saw a lion kiss a deer
Turn the page maybe we'll find a brand new ending
Where we're dancing in our tears and
God, tell us the reason youth is wasted on the young
It's hunting season and the lambs are on the run
Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars, trying to light up the dark? Ooh
For one thing, Beca singing while getting things ready and packing a few of her things in a case was not what Aubrey was expecting to see. Beca had her headphones on, moving around the living room as if nothing was wrong.
But Aubrey wasn't deaf, it was all there in her voice. The passion, the emotion. It's been so long since she's heard the tiny once upon a time Bella sing that she's forgotten how good she actually was.
She looked like she was getting ready for something, and Aubrey was confused of what. The amnesiac leader of the Bellas had her combat boots, that honestly Aubrey was having a blast from the past of how she looked like the day they first met at the quad. Her hair was wet though, and somehow Aubrey got the feeling Beca wasn't quite done at getting ready just yet, possibly only started to do so when they arrived or at least half way through. Beca stopped humming and singing along when she finally noticed her friends at her door, she gave them a curious look, checked her phone, which was in one hand, and then looked up at them. She brought her headphones done and smiled at them tentatively. Aubrey had wanted to take that chance to give her an earful. She cleared throat, about to speak, but Beca beat her to the punch.
"I was just about to call you guys. Lucky you found your way here instead." Beca said before fumbling through her case for something.
"What?" Aubrey asked a little lost. This was not how she imagined Beca would receive them, although, it wasn't exactly a bad reception.
"Are you okay there Shawshank?" Amy asked cautiously, she was afraid that Beca might've completely lost it already.
"Yep." Beca replied before standing back up, a brown envelope in her hand.
"Well, you kinda' just bolted when we saw you earlier." Stacie then said, adopting the same tone as Amy.
"I needed time to think and get my head on straight. Besides, the Bellas were on in the middle, I wasn't planning on watching all of the acapella nerds perform." she replied simply with a shrug. "So instead, I grabbed lunch, listened to a bit of music, took a shower and started to get ready."
"Okay." Aubrey then said uncertainly. "Look Beca, I do apologize for ditching you yesterday with, you know, Chloe, if you're upset about that."
"I'm not." Beca said, simply, turning her eyes away from her friends and casting down on the floor. She took a deep breath before looking back at them.
"And if you wanna talk about the other guy with the group…" Stacie started to say.
"Chloe's boyfriend?" Beca asked, raising an eyebrow, trying to keep a mask of indifference on her face but the tone of distaste in her voice gave it all away.
"Yes." Aubrey replied, still cautiously. "Did she tell you?"
"No." Beca said simply before crossing the room to approach them.
"So are you okay?" Amy then asked, still trying to figure out Beca's current state.
"Would you guys stop asking me if I'm okay like I'm a child?" Beca then said and sighed. "I appreciate the concern, but seriously…. Anyways, here. They're VIP passes at the club where I spin. I have a show to do tonight and I figured we would all celebrate and what better way but be at the hottest club in New York? I got one of my people fetch this for me so there are enough passes for all of the old Bellas, Luke, Kaelyn, Bumper, Emily's boyfriend – Benji, right? – and the other guy. Sadly, I can't passes for the new Bellas. So, how about tell her she needs to sneak out during their own celebrations and you all head to the club tonight?"
"Aren't you going to the dinner?" Amy asked, partly excited for the prospects of Beca's celebratory plans and partly disappointed in case she won't join them.
Beca shook her head. "Can't. Got to bring my A game tonight, you're not the only friends I have in town to impress, so still need to do a couple of things. Just, be all there, okay?"
Amy nodded before giving Beca a hug, which she promptly accepted. Stacie did the same gesture. "Guess we'll see you later then, nice place by the way." Stacie said as she let Beca go.
"Thanks." was Beca's reply.
Aubrey kept eyeing Beca suspiciously. She honestly thought she'd be wallowing away in her own depressed state by now, but she wasn't. There was a fire in her eyes that she only used to see when it came to the Bellas or when it came to Chloe.
And it doesn't take Aubrey two guesses why that fire was there.
Aubrey then smiled as she turned to say her goodbye to Beca. She didn't need to say anything, she understood, or at least she hoped she did.
If she were being honest, Beca was pretty sure that she went through the five stages of grief in a span of a good hour or two before something inside her just kicked into high gear.
She wasn't just going to seat there and take it.
Screw what's wise.
She had feelings for Chloe, she knew that now. She left with a thought that one day she'll become better again, be someone who Chloe deserved, and she wasn't going to let whoever she was with now win without a fight.
She saw hope in Chloe's eyes the other night. At the very least Beca wasn't going to let herself be parted from her for any longer. They managed to spend a sizeable amount of a day together without falling apart, and Beca took that as hope. At the very least, a path to becoming friends again.
Because for sure, Beca knew, she couldn't make it another day without Chloe in her life.
It did help that for some reason she could hear her father's voice, of all people, echoing through her head.
Love isn't something you overthink Beca…
So she stopped thinking and over-analyzing. Beca got up, got ready, and decided to pull a few strings to get all her friends at the club. She knew she didn't want to spend time with new guy that she was sure she can't make it through dinner without acting like an irrational child. Sure she was Chloe's boyfriend, much to Beca's dismay, and she can't really blame anyone but herself about that. But she didn't have to like him.
She knew she couldn't hate him either.
What was important to her was to see Chloe smile, even if she's not the reason behind that smile.
But that won't stop her from trying her damn best to be just that.
The night was spent mostly eating very little – her nerves were acting up – and spending time talking to the rich, the powerful, and the famous patrons who admired Beca's skills as a music producer and a DJ. She watched entrance closely as the night went by, the usual house DJ playing his set list, waiting until the Bellas walk through the door.
And sure enough, a good half hour before her own set, the Bellas arrived.
Beca would have joined them, but she was still a little bit nervous. She was also cornered by a mix of a few NY-based artists who wanted to work with her and internationally famous friends that she simply couldn't run away from. It didn't stop her though from stealing a glance at Chloe every now and then.
She was even more beautiful than she was the day before. A sight that couldn't compare to anyone else in a room full of youthful beauty and radiance. Every single time she stole a glance, her breath would hitch and Beca reveled in the feelings she was slowly being reacquainted with. Chloe looked nervous, she spent most of her time glancing around the club, seemingly looking for the DJ. Maybe she eventually did find her from afar, Beca wasn't sure. She would turn away and look someplace else or turn her attention to someone within the group of people who had cornered her in the first place. The new guy was trying to talk with Luke, and Luke seemed to be awkwardly making small talk. Eventually he settled to talking to Bumper, being alienated by the tight-knit group that was the Bellas, and apparently Luke. Kaelyn seemed to be fitting in, but Beca thinks it's because she's Luke's girlfriend and Luke never introduced a girlfriend to the Bellas before that all the girls were curious to know her.
Eventually Beca was introduced by the house DJ, and she could feel all eyes on her.
She never could get quite enough of the feeling of it. The moment she took the floor from the house DJ and stepped into the booth, the whole club grew silent, before they all went wild. Beca based her current set from mixes of the past. The ones she had been listening to over and over again for the last few nights, tweaking them a little bit to perfection. She looked up at the Bellas who looked ecstatic about her song choices. Beca didn't know it then but the mixes she had decided to play were all songs that were tied to the Bellas, past performances and mixes she had them play during parties. Some were mixes that only Chloe heard, because she made them exclusively for her.
And Beca wasn't quite a hundred percent aware of it, maybe somewhere deep in her subconscious mind she was, but it felt like she was serenading Chloe all over again, like she did in the past with the radio station. Except this time there was a new crowd cheering her on. Except this time it was with special mixes that had become better through time.
Beca's been doing this for months now, but she's never felt this alive before.
Stacie was overwhelmed. She knew Beca was doing really well as a DJ on the side at the most exclusive club in Manhattan but she didn't ever think that her already talented friend got even better and put a new twist on old songs. Songs that were weighed down by precious memories. Beca might not now this, but she was really making this a very special Bellas night.
All the Bellas had their jaws drop as soon as Beca took over from the house DJ. Even Eli was growing ecstatic. "Oh my God, I can't believe it! Is it really her? The one and only Beca Mitchell! I still can't believe it!" he said, completely geeking out just as Bumper and Amy made their way to the bar.
"You've heard of Beca?" Denise asked as she sipped on her drink.
"Uh, yeah, hello? Who hasn't? I'm a music teacher, I think that's a given that I'm not only hooked on classical pieces but well aware of current ones too. Wow! Oh wow! I still can't believe this. Whoever got you the passes was amazing. Beca Mitchell! Wow." Stacie heard Eli say, completely dazed. Chloe was just as amazed, but Stacie could tell it was for a whole other reason. She and Aubrey seemed to have branched off on their own at the end of the circular booth they occupied, talking to each other for the most of the night.
"Ah, well, she is my cousin." Emily then pointed out, speaking up above the noise of the crowd and the loud music.
"And she was a Bella." Benji then added.
And Eli fanboyed a little more, being entertained by Emily and Benji, trying their best not to bring up the fact that Beca was Chloe's former paramour.
Because then they have to explain the amnesia and all the other things they didn't want to bring up.
"Ugh, I hate that he's a nice guy." Jessica sighed, seating right next to Stacie.
"It would make it easier to hate him if he wasn't." Ashley said disappointed.
"Come on guys, don't be unfair. We're not allowed to take sides. Sure we want Chloe to be with Beca but right now they aren't. We have to support whatever makes them happy." Flo then said and Stacie nodded.
"So, did you guys find out why Beca ditched us for dinner? I know Aubrey wanted to keep it hush, hush and all, but who else would get us this passes but Beca Mitchell herself?" Jessica then asked.
"We know you tried to find her when she didn't show. Why else would Aubrey have been fuming?" Ashley added.
"Oh, she definitely saw us with him." Stacie then said, slightly and very subtly jerking her head towards Eli's direction. "But it looks like Beca's not allowing to let herself get down by it."
"Do you think she knows what all these songs mean to us?" Flo then asked. "Or if there's a purpose?"
"I don't know." Stacie answered truthfully. "But as for the purpose, I can only guess." Stacie then said, sneaking a glance towards Aubrey and Chloe's direction. The redhead completely absorbed with Beca's musical magic.
At some point the music and the beats lowered down in volume and Beca spoke up. "Okay, so, I don't usual do this. But I ran into a friend earlier who's making me do this now. Something about wanting to hear this song with my personal touch. And you guys now I don't like to disappoint…" Beca said and she was met with cheers and applause. "Well, said friend is someone I hold dear and personally admire, so here it goes."
And surely enough 'Titanium' came blasting out of the speakers.
"What on earth is Mitchell doing? Are the screws on her head finally all loose? Yes, we want her to fight for Chloe, but this song in particular... It means a whole lot to them." Stacie then heard Aubrey say as she suddenly appeared to her side. Stacie looked up to where Chloe was, she was now talking to Luke and Kaelyn, looking all surprised and a little overwhelmed, before turning to face Aubrey again.
"I don't know." Stacie replied, completely lost. "I'm not a mind reader Bree. Beca has a lot of famous friends, maybe Sia or David Guetta is in the crowd somewhere and they talked or something? Who knows?" Stacie offered. "We are in a place where there are a lot of big names, if you haven't noticed. Jessica nearly fainted earlier for almost running into Taylor Swift and her squad."
Aubrey sighed, accepting Stacie's explanation.
But Stacie herself couldn't help but wonder herself.
At some point after Beca's set, Chloe found herself on her way to the restroom. She needed some time to recompose herself. The night was still young, so to speak, and surely Beca would drop in on her friends, right?
Right?
So she needed to put on a strong front.
Her mind was still on the memories of the night before, the wonderful day they spent together that almost felt like the good old days, and the almost kiss they shared. Chloe was trying so hard to fight against it, the emotions resurging. And for the most part of the day she was able to do just that, compartmentalize and keep her head on the straight and narrow when it comes to Beca. Eli being around and surprising her – she told him she was staying at her best friend's place in NY for the ICCA Nationals and left behind contact details in case he needed to reach her along with the address – helped a little.
And Chloe managed to think better too, she got a little bit of clarity from locking up the murky emotions. She was better now, scarred but healing, and she was in a good place in her life in terms of her job too. And things with Beca, she was pleasantly surprised to find that despite everything, it was so easy to find a steady rhythm with her and talk about everything and anything in the world. It gave Chloe hope that they could at least start to rebuild a relationship with each other as friends. Slowly but surely.
But with this little stunt she just doesn't know what to do again, because her heart could barely contain her emotions.
Does she even remember the memories that very song bore for them?
How that song was what first brought them together in a shower stall together at Barden?
Or how she declared her feelings for Chloe on air while it was playing during her Midnight DJ gig at the station?
She probably didn't, and Chloe wasn't sure what to feel about that.
She did know something though, Beca's effect on her was quite something.
She soon found herself on her way back to the Bellas. She was passing the bar when she caught Beca's voice in the air, her heart always tuned to it somehow.
"I can't believe you made me do that!" Beca had said.
"Well, you've always been raving on and on about the song. I figured I'd like to hear it with the Beca Mitchell touch."
Chloe's heart stopped for a brief second when he heard the unmistakable voice she's only heard in interviews before. When she turned she saw Beca talking to a tall guy with an unmistakable French accent and her jaw nearly dropped when Beca saw her standing right behind them.
Beca smirked, that trademark smirk of hers that Chloe just simply loved, as soon as she saw Chloe. She put her drink down and instantly reached out to Chloe, "Hey, I have a feeling you'd want to meet this guy over here." she said a little breathless before bringing her up close and personal with David Guetta himself.
"And who is this lovely friend of yours Beca?" he had asked.
"Ah, this is Chloe, Chloe Beale. Chloe this is the one and only David Guetta."
"Oh my God." Chloe then let slip a little too surprised. The famous French DJ then reached out his hand and Chloe took it with her hands shaking.
"I hope you enjoyed my little dare on our DJ friend here." he then said.
"Yes." Chloe still said completely dazed and confused and overwhelmed beyond her senses. "I… well, I love 'Titanium'." she managed to say.
"I'm glad. Thank you." he said.
"Do you want a picture? You know, for keeps?" Beca then asked her, looking for approval form David who shrugged and agreed to it.
Clearly Chloe agreed. It wasn't even a question. She handed Beca her phone and David Guetta place a hand around her waist as Beca took the shot.
David waived at someone who caught his eyes from somewhere just as he released Chloe. He turned back to both Chloe and Beca with a smile. "I have to go. Nice meeting you Chloe."
Chloe nodded and watched as David turned around and walked away. Her brain pretty much quit functioning at that point. She let out a nervous chuckle before looking Beca who was looking at her phone with a sheepish smile before handing it back to Chloe with a nervous chuckle herself.
"So apparently you love 'Titanium'?" Beca asked.
There it was, the confirmation Chloe knew was coming. So, she didn't have a clue at all. "Right, I forgot you forgot for a second there." Chloe found herself saying lightly. "Do know you just made my night though."
"Well I'm glad to be of service." Beca said.
And Chloe, she knew it was the wrong moment to bring the topic of the two of them up at that moment, but she wanted to know, if there was a possibility that she and Beca could ever find themselves at the very least as friends.
But before she could speak some loud noise came from somewhere else at the bar.
And it came with an unmistakable Australian accent.
The two of them turned to find Amy and Bumper briefly making out.
"Hmmm. Can't un-see that now, can I?" Beca asked as he turned to face Chloe.
Chloe grimaced and shook her head. "Nope." she said and Beca nodded uncertainly. "Hey Beca, do you think… well, do you think we can talk some time tomorrow? If you're free?"
"Yeah. Yeah, sure thing." Beca said adopting a serious tone but before she could say anything else they heard Amy yelling. "Where my pitches at? You'll never guess what just happened!"
And with that they rushed towards Amy's direction.
Amy was still recovering from the awesome mixes that Beca had started playing as soon as she stepped up. Amy wasn't naïve, she knew what the songs were, the memories they carried, their effect on the Bellas, particularly Chloe. A part of her was stuck wondering what was going through Beca's head, did she remember anything? Was this her subconscious mind's doing?
But she never got the answer.
Instead, Bumper asked if they could both go grab a drink at the bar. Surely enough, Bumper did, downing a pint of beer in one big gulp.
Bumper's been acting weird by his ordinary standards of weird all week. And many times he'd been trying to get Amy alone by herself but a lot of things have been coming up.
Including getting Beca and Chloe to just meet up, rip of the band aid, and give them the chance they deserved to sort themselves out without the prying eyes of any of the Bellas. Including herself.
"Bumper, what on earth is wrong with you? You're more nervous than that guy from the new set of Trebles that nearly repeated Aubrey's little incident on stage earlier."
"I…. Amy, my beloved, my one and only, my…" Bumper started to recite uncharacteristically.
"Are you asking me to marry you?" Amy quickly deduced and Bumper looked all shades of surprised and uncertain before Amy then said. "Because yes, I'll marry you, Bumper. That's all in the five year plan after all."
"You will?"
"Yes! Of course I will." Amy then said with a smile.
"Okay, awesome. Should we kiss now, I feel like we should kiss now." Bumper said.
And that was when they sealed the deal with a kiss. Amy eventually pulled herself away to gather all the Bellas and share their amazing news to everyone, her voice rising above the noise at the club.
It was Sunday morning, bright and early. Emily was a little surprised to see Beca up earlier than she was, considering the DJ was up all night and the Bellas most definitely did not let her go without a few of their own mixed up cocktail orders.
The plan had always been to let Emily stay for a night at her loft so that she could eventually sneak her into her studio over the weekend and show her where she works. The plan had been updated in the early hours of morning as the Bellas parted ways to include a brunch with Luke, his girlfriend, Stacie, and Amy, and Benji at Beca's favorite café. Beca extended the invite to Bumper too, but the former Treble had been busy trying to get a hold of some of the old Trebles he knew who lived in the city for their own celebration. To Benji's surprise, he somehow got roped into Bumper's plans.
So it was just them, the usual crew as Emily loved to think it.
The café had been busy when they arrived. Luke mostly stuck with coffee, his head pounding from all the alcohol he consumed the night before, matching shades on. It would seem that the Brit had finally reached his limit. Kaelyn tried feeding him a little of her fruit plate. Amy and Stacie were their usual selves during a morning after some hard partying, they were holding up well considering the amount of shots Amy ordered as soon as the Bellas gathered around the bar should have done them in. Beca managed to escape the shots, running into a few other famous friends who wanted to get a hold of her, including Taylor Swift herself. And that was Emily's excuse to save herself from the onslaught of drinks the Bellas had exponentially consumed at that point. Beca, of course, pulled her along and introduced her to one of her favorite singers.
"Beca Mitchell?" said a rather familiar man who soon approached the table when Beca waived hello. Beca introduced him to everyone as the guy who sang the song from that Disney movie – Beca wasn't sure what movie but she at least knew the song.
Beca then excused himself and walked towards the group of people that Jon had intended to join to say hello. "Beca's really well within their circles now, huh? Different people of different levels of fame, it's pretty amazing." Emily then said.
"Beca's like a magnet of great talent, and she has this thing about her. Like music itself had an agreement with her and so all the great talents everywhere flock to her. Like it's in the very law of nature. I mean, she's really good with her job despite bailing out on days she doesn't feel like coming in." Kaelyn commented and Luke shrugged.
"Knowing Beca, she likes to work from home so she probably does that a lot." Luke then said, his voice sounding a little hoarse, and Emily nodded. She kept her eyes on the two as a fan, Emily guessed approached Jon. Beca and Jon exchanged gestures with each other and Emily could only guess that the fan had asked Jon to sing. Beca pointed the piano and urged him on. But Jon seemed to be asking Beca to join him.
"Wait, I know him! Didn't realize what Shawshank was mumbling on and on about earlier until now. I heard a few of his other songs. Do you think Beca could get him to sing for our wedding?" Amy then said. "Bumper's going on and on about getting John Mayer because 'they're so tight' but another cute crooner could be added to the list. You know. Just in case."
"Well, who knows, they look like buddies." Stacie commented just as Jon McLaughlin started to hit the first few keys. "Is he really trying to get her to sing?"
"Yeah, they met through mutual friends and whenever Beca's in a good mood she sings softly to herself. Anyways, he heard her singing once and he's been bugging her to sing with him on a track." Kaelyn explained.
These days I leave the lights on
and the front door open when I sleep
I wake up with the night before
lingering between my teeth
Jon started to sing nodding at Beca, trying to urge her to sing.
Beca soon relented as Jon's team of people started cheering her on too, Jon giving her the floor.
I answer to no one
you're gone and I am free
And they hit the chorus with amazing harmony.
and I know I can't live without you now
I'm just looking for what we already found
so maybe I'll say I'm sorry
save me from the heartache
I know I can't live without you now
"So, he turned out to be nice." she heard Aubrey say, talking about Eli, as they made their way out of the apartment. Chloe woke up late and started to panic that she promised to talk with Beca that day and she didn't even get her number to make sure if it changed or not so they could reach each other.
She could have asked Aubrey or Stacie, but she didn't want to make it sound awkward or anything. She knew that they knew that the two of them had a whole day to themselves to possibly talk about what mattered.
Instead, she asked Aubrey who waited up for her if she knew where Emily would be and she explained to her about the brunch that they were now about to crash.
So there was that.
She got out of town on the railway, New York bound
Took all except my name
Another alien on Broadway
Well, some things in this world you just can't change
Some things you can't see until it gets too late
Chloe took one of her earbuds off as Aubrey spoke, she'd been trying to listen to music to get her mind to focus on the more important things. "That's why I like him." Chloe commented.
"Mhmm." was Aubrey's tightlipped reply. "Mind telling me why you didn't stay with prince charming last night then?"
"He had an early flight. It was all spur of the moment." Chloe explained.
"Does he know about Beca and the fact that she's in New York?" Aubrey asked.
"That we…? No." Chloe said as she shook her head. "Haven't gotten to that yet. Why do you ask?"
"Nothing much." Aubrey then said thoughtfully before taking a deep breath. "So how are you and the munchkin? Are you ever going to talk about what happened when we ditched you?" she asked as she sighed.
"We talked, but mostly just about everything else other than us. It was nice Bree, I'm not going to lie. I was so scared of running into her again that I didn't realize how much I missed her. It's like nothing happened. Like she didn't lose her memory, like we never happened but it felt like just how we were when we were at Barden and I was trying to get to know her. Except, you know, the pressures that came with our situation before when she first lost her memories, they were gone now."
Aubrey nodded as she listened intently. "So what now?"
"Now? I think we should just focus on finding our way back from being friends, don't you think so?"
Aubrey shrugged. "Look Chloe, you two, you have undying chemistry and so much history and all and, honestly, I don't know what to tell you. It's up to you. I just, well, I want you to be happy. I don't hate Eli, by the way, but he still has to work hard for my vote. Strangely enough, and you can totally call me bias, but my vote will forever be on the hobbit."
Chloe shook her head and chuckled. "You're totally biased."
"I'm just pointing out that you tried moving on and all, including with Eli, but you haven't been as close to you, my best friend Chloe version of you, until after that day you spent with Beca. And speaking of the DJ, you okay with last night? I know what that song meant to the two of you as a whole and she played it in the club."
"Yeah, we're cool. Apparently David Guetta himself dared her to do it or something." Chloe said with a knowing smile.
"How do you kno- No way! That munchkin introduced you to David Guetta, didn't she?" Aubrey then exclaimed.
And Chloe shrugged.
Aubrey was right though. It was like the trip she's been dreading had been all that she's needed all along. Maybe it was for closure, or maybe it was for her to prove to herself that there was a reason for all that heartache. But for now, her focus was keeping those emotions at bay, those emotions that complicated matters, and focused on just renewing that friendship with Beca.
She was broken, really shattered when Beca left. But she mended. The problem was, there was always that missing piece that was Beca in her life.
And now, more than anything, she knew, she needed the DJ in her life, in whatever capacity that may be. Maybe that was the only way to completely find herself again and heal. To let go of her tight clutch on whatever it was she was holding on, but not completely let go. Like when you're clutching a rope tightly that it starts burning through your skin, wounding you until you loosened up the grip enough to still hold it without further hurting yourself.
It hurt a lot, but Beca leaving was a wake-up call she needed.
And now things started making sense again.
I got a hole in me now
I got a scar I can talk about
She keeps a picture of me in her apartment in the city
But some things in this world
Man, they don't make sense
Some things you don't leave until they leave you
And then the things that you miss, you say
The rest of the way to the café, Aubrey had been bugging Chloe about meeting David Guetta, and what she and Beca did specifically during their day together.
Chloe answered the questions simply, whatever happens with her and Beca now, she wanted to just keep between them first. It was like they were truly meeting again for the first time, without the inhibitions and without the shackles of the past. They were getting to know each other again in ways they already did and in ways they haven't yet.
And she saw how Beca had evolved. It had happened, as it would seem, so naturally and effortlessly. The true Beca within the alt girl in the combat boots that Chloe had worked hard to uncover came out easily now, from the was she mingled with the people in the club, to how she handled her set, to everything.
Baby, baby, baby when all your love is gone
Who will save me from all I'm up against out in this world
Yeah well, maybe, maybe, maybe
You'll find something that's enough to keep you
But if the bright lights don't receive you
Well, turn yourself around and come on home
They needed the break and refocus on themselves after the accident. After Chloe let her fears win out the best of her at times, and after she forgot about herself at other times.
And Chloe knew she still cared about Beca too.
Chloe and Aubrey were in for a treat when they stepped into the café, Chloe completely taking her earbuds out now. Beca had been singing with Jon McLaughlin, who was playing the piano. Chloe wouldn't admit it then, but her heart skipped a beat after hearing Beca sing again.
She hadn't heard her sing anything for what felt like the longest time.
think it over...
think it over...we could be lovers...again
She hadn't heard her sing since her accident.
and I know I can't live without you now
I'm just looking for what we already found
so maybe I'll say I'm sorry
save me from the heartache
I know I can't live without you now
And Chloe couldn't help but smile.
When Beca returned to their table, parting ways with Jon, Chloe and Aubrey had already pulled up a chair for themselves.
"Nice of you two to join us." Beca commented as she got back on her seat.
"She dragged me here." Aubrey replied with a teasing smile, nodding towards Chloe who quirked an eyebrow at her best friend.
They all enjoyed the rest of their brunch, each talking about the events of the night before. Every now and then, Beca would steal a glance from Chloe who either was listening intently on whatever anyone in their group was saying or was looking away from Beca with a smile.
"Luke, this is a huge thing." Amy then said. "Really big thing and I've been thinking about it for a while now." she emphasized. "And I would ask either DJ amnesiac here," she continued saying, nodding at Beca who sat next to Luke, "or my tall glass of water best friend here," this time Amy nodding towards Stacie on her left, "but then they would both fight for the glory of being the one and only. So Luke, as my main go-to man friend and the tie breaker, would you do the honors of being my man of honor?"
Luke started laughing, Kaelyn too who thought it was a joke, but Luke then smiled genuinely back at Amy. "It would be my pleasure." he then said, accepting Amy's request.
"Oh boy, I can already imagine the bachelorette party now." Aubrey commented and Beca couldn't help but chuckle. She had a feeling that Amy combined with Luke might not be the wisest idea, antics-wise.
They soon finished up and Stacie and Aubrey, promising to meet up again later, took off. Amy asked Beca if she could introduce her to Jon McLaughlin at the other table and Beca obliged, Luke, Kaelyn, and Emily tagging along. As soon as the pleasantries were over though, she made her way back to their table.
And she was finally left with Chloe alone.
"So…" Chloe started to say. "How many famous friends do you have?"
"A few." Beca replied with a smirk.
"Right." Chloe then said, nodding. "You've made quite a life here Beca."
"It's okay I guess." she replied honestly. "It's pretty great but, it's not everything."
"What could you possibly still want?" Chloe then asked, sipping on her coffee.
Beca looked away for a while, somehow trying to find the strength to put into words what she wanted to say.
She wasn't insane. She wasn't going to just outright declare her feelings to Chloe after everything that's happened between them. And besides, Beca knows she's with someone else now and as much as it sucks, she respects that.
But she wants Chloe in her life again.
"Beca." Chloe then said, interrupting her thoughts. "I was wondering, if… well, if it wouldn't be too much, could we sort of somehow find a way to be…" she rambled, and Beca could tell that Chloe was having a hard time putting into words the same things she had wanted to say.
"I'd like that." Beca then simply said, message received and understood.
And Chloe smiled, released a breath she had been holding, and laughed a little. "Good." she said simply. "On that note, I wanted to check if you changed your number, or if…"
"I lost my phone here my first few weeks. I tried exploring the city using the subway system and it just fell from my hand while trying to get off the train at my stop during rush hour. So yeah, my number changed but, that's why." Beca then said, feeling a little embarrassed at her mishap. She didn't tell Chloe that the reason she had her phone out was that she had a map of the city pulled out and ready on her phone in case she got lost with her explorations. She was still new to New York then and she didn't know much of anyone. Fitz was the closest person she knew on some personal level and he was busy, and Kaelyn was still a stranger to her then. She had to be brave in a whole new world to her and she lost her phone in the process. It got replaced the same day, but for a moment there she did have sheer panic.
"So, can I have your number then? We can't, you know, start, or rebuild, or whatever, a friendship if we don't stay in touch. You don't use social media much now too, I've noticed." Chloe admitted shyly.
"Well, I did forget all my passwords. I wasn't too into social media before so I'm guessing that was during my Barden days. I'm still really not into it much that's why I'm mostly letting my people handle things on that front." Beca said as she shrugged. "And…" she continued to say, smiling sheepishly at Chloe. "I kind of miscalled my number from your phone last night when I took the picture with David."
Chloe then chuckled. Beca doesn't know but Chloe was remembering how she got Beca's phone number in the first place. It was at a coffee shop a long, long time ago at Barden. She had taken her phone, guessed her password in two tries, and did the exact same thing Beca.
"What? You're not mad?" Beca asked confused and sounding genuinely concerned. "I'm not starting of this thing on the wrong foot now am I?"
"No. No you're not." Chloe said reassuring her, still giggling.
They all spent the rest of the day together. Luke, Kaelyn, Emily, and Amy soon rejoined her and Chloe and they showed Emily around Beca's work space. They soon met up with Stacie and Aubrey, Bumper and Benji, and some of the remaining Bellas – Flo and Lilly – for dinner somewhere around Chinatown.
And when it was time to say goodbye, Beca decided to not say the words out loud.
Chloe was going back to LA in the morning to come.
And somehow Beca felt that saying goodnight was the safest thing in the world. It held with it a promise of tomorrow, a promise of a new day.
"Goodnight Chloe." she said in almost a whisper just before parting from the outside of Aubrey and Stacie's apartment building, the two already safe inside. Luke and Kaelyn were waiting for her across the street. Emily had parted ways with Benji earlier, while Amy and Bumper too off on their own. Lilly went straight to the airport for a midnight flight, and Flo went back to her hotel room.
"Goodnight Beca." Chloe said, doing what Beca hadn't expected, and pulling her into a hug.
They stayed like that for a while, reveling in each other's warmth, their hearts finding the same rhythm, once again falling in sync. Beca let herself relax in the hug, feel the return to the arms she knew to be home. And this time it wasn't painful, this time it didn't feel like she was getting torn apart as she finally released Chloe from her own hands. Not like the last time.
Even though Chloe was leaving, Beca knew, they were finding they're way back to each other. Somehow.
Yep, Beca strongly believed that.