"Dad, I'm not disabled" Beca said to her dad when he took her back bag from her along with the suitcase.
"Of course you're not, but I don't know kind of meds you're on because, sweetheart, you look like you are about to fall to your face"
"I haven't had much sleep that's all, I'm totally fine" she shrugged wearing her sunglasses as he put her stuff in the car's trunk
"Are you okay?" he turned to her concerned.
"Yep" she nodded, pushing her sunglasses up. "Liz is coming home too, right?" she asked changing the subject
"Yeah, she gets here this evening" he answered getting the door for her. I can open a goddamn door by myself, Beca was gonna tell him but then held back because she knew he was doing it out of good will. "Thanks" she handed him her crutches before getting inside the car.
"How's your boyfriend doing?" Dr. Mitchell asked glancing at Beca
"What boyfriend?" she chuckled as she buckled her seatbelt.
Looking up to meet his gaze, she saw the confusion on his face
"Oh, I didn't tell you" she realized "I thought I did, guess that would be mom that I told. We broke up like three weeks ago" Dr. Mitchell nodded before starting the car.
"Aren't you going to ask me what happened?" she asked confused by his silence.
"No. If you want to talk about, you'll tell me yourself" he smiled at her.
"Okay" she smiled back. "Thanks, 'cause I don't really wanna talk about it" I don't wanna to end up bawling, again.
"Beca" Sheila said hesitating to pull her in a hug "It's been years, how have you been?"
"Good," Beca reached over and hugged her briefly.
"I made your favorite, cheesecake," Sheila said walking inside the house
"That is awesome" Beca eyed the house she hasn't been to in years to find it the same as she remembered.
"Honey, can you climb the stairs or do you want me to carry up there?" Dr. Mitchell asked as he dragged her suitcase walking behind them.
"I told you dad, I'm not disabled" she said in a bored tone "Thanks for offering though" she took off her sunglasses.
"Here we go" she exhaled before climbing the stairs.
"So, I guess I'll let you rest now" Dr. Mitchell said watching Beca put her crutches near the bed.
"Don't wake me up, I'll set an alarm myself" she told him taking off her converse.
"Okay, sleep well" he said pressing a kiss on her forehead.
"You can lay down if you want" Stacie said watching Jesse sit down the couch.
Jesse sighed laying down.
"So, how are you feeling today?" Stacie asked crossing her legs as she sunk into the chair.
Jesse glanced at Stacie then chucked "This is your shrink mode Beca told me about"
Stacie shrugged watching him.
"I feel alright" he said looking at the ceiling
"Are you still angry with Beca?"
"Oh yeah." He said readjusting himself.
"Do you want to share with me what exactly made you angry?"
"Well, for starters her hot and cold behavior and the fact that she's the one who initiates things every single time ever since she broke up with me. Then she wakes up and acts like she never wanted it, and I can see it in her eyes that she's lying straight to my face"
"Ever thought about why she's doing that?"
"Every day."
"And have you gotten any explanation?"
"I mean I know that Becs has trust issues but have I ever done anything alerting?"
"Maybe it's not about you. Ever thought of it that way?"
"Oh, you mean she'll back out without a good reason. I think she already did that" he said tilting his head to look at Stacie.
"She has a reason, we might not understand it, but she does have one"
"Having true feelings for one makes you break up with them. Yeah, I'll never see it her way" he chuckled humorlessly.
"Wait" he said sitting up.
"Ever since we started going out together she would casually tell me that we'll break up" he looked up meeting Stacie gaze who was watching him.
"Does that mean Becs expects every relationship not to work, and her having feeling for me made her decide that it was time end it?"
"Could be" she smiled knowingly
"Stacie, stop talking like a therapist" Jesse eyed her
"Ugh, that's exactly what's going on with her, glad you noticed. But she knows damn well that it's too late for walking away." Stacie said putting her notepad to her right.
"I mean she's so close to accepting her feelings for you, but I can't predict the future" Stacie shrugged.
"Whatever you told must have really knocked some sense into her"
"I called her a child and told her that I'm not gonna wait around for her anymore, among other things. And I meant every word" Jesse sunk in the couch. "Do I feel bad for calling her a child? Yes. Do I regret? No."
"Do you think you'll ever forgive her for how she treated you, if she apologizes?"
"I don't know. Like how am I supposed to know for sure that she won't walk out on me again?"
"Hi" Beca said peeking her head through the kitchen's doorway.
"You're up" Sheila said cleaning her hands.
"Hey, sis" Liz smiled walking to Beca to hug her, and laughed at the grimace Beca made.
"How have you been?" Beca asked pulling away.
"Great, you?" Liz walking back to where she was standing, beside her mother.
"Awesome" Beca sighed resting her crutches on the edge of the counter before jumping on a stool.
"Beca, if you're hungry you can have a snack, dinner won't be ready until a few hours" Sheila said eyeing Beca.
"I woke up 'cause I'm hungry" Beca said meeting her gaze and making Liz chuckle.
"Want some of that cheesecake I told you about?"
"Yeah, that'd be great"
"Producing a new album?" Liz asked watching Beca eat
"I haven't been working for two weeks now. What made you think so?" Beca asked after swallowing.
"Well you look restless, almost like the last time I saw you" Liz said resting her elbows on the counter.
"I can't sleep well because of this" Beca lied nodding at her leg. Liz nodded satisfied with Beca answer.
"Well, don't you have painkillers for that?" Sheila asked as she cut salad.
"Yeah do, but I can't always have them. It's not healthy. Don't wanna become a junkie" Damn I'm good liar.
"Where's dad?" Beca asked changing the subject
"He's at the study," Sheila
"Working on his speech?" Beca guessed jokingly
"Yes" Sheila nodded
"Oh. He's actually doing that? Preparing a speech is a thing?" Beca asked in way that made her question sound more like a statement
"He wants it to be perfect"
"Runs in your genes, Mitchells" Liz said grabbing apple juice from the fridge
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that you and your dad want everything work related to be perfect"
"Of course I want my stuff to be perfect" Beca shrugged
"Ever stop to wonder what you're missing out on by working too much to prefect your work"
"You're starting to sound like Jesse, Liz"
"That's your boyfriend?" Sheila asked
"Not for the last few weeks" Beca said staring at the cheesecake "We broke up" She looked up
"The album I was working on when you were in LA is out though, you should check it. I hated the guy, but he can sing" Beca said before filling her mouth with cake.
"Will do" Liz nodded
"This great, Sheila. I forgot how awesome your cheesecake is." Beca said sucking her teeth as she got up holding the plate in hand.
"Oh, leave it" Sheila said cleaning her hands with a cloth
"It's okay, I got it. I broke my leg not forgot how to human" Beca said dragging her leg until she got to the sink. "And I can't feel it anyway, I had painkillers before showering." She shrugged washing the plate.
"So how can I help?" Beca said leaning again the sink.
"It's okay, you don't have to."
"Beca don't take this the wrong way , but you're being nice and it's weird, are you okay? I mean you did hit your head"
"Elizabeth!"
"Funny" Beca chuckled "I'm fine. I guess I'm maturing into adulthood, and working on not acting like a fucking child all the time" Beca shrugged turning thoughtful as she repeated Jesse's words.
"So, do you need help?" Beca said snapping out of her thoughts to find both Liz and Sheila looking at her with concern showing on their faces.
"No, darling," Sheila said smiling sympathetically at Beca.
"Then, I'm out" Beca said dragging her leg until she reached the counter and grabbed her crutches.
"Beca-out" She said over her shoulder as she made her way to the staircase.
"That was a kickass speech, dad" Beca said hugging Dr. Mitchell after the ceremony ended.
"Thanks, Bec" He said hugging her back.
"Beca is right that was really great" Liz said from behind when they pulled away.
"Congrats, Ben" Liz gave him a hug.
"Thanks, Liz" Dr. Mitchell said as they walked back to the car.
"Um, dad?" Beca stopped walking
"Yes?"
"You can go home without me, I wanna walk around campus for a while" Beca said readjusting her back bag
"Okay" He smiled.
"Then this is goodbye sis" Liz said smiling at Beca.
"You're heading back to New York?"
"Yep, I just took two days, I need to be sleeping in my apartment tonight"
"Okay, well have a safe trip" Beca said hugging Liz
"Thanks,"
Beca sat on the grass then grabbed her laptop placing it on her lap.
Feeling her phone vibrate in her pocket, Beca grabbed it while resting her right hand on the grass.
"Hello, bitch the great"
"Hi, Stacie"
"How is everything going?"
"Um, I think I gained few pounds thanks to Sheila and her heavenly cooking. Dad just got officially retired and knows something is wrong. It's like a hundred degrees in here. Everything is top notch. How is L.A?"
"L.A is the same as you left it. Are you at your dads now?"
"Nope, I'm at campus, going down memory land and shit."
"Can't for our ten years reunion"
"To get shitfaced with purpose?"
"Exactly"
"Well we still got a couple of years to go, you should find other reasons to party hard."
"That would be your wedding"
"I'm not sure he'll ever talk to me again and you're thinking wedding, Jeez Stacie" Beca said making Stacie laugh
"What's so funny?" Beca asked
"I didn't say to who"
"Damn it, I fell for it."
"I miss the good old days where you would see it coming from miles away" Stacie sighed.
"So, are you working on your apology?"
"That would be a no."
"I might have been drunk but you totally gave me the impression that you want Jesse back. Elaborate"
"I don't think a simple apology would do it" Beca said watching students walk by.
"I agree."
"Hey, do you think if I drop by the Bellas house I would get out of there alive?"
"Well, you are considered a god in a capella, they might want to keep you there, in the basement"
"Ugh, not the creepy basement"
"Remember that time we convinced you it was a good idea to spend the night there."
"Yes. And it is hunted, staying there confirmed it. I think I'll just keep walking around campus, no Bellas."
"Bec is that you?" Dr. Mitchell called from the kitchen
"Yeah" Beca said walking to him
"It's just you?" She asked peeking her head
"Yeah, Sheila is at work" Beca nodded
"How does retirement feel?" she asked walking inside the kitchen
"Feels weird to know that I'll no longer wake up and head to Barden university"
"Wait until the boredom kicks in." Beca sighed watching him.
"Wanna mug of tea?" he asked
"Yeah, sure." Beca shrugged taking a seat
"Thanks" Beca said accepting the mug from her father.
"Thank you for coming Bec" Dr. Mitchell said as resting is hands on the counter
"You're welcome dad, I couldn't miss a lecture, I know it was a retirement speech but still sounds like a lecture to me."
"And thank you for being nice to Sheila" he said watching her sip her tea
"She's good peeps, sorry for being such pain in the ass growing up"
"What happened to you?"
"What do you mean?" Beca asked
"You're actually being nice, usually when I ask you to be nice to Sheila you get all sarcastic."
"Dad, I'm turning thirty in two weeks, I think it's time to do some damage control." Beca gave him a tight smile.
"My ex-boyfriend, Jesse, he said some eye opening things to me." Beca shared with her dad keeping her voice even.
"Your mom told me he's a great guy"
"He is" Beca nodded "I mean he gets weird about movies and generally is a dork but he grows on you" she said looking up to meet her father's gaze to find him watching her.
"Do you wanna talk about it, Bec?"
"I don't want to bore you with details, but I basically screwed up real bad and pushed him away when things got too real. He tried for a while to get me back but I treated him so bad he hates me now. And It's kinda too late to do something about it" she told him, voice cracking by the end.
"Do you really think it's too late or is it 'cause you don't want to deal?"
"The second one" Beca chuckled softly "Dad, he hates me."
"I love having you around but you've been hiding out here for four days now. " He sighed
"I'm going grocery shopping wanna tag along?" he asked when she didn't say anything.
"Yeah"
Walking through the alleys, Beca found herself in the movies section. She stood there reading the titles until her eyes fell on The Breakfast Club. I never finished this one.
Beca grabbed it then looked around for her father.
"You're getting a movie?" Dr. Mitchell asked in surprise
"Yep." Beca nodded
"Since when do you watch movies?"
"Since I decided to date a movie nerd. He started this thing that he called "moviecation" to educate me about movies, this movie was the first." She smiled to her father who nodded
"But we never got to finish it" she shrugged.
"We can watch it together if you want" Beca said as they walked to the cashier
"That should be nice"
By the end of the breakfast club, Beca found herself in tears and was grateful the lights were off as wiped her cheeks.
"Excuse me" Beca said getting up when she heard the front door open.
She climbed the stairs as fast as she could to avoid saying hi to Sheila and explain why she was crying over a movie about teenagers in detention.
Beca jumped on her bed as she went through her phone gallery looking for a photo of the auditorium she took the day of her dad's retirement ceremony to send to the Bellas, but instead of sending the photo she kept scrolling down the pictures. She laughed at selfie Jesse took of her kissing his cheek as he was piggybacking her. Sighing she put her phone on the nightstand and grabbed her laptop and the mix tape he made her that she hadn't listened to yet.
Placing the CD in the player, she sat properly waiting for it to load.
As she listening to the intro of the first song she laughed.
"Swift really, Jesse?"
I like the way you sound in the morning
We're on the phone and without a warning
I realize your laugh is the best sound
I have ever heard
She rested her head on the headboard as she listened to the song.
I like the way I can't keep my focus
I watch you talk, you didn't notice
I hear the words but all I can think is
We should be together
She smiled cause the lyrics sounded like something Jesse would say to her.
Every time you smile, I smile
And every time you shine, I'll shine for you
Whoa, oh, I'm feeling you baby
Don't be afraid to
Jump then fall
Jump then fall into me
Be there, never gonna leave you
Say that you wanna be with me too
So I'mma stay through it all
So jump then fall
Well, I like the way your hair falls in your face
You got the keys to me
I love each freckle on your face, oh
I've never been so wrapped up, honey
I like the way you're everything I ever wanted
"Yeah, next song." she decided sitting up, she hit the next.
"Holy shit" she said as soon as the song started to play, recognizing the music.
I've got you under my skin
I've got you deep in the heart of me
So deep in my heart that you're really a part of me
I've got you under my skin
I'd tried so not to give in
I said to myself this affair never will go so well
But why should I try to resist when baby, I know so well
I've got you under my skin
I'd sacrifice anything come what might for the sake of having you near
In spite of a warning voice that comes in the night and repeats
Repeats in my ear
Don't you know little fool
You never can win
Use your mentality, wake up to reality
But each time that I do just the thought of you
Makes me stop before I begin
'Cause I've got you under my skin
At the instrumental break Beca wiped a tear that fell before hitting next.
Just as I thought it was going alright
I find out I'm wrong, when I thought I was right
s'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
I could say day, and you'd say night
tell me it's black when I know that it's white
s'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
I could leave but I won't go
though my heart might tell me so
I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes
but why does it always seem to be
me looking at you, you looking at me
s'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
Beca place her computer near her before grabbing her crutches and starting the pack.
Turning me on, turning me off,
making me feel like I want too much
living with you's just putting me through it all of the time
running around, staying out all night
taking it all instead of taking one bite
living with you's just putting me through it all of the time
Beca started to hum along as she packed
I could leave but I won't go
it'd be easier I know
I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes
but why does it always seem to be
me looking at you, you looking at me
s'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
Putting her crutches aside she held her suitcase and put it on the bed then rested her hands on it listening to the lyrics.
Truth is I love you
more than I wanted to
there's no point in trying to pretend
there's been no-one who
makes me feel like you do
say we'll be together till the end
I could leave but I won't go
it'd be easier I know
I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes
so why does it always seem to be
me looking at you, you looking at me
s'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
Just as I thought it was going alright
I find out I'm wrong when I thought I was right
s'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
I could say day, you'd say night
tell me it's black when I know that it's white
s'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
That's all
Beca sighed before grabbing her laptop to buy a plane ticket.
AN:
I love to read your reviews they're really helpful, 'cause of the way I write I tend to let the readers figure out what's going on by themselves without getting too descriptive.
I'm a shitty novelist I can write screenplays, this is as close as I can get to novels.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter and holy shit it's the 25th chapter.
Songs used in order:
Jump the fall by Taylor Swift
Under my skin by Frank Sinatra
That's all by Genesis