I listened to my new mashup that I made last night and I really like it. I love the songs of Fifth Harmony. They make me feel free. I don't really care what song I have to listen to from them, I can listen to all of their songs. Take "miss movin' on" as an example. That song is about moving on and leaving the past behind you. Should I do that too? Move on, walk away from home? I immediately shake away that thought. It's not that bad. My father is mad at me because of my bad grades in math and Spanish. So what? I mean, my father is always mad at me when I'm not as good as he was at math. Because of a little fight, I shouldn't walk away. That's stupid. I shouldn't be thinking about all the fights between me and my father. I'm upsetting myself with that and Jesse already called me a zombie the other day. According to him it was a joke but I know he meant it. I need to give myself a boost because my friends are going to ghost me if I don't act a little happier. Maybe I should make a mashup for Chloe, but I have no idea what kind of songs she likes. I don't know much about her, but I'm going to try and catch her attention today. I have a new sweater. I had to do a lot of chores at grandma's house to get enough money to buy it, but it's the perfect sweater to impress Chloe! I open my wardrobe, but I don't see the sweater. That's impossible! My eyes scan the row of clothes, but the sweater isn't there. Did I lay it somewhere else? No, I know I hung it in here. I take all my clothes out of the closet. I don't get it.
,Lauren?" I walk over to my sisters bedroom. ,Have you seen my new sweater?"
,Dad had it." She says and I run into my fathers bedroom. Where is he? Not my father, but my sweater. I get down and look under his bed. There he is! I return back to my room with the sweater and pull it over my head. I look into the mirror and smile proudly, but then I startle. At the front there's a big brown stain. When I get out of the sweater and look closer, I notice it's a coffee stain. How did that get there? I don't drink coffee. I look at the sweater again. I can't get that stain out. Worthless! I wanted to impress Chloe. I walk into the kitchen. Jesse told me to have a big breakfast but I don't have an appetite. I make a simple sandwich for myself when I hear my father in the hallway. With my sweater in my hand, I walk into the hallway.
,What did you do to my sweater?"
,Just put it in the washing machine. Then you can wear it in a few days."
,I need it now."
,Stop whining about that sweater, Beca."
,I don't want you to touch my sweater ever again."
,Watch your tone!" He yells but I'm angry. That sweater was the only thing that could give me a chance to impress Chloe today and he ruined it. I want to say something, but when I see the anger in his eyes, I shut my mouth. I don't want any more bruises.
I'm still angry when I arrive at school. Jesse talks about a lot of things but I barely say something back. The whole sweater thing is stuck in my head.
,Are you going to act like this the whole day?" Asks Jesse.
,I'm sorry. Everything just didn't go to plan today."
,Well you're not making a great appearance looking like this. You know that Finn, Marley and Stacie are waiting for us, right?" I nod. ,And Chloe will probably walk by. You don't want to scare her away. Smile." I give him a fake smile and we walk inside. Finn, Marley and Stacie are indeed waiting by my locker.
,Hey Bec, when are you going to make a move towards Chloe?" Stacie asks me.
,Yeah, do I get a best friend who has a relationship with the girl of her dreams or do we have to wait ten years?" Finn agrees with Stacie.
,I have to disappoint you," I tell them. ,I figured I should get Chloe out of my head. It won't work."
,Well!" Jesse looks at me. ,Are you really such a jerk?"
,Kidding! I have a plan."
,Finally!" Yells Finn. ,Tell us."
,I'm going to make a mashup for her."
,Not bad for a novice." Says Jesse proudly. ,But you can make it more attractive. You have to tell her that you were given an assignment and have to make it for our music class. Tell her you have to make mashups for all the university freshmen."
,A lie like that always comes out."
,Ugh, do you want to make that mashup or not?"
,Yeah, but I'm in no hurry. I don't want to be too forward. And by the way, I just figured it out this morning."
,So what?" Jesse turns to the hallway. ,Hey, freshman university students?!" They all turn around and look at Jesse. ,We will have a celebrity at this school. Beca is going to make mashups for an assignment and you guys are the most important source. I don't have to tell you that it's going to be a huge success. I bet the mashups will be heard in all the cafés, clubs and bars." The students are standing around us in no time.
,Do you have some students in mind?" Asks Alice. I try to find Chloe in the crowd, but she isn't here. Too bad, I wanted to tell them it's her.
,Yes." I only say and they all squeal.
,Who?"
,Beca can't tell that yet." Jesse put his arm around my shoulder. ,Beca will put a list on that bulletin board and if you're interested you have to write your name on it. Beca will pick one and let you guys know." They all nod and walk away from us again.
,Dude!" I tell him and poke him in his side. ,What the hell have you done? I don't want to make a mashup for Alice or Denise. Only Chloe deserves my mashups."
,Of course you will make a mashup for Chloe, but you have to let them believe that they stand a chance." Jesse smirks and Finn gives Stacie a high five.
,Hey Bec," Finn stands in front of me. ,Chloe and Aubrey just walked into the bathroom, that's why they didn't hear the whole speech Jesse gave."
,Oh, that's your chance to talk to her!" Says Marley who catches up with what Finn is trying to do.
,Oh no, I can't just walk up to her and tell her my plan."
,Explain it's for an assignment and that you want to see if she would like a mashup."
,Dude, I -"
,Beca!" Finn looks at me with a serious look. ,Don't be such a pussy. When she comes out of the bathroom," he sighs for a second. ,just talk to her." And after that, he, Marley, Stacie and Jesse walk away. I turn around and force myself to walk over to the bathroom. Here goes nothing. I put my hand on the doorknob and want to open it, if it's already opened. The door hits me and I stumble backwards.
,I'm sorry, are you okay?" I look up and Aubrey has her hand on my shoulder.
,Yeah I'm fine." Now Chloe walks out of the bathroom and I smile.
,You don't seem injured." Aubrey tells me and I have to force myself to look at Aubrey again. ,You should go quickly because I think the lessons are starting soon."
,I don't have to go to the bathroom." Chloe pulls up an eyebrow.
,Then why did you want to enter the bathroom?" She asks me. I swallow. Why is it so hard to talk to her?
,I, um, I -" I close my eyes for a second. ,-IhaveanassignmentformusicclassandIwantyourhelp." I blurt out.
,Wow, calm down." They both tell me and I open my eyes again.
,Just take a deep breath honey, I couldn't hear a thing you said." Honey?! Did she just give me a nickname? Keep calm, breathe! I tell myself and take a deep breath.
,I have an assignment for music class and I want your help." I say and look her in her eyes.
,What kind of assignment?" Asks Aubrey.
,Well, I have to make a mashup for three university freshman students."
,Yeah and she thought about you guys." I startle from Jesse who is standing beside me all of the sudden.
,It's really sweet of you to think about us." Oh, my God. She's still talking to me! She didn't run away the minute I began to talk to her. My heart beats at an enormous speed right now.
,So you want to help her?"
,What do I have to do?" Chloe asks me, but I can't speak anymore. Calm down!
,Well for starters, a mashup always consists of two songs. So Beca needs your favorite songs."
,That's easy." Says Aubrey and Chloe gives her a look. ,What? It's true, right?" I look at Chloe and see her getting embarrassed. Wait, do I embarrass her? Doesn't she want me to make a mashup for her? Say something! I inhale deeply.
,You don't have to help me if you don't want to." I tell her and I'm surprised I succeed to say another sentence, while my body is shaking from the nerves. Jesse gives me a look, but I don't care. If Chloe doesn't want a mashup, I won't do it.
,What makes you think that?" Chloe asks me surprisingly.
,Well because you kinda looked embarrassed when Jesse asked you which two songs were your favorite."
,Oh sweety." Chloe put her hand on my shoulder and my eyes widened. Her hand is on my shoulder and she used another nickname for me! Don't faint! ,I'm only embarrassed about one of my favorite songs. It has nothing to do with you." Jesse pokes my side and Chloe removes her hand. I look up into her eyes again.
,So you still want to help me?" Chloe nods.
,What time do you want to come to my dorm room?" Now Jesse and Aubrey startle.
,Chlo, you can't bring her to your dorm room. The school headmaster won't allow that."
,He will allow it when it's a school assignment."
,Maybe you can come to Beca's house." Jesse tells Chloe. What?! No, that's impossible! She can't come near my father!
,My father won't allow visitors." I say and look down for a moment.
,Hmmm, the only solution is to ask the school headmaster." Says Aubrey.
,Great idea." Chloe claps in her hands.
,Maybe you should give Beca your number, Chloe." Chloe raised her eyebrows at Jesse's request. ,So you can text her when you've talked with the headmaster."
,Are you okay with that?" Chloe turns her gaze at me and I just nod. ,Okay." She grabs a piece of paper from her bag and writes down her number. ,Here you go." She gives the paper to me. ,Talk to you later." And then they walk away.
,You're welcome." Says Jesse and bows in front of me. I can't believe it. Chloe Beale just gave me her number! Wait, is it really her number? She could've given me a fake one, just to get rid of us. Oh, my God, maybe this is a friend's number and she is planning to prank me!