It Was Inevitable

Chapter 28.

Chloe woke the following day, showered, got dressed and made herself a coffee before heading to work. She'd reached Barden and pulled up her car, seeing Stacie lounged on a nearby bench talking to Jesse. She grabbed her things and whilst balancing her coffee atop of them, tottered over to the bench.
"Hey, Miss Beale right?" Jesse smiled as she approached.
"Indeed. You're Jesse? Jesse Swanson?" Chloe asked.
"Indeed," he grinned, "nice to finally meet you,"
"And you. Stacie, when you have the time I need you to come and see me about a recent piece of work, anytime during the day should be fine. So whenever is convenient for you." She smiled briefly.
"How about now?" Stacie asked.
"Huh?"
"Well I promised I'd help Amy with her Chem at lunch and I've got a half hour until class. Are you available?"
"Uh... y-yeah sure," Chloe stuttered but forced a smile. She hadn't expected to have to talk to Stacie so soon, she hadn't thought about what to say to the brunette.
"After you. See you later Jess, tell Becs where I am, if she even notices," she rolled her eyes slightly as Jesse laughed and gave a wave. Stacie took a few paces to catch up with Chloe before the two were walking side by side.
"This isn't about a recent piece of work is it," Stacie chuckled.
"I can't be that easy to read," Chloe scoffed with a smile.
"Eh. Here let me hold this I can't see it ending well," Stacie smiled as she took the swaying coffee.
"Thanks. What was that about, just then, about Beca not noticing you've left? Something wrong?"
"Oh no. Not really. It's just Beca's been a bit, checked out recently with Amy, me and Jesse, well because of-"
"Jackie,"
"Jackie. Still don't like the girl," Stacie sighed.
"You and me both," Chloe smiled lightly as she pushed the door open to her classroom with the heel of her shoe, holding it open for Stacie to enter before letting it gently swing closed.

She took the offered coffee from Stacie's outstretched hand with a smile and took a seat at her desk, pulling her bag into her lap and digging through it for a few seconds, before lights tossing the USB stick Stacie had given her the previous day into the brunettes hand. She smiled briefly as Stacie nodded and slid it into her pocket.
"So, what was on it?" She asked.
"Music. Like you thought," Chloe nodded.
"Uh huh, and did it help in any way?"
"Err.. yeah, yes it did."
"So, whatcha gonna do?" Stacie smiled.
"I-I don't know," Chloe chuckled quietly, "ironic really, this was meant to help me make a decision but it's really just made it harder," she shrugged. "I hurt her Stacie. It's clear. And I didn't realise how much I'd hurt her,"
"Yeah, she really liked you," Stacie rubbed her hand along the back of her neck with a sympathetic smile.
"And I never wanted her to think that I didn't like her back, because my god I did and I still do. It was a hard decision, but then I also believe it was the right one, as much as it's cutting me up,"
"So you're not going to try again with her?" Stacie asked.
"Not right now," Chloe sighed, "I think I need to give her time, time to get her head out of the gutter. I need her to see that I didn't do this to hurt her, that it was the right reason, for us both."
"Okay. I understand, I do. I never thought that it was the wrong decision, and I don't hate you for doing it, you could lose it all and Beca had to see that I agree. Just give her some time yeah, Beca holds grudges well," Stacie laughed.
"I can imagine. Hey, what're you going to do with the stick?"
"Eh, I'll slide it back into her room where I found it, she'll never even know it's been gone," Stacie winked.
"Fair play," Chloe smiled, "I'll see you in class tomorrow, thank you for all the help Stacie. As weird as it seems to say it, you've helped me a lot,"
"You're welcome, seeya Miss Beale," the brunette waved as she open the door and almost skipped through it.

- - - - -
It was Barden's lunch break and Amy and Stacie were laid out on the grass on the campus, Stacie helping Amy with her chem work.
"How dare you do Chem work without me," Beca laughed as she approached the pair and slumped down to sit cross legged in front of them.
"Amy chose the better of us to help her," Stacie smirked.
"Pfft we all know I'm better than you at Chem," Beca scoffed.
"I just chose the available one," Amy sighed, ignoring the quizzical look from Beca as she looked up, "hey here comes Jesse," she smiled as she watched the brunette boy walk across campus before slinging his backpack onto the grass and leaning his head on it as he lay down.
"Well don't we all look chilled out," another voice was heard and Beca felt arms wrap round her shoulders.
"You know us," Beca smirked as she placed a kiss on Jackie's arm.
"I have to go somewhere, I'll catch you later Bec," the blonde smiled as she retraced her arms.
"Bye," Beca smiled lightly.
"How's the Camaro coming along Becs?" Jesse asked.
"Almost ready," Beca smirked, "two more weeks and I'll be able to run y'all anywhere you want to be taken," she laughed.
"Awesome, you can take me for a spin when it's ready," Stacie grinned.
"Sure thing Conrad," Beca winked at the brunette who turned her attention back to helping Amy with a light laugh.

"It's no use we might as well go and find him and he'll help us then," Stacie stood abruptly as Amy sighed below her.
"Bare with me. Some of us are fat you know," She groaned as she reached for Stacie's leg and pulled herself up, "fine let's go find Mr Teacher Man," Amy puffed as she collected her Chem book and followed Stacie, who had paced off.
"Yo slow down," Amy pulled on Stacie's top as the brunette slowed down to a reasonable pace so Amy wasn't having to run. The pair walked down the halls on their way to Stacie's Chem class when they heard a familiar voice. They exchanged glances and slowed to listen. What sounded to Stacie like a girl and boy could be heard giggling quietly down a gal out of sight. Stacie sighed,
"Ew, horny teens," She chuckled.
"Nah, that doesn't sound like just any horny teen, listen," Amy pointed out, slowing her walk even more as the whispers became louder.
"Babe, no ones gonna catch us, come on. It'll be fun," the boys voice had turned from a whisper to a louder, husky tone.
"We can't," the girl whispered back with a laugh. Amy turned to Stacie with a quizzical look.
"My friend's already done it with a chick in here, come on," the boy chuckled. Amy and Stacie had just about had enough as they shook their heads and rounded the corner.
They stopped short at the sight of Jackie, her lips locked with Harry, a boy on the soccer team that Stacie recognised. Clearly too engrossed in their make-out session, neither had noticed the two round the corner.
"Told you it wasn't just anyone," Amy whispered.
"Knew something was right about this one," Stacie shook her head. She paced up to the pair and tapped Jackie neatly on the shoulder. Waiting until the blonde had turned her head, waiting until her her eyes widened in realisation. Before delivering a smack to her right cheek and storming off with Amy in tow, a smug smile on her face.
"Classy Conrad," Amy grinned, giving Stacie a fist bump as they reached her Chem classroom, sliding in the door with a giggle.