The Bully

22

Chloe and Reno walked to Beca's house in silence. Chloe was so angry at her mother she didn't want to do anything except cry into Beca's shoulder.

When they arrived at the door and knocked, Jenna answered.

"Hi Chloe, hi Reno." Jenna smiled. "Come in."

They walked in and saw Mason sitting on the couch eating a bowl of ice cream.

"He got a shot at the doctor's office so I let him pick out some ice cream at the store." Jenna laughed. "Would you like some, Reno?"

"Yes please!" Reno said.

"Beca is in her room, Chlo." Jenna said.

"Thanks." Chloe replied and made her way to Beca's room.

"No! You idiot!" Beca laughed. It looked like she was FaceTiming someone.

"Becs." Chloe said from the doorway.

"Hey Chlo!" Beca said. "I'm talking to Maisy."

"Cool." Chloe sighed. She was really hoping to just talk to Beca alone.

"What brings you to casa de Beca?" Beca asked.

"Something happened at home and I was hoping to talk about it. It'd make me feel better." Chloe said.

"Come here." Beca said, sensing the serious tone in Chloe's voice.

Chloe climbed onto the bed with Beca. She felt tears burning her eyes.

"I have to go, Maisy. I'll talk to you later." Beca said.

"Bye." Maisy said before hanging up.

"What's wrong?" Beca asked with a pout.

"Kelly is pregnant with my dad's baby." Chloe let the tears escape and cried onto Beca's shoulder.

"Why is that a bad thing? You can make it a happy thing." Beca said. "You always tell me to think positively."

"Reno is going to have to live with another family." Chloe cried.

"No no no." Beca said into Chloe's ear. "It'll all be okay. You'll make room."

"How?" Chloe asked.

"Don't you have a basement?" Beca asked.

"Yeah?" Chloe replied.

"I could get Jenna's friend to finish it for you and then you can move down there and the baby or Reno can take your room." Beca said.

"Really?" Chloe asked.

"Of course." Beca smiled at her girlfriend.

---

Kelly and Paige happily agreed to finish the basement, but decided to do it after their annual trip to Michigan for Christmas.

Every year they went to Paige's parents' house for Christmas. It was a beautiful house abutting a lake that always froze over. Chloe loved to go skating on the frozen lake and couldn't wait to teach Reno.

"Chloe, Darling!" Chloe's Grandma Jo hugged her as soon as she walked in. "And this must be Reno, the youngest in the family!"

"Not quite." Chloe mumbled and glared at Kelly, who glared back.

"Hello." Reno said.

"Will come here! You have to see this adorable little one!" Jo called to her husband.

"No!" Reno screamed and sat down on the ground, pulling her knees to her chest.

Chloe immediately knelt beside her foster sister.

"What did I say?" Jo asked her daughter.

"I don't know." Paige replied.

"Reno, what happened?" Chloe asked. "Are you okay?"

"No Will. I didn't do it!" Reno said.

"Reno, this isn't the Will you're thinking of. This is Grandpa Will and he's super nice and gives you hugs. He also makes really good pie." Chloe said. "Do you trust me?"

Reno looked at Chloe and nodded. Chloe helped her up.

Will came around the corner.

"Sorry about that, ya grandmother's scrambled eggs this morning killed me in the bathroom." He laughed. Then he spotted the frightened Reno. "Hi Sweetie, I'm Grandpa Will. You can call me Pops if you want though."

"Hi. I-I'm Reno." Reno said, Chloe still holding her close to her side.

"Chloe, have you grown?" He asked the tall redhead.

"No." Chloe laughed.

Later on, they all sat down for dinner.

"How is that girlfriend of yours, Chloe?" Jo asked.

"She's great." Chloe smiled. She loved talking about Beca.

"Anything new with you two?" Will asked Kelly and Paige.

"Tell them." Chloe said.

"Chloe." Paige scolded.

"I'm pregnant." Kelly said.

Jo and Will were shocked.

"How?" Jo asked.

"She made a mistake but it's been forgiven and we've decided to move on." Paige said.

"She cheated on you?!" Jo asked.

"Mom." Paige said.

"No, she mistreated you and you're just going to put up with it?" Jo said. "You deserve better."

"Gram!" Chloe interjected. "Kelly is right there!"

Kelly gave an awkward wave.

Jo looked around at the family. Reno was covering her ears, she hated fighting.

The next day was Christmas Eve and Chloe missed Beca a lot. She tried to call her, but it went right to voicemail. Maybe she was sleeping.

- - -

Back at Beca's Maisy was on top of Beca, kissing her roughly.

"I missed you." Maisy said.

"I missed you, too." Beca replied. "I had such a huge crush on you in elementary school."

"Same." Maisy said. "I was so upset I had to move."

"Shut up and kiss me again." Beca said.

Kissing Maisy was different for Beca. She was rougher than Chloe was. If Chloe was ever that rough with Beca, Chloe'd pull away and ask if Beca was okay.

"This feels so weird." Beca admitted, as she fought to catch he breath. "I've only ever kissed Chloe."

"You want my honest opinion on the little thing?" Maisy said, climbing off of Beca.

"What?" Beca asked.

"She's too clingy." Maisy said, plainly. "Like the other day, she just showed up at your house and walked right in while we were FaceTiming."

"She was really upset." Beca said.

"So?" Maisy said. "Not your problem."

"But she's my girlfriend." Beca tried.

"So?" Maisy said. "That doesn't give her the right to walk all over you."

"You're right." Beca said. "I have to dump her."