Remind Me I'm Alive (Bechloe)

Picking Up The Pieces

Stacie couldn't hide the smile that was on her face as her plane landed. She had enjoyed her time, but it was time to come home. She also knew she couldn't run anymore. She needed to figure out one way or another if her relationship with Aubrey could be salvaged.

Her mind was racing a million miles an hour with "what ifs" as she got her luggage and exited the airport. The brunette was wearing a teal crop and a signature pair of short shorts. Her newly colored dark long brown hair was curled and fell perfectly behind her. It didn't take Stacie long to find Cora. The redhead was wearing her signature red beanie with a dark black long-sleeved shirt and skinny jeans. With her was a slightly taller blonde who was wearing a white t-shirt with a blue and white floral skirt that cut off just about her knees. Stacie immediately recognized the blonde as the woman Beca had punched out at their volleyball game. Stacie didn't know much about Blair other than she was friends with Aubrey and Cora.

As Stacie got closer to her friends, she noticed that something was off with the pair. Cora had a black eye, and Blair's hair was all messed up like she had just had sex. They also both looked like they had been crying earlier.

"You two look like you've been through hell," Stacie said, setting down her luggage in order to hug the smaller redhead.

"Well, we've had a hell of a day," Cora sighed as she embraced her friend. "I'm so glad you are back."

"I don't know if we have been properly introduced. I'm Blair Helms," the shorter blonde said with her right hand extended and a shaky smile.

"Stacie Conrad," Stacie replied with a soft smile as she shook the other woman's hand.

"So, where is everyone else?" Stacie then asked as she scanned the airport for any signs of her other friends. She figured that they would all be there to greet her after all the time she was gone. She had even hoped against all hope that Aubrey would be there.

"Something happened..."

Stacie watched intently as Cora and Blair recounted how they had rescued Chloe and everything that had happened with Jamie. They told her about how he had attacked them and tried to kill them. The whole time Stacie couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"And what about Aubrey? Is she okay?" Stacie asked once they were finished. She felt her stomach start to turn as Cora and Blair silently exchanged worrying looks.

"Aubrey wasn't able to be here," Blair said softly, breaking the silence.

"But she wanted us to give you this," Cora added, handing Stacie a sealed envelope with her name on it. The taller woman wasted no time opening the letter.

"We'll give you a minute," Blair said, leading the other woman away.

Dear Stacie,

I've tried writing this letter a thousand times over the past few weeks. But no matter how hard I tried, I could never find the right words. Since I don't know if I will ever find them, I'm just going to tell you the truth because you were always so open and honest with me. The truth is that I have been sick for a long time. I've been struggling with an eating disorder off and on since I was in high school. As a result, I have had my own battles with depression and anxiety. And the truth is that I have a tenancy to drive away the people I care about the most. In fact, I was starting to give up on the idea of love when you walked into my life. I kept asking myself, how could someone like you ever want to be with a broken person like me? I was so convinced that I would drive you away that I found myself doing something I'm so ashamed of. Personally, I don't know if I will ever stop hating myself for what I did to you and Jesse. I hated myself so much that I just wanted it all to end. So I did something really stupid. I tried to end it all, but thankfully Beca was there to save me. It doesn't excuse what I did. I know I was horrible, and I understand if you never wanted to see me ever again. Honestly, It would be selfish of me to ask you to wait for me to get better. But I hope someday you and Jesse will be able to be friends again. And I want you to know that I never lied about how I felt about you. That night we spent together after the dance was the best night of my life. No matter what happens, I will always love you.