We Can't Back Down

Chapter 3

The next morning, Aubrey blew a whistle outside to wake them.

"UP AND AT 'EM, BELLAS! LET'S GO, LET'S WAKE UP, COME ON!" Aubrey yelled. "Today, we're going back to the basics to learn to sing as a group while also completing some trust-building exercises."

"What a great idea," Chloe said.

"All right, let's begin," Aubrey said, blowing a pitch pipe.

Aubrey led them through a boot camp consisting of some rather old songs and an obstacle course that featured going through tangled ropes, balancing on a log, going down a water slide, and crossing a mud pit.

Afterward...

"Okay, that was two steps away from being almost fine," Aubrey said.

"I'm sorry, what are we doing?" Beca asked.

"Good question! I was thinking the same thing hours ago," Amy said as the other Bellas except Chloe laughed.

"Ha, ha! Laugh it up!" Chloe said sarcastically. "We're rediscovering our sound," she said with no sarcasm.

"Really? 'Cause, it sounds like we're just singing random songs when I've got more important things to do!" Beca snarked.

"What could be more important than this?" Chloe asked.

"Nothing; just forget it," Beca said, hoping to change the subject.

"Come on, Beca. Just tell her," Amy said.

"I heard that. Tell me what?" Chloe asked before dragging Beca a few feet. "Beca, you know you can tell me anything, right? What's going on with you that we don't know about?"

"Well, it's just..." Beca started before being cut off.

"I knew it! You've been sneaking around with Jesse lately, haven't you?" Chloe guessed.

"What? NO!" Beca protested.

"O.M.G.! Are you pregnant?" Chloe guessed.

"Chloe! If I was pregnant, I'd probably tell you about that right when I knew," Beca said.

"Well, then...what's really going on with you?" Chloe asked as Beca looked back at everyone else before giving an answer.

She sighed, "Fine! I've been interning at a recording studio, and a legit music producer wants to hear my work. God forbid I have something going on outside this group," Beca said.

"And you couldn't tell me about this why?" Chloe asked.

"'Cause, you're obsessed! You all are! We're graduating, and the only person thinking about life after the Bellas is me," Beca said.

"What's wrong with that?" Chloe asked. "This has been my family for seven years."

"Yeah, because you're too scared to leave!" Beca shouted.

"So you've been lying to us for the entire year, and now you're gonna back out before Worlds?" Chloe asked.

"Oh my god, will you shut up about Worlds for once?! I get that the Bellas mean everything to you, and it means something to all of us, but there are some things more important in life!" Beca yelled, feeling annoyed before taking deep breaths. "But if this is the way you're gonna be, just forget it. I'm outta here," she continued, feeling rather upset as she started walking.

"So you're just going to leave now?" Chloe asked.

"We all have to eventually, Chloe. It might as well be now," Beca said as she continued walking. "If you all knew what was good for you, you'd follow my lead."

"Beca, the sign!" Emily tried to warn Beca, but she unintentionally ignored Emily's warning and got caught in a net snare.

"Well, well, well, look who needs our help," Chloe said.

"Not cool, guys!" Beca yelled.

"No, what's not cool is you taking your frustrations out on us!" Chloe fired back.

"Really?! That's what you're going to say to me right now?" Beca asked. "Help me! I'm dying!" she said before screaming as the net snare fell an inch.

"We need to get her down. We need a ladder," Emily said, worried.

"No, we don't believe in ladders," Aubrey said.

"Well, then how do you expect us to get her down?" Emily asked.

"Relax, Emily. What could go wrong?" Aubrey asked.

"Okay, if I'm about to die, let me just say for the record: Chloe, I will admit that meeting you was the best thing to ever happen to me," Beca said, panicking, prompting a smile from Chloe as the net snare fell another inch.

"Aubrey, despite our ups and downs from my freshman year, deep down inside, you actually have a good heart," she continued.

"Thank you, Beca," Aubrey said as the bear trap fell yet another inch.

"And lastly, I still love you awesome nerds. You, Bellas, are the greatest friends I ever had, and I'll miss you forever," Beca said, still panicking.

At that point, the net snare collapsed. Chloe tried to catch her but was too late as Beca landed on the ground. When Beca fell, her back was in serious pain.

"Are you all right?" Chloe asked as Beca tried to get up, but the fall was so brutal, it hurt her back.

"Somebody call 911!" Chloe yelled as Stacie took out her phone and made the call.

While they waited for the ambulance to arrive, Chloe wanted to help Beca up, but Aubrey advised against it, thinking it'd be best to wait for the ambulance.

At the hospital, Aubrey and Chloe were waiting outside the emergency room sobbing.

"This is all my fault! If I hadn't fought with Beca, none of this would be happening," Chloe said tearfully.

"Hey, it's okay. You lashed out; the same way you did with me three years ago," Aubrey said, trying to comfort Chloe.

"That was a different circumstance!" Chloe said tearfully.

"Chloe, maybe Beca has a point. Maybe you have been putting your personal pride over your friendship, but if I know you like I think I do, you'll do whatever it takes to fix this," Aubrey said.

"Yeah. You're right, Aubrey. I'm gonna go in there and make things right," Chloe said, wiping her tears before Beca came out of the emergency room.

"Hey," she said softly.

"Hey," Beca said, smiling.

"How are you feeling?" Chloe asked.

"Sore. The doctor said that fall led to a few minor cuts and sprains, but I should be alright," Beca explained.

"I'm hoping for the best. And listen, I'm really sorry for that fight," Chloe said.

"Me too," Beca said.

"And you know what else? As far as that internship goes, you could've told me about it. I would've been happy for you," Chloe said.

"Really?" Beca asked.

"Of course. You've been dreaming of producing music all your life. What kind of friend would I be if I got in the way of that?" Chloe asked.

"Thanks, Chloe," Beca said.

"Of course. You know what else? I realized I've let our friendship take a back seat over my pride. No more! From now on, whether we win Worlds or not, we're going to have fun doing it!" Chloe said.

"Of course we will. Chloe, will you promise me one thing?" Beca asked.

"Anything for you, Beca," Chloe said.

"Will you try and graduate this year?" Beca asked. "I admire your loyalty to the Bellas, but I can't stand the idea of you clinging to Barden for the rest of your life."

"You're right. It's not healthy for me to cling to something forever. All right, deal! This year I will graduate. The Worlds will be my swan song!" Chloe exclaimed.

"Atta girl," Beca said.

THE END!