Bechloe Week 2

Chapter 3

It's been a year since Beca signed with DJ Khaled and moved to Los Angeles. It's been the same amount of time since Beca has seen or heard from Chloe.

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon and Beca was sitting in her L.A. home. She was on the phone with Aubrey and they were talking about Chloe.

"So, they broke up," Beca said. "Did she say why?"

"Not really," Aubrey said. "She just said they broke up and she was coming home."

"Does coming home mean going to Tampa?" Beca asked. "Or to you?"

"Actually, she said she was going to L.A.," Aubrey replied.

"What? Why?" Beca asked, sitting up. "I thought she'd want to be comforted by her family or her best friend."

"She said she wanted to be with her best friend," Aubrey said. "And the best friend she was talking about is you."

"If I'm the one she thinks of as her best friend in this scenario, why haven't I heard from her in almost a year?"

"I, um, I don't know the answer to that," Aubrey said. "But, I do know she feels bad that she hasn't reached out to you."

"She feels so bad that she can call and text you and the rest of the Bellas without any problem, just not me," Beca said, the anger in her voice evident. "Call her and tell her not to bother. She'd be better off visiting you."

"Beca," Aubrey said.

"No, Aubrey," Beca interrupted. "You always do this. You always take her side no matter what. I am not her best friend, she has made that abundantly clear by not talking to me for the past year. And since she'll still text you and take your calls, you get to tell her to stay away from me."
"I can't," Aubrey said.

"Yes, you can," Beca said.

"No, Beca," Aubrey said. "I really can't. She's already in L.A. And, she should be at your door, um, soonish."

"You gave her my address?" Beca asked, her voice rising. "And what the fuck do you mean by soonish?"

There was a knock on Beca's door and her head jerked over to look at the door as if it had offended her somehow.

"Soonish as in. . .now?" Aubrey replied.

"Of course, she's here now," Beca muttered and ended the call before Aubrey could say anything else.

Beca stood and stared at the door, jumping slightly when there was another knock.

Beca threw her phone on the table and contemplated pretending she wasn't home when another insistent knock came.

"Dammit," Beca muttered as she walked to the door.

Beca took a deep breath and let it out before opening the door. Chloe hadn't realized Beca had opened the door and was standing before Beca with furrowed brows staring down at her phone.

Beca waited, and Chloe raised her hand as if to knock again, looking up at the same time and finally noticing Beca standing there staring at her.

"Oh, um, h-hey, Beca," Chloe said, putting her phone in her pocket. "Brey just texted that she told you I was coming. I was hoping to surprise you."

"Trust me, I am surprised," Beca said and continued to look at Chloe.

"So, are you going to invite me in?" Chloe asked, waving her hand toward the inside of Beca's house.

"Oh, how rude of me to leave you standing there when you showed up unexpectedly at my door after a year with no contact whatsoever," Beca said sarcastically. "Please, do come in."

Beca stood aside to let Chloe in.

"I guess I deserved that," Chloe mumbled as she pulled her suitcases inside.

"So, what do you want, Chloe?"

"Oh, I guess we're going to forego the nice to see you formalities and jump right in," Chloe mumbled. She cleared her throat and said, "I was hoping I could stay here for a little while."

Beca opened her mouth to say something when she heard her phone ping with a text notification. She sighed.

"Excuse me," Beca said and left Chloe standing by the door as she walked over to check her phone.

"It figures," Beca muttered as she looked to find a text from Aubrey.

Please don't kick her out. She says she's fine but I can tell she's not. Talk to her.

Beca sighed and ran a hand through her hair. She texted back.

Fine. She can stay here but that doesn't mean I have to talk to her.

Beca turned back to Chloe, who had been looking around while Beca checked her phone.

"You have a nice place," Chloe said.

"Thanks," Beca said and put on her best phony smile. "Come on. I'll show you to your room."

Chloe's shoulders sagged with relief. "Thanks, Beca. I really do appreciate this."

"It's not like I had much choice," Beca thought.

"Follow me," Beca said aloud and walked toward the stairs.

Chloe grabbed her luggage and followed Beca.