Chapter 16

A/N: Wow, this story just hit 300 Follows. Saying I'm blown away would be a massive understatement.

Beca leaned lazily against the couch, absentmindedly trailing her fingertips over Chloe's bare back. She smirked when the redhead hummed contentedly against her shoulder, shifting to snuggle a little closer to her chest. "Comfy?" she asked, chuckling softly as Chloe nodded, a smile stretching across her lips.

Beca knew she could get used to sleepy Saturday mornings like this one. 'Especially if they included morning sex with her smoking hot girlfriend.' The thought flashed through her mind without permission, causing her to stiffen in shock, her hand freezing on Chloe's back. At the redhead's whine, Beca resumed the motions, trying to process the thought of Chloe as her girlfriend. She had no idea where the hell that had come from, and was even more irritated at how much she liked the sound of it. So far, her senior year wasn't going at all how she imagined it would, and she was hardly able to believe the events that had already taken place. Her original plan included trying and failing to get out of it altogether, followed by a staunch decision to fly under the radar and get through it as quickly as possible. Instead, she and Sheila had gotten her dad to agree to let her put off college and move to LA, she had played one of her original songs in front of most of the school, and she was sleeping with her new Biology teacher. "At least I'll go out with a bang," she muttered.

"Mmm, I think it was more of a strangled yell," was the response from below. "Maybe even technically a scream."

Beca glared down at Chloe, who had her eyes closed and remained unaffected. "First, I don't sound like that. Second..."

"You were definitely screaming last night," Chloe interrupted sleepily. "Second..."

Beca huffed and removed her hand from Chloe's back. "Nooo," was the response, as the redhead's arm blindly groped the air. Beca rolled her eyes and resumed tracing patterns over the soft skin of her back, smirking at Chloe's sigh of happiness.

"Second," Beca continued, "You weren't exactly quiet yourself."

She felt Chloe smile against her skin before innocently replying, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Beca shook her head, mumbling, "I think you know exactly what I'm talking about."

Chloe chuckled as she leaned to the side and looked up at her. "Actually, I was hoping we could talk about something before Jess and Ashley get here this week?"

"Sure, let's talk," Beca replied, sitting up a little and leaning against the arm of the couch. "Are you having second thoughts? I don't have to meet them."

Chloe shook her head, replying, "No, that's not it. I want you to meet them. I just...I was hoping maybe we could talk about us, whatever this is. I'm not even sure how to introduce you."

Beca smirked as she replied, "How about, 'Hi, this is Beca, the student I'm sleeping with.'"

Chloe snickered, bringing a hand up to Beca's hip, rubbing softly over her side. "Well, I suppose that's an option. It's certainly true. A more conventional approach might be more appropriate though. Something like, 'Hi guys, this is my girlfriend, Beca.' Less awkward anyways," Chloe said with a yawn, oblivious to the way Beca stiffened again at her words. She did seem to notice when there was no response. Quickly sitting up, Chloe eyed the brunette, and Beca refused to meet her gaze. "Unless you don't want that," she finished slowly, her voice rising as she turned the statement into a question.

Beca looked up and met Chloe's clear blue eyes. "Do you?" she asked nervously.

She waited as Chloe studied her, wondering what was going through the redhead's mind. Not having to wait long, Chloe spoke again. "Now who's answering questions with questions," she said with a pointed glance.

Beca sighed knowing she was cornered, and how frustrating it was when Chloe refused to answer her questions. "I don't know," she admitted, locking her fingers together as she thought about leaving for LA at the end of the year.

"Talk to me," Chloe prompted, sliding her hand in between Beca's and holding her gaze. "What are you thinking?"

Beca felt the words tumble from her lips before she could stop them. "I feel like this whole year is kinda spiraling out of control. None of this was supposed to happen. I was supposed to lay low, work on my music, and move to LA after graduation," she said, a touch of frustration present in her voice, her own thoughts distracting her from the wide-eyed expression on Chloe's face.

"What about college, Beca?" Chloe asked.

"I'm not going to college," Beca replied easily, surprised at the frown that appeared on Chloe's face at her words.

Chloe responded slowly, as if trying to understand. "What do you mean, you're not going to college?"

Beca gave her a hard stare. "I'm not sure how to say it more clearly. I'm not going to college, Chloe. I'm moving to LA to get a job at a record label, pay my dues, and maybe DJ on the side. I want to produce music."

Chloe's heated retort took her completely off guard. "You can always do that after college; after you get a degree. Hell, you could even major in music theory or business, something that would be helpful in your future career."

"Why the fuck do you care what I do after high school?" Beca shot back, getting angry. "You sound just like my dad, thinking you know what's best for me without actually listening to what I want. I'm not a child, I'm fully capable of making my own decisions about my future."

Chloe's eyes narrowed as she regarded the shorter girl. "Then stop acting like one," she said sharply. "Of course I care, look at what I do for a living! Your education is the most important thing you can commit yourself to, and you're not even going to consider college? What about possible internships, or industry connections you could make? College is more than just a degree, you know."

Beca couldn't believe this was happening, but she was sure she was done listening to Chloe. "Save your lectures for Biology class. I'm not interested in listening to you tell me how I should live my life." She stood up angrily, storming into the bedroom and quickly pulled her clothes on. Returning to the main room, Beca grabbed her keys and her guitar, not noticing Chloe hadn't moved from the couch and was staring at her.

"Beca, wait," Chloe said, pulling her t-shirt on and quickly standing up.

Beca was too upset to listen, her anger getting the better of her as she retorted, "I don't want a girlfriend who doesn't support my dreams."

"That's not what I..." Chloe's protests fell on deaf ears as Beca spun around and walked out of the apartment without a backwards glance, letting the door slam behind her.

Beca practically ran to her car, determined to leave before Chloe could follow her. She threw her guitar into the backseat, speeding out of the parking lot seconds later. Pulling out her phone, she called Stacie, tapping her fingers anxiously on the steering wheel as she waited for her friend to answer.

"Hello?" Stacie answered, her voice heavy with sleep.

"Sorry, not sorry dude," Beca replied, her voice still laced with irritation from her fight with Chloe. "I'm coming to pick you up. I'll be there in fifteen minutes and I'll buy breakfast."

Stacie grumbled, "You're damn right you will. Okay, I'll be ready."

Beca slid into the diner's corner booth opposite her best friend. Stacie was still yawning, and both girls nodded when their waitress immediately brought over a pot of coffee, flipping their cups right side up on the saucers. Stacie quickly added cream and sugar, eagerly sipping from her cup before narrowing her eyes over the rim.

"Okay, Mitchell. Speak," she said, taking another sip. "This better be good."

Beca hesitated at the look on Stacie's face, before replying, "Chloe and I had a fight this morning. It was pretty bad..." she trailed off, frowning into her cup.

The look on Stacie's face morphed into one of concern. "What happened? You seemed fine with everything last night."

Beca sighed, furrowing her brow in confusion. "I don't even know what happened, Stace. One second she was basically asking me to be her girlfriend, the next we were fighting about me not going to college."

Stacie nodded solemnly. "Right, of course. Classic problem. Happens to me all the time," she replied sarcastically, causing Beca to roll her eyes and smile.

"Come on, seriously," she said with a small shake of her head.

Stacie retorted quickly, "I was being mostly serious. It's not like that's a natural way for the conversation to flow, Becs. What'd you say to the whole girlfriend thing? That's kind of a big deal."

Beca hesitated, thinking back over what happened at Chloe's apartment. "I screwed up. My first thought was to say yes. Then I started thinking about LA, and how much harder it'll be to leave if we put a label on it, and it's an actual relationship. None of this was supposed to happen. My whole plan to survive this year is shot to hell."

"As much as I'm enjoying hearing your inner monologue, what words actually came outta your mouth?" Stacie asked pointedly, before sipping again from her cup.

"Some version of all that," Beca replied with a shrug. "I said I didn't know, and then added in a bit about how it would just make things harder in the end. Which lead to the fight about college. It was like all the fights with my dad all over again."

Stacie wrinkled her nose in disgust at the thought. "She wants you to go to college? What a terrible person." At Beca's glare, she hastily added, "Come on, Becs. I support your decision to go to LA, but I'd love it if you would at least consider attending a year of college with me! I'm not ready for the awesomeness of our friendship to end."

Beca's gaze softened instantly as Stacie opened up to her, a sad smile on her best friend's face. "What are you talking about, Stace? Our friendship isn't going to end. We'll be best friends forever. Me going to LA at the end of the year doesn't change that."

Stacie shook her head. "We'll always be best friends, but you going to LA would change everything."

Beca argued back, "Us going to different colleges would change everything the same way."

"No, it wouldn't. We might be in different places, but we'd still be going through the same things. If you go to LA, you'll be working for a record label, DJ'ing, working with famous people. It would change everything. You'd leave me behind," Stacie's voice softened to almost a whisper by the time she finished, gently spinning her now empty cup in slow circles.

Beca was stunned. She had no idea Stacie felt that way, and was astonished that her friend would still pledge her unconditional support while fully believing Beca would leave her behind and forget about her. She reached across the table and put her hand on top of Stacie's. "I could never do that, Stace. I've already had one fight this morning; I don't want to fight with you too. I need you to be on my side."

Stacie looked up at her, squeezing her hand before pulling away and leaning back into the booth. "Would you consider something for me, Becs?" She nodded, and Stacie continued, "Would you apply to a few schools? Just in case you change your mind? You don't have to go, but at least give yourself the option, and I promise I'll support whatever you decide to do at the end of the year. I promise I'll always be on your side."

Beca stared at her best friend for a few minutes, contemplating what Stacie was asking her. In a way it made sense, and was a way for her to appease the people in her life who obviously cared about her. Plus, she could get into college, and still choose to go to LA after graduation. At the end of the day, Beca wanted the decision to be hers, and hers alone. It was her future, her dream, her career, and it should be up to her to choose what path to take. Noticing Stacie was staring at her, Beca slowly nodded her agreement. "Okay, I'll apply to a few schools."

The smile that broke out on her best friend's face was more than worth it, and Beca cracked one of her own as the waitress returned to take their order. Stacie chose French toast while Beca decided on pancakes, both girls adding on a side of bacon.

"So," Stacie began, and Beca fidgeted nervously under her friend's stare. "Back to the issue of you fighting with Chloe. How'd you leave it?"

Beca sighed, responding, "I kinda just left. Probably not my best move, but she has no right to tell me what to do, or how to live my life. She sounded so much like my dad that I just lost it," she finished with a scowl, feeling the anger return and creep into her tone.

"Okay, down girl," Stacie joked, holding her hands up. "I'm on your side, remember?"

Beca rolled her eyes. "I know, Stace. I can't help it. You know how much it bothered me when my dad refused to even look at it from my side. And Chloe did the same fucking thing. Didn't listen to a word I said, just kept spouting on about college and how that should be my first priority. Like she knows a damn thing about me."

Stacie remained silent, and Beca was grateful for the opportunity to let off some steam without feeling like she was being judged. She and Stacie had a pact about that for as long as she could remember, that they would always be supportive, never judgmental. 'Unless you start doing drugs, then I'll kick your ass from here to next week, Beca Mitchell. And then I will judge you.' Beca snickered as she remembered Stacie's words, the brunette raising her eyebrows curiously from across the table.

"I was just remembering our no judging pact, and what you said afterwards." Beca explained, the wide grin still fixed on her face.

Stacie laughed and winked at her, replying, "I meant it too. If you ever get hooked on drugs, I'll kick your ass. I don't care how famous you become."

Beca nodded solemnly. "And no matter how famous I am, I'd deserve it."

"Damn straight."

Their waitress returned with breakfast and refilled their coffee cups, Beca's eyes widening at the steaming stack of pancakes placed in front of her. As she took the first bite, Stacie spoke up again.

"So what are you going to do about Chloe?"

Beca grumbled back, "Can't I just enjoy these amazing pancakes without thinking about Chloe?"

Stacie shook her head. "Nope," she said, popping the 'p' and waiting expectantly for Beca to answer her question.

"Ugh, I don't know, Stace," Beca groaned, taking a sip of coffee. "We didn't see eye to eye, we had a fight, and I stormed out. I don't even know if she wants to see me again."

It was Stacie's turn to roll her eyes. "Don't be so dramatic, Becs. You had a fight, it wasn't World War Three. Besides, you definitely want to fix it."

Beca narrowed her eyes at Stacie. "And why do I want to fix it?"

"Because the make-up sex will be unbelievable."

Beca's mouth went dry at the thought, her mind flashing back to the night before and having a naked Chloe under her, on top of her, wrapped around her...

Stacie reached over and smacked the side of her head. "That wasn't an invitation to picture it in your head, perv."

"Seriously?" Beca said, her eyebrows rising in amusement. "Did you just call me a perv? You, who thinks about sex literally all the time."

"Oh please, I do not," Stacie retorted, her lips curling into a smile that betrayed her statement.

"What did you do last night after I left?" Beca asked, intending on changing the subject.

"Travis Porter," Stacie answered automatically with a grin, then clapped her hand over her mouth.

Beca's jaw dropped. "Dude! I said what, not who!" Stacie just shrugged, easily recovering from her temporary embarrassment at blurting out the boy's name. "Also, Travis Porter huh? The hunter struck again?"

Stacie smirked, answering casually, "Yep. You know no one can escape when the hunter locks in on a target."

"Except me!" Beca shot back smugly. "I deserve an award."

Stacie rolled her eyes again and shook her head. "Come on, Becs. I hit on you for like an hour before we decided we were going to be best friends. Plus, while I'm not opposed to the ladies, you're missing something I find rather important."

Beca snorted, responding, "Can't say I agree with you on that one, Conrad."

"You don't know what you're missing, Becs," Stacie sighed, acting as though she felt bad for her.

Beca replied easily, "I've never been more thankful to miss out on something in my entire life."

"Whatever, liar," Stacie quipped, cutting Beca off when she tried to protest. "Back to the question at hand. What are you gonna do about Chloe?"

"I think we should take a break from my personal life, and hop onto yours for a second. Tell me about Travis," Beca insisted, needing some time to think about the answer to that particular question.

Stacie shrugged again, answering, "He's hot, he's built, he's tall, and his head is full of rocks. What else is there to tell? Oh, he wasn't terrible in bed either. You know me, Becs, I'm just having fun."

Beca sighed, finishing off the last of her pancakes and leaning back in the booth. "I was supposed to be just having fun with Chloe. Look where that got me."

Stacie studied her for a moment before speaking. "Who do you think you're kidding, Becs? What's going on between you and Chloe was never about just having fun. Maybe at first, for like five minutes. After that, you both had it bad. Why do you think I've been extra flirty around you in Bio class? It drives her nuts," Stacie finished with a laugh, as if it was her own brand of entertainment. "And if you say you didn't notice, I'll call you out for the dirty, dirty liar you are."

Beca shook her head, unable to stop her lips from forming into a wide grin. "Okay, I noticed. But I meant it when I said this wasn't supposed to get serious. I knew I was leaving at the end of the year, and I didn't want this. We just had a fucking fight, Stace. Like we are in a full on relationship."

"Didn't you say that you wanted that?" Stacie posed the question innocently.

Beca gave her friend a hard stare, responding, "No, I didn't. Yes, I like her. Do I want to start a relationship that's just going to end in six months? No, no I don't."

Stacie nodded as she said, "Okay. Now try saying that to someone who'll believe you." Beca opened her mouth to snap a retort back, but Stacie quickly cut her off. "Seriously, Becs, be real. I'm your best friend, and I've never seen you as happy as you've been this past week. You already admitted you have feelings for her, you've written dozens of songs about her, what's so hard about just accepting the fact that you want to be her girlfriend?" Stacie asked curiously.

Beca shut her mouth, frowning as she thought over Stacie's words. "Because it will never work, and allowing myself to go there is just setting me up to fall crashing back down when it ends. I've already picked up the pieces once, it's not something I want to do ever again. It's just easier this way."

"It's also really lonely," Stacie said thoughtfully. Beca frowned as the thought repeated over again in her mind a few times. She wasn't expecting the next words that came from Stacie's lips. "Your dad did it. He picked up the pieces and trusted them with someone else. Don't you..."

"Stop," Beca said sharply. She signaled the waitress they were ready for the check, refusing to make eye contact with Stacie. "You've already won a big battle today, Conrad. Don't push it," she said roughly, grabbing the check and heading to the front of the diner to pay.

Beca stepped out into the morning sunshine, feeling Stacie come up behind her a minute later. "I'm sorry, Becs."

She nodded, gritting her teeth to keep from saying something she'd regret, instead crossing the parking lot to the car. As she got behind the wheel, she looked over at Stacie. "I know you're trying to help me, Stace, but I'm still dealing with my mom's death and everything that happened afterwards. Maybe one day I'll get to a better place, but for now, this is where I am. So just...just leave it alone, okay?"

Stacie nodded, and Beca gave her a weak smile, before starting the car and pulling out of the parking lot.

Beca pulled into her driveway and cut off the engine, leaning back into the seat feeling completely drained. The morning had started off so well, before the fight with Chloe and the discussion with Stacie, both of which had put her through the emotional ringer. She had texted her dad about an hour ago when she dropped Stacie off, letting him know when she'd be home, before heading to the park she frequently visited when she wanted to be alone. Finding a shady, secluded spot under a tree, Beca lost herself in her music, letting the smooth sound of her guitar sooth her frustrated thoughts.

Looking down at her phone, she saw she had missed texts from Chloe, Stacie, and her dad, along with three missed calls from Chloe. Swiping them open, she glanced up at the house, and could have sworn she saw Sheila peeking out the window at her, but when she blinked to refocus her stare, no one was there. Brushing it off, Beca quickly flipped through the texts, reading Stacie's first.

Stacie [10:56AM]: Sorry for overstepping. I'm on your side

Father Mitchell [10:50AM]: OK. Come in through the garage.

Beca paused, reading the text from her dad over again. 'Weird,' she thought, trying and failing to remember the last time she used the front door. Chalking it up to her dad still not really getting texting, she moved on to Chloe's messages.

My Muse [8:45AM]: Come back so we can talk about this

My Muse [8:51AM]: I'm sorry. I could have reacted better to that

My Muse [10:28AM]: Will you just please call me?

Beca felt her stomach twist into a knot as the fight flashed through her mind again. Frowning, she quickly replied to Stacie, before locking her phone and hopping out of the car. Walking through the garage door into the kitchen, she was caught completely off guard by what was waiting for her on the table. Beca's mouth curled into a grin as she picked up the plastic toy and slipped it over her wrist, reading the note it was sitting on out loud.

"Becs, the war has begun. Choose your side wisely, as the loser cooks dinner and does the dishes. You've been warned."

She quickly darted behind the kitchen island, hearing footsteps approaching from the hallway. Peeking around the corner, she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it was Sheila, nodding at her stepmom as she ducked down beside her.

"Allies?" Shelia asked, holding out her wrist.

Beca grinned and said, "Duh." She turned on her gun, and linked it to Sheila's before asking, "Where is he?"

Sheila listened carefully for about thirty seconds. "Upstairs, in the guest bedroom. But he's on the move."

"Split up, he doesn't know you found me yet," Beca whispered, scampering out of the kitchen towards the front door, as Sheila nodded and headed into the living room.

Beca cautiously approached the stairs, adjusting the plastic gun on her wrist. These were the best gifts Sheila had ever gotten them, and it had been a while since they had been used. It was the first Christmas after Ben and Sheila were married, and the woman had bought the three of them small laser tag guns that slipped easily over the wrist. They weren't very expensive or particularly accurate, but you could link them together to play as teams, and they were an instant favorite.

Beca smirked as she remembered the countless times she and Sheila had teamed up against her father. Creeping up the stairs, she heard him approaching from the hallway around the corner. Jumping out from behind the wall, she caught him completely off guard, shooting him before he could react, yelling, "GOTCHA!"

"Damnit, Beca! When did you get home?" Ben cursed, looking down waiting for the lights to flicker back on in his gun.

Beca darted back down the stairs calling happily, "Oh, about five minutes ago. Dad, good to know you're still terrible at laser tag!"

Just as the last words left her lips, she heard the crashing noise coming from her wrist, looking down shocked as the lights went out signaling she was hit. "What the fu..."

"Language, young lady!" Sheila shouted at her from across the landing, a broad smirk on her face.

Beca glared at her. "Stepmonster, I know you're getting up there and everything, but we're on the same team! It hasn't even been five minutes!"

Blowing imaginary smoke from the end of her stunner, Sheila gloated, "You were holding me back, kid. I needed to get rid of the competition to prove I'm the best." She pointed a finger at Beca with a dangerous look, adding, "And watch who you're calling old. I might just have to tell you what it was like back in my day..." she trailed off as Beca held her hands up in surrender.

"No! Not that. Anything but having to hear about how you had to walk on those dirt roads and pave the way for women everywhere to be treated as equals," she quipped sarcastically, hiding behind a couch as the lights on her stunner came back on.

Sheila called out into the room, "You forgot the part where I walked five miles a day to school and back, in the snow, uphill both..."

Beca quickly interrupted her, "'Both ways, blah blah blah, life was hard, you didn't have cell phones,' how you ever survived, we'll never know."

Crawling to the corner of the couch, she peeked around the edge, seeing that Sheila was cornered between her and her dad, who was approaching from the stairs.

Sheila chuckled before catching herself and shouting up the stairs at her husband. "Ben! It's time we reconsidered boarding school! She's too much like us, we need professionals to beat it out of her."

Beca grinned as she heard her dad's voice respond teasingly from the top of the stairs. "Come on up here and we can talk about it."

"I think you should come down here," Sheila bargained, her head poking out from around the corner of the wall again.

Suddenly, Beca realized exactly what was going to happen. She climbed up on the couch, waiting patiently for the right moment to strike. She didn't have to wait long; her dad came flying down the stairs as Sheila jumped out from behind the wall. Before either of them could shoot, Beca gave a wild yell and sprang over the couch, shooting both of them.

"Yeeeahhhhh!" she shouted, doing a victory dance to the explosions coming from the stunners attached to her parent's wrists, reveling in their shocked expression. "That might be my best move ever," she said happily. "So which one of you is cooking me dinner?"

Sheila rolled her eyes and retorted, "It's hilarious that you think this is over."

Beca gulped, looking at the devious smiles on both of their faces. Not bothering to be subtle, Ben linked his gun with Sheila's when the lights flickered back on. Before she could move, her dad shot her, causing the explosions to start again, this time from her own wrist.

Narrowing her eyes, Beca growled, "First one to five?"

Her parents nodded, Sheila responding confidently, "You're on kid. Oh, and we would like a full steak dinner when we win."

Beca rolled her eyes at both of them, scowling, "I stopped listening, because you'll never beat me!" With that, she took off through the house, hearing her parents split up to try and find her.

Before long, it was four to two, with Beca in the lead. She was currently hiding in the living room, lying down on the couch and listening for any movement close by. She could hear her parents talking to each other from somewhere upstairs, not bothering to be quiet. Beca patiently laid in wait, hearing them come down the stairs and split up, knowing this was her chance to sneak up on one of them for the winning shot. Silently rolling off the couch to the floor, she peeked quickly around the bottom corner and heard someone looking in the coat closet by the front door. Scurrying across to the opposite wall to hide behind a bookshelf, she recognized her dad's footsteps, and waited patiently for him to enter the room.

As soon as he became visible, she jumped out and shot the stunner on his wrist, shouting in victory as the explosion sounds filled the room and the lights on his wrist went out. Sheila entered from the kitchen, shaking her head at Ben as he looked guiltily back at her.

Beca smirked, raised her arms in the air, and began to sing, "I am the champion, my friends…"

Sheila reached her, and trapped her in a giant hug before she could escape. "Yeah, yeah, you're small and sneaky and way too good at this game," she said, as Ben wrapped his arms around both of them, squeezing tight.

Beca finally broke away, squirming out of their grasp, her grin betraying the huff of annoyance. "Can we have a pizza and TV night, since Sheila won't be here for The Bachelor on Monday?"

Sheila smiled fondly at her stepdaughter. "Great idea, kid," she said, shifting her gaze to Ben, who nodded in agreement.

"Pizza and bad television it is," he concurred, pulling out his phone and leading the way to the couch.

In no time at all, there were two steaming pizzas laid out on the coffee table, a recorded episode of Survivor playing on the TV, and Beca was tucked into her favorite spot on the couch between her parents. She grabbed a slice, munching happily on the cheesy deliciousness, all thoughts of Chloe gone from her mind.

A/N: As always, thanks to my beta Ravenclawsome33 for putting up with me week in and week out! Check out her awesome stories if you haven't already!

Thanks to everyone who keeps reading and reviewing! Especially you anonymous people guilt tripping me for updates. I wish it wasn't so effective!