Chapter 10

Beca laid back on Cynthia Rose's couch, kicking her shoes off and stretching out her legs.

"Ugh, practice has me wiped." She muttered, dragging her hand over her forehead. She could still feel the dull throb of her headache. She heard Cynthia Rose's snort from across the room.

"That's not the only thing that's got you wiped." Beca sat up quickly, feeling her head rush, and her vision swim at the sudden movement.

"What?" She asked groggily, wondering if her friend could hear her loud heartbeat. The other girl rolled her shoulders, her back to Beca as she pulled open a dresser drawer.

"Here." Grateful for her somewhat ok reflexes, she caught the small compact mirror thrown at her. She flipped it open, knowing well what her friend meant, but decided to not make a show of it.

"If you're trying to tell me that my makeup sucks, just say it outright." She tried to make light of the situation, mostly trying to ignore the rising panic in the pit of her stomach. She knew she should have put some concealer on, but decided against it due to the risk of sweating it off. All of the other girls had probably noticed too then. Cynthia Rose turned, rolling her eyes, before crossing the room and pulling the mirror out of Beca's hand. She angled it towards the other girl's neck, and Beca could tell she was holding in a loud sigh. She felt her face flame as she looked at the mark, still transfixed by the vivid color against her pale-ass skin. More like, how it had actually gotten there. And of course, she was completely unable to shut up.

"It wasn't Jesse." Was tumbling from her semi-bruised lips before she could stop them. Her friend just raised a silent eyebrow, waiting for Beca to explain herself. She really wanted to talk about the events of last night, especially the later half, but was absolutely petrified at the thought.

"Jesse was a bit of an ass, so I went to a….friend's hotel, y'know to talk about it, but she had alcohol and it was a bit, well, strong." She fidgeted on the couch, regrettably grateful she'd sat up before this interrogation began. Truthfully, it was more of a one-sided interrogation, as Cynthia Rose wasn't pressing for any information.

"And we kinda...made out a little, and then slept together." The words hung in the air, and Beca could feel her heart trying to beat out of her chest. Half of her desperately wanted to take the words back, but she was somewhat relieved that the truth was out.

"Is that who you've been sneaking off to see? Like during practices and stuff?" Her tone wasn't in any way accusing, sounding more curious than anything, but Beca still felt extremely guilty.

"Uh, yeah." She nervously glanced around the room, fully expecting Chloe to burst into the room and yell at her for lying to them. She was definitely not looking forward to coming out to them. She froze the second the thought hit her. She wasn't gay. She knew that much. Cynthia Rose, oblivious to her inner turmoil, shrugged.

"Secret's safe with me." She hesitated only a second before voicing her questions aloud.

"Am I gay?" The words tumbled out of her mouth without her permission, and even to her ears it sounded like a stranger's voice. Her friend snorted.

"Why are you asking me?" Beca looked down at her hands, fidgeting.

"Well, I, uh," She stumbled over her words, not wanting to upset the friend she'd just come out to. Come out to. The words echoed around her mind, sounding strangely foreign to her. Cynthia Rose rolled her eyes, sighed, and looked down at her friend.

"Beca, look, I get you've got something going on or whatever the hell's happening to you, but just cause I'm gay, doesn't make me the sexuality expert."

The small brunette felt her face flush as she muttered out a weak sounding, "Sorry." Cynthia Rose lifted a shoulder in a shrug.

"You better sneak off while Chloe's mind is on planning our next practice." The other girl turned away from her, walking back over to her dresser.

"For what?" Beca asked stupidly. Her friend sighed loudly, and Beca knew -even without seeing her- that she was rolling her eyes.

"I don't wanna offend you, but, if you're too stupid to figure it out, you definitely shouldn't be in a relationship." Beca felt her face flush again.

"Right. Yeah. I'm an idiot." She stood quickly, pulling on her shoes as she headed to the door. She grabbed the handle and was out in the hallway when she heard Cynthia Rose call for her. She poked her head back in the door, now semi-impatient to leave.

"Don't worry bout figuring all this stuff out. It takes time." Beca smiled slightly.

"Thanks, Cynthia Rose." She muttered quietly, starting to pull the door closed.

"Hey!" Beca stifled a sigh and opened the door, again.

"Hmm?"

"Text me if you need any advice. For anything." She said with a sly grin. Beca flushed again, this time not hesitating to slam the door and run down the stairwell onto the street.