Work Text:
Beca’s Hot Ones Interview
The kitchen was a bustle of activity as the Bellas grabbed snacks and drinks prior to sitting down for the viewing of Beca’s latest interview. Said brunette looked around her kitchen at all the activity, happy that so many of the Bellas had been able to come over and watch this interview with her; though she was also a bit nervous about what the interview might show, as she hadn’t seen it yet. Still she owed a lot to these women, who were more than friends, but really her extended family. She wanted to make them proud, though she also didn’t want to embarrass herself, and there was a decent possibility of doing just that.
Speaking of being embarrassed, Beca’s attention was drawn to the person most likely to embarrass her, her vivacious Australian friend. Amy was of course currently holding court, regaling any Bellas who would listen about her latest exploits of being a heiress as she made some punch concoction that in the end only Amy would be drinking. Her current story seemed to involve a Middle Eastern Oil Sheik she met in Monaco and a jealous French playboy she had befriended while skiing in the French alps. The story was just Amy enough to cause Beca to roll her eyes.
She looked towards Aubrey, who was seated in her prim and proper way, on the far side of the kitchen on one of the stools at the center island. The blonde remained stoic throughout Amy’s story, but Beca was pretty sure she saw that her friend and manager had to fight to keep the corners of her lips from curling up at some of Amy’s most audacious assertions.
Beca decided she didn’t need to hide her pleasure at hearing one of Amy’s tall-tales, and let her grin grow. She was really happy to have this group of her best friends together again.
“So Beca,” Stacie called to the petite brunette from the living room as she set out to find herself the most comfortable seat on one of Beca’s very comfortable couches. “what can we expect with this interview?”
The question brought Beca out of her happy reverie. Though the question was to be expected, Beca had hoped she would be able to avoid it. She knew this wouldn’t be the case when Chloe turned from where she had been pouring a glass of wine and fixed her attention on Beca.“Yeah Becs,” Chloe said. “You haven’t really said. What was it like to eat all those hot sauces?”
“In my country they feed you the hottest of sauces as they interrogate you, to loosen your tongue,” Flo said as she worked the blender. “Who wants a margarita?”
There was a chorus of affirmatives, none louder than Amy’s. Under the cover of people asking Flo for a margarita, Beca tried to avoid answering the questions.
No such luck.
“So, yeah, I was wondering too,” Cynthia-Rose said. “Was tasting all those sauces good, or really painful?”
Lily appeared from the living room, and seemed to whisper , “I eat ghost peppers for breakfast.” Then in a slightly louder voice said, “The television is all set up to watch.”
“So Becs?”
“Hmmm?” Beca pretended to have not heard the questions. She should have learned long ago that never works, especially when Chloe Beale is involved.
“What was it like? The interview? Eating all those hot sauces?”
The young musician/producer grimaced a little at the questions, as she was a bit embarrassed by her answer. She again tried to ignore the question as she passed Jessica a couple hard ciders for the blonde and Ashley. “Ummm… what?”
“What’s up Shortstack?” Amy asked as she reached into the freezer to pull out more ice for Flo. She traded the ice for a bottle of tequila from Flo, then gestured with the bottle at her smaller friend as she continued. “You’re doing that thing ya do when you’re trying to avoid answering,”
“What?” Beca asked in a tone she hoped sounded affronted.
“Ya know Shortstack, when you start acting like you didn’t hear the question, and then get offended when it’s repeated.” The blonde Aussie again gestured at her best friend as she poured a cup or two of the tequila into her Tasmanian Punch . “You know like this.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Beca answered, actually offended by Amy’s insinuation. This caught the attention of Jessica and Ashley who turned back towards their petite friend, and nodded in unison.
“Of course you do,” said Stacie, having returned to the kitchen, when she didn’t hear the answer to her question. “You think you’re all subtle, but you get all guilty looking.” She gestured up and down at the petite woman. “Just like that.”
“It’s true,” said Jessica with a nod.
“Yeah,” Ashley agreed. “It is.”
In an attempt to distract herself from the rapidly increasing pink tint of her cheeks, Beca rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m just saying, Shortstack, you’re an open book to us,” Amy said as she offered a cup of her Tasmanian Punch . Beca took a step back from the proffered cup. This elicited agreement from everyone, and then various negative reactions as Amy pointed her cup at each and every other Bella. When everyone turned down the punch, Amy simply shrugged and gulped the drink down in one pull.
“Wow, I so love being psycho-analyzed in my own home. It’s so much fun. Seriously, this isn’t sarcasm. No, definitely not sarcasm.” Beca grumbled
“It’s okay Becs,” Chloe came up behind the petite brunette and gave her a hug from behind. “It’s just we know you so well, because we’re family. As to your interview, I’m sure it went great.”
“That’s what Aubrey said at least,” Beca mumbled. The kitchen was suddenly silent as all the Bellas stopped talking at once.
“Wait, hold on,” Cynthia Rose stopped as she was passing by carrying a charcuterie board that she and Denise had put together. “You don’t know how it went?”
Chloe loosened her hug and pulled back enough to be able to look at her best friend more easily. “Becs?”
The blush Beca had felt building, now covered her face. She brought up her hands to cover her face, and whispered, “I can’t remember…”
“What was that Becs?”
“I can’t remember the interview?”
Stacie gave Beca an inquisitive look. “Was that a question?”
“No?” Beca shrugged as she felt the warming of a blush.
“Sounded like a question,” Chloe observed.
“Okay, fine, I seriously don’t remember much of the interview. I kind of blacked out due to the pain,” Beca conceded. “To be honest, I kind of expect that when I watch this interview I’m going to be like, ‘that happened? I went on that show? I said what?’ You know and stuff like that.”
“Really?” Stacie and Chloe asked simultaneously; both quite incredulous at this revelation.
“Seriously,” Beca replied. “Aubrey assured me though it went really well.” Everyone looked over to Aubrey, who was sipping her red wine. “She even suggested that we all… get… together… to… watch…” Beca trailed off as she realized it might have been a mistake to have the Bellas over to watch the show’s drop. She squinted at her friend and manager and noticed that the blonde wasn’t quite so stoic now. There was definitely small upturns at the corners of her mouth
“I’m sure it went well, right Bree?” Chloe called over to her longtime friend.
“Let’s just say it was life altering,” Aubrey said over the lip of her wine glass. Now everyone could see the smirk the blonde was trying to hold in.
“Wait, what?”
“Oh, I have to see this now,” Stacie shouted as she quickly made her way back into the living room.
“I’m definitely glad we got together for this,” CR shouted as she and Denise followed Ashley and Jessica, who had all but sprinted for the living room.
“Life altering?” Beca asked in a louder voice.
“OH YEAH! I can’t wait to see this now,” Amy shouted as she chased after Cynthia-Rose. “Let’s get this show on the road!”
“Lily, do you have the show queued up?” Chloe asked. Their quiet friend simplyo nodded in answer as she followed Amy, somehow just as quickly but without ever breaking into a run.
“What do you mean life altering?”Beca squeaked out.
“You’ll see,” was all Aubrey answered as she smoothly slid off her stool and followed the rest of the Be
“Come on Becs,” Chloe said as she gently guided her best friend towards the living room. “Let’s go find out!”
“What the Fuck, POSEN!?!”
~~{Hot Ones}~~
Beca Mitchell couldn’t believe where she was sitting. While this show had been a guilty pleasure to watch for the last few years, she had never thought she would be in this seat. In fact she had vowed to never be in this seat. Looking across the tables set between them she studied the bald-headed man who was both Producer and Host of this truly unique show. He is a handsome man, younger looking than his actual age. He maintains a five o’clock shadow which helps the youthful appearance, along with his stylish yet casual wardrobe. He must have sensed her eyes on him as he looked up and flashed Beca a reassuring smile. She had to admit she was appreciative of the courtesy and outward composure he showed towards her.
“You ready for this?”
His question caught her off guard, which was just another another clue to how nervous she was. Beca tried to match his easy smile, but it didn’t come off as easy. Not for the first time Beca wished she had Chloe’s ability to affect easy charm. Still she was able to say, “Yeah dude. Let’s do this.”
“I wanted to say, before we got started, I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this,” said the host.
“Yeah, yeah dude, let’s just do this,” Beca said with a bit of exasperation. Off to her right, in the shadows behind the bright lights, Beca noticed Aubrey flash her a warning look. The music producer recognized the look, play nice . Which meant, she needed to keep her mouth shut unless asked a question for the interview.
The host sat for a moment, just studying his guest, with the knowledge gained from years of hosting this show. He seemed to read her trepidation, and so reassured the up and coming singer. “You’re going to be fine…”
“I’m about to set my mouth on fire,” Beca countered.
“True.”
Beca gave Sean her ‘ What the Fuck, dude? ’ look, which seemed to delight him, as his grin grew. Sean Evans was more than an acquaintance but not quite a full friend. They had met a couple times at various parties and other events when DJ Khaled and his people were introducing Beca to the industry. They had hit it off, and he had invited her onto his show right from the start. As Beca’s star grew, Sean’s invitations had only increased.
For the life of her, she still wasn’t sure why she had agreed to do this.
He gave her a warm, reassuring smile that reminded Beca of Chloe’s, and she did feel a bit better. “I’m ready.”
The host looked to his right and got a thumbs up from the producer. Then over to the producer’s right and got another thumbs up from the technical director.
With a nod he looked at the camera and began, “Hey what’s up everybody? From ‘First We Feast’ I’m Sean Evans, and you’re watching ‘Hot Ones’ . It’s the show with hot questions and even hotter wings. And today we have a truly special guest. She’s a world-renowned singer, songwriter, and producer who is best known for her Grammy Award winning style of layering music and fantastic beats. Beca Mitchell welcome to the show..”
“Thank you so much for having me,” Beca replied graciously. “I’m in an excellent mood right now, but you should know that things are going to go so so bad.”
Sean grinned at the famous producer. This was so her personality. He knew she liked to snark, and responds well to teasing. “I love love the positivity but you know I seem to remember we had like a dinner thing last year you know a normal dinner…”
“A normal dinner,” Beca confirmed.
“A normal dinner, and you told me,” Sean couldn’t stop from chuckling, so paused to collect his composure, then continued, “You told me, you said ‘I will absolutely never ever do your show’.”
“I did say that,” replied Beca in all seriousness.
“But here we are just a few months later, you’re in the seat,” said Sean with another chuckle. “So I’m just curious what changed, and how are you with Spicy food?”
“My manager, Aubrey Posen has a gun to my head just off camera.” Beca grinned and sent a wink in the direction of her longtime friend who was hidden by the lighting. “That’s the only reason I’m here.”
Sean waited for more, and Beca let out a small sigh, and she began to ramble, “I’m not sure exactly but I mean I think the show is wonderful. I love watching the show and I have often thought if they didn’t have to eat all those wings I would love to go in that on that show but I am not a person who’s good with spice. I never have been so umm I guess I am happy that anybody’s watching this just because they want to see me get tortured.”
“Should we get started?”
“Your show Dude.”
“Then let’s get started,” Sean gestured to the wings and sauces lined up in front of Beca.
The Classic Hot Sauce - Scoville - Level 1,600
Picking up the first wing, Beca studied the sauce. “This seems like the darkest one, so I am thinking it’s the most heat. Is that like a psych out thing?” She looked at Sean, who only responded with a raised eyebrow. She frowned, “Yeah, I would’ve assumed that this one would be the spiciest.”
“The color is not an indication,” Sean responded.
“Not an indication,” Beca responded.
“Not an indication,” Sean conceded.
“So nobody’s safe,” Beca breathed.
“Yeah, can’t judge a wing by its cover as they say.”
“That’s just bad, dude,” Beca shook her head. Sean had the decency to look chagrined. “Nobody here liked that.”
With a little trepidation, Beca bit into the first wing. “It’s nice.” She smiled and nodded. “Enjoy this because I’m so gonna have such a bad attitude later on, oh my god.”
“Bad attitude,” chuckled Sean.
“Oh you have no idea,” the brunette assured him. “Bad Attitude is my middle name.”
“Beca Bad Attitude Mitchell?”
“Damn straight,” Beca nodded with a smirk. “Just ask the Bellas, they’d have stories.”
“The Bellas…”
“Well not Chloe, she would spin it that I was endearing, or worse adorable,” rambled Beca as she ignored Sean’s guffaw. “But you’ll see, Bad Attitude Mitchell…”
“I can't wait.”
The petite brunette felt a bit of the wing’s heat, and added, “Yeah I’m trying to breathe slowly. I think we’re headed in the wrong direction, but like this. It tastes really good.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Sean said. “So, your latest project is a concept album…”
“Yes.”
“A concept album about a young woman who slowly unravels as a result of mind games played on her,” Sean continued.
“Yes.”
“And, I don’t mean for this to sound backhanded, but I’m so used to picking up your albums, listening to it, and just falling in love with your music because it’s up beat full of power and passion. It’s often immediately endearing.”
“Immediately endearing?” Beca questioned, but as she thought about it, knew it was an apt description. “Yeah that’s a good way of putting it. I’m gonna steal that. I hope you don’t mind. Umm-yeah I think umm-I am much more comfortable in the music industry, much more confident in my music, that I could diverge from where I was often being steered to. I could use my own voice and tell a story that was close to home.”
“What did you see as the, uhh-challenge or maybe even the opportunity of creating a concept album?”
“It was the opportunity for me to create something that was completely my voice, and see if it works as a sound.
“It allowed me to give voice to things I had been feeling through the last few years, with regard to relationships I had in the industry, and not always being clear who’s the good guys and who’re the bad guys, because-uh-there’s times in your life when you’re not sure like am I the good guy or am I the bad guy? And that’s sort of like the key to the album. It’s sort of like this mystery of where the music is going to take you, what part of you it’s going to speak to as it’s unfolding and like what’s happening to the listener might affect how it resonates with them.
“Hopefully people will stick around and listen to the whole thing. Just maybe it’ll help them through whatever life has tossed their way, and then maybe they’ll end up enjoying it as much as they’ve seemed to enjoy my earlier music.”
“Well, so far the reviews have been positive and looking at social media, you are tearing up the charts,” said Sean with a genuine smile.
“Thanks.”
“So onto the next one?”
Banger Ranch - Scoville - Level 6,200
With only the tiniest of hesitation, Beca picked up a wing, and dipped it into the sauce just to the right of the first one she chose. She took a good sized bite, and then automatically a second smaller bite. “Oh that’s nice.”
“So not to get to meta while you eat scorching hot chicken wings on the talk show…”
“Please.”
“But I really think of you, as like a true patient zero in this new press era of celebrities who are asked to do a whole lot more than just answer questions.” As Sean set up his question, Beca continued to eat the wing, actually enjoying this one as it had a hint of pineapple. “What is, on a degree of difficulty, like the most challenging hoop you’ve had to jump through?”
“Okay, two things, the times that I was asked to do the cup thing, because I was often asked to do the cup thing after the first time I did it, while I was promoting my first album. The thing was, I never did it again because I wanted to save it in case Steven Colbert had me on, and he-umm-wanted it because-ummm-everyone is afraid of Colbert.”
“Including you…”
“Of course…”
“Makes sense…”
“You want to save your best for Steven Colbert,” Beca laughed lightly. “Because he’s like really intimidating, right?”
“Oh yeah.”
“But the hardest thing I ever did was on a British radio show, where I was promoting Trolls with Justin Timberlake, and we had to call toy stores and, wait okay…” Beca paused as she tried to gather her thoughts. “You see, even describing it…” The petite brunette chuckled and started again, “It was every sentence that I said had to start with the next letter of the alphabet…”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it was like a riff-off with sentences,” Beca replied.
“Riff-off?”
“Yeah it’s this lame A Cappella thing…” Beca trailed off, “That’s really not lame. It’s actually quite challenging…”
“And this sentence challenge?”
“It was hard, but you know this was my first time doing something like this, a movie, I mean it was animated, but Chloe was so excited, so I had to say yes, and the sentence challenge seemed so simple that you’ll feel really stupid if you don’t do it. So I was really stressed out about it.” Again Beca took a second. “Umm-I think I was hoping that uh-Justin was going to say no to it, and then he didn’t, and I was like ‘You Son of a Bitch’, now I’m gonna have to do it.”
Sean couldn’t help but laugh at the petite woman’s outburst.
“So yeah, that was… well that haunts my dreams that one, but Chloe assured me I did great…”
“Chloe?”
“My bestie…” Beca paused as she blushed. “I can’t believe I just used the term ‘Bestie’, Chloe and the Bellas are never going to let me live that down.”
“I think there’s more there, I definitely want to get into that before this is done, but we should continue. Ready for the next one?” Sean asked with a grin.
CADETO - Scoville - Level 15,000
Not really troubled by the heat so far, Beca replied “Let's do this.”
The two both reached for the next wing in the line and again, both took a quick bite. With mouth still full, Beca started talking. “Okay, here’s what I will say, so far, although I suspect we’re going to get out of this soon, I can actually still appreciate some flavor…”
“Yeah…”
“Umm-without just being like, I do not like this feeling…” the petite brunette flashed her trademark smirk. “But I think we’re, you know heading in the wrong direction, but like it tastes really good.” She then takes another larger bite.
“You know you came in here, kind of terrified…” Sean observed.
“Not terrified…” Beca interrupted.
“Scared?”
The petite musician shook her head negatively, “Nope, too badass for that…”
“With mild trepidation?” Sean probed.
“With the emphasis on mild,” Beca said with a smirk before finishing the wing she was eating.
“Okay,” Sean agreed, then gestured to the wing she had just finished. “Look at you, going in, taking extra bites, dropping the shoulders…”
“Ummm-yeah, I’m trying to breathe slowly,” Beca responded,
This brought a chuckle to the host. He then asked his next question, “What’s the most memorable show you performed in with the Barden Bellas?”
A grin that might actually rival one of Chloe’s grew on Beca’s face, as she stretched her arms out to take hold of the table. “Sir, the deep cuts are, I mean I shouldn’t be surprised, but yeah so that is the group I performed with in college and is where I started performing, and are the reason for my big break…”
“Yes they are,” Sean probed, “and your most memorable performance was?”
“I know which performance you are hoping for,” Beca responded, “but it really isn’t my most memorable…”
“The Kennedy Center…” Sean doesn’t want to give it up.
“Was memorable, but not the most memorable or important to me,” Beca replied. “The most memorable and important to me was the Bellas first ICCA Championship…”
“ICCA?”
“International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella,” Beca replied. “ICCA. The Bellas were the first all women team to win. It was the start of my second family.”
“Second family?”
“Yeah, the Bellas were my sisters,” a wistful look touched Beca’s features. “Bellas for life…”
“They mean that much to you?
“Yeah they do,” Beca smiled, “especially…”
“Especially?” Sean pressed, quite intrigued by the look in Beca’s eyes.
“Well there is one that’s especially special,” Beca responded.
“Especially one?” Sean gently probed. The wistful look in Beca’s eyes suggests there’s more to the story.
“Yeah…” Beca began to smile again, then caught herself. “I mean-uhh-they’re all my sisters, and mean the world to me.”
“Uhh-huh,” Sean definitely noted that change.
“Yeah…” Beca nodded, a little too enthusiastically.
Deciding it was time to go in a different direction, “So you’re originally from Portland Maine?”
“Born and raised, till I left for college,” Beca replied, relief at this question clearly evident in her features.
“What’s the most memorable show you either performed in or saw in South Portland’s Lyric Music Theater?”
“Wow,” Beca couldn’t hide her shock. “Ummm-wow dude, you did some deep digging to find that.”
“I do like to come prepared,” Sean replied.
“Did you talk to my mom?” Beca asked in all seriousness. She could actually picture her mother divulging this embarrassing fact about her childhood.
“I have my methods,” was all Sean would say.
“Yeah, I see that,” Beca laughed. “So that is a theater where I started doing-umm-community theater.” Beca could feel the heat of her blush. “I think-uhh-this is embarrassing, because I wish it was something cooler, but the very first show I ever did, the very first music performance in front of an audience that I ever did, I was like six, or something. Annie was the first thing I was ever in; and I was one of the little orphans. Thing was I had a lot of energy, and I do remember-ummm-the-uh-director telling all the girls to stop playing with the dog that played Sandy, and he was like, just go like play with Beca, she has way too much energy anyway. Just like, I don’t know, take her for a walk, for God’s sake, so she’ll calm down.”
“How about the Victoria Mansion Tour? Overrated or Underrated?”
“Oh-umm.” The question is so out of left field that Beca has to giggle, as she lightly hit the table. Laughing she answered, “This is crazy-uh-the Victoria Mansion Tour, I think is pretty fun. When my Dad left, my Mom wanted to get out a lot, and we ended up touring it a couple times. She really liked the old mansion. I mean if you’re from somewhere that has cool shit, maybe it’s just a house. It’s just a nice old house. My mom has a collection of Christmas ornaments that are from like a local jeweler, and they do every year like a Portland landmark, and I know my Mom’s favorite is the Victoria Mansion one. The Victoria Mansion is the thing in Portland that makes us feel classy.”
Los Calientes Verde - Scoville - Level 36,000
"Okay, number four,” Beca said as she picked up the next wing. Under her breath she whispered, “Oh God.” She took one tiny bite, but quickly followed it up with two more fuller bites, the last taking half the meat off the bone. “Huh, oh, it’s so… oh…” Beca had to bring her fist up to cover her mouth. “Should I get something bad?” Beca then shook her head and said, “No…”
Years of experience told Sean now would be a good time to ask his next question. “Is it true you asked for an additional track on your next album? Something that you rarely do in the studio, but you did because you weren’t happy with how it was coming together?”
“Wait, you know about that?” Beca was actually surprised.
“Told you, I do my research,” Sean said smugly.
“Yeah, well this being a concept album, it needs to have the right feel and pull, and it just wasn’t singing, and Theo, who was co-producing, said like ‘it’s okay, that we’ve got a lot of coverage on this’, and I was like I know you’re going to want a song that pulls all the threads together, I know you are.” Beca was getting more animated as she told the anecdote, and unconsciously slipped into a bad English accent as she continued, “And he was like, ‘I mean you’re right I do want a song that’s going to tie the whole album together’.” With a proud smirk Beca finished, “So that’s the time I was like, come on coach, give me one more shot.”
“So did you come up with one more song?” Sean wanted to know.
“Ask me after a couple more wings.”
Brooklyn Delhi Ghost Pepper - Scoville - Level 39,000
“Onto wing five,” said Sean.
“Okay, that one has a little kick," Beca breathed out. “I’m doing that thing that all the guests do where they’re like it’s not that bad…” Beca’s eyes widened for effect as she dramatically said, “Oh God!”
“Right,” Sean started, but is surprised when Beca began to take more bites from the wing. “Oh, but going back in…”
With a nod, Beca continued to chew, “I’m trying…”
“Immersing yourself in the experience,” Sean said, truly impressed. “Love it, love to see it.”
“Oh yep,” Beca replied as her mouth truly began to feel the heat. “Don’t freak out,” whispered Beca after taking a good sized bite; even as the heat of the sauce really started to assault her tastebuds.
The face she made had Sean saying, “Don’t freak out, don’t freak out.”
“Yeah Sean, don’t freak out,” Beca snarked back at him. This gets the host chuckling, and Beca goes with it as she raises the pitch of her voice. “Sean don’t freak out! Sean why are you freaking out?!”
“You’re doing great,” assured Sean, even as Beca covered a fit of giggling with the back of her forearm. “You’re doing great.”
“Hmmm…” was all Beca could manage at the moment, as she fought to keep composure. It took her a moment to realize Sean was speaking again.
“Fact or fiction,” started Sean, “You were discovered by DJ Khaled while performing on a USO Tour?”
With a nod and smile, Beca answered, “Yeah, that’s exactly right.” The smile on the petite woman’s face told Sean he had hit a happy memory. “Yeah it was with my girls…”
That earned the brunette a look of genuine surprise from the host. “You’re girls?”
“Yeah, the Bellas,” Beca nodded. She realized she had been nodding a lot, but just couldn’t stop. “Yeah, the Bellas had come together in Brooklyn, for what turned out to be a miscommunication. And it was suggested by my longtime friend and now Manager Aubrey Posen, that we should all go on a USO Tour to sing together again.
“At first I remember the idea sounding a little wonky, and yet it turned out so well. Though I did feel bad for the Bellas as Khaled chose to sign me, and not all the members of the Bellas, they’re some incredible singers, CR, Emily, and especially Chlo…”
“Uh-huh…”
“You know it’s difficult for people to come together with little prep time, and sing in front of a live audience, even when it’s your career. That these women came together after being apart for years, and picked up right where they left off…”
“Yeah-yeah,” Sean nodded, wanting Beca to continue.
“So yeah, I did feel slightly bad for getting this opportunity. The Bellas had overcome a bunch of misfortunate incidents, and put on truly amazing performances.”
Torchbearer Sauces Mushroom Mayhem - Scoville - Level 68,000
“I got to keep up with you,” observed Sean.
“Yeah, the going for the extra bite feels like I gotta do this,” Beca raised her thumb up to her mouth, and automatically licked the little bit of sauce off it. “But then, even just licking my thumb then, I go ‘why?’” Beca shook her head with a perplexed expression. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“You know different types of guests come in here and react in different ways. Like an athlete, you can almost see their like, just one more rep,’ kind of thing in them. But with actors, sometimes like they eat more, and I’m wondering-ummm-I think it’s like to immerse themselves in like the experience more or something…”
“I wonder if it’s because a lot of actors I know genuinely have a pet peeve about scenes where no one really eats anything,” suggested Beca.
“Maybe…”
“I had an ex-Jesse-who was determined to get me to like movies…” Beca started.
“The jerk,” Sean chuckled.
Beca waved it off. “It was a bit annoying, but he was an okay guy, but it’s whatever. He had me once try and sit through ‘The Bodyguard’ and there’s a scene where-um-Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner are having a drink at like Barney’s Beanery.” Beca looked to her right and noticed the tall glass of water. She grabbed it up to use as a prop as she continued the anecdote. “And he is holding this beer.” She brought the glass close to her lips. “He’ll be about to take a sip of the beer, and then her line comes, and I was like ‘just drink the beer Kevin! Drink the beer Kevin!”
Sean was full on laughing at this.
“Jesse was a bit annoyed at my outburst,” Beca continued nonchalantly.
“Oh you said this out loud?”
“Of course,” Beca shrugged. “Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. Jesse and I actually got into a bit of an argument about it.” Beca continued a bit offhandedly. She then lit up a little as she remembered the rest of that night. “Luckily Chloe was home when I returned to the Bellas house. She took me to Brewster’s Ice Creamery, and split a Banana Split with me.” The petite brunette was sporting a truly happy smile at the memory.
Not for the first time, Sean made a mental note of the name, Chloe, and how it seemed to change Beca’s demeanor. Before he can comment though, Beca’s asking, “What about performers like me? Where do you categorize us?” Beca asked.
“Performers tend to lean into the actors side of guests,” Sean replied.
“Is that a good thing?” Beca pressed.
“You’re doing great,” Sean assured his petite guest. “You’re doing better than I expected you to.” This caused Beca to scoff. Sean pressed on, “Are you, honestly, doing better than you expected?”
“I, well, I mean I guess, just based on the pure numbers, although, ummm-uh-Justin Timberlake did warn me…”
This sparked Sean’s curiosity. “Oh yeah?”
“…that-ummm-that he did the show, and he was like by the end of it, like you feel drunk, and I’m just beginning to get a little bit of a…” Beca couldn’t hide the buzz induced smile, so instead leaned into it.
“Just a sort of…”
“…Hey Sean,” Beca hears herself, and can’t believe she’s drifted into a flirty voice, but can’t stop. She looked around at the stage crew in the dark, and continued. “What’s going on with everybody?” She then spotted her blonde manager. ““Hey…Aubreeee. Hi, youuuu!” Beca cried. Her speech was slurred and loud enough for people outside the studio to hear. “Yooouu’re such a great friend, not as goood asss Chloeeee, but then nooooo one is as good as Chloeeee.”
The petite musician focused back on the host. “I feel weird dude?”
“Sort of a weightlessness type of vibe?” Sean asked, being well acquainted with this reaction.
“Yeah,” Beca responded, then pointed to the back of her neck. “I can feel it in the back of my-uh-neck.”
“It’s nice,” Sean observed.
“Yeah dude,” Beca smirked. “So far it’s really pleasant, and I’m just gonna enjoy that, because-ummm-I think it’s gonna get unpleasant really soon.” The smirk shifted towards a grimace.
“Well, we’re not going to blow the high just yet,” said Sean.
“Okay,” Beca responded with a deep breath.
“We’re not going to blow the high just yet,” Sean repeated as he reached towards the bottles of sauces lined up between him and Beca. “I think we’ll just enhance a little bit, and what a sauce, by the way, to enhance on with than this one right here.” He looked at the small bottle and read the name on the label. “Dreams of Calypso.”
“Okay,” replied Beca as she discreetly blew her nose. Annoyed at how snotty she was becoming in response to the heat from the sauces.
“You know,” continued Sean as he placed the bottle back in its spot. “That’s only gonna take us higher.” He picked up the wing, though paused while looking at it.
Beca picked up the bottle Sean had just set down, and examined the label. She then gave him the famous Mitchell scowl as she replaced the bottle. “If you say so you son of a bitch.” This brought a chuckle from the host.
Doing a little body shake as she psyched herself up, Beca whispered under her breath, “Okay-okay.” She flexed her chest out and pushed her elbows back, as she prepared herself for the coming pain. She then reached down and picked up the next wing.
Dreams of Calypso - Scoville - Level 101,000
With an audible sigh, Beca took a good sized bit of the miniature chicken leg, and then rapidly took another before she had finished chewing the first bite. “I really don’t like that they taste good, at first,” observed Beca.
“Yeah like…”
“It’s almost like manipulative,” continued Beca over Sean’s injection. “You know?”
“Right,” said Sean excitedly. “They put a little pineapple in there; a little mango, so it’s like a little bit that’s…”
“But it’s really nice. Really really nice, and then I can get,” she paused just a breath, then continued, that it’s about to start hurting.” She pointed to the bottle. “You’re a bad person.” This got Sean chucking. “This mermaid is a really bad person,” Beca declared emphatically. “I know a real life Ariel, and you ma’am are no Chloe Beale!”
Knowing he has to return to script, Sean asked, “So, you’re known for your mashups, and love of music and you got your big break via A Cappella…”
Beca swept some loose hairs from her face as she made a slightly pained sound. “Huuuuuh-uh-huh.”
“Off the top of your head, and without thinking about it too much, can you recommend how someone could get into A Cappella, and be successful with it?”
“Hmmm-umm-first, really get into music. Listen to music, read music, and it goes without saying, but sing. Having a repertoire of music you can call upon. Learn what your voice range is; are you an alto, or soprano, can you hit bass, or do you have the ability to provide vocal percussions.
“Be comfortable with yourself, stage presence is huge. The Bellas had it in spades. My manager, Aubrey,” Beca pointed off-stage, “could command any room. And Emily, who took over as Captain of the Bellas, could light up a stage. Then there was Fat Amy…”
“Fat Amy?”
“Yeah-umm, she-uh called herself that, so that-umm twig bitches like me wouldn’t do it behind her back. Talk about presence. Amy demanded attention every time she took the stage. Even now, though she’s slimmed way down, she’s still a huge presence in life. Probably only second to Chloe…”
“Chloe?”
“Yeah, Chloe, she-uhh-demands attention from like everyone too, but-umm-in a-uh-and it’s not just the fiery red hair, or the incredibly blue eyes, or the dazzling smile that just cheers you up is it’s flashed your way. It’s everything about her. She’s just so warm and beautiful, and she’s just so cute you know, like sweet little sweet little Chloe Beale, just being so…” Beca paused, “ummm-okay…” she really began to feel the heat from the sauce. Under her breath she whispered, “Okay, Beca…” she seemed to lose focus, but then refocused on the host across the table. “I was racing through that…”
“Yeah, I saw that,” Sean said. “Saw that…”
“It just, ummm-and it just came to a screeching halt…” Beca sighed, “and that’s okay…” The petite brunette sighed again. “Feel free to cut that if it was too rambly. I have a tendency to ramble, so you can edit out any rambling I may have done.”
“Okay,” Sean said with a chuckle, as Beca continued to ramble on. Deciding it was a good time for the next question, the bald man just dove right in. “What are the perfect atmospheric conditions for a Riff-off?
Beca stopped her rambling answer and tried to focus on the question. It seemed to be a simple yet complex question all at the same time. “Ummm-uhh Riff-off…” suddenly Beca burst into giggling. She was grinning from ear to ear as she whispered to Sean. “I do feel kind of stoned…”
“Yeah,” Sean grinned back. “That’s what happens…” he tried to focus himself enough to keep the conversation going. “That’s what happens-that’s what I’m chasing.”
“Okay…” Beca squeaked in a high pitched voice that would mortify her later when she rewatched the taping. The young artist couldn’t stop laughing now, even as she tried to say, “I can feel it.”
Fighting through the uncontrollable laughter, Beca managed to say, “Okay, this is really…” another bout of giggling over took her as she tossed her head forward. “Interesting?” She broke into another fit of laughter, as if she had just said the funniest thing possible.
With the back of her fist pressed against her mouth, Beca tried unsuccessfully to take a deep breath. “Okay…” another giggle stopped her from continuing that thought. “…because…” Beca, always one to use her hands when speaking, was full on at this point. She pointed at Sean across the table. “You can tell that I’m stoned…” more giggling, “because I’m talking like in my headphones…” Again the tiny music star pitched herself forward in laughter. It’s a good 30 seconds before she can regain a modicum of composure. “Ummm-because I feel like I okay-I took a break from smoking weed for a good couple years, because smoking weed with Fat Amy is always a risky endeavor, and it was just starting to make me paranoid…” Memories of those moments with Amy made her giggle more. “Now that it’s like legal and regulated, and I live in California, I’ve umm-dipped my toe back in there; especially as Amy has brought some over, when we’re just chilling on the couch…”
“Right…”
“But, you know there’s still that like kind of paranoia…”
“That it’s going to tip back to illegality?” Sean offered.
“No,” Beca responded honestly. “That I’m getting high with Fat Amy.” Beca gave Sean an incredulous look. “Love her, but she’s a disaster waiting to happen on a good day.” She then focused on the sauces lined up before her. “Obviously I didn’t know that this method of getting buzzed was available to me.” She then scrunched her face. “I don’t care for the pain.” Beca gestured to her mouth, as she grimaced. “But this is fun…”
“The physiological effects…” Sean started.
“Yeah, yeah,” Beca quickly agreed. “This feels like really similar to like getting high with my old roommate, Fat Amy, when we were 20 and we were hiding it from Chloe. And how we would walk to the closest IHOP, and we’d have stoner obstacles.”
“Yeah, like an innocent giggly high…”
“Uh-huh.” Beca than flashed her best, most charming smile, and said, “This is great.” She then just laughed lightly.
Sensing the moment was right to circle back to his earlier inquiry, Sean asked, “What was the song about that you added to tie your whole album together?”
”Oh, Chloe, of course,” Beca answered automatically. “Of course she was the thread that tied it all together. When it all felt too much, she was my rock…” Beca seemed to lose focus for a moment. “She’s my everything…”
”Well-well,” was all that Sean could say.
Da Bomb Beyond Insanity - Scoville - Level 135,600
Beca let out a very audible sigh. “Oh-kay,.”
“It’s a bomb beyond insanity,” said Sean, as if he was reassuring the singer.
“Okay,” Beca whispered to herself again, then before she could chicken out, took a rather large bite from the next chicken wing. She thought she felt some of the sauce drip, and looked down at herself. “Did I get any on me?”
“No, you look great,” Sean assured her. “You’re good.”
“Good,” replied Beca, even as she continued to chew through the pain of this latest hot sauce.
“And this is where we might kind of blow the high,” explained Sean. The pain he was in, visible as his eyes began to glisten with tears.
“Well then it’s pretty rude that this wasn’t the end,” snarked Beca. She reached up and pushed the hair from her face. “I’m gonna be real careful about not touching my face.”
She gave the host a cold stare. “I really don't care for this…” she continued to chew at the food in her mouth, having to will herself to swallow.
“Nope, not at all,” Sean agreed.
“Yep-yeah…” Beca found herself holding onto the table for all she was worth.
“We got it,” Sean assured his guest. “Just need to be in a happy place…”
“But Chloe isn’t here…” Beca countered.
“Chloe?”
“She’s my happy place,” Beca explained, her voice soft and childlike. Then suddenly she was trying to clear her ears. “Wait! Why the ears? Why the ears Sean?”
“Uhh-ears? I don’t know about,” Sean said quickly. “Like are they like popping,?” He could see his guest working her mouth.
“Yeah.”
“Are they popping like an airplane kind of…”
“Yep,” replied Beca as she made a series of faces in an attempt to clear her ears. She gave him a hard stare. “Why?” Her voice full of accusation.
Sean actually leaned back in his chair. “That, I don’t…” He was at a loss for words. “I don’t know, that’s new…”
“That’s new?” Beca practically screeched.
“That’s new…” Sean realized the error in that answer. He tried to deflect. “No, no, no- we have a long long history of people having their ears pop…”
Beca fixed the bald man with an intense glare. “Don’t bullshit a bullshiter, Sean, you’re a bad liar!”
“Everybody comes back, everybody comes back down to earth,” Sean assured Beca. “Okay, we make it, we make it…”
“This feels like that scene in Aladdin,” Beca said as she fought through the pain
“Aladdin?”
“Yeah, you know, effin Aladdin, with the flying carpet, the big blue guy, and a fucking monkey-Aladdin Sean!”
“Oh, I know what Aladdin is, I’m just surprised you do,” Sean responded.
“My best friend is Chloe fricken Beale, of course I’ve seen Aladdin! I’ve seen every fricken Disney movie at least ten times!” Beca said in a voice that was just straining to become a shout.
“So Aladdin?” Sean asked to deflect.
It worked, Beca went back to her original thought. “Yeah Aladdin,” she paused and collected herself. “When the guy is like get on the magic carpet. He’s like you can trust me.” She gave Sean a sneer. “No Sean! I don’t fucking trust you anymore!”
“No, I understand,” Sean seemed to backpedal. “I get that, I get that.”
“Okay…”
“Alright?”
“You good?”
“I’m having so much fun,” Beca deadpanned.
“Yeah? You’re having a good time?”
“Yeah, you remember that bad attitude I was talking about?”
“Uh-oh! It’s coming?” Sean asked.
Beca responded with a deep sigh.
“I’m ready for it,” responded Sean with a bit of contrition, “and I deserve it. But you’re doing so well.”
Letting out a pained shout, Beca seriously asked, “What’s wrong with you dude?”
“I don’t know,” answered Sean, as Beca again gave her pain sound. “Ughhhhhh!”
“Do people do this without getting upset with you, dude?” Beca snarled.
Lifting his hands in seesaw gesture, the host replied. “It’s a range. It’s always kind of like an emotional roller coaster.”
“Okay…”
“You know, like sometimes you get like there’s like a little bit of like trauma bonding that happens. Sometimes it goes the opposite direction…”
“This is definitely leaning towards the opposite, dude,” Beca snarked.
“Sometimes I make lifelong friends…”
“Don’t expect that…” Beca interrupted.
“… doing the show,” Sean spoke over his guest.
“You know what…” Beca tried to say.
“It really is a range of emotions,” finished Sean.
“I’m literally trying to think of an experience in my life to compare this to…” Beca looked about the table as if lost. She truly felt like she was tripping.
Trying to be helpful, Sean suggested, “The kidney stones?”
“Not the fucking kidney stones, Sean!” Beca pushed back vehemently. “This is a whole fucking different level of pain.”
“Okay.” The host held up his hands In surrender.
“The only thing I can think of is when I got dared to try one of Fat Amy’s concoctions in our sophomore year,” said Beca. She seemed to be really struggling to remain coherent. “That night had been a complete blank to me,” Beca explained as she began to wave her arms. “But now I remember, just like now, things kind of coming in and out the room. Like things are disappearing and it’s just you and me.”
“Yeah.”
The look of fear on Beca’s face was real and true as she said, “So far you haven’t left yet…”
“Right,” Sean assured the young brunette. “I’m still here.”
“But, oh, whoa…” Beca had to grab the table to ground herself.
“Still connected, nobody else in the room,” Sean said.
“Nobody else,” Beca said in a strained voice. For her the shadows were engulfing the room, till it really was just Sean and her alone in a single pool of light.
“Nobody else…”
“Just you and me, Sean, and like a black abyss of pain.”
“It’s like the end of the wood set…” Sean started to ramble.
“Dude!?! What the actual Fuck!?!”
“You know…”
“No, I seriously the Fuck don’t, dude.”
“You know it’s like the Truman Show…”
“The Fuck is that!?!” Beca demanded.
“The Truman Show, where who knows where it ends…”
“I have literally no idea what you are talking about,” Beca huffed.
“It’s a movie…” Sean tried to explain.
“You obviously don’t know who you’re talking to then,” Beca snarked.
“Right, right…”
“Okay,” Beca huffed before taking a big gulp of water. Mentally she cursed because it didn’t seem to help.
“In a recent interview in Stylist UK, you talked about how eating macaroni and cheese is kind of post-award show ritual for you,” Sean steered the conversation back to the interview.
“Yeah,” Beca answered distractedly as she continued to work her mouth in an attempt to clear her ears. “Chloe would always make it for me in college. You know, if something good happened, or if I needed to be cheered up. It’s kind of my happy place, or like the exact fucking opposite of this!”
“What would you say is the most extravagant or expensive ensemble you’ve ever worn while just housing a box of Kraft cheese?”
“Oh, I mean-ummm-I think-ummm-probably the-the Met Gala, you feel like-ummm-maybe I’m actually really fancy. You know I was in a museum all night, and then you go home, and-ummm-you’re just eating mac and cheese, and yeah, to have that in the experience of the peak of masquerading as a kind of glossy facade of what you thought the pinnacle of Hollywood was. “It’s really beautiful, and it’s really eye-opening, but not eye-opening the way this is.” Beca rambled as she gestured towards the sauces between her and the bald man sitting opposite of her. This caused him to guffaw.
“This makes me want to die,” Beca admitted before she pitched forward with laughter. Sean could only join her laughter.
Taco Vibes Only Hot Sauce - Scoville - Level 638,000
“Sometimes when I’m in the studio, whether producing or singing,” Beca said to Sean after she tampered down her fit of giggling. “I am so cold.” She shook her head No with a very serious look. “And it’s not cold like discomfort, it’s cold like I’m suffering, and then I’m reacting, either to a producer asking me to sing, or flipped, where I’m asking an artist to sing.” The petite woman reached for a tissue, she needed to clear her nose, which had started running due to the heat of the spices she had been consuming.
Once she was done clearing her nose, she continued, “And when that happens, I have to just be fine.”
“Right,” Sean agreed.
“So give me a little countdown,” Beca instructed. “And say ‘Go’, okay?
“Okay.”
“And I’m really going to try to take it seriously,” Beca continued.
“Alright, okay,” Sean agreed. “10, 9, 8, 7…”
“I HATE ALL OF YOU!!!” Beca shouted at everyone on the set.
“4, 3, 2, 1..,”
“Okay,” Beca whispered to herself as she gathered her frayed wits.”
“…and go!”
Like a switch, Beca seemed to sit straighter. The pain was no longer showing in her features, and instead she even managed a good natured smirk. The petite musician seemed composed and in control, as she gently reached forward and selected a wing. Without hesitation she took a good sized bite out of the leg, and began to chew, all the while maintaining a serene countenance.
“Incredible,” breathed Sean.
“It’s pretty good,” Beca commented, with a slight nod to the sauce. She even managed a slight smile.
“Incredible…”
“What role did a little yellow cup play in your development as a musician?” Sean asked, though he really wasn’t sure why. This question had been fed to him by Beca’s manager.
“Oh Jesus!” The pain in Beca’s mouth was excruciating. Concentration was growing more difficult. She was fanning herself with both of her hands. “I had been, through a weird set of circumstances, I kind of was forced into auditioning for the Bellas, and of course I was late, and not prepared…” she had to pause and take a breath. The pain she was in, so clearly defined on her face. “I had to improvise,” she pointed at him, just to be doing something with her hand. “There was a yellow cup on the table that Aubrey and Chloe were sitting at, and I had an idea for a cool little rhythm and song skill I had picked up.” She tossed her head back, more pain evident in her face. “I impressed with the ‘Cup Song’ or my impressive display of cleavage I gave the girls…” Beca dropped her head, her hair flying forward, covering her face, hiding her agony. “And you know you-uh-okay-uh-you would think that-uh-umm-would be the end of it-uh-but Chloe kept the cup.” She rolled her head back and flipped her hair out of her face. “And I mean kept the cup. If I was to go into Chloe’s room today, I would find the cup. She and that cup have been my constants for the past decade.”
The woman paused, lost in thought for a second, and the pain actually seemed to recede from her features. She smiled as she said, “I have alway felt some type of way because of that.”
In a dramatic gesture, Sean made a show of picking up the last bottle in the row sitting before him. “Alright Beca Mitchell,” he said in a raised voice, as he began to shake the bottle.
“Ummm-what’s happening dude?” The momentary look of serenity was gone, and in its place was anguish as Beca asked, “What’s happening… Sean!?”
The Hot One’s Last Dare - The Apollo Hot Sauce - Scoville - Level TBA
“You don’t have to…”
“Yes I do! I’m Beca effin Mitchell!”
“Oh-okay,” Sean responded. “Then I won’t stop you.” From the side a stagehand appeared and placed a plate, and then poured some of the Apollo hot sauce for Beca to dip the last chicken wing in.
“Oh, okay,” Beca replied with a sigh. The petite woman then picked up the small chicken leg and began dabbling it into the sauce on the prepared plate before her. She made sure to get a good amount of sauce . “Does that look?” She held the wing towards Sean.
“That looks great,” Sean answered honestly. “Textbook.”
“Okay.” Resignation seemed to drip from her voice. She took a number of deep breaths, as she prepared herself for the self-harm she was about to do.
“Alright…” The host held up his chicken wing towards the petite musician. “Cheers Beca Mitchell.”
Beca held hers up, back towards Sean, in salute. “I’ll see you in Hell, dude.”
“I’ll see you in Hell,” the bald man responded.
Both took large bites of their respective chicken legs. Beca went a little crazy at that moment, not content with one bite, she took a second, then a third, then nibbled around the edges, before going for a fourth, even as she mumbled, “Oh God…”
“Oh-going all in…” commented Sean, as he had only taken one small bite of his own chicken leg.
“OH GOD! Hmmm-I bit it too fast! I think I some of it went in my face! Oh-God…” Beca was on the verge of a panic attack. “We’ll find out in a second,” she said in resignation as she looked towards the ceiling, all the while she continued to chew the chicken in her mouth.
“But you know the good news is Beca Mitchell,” said Sean as he watched the petite brunette take a big swig of milk. “We have slayed the hot sauce dragon as Viola Davis would say. Now there’s just one more hoop before we get you out of here.” The look on Beca’s face was one of deep concern. “Don’t worry, not gonna bust out the clutch…”
“Ahhhhh!” Beca let out a pained noise.
“… or play the Ante Up instrumental, but what I want to do is take you back through this journey, you know your love of music. It starts with this-this passion for taking songs and making them better, of combining two songs and creating something new. It then went to singing with other young women in college and creating music without instruments…”
“Yeah, we did it just with our mouths…” Beca interrupted. She was truly trying to remain in the moment, but the pain was on a level she could not comprehend.
“… and now becoming one of the most prolific artists and producers in recent memory.” Sean felt truly bad for the younger woman. She had been a real sport, but it was obvious that the sauces were taking a toll on her. Over the many seasons of this show, he had gained a level of tolerance, but the tiny brunette was like all of his guests, never fully prepared for the true nature of this heat. “But to close it out, my final question for you is; how has working in the music industry, how has it enhanced or detracted from the enjoyment you get out of music?”
“Whoa!” Beca’s eyes grew so round as she took in the question. “Oh God. I feel like…” Beca closed her eyes as she fought to find her words. “I feel like, first of all, I don’t know how you talk coherently during this.” She pushed her hair out of her face. “So my hats off to you, dude.”
“Umm-thank you…”
“But I think-ummm-one more lady like…” Beca reached over and pulled another tissue, and proceeded to blow her nose, and wiped away the snot that was threatening to drip from her nose. Setting aside the used tissue, Beca started again, “I think that when you first get into the industry, it’s kind of ruined for you, because you’re just thinking about like all the behind the scenes, and how the sausage gets made of it all. Now I feel like it’s-uh-it’s just sort of second nature like a running mix in the back of my head, and so when I am dealing with a really bad artist trying to get their crap song produced, it’s so much worse. Because it’s like I can see-like-why that is just not going to work, and why that choice is bad. And I can see why it would be so easy to just do this or that or whatever and make it better.
“And then when it’s good, where the lyrics and the rhythm are just so in sync, and like I’m just immersed in the music and it’s great. There’s a thing in the background of like, oh my God, like everyone from the artist, to the engineers, to the back up musicians just nailed it, and I kind of get this like bonus appreciation for all the work that went into this and made this thing.”
Tears formed in Beca’s eyes, and she again grabbed hold of the table to keep herself grounded. “And I’m gonna pretend that I’m just really emotional about it,” said the brunette as she fanned her face. “And that’s why I’m breathing heavily and sweating and…” she shook her head from side to side. “… maybe pass out.”
“I just love Chloe so much,” said Beca as she brought her focus back to the host.
“It’s all a-wait what?”
“I love music so much,” replied a perplexed Beca.
“You said Chloe,” Sean countered.
“Wha-Chlo?” Beca sat up. “Of course I love Chloe. She’s my happy place. You know when the sausage making of the music industry was getting me down, she kept me from losing perspective. Before anyone else thought I could succeed, Chlo saw my potential and supported me in every way she could. Of course I love Chloe, she’s beautiful in every way.”
“Wow! Wish I had more time to unpack that, but look at you Beca Mitchell, taking on the wings of death and living to tell the tale and now there’s nothing left to do but roll out the red carpet for you. This camera and this camera and this camera are all for you to let the people know what you have going on in your life.”
The camera focused on the brown haired singer with her beautiful storm blue eyes telling the story of her pain. She shook her head as she began to speak, “I don’t know, I’m falling apart. I need Chlo, because she puts me back together when I do. I’m finding myself, but I realize that when she’s not with me I’m never whole.”
Beca again took hold of the table and looked directly into the camera. “I’m finding myself, I’m becoming a new woman, someone I hope Chloe would want to be with. You know everyday is a new journey, and it’s one step at a time, but it’s always better to have someone by your side to take those steps, and there’s no one better to have at your side than Chloe effin Beale. I have an album out, but whatever man, listen to it, or don’t. Whatever. Do what makes you happy, that’s what I’m gonna do; which is why I’m going to do Chloe. Don’t do this,” she gestured to the sauces. “If you do this on the regular… I don’t know-ummm-my hats off.”
~~{Hot Ones}~~
On the giant flatscreen television, Beca’s face focused on the camera as the show’s credits ran on the bottom of the screen. “I love you all, but especially Chlo.”
Clapping can be heard from the people on set as Beca let loose another wail of pain, and then the YouTube video was paused so Beca’s visage was frozen on the screen, staring back at the camera.
Silence enveloped the living room. None of the Bellas dared even breathe. All eyes were on Beca, who sat frozen, her eyes as wide as they have ever been.
The silence was broken when Stacie quoted Beca out loud, “That’s why I’m gonna do Chloe.” She looked around the room and asked, “Did I hear that right?”
“Oh yeah! Bhloe time!” Announced Amy triumphantly. “Though can we trust anything Shortstack said, she got the name of her ‘Bestie’ wrong.”
”I can’t believe Beca used the term, ‘Bestie’,” added Flo.
”She’s Beca’s happy place,” said Ashley and Jessica simultaneously, in the same sing-song voice.
“No, seriously, did I just hear Beca Effin Mitchell declare to a national audience that she wants to quote un-quote,” the leggy brunette raised her hands to do the quote sign as she continued, “Do Chloe Beale?”
“Yes,” answered Ashley and Jessica simultaneously.
“I mean, I can understand it, I’ve wanted to do Chloe too,” said Stacie with a sly smirk.
“Who hasn’t wanted too?” asked Cynthia Rose, earning her a well placed elbow from Denise.
“What stopped ya Legs?” Amy asked as she kept an eye on Beca and Chloe who seemed frozen in the moment.
“Red was in love with someone else,” Stacie answered honestly.
The Bellas continue their chatter as Beca and Chloe sit frozen in place, for a few seconds, perhaps a few minutes, neither is sure. Beca felt like the world had stopped, her entire body stilled at the pain induced confession just broadcasted.… and now she felt numerous pairs of eyes focused on her.
Something about the conversation going on around them wakes Beca from her stupor, and realization settles in. At that point Beca’s mind starts racing, trying to make sense of what just happened.
Ever so slowly, Beca’s head rotated, like it was on a swivel, till she was focused on Chloe, who’s attention was still on the television screen, and the frozen image of Beca. The redhead’s eyes were as wide as Beca’s felt, while shining with a myriad of emotions that Beca couldn’t place.
The petite brunette’s heart began to beat faster and faster, till she was sure that everyone in the room could hear it. Beca forcibly schools her expression and briefly chastises herself for what she word vomited during the interview before before re-focusing onto the sight in front of her:
Chloe.
Her best friend.
In all her red haired glory.
Who is slowly turning her head, so that she is staring at Beca. Her heart now felt like it was going to thunder out of her chest. But then she was staring into Chloe’s eyes and her heart settled.
It would be easy to get lost in her crystal blue eyes, but Beca can’t help but notice a soft pink flush covering the redhead’s face. Chloe can’t hold Beca’s eye contact and looks down at her hands. Beca reaches out for her cheek, making Chloe look up at her, and smiles.
She again makes eye contact with the redhead, and is stunned by the look of hope that shines in Chloe’s watery blue eyes.
For a moment, the rest of the world falls away, and there’s no television with a frozen image of Beca, no Bellas discussing a BeChloe relationship or Bhloe as Amy keeps asserting…
It’s just Beca and Chloe.
Like it has always been Beca and Chloe since they first met.
The silence between the two stretches, as neither woman seems ready to break the moment. Both remain focused on the other. Both just want to hold onto this moment or as long as possible while they still can, both worried at what could come next. Neither has ever been one for taking chances when it comes to their feelings for the other.
At a certain point though, Beca feels she needs to explain herself, to make this right. They can’t pretend the interview never happened. They can’t pretend that Beca didn’t declare she had deep seated feelings for her best friend. She opened her mouth to start her apology…
“You love me?”
Beca closed her mouth with a snap of her teeth, as Chloe voiced her question. She doesn’t respond, so the redhead repeated, “Beca, you love me?”
“Ummm-uhh…” Beca’s at a loss for words.
“Beca,” Chloe whispers. “Do you love me?”
“Yeah.”
Chloe beams and Beca feels the press of warmth in her chest as it radiates throughout her body. Beca has never been one for taking chances – but she sees the way Chloe is looking at her, with such warmth and reverence, like Beca is something truly precious to her; so the brunette took a deep breath, and let herself lean towards her best friend..
It takes a second for the petite musician to realize that the redhead is leaning closer too. They’re super close now, Chloe’s lips just centimeters from Beca’s. The redhead lets her eyes close, her expression expectant. This brings a soft smile to Beca’s lips as she lets her own eyes close – and presses her lips to Chloe’s, in a quick first kiss. It’s over too soon - in a second - and the brunette finds herself feeling shy when she leans back, but she wanted to ensure that she hadn’t overstepped.
Chloe’s face is angelic, a beautiful contentment, punctuated by a soft smile that radiates blissful warmth. Without thinking Beca’s fingers raise up and lightly brush Chloe’s cheeks as they travel to and through her red locks. Then Beca leans in again as she gently guides Chloe ever so slowly to her own lip and the two kiss again.
This kiss is slow and sensual, and Beca feels the euphoric joy she had just witnessed from Chloe erupt within her own chest, and it makes her smile into her kiss. The two kiss for a long period, it stay soft and gentle, languid, there’s no urge to make it more. Again it remains just Beca and Chloe together in their moment.
When they do finally break apart, Beca and Chloe continue to lean forward, their foreheads touching. They both stare into the other’s eyes, soft with adoration and love, brightened by gentle smiles full of joy.
“I love you too, Beca.”
Warmth and giddy happiness blossomed within Beca.
“OH YEAH! BHLOE IS REAL!”
Beca and Chloe startled at the interruption and slowly looked over at the grinning faces of their old Bellas teammates. Everyone of them smiling from ear-to-ear, save for Aubrey, who just had a knowing smirk.
“Like I said, it would be life altering.”
The End