A/N: Hey guys! Here's chapter 16 aka the chapter where I payoff the heartache from the last one and then create more misunderstanding for later payoffs… It's going to be a rocky few chapters. Songs featured are listed below, and they do sing some of them again this time :)

And I just want to say, there's a purpose for everything, I promise!

I don't own pitch perfect.

Chloe woke up with her head hurting bad from the lack of sleep. The first thing she thought about was how she wasn't in her own room, the second thing was the memories of the late night and early morning conversations they ended up having and where she was in the first place.

Chloe sat up from Beca's bed, Amy had insisted on letting her sleep their when she started dozing off. The Australian had checked on Stacie when she got back from wherever it was that she disappeared to somewhere around 3 in the morning and somehow their conversations had moved from Stacie's room and into Amy and Beca's room.

"It's better this way, in case my roommate crawls back in, you know?" Stacie had explained while they switched rooms.

"Beca still not back?" Chloe asked as she saw Stacie up from where she had camped out on the floor.

"No, she's probably still at Luke's." Stacie replied. "I tried texting him but he hasn't replied either."

"It's that bad, huh?" Chloe then said, her voice sounding extremely worried. They had hurt Beca deeply, she knew that, and to be honest, she wasn't entirely sure what was more heartbreaking – that she didn't know what was going to happen or not being able to do anything for Beca, not being able to stop Aubrey from hurting her verbally. To Chloe, it was both her crimes. If she only payed more attention to the Bellas and the way they were acting the last few days then maybe they could have done something else, talk things through, maybe she could have tried harder to get through to Aubrey. The Bellas did give her some sort of heads up that they had something that could help them win. Yeah, she really could have tried harder.

No, she should have done that anyways.

More than that she shouldn't have let Aubrey go overboard. Beca had trusted her, perhaps unaware, she had trusted her with all her heart. Beca opened up to Chloe, telling her all of her fears, insecurities and sorrows. And Chloe failed her.

She let her drown.

She let her own fears paralyze her, let the whole situation play out without speaking.

It was more than letting Beca down, Chloe knew that for sure. Someway, somehow, she had broken Beca's fragile heart.

And it was breaking her heart as well.

"What are you thinking Chlo?" Stacie asked snapping her thoughts back to the present but before she could say anything Amy chimed in as she tried to untangle herself from her bed.

"It's either Shawshank or the Aca-Nazi. My money's on Shawshank. How's our fearless leader by the way? You haven't brought her up at all."

Chloe groaned. Beca was one thing, Aubrey was another. They got home together, and Chloe's sole purpose at that time was to change before looking for Beca but things got a little out of hand. Words were said and exchanged, and a few other things that can't simply be taken back.

It was an ugly fight, and Chloe was sure she'll figure out a way to salvage whatever it was left of their friendship, but at that point she was more concerned about Beca.

Aubrey could get hurt, she can be all broken down but she was strong.

And a part of Chloe also knew that if their friendship meant anything to Aubrey then the blonde wouldn't simply take things the way they were left off.

Beca was different though.

Mostly because Beca had been used to the idea that she was all alone, that people always leave, and Chloe had been trying so hard to prove her wrong.

She still was.

And she wasn't going down without a fight.

"Let's focus on one thing at a time, how about it?" Chloe responded.

"That seems fair." Stacie agreed and once more silence had fallen upon them.

Mostly because the three of them didn't know where to go from there. They don't know what comes next.

But they could at least make things happen.

"Hey, could you guys call on the Bellas? Let's meet at the quad in like half an hour, I'll bring coffee. I have a plan." Chloe then said, a smile forming on her lips before jumping out of Beca's bed and stretching a little.

"Uh, sure, but what's it about Red?" Amy asked curiously.

"Just, trust me, okay?" Chloe replied. "I promise we'll make things right."

The Bellas, sans Aubrey, all met Chloe at the quad right on the dot, and as promised, she did bring coffee. The Bellas, as it turned out, all had a rough night, which was totally understandable given what have happened. They were all struggling with how things were left off and with what they did and didn't do.

And this was sort of their way of making things right one step at a time.

Luke's apartment was on the first floor of a nearby apartment complex. Having the corner apartment gave Luke's room a window facing the front of the complex where the parking lot was.

Chloe took a deep breath as Amy ran up to pick a pebble throwing it towards the window of Luke's bedroom. They so the shifting of curtains but nothing else.

"You still want to do this Red?" Amy looked uncertainly at Chloe to which she nodded as a response.

"Ready when you guys are." Chloe then replied, her heart beating rapidly underneath her chest. She wasn't sur this was going to work, but, might as well give it a try.

"Alright Lilly, give as a beat." Stacie then piped up.

And so Lilly did and Amy and Stacie started.

Tonight I'm tangled in my blanket of clouds
Dreaming aloud
Things just won't do without you, matter of fact
Oh oh ohh, I'm on your back
I'm on your back
Oh oh ohh, I'm on your back

Chloe then jumped in to take over with a verse before being quickly followed by everyone else with the chorus.

If you'd accept surrender, I'll give up some more
Weren't you adored?
I cannot be without you, matter of fact
Oh oh ohh, I'm on your back

If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you
If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you
Another heart is cracked
In two
I'm on your back

The Bellas voices came together in perfect harmony before slowly fading to the background as Chloe closed the song.

I cannot be without you, matter of fact
Oh oh ohh, I'm on your back
I'm on your back
Oh oh ohh, I'm on your back

Chloe took in another deep breath, it was a simple song and the Bellas had wanted to do more. Things weren't perfect and a bit of the transition was rough as all the Bellas started changing the beat and Cynthia Rose started to sing.

I'd take another chance, take a fall, take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat
(But that's nothing new)
Yeah yeah

The girls geared up for the chorus, having tailored the song to their own needs at the moment and changing the phrasing a bit.

Is it too late to apologize, is it too late
I said is it too late to apologize, is it too late
Woahooo woah

Ashley was just about to gear up with another verse when they heard Luke starting to clap slowly. He had a tightlipped smile on his face, leaning on the wall outside his apartment with Matt. "I think you've all made you're lovely point and while I appreciate the gesture, she doesn't want to come out."

"Look, Luke, we just want to make things right, apologize for our mistakes." Cynthia Rose started to say.

"Yeah, we didn't mean to hurt Beca badly. She wasn't supposed to be collateral damage, she wasn't supposed to be damage at all." Denise then seconded.

"How is she?" Amy then dared ask.

"Let's see, considering you lot made a girl with trust and abandonment issues feel abandoned and betrayed, she's in shards and pieces." Luke replied trying to stifle a yawn.

And Chloe could tell he wasn't joking. She wasn't going to lie, hearing the words out loud was like a knife to the heart, the thought that they, that she, had hurt Beca badly was just too much.

"Can we at least talk to her?" Chloe then spoke up. "Can I at least try to talk to her?"

"Chlo, I know you mean well, and I can see how much you do actually care about Beca, but she needs time and space to mend." Luke replied. "Also, I didn't know you bought he tickets to LA, do you know what that feisty little girl did at five in the morning? She was all but ready to flee, trying to come up with a way to change the date on that ticket. She felt dejected and quite frankly, she's not thinking straight."

"I don't think she ever did, especially with Red." Amy whispered at Stacie and Stacie tried to suppress a smile as she nudged Amy. Chloe had given them a look, her comment completely not missing Chloe's sharp ears.

"I mean, the important take away message here is you bought Beca tickets to LA, Red. That's all kinds of sweet and all." Amy then said covering for herself.

"Hang on, what's with LA?" Denise asked.

"Long story short, Beca wants to go to LA after this year." Stacie replied.

Chloe took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. A sudden surge of panic had hit her at the thought of Beca prematurely leaving. What if her dad decides to not support the sudden move if she breaks the deal? How would Beca survive in LA all by herself, when she's not totally prepared yet? They've hurt her so much that she actually wanted to bolt and forget about Barden.

"I'm not letting her do anything foolish Chloe. You can at least trust in that." Luke then said as Chloe responded with a nod. "But other than that, she really doesn't want to leave my room. I think she's made a nest over the last hour."

"Please Luke, we, I… I need to see her. I need to talk to her." Chloe said weakly and Luke sighed.

"Let me see what I can do Chloe." Luke gave as a reply. "Thanks for the gesture guys."

And with that, the Bellas left the rest to Luke.

I wish that I could cry
Fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie
'Bout a home I'll never see

It may sound absurd but don't be naive
Even heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed but won't you concede
Even heroes have the right to dream?
And it's not easy to be me

"That's it, we're stopping you're pity party right now!" Luke said marching into his own room and turning off the radio.

"Hey! I was listening to that!" Beca complained as she finally took a peak out of her self-made pillow fort. The radio was turned up a little louder than it had been the last few hours as soon as Beca saw the Bellas outside of Luke's window. She didn't really know what they were doing there but when it looked like they were about to sing, she didn't want to hear it.

She wasn't going to allow herself to be dragged right back into that whole mess. It's barely been a few hours since the incident and no, Beca was done. She convinced herself that a clean cut and a fresh start was what she needed.

"Beca." Luke had said sternly. "You're friends are here to win you back. People make mistakes, they realized that, maybe you should hear them out or something. Get out of my bed and quit moping around. They care about you."

"Nope." was Beca's stubborn reply. Before pulling up the sheets over her head once more.

"Well, either way, I'm getting you and into the sunshine." Luke said adamantly before reaching out beneath the sheets and dragging Beca off to the foot of the bed.

"Luke! What the hell!?" Beca shrieked quite vexed.

"If you don't want to see your friends then why don't at least get some fresh air." Luke said, Beca was about to respond but Luke wasn't done speaking. "Go, grab a shower and change into something clean, I think you still have some clothes here from when you stayed over the break. Let's grab brunch in that old café in town, they serve breakfast 'til two I think. Then we can have a day out, hit that record store you've been dying to check out."

"Do I have an option B?" Beca threw back.

"I can call your dad and…"

"I'm sticking with option A." Beca grumbled as she finally stormed of out of the room, grabbing a towel and heading to the bathroom. "You didn't have to be so pushy!" she yelled out.

"I had to bloody damn be to get through that thick head of yours!" Luke yelled right back.

Beca wanted to huff, and puff, and protest the whole day, but she knew that Luke was doing what he thought was in her best interest.

The brunch wasn't bad. Okay, maybe it was actually great. Beca didn't realize how hungry she actually was until they got there. Luke was letting her be, letting her eat in peace. He wasn't pushing her to speak up or anything and Beca was thankful for that. She wasn't entirely sure what to do next. The whole thing leaving her lost for a moment.

The trip to the record shop had also been perfect. It felt like the days when Luke was still in high school. The days when they were still trying to build something, when they were still starting to bond.

"Hang on Becky, I'll be right back." Luke said as they were patiently taking their time at going through all the store had to offer them.

Beca chuckled and shook her head as Luke ran over to a different stack of old albums not far away. For a while, Beca felt her heart relieved. The day turning out to be one to remember. It felt like whatever wounds inflicted on her the other day were all slowly healing.

"I didn't know you were also into classical music. You've failed to mention that." she heard Chloe say as she placed back a record she had picked up out of interest. If it was possible for a person's heart to ache and jump for joy at the same time then that was what Beca felt at the moment.

But then again, of course Chloe would be there. The day was going on too perfectly for Luke not to have tried something.

Beca fought the urge to look at the redhead standing right next to her and simply chose to walk away. It was too soon, she convinced herself.

But Chloe didn't let her go. She was quick to grab Beca by the hand, her soft and gentle touch reaching Beca's recently cold heart, thawing away the ice and the walls she had once again started to rebuild.

"Chlo." Beca tried to complain but she had made the mistake of turning around and looking at Chloe's glassy blue eyes.

"Beca, please." Was all that Chloe needed to say and Beca had caved. But that didn't mean her stubbornness wouldn't put out a fight.

"Chlo, look, just, not now." Beca tried to reason. She didn't want to hear Chloe apologize.

She wasn't deaf, no matter how loud the music was earlier she still heard the Bellas. She still heard Chloe. Truth be told, that was all it took for her to start forgiving them. But the child in her, that scared and fragile child that was left alone, that was hurt deeply once upon a time, wouldn't allow her to take another chance.

She was very much conflicted.

Conflicted between what was easy and what was right. Between what she had wanted and what she didn't want to feel anymore.

And Beca started to turn but Chloe just wouldn't give her up without a fight.

Sorry
Is all that you can't say
Years gone by and still
Words don't come easily
Like sorry like sorry

And of course Chloe started singing. And her singing was doing things to Beca. The sound of her voice was the best of melodies.

Forgive me
Is all that you can't say
Years gone by and still
Words don't come easily
Like forgive me forgive me

And of course everyone else in the record store started to turn their attention to them, making Beca's cheeks flush a deep red. The thought of Chloe serenading her didn't exactly help.

But you can say baby
Baby can I hold you tonight
Maybe if I told you the right words

"Alright, Chlo, you win. Okay, you win." she said with a smile, and like magic, the heaviness in her heart was whisked away by the triumphant smile that formed on Chloe's lips.

A part of Beca had been trying to warn her that this would be a mistake.

But shut that part of her down by one thought and one thought only.

If it were a mistake, then it would be the most beautiful mistake ever. One she was willing to make

Luke was grinning from ear to ear. The plan was a success and step one of not letting Beca fall back into her own darkness was accomplished.

"Thanks for pulling through." Stacie said as they walked out of the record store, keeping their distance from Beca and Chloe who were a few steps away from them, talking things through.

"Don't mention it." Luke replied with a relaxed smile.

"So what's next DJ big bro?" Amy then asked.

"Well, we wait, see if Chloe can convince Beca to hear you guys out. I appreciate that you're not giving up on her and you're fighting for your friendship. I think that's what she needs now, see that people do care about her. Ease her loneliness and all."

"You're a great brother Luke, you do know that right?" Stacie said.

"Careful Stace, we don't want that to get to his head." Amy then commented and Luke let out a chuckle.

He wasn't sure when, but at some point he did. He started to care a lot for Beca. They were family. He would do anything he could for her.

Especially now that she's gone a long way from the girl she used to be. The one who didn't trust anyone, didn't let anyone in. The girl who never really smiled and chose to fade into the background.

He could see it. With the Bellas, with Chloe, Beca was starting to shine.

And he would do anything to make sure that it would never go away. Not again.

Beca was like the biggest mystery box that Jesse could just never figure out.

She was the girl who stood out, the one who was different from everyone else. She rebelled with what people her age would easily accept and like and she wouldn't open up just to anyone.

It made him feel special that they've managed to become friends.

It was like the prefect movie. Jesse was your typical boy next door and Beca the rebellious girl. They would fight about their ideals, they would go about things differently, but they will find something in common. Something they both loved.

And after a few push and pulls they would fall in love.

It was inevitable, the perfect movie magic recipe.

The boy who would never give up chasing after the girl would get the girl in the end.

The regionals was a hot mess, and that weird fight with Beca had left him even more confused as ever. Mostly because he couldn't figure out what the Bellas, particularly Chloe Beale, had to do with anything.

Beca looked deeply hurt form whatever had happened. And Jesse wasn't entirely sure what to do next either. He wanted to be there, be the one who picked up the pieces. But what left him even more confused was when he saw Beca Monday afternoon like nothing had happened. They were able to talk things through, Beca reaching out to Jesse as they talked through what happened. Beca wouldn't tell him much of the details but it was enough for Jesse. She was reaching out with an olive branch of her own.

Maybe that's how he got the idea anyways. It was the perfect timing.

Reach out to Beca, tell her how he felt.

It was now more than ever.

The Bellas had hurt her deeply, especially Aubrey Posen, and it was his chance to show that he wasn't going anywhere like they did.

It was Thursday morning, and Jesse knew Beca had a class at the same building he had his morning classes. Together with a few of his most trusted Trebles he waited up for her with his surprise.

All the nights and every day
Thinking that this never would come
I've been too tired to fall asleep
And how it feels to finally wake up

Jesse started crooning away as soon as Beca reached him in the hallway, the tiny brunette looking partially amused and partially confused to what was going on. The crease between Beca's brows got deeper as Jesse belted out the full song, matching choreography with the Trebles until it seemed to dawn on her what was going on.

I've been waiting for love
It has taken so long
The world's alive, I'm finally waking up
I've been waiting for you
There is nothing to lose
After all this time it's worth it all the while
Waiting for love

With Jesse's confidence building up he sang the last few lines of the song. The charming goofy smile on his face possibly looking even goofier than ever as he picked Beca up, lifted her to the air while the two of them were swirling around before finally leaning in to give her a kiss.

And it was perfect.

At least that's what Jesse thought until he felt a not so gentle shove. "Dude, no." he heard Beca say.

Jesse looked at her confused. "Beca…" he started to say, stepping closer towards her just before he felt her hands evenly on his face in the most painful way Jesse could ever think of.

That wasn't exactly what he expected.

But a part of him was starting to understand that that was what he needed. Beca slapping some sense into him and waking him up to reality, one thought in his head.

What have I done?

Chloe was glad, she was able to talk through things with Beca and they were able to have dinner with all the Bellas after their record store mishap at a local pizza place. It was really tough at first but Beca was willing to give their friendship another try, to mend what was broken and all.

Things weren't exactly back to normal but it was a start and Chloe knew that the Bellas friendship would be stronger than ever after that.

What she wasn't entirely sure about was what would happen to her friendship with Aubrey. Chloe reasoned to herself that if Beca was willing to take a chance, then she should be too. It was a matter of whether Aubrey would too.

You were wrong
You were right
And you are gone
Tonight

You were free
So alive
You were wrong
You were right

She came home to their apartment that night with Aubrey listening to a playlist with the saddest music she has ever heard off and her best friend in her PJs on the couch with a bottle of wine. Aubrey had turned a bit around to see her walk through before quickly turning away. Chloe could hear the quiet sobs she was trying to hide.

Shotgun fire
Anybody home?
I got two dimes in the telephone
Alright
No, it's not easy tonight

And of course, no matter how mad Chloe had been or still was, she couldn't turn around and leave her best friend hurting like that. She loved Aubrey, they were like sisters, and nothing was going to change that.

Chloe rushed to where Aubrey was sitting, one of the best things about knowing someone for so long is that you could have conversations with them without the need of words. One look was all it took, and Aubrey had reached out and buried her head on Chloe's chest as she held her tight.

"I'm so sorry Chlo." Aubrey had cried out as Chloe rubbed soothing circles on her back.

"Shh. It's okay Bree. It's okay." Chloe then said.

They were far from perfect, and they were treading on fragile ground but Chloe gave a sigh of relief. In her heart she knows, they'll make it.

The next few days were all sorts of new. Not seeing the Bellas was a weird feeling for Chloe. Aubrey wasn't ready to talk to them yet although the two of them had personally talked things through. Denise was mostly with Cynthia Rose, Lilly, Jessica, and Ashley. Meanwhile Amy and Stacie seemed to have branched off themselves. They were still hanging around Beca whenever they can although Beca was still staying at Luke's, not completely ready to take the leap of faith and just jump back into their daily routine.

Baby steps.

Even the time alone with Beca felt different. And it came with different reasons too. Beca was acting weird, adorable, but weird, and Chloe wasn't sure if it was because of what had happened during regionals or if there was anything more to it.

"Maybe the munchkin finally realized a thing or two when you somehow broke her heart?" Aubrey provided as an explanation as they were walking through the campus. Chloe shrugged it off after seeing a crowd starting to gather through the entrance of the building where Aubrey was about to head in for her class.

It was your typical morning, your typical day, so the whole hubbub had caught Chloe's curiosity, following Aubrey inside.

Only to see Jesse kissing Beca.

Chloe didn't stick long enough to see the aftermath, she had seen enough. And so she ran, as far and fast as she could with Aubrey right on the tail end. She only stopped once she knew she couldn't run any longer, leaning on the closest tree for support as she tried to catch her breath, tears uncontrollably streaming down her cheeks.

It was at that moment felt like a hurt greater than the thought of breaking Beca's heart had brought her. It hurt in a way she wasn't even prepared for, in a way she wasn't expecting it would.

Her whole world had crumbled, the ground she was walking on disappeared, as the pieces of her heart shattered.

And it was Aubrey's turn to pick up the pieces of the rubble.

They were on fragile ground.

And the ground had turned into dust.

Songs Featured in the chapter: 'I'm Walking After You' by the Foo Fighter; 'Apologize' by One Republic; 'Baby Can I Hold You' by Tracy Chapman; 'Waiting for Love' by Graham Colton; 'Superman (It's Not Easy)' and 'Easy Tonight' by Five for Fighting; chapter title inspired by 'His Mistakes' by Usher