Meant To Be [COMPLETED]

26.

AUTHOR'S POV
Shortly after Chloe left Beca in the bathroom, she pulled herself together and went out. She walked over to Veronica who still had a smug look on her face. "Let's take a rain check on tonight, I'll call you", was all she said before walking back to her table. "I think we uh- we should head back. Early morning tomorrow", she muttered and tried her hardest to not look at Chloe. "Uh- yeah. Sure", Stacie replied. "Uh, love, why don't you bring Chloe and Alice back and I'll ride with Beca and Emily?", she turned to her girlfriend who just nodded. "You guys go ahead, I'll find my way home", Amy said before wandering off.
"So, everything okay?", Emily asked when they got in the car. "Yeah- yeah, I'm fine", Beca lied and started the car. "No more secrets remember?", Emily reminded her of the promise she made and Beca sighed. "I don't know what I'm doing. With Chloe. I snapped at her earlier and she said she'll stay with Cindy, something about us staying together being a bad idea", she explained. "I just- I wanted her to- I wanted to feel like I'm worth something to her. You know? Like she would fight for me", she added and rested her head against the steering wheel, letting her tears stream down. "And it's stupid. I told her to stop playing games with me but I was doing the same thing", she shook her head. "I think- I think you should take a couple days off. Go back home or go take a trip somewhere. I really think you're getting better but I don't think you can do it with her around", Stacie told her. "Cindy asked me to go to a family dinner this weekend", Beca chuckled. "Are you gonna go?", Emily asked. "I told her I will, maybe I'll just stay for a while", she smiled. "Do you wanna put food colouring in her soap?", Stacie asked which made all of them laugh. "As exciting as that sounds, I'm okay", Beca shook her head.
--NEXT MORNING--
When Beca went down for her usual fix of coffee, she was surprised to not see Chloe there. And then she remembered. Suddenly, the hole in her heart felt even bigger and deeper, swallowing her insides like abig black hole. "She uh- she left about half an hour ago", she heard Aubrey's voice behind her and turned to see the blonde sitting in the living room with a mug in her hand. "Yeah- yeah I figured", Beca forced a smile and walked to the coffee machine when she heard footsteps coming. "Beca- I-", Aubrey was about to say. "No- no don't worry about it, Bree. I'm fine, I mean- it was probably for the best right? I can just- forget that she ever existed", Beca tried to play that last line as a joke but Aubrey saw right through her. Not saying anything, she pulled the brunette in for a hug and to her surprise, Beca hugged her back. "You'll pull through", was all she said as she rubbed circles on Beca's back. "Yeah- yeah I know", Beca pulled away and smiled. "Uh- I'm going to my parents house for a while. If you guys need anything, you can just find me there", she said. "Thanks, Aubrey", she smiled before walking to the door.
Beca's POV
I rode back home as fast as I could. If it weren't for my helmet, I wouldn't even know that I was crying. Why did she have to come back? Why did she have to say that she still loves me? I got off the bike and took off my helmet to wipe my tears before knocking on the door. "Becs? What are you-", mom opened the door and before she could finish her question, I just hugged her and I felt her sigh as she wrapped her arms around me. "Let's get you inside", she said before pulling me in.
"Do you wanna tell me about it?", she asked and sat down to me with a drink in her hand. "I just- I'm so tired, Ma", I let out. "She- she told me that she wanted me, she loves me and so I told her that she had to choose. Between me and her- her girlfriend", I explained and felt the tears forming in my eyes. "I don't know why I thought she would pick me. I just- it was nice to- to have that hope. Y'know?", I added and looked at her. "Beca, you gave her a chance. In fact, you gave her multiple chances and I think- I think it's time for you to let her go, sweetheart", she moved closer to me and rubbed my back. "Everyone keeps saying that like it's- like it's so easy", I scoffed. "I know it's not, but you need to at least try, if- ", she was about to say something before I heard a familiar voice. "Beca, you're back!", Alex came running from his room and I quickly wiped my tears. "Hey, buddy! I missed ya!", I told him as I picked him up. "Can we go get ice cream on your bike later?", he asked me. "Of course! You wanna see if Emily's up to join us?", I asked knowing how much he loves Emily. "Yeah! Call her right now!", he ordered. "Okay, buddy", I chuckled.
"Which one do you want?", Emily leaned down to ask Alex. "Chocolate!", he replied. "Sick! That's my favourite too!", Emily smiled at him before ordering. "How you holding up?", she asked me as she watched the worker scoop the ice cream and Alex started jumping around. "Alex, stay close", I told him and turned to Emily. "Getting there, I guess?", I replied, unsure because even I don't know how I'm doing. We both walked to the counter when Alex ran off. "Alex! I said stay-", I was going to shout at him when I saw him wrapped her arms around someone.
AUTHOR'S POV
"Chloe!", he yelled out in excitement and Beca met eyes with the redhead and they both stood there. "Hi! Look at how big you've gotten!", Chloe kneeled down to look at Alex. "I'm getting ice cream with Beca and Emily!", he told her. "Wow, your big sisters are spoiling you today, aren't they?", she asked and smiled. "Well, who's this?", Cindy came and smiled at Alex. "Oh- Cindy, this is my brother, Alex. Say hi, buddy", she told Alex who hid behind Chloe's legs and waved. "Well, I will just grab this little guy and we'll get out of you guys' way", Beca smiled awkwardly and walked towards Alex. "But I wanna play with Chloe!", he pouted. "Chloe's a bit busy right now, sweets. Come on, you made Emily come so you can play with her right? It's not nice to break a promise, you know?", Beca asked and she didn't meant for it to sound like she was hinting at Chloe. "But I haven't seen Chloe in so long!", he said not letting go of Chloe's legs. "Alex. I'm serious, let's go. Now.", Beca used a more stern voice. "Becs, it's fine. We can- we can sit together, would you want that?", she looked down at Alex who nodded. "Alright then, let's go", Chloe smiled and held his hand before they got a table. "Just the four of us?", Emily asked. "Five!", Alex corrected her which made everyone smile. "Good job! Uh- yeah just us, Alice went out with Chris to grab something", Chloe explained. Beca did everything she could to avoid looking at Chloe or even breathe the same air as Chloe. She felt Cindy's hand squeezing her thigh and when she looked at the older woman, there was a soft and reassuring smile on her face. "Excuse me for a minute", Beca said and went out to the back of the store. She took a pack of cigarettes out from her pocket and pulled one out before lighting it up. She let the smoke fill her lungs as she breathed it out into the air.
"Those things kill you, Beca", Cindy's voice came behind her. Beca jumped at the voice and immediately put the cigarette out before letting out a light chuckle. "So.. what happened?", she asked. "What do you mean?", Beca asked back. "Well, Chloe came by in the morning, suddenly insisting that she stays with me", Cindy explained. "She uh- she thought that it was bad idea for- y'know- for us to be under the same roof", Beca said and she felt the older woman's hand behind her back. "What do you think?", she asked. "I think, I know my daughter. And I know as hard as she tries to push it down, she still loves you. Even more than that Alice girl. I saw it in her eyes", she explained and Beca scoffed. "Everyone's telling me to move on. Even my own mom! But it- its's so hard. No matter how much I try, I will always leave the door open for her. Always", Beca let out. "Are you still coming to dinner with us?", Cindy asked. "I know the kids will be happy to see you, they adore you", she added with a soft smile. "Yeah- yeah I'll drop by", Beca smiled back and they both went back in. Beca turned to the table to see Alex sitting on Chloe's lap with a smile on his face. She leaned against the wall to watch the two interact, Chloe started tickling Alex and made him laugh uncontrollably. "What's so funny here?", Beca approached them. "Beca! Chloe wouldn't stop tickling me!", Alex said, still sitting on Chloe's lap. "Can Chloe come home with us?", he asked his sister and Chloe watched as Beca fumbled with her words. "I would love to buddy but I have some things to do later. I'll try and stop by when I have the time, okay?", Chloe told the boy who just nodded.