The Bully

13

Junior year brought challenges. Chloe had an overwhelming amount of homework. Since she was trying to get into a good college, she decided to take more advanced classes, which led to more homework.

"Hey Chlo." Beca texted one night.

She stared down at her phone for an hour and still got no response. She was sick of Chloe ignoring her, but she knew Chloe was focused on her grades.

"Just wanted to say I love you." Beca decided to text, then put down her phone and went to sleep.

The next morning, Beca's phone was overwhelmed with missed calls from Chloe's moms.

"What?" Beca whispered to herself. She dialed Kelly's number.

"Hello." A weak voice answered.

"Kelly!" Beca said. "What happened?"

"Chloe..." Kelly said. "can't remember anything."

"What? How?" Beca asked.

"Last night, she was walking home from the library, when someone attacked her. At least that's what the police think happened. Chloe can't tell us herself." Kelly said. "The doctors aren't sure if her memory will come back."

"Can I come see her?" Beca asked.

"Becs, I don't know if you can handle it." Kelly said softly.

"I want to see her." Beca's voice quivered. "Please."

"I'll come pick you up." Kelly said, knowing Jenna was working.

---

An hour later, Kelly's car pulled up at the front door of Beca's apartment building.

"Hi Hun." Kelly said as Beca got in the car.

"Hi." Beca said quietly.

They drove in silence for a while until Beca spoke.

"Did she forget me?" Beca asked.

"I don't know." Kelly said. "She didn't remember us."

"But...I love her." Beca said.

"We love her too." Kelly said.

"I love her so much, Kel." Beca said. "Imagine if Paige forgot you and all of the beautiful moments you shared."

Kelly thought about it. It was much worse. She and Paige had so many moments together she wouldn't trade for the world.

---

"Chloe." Beca said as her eyes met the bright blue clueless ones that belonged to the body sitting up in the bed.

"Hello." Chloe said. "What is your name?"

"B-b-Beca." Beca said.

"Hi Beca, it's nice to meet you." Chloe said.

"You already know me." Beca's eyes were full of tears.

"I'm sorry." Chloe said with a frown. "Please don't cry."

"This picture." Beca said and held up her phone to reveal the picture Paige had taken of them in the blankets at the beach house. "This was the best night of my life."

"Is that what I look like?" Chloe asked, pointing to herself in the picture.

"Yes." Beca smiled and climbed into the bed next to Chloe. "You're beautiful."

"You are too." Chloe said. "Why do I really want to kiss you?"

"Because you're my girlfriend." Beca said with a small smile. "and we kiss all the time."

Chloe leaned in and kissed Beca. It felt so right.

"I love you too." Chloe said when she pulled away.

"I never said-"

"I got your text." Chloe smiled. "I was going to reply when-"

"You're the one!" George yelled. "I saw you with my Annabeca!"

"What are you talking about? I don't know you." Chloe said to the strange man. "You might have the wrong person."

"Have you been fooling around with my daughter?" He said.

"No." Chloe said. "I have a girlfriend."

"I saw you kissing my Annabeca! Annabeca Elizabeth Mitchell!" He yelled in anger.

"Beca?" Chloe asked in confusion. "I love her."

"She is my daughter and she will not be kissing some weak woman!"

"Weak?" Chloe asked. "I'm not weak."

"You think you could beat me in a fight?" George threatened.

"Of course not." Chloe backed off.

"Then how will you protect Annabeca?" George yelled.

"I don't know, sir." Chloe said.

"You stay away from her." He said, locking eyes with Chloe.

"I can't." She said.

"You better!" He swung his hand and it crashed into the side of Chloe's head, knocking her to the ground.

"Stay away!" Chloe cried and pushed Beca away. "Annabeca! Go!"

"How did you know my full name? I never tell anyone my full name." Beca backed off.

"You have to go or he'll hurt me again!" Chloe cried.

Kelly immediately rushed to her bedside. Chloe had panic attacks if she got herself too worked up about things.

"Chloe, Honey." Kelly said softly. "Look at me."

Chloe turned away.

"Chloe Marie!" Kelly raised her voice. "Look at me."

Chloe sapped her head around to Kelly and started hiccuping.

"Think of your happy place." Kelly said softly, trying to calm Chloe down. "Remember."

Chloe nodded slowly and started to breath normally.

"Good." Kelly said. "Now can you tell Beca and I what happened to make you want her to leave?"

"I was walking home from the library and some man just started yelling at me to stay away from his Annabeca." Chloe said.

"My dad." Beca said. "That was my dad."

Chloe looked at Beca in fear.

"Don't worry, Chlo." Beca said. "He has no idea where Jenna and I live."

"He said he saw us kissing." Chloe said. "He didn't like it."

"We can get him arrested, Chloe." Kelly said.

"We don't have any evidence." Paige interjected.

"We don't." Kelly sighed. "but don't worry, we'll never let him come anywhere near you again."

Chloe was silent. This was so much for her to take in, but all she could think about, just minutes after regaining her memory, was her history test on Monday.