BeChloe Week 2023
Summary: Beca Mitchell is on a road trip with her boyfriend, Jesse Swanson. They start arguing, which continues as they stop to get gas. Beca breaks up with him during the argument, and Jesse drives off, leaving her stranded.
Beca was coming to her wit's end. She and her boyfriend, Jesse, have been arguing since they left her home in Los Angeles. She sighed and looked out the window regretting her decision to go to Seattle with him to meet his parents. When she agreed to go, she had offered to make their airline reservations, but Jesse assured her he had made all the travel arrangements and she didn't have to do anything. He failed to mention that he planned to drive to Seattle.
He had awakened her before dawn to "get on the road." She was still tired but gathered her stuff and got in the car. She nearly flipped when he started driving and wasn't going toward the airport. That's when he broke the news that they were driving to Seattle.
Beca blew up at him and screamed at him for a solid ten minutes as he continued to drive.
"Come on, Beca," Jesse whined. "We've been together for over a year, and you always find an excuse not to meet them. I think they have a right to get to know my girlfriend."
"I get that," Beca said. "What I don't get is why we're not flying to Seattle. You never said we were going to drive when I agreed to go. I have work commitments and can't be gone for more than three days. It's like a seventeen-hour drive each way. And, now, because of your surprise road trip, I'll spend most of that time in the car."
"It'll be fun," Jesse said, looking at her with his boyish grin. "We can do some sightseeing along the way. And I'll do all the driving so you can sleep if you want."
"Sightseeing along the way means it will take longer to get there," Beca said. "No, thank you."
Jesse sighed and turned his eyes back to the road.
"I thought you wanted to meet my parents," Jesse said tersely.
"What I want is to go back to LA," Beca mumbled. She sighed, looked at him, and said aloud, "I do want to meet them. But I'd like to spend some time with them without having to spend over seventeen hours in a car. How am I supposed to get to know them when we'll only spend less than twenty-four hours with them?"
"Come on, Beca," Jesse said. "It's not the amount of time you spend with them; it's what you do with the time."
Beca laughed out loud. "That has got to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say."
Jesse scoffed and glared at her. Beca was nonplussed and raised her eyebrows as if daring him to say something.
They drove in silence for the next two hours. Beca kept shooting him icy glares and sighing heavily.
Jesse wouldn't look at her. He finally broke the uneasy quiet when he noticed a sign that read Sacramento 75 miles. He looked at Beca and said, "It's almost Noon. Now's a good time to take a break for lunch and gas up."
"Fine," Beca said.
They again remained quiet as Jesse maneuvered off the highway and made his way toward a gas station. Beca's mind was racing as she tried to figure out how to get back to LA today.
~~ BeChloe Week 2023 - Day 3 ~~
Jesse pulled up to a gas pump and got out. Beca got out as well and looked at Jesse.
"I want to go back to LA," Beca blurted out, causing Jesse to laugh at her. Undeterred, Beca pushed on. "We're only about three hundred miles away, so you can take me back and then go on your little road trip to see your parents tomorrow and spend as many days as you want with them without having to rush back on my account."
"My parents are expecting us tonight," Jesse said, teeth clenched.
"Okay, then. You can drive me back to LA, and I'll pay for your airline ticket to Seattle," Beca said. "That way, you can still get there sometime tonight."
"No," Jesse said. "I'm not going back to LA until after we've visited with my parents."
"Are you serious?" Beca screeched. "I don't want to go to your parents."
"I don't care," Jesse said as he placed the pump's nozzle into the gas tank. "We're going to Seattle, and that's final."
"If you don't take me back to LA now, we're through," Beca said. "I'm not playing around, Jesse; I really need to get back to LA for work."
"And I said I'm not taking you back," Jesse said as he continued to pump gas.
The couple stood glaring at each other before Beca broke the standoff.
"I'm not going to Seattle," she told him. "I'm going back to LA."
"Fine," Jesse said as he slammed the nozzle back into the pump. "If you're so desperate to get back to LA, find your own way."
"Fine, I will," Beca screamed.
"Good," Jesse yelled as he opened the back door and grabbed Beca's luggage. "Here, have a nice trip."
Jesse tossed the luggage toward Beca; they landed with a thud at her feet. She grabbed the handles and set everything upright.
"Don't bother to call me, text me, or show up at my house ever again," Beca said, calmer, knowing she wouldn't have to put up with Jesse anymore. "I meant it when I said we were through."
"Fine by me," Jesse yelled. "Have a nice life. Good luck finding someone who'll put up with your shit."
"Aren't you gone yet?" Beca asked, arms folded over her chest. "You don't want to keep mommy and daddy waiting."
Jesse glared at her for a moment before getting behind the wheel of his car and slamming the door closed. He started the engine, glared at Beca one last time, and then screeched off, leaving Beca standing where she was.
"Are you okay?" an older woman asked from behind Beca.
"I'm fine," Beca said, facing the woman. "You wouldn't happen to know where the closest airport is, would you?"
The woman smiled and said, "There's a small charter service about thirty minutes from here. I know you can get a flight to LA from there. Come with me; I know someone who will take you to the airfield."
"Seriously?" Beca asked as she grabbed her suitcases and followed the woman.
"Yes, seriously," the woman said. "I'm Lori, and you are?"
"Beca."
They entered the convenience store attached to the gas station, and Lori called out, "Gus?"
"Yeah?" a gruff voice called from the back.
"Can you come out here for a minute?" Lori said. "I have someone who needs a ride to Beale Air."
"No problem," Gus called back. "Let me finish unloading my truck, and I'll be good to go."
"Thanks, hon," Lori said; turning to Beca, she added. "Gus is a good guy; he'll get you there in no time."
"Thanks for this," Beca said. "I had no idea how I was going to get back to-. Wait; how did you know I wanted to go to LA?"
"I think everyone here knows you want to go to LA," Lori said, chuckling. "You were quite vocal about it."
Beca blushed slightly when she realized everyone had heard her and Jesse yelling at each other.
"I'm sorry about that," Beca said sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it," Lori said as a man Beca assumed was Gus came over to her. "Beca, this is Gus; Gus, this is Beca. She's the one who needs a ride to Beale Air."
"It's nice to meet you, young lady," Gus said, doffing his hat. "I'm ready to go if you are."
"I'm ready," Beca said. "I can't thank you enough for driving me."
"It's really no problem," Gus said. "Lori, do you need me to pick up anything while I'm going that way?"
"Would you mind stopping at Lisa's stand?" Lori said. "I'm hoping she has something fruity so I can make us a nice cobbler for dinner. And be careful."
"No worries, darlin'," Gus said, kissing Lori's cheek. "I'll be back before you know it."
Gus grabbed Beca's luggage and placed it in the bed of his pickup. He then opened the passenger side door for her and closed it once she was settled in the seat.
"Thanks again, Lori," Beca called out, waving as Gus pulled off.
~~ BeChloe Week 2023 - Day 3 ~~
Beca sat lost in thought, thankful that Gus wasn't the chatty type. It wasn't long before Gus turned off the main road and drove through a gate leading to a small airfield. He passed by two small planes and made his way over to a hangar where he parked. He and Beca got out of the truck as a redheaded woman walked out to greet them.
"Hey, Chloe," Gus said as he got Beca's luggage from the truck bed.
"Hey, Gus," the woman said and turned to Beca. "Who do you have here?"
"This is Beca," Gus said. "And she needs to get back to LA."
"Hi, I'm Chloe," the woman said, holding out her hand. "Chloe Beale. My family and I own this place."
"Beca Mitchell," Beca said as she shook Chloe's hand. "It's nice to meet you."
"You, too," Chloe said, smiling as she looked Beca up and down. "So, LA, huh? Come with me, and we'll get you scheduled."
"Thanks for the ride, Gus," Beca said.
"You're welcome," Gus said as he climbed back into his truck and drove off.
"Wow, he sure is a man of few words, huh?" Beca said as she watched the truck leave.
"Yep," Chloe said, grabbing one of Beca's suitcases. "He always says if you're using too many words, you're probably lying."
Beca chuckled softly as she grabbed the second suitcase and followed Chloe.
"I'm going to put your luggage in ol' Bessie here," Chloe said as she opened the side door. "Then we'll get your paperwork done so I can submit my flight plan. We should be able to leave in about an hour."
"You call your plane ol' Bessie?" Beca asked, laughing as she handed Chloe a suitcase.
"Yep," Chloe said. "I named her in honor of my dead grandmother."
"Really?" Beca said as she cut off her laugh. "I'm sorry; I meant no disrespect."
Chloe laughed and smacked Beca's arm. "I was just playin' with you. I only call my planes her or she; I won't name them because that would be weird."
Beca didn't know if Chloe was joking, so she handed Chloe the second suitcase to stow away and said nothing.
"Let's go to the office," Chloe said. "Are you hungry? I have some sandwiches if you'd like one."
"That's okay, I'm not hungry," Beca said, blushing as her growling stomach proved her a liar. "On second thought, maybe I will take one of those sandwiches since I missed lunch. Thank you."
Chloe just smiled as they entered the office.
~~ BeChloe Week 2023 - Day 3 ~~
Beca's paperwork was completed, and payment was made. Chloe submitted her flight plan, and now she and Beca were sitting in the plane waiting for the tower to give them the all-clear to begin their flight.
"So, he just left you standing there?" Chloe asked after Beca told her about the fight she had with her ex-boyfriend.
"Yep," Beca said. "Not that I mind. I didn't want to spend another minute in the car with him, and now I'll be back in LA in time for dinner."
"I love flying to LA," Chloe said wistfully. "But I never really get to see anything from ground level."
Beca chuckled. "I live there and still haven't seen many sights. Work keeps me busy, and I barely have time for myself."
"Chloe, you're up," a voice said in Chloe's ear.
"Roger that," Chloe said and started taxiing down the runway.
As the plane picked up speed, Beca watched as Chloe's hands seemed to caress the yoke, and her breathing increased in excitement. Beca cleared her throat and looked out the window to watch as the ground below disappeared, and they were angling up to the sky.
"Wow!" Beca breathed.
"It always takes my breath away, too," Chloe's voice sounded through the headphones covering Beca's ears. "It feels orgasmic, doesn't it?"
"Yes, it does," Beca responded, staring at Chloe's profile.
"If the weather holds out, we should be in LA in less than 2 hours," Chloe said. "So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride."
Beca smiled at that and did as Chloe said. She kept finding herself asking Chloe about her life and learning to fly so that she could hear Chloe's voice in her ears. She smiled and laughed so much that her cheeks were starting to hurt.
When there was a brief pause in the conversation so Chloe could communicate with a tower along the way, Beca realized that even confined in the small space of the plane, she was enjoying being with Chloe much more than she had while in the car with Jesse.
~~ BeChloe Week 2023 - Day 3 ~~
Beca enjoyed learning more about Chloe as they made their way to LA. The plane suddenly started to bounce around, and Beca became frightened. She had a death grip on the sides of her seat, and Chloe looked over at her when she heard Beca whimper.
"Don't worry, Beca," Chloe said. "It's okay; we're just heading into a rare rainstorm. We'll land in about ten minutes and should miss the worst part of the storm."
Beca gulped and mumbled, "Okay."
Beca watched as Chloe struggled slightly to keep the plane flying straight. It wasn't until the wheels touched the ground that she let out the breath she had been holding.
"Thank god," Beca muttered.
Chloe 'drove' the plane to a small hangar out of the rain and shut down the engine.
"We just made it before the worst of the storm," Chloe said, smiling brightly while watching the rain pound the road outside the hangar. "From the look of things, I'll be grounded until the storm lets up."
"So, what are you going to do?" Beca asked as they prepared to deplane.
"I'll just hang out here until I can get back in the air," Chloe said as they exited the plane.
Beca walked around the plane and stood in front of Chloe.
"Would you like to have dinner with me?" Beca asked. "You can see some of LA from ground level. It is really lovely at night."
"Why, Miss Mitchell," Chloe said, holding a hand to her chest. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
"Yeah," Beca said, smiling. "I guess I am. So, what do you say? Want to go out on a dinner date with me?"
"I'd love to," Chloe said, smiling from ear to ear.
"How do we get to the main terminal to get out of here?" Beca asked.
"I'll show you," Chloe said, hooking her arm with Beca's.
~~ BeChloe Week 2023 - Day 3 ~~
Two weeks later, Beca found herself back at the airport to pick up Chloe. Their first date went well and ended with breakfast the next morning. They talked about going out again, and Chloe had volunteered to fly to LA for their second date.
Beca's smile widened when she saw Chloe. Chloe rushed into her arms and smashed their lips together. The kiss was brief, and they pulled back, smiling.
"How was your flight?" Beca asked as she took Chloe's hand.
"Great!" Chloe replied enthusiastically.
"I have the whole weekend planned," Beca said as they walked. "Lots of touristy-type stuff, so I can show you the sights."
"I hope some of those plans included spending time at your place," Chloe said, then lowered her voice. "Specifically in your bedroom."
Beca's breath hitched, and she stumbled slightly.
"You are so bad," Beca said.
"I know," Chloe said, winking and grinning.
Later that day, after some "afternoon delight," the couple lay cuddled together.
"Are you hungry?" Beca asked.
"Kind of," Chloe said.
"Do you want to go out to eat or order something for delivery?" Beca asked.
"Whichever one means I don't have to get dressed," Chloe said.
"Delivery it is," Beca said, kissing Chloe. "I left my phone downstairs. I'll be right back."
Beca donned her robe and left the room. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, the front door opened, and in walked Jesse.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Beca asked, glaring at Jesse.
"We need to talk," Jesse said, going over to Beca.
"We have nothing to talk about," Beca said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Come on, Beca," Jesse said. "I'm sorry, okay? I said some things I shouldn't have, and for that, I apologize."
"No," Beca said. "You do not get to sneak into my home, give me some bullshit apology, and think that makes everything okay. I broke up with you; we're done. What are you not understanding?"
"Babe?" Chloe said from the top of the stairs. "I heard voices. Is everything okay?"
Jesse's eyes widened as he saw a woman standing at the top o the stairs, holding a sheet around her body.
"Everything's fine," Beca said, walking over to the coffee table and picking up her phone. "Jesse was just leaving."
Jesse continued to stare at Chloe, only coming out of it when Beca stood before him.
"As you can see, I have company," Beca said. "So, give me your key and see your way out."
Jesse swallowed loudly as he pulled the key out and handed it to Beca.
"Goodbye, Jesse," Beca said.
Jesse nodded solemnly and walked toward the door. He looked back at Beca, then, without a word, left the house.
Beca hurried up the stairs to Chloe.
"Are you okay?" Chloe asked, hugging Beca.
"I'm more than okay," Beca said.
"Let's go downstairs and order our food," Chloe suggested. "I don't want to be busy and have to come down to answer the door when it arrives."
"I like how you think," Beca said, kissing Chloe.
She looked down to see Chloe still clutching the sheet to her.
"Um, maybe you should put something other than a sheet on," Beca said. "I don't want to excite the delivery guy too much."
"I will, but only because you're the only one I want to excite," Chloe said, winking and kissing Beca before she walked toward the bedroom.
"I think I'm in love," Beca mumbled as she skipped down the stairs.