Chapter 29
A/N: My apologies that this chapter is a bit late! Trying to post two chapters this week, so stay tuned.
Music:
Sweet Silver Lining – Kate Voegele
Beca settled into the window seat next to her dad and glanced at Sheila sitting across the aisle from them, passed out cold in the comfortable chair. A flight attendant had already offered them drinks, bringing her and Ben a glass of orange juice each before the other passengers began to board. She'd never flown in first class before, and Sheila had winked at her when they saw the tickets, suggesting that the record label was "pulling out all the stops to impress her." If that was the case, Beca had to admit it was working.
Her parents had instantly agreed to accompany her to Nashville, even allowing BMR to book flights on Friday morning knowing that Beca would miss school, and she was admittedly relieved that they were going with her. Beca was already overwhelmed at the possibility of signing with any record label, let alone one as big as Big Machine Records, and was glad to have her dad's calming presence along with Sheila's basic knowledge of how these contract negotiations go.
That was how Beca had ended up flying first class from San Diego to Nashville, their flight leaving a little before seven in the morning and arriving just before one in the afternoon. While Sheila was exhausted from her most recent business trip, Beca was wide awake from the flood of emotions running through her. Although she was excited and filled with anticipation for the visit, she'd barely slept since her argument with Chloe earlier in the week. Unfortunately, not even the thrill of a record deal could take her mind completely off the hurt and sadness of not speaking with her girlfriend for the past two days.
She'd respected Chloe's request for space, and had not called or texted her, even going so far as to skip Biology class yesterday afternoon. Despite trying to convince herself otherwise, Beca knew that she'd skipped class to avoid seeing Chloe, not wanting to feel the additional hurt of being in the redhead's presence while unable to even attempt another apology.
Her parents had immediately noticed something was wrong when they arrived home Thursday evening, and Beca spilled out the whole story as more tears fell from her eyes. Sheila wrapped her in a hug while her dad remained silent, before stating that maybe it was for the best. He promptly left the room at the resulting glare from his wife, giving Beca an apologetic look. Beca wasn't surprised by his reaction, knowing that her father really didn't approve of their relationship no matter what words were exchanged over Sheila's death pie, or any of the following dinners.
Beca sighed as the plane sped down the runway and rose into the air, wishing more than anything she could tell Chloe where she was going. Technically nothing was stopping her, but she didn't want to make things worse by not giving Chloe some time to process. The more she thought about it, the more Beca felt the whole fight was ridiculous. Yes, things might have started because of the dare, but there had also been a two-month period where nothing had happened and they'd started a whole new relationship afterwards. She didn't know how Chloe could honestly believe that Beca had faked the whole thing, especially after she'd talked about her mom.
"I never told anyone about that before," Beca mumbled, getting lost in thought.
Ben looked at her curiously, asking, "Did you say something, Becs?"
She looked up, a frown on her face as she shook her head, refusing to cry over the situation again. "No...just...thinking," she replied lamely, looking down at her hands.
"Are you okay?" Ben asked carefully.
Beca found herself breaking into a grin at his tone, knowing it was the one most guys used when they wanted to seem like they cared but dreaded the possibility of the girl actually wanting to talk about it. He surprised her, though, continuing on with another question.
"What did you never tell anyone about?"
Beca eyed him, saying, "Why'd you ask if you already knew what I said?"
His eyebrows rose. "Why are you avoiding the question?"
"Ugh, you're just as frustrating as Chl..." Beca scoffed, freezing before she said Chloe's name.
Her dad sighed, glancing over at Sheila who had started to lightly snore, not bothered at all by the noisy takeoff. "Beca, I know I wasn't very supportive of your relationship with Chloe. Coming from someone in education, and a position of authority, it's an extremely dangerous situation for everyone involved. I won't lie to you...I'm a bit relieved that it's over, but I'm so sorry that you're hurting. I never want to see you like this," he said, his voice sincere.
Beca believed him, knowing that her dad loved her more than anything else in the world, but it was still very fresh in her mind, and the sadness hit her all over again. "We're not over," she said, sounding more like she was trying to convince herself than her father. "She just needed some space."
Ben remained silent, and Beca sighed again, saying, "Fuck...it's over isn't it?"
Ben opened his mouth, then closed it, thinking over what he wanted to say. "Well, I suppose if she didn't actually break up with you..." he trailed off, shrugging. "I'm not very up to speed with how you young kids date these days," he said with a small smile. "I guess I just don't understand why you wouldn't rather date someone your own age."
Beca frowned, looking away from him and out the window. "I've never felt a connection with anyone the way I felt it with Chloe. There was an instant comfort level with her, just somehow I trusted her from the beginning. I was more open with her than anyone else in my life...except maybe Stacie."
"What about Sheila and I?" Ben asked, his voice a little hurt. "You talked with her about things you wouldn't talk to us about?"
Beca looked back at him, her face unreadable as she said, "I told her about mom."
Ben's eyebrows rose again, clearly not expecting those words. "Becs, you won't even talk to me about your mother, but you'll talk to a stranger? Someone you barely know?"
"That's the thing, dad," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Chloe's my girlfriend. She's not a stranger, or someone I randomly met. I've never wanted to tell anyone about mom before. But I wanted her to know me, the real me, because she accepts me for exactly who I am. Not just the outside image, but who I am and all the scars that come with me. She loves me...well...loved me."
Ben stayed silent this time, and Beca turned back to the window, gritting her teeth as hot tears gathered behind her eyes. She was so tired of crying. Beca Mitchell didn't cry, especially not over a girl. Maybe this was all for the best, since clearly Chloe had wormed her way in far past where Beca was comfortable. She felt like she'd cried enough for her whole life in the past few days. It was hard to stop though, especially when Beca missed Chloe more than she ever thought it was possible to miss someone who wasn't her mom.
Just when she was sure the conversation was over, her dad spoke again.
"Becs, I'm sorry I didn't try harder with Chloe. I didn't realize..." he trailed off, not knowing how to finish the thought.
Beca completed the sentence, her voice a little harsher than she intended. "That I was actually in love with her? That what we had was a real relationship, with trust and love and deep conversations about the good and hard things?Despite what I told you before? Don't worry about it."
Ben put a hand on her arm, causing Beca to turn and look at him again. "Beca, I'm sorry," he said, his eyes showing nothing but sincerity.
Beca nodded, looking down at her hands again as she replied, "I know, dad. It's okay. It's my fault it's over, not yours. Besides," she added, trying to lighten the mood as she looked back at him. "It probably wouldn't have worked out anyways, since I'll have to move to Nashville when I sign this record deal," she said with a half-hearted smirk, trying to focus on something positive.
Ben laughed, slipping his arm around her and giving her an awkward side-hug through the giant first-class seats. "I'm really proud of you. You worked hard to get here, and you deserve the chance to make your dreams come true." He hesitated, studying her for a moment before saying, "Becs, you know it's okay to miss your mom, right? I still do. Just because I met Sheila...it doesn't mean I miss her any less."
Beca felt the familiar tightening in her chest that appeared whenever her mom was mentioned, clamming up instantly the way she usually did when her dad tried to talk to her about it. Instead of keeping it inside, she took a deep breath and said quietly, "I miss her every day. For a long time after she died, I didn't want to play music anymore. It wasn't the same without her, and it was like a blaring reminder that she wasn't here anymore. Eventually, I started missing it, and at the same time realized my memories of her were fading. I couldn't picture her face as clearly, or hear her voice in my head. I sat down at the piano one day, and...I don't know...I can't really explain it but it felt like she was sitting beside me."
Ben remained silent as she kept speaking. "I heard her voice again, and her laugh just like she used to when we would fool around instead of playing a song. She wouldn't have wanted me to give up on music. It was her life, and it's mine too. I need it the same way she needed it."
"I know, Becs," her dad said, his tone full of understanding and something that Beca thought might be amazement. "Do you know you've never spoken more than a handful of words to me about your mom? Nothing beyond, yes, no, and I miss her."
Beca shrugged, looking up at him. "Once when we were fighting, Chloe yelled at me for not opening up to her. She said I never told her anything about me, well nothing personal anyways. So I started telling her things, small stuff at first, but I realized that I felt better each time I would let her in. She never judged me or criticized me for anything that happened in my past, and said it made her feel special when I opened up. Not even when I talked about how hard it was for us after mom died."
She sighed, recognizing the look on her dad's face and knowing he was at a loss for words. "It's not so hard for me to talk about her anymore. I still don't really want to, but I can. And I love Sheila, and I'm really glad you found her. She helped us both not be sad anymore."
Ben smiled at that, glancing across the aisle at his wife. "Yeah, she did. I'd say we got lucky with her." Pausing, he then continued, "Becs, you can always talk to me about your mom. I talk to Sheila about her all the time. It's not healthy to keep emotions bottled up."
Beca shot him a curious look, asking, "Really? That's not weird for her?"
"She understands there is a grieving process, and also that some wounds never fully heal. Nora was my first love, my wife, your mother...I'll never stop missing her. But at the same time, she's not here anymore. She's up in Heaven playing music for everyone," he said with a fond smile. "I was open and honest with Sheila from day one, and I love her a lot. Equally important to me is how much she loves you. Even though I don't like it when you two gang up on me, I love that you two have grown so close."
Beca grinned, looking past him at her stepmom. "She's okay," she said with a smirk. Leaning back in her chair, she yawned widely before saying, "Good talk, Father Mitchell. Gonna try and get some sleep before we land."
Ben rolled his eyes and nodded, before leaning forward to pull a book out of the bag stashed under the seat in front of him. "Good idea. I have a feeling it's going to be a wild ride once we land."
By the time the plane touched down in Nashville, Beca was on the edge of her seat filled with nervous anticipation. She'd managed to sleep for most of the flight, the first class seat reclining much more than the standard coach one, and was actually pretty comfortable. Her dad had woken her up as the plane prepared to land, forcing her to return her seat to it's "upright and locked position," according to the overly cheerful flight attendant. Now, she was alternating between looking out the window at the airport and grinning nervously at her parents.
Sheila spoke up from across the aisle, "So, they sent a car to pick us up and take us to the hotel. After we check in and get settled, the car will take us to the studio to meet with Gail and a few other talent reps. Got it, kid?"
Beca nodded, remembering the email exchange between Sheila and the talent rep from Big Machine Records. Sheila had offered to act as a stand-in agent for this meeting, but had recommended that Beca look into finding one with industry experience.
Her stepmom wasn't finished though, adding, "Beca, no matter what they put in front of you, you don't sign anything until a lawyer reads over it. Got it?"
Beca nodded again. They'd had this conversation last night, when discussing the trip. Sheila had warned her that these companies are always looking out for themselves first, and only had her best interests at heart when they aligned with their own. She had explained that the deal would sound great, but it was important to have a lawyer go over the terms with Beca, and make sure she understood exactly what she was getting out of it. Her parents had also encouraged Beca to remember that she didn't have to sign with the first label that showed interest if it meant compromising, and to decided exactly where she was comfortable drawing the line.
It had kept her up that night as she waited until the last minute to pack, wondering where to draw the line. Beca eventually decided that she wanted to have as much control as possible over her music, and not have to change her style or her songs. She wanted to keep writing and making music on her own terms, and that she would only consider signing if they allowed her to do so. She was also hoping for the opportunity to co-produce at least her first single, if not her first album. Producing was really what she wanted to do, and they might agree to those terms if they wanted to sign her badly enough.
As Beca strolled through airport between her parents, her dad wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Becs, I want you to know that I'm so proud of you for believing in yourself and your music, and for not giving up on your dream. I know we talked about this last night, but don't compromise, okay?"
Beca looked up at him and replied, "Don't worry, dad. I thought about it a lot last night, and I know where to draw the line."
Sheila grinned at her response, saying, "I think you're ready, kid. Now let's go find a sign with your name on it."
Beca smirked as they approached the baggage claim, spotting several men with suits holding up signs. The past two days had already been full of surreal experiences, and Beca knew that the weekend was going to be one to remember regardless of whether she signed a record deal or not. The magnitude of it all hit her again when she spotted a sharply dressed main holding a sign that read, 'B. Mitchell.'
"Holy shit," she whispered under her breath, pausing for a moment.
Ben and Sheila stopped also, turning to look at her curiously.
Sheila stepped closer, whispering in her ear, "If you're gonna be a star, you gotta own it, kid. Don't be afraid."
Beca nodded and took a deep breath as Sheila winked at her, before gesturing for her to lead the way. Beca mustered up every bit of confidence she had and walked up to the man that was waiting for them.
"Ms. Mitchell?" he asked politely.
Beca nodded, holding out her hand to shake his. "Hi, I'm Beca, and my parents, Ben and Sheila," she said, stepping aside to introduce her parents.
"Nice to meet you all. My name is Isaac. Do you have any other bags?" Isaac asked, glancing at their carry-on luggage.
Beca shook her head, answering, "Nope, this is it."
Isaac smiled and offered to take Beca's bag, which she gladly accepted, and led them out of the airport to his waiting car. It was extremely similar to how Sheila's driver had treated her when they returned from Hawaii, and it was the second time that day that Beca felt special, as each event sparked a new moment of realization that this was a big deal.
While it wasn't a limousine, the black town car was spacious, and the three of them fit comfortably in the back as Isaac navigated smoothly out of the airport. Since their flight had arrived early, he took them on a mini-tour of Nashville, pointing out several of the cities more iconic places, as well as driving them past the BMR building that they'd be returning to later in the afternoon.
It was about quarter after two when Isaac finally pulled up to the front of the hotel. After helping them get their bags from the trunk, he informed them he would be waiting out front to take them to the studio in a half hour for their three o'clock meeting.
After checking into their hotel rooms, Beca collapsed on her bed and pulled her phone out to find a new text from Stacie.
Stacie [1:45PM]: Hey Rockstar! Get there okay? Call me after
Beca [2:25PM]: At hotel. About to leave for the studio. Call you later
Beca looked up at the ceiling, dropping her phone on the bed beside her. She still had a few minutes before her parents were due to get her, their room a few doors down from her own. Her mind instantly filled with thoughts of her future and what would happen if she signed a deal. The questions floated around in her head, wondering if she could leave everything behind and move to Tennessee if that's what the label wanted her to do.
A knock interrupted her thoughts, and she climbed off the bed, slipping her phone into her pocket as she opened the door to find her parents waiting.
"Ready?" Ben asked, giving her a smile.
Beca nodded, grinning back. "Yeah, I'm ready."
Beca's nerves were back in full force as Isaac pulled up to the front of Big Machine Records, taking a deep breath as he rounded the car to open the door for her. She mumbled a quiet thank you and he gave her an encouraging smile.
After closing the door, he motioned her to step a little closer, away from her parents and said in a low voice, "They only call us for the ones they really want. Don't be nervous."
She forced a smile which spread into a grin as he winked at her, before wishing her luck and made his way back around to the driver's seat.
Beca squared her shoulders and walked up to the main doors, leading her parents inside. After giving her name to the young woman behind the front desk, they only had to wait a minute before a blonde woman with a wide smile strode purposefully towards them across the lobby.
"Beca?" she asked as she approached, holding out a hand as Beca nodded. "So nice to meet you! I'm Gail."
After the quick introductions, Gail led them on a tour of the building. Gail kept the conversation light, asking questions about their family and California. They were introduced to a few more people, including Gail's assistant Beth, and two of the senior producers at the label when they reached one of the studios. Beca almost started drooling when they were shown inside, the producers graciously allowing them to look around as they worked. Luke had a solid setup for his small studio, but this was unreal, and Beca's fingers instantly itched to get her hands on the large board.
Gail allowed her to enter into the booth, which was apparently being set up for Thomas Rhett to start recording his new album the following week. Beca ran her fingers gently along an acoustic guitar, trying to find some semblance of normal to focus on.
Gail's voice from the doorway interrupted her thoughts. "Try it out," she offered warmly, a spark of something in her eyes. "Just don't break it," she added, her voice slightly teasing.
Beca looked up for a moment, but at Gail's nod, she picked up the guitar, slipping the strap over her had and settled down onto a nearby stool. She strummed a few notes, letting herself become accustomed to the unfamiliar instrument, before playing the intro to a new song she'd been working on. Missing the look that flashed between Gail and the two producers, she began humming softly, a sense of calm settling over her as if she'd been doing this her whole life.
Beca looked up at her parents who were watching through the glass, growing more confident by the minute as she relaxed into the song. She wasn't sure why this particular song popped into her mind, wondering if her chat with her dad on the plane hit home a little deeper than she realized. She'd started working on it after her fight with Chloe, after her conversations with Gail and her parents, feeling a sudden jolt of inspiration.
"Are there lyrics?"
Beca stopped playing, looking up at the producer who'd spoken, recalling his name was John. "Yeah," she nodded, "But it's not finished yet."
"Got the chorus?" he asked, entering the booth and grabbing a second guitar.
She quirked an eyebrow at him as he pulled another stool over to her, perching on it beside her. "Yeah," she said again, wondering what he was thinking. "I've got one verse and the chorus."
"Play it for me? Without singing," he added, watching her intently.
Beca nodded, shifting slightly on the stool before playing through the melody once, then a second time when he signaled for her to continue. As she neared the end, he circled his finger to let her know to play it again, this time joining in on his own instrument. His sound complimented hers, and Beca's eyes lit up in delight at the harmony of the two guitars.
As they reached the end of the chorus for a third time, without breaking rhythm he said, "Now lyrics."
Beca didn't hesitate, smoothly adding vocals to the song.
Most days I try
My best to put on a brave
But inside
My bones are cold and my heart brakes
But all the while
Something's keeping me safe and alive
But so many people are looking to me
To be strong and to fight
But I'm just surviving
And I may be weak but I'm never defeated
And I'll keep believing
In clouds with that sweet silver lining
Beca grinned happily, looking down at the guitar as she finished strumming the last notes, missing the glances that were being exchanged around the room between Gail and the two producers.
John rose, setting the guitar carefully back in its stand. "You sure you're not a country singer? Those are some pretty soulful lyrics," he said, giving her a smile.
Beca shrugged, also returning her borrowed guitar to its stand. "I'm not a huge country fan, to be honest. But, uh, a friend of mine is and it's starting to grow on me," she said honestly.
John nodded, reaching out to high five her. "That was awesome. You're pretty talented, kid."
Beca slapped his hand, saying, "Thanks," as they both turned to look at Gail in the doorway. Beca instantly saw that along with her customary wide smile, she had her phone raised high in front of her.
Beca asked curiously, "Were you recording that?"
Gail nodded, replying, "Absolutely. That was incredible. I know you haven't technically signed with us yet, but I would love to post that. It'll go viral in seconds."
"Could you send it to me?" Beca asked hopefully, knowing that the impromptu jam session was one of the coolest things that had ever happened to her.
Gail quickly agreed, sending the video to Beca's phone, who instantly forwarded it on to Stacie.
Beca [3:38pm]: Just jammed out in a booth with one of the senior producers at BMR!
"Okay, we'll let you guys finish setting up the studio and get outta your way," Gail said cheerfully, holding the door open for Beca and her parents to pass through. She led them along a new hallway to a small conference room, inviting them to sit anywhere. Beth brought them each a bottle of water as a tired-looking man entered the room.
Gail introduced them to Jack Reynolds, one of the record label's corporate attorneys, and told them that they had prepared a standard new artist's contract for Beca to sign.
"Okay, let's get down to business. There's no point in dancing around it," Gail began, sliding a packet of papers across the table to Beca from her seat alongside Jack. "We want to sign you. We can offer you everything you need to become a star, Beca. This is our standard contract. Essentially, we commit to helping you produce five albums, with some possible options to extend beyond that period. We cover all the expenses required to produce those albums, and take a percentage out of the sales in return. You will receive a royalty from the net income of those sales, with possible increases based on hitting certain milestones. Those targets are clearly laid out for you in the contract."
"Big Machine reserves the right to sell your music universally, and the rights to all of your recorded performances," she continued, breaking down the terms of the contract for Beca to understand. "Anything you create while under contract with us will be considered our property, not yours. This is a standard clause, and is non-negotiable for all of our artists. You are also obviously forbidden to record with any other labels while you are under contract with us unless we set it up for you."
Beca listened attentively, making sure she understood everything that Gail was saying. Her dad and Sheila remained silent beside her, but Beca could tell they were also listening to every word.
"Do you have any questions?" Gail asked, taking a sip of water when she was finished explaining all the terms.
Beca nodded, asking, "Who decides what music I play or record?"
Gail gave her a wry smile, answering, "Good question. Some labels will force you to play what they want, or what they feel will make them the most money. However, you're a special case. You write your own songs, and they're good. Really good. You remind me a little of Taylor, so involved in every aspect of your music."
Beca blanked out for a second at that statement, dropped so casually from Gail's lips. Did she just compare her to Taylor Swift? She forced the thought from her mind and focused on what Gail was saying.
"Seeing as you're so involved already, we're prepared to take the risk of letting you record your own songs, provided you work with our lyricists and producers when necessary. Sound fair?"
Beca hummed thoughtfully, before clarifying, "I think I'm okay with that, as long as I get the final say on what I record. I don't want to give up control of my music, and be forced to record something I don't believe in or relate to. I want to maintain some level of control over what I record."
Gail nodded, glancing at Jack as he scribbled something on the notepad in front of him. "Anything else?"
Beca hesitated, before steeling herself. She knew that this was her opportunity to speak up and try to get what she wanted. "I'd like to co-produce some the tracks. I know right now you only see me as an artist, but my ultimate goal is to be a music producer, and I see this as an invaluable opportunity to learn."
Gail gave her a curious look, before answering, "Agreed. You have already spent time in a professional studio, and have demonstrated a basic knowledge of how to produce a finished track. We've got several producers who I think you'd work well with. Anything else?"
Beca nodded, asking, "This is going to require me to move here, right?"
"Yes, absolutely...for at least the first year, if not longer. We're prepared to offer you an advance in order to offset your initial financial costs until you're able to put out a single or an album. I believe the number we settled on is $75,000," Gail said, looking over to Jack for confirmation. At his sharp nod, she returned her gaze to see Beca's shocked face, and continued speaking.
"It is possible that the move would only be temporary. If you're successful, we'd be open to relocating you to one of our New York or LA subsidiaries, if you wanted to go back to California. Most likely, if things go well, you'll be on tour and you could maintain a permanent residence anywhere. If you needed to be in Nashville to record, we have several apartments that artists use temporarily while they're here."
Gail continued to lay out the finer points of what that first year would entail, beyond just recording, but playing smaller gigs and shows to get her name out there. She surprised Beca by saying, "Ashley mentioned you also mix songs together?"
Beca nodded, wondering what that had to do with anything.
Gail clued her in, saying, "If you're open to it, a great way to start getting your name out there is to DJ smaller clubs. Have you ever DJ'd before?"
"No," Beca replied, though instantly interested at the idea. "I'd be open to it though."
Gail nodded, her smile returning as she glanced at the lawyer again, watching him write furiously. "That'll be an option as well. Understand, these appearances will be non-negotiable. If you sign with us, that means you're trusting us to market you and we'll expect you to show up, no questions asked."
Beca agreed, knowing that this was the price she would have to pay in order to market herself. If she was honest, the thought of DJ'ing excited her, and she looked forward to getting to play her mixes for others to hear and enjoy.
"Any other questions?" Gail asked, looking around the table. At the resounding silence, she said, "Jack will make the adjustments to the contract, and we'll have it delivered to you at the hotel tonight. It's a big decision, so take your time and be sure."
Beca nodded, asking, "I'd like to go over it with a lawyer before I sign anything. When do you need an answer from me?"
Gail answered immediately, "The offer is good for exactly thirty days. Do whatever you need to do to feel comfortable signing with us."
Sheila cut in with a question of her own. "Are you open to further negotiations if her lawyer wants to amend certain items?"
Gail glanced at Jack, who spoke for the first time since the discussion began. "Of course, we are always open to altering the terms of the contract, but make no promises we will acquiesce to every wish. We'll be as flexible as possible, but cannot compromise in certain areas," he explained, sliding a couple business cards across the table. "Give my card to your lawyer if they want to discuss any particular section or item."
Beca smiled, taking the cards and addressed both of them, saying, "Thank you. I plan to take my time, and make the right decision for me. This has been awesome, though. Thanks for showing me around, and letting me play a little in the booth."
Gail immediately flipped through the folder in front of her, pulling out a single sheet of paper. "Right, I almost forgot. This is a standard release form that would allow me to post that video on our social media sites. I hope you'll consider signing it."
Beca glanced at Sheila, who leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Couldn't hurt, kid. Free exposure, just make sure she uses your name."
Looking over at Gail, she smiled and agreed, "Of course. I'd be happy to sign. Just tag me when you post it?"
Gail's smile widened even more, if that was possible. "Absolutely! We're really looking forward to working with you, Beca. I hope you'll sign with us."
Beca scribbled her signature down on the form, before standing and shaking Gail's hand. "Thanks for bringing me out here. I've got a tough decision to make. This seems like an amazing place."
Gail escorted them to the front of the building, giving each of them her own business card before waving goodbye. As Beca stepped outside, she saw that Isaac was back, waiting to drive them to the hotel.
"How'd it go?" he asked as he opened the door to the car.
"It was awesome," Beca sighed, climbing inside and scooting across the backseat to make room for her parents.
Isaac slid smoothly behind the wheel and glanced back at her in the rearview mirror, asking, "So, will I be seeing more of you?"
Beca grinned, thinking of the official paperwork that she'd be receiving soon, and answered, "You just might."
Beca stepped inside Pastarelli's, instantly spotting Stacie sitting in their booth. She sat down across from her best friend and gave her a tired grin, having come straight there after arriving home from the trip to Nashville. She'd enjoyed the rest of the visit, sightseeing around the city and visiting some of the famous spots to hear live music. Sheila had made an appointment to meet with a lawyer tomorrow after school, and Beca was looking forward to having the smaller details of the contract explained to her.
"Hey Rockstar best friend," Stacie greeted. "How was the trip? Are you famous yet?"
Beca rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Of course not," she scoffed, stacking her menu on top of Stacie's. "It was incredible...I loved it there. They made me an offer, and Sheila thinks it's pretty good for a complete random like me. They're willing to let me co-produce some of the tracks!" she explained, her eyes alight with excitement.
Stacie grinned, replying, "That's because they know you're going to be a star. Something I've known for years, by the way."
The waitress came and they ordered their usual pizza. Beca watched her walk away for a moment, before admitting in a softer voice, "It's unreal, Stace. I can't believe this is actually happening."
"You've earned this, Becs, and you deserve it," Stacie insisted, her tone convincing. "You've worked really hard to get to this point, and you deserve happiness. And, speaking of happiness..."
Beca looked up curiously at the way Stacie trailed off, not finishing her thought. "What? Do you have news too?!"
Stacie gave her a sly grin and said, "I got in, Becs. I got accepted at Stanford."
"Holy shit! That's amazing, Stace!" Beca exclaimed, lunging across the table to hug her best friend. When she pulled back, she could see tears of joy in Stacie's eyes. "Talk about deserving something...you're going to Stanford!"
Stacie shook her head, chuckling in disbelief. "It's hard to believe sometimes. I mean, I've been working for this for four years...this has been my dream."
Beca grinned, happiness flooding her for both of them. "Stace, we're both going to live our dreams. We're so fucking lucky! You at Stanford and me in Tennessee. Fuck, I'm going to the south. I definitely came off worse in this deal."
"Shut up, you're getting a major recording contract from a huge label. I think we both know who won," Stacie retorted, though her wide smile betrayed her tone.
Beca shook her head, replying, "Dude, we both won. The only thing that sucks is that we'll be so far apart."
Stacie frowned at that statement, knowing it was true. "Yeah, that's going to suck. What am I gonna do without you?"
"Meet some super hot science nerd and make genius babies together," Beca replied casually, sipping her water. "Just don't replace me with a new best friend, Conrad."
Beca hadn't actually thought much about how their lives were going to drastically change, and how soon those changes would be occurring. She was almost certainly going to be moving to Nashville to start recording, a place where she wouldn't know anyone outside of the label, and technically Jess and Ashley since she'd met them once. That thought turned her mind back to Chloe, and how she was pretty sure they were broken up, causing a frown to cross her face.
Stacie quickly said, "Becs, come on. I'd never replace you! You'll always be my best friend! No super smart science nerds are going to take the place of my famous and talented musician best friend."
Beca gave her a small smile, saying, "Thanks, Stace. I, uh...I was just thinking about how I screwed it up with Chloe. I'm pretty sure it's over."
"I'm so sorry about that," Stacie apologized, her face falling too. "I didn't mean anything when I said that. I didn't know she was there."
"It's not your fault," Beca responded quickly, not wanting Stacie to feel guilty. "I should have told her about the dare. I actually had forgotten all about it until you mentioned it that day. I tried to explain that to her, but she left anyways."
"Have you tried to call her?" Stacie asked.
Beca hesitated as the waitress returned with their pizza, watching the steam rise from the top. "No. She asked for space and I'm trying to give it to her."
Stacie opened her mouth, but closed it without speaking, looking like she had something she wanted to say. Making up her mind, she said, "She talked to me after class on Friday, since you skipped two days in a row."
Beca's eyebrows rose, waiting expectantly for the brunette to continue.
"She looked a mess, Becs. Like she hadn't slept at all. Said to tell you that when she asked for space she didn't mean for you to skip class, and that you need to show up before she has to report you. Did you not tell her you were going to Nashville?"
Beca shook her head, looking down at the slice of pizza on her plate. "I wanted to, but like I said, she asked for space and I was trying to respect that."
Stacie shrugged. "I told her that we dare each other to do stuff all the time, and that you called it off because you had real feelings for her. I also told her that you went to Nashville. Sorry if you didn't want her to know."
"That's okay. I'm not hiding it from anyone, especially her," Beca sighed, looking back up at her friend. "Let's talk about something else."
Stacie nodded, recognizing that discussing Chloe was only making Beca miss her more. "Are you really going to sign with Big Machine and move to Nashville? Even if you guys were to work it out?"
Beca hummed, letting her mind wander to that place of hope, the one where Chloe forgives her and they make it to the point where they get to actually date each other. "I don't know," she answered honestly. "There's something crazy between us, that I can't put into words. It just feels big, you know? Meaningful, like it's just right. I'm not sure I would be able to just leave if we got back together."
"Not even for a record deal? Not even to live the dream you've chased after for as long as I've known you?" Stacie's surprise was evident in her voice, causing Beca to meet her gaze.
"You don't understand, Stace," Beca said, a smile crossing her face as she thought of the happy times she'd shared with Chloe. "She makes everything better. My music has completely taken off this year, and I honestly think it's because of Chloe and how I've changed since we've been together. I'm in love with her. It might take me a little longer, but I could still take Luke up on that offer to record a single...do things locally. I could go to college nearby at the same time..." she trailed off, thinking of the different options available to her.
Stacie wasn't convinced. "Beca, you can't give up your dream for her. You don't want to go to college, you want to make music."
"She's a part of my dream now!" Beca said, more forcefully than she'd intended. "Yeah, I still want to make music, but I want to be with her, too. I don't just want it, I want it with her."
The revelation left them both quiet, picking at the pizza for a few minutes in silence. Beca had surprised herself a bit, realizing that she would be willing to wait, or make some sacrifices to be with Chloe. True relationships are about compromise and commitment and sacrifice, and she knew that it would be an easy decision to make. Beca wanted it all, and she could envision several scenarios where she could have it, both Chloe and music. It might not be producing or recording at Big Machine Records, but it allowed her to record her songs with a producer she trusted, and come home to Chloe at night. It was hard to find an argument against that in her head.
"I'm sorry, Becs," Stacie said. "I really hope you two work it out, you know. She was really good for you."
Beca nodded, the reality of her situation with Chloe washing over her like a bucket of ice water. Right now, there was no them, and she knew that if they didn't get back together that she would be on a flight to Nashville the day after graduation.
"It's okay, Stace. We're not together anymore. You're right, I should make my decisions based on a girl," Beca admitted, her brain filling in the rest of the thought, 'Even if she's the girl.'
Stacie brightened, clearly attempting to cheer her up. "Nothing we can do about that right now. We've still got the rest of our senior year to enjoy," she said enthusiastically. "Mainly, prom in two weeks!"
Beca rolled her eyes, unable to stop her grin at Stacie's cheerful tone. "I'm assuming you chose a date, then?"
"Mike, it is," the taller brunette announced, taking a bite of pizza. "You're not gonna be a buzz kill all night, right?" she asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Who me?" Beca asked with a smirk. "I'll be the life of the party, as per usual," she said sarcastically, laughing at the look on Stacie's face. "It's senior prom, Stace, I'll try to have a good time."
It was Stacie's turn to smirk, as she replied, "Just have a few cups of Fat Amy's spiked punch and you'll be good to go. Anyways..."
Beca grinned and picked up a new slice of pizza as Stacie started discussing their hair and makeup plans, letting her mind relax from the craziness of the weekend and enjoy being a regular high school student for a little while longer.
A/N: All mistakes are my own.
Thanks so much for the love you guys have shown this story over the past few updates! It's really encouraging to see all the reviews, from the people who comment on every chapter, to the ones chiming in for the first time. You're all awesome!
Nearing the end now, folks! Only 3 chapters left...craziness! I'd love to hear how you guys think it will end!