Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Before Beca knows it spring has hit in full swing, and Chloe hands her a card stock invitation. It’s covered in swirls and pink, and has white coloured cursive across the front. “What is this?” Beca asks, struggling to open up the letter.

“Open it!” Chloe squeals, leaning over the island.

It's a heavy cursive written invite, Beca squints and tries to connect the letters she can remember from writing it as a child. It’s a week from then, and the bar is a place she’d never heard of before. 

There’s a little note at the bottom, obviously written by Chloe and it seems like it was only written for her card. But she can’t prove that. 

'You’ve been so sweet to me, even if I know you try to seem like you’re so serious behind the dark makeup. But you're really such a softie and that’s one of the reasons why I have loved you as my roommate. (And the fact you clean my cup I know it’s you. You can’t gaslight me anymore) I can't be hypocritical about birthdays, saying I'd celebrate yours without you coming to mine.’

Beca bites the inside of her cheek, but she knows she’s blushing, can feel it and see it in the way Chloe smiles at her.

"I know you’re a little young to come to a bar, but it’s my birthday and I want you there.” She says, “It would be weird without you.”

Beca rolls her eyes wholeheartedly, letting out a dramatic sigh like she’s contemplating it. “I have a fake, it's fine. I’ll be there.”

“Yeah?” Crystal blue eyes are wide with excitement and shimmer under their faded kitchen lights. 

Beca nods with a genuine smile, slipping the invitation into her back pocket and she forces her face to stay stoic. “Still serious though, deeply serious.”

Chloe chuckles at her expression. “Serious with your fake id?” She asks teasingly and sets down her bowl of food onto the table. “When did you even get one of those?”

Beca shrugs. “Like a month ago, I thought I’d need it at some point but I can just take your stuff.”

Chloe raises her eyebrow, grabbing out a mug from her cupboard. Not the frog mug. “Is that why my vodka keeps disappearing?”

“I think that’s your fault.” Beca points to her, and watches her pour a glass of wine. “I’m not drinking that stuff.”

"Yeah? Are you sure about that?”

Beca gives a coy shrug, taking the bottle from her hands after she finishes pouring and dumps a bit into her glass. Chloe scoffs, trying to grab it back the second its gone but Beca pours her share before it’s too late. She quickly takes a drink, acting like she’ll finish it all in one sip but they both know better.

“I can’t believe you just did that.”

Beca shrugs, taking another sip that would more commonly be referred to as a gulp with how much she accidentally drinks. Chloe at the same time ‘rounds the corner and runs her fingers down her sides in an effort to tickle her. Beca laughs, then coughs, and inhales what was left in her mouth. Wine dribbles onto her chin before she can stop it.

“Oh my god, Beca.” Chloe laughs stupefied, quickly moving grabbing a paper towel.

Beca wheezes, and laughs at the same time. “Why would you tickle me mid drink?!” She holds a hand under her chin trying to stop the runoff from hitting and dying her clothes red.

“Not me fault you held it in your mouth, you should know how to swallow!” Chloe retorts, dabbing the paper towel along the dibbles falling down her pale arms. They pat upward, and onto her hands then onto her face. Chloe’s hands are firm as they hold her chin, the paper towel is a little aggressive, but Beca is too distracted in that moment to focus on the redness it rubs into her cheeks.

Chloe’s eyes bore into her own, and it forces Beca to look everywhere else. They watch her face, she can feel it and how the parts of her brain almost strain to not take a glance.

“There you go.” Chloe whispers into the air between, stepping back just a inch. Keeping them so close. So close she can almost see the pink on Chloe’s cheeks. From her blush? Or how she is blushing now?

“Thanks.” Beca says back, awkwardly moving her lips around and the stickiness follows. “Is there still some on my chin?”

Chloe looks downward away from her eyes for first time since she walked over and hums. Beca makes the mistake of looking at Chloe as she licks her thumb, and not as she rubs at her chin to get it off. “Nope, you're all good.”

Beca nods, immediately turning to take the finishing last of her drink.

It wasn’t a big thing at the start of their friendship for Beca to think she admired Chloe. Not like she had never had a crush on someone before, she knew the tail tell signs but there was no way they were coming on this quick with her rainbow sunshine roommate.

The differences in what Chloe was like, compared to other crushes was everything. The only similarity being age wise, which put her at in weird position at the end of the day no matter who she had a crush on. Like that one senior who was in her art elective and was the only one who talked to little freshman her. And was absolutely stunning (like Chloe).

Maybe she was just into people taller than her. That’s not weird.

But with Chloe. Chloe who will tease her whenever she gets the chance, and is the touchiest person she’s ever met, and the absolute sweetest heart of gold who always comforts her on the worst days. It makes Beca feels like she's always a second away from hitting a land mine and turning into a bright red mess.

And it was never admiring (well maybe at the beginning). Beca just has a fat crush on her roommate and it’s all because of the first night she cleaned that stupid frog mug.

Beca lays on her stomach across her bed, scrolling across her Tumblr page when she hears Chloe’s heels clicking across their apartment and her door open. She makes the mistake of looking up at a Chloe who towers over her with a wide smile.

“How do I look?” She asks, and steps backward so Beca can see it. She’s wearing a maroon coloured spaghetti strap dress, silk at the top and more of a scratchy fabric toward the end with little flowers entails, and a black leather jacket covering her shoulder. It sits just above her ankles, where a pair of high heeled Mary Jane’s sits on her feet with fluffy white socks.

Beca opens her mouth, then closes it to swallow. Woah, “Is this for tonight?”

Chloe nods, spinning around in a circle. “I have to come back and grab it. Do you like it?”A nervous smile makes it way into her face, and she tugs at the material to stop it from bunching up.

“It’s gorgeous Chloe. You look gorgeous.” Beca says, and she’s awestruck by just how much she means it.

“Are you sure?” Uncertainty fizzles into her speech, and she shakes her hands like they’re covered in water. “It's my second year concert and I don’t want to get yelled at for the modesty or whatever.”

“Everything is covered Chloe, I can't see any part of you that they’d yell for. Unless you’re ankles.”

Chloe frowns, grabbing her foot and pulling up the sock at her shin.

Beca chuckles, “I’m joking Chloe, you’re fine. It looks fine and modest and godly."

Chloe sighs, nodding. “Yeah okay. Thank you. And I'm probably going to curl my hair, if I have time.”

“You're making me jealous I can’t see any of this.” Beca pouts, exasperated and it brings out a smile in Chloe’s unsure demeanor.

“I'll send you pictures.” She winks.

Beca gets the pictures around four pm, when she’s still stuck trying to help Sammy put together a beat. Somehow being shoved up the latter from burrito handler to ‘girl who knows something’.

Chloe

picture

‘What do you think?’

It's the same outfit as earlier, but Chloe has her strawberry blonde hair half up in a messy type bun, with the extra hair cascading in waves around her shoulders. The makeup is minimal but glittery, and it dusts not only her eyelids but her cheekbones.

In that moment Beca thinks is the first time she really acknowledged how gorgeous Chloe actually is. Not like she hadn’t thought about it before, but all her mind was filled with was this Chloe and how beautiful she was and how she couldn’t be there to see it in person.

Beca

‘You're stunning.’

‘oh my god.’

Beca has the urge to skip work at that very second and take the first train home just to see Chloe like that. She swallows around the urge to type that out.

Chloe

‘Tongue tied?”

Beca

‘Just a little’

‘You look amazing Chloe’

Beca feels herself flustered at her lack of words, setting her phone down quickly. Unlucky for her Chloe immediately messages back.

Chloe

‘im missing out on flustered beca this is the worst :(’

Beca

‘Not flustered.’

Chloe

‘I don't know Bec’s, seems like you are’

‘That’s okay, I know what I look like’

Beca

‘Your big ego is the reason I’m not.’

Chloe

‘you wound me’

Beca chuckles to herself, shoving her phone into her pocket to continue what she left unfinished. They’re called into the conference room an hour later, and the second Beca makes eye contact with Jesse she knows its gong to be a long meeting.

It starts with the report on the musician coming in, and how much different wings contributed. The energy was low for this one, since the musician was not only new and upcoming but a snob nepo baby who believed the world revolved around him.

And it continues into the small project they were all designated for a new client. Which only half the building had finished. Sammy was none to pleased and vocally described that, but Beca really wasn’t paying much attention after she felt the buzz in her pocket.

Chloe

‘I should've worn a longer dress or pants, its freezing in this church.’

‘Too bad you couldn't make it, its so pretty in here :(’

Beca bites her lip to stop the smile from spreading over her face, holding her phone between folded legs so Sammy won’t catch on.

Beca

‘I wish I wasn't forced to be in this meeting or id be there’

‘I can’t stand listening to Sammy yell past six.’

‘Maybe I can make it up to you?"‘

Absolutely no one is taking Sammy seriously, and it just makes him louder like it will work (it doesn’t).

“I told you guys, this was due last week! What doesn’t make sense to you!” He yells, sunglasses bobbing on his bald head.

Jesse is sitting in front of her, hand over his mouth like he’s rubbing the miniature stubble but it’s actually to keep himself from laughing.

Chloe

‘Maybe some wine and you finishing Sex and the City season four with me.’

Beca

‘Fine with me, as long as I get wine.’

A phone rings from the other room, and it pauses the entire yelling debacle. Sammy sighs loudly, rubbing his eyes then putting his finger out to tell the entire room to pause. “Give me five, and I need someone to tell me why they didn’t have any new ideas.”

He walks off quickly, his shoes squeaking on the floor before the door slams shut. Jesse disperse into giggle they're contagious and soon enough Beca is leaning into him. Laughing into his shoulder as they both attempt to to cover their mouths but it still catches a few eyes.

“We should get out of here.” Jesse whispers, leaning backward against Beca. “You’re finishing the idea, and I have concepts of an idea. We’re doing really well.”

Beca raises an eyebrow, “Concepts of a plan?”

Jesse shrugs her off. “It’s written out, basically in motion.”

A hum. “You think we can make it out?”

He shrugs. “You never know if we don’t try—”

Sammy walks back in, lips pursed and he clicks his tongue before speaking. His brown shoulder bag hitting the side of his hip. “You’re all free to go, Jeremiah is closing up I have to leave to go to a concert for my kid.” He gives a wide fake smile, arms out wide in the air before walking off toward the door.

"Well, that was easy.” Jesse laughs.

The quickly exit the building and road around them smells like dew. The sun is just now going down, with spring forward just hitting and the survival of her first ‘New York winter’. Chloe said it was an accomplishment.

Jesse stands closer than usual, occasionally bumping into her side and Beca just laughs shoving him off her shoulder. He decides to follow her toward the station once again, and stands with her as she waits for the train. The subway station is less populated after after rush hour being over with.

“You have a computer that allows you to play DVDs right?”

Beca nods, tapping her foot against the floor. She had sent Chloe a message she was coming home, and that she hoped the concert went well. But there was no response.

“Well I thinkkkk today is the night I force you to watch the breakfast club. After you have put it off repeatedly.”

Beca shakes her head, “Absolutely not.”

“Why?!” Jesse whines loudly, and she almost expects for him to stop his feet after the display

“If anything we’re gonna go home and watch cable like normal people.”

Jesse groans. “Cable is boring, who even watches Cable?”

“Me? My roommate? Normal people?” Beca scoffs, “Go home and watch your DVDs then.”

Jesse pouts, and Beca thinks it was supposed to be cute but it kind of icks her out. The train starts to tumble down the tracks, she can hear it coming toward the station and she lets out a sigh of relief. Jesse though, mistaken it as a sigh of relinquishment, pounds his fist in the air like hes won a carnival game.

“Lets go to your house!” He grins, grabbing her hand to pull her onto the subway.

Chloe had left her bedroom light on, brightening up the living room as they walked in. It smelled heavy of Chloe’s perfume in the walk way, sweet but not at the same time. Like the scent of a flower after pollinated.

Jesse walks into the living room, eyes looking around at the little bits of decor around their apartment. “Is this all your roommates stuff?”

“Some I hung up, but yeah.” Her hand runs over the candle collection slash book shelf outside of Chloe’s room that Beca cluttered with house plants they had found shopping at Trader Joe's. The walls are filled with different types of pictures, framed areas downtown, Chicago, and Georgia where Chloe mentioned going to school before switching to NYU. Beca had added a tapestry to the far wall above the TV, the McLovin meme that she had gotten in sophomore year.

“This kinda reminds me of a girl frat house.” Jesse says, laughing at the wall. Both sides by the tapestry also have small bookshelves, the windows shinning though the slats and books resting there. One side Chloe claims and has decorated and the other side is for whatever roommate stakes their claim. Jesse plops down on the couch in search of the remote.

“You mean a sorority?” Beca replies, confused, and grabs the remote from the TV stand where they always kept it. She turns it on, then moves to turn on the lamp that sits on the far side of their living room. The light bulb inside meant to resemble stained glass, and it created a glow of a mix of colors in the space between them.

“No like, if a frat house was run by girls, and kept a lot more clean.” Jesse dashes through the channels, not carrying to look whatsoever playing. She seems split seconds of shows she’d wanna watch, but the second passes and they're already four channels ahead.

Beca frowns, looking around at the decor as she moves to turn on the light near the TV. The bulb inside is supposed to replicate the colors of stained glass, and it created kaleidoscope on the wall. “What are you talking about?”

“I don’t know.” Jesse smiles, endearingly. “Show time?”

Beca just nods, sliding into the couch. She pulls her phone out of her pocket and sees no other messages from Chloe, which is a little odd because she knows the concert is over and she’s probably on the subway now.

And Chloe loves to message when she’s on the subway.

Jesse puts on an episode of Seinfeld, — the one show that Beca hates with a passion from being forced to watch it with her dad growing up — it’s the episode where Elaine laughs uncontrollably during a piano recital when Jerry puts a Tweety Bird Pez dispenser on her leg. He laughs a little too loud at every joke, and Beca tries to follow along but loses track every time she asks a question and Jesse has to pause the TV to answer.

But she laughs when he laughs, because he is a good person. Beca wants friends. She can’t be picky with her option.

Jesse is a cool guy. He’s smart and funny sometimes, he makes her laugh when she needs too have a good laugh but he can also be a little much than she can handle. Like under the bright colors of the thrifted lamp they're all a little too much. She feels this type of sick, like she has lived this before and knows how it's going to end.

He’s boisterous and open very much so where she's quiet and reserved. A wall he cannot climb but attempts to scale without proper equipment. When that doesn’t work he tries to break it open, but Beca steps back too soon. He sees the good in people, and as much as Beca loves that she's just waiting for him to realize that he’ll find nothing in her.

Because she isn’t that good of a person. Especially not for Jesse.

Beca is brought out of her thoughts when she hears the front door open, and Chloe walks in. Heels clicking. Momentarily she’s awestruck seeing her in the outfit she had seen her in only twelve hours earlier, covered in makeup and curls.

Jesse laughs at something on TV and Chloe’s head shoots up and the relaxed smile that always sticks to her face falls. She makes eye contact with Beca and Beca tries to convey the apologetic feeling but Chloe isn’t having it. She quickly walks to her room and lets the door echo shut behind her.

“What’s her problem?” Jesse mumbles, head turned to stare at Beca for an answer.

Beca shrugs, staring at Chloe’s shut door for a second afterwards before turning back around. Jesse is still turned towards her, and she gives him a smile.“Can we watch anything else?”

Jesse frowns. “Not a Seinfeld person?”

“I rather visit a gyno… or relive high school.” Beca mutters.

“High school wasn't so bad!”

“Says you dude! You definitely had all the girlfriends, not a sport type but you were like that indie boy girls wanted. I… did not like it there.” Beca circles Jesse's face with her hand in the air as she mentions 'Indie boys’.

“Poor Beca.” Jesse frowns, patting her head and Beca immediately shoves him away. “I mean I had a girlfriend, but I was like a big geek. I spent like every day in the film room.”

“My point proven.”

Jesse scoffs a laugh. “And what were you doing Ms. emo DJ? Stuck in choir?”

“Ew no, I hated Choir, and I'm not emo. I was just like, I don’t know probably high or ignoring people.” Beca shrugs.

“But you were in band?” Jesse grins, and when Beca shakes her head she knows he doesn’t believe her.

Beca sighs. “In Middle school yeah. For a little bit.”

“Aha!” Jesse yells and Beca rolls her eyes, grabbing the remote out of his hand. She turns on a episode of Girls, and Jesse leaves after an episode is over. Beca waves goodbye at the door and Jesse smiles before turning toward the stairs. She lets out a sigh once he's gone.

She walks back to turn off the TV and stands in front of Chloe’s door momentarily. Wondering if she should knock and ask what’s wrong but decides against it. Instead she turns around and moves towards the kitchen to do what she does almost every night.

Beca cleans out Chloe’s mug thoroughly, and sets it on the rack to dry. A quiet message of love that Beca can only hope helps Chloe's mood.

When she changes out of her work clothes and lays under her blankets she wonders what Chloe is doing, what she is thinking in her room. Is it about her? Did something happen during her concert? Beca lean her chin against the window sill above her head, staring out at the fire escape.

She looks at the clock, seeing that it’s half past midnight and she needs to be up in six hours from now. She sighs heavily, falling back into her bed.

Chloe hopefully won't be mad at her tomorrow. That is all she hopes for.

And boy, was she wrong.

When she wakes the next morning Beca sits up, and watches Chloe move around the kitchen through the crack in her door. Rounding the island, and pulling her mug off the drying rack. She smiles at it but it’s not as wide, and the shimmy is less enthusiastic than normal before she pours a good two tablespoons of instant coffee into it.

Beca decides to forgo her usual schedule and walk into the kitchen in her pj's. The old band shirt falls off her shoulder and baggy checkered pajama pants drag against the floor. She slinks in behind Chloe, putting toast in the toaster and setting butter out on the counter.

Chloe moves toward the stove and Beca moves out of the way, leaning back against the fridge. “Did the concert go well… last night?” She asks, and finnicks with her fingers, looking down at them as she peels the paint on them.

Chloe hums flatly. “Mostly. Did you have fun with your friend?”

Beca raises her eyebrow questioningly. “Jesse? I mean I guess.”

Chloe hums again, high and questioning, and she clicks her tongue. “You didn’t have to lie to my face, you could've just said you were going out with your boyfriend instead of wanting to come.”

“What?” Beca laughs incredulously, thinking it’s a joke. Chloe turns around, arms crossed and eyes squinted like Aubrey when she’s angry and it makes Beca sweat. Beca clears her throat. “First of all I didn’t lie, I did get off work late and the concert had already been going for forty five minutes and second Jesse isn’t my boyfriend.”

Chloe eyes trail up and down Beca with skepticism, and Beca gulps. “You can have a boyfriend Beca, I'm not judging I’m just saying you don’t need to lie.”

“I'm not even lying! We're friend. I don't understand why you’re wanting to lie and say we’re not just that.” She raises her voice, and then immediately lowers it because being upset this early isn't what she planned.

“Because I can hear you guys talking! I did see how he had looked at you, I’ve see you guys while walking home from work! You’re holding hands—” Chloe yells loudly, her voice getting squeaky at the pitch it's hitting.

“That was like once!” Beca yells.

“— you can just tell Beca!”

Beca’s toast pops up behind her and she grabs it and puts it on a plate. “I am out of here. You don’t believe me so there is nothing I can say to convince you.”

Chloe lets out a loud scoff, pushing off the stove to follow her until she leaves the bounds of the kitchen. “You're just going to walk away then? Yeah that's gonna work Beca.”

“I don't understand why you're so upset over this?! I’m being truthful here, I have no boyfriend and could not make it but I wish I could have! How many more times can I reverberate that?!” Beca loudly exclaims, and she feels her cheeks turning pink.

Chloe’s face of anger falters momentarily, and an emotion falls across her face that Beca cannot read. “Whatever.”

“Chloe, what is wrong?”

“It's whatever Beca. I get it.” Chloe mumbles, turning around and back to the stove.

Beca stares at her, hoping she had just woke up in a nightmare. She swallows the sadness that lingers when she walks out the door and Chloe just stares at her. No usual goodbye, or flirty pretend kiss.

She tries to stay friendly with Jesse throughout the day but seeing him reminds her of the fight she had early that morning and makes her sulk.

Chloe had never reacted like that before, and Beca is overall just confused about why that was even a reaction to begin with. How Chloe had gone from screaming to just fully out of it and acting like she wasn’t affected when she obviously was, makes Beca rethink every word she had yelled.

Her stomach twists when she remembers she’ll see Chloe on the train with Aubrey and they’ll both angry. She groans internally, and let’s her head fall into her arms on her desk.

Jesse and Beca are both forced to actually finish work, so she doesn’t see Jesse until they both walk out together. Thankfully he doesn’t follow her to the subway station and she waves to him before walking down the steps. It is basically empty when she gets down the steps, and Beca sighs sadly knowing she just missed her train. She sits on the nearest bench and unpauses her headphones in, waiting for the music to start up.

Out of the corner of her eye she sees bright blonde hair walking toward the track, and through the lyrics she can barely hear the recognizable voice echoing. Beca closes her eyes and leans into her hands, hoping it will make her invisible.

And it does… momentarily. The wind from the train buzzes through the station and Beca moves onto a different door than usual, not trying to get into anything else with Chloe for the time being. When the next stop comes, Beca sees Chloe get off the train early with Aubrey and Beca walks back to their apartment alone and confused.

The awkwardness in the air doesn’t dissipate like she had thought, every time they stood near each other it felt as if the air was thick with words left unsaid. Beca attempted to be her best self, but Chloe just never spoke. Just bright eyes lingering on Beca’s every movements around the kitchen, or in the living room like she was looking for a missing piece in her mind puzzle.

Sometimes Chloe would follow her onto the couch and watch an episode of ‘Girls’ with her, but wouldn’t talk or interrupt like usual. The silence was uncanny and sickening to stay in for too long.

But with the unsettling aura was also the upcoming excitement Chloe couldn’t help but show as her birthday came around the corner. Beca nor Chloe had fought since that morning, but that didn’t stop Beca’s nerves from spiking when Chloe did try to talk with her. Her heart would jump into her throat and she would have to pause to think over the fear of saying the wrong thing.

She’d sputter or stutter at questions, eyes wide when Chloe stared down at her awaiting an answer about balloons or food to bring.

Slowly they became civil over the topic of the party, and if Chloe did try to mention anything about that morning Beca would shrug it off. She never did learn how to deal with uncomfortable topics like confrontation, and Chloe made it easy for her to walk away.

But Beca knew it wasn’t totally fair, she could tell Chloe was antsy to apologize the second she had screwed her head back on right. Beca just didn’t want to deal with having to talk. Didn’t want questions about Jesse or any of her feelings for anyone because she was already confused enough.

Instead of sitting around the apartment all day in worry about Chloe’s party and how it will be. Beca goes out and buys a gift for Chloe. She stands in the lipstick isle staring at Chloe’s favorite brand and wonders which shade Chloe would think she’d look better in.

She settles on ‘0-7 Push the Limit’ a pinkish orange color after twenty minutes of standing, it’s close to one she already has. Beca also grabs a magazine that mentions Taylor Swift, Imogen Heap, and Oh Wonder, and a bag of Chloe’s favorite chocolate.

She also throws in a gift card after wondering that it won’t be enough.

It’s wrapped up in a pink and white striped bag, Beca signs her name on the in slip to make sure no one else takes credit for her hard earned spent cash. A small card is set on the side of the bag, and Beca rereads her message fifteen times before finally wetting it shut.

All that is left is to find an outfit that is club birthday attire. Which is the hardest part because Beca hasn’t bought a new outfit in months and her closet is mainly all high school attire. The fanciest thing she has was the dress she wore for graduation, and that is not bar attire.

She tries on a handful of different clothes from over the years, emptying out her whole closet into the floor. Half way through attempting to button a darker navy top that doesn't button past her low boob Chloe knocks and opens the door without warning.

Beca stands there, wide eyed. Chloe stares back, looking her up and down before she clears her throat. “We got uh, sushi if you want some?”

Beca wraps her arms around her upper half. ‘Were’ usually means Aubrey is sitting on her side of note couch eating her chips. “Uh, it’s okay. I’m okay.”

Chloe raises her eyebrows. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah yeah, I don't wanna get in the way of your early birthday celebration. It’s fine.” She means that in the least rude way possible, but it comes out as such.

“Becs, I'm inviting you out here to get in the way because we’re friends.” Chloe’s voice is soft and gentle, reminding her of a teachers voice. Beca doesn’t reply, but nods and looks down at the floor.

A heavy sigh echos, Chloe steps into her room and leans against the door to close it. “I'm sorry about last week. I was an asshole and you didn't deserve that. I was overly stressed, and upset.” Bright blue eyes dart around the room, following the mess on the floor. “And I believe you and I'd get it if you were trying to keep it secret—”

“Which I'm not." Beca huffs, removing her arms from around to chest to keep attempting to button it.

Chloe nods. “Okay,” She steps further into the room and more into Beca’s personal space than she expected. Her hands cover Beca's and she grabs the buttons to help.

“I just wanted to say sorry, I was upset about the concert, and… that doesn't justify yelling at you or being a complete jerk without rhyme or reason.” Chloe smiles, soft around the edges and insanely close to her face. Beca takes the apology with grace, but still feels like something is missing within it. Not like she needs more to the apology, but the smile doesn't full reach her eyes.

Chloe continues to try to button the shirt but gives up after she fails twice. She runs her hands down the front of the cotton shirt to flatten it out. “Just leave it like that.”

Beca looks downward at the older lacy black bra becoming its own shirt under the button up, then back up at Chloe. “Is it not too much?”

“Not for tomorrow, unless you're going out tonight?”

Beca shakes her head, looking toward the pile on the floor. “Just seeing what works.”

“Well as the birthday girl I like this and I have all the say.” Chloe winks, and grabs her hand. “Come out and eat with me because I got extra chicken karaage.”

Beca smiles meekly. “For me?”

“Duh.” Chloe tugs on her hand toward the door but Beca stays put because she is not leaving her room to see Aubrey with her boobs out. Chloe looks back confused.

Beca awkwardly shakes her head. “I have to change first, dude.”

“Oh right.” Chloe lets go out of her hand, apologizing and cheeks flushing before walking out quickly.

Beca chuckles, and catches herself smiling at Chloe’s goofiness then shakes her head. “Keep yourself together Beca, god.”

Aubrey smiles at her when she walks out, which Beca thinks is the first time she’s ever seen her look genuinely happy. Maybe Chloe told her to be nice, or maybe it was the mix of drinks in a glass beside her hand, and glass of wine on the table. Because Beca also doesn’t think she’s ever seen Aubrey tipsy. For someone who is a huge tight ass to friends with Chloe, who loves to get her ‘get her drink on’. It kinda surprises her.

Beca sits on the other side of Chloe, taking pieces of fried chicken and following along to the episode on screen. It’s a re-play of ‘Sex and the City’ season 3 where Carrie’s younger partner at the time is ‘a bisexual’ and she worries too much about it (like she usually does).

“I don't understand why Carrie is so worried about this, she’s acting like he’s polyamorous and it’s a disease.” Beca huffs, grabbing the beer bottle off the table.

“I once dated a bisexual dude and he cheated on me. So I’m with her.” Aubrey sighs sadly.

Chloe cackles, and shoves her shoulder. “Aubs, he was literally gay that dude was not bisexual.”

“He told me he was! He said ‘im bi’! Don’t bring me to gay bars anymore everyone confuses me.” She pouts and leans her head into the redheads shoulder. Chloe pats her head sympathetically.

“Just talk with the woman then, there will be plenty tomorrow.” She says with a smile and Aubrey bemoans, letting her head fall onto the back of the couch.

Beca cough on the sip of just foam. “We’re going to a gay bar?” She asks, and her words come out more incredulously than she had intended.

“Did you not look up where were going?” Chloe questions, and Aubrey raises her eyebrows at her when Beca sputters.

“Of course we’re going to a gay bar. It’s Chloe Beale’s birthday. She wouldn’t be anywhere else.” Aubrey shoves Chloe’s shoulder affectionately and Chloe just smiles meekly.

Beca nods slowly, taking another sip of the bottle to stop the everlasting tingle in her throat.

The episode moves on but Beca gives the redhead glances from time to time, wondering if she should just outright ask if Chloe is gay or pace around the subject until she gets an answer close enough. It would be a little odd, since she should've gotten the hint by now.

But she’d never told Chloe her sexuality (of questioning the line between bisexual and lesbian) so it makes sense. Was it obvious she was gay? Was it obvious Chloe was gay? Did Chloe know she was really gay before Beca even really figured out herself? She had been questioning for a good two years.

Jesse threw her for a loop but after a week she had thought long and hard and knew he was not for her.

Beca chews on her thumb nail, attempting to piece the mind map together in her head. Chloe had always been flirty, but that’s just who Beca thought she was. Chloe, who was overly nice, an awesome cook and very flirty.

She recalls all the ‘flirty’ moments with Chloe in small flashbacks, and can only remember how worked up she was herself. Distantly she remember Chloe flushes during the wine fiasco, but that could be her imagination playing tricks on her brain. Then she remembers Chloe asking for pictures of her overly exposed cleavage and how she had caught Chloe staring right at it in the kitchen.

She really should've put more thought in that.

Beca rearranges herself on the couch, moving from sitting on one leg to the other and moving herself so she sits a little further back. Giving her the ability to zone out and stare at Chloe from behind, which sounds creepy and maybe Beca’s leering of the freckles on her shoulder is a little odd.

“Beca?”

Beca jumps, the bottle in her hand that is also wedged between her thigh falls sideways but it’s somehow empty. Did she do that? “Sorry, what?”

“Do you want the last of the chicken?” Chloe asks, towering over her and holding two empty plastic containers and two empty wine glasses.

Beca looks down at the chicken, then raises her head to look back at Chloe. Chloe has this glint to her eyes that makes Beca swallows harshly and look away quickly. “Oh uh, yeah sure.”

She waits for Chloe to walk away before picking up the container and having the last bit. Slowly, she chews on the cold fried chicken and tries to push past the waves of thoughts and anxiety hitting her.

“Bye Beca, see you tomorrow!” Aubrey yells from the door, and Beca waves back swallowing when she realizes just how close the event actually is.

Beca is absolutely not nervous.

Because Beca doesn’t do nervous.

Beca is not sitting on the subway, leg bouncing and hand tapping against a party bag that she doesn’t even know if she should bring. Checking her phone every five minutes to make sure she is a little early, and not going to miss it and make sure it hasn’t randomly moved to the other side of the city.

She looks down at her outfit for the twentieth time, wondering if her shirt is as Chloe liked yesterday or if her low rise black jeans are not showing her entire ass. The only pair of pants that actually went with the shirt, and her own vibe. She twirls the little bits of hair that come down to frame her face, the stay back in a braided updo that Beca only did for special occasions.

The train stops, and Beca quickly gets off. Boot heels clicking against the concrete floor as she moves up the steps and follows the directions Chloe had sent her. Maps was just not loading fast enough for her. She tries to move as quickly as her legs can take her, but the last time she had worn the boots on her feet was two months ago during a participially heavy rain pour and hadn’t touched or tries to break them in since.

The sun is setting across the skyline in view, hues of bright orange and pink float into the sky and it reminds Beca of Chloe. Chloe’s hair and personality and smile, and Beca’s heart jumps into her throat at the sudden spur of images of just Chloe fall into her mind. One of her only best friends she had made in the city, and she flushes just thinking about her.

Beca takes a deep breath, or a few deep breaths because the first one doesn't do anything and turns the corner into the block that should have said bar. And too her luck it is the first thing she sees. A few people crowd outside of it, smoking and chatting and Beca excuses herself past them to move toward the door. One of the woman gives her momentary smirk, but Beca had moved inside to quickly to even respond facially.

The bouncer is an older butch woman, she stares her down the second Beca’s fake id is in her hand and Beca feels sweat collect on her neck. She gives her awkward smile, praying to whatever being in the sky will get her through and toward Chloe. It would be so embarrassing to be turned away from her good friends birthday party.

“You’re good.” Beca is handed her card back, and she lets out a stuttering sigh.

The first thing she sees is how crowded it is, especially for six pm on a Sunday. She moves through the crowd toward the other end of the hall where there are extra rooms seemingly. There is a table toward the wall covered in a pink sheer sheet, then around corner of the first room there is another table.

Beca stares at both of them, moving the gift in her hand between her fingers. The sheer pink one makes the most sense, but at the same time the last thing she would want to do is get Chloe’s gift mixed with another person.

“Beca!”

Beca’s head turns and she forgets to breathe. Chloe is wearing a light brown low cut halter top, low enough she can see freckles falling against the divets of skin without being covered by the silver pendant necklace falling over them. The pink sheer fabric skirt falls low around her hips and looks like it was supposed to be longer but was either hemmed or pulled up to just sit below the thigh. A gold belt hangs around it, and jingles as she walks.

Chloe’s arm wraps around her, pulling her into a hug and giggling with glee. She smells like liquor and sweet perfume. “I have never seen this kinda Beca before, I like it.” She grins, grabbing the gift out of her hand and setting it on the table behind her.

“Uh, thanks?” Beca chuckles sheepishly, feeling her cheeks warm up. They’re so close she can see the individual colors of Chloe’s eyeshadow; pinks and oranges and dark brown. And the colors blended into Chloe’s lips, all different types of reds and oranges.

Chloe smiles, eyes dipping down toward her lips before moving back up without another thought. “You want anything? I'm gonna get you something.” Chloe pats her shoulder before walking toward the bar. Beca pauses momentarily swallowing her heart from her throat before turning and following.

She doesn't hear what Chloe gets for her, but takes it when handed because she cannot deny the birthday girl. It would just be rude. It smells sweet before it hits the back of her throat and she swallows down the reaction she was going to have.

“Good?”

Beca nod with an ever-growing smile.

Chloe grins, “Awes.” She grabs her hand, and intertwines their fingers. “Come with me, I'm gonna introduce you to some people.”

“You really don't have to do that.” Beca rushes to say, but Chloe doesn’t hear her as she is pulled from the bar and weaved through the main area of people she was trying to ignore earlier. 

They stop short at the other end of the bar, two faces she doesn’t recognize stand next to each other talking. The taller one pauses when Chloe comes into sight and squeals. She quickly gets up to hug her her, “Birthday girl!”

“Hi Stace, you look gorgeous.” Chloe grins, patting her arm. Stace is a good half a head above Chloe, and when she turns toward Beca she towers her. She hears her mutter a thank you about the compliment and sees Chloe give her a wink.

“Stacie, Fat Amy. This is Beca.” Chloe smiles, using her hands to point to each person she mentions.

“Hey, we’ve heard about you! Taller than I thought.” Fat Amy comments, looking her up and down. Stacie smirks, looking between herself and the redhead next to her.

“This is Beca?”

Chloe nods and doesn’t play into the mischievousness of her tone. “Yep! I am going to go check cake situation, you guys talk for a bit.” She pats Beca on the back, letting her hand linger as she walks away. Beca bites back a shiver at the feeling, smiling at her as she walks away.

“So you're the new roommate we've been told so much about?” Stacie asks, pulling up a stool and sliding it into Beca’s hands.

“Good things hopefully?” Beca laughs nervously, setting herself upward.

Stacie beams and nods yes before calling over the bartender for another drink and handing it to her. “Are you in college?”

“No uh, I got an internship to work for a label right out of high school so that’s kinda what I have been doing. But I'll probably do some courses for a doctorate.” Beca takes the drink, sipping it methodically. It’s sharp against her taste buds, and she isn’t fully sure she knows what it is but for now it will get her tipsy enough to stop the nerves.

“You’re the most tame roommate Chloe has ever had.” Fat Amy says, eyeing her up and down. “Like the last one tried to bite me.”

“I don’t do that.” Beca smiles awkwardly.

“Only if asked?” Stacie smirks and when Beca turns a bright shade of red she laughs. "I'm not gonna ask don't worry.”

Beca chuckles awkwardly, eyes darting around the bar as to not have to talk anymore. They filter around the crowd back to red hair that she recognizes and who is happily chatting all smiles with this Blondie across the bar. She stares, trying to grasp any facial features or develop mind reading abilities so she can know what they're talking about.

Stacie hums behind her. “Stalker much.”

Beca turns her head back, stunned and caught then shakes her head and stutters an excuse. Stacie laughs, seemingly finding the most fun in teasing her. “That’s Brittany, the blonde. She went to school with Chloe and I think they had a fling. Not really sure.”

“They’re chummy.” Fat Amy adds, “But not usually like that.”

Stacie shrugs. “Chloe’s been drinking since she got here. She’s gonna be chummy all night.” She sighs. “You know that right, Beca?”

“That she’s… chummy? Yeah, I mean I guess.” Beca shrugs, recalling the more than chummy moments shed had with the redhead.

“At least Tom isn’t here, thank god.” Fat Amy exhales, “What a bomb tickler he was.”

Beca pauses to think of where she remembers that name from. “Why, what happened?”

Stacie groans. “Oh god yeah. Did Chloe never mention? He was super jealous of literally anyone near her last year and had a fit when she talked to the dude at the bar who was literally the owner. It was just made it a horrible time. Gladly not this year.”

Beca cringes, “That sounds awful, I only knew that he broke up with her over text.” Her eyes get antsy and fall back toward Chloe to see if she still with the blonde, but the spot she was standing is now occupied by someone else. Neither of them in sight. Her stomach flips, and she swallows down the unneeded wonder for where they went.

“He was such a douche, I knew he’d do something like that.” Stacie scoffs. “I told her to stick to woman.”

“Well, she is now obviously. Look where we are!” Fat Amy laughs. “Your gay, she’s gay, I’m like the only person not gay!”

That brings Beca back to the conversation and her eyes bulge out of her head a little. “Who said I was gay?”

Fat Amy chuckles, tipping her glass toward her as she talks. “You don't need to tell us, it’s obvious.”

Beca looks down at herself, forehead pulled together in confusion. Stacie lets out a ‘pssh’ sound, knocking Fat Amy shoulder hard enough for the laughing to stop. “Don’t stress about it, it’s a compliment and we'll keep it a secret.”

“Wouldn’t Chloe wanna kn-” Fat Amy is cut when the table shakes and her face pinches together. Stacie beams at her, and mutters something at Fat Amy that has her swallowing the words in her throat.

“Ignore her… but since you’re in a gay club others are gonna assume so just don’t flirt with too many randoms.” Stacie nods toward the people around them.

“Okay, yea I wasn’t going to…” Beca smiles awkwardly, eying the people around them. “Uhm, it was nice to meet you guys.” Beca tries to put on her best face, taking some cash out of her back pocket and leaving it near her drink before she turns and walks back off into the crowd.

She couldn’t be rude and let them pay, but with every second she spends walking away from that counter she wishes she could take that money because that was for her dinner within the weekend. Beca let’s out a huff, and instead of turning back toward the crowd she makes a exit toward the outside balcony.

The chatter dies down the second she steps out of the door, and a sigh falls out of her. She leans back against the wall, taking in breaths and wrestling with whether peeling the paint on her nails would look tacky.

A group of older woman, the few by the door that she saw earlier all stand talking quietly on the other side of the fence. The one she had seen earlier looks over at her, grinning once again. Beca smiles back, politely, pulling her phone out of her pocket. Jesse had sent her a surmountable of texts, all of which she skims but leaves to reply to later.

Instead she slips the phone back in her pocket, and looks up to see one of the woman walking toward her. Beca stares, watching the smirked etched on her face as she leans against the same wall next to her, and blows smoke into the air.

“Hi, honey.”

Beca stares momentarily, confused. The smell of smoke — nothing she hates because she’s had her fair share taking in the fumes over the years — is too close and strong and it makes her nose tingle. She rubs at her nose quickly, and clears her throat. “Uhm, hi.”

“You looked a little stressed,” She points out the obvious, her voice raspy. “Need something to take the edge off?”

Beca looks down at her outstretched hand, cigarette extended toward her between painted fingers and the bangles on her wrist jingling. She doesn’t really know what made her take it, she was always told as a kid to never take things from strangers, that’s kinda of a given. But if she was told to pick the best demographic of strangers to take thins from it would have to be older gay woman at a gay bar. Seems pretty safe.

She nods, taking a drag and exhaling slowly. Leaning her head back against the wall.

“You’re a professional!” The older woman smiles widely, gently knocking her shoulder. “Can’t have any more girls coughing up expensive shit.”

Beca chuckles, smiling and taking another drag before handing it back. “A while since I smoked but I still got it.”

“New here?” She asks, covering her lips of the paper casting that Beca had stained with lipstick. “I’ve never seen you around this place and I’ve been going here since the 90’s.”

“I moved here like, eight months ago per my fathers request.” Beca sighs.

“And you’ve never been over here?”

Beca looks down, sheepish and begins to ramble. “I mean. I thought— I didn’t believe I liked other woman. I knew I did, I just kind of believed it would pass or something? Then like, I moved here and just saw how welcoming it is, to be out, and since like junior year I hadn’t really given it more thought. It was more of an insult where I was from. But then I moved in with this like freakishly gorgeous girl, and like I’m here for her birthday party and I think I like her— Or no. I do like her and I don’t know what to do?!” She hisses the last part, looking around to see if anyone else caught her meltdown.

The older woman gives her this sympathetic yet stern look, handing her back the cigarette. “You need this more than I do.” She pulls another out of her red-pink purse around her shoulder, and lights it. “Well, we know she’s gay, since she’s here.”

“Which I just learned.” Beca mumbles before exhaling. “I don't really know how I missed it, like I feel so stupid now that I know!”

“Is she a femme?” The woman asks, eyebrow raised.

“I don’t even know her sexuality, I just know she’s into everyone here but me.” She whines, face knit together as she shoves it into her open hand. She feels a soft hand on her shoulder, comforting and something she leans into. Then hears her name called out. Her eyes shift toward the door of the balcony, and suddenly Chloe is walking over to her.

“Beca?”

“Chloe! Hi.” She smiles awkwardly, feeling the affects of the smoke hitting her in full swing. Crystal blue eyes look her up and down, wide eyed and curious and her nose is squished together.

“I’ve been looking for you, I wanted to start ordering rounds.” Chloe gets close, very close and wraps an arm around her torso. Beca leans into her.

“I was just talking with uh…” She looks over at the other woman, realizing she had never caught her name.

“Martha.” Martha smiles.

“Martha, this very beautiful woman and she offered me a smoke.” Beca points to her with the hand that holds the cigarette, and she can sees Chloe eyeing it skeptically. “And Martha, this is my roommate Chloe.”

Martha’s eyes widen, and then she smirks and gives her a wink. “Well then, I'll be off. I’ll catch you later, perhaps.” She smiles before walking off.

Chloe watches her leave, then lets go of her torso and Beca falls back against the wall, the fake brick scratching her back. They stand their together momentarily, just staring at the smoke nips down the bud bit by bit.

“I didn't know that you smoked.” Chloe’s voice is a little curious, maybe a little disgusted, but she wets her lips regardless,

Beca takes another drag, and flicking off the ash at the end. “In like high school, little bit. More like weed but this works too.” She tilts her head, watching Chloe’s eyes go distant while she stares at Beca’s hand. There’s a certain shift in the energy, and the air suddenly feels heavy with electricity between them.

“You know that’s not healthy for you.” Chloe’s voice is a little rough as she speaks, then she clears her throat. “I hope you know that.”=

Beca hums thoughtfully, looking down at the thing in her hand and the stain of her lipstick on the paper. Chloe also takes interest in it, and her attention falls more toward her lips after that. It makes Beca’s stomach swirl with butterflies and she tries to swallow the down before they release themselves.

Smoke clouding around her vision, and with the bliss of each hit she feels her smile widens. She exhales out to the side. Not to blow it into Chloe’s face, and the leering look in her eyes becomes less of disgust and more titillation.

“So I'm saying… you should stop.” Chloe is just a little bossy too, one thing she always forgets because she rarely ever is 'in the need’ for something to be on plan. But when she is, Beca is keen to see more, wants to pull out more of that side out of her and see just how bossy she can actually get.

“Are you saying this as the birthday girl or as my roommate?” Beca asks, and giggles when Chloe gives her a look. Scrunching up her nose, and shaking her head while biting back a smile.

“Whatever has you listening sooner.” Chloe crosses her arms over her chest, her expression besotted as she bites on her lip.

Beca hums again, smirking at the look crossing on Chloe’s face when Beca holds it up toward her lips, dampening her own lips. “Make me.”

The blueness in her eyes darken, and her mouth stands open momentarily. Her jaw tightens, she can see it strain as she looks the other way. Flushing up her chest and they both know it’s not because of the heat. Beca chuckles lowly at Chloe, pushing herself off the wall.

“Not too concerned, I see.”

Chloe’s eyes flicker back toward her, and at how close they stand Chloe stands a few inches above her. Beca can smell the alcohol on her breath as she leans in ever closer. The distance between them disappearing by the second. “I’m the birthday girl, so what I say goes. Put the cigarette out, before I do it for you.”

Beca chuckles, amused with Chloe’s sudden demand. “I’d like to see that.” She husks.

Chloe gives her a once over look then grabs her jeweled wrist with one hand, and pulls the cigarette out with the other. Beca stands shellshocked until she is pulled toward the door, and Chloe sticks the bud into the ash tray. She weaves through the crowd, and Beca barely has time to fully understand what happened when they end up back at the bar. Near where Chloe and that blonde who’s name she can’t remember sat.

Beca grimaces at the thought, looking down at the stool next to her.

Chloe shoves a shot into her had. A mischievous smile on her face, and a hand lingering on her arm. Beca blinks at her, a flood of molasses covering over her brain muddling all the signals that were supposed to help her.

“To me,” Chloe smiles with pride, lifting her drink into the air. Beca chuckles, nodding and clinking their glasses together and swinging it back. Chloe shakes her head violently, cheering. “We’re doing more of those.”

“Now?”

Chloe smiles, leaning into her. “Would you be opposed to that Ms Mitchell?”

Beca actually takes a second to think. She’s not one to be cross faded, the last time she had been it ended terribly and she was permanently on the floor of her friends bathroom, and slept for two days straight afterward. But with the way Chloe is looking at her, she can’t say no. “I don’t think so,” She replies, sounding questioning in her answer and Chloe laughs.

It makes her stomach flip, and she squirms at the jitters that run up her spine when Chloe grabs her hand.

“We’re getting the everyone because its party time!”

Beca is then surrounded by a bunch of tall woman in the span of minutes. She was barely under the average limit for height at nineteen and that was usual no problem, but everyone seemed to be a good half head taller than her. She recognized Aubrey, who smiled at her when Chloe had dragged her to find everyone, saying something about her outfit and Beca just said ‘thank you’ no matter hearing it or not.

Stacie and Fat Amy stayed where they were and for some reason that's area Chloe dragged everyone towards, both wearing similar smirking facial expression when Beca sat back down to just even out the height different between everyone. Aubrey ordered a round of shots for Chloe, and there were cheers all around from unrecognizable faces.

A newer friend she hadn’t met was Cynthia Rose, and that is the woman she got along with the most. She had the same raspy voice as the woman outside, and was very kind — if not a little too kind. She found herself playing into her flirts, laughing a little more and easing into a more comfortable mood. They both shared music as a profession, Cynthia working as a DJ and talking about getting Beca into gigs (if she’d want that).

Which of course she would??

Another round came and went, and Beca was staring to feel the affect of everything. She steadied herself against the stood and counter behind her back, still laughing with Cynthia and now Stacie who seemed to be good friends with one another. They shared stories about Chloe and them in collage, and included her in asking about her own memories.

“We’ve all got to go out sometime, I know this amazing sushi restaurant, it’s got all type of different crazy rolls.” Stacie says, pulling something up on her phone.

“My friend he mentioned that place. He’s got like a discount there.” Beca mentions offhandedly with a smile, and Stacie's eyebrows raise. She lets out a hum.

“That’s a very common first date place.” She replies, not looking up. “Watch out for New York men B, they're scary species.”

Beca laughs, then covers her mouth to stop herself. “Sorry. I don't like him like that. It’s not that kinda friendship.”

Cynthia laughs too. “I do not think B is the type to be going after those kinda men Stace, she has self respect.” Cynthia wraps an arm around Becas shoulder, pulling her into her side tightly momentarily.

Beca rolls her eyes. “I mean he’s decent. I wouldn't mind I guess. He’s too dorky and not my type.”

“And what is your type?”

Beca shrugs. “Uhh.” She pauses, stopping herself from saying the first thing on her mind which is a defining feature of Chloe’s. Stacie is very eager for information, so much so that Beca is suspicious of where it is going after she says it. “You know, taller ish, I guess. I don’t really have too much of a type, I just hope their personality is good.”

Stacie hums, eyeing her. “And that is?”

"Compassionate, probably extroverted, uhh… bubbly?” Those contributions to a wise range of people… right?

Stacie hums happily. Cynthia Rose adds a new story into the silence, and Beca tries her best to ignore Stacie’s eyes for the rest of the conversation. The lights from the outside dims, and the bar becomes bright lights of the rainbow depending where you're sitting. Beca migrates under the orange and pink light, the alcohol flowing through her veins in ways shes never experienced before, making her lose track of how many shes actually had. Between two and four? She wants to think that's correct. '

Chloe had walked around to everyone, the rounds the birthday girl has to do before walking back toward the group of them in the corner. Cynthia Rose has followed Beca on the giggly train, they lean against each other laughing while Stacie waves over Chloe.

“Should it be cake time?” Chloe asks, eyeing the two of them.

“Yes please. I can’t stand these two anymore.” Stacie sighs feigning agitation but wiping away the tears of laugher she was experiencing herself.

Chloe leans behind Beca, her breath hitting right against her ear making her squirm. “Looks like you guys are having fun.” Beca stumbles, but Chloe holds a hand on her waist, keeping her standing.

“You got to bring this girl ‘round more often, Chlo. I love her!” Cynthia Rose laughs, holding herself up against Stacie.

“I would love cake.” Beca grins, leaning backward into her. “And we get to sing for you.” She pokes Chloe’s nose, and Chloe smiles moving her hand down and holding her waist.

“You just want to sing cause your both good at it.” Stacie scoffs.

“You bet.“ Cynthia Rose points at her, and they both bursts into laughs. Her head turned into Chloe's hair and Beca is immediately surrounded by her favorite smell in the world. Chloe’s perfume and Chloe’s shampoo.

She feels Chloe’s shoulders shaking, and then Stacie’s voice. “She’s so gone, didn’t know she was so light weight.”

“I am not light weight.” Beca turns her head to look at Stacie, still giggling. She pushes herself off the seat, pointing toward her. “I barely had anything, just smoked a little more than I had in while.” She shows the amount with her fingers, leaving an inch of space.

“Oh well, I see now.” Stacie deadpans, and Chloe giggles.

“Aubrey got the cake!” Cynthia Rose yells, and points at the blonde moving toward them, candle lights flicking. Chloe’s eyes light up, and Beca moves to step away so she isn’t in the video taking the spotlight but Chloe only lets her get so far. Her hand slipping from around her waist to intertwining their hands.

The melody to ‘Happy birthday’ starts up, and Chloe face softens. The smile is so gentle Beca squeezes the hand surrounded in her own holding herself back from reaching out and pulling her in for a kiss. Bright blue eyes turn shades of burnt oranges when the light gets closer and Beca feels her heart speed up just looking at her.

Seeing how insanely gorgeous Chloe is under candle light.

The ending verse is loudly off-tune, and then cheers erupt around the entire bar as Chloe blows out the candles. Her eyes shift toward Beca, who is smiling wider than she thinks she ever has in her life. Aubrey moves the cake over toward the counter and Chloe tugs her hand to follow.

Aubrey gives her the knife to slice her first piece of double chocolate cake like they’re at a wedding. “Can’t forget tradition.” Aubrey says, and Chloe grins. Lights flash as she takes the slice, and sets it on a paper plate.

Beca stands beside her, waiting for a piece of her own to appear when suddenly she feels a sticky heavy glob on her cheek. She reaches to see what it is and turns only to see Chloe giggling, a finger right near her face.

“Whoops.” She giggles, sucking on the finger that was covered in frosting.

Beca feels the sudden movement like a sensation that she can’t get enough of, rolling through her lower stomach. Her eyes stick to the grinning, glossy eyed look of her roommate sucking on her pointer and she has to force herself to look away.

Beca grabs a napkin, wiping her finger and cheek and excusing herself for the bathroom. She stumbles on her feet when the door is harder to open than it needs to be. Hitting the faucet she runs her hands under it and makes eye contact with herself in the mirror.

It’s a little blurry, but she can see her smudged eyeliner and flushed cheeks. It would be embarrassing — no it isembarrassing —how red they are, but she had also done the same to Chloe so she wonders how much that equals out her meter of flirted to being flirted with.

She knew there was a crush there, Chloe’s hot and she's amazing but Beca has never felt herself ever being this sexually attracted to someone. Especially not a best friend that shouldn't anything more than an inside crush.

Taking some cold water from the faucet she wets a paper towel and haphazardly pats it under her neck. Hoping to cool her down. The water drips around her collar, making her frown at her attempts to sweat less when it really looks like she sweat through her shirt. She waits a few minutes for it to dry, hoping no one is too worried about her run off.

Once the color has started to lighten in the mirror Beca sighs, running her hands through her hair to hopefully keep the frizz down when she walks back outside. The drinks have definitely hit her, she feels her balance disappear under her every few seconds making her grip the counter top.

“Beca? You okay?”

Somehow, she is always found by Chloe, her arms are crossed and her forehead furrowed.

“Yea I’m— I’m just cooling down.” Beca says quickly, words slurring together. She leans against the counter, her hand fanning herself. “I’m really hot, and little tired. But this is awesome. Best happy birthday party I’ve been too, and I haven’t been to many.”

Chloe laughs, walking closer into her personal space. “Do you wanna head home soon?”

Beca feels herself just heat up again at Chloe’s hand on her shoulder with concerned. She shimmies her shoulders, beginning to walk toward the door. “No no, we got to finish partying. I’m okay, are you okay?”

“I’m aca-awesome.” The redhead smiles brightly.

Beca snorts, then covers her hand as she laughs at her, “You’re what?”

“Aca-awesome? You know, I was an a Capella singer in collage. Music straight from the source.”

“Yikes,” Beca replies without thought, but Chloe doesn’t take notice to how disgusted she sounds, just shrugs.

“Don’t knock it till you tried it. Maybe I can get everyone to bring up an old tune.” Chloe says, pulling open the bathroom door for Beca to walk out with her.

“In here?” Beca turns back, and the look on her face must show how appalled she looks because Chloe giggles.

“Maybe, maybe not.” She shrugs, and wraps an arm around the brunettes shoulders, pulling her close as they walk back toward the table. Beca leans her head against Chloe’s, sighing at the comfort of how they fit into each other.

“Are you sure you're not ready to head home, I can call an uber?” Chloe asks, head turned slightly to look at her,

“I am a-okay Beale, also I’d bus. Ubers are expensive.”

“But you’re also very drunk, and very tiny. I don’t want you on the train this late.” Chloe states, smiling and patting her opposite shoulder.

Beca rolls her eyes, stepping her heel on Chloe's’ toe. (Gently—for the record)

“Ow! No need to resort to violence!” Chloe yelps, kicking her leg and Beca just giggles into her shoulder.

“Hey lovebirds, there is a slice there if you want it!” Stacie yells when their it insight, holding it up.

Chloe lets out a shocked scoff, just loud enough for both of them to hear and Beca flushes at the name. It makes her feel a little giddy, to at least have others see the chemistry between them.

“Do you want the slice? I know you didn't have one.” Chloe asks, and Beca shrugs automatically.

“If the birthday girl doesn’t want it, I won’t object I suppose.” She replies, and then laughs at her horrible British accent reply.

Chloe laughs as well, grabbing the cake out of Stacie’s hand and handing it over to Beca who she positions at the end of the bar against these wall. She stands near her, while Stacie sits in the seat next to her.

Beca enjoys listening to the conversation their having, it moves between topics so quickly she can’t keep up. Something about Stacie’s ex, something about Chloe and work, then the mention of someone new in Chloe’s life.

“Anyone lucky enough to bring home tonight Ms Birthday girl?” Aubrey asks, winking.

Chloe rolls her eyes exasperatedly. “No, fresh out.”

“Not the blonde chick?” Fat Amy adds, and Beca watches her eye some random dude across the bar that dressed like Kurt Hummel.

Chloe shakes her head. “Nope, left with that masc brunette who was serving drinks earlier.” A clusters of sympathetic ‘oohs’ echo around and Chloe is quick to continue speaking. “But there wasn’t anything there anyways!”

“You were all over her like… three hours ago.” Fat Amy raises her eyebrows.

“Bored.” She shrugs, “and I can't leave with anyone, I have to get Beca home.”

Stacie nods.“Right, to get Beca home.” She winks — dramatizing it like innuendo. “Makes total sense.”

Chloe tries to shove her, but she stumbles when Stacie moves quickly out of the way and the two burst into loud laughter. Aubrey reaches out to balance the redhead but she misses Aubrey’s hand by a long shot, barely biting the floor. Chloe snorts, trying not to die of laughter causing the other two to follow.

“I think you both need to go home. You're worst than CR.” Fat Amy chides, and Beca snickers.

“You cannot be laughing.” Chloe shoots back, pointing at her between giggles and it's not funny like at all but Beca laughs like is the funniest thing in the world. Dropping her plastic fork into the plate.

“You’re all so stupid.” Aubrey takes a breath in, trying not to cause another laughing fit among any of the drunk woman around her. “Maybe it’s time we end the night.”

“Boo.” Chloe pouts, reaching for the drink in Fat Amy’s hand to take a sip then immediately exclaiming before giving it back. Glaring .

“It’s only eleven.” Stacie adds, sulking.

“Because it’s Beca’s bed time.” Fat Amy laughs, poking her shoulder.

“What, no?!” Beca pouts.

“See, she's crabby.” Fat Amy snickers, poking her shoulder again and Beca smacks it away.

“Leave it alone, Amy.” Aubrey hushes Fat Amy lets out a disgruntled noise, and walks back toward the bar.

Chloe walks toward her, a little less stumbly on her feet and reaches out her had to bring her down. Beca smiles and takes it, jumping down just fine and letting Chloe drag her wherever.

“Cake packed.” Aubrey hands over a black plastic bag, the cake heavy at the bottom and a few other bags insides. “With presents.”

“Oo.” Chloe’s eyes widen. “There’s so many, oh my god.”

Stacie’s saunters back over toward the redhead, arms wide for a hug. “Uber called to you, I'll be there in the morning.”

Chloe grins, squeezing around Stacie’s torso with her face shoved into her shoulder. “You really don't need to, but thanks”

Stacie shrugs, placing a kiss on her forehead. Beca raises an eyebrow, arms crossed over her chest. Chloe moves to hug Aubrey, and they enclose around each other like siblings that have been apart for years. She waves to Fat Amy at the bar, and Fat Amy wishes her luck on something she can't hear but has everyone giggling and Chloe looking flushed.

“Glad to meet you, kid.” Stacie smirks, knocking Beca shoulder and pulling something of her pocket to place in her hands.

Beca deadpans. “Thanks,” and looks down at the cash shoved into her hand. Beca frowns. “This supposed to be for the drink?”

Stacie cups the hand with her own. “You can't have much cash. You work at an internship in New York City, and live with my best friend. So keep it, tabs are covered anyway.”

She nods because there’s no use in turning away her meal ticket. “Okay, thanks.”

Stacie leans down to her height, standing just inches away and she smirks as she stares at her. “It takes twenty minute to get home so use your time wisely.”

Beca raises her eyebrow, confused and drunk enough her bran isn't fully working right. Then it clicks and she looks away bashfully and flushed making Stacie laugh.

“Stop defiling her, Stacie,” Chloe comes to the rescue, grabbing her arm to walk her out of the bar while the rest of the girls walk behind them. Beca holds on for the extra support, and Chloe leans with her against the wall while they wait outside.

“I'm so tired.” Beca bemoans, leaning into Chloe’s shoulder.

Chloe chuckle's lightly and her shoulders shake, the arm she has wrapped around her runs up and down her back basically lolling her to sleep. "You’re so cute drunk, not tightly wound at all.”

“Hey!” Beca moves her head out and away, glaring at bright blue eyes. “I'm not tightly wound!”

“You are, but it’s okay that's also kinda cute.” Chloe smiles, pulling her head back into her shoulder and laying a kiss near the crown of her hair.

Beca feels herself flush, and mumbles nonsense as a reply.

The sound of squeaking tires echo around the street and Beca doesn’t pay any mind 'till Chloe starts to shift. “Ubers here love birds, get in.” Stacie calls out.

Chloe moves them both, turning Beca around and grabbing her hand to walk with her toward the car. Stacie holds the door open, grinning as she watches them get in.

“You’re all set birthday girl, have a nice night you two.” She sing songs.

Chloe closes the door behind her, then pushes down the window and feigns annoyance. “Thanks Stace.”

Stacie beams before walking off.

Beca leans against the window, the cold glass cooling of the flush on her permanently red cheeks. She had forgotten to let go of Chloe’s hand that sat atop her thigh. Which isn’t helping the pink warmth from going down. She immediately pulls back, keeping her hands on her lap.

Chloe chuckles softly at Beca and her embarrassment, and she feels Chloe's eyes on her linger. The soft music playing from the radio sounds like an Ellie Golding song that she can’t put her finger one, she hums to herself watching the blurry sights through the window.

Time passes slowly, she doesn’t recognize a single street but each window light glows in the night lighting up the way. Chloe runs her fingers against the side of her thigh, making her jump and look over questioning. But all she gets is a mischievous grin.

Beca ignores it, holding back the smile from creeping on her face until she catches her giggling in her peripheral vision. She does it again, and Beca barely moves her face to look back at her. An eyebrow raised at the childlike behavior.

After the third time it happens without warning, jolting Beca once more she grabs the hand and Chloe squeals a laugh.

“You have to stop doing that.” Beca says, holding her fingers tight.

“Doing what?” Chloe smirks, wiggling them as much as she could, and it distantly tickles her palm.

“You tickle my thigh again, I will cut your fingers off.” She mutters, putting the hand back on Chloe’s leg.

“I’d like to see that.”

“I bet you would, you’re into that kinda stuff.”

Chloe shrugs, a grin on her face “Don’t knock it, until you’ve tried it.”

“Yeah, you would know?” Beca scoffs.

“I’ve had my fair share of fun.” Chloe smirks.

“I don't need to hear about that.” She mutters, shooing away the image that flood into her brain before she can stop them. She pinches her leg, trying to shake off the thought and leans her cheek fully against the window. Her stomach twists, and she feels herself grow green at the smile of rethought up pleasure on Chloe face. Beca knows she's just being a tease, but the lump of jealousy still sits in the back of her throat.

Beca doesn’t realize how close Chloe has gotten to her until she feels her skirt brush against her leg, she turns her head and sees Chloe’s leaning against the seat.“You okay?”

“Super, just little dizzy.” Beca replies, and Chloe’s face contorts in concern. She holds the back of her hand against pale rosy cheeks.

“You don't feel warm,” Chloe whispers to herself, moving the hand down to her cheek. Beca attempts to add some space between them, but Chloe only ever gets closer, turning and scooting her body forward.

“I’m fine, Chloe.” Beca tries to convince her, her voice cracking before she clears it.

They’re so close, Chloe’s body emanates a good amount of heat and she can feel it against her skin and through sheen clothes. Their faces inches apart, leaving one thing on Beca’s mind.

“Well if you feel sick, I'll get the dude to pull over.” Chloe whispers at their close space.

Beca eyes fall to her lips as she speaks, and she damps her own at the pink reflection of lip gloss still shining. She doesn’t realize that she’s staring for a little too long until Chloe eyes come into view.

They’re darker than she's ever seen them, almost midnight blue surrounding the dark middle. Heavy lids covering a sliver of the top. Beca lets herself fall into the color and become entranced in the eyes of the woman in front of her. Shinning in the moonlight of the outside window, and wide with sincerity and patience.

Maybe this birthday drinking thing wasn’t the best idea. Because the small little crush has exploded throughout the night, and Beca can barely hear herself think over how gorgeous Chloe is.

Chloe moves her hands to lean against Beca’s thighs, holding them while she leans against her. Nimble fingers began to move around the area they have grabbed, and Beca lets out a heady sigh when her finger moves a little too far upward

"Beca.”

Beca blinks, the roughness in her voice pulling her out of her thoughts. “I’m fine,” She says, remembering Chloe is still awaiting an answer.

Chloe’s eyes dip, and Beca feels her heart jump out of her chest. “Good.” She murmurs. “Is this okay?” Chloe leans in ever closer. Her breath fans warmly against the tip of her nose.

Beca nods nimbly.

“Use your words.”

Beca feels her stomach swoop. “Yes.”

“Good. Tell me if you want me to stop.” Chloe’s hand moves toward her collarbone, her thumb traces along the bone jutting out up toward her neck. Softly, she leans her head downward, their lips inches apart when Chloe makes eye contact once again. They shine with vulnerability, and slivers of deep blue coloured lines are engraved into the color surroundings iris.

“Still good?”

Beca was about to nod, but then remembered Chloe's earlier request. “Yeah.”

Beca has been down this road before — make outs and what it was like to do so— but nothing like this. Where she is drunk and feels the last bit of her high running off, and the most gorgeous girl ever is on top of her that happens to be her roommate.

It makes her heart speed up more than it already has, which seemed impossible and she tries to calm herself down every way she can before Chloe sees her tapping the bottom of the car seat and gets the wrong impression.

But she’s not sure Chloe can see anything but her lips at the distance. Chloe looks down, the back up and before she can re-ask the same question again Beca moves herself upward to meet with her lips.

Chloe lets out a surprised hum, but smiles against her lips and Beca forgets any worries she had before this very moment. It’s soft around the edges, the warmth of cherry pink and glossy lips surrounding each other feels like fireworks lighting up behind her eyes and whistling into her ears. Chloe pushes Beca back against the seat, trapping her there putting her hand against the opposite side of her seat.

She moves her hand to rest on the small of Chloe’s back, keeping her grounded so that her soul doesn’t float away. The height difference the angle gives her has Beca tipping her head back to chase her lips before realizing Chloe is slowly pulling away. A wide smile on her face.

“How long have you wanted to do that?” Chloe asks, her voice high and bemused.

Beca shrugs nonchalantly, somehow. Her own smiling taking over when she sees Chloe twirl hair around her finger. “How did you know I’ve been wanting that?”

“Just a little eager, don’t let it bruise your big ego though.” She mumbles the last bit of the sentence against her lips, holding her jaw between her thumb and pointer and rubbing her thumb against the side below the cheek.

Beca whimpers at the harsh grip that becomes gentle the second the voices her shock. She opens her mouth to oppose, but Chloe swallows whatever was about to come out. Turning her head and slotting her nose beside her own. Chloe deepens it, running her teeth against her lower lip, and Beca folds when she feels a small sting of pain run through it. She whimpers again, and instead of pulling back it drives Chloe forward.

Opening herself up more Beca follows what Chloe is going for, and Chloe takes her time with every new movement. Stroking her tongue tenderly against her own until Beca feels like a mess of nothing underneath. There is no concept of time in the space they reserve in the back of an Uber Black, to Beca everything is Chloe. The smell of perfume surrounding her, the warmth in her lap, and the flavor lingering against her. Seconds or minutes could be going by and she wouldn’t fully know. !

Not until they’re stopped or interrupted. Which happens soon enough.

Maybe it’s the high coming down and exhaustion but the second Chloe pulls back she feels drunk once again. Chloe yells a high pitched apology before dragging her out of the car, and lugs the rest of the bags with them. Shoving one into Becas hand for her to carry, and at the same time intertwining their fingers.

Chloe stares at her expectantly when they get to the door, and only then Beca remembers the free hand she has. She holds open the door, and Chloe grins pulling her away from the door and running up the steps, their legs burning with exertion. They barely make it out of the stairway before tumbling against each other in tune.

Beca pushed against the wall beside their door before she gets the energy to turn them around. Forcing herself as high up on her tippy toes as she can. Chloe's arm moves between them, and it takes Beca a second to figure out what she is doing before they both collapse into the apartment, the door swinging open behind them.

Beca pushed herself up, moving off of the redhead still stuck on the floor. Chloe cackles, holding her stomach and wiping her eyes. Beca takes off her shoes, and throws her jack into their closet to let Chloe calm down. She grabs the bags surrounding her and sets them on the counter before extending a hand to her still chuckling roommate.

“So gentleman, so short though.” Chloe in heels stands at least a head over Beca, and she laughs seeing where Becas face stands in comparison.

Beca rolls her eyes, arms crossed. “Haha,” She sarcastically laughs, flicking the light on beside the front door so that she could finally see two steps in front of her.

The first thing Beca notices are Chloe's cheeks are ten times pinker than she last saw them with dark freckles casting as the only contrast, and her lips are bruised and covered in a darker shade of lipstick that’s smudges up toward her nose. It’s so cute and so Chloe that Beca’s heart feels like it swoons for the hundredth time.

Chloe seems to have noticed her own lipstick or makeup left because she laughs once more, her heels thrown off to the side. Making their height different less humiliating. “I think I missed a spot.” She says, hushed and sensual as her hands wrap around Beca’s neck.

Beca falls back into the feeling of Chloe, following her toward her room — something she had only ever seen from the outside for the last eight months — and falls into her queen sized bed at command. She lets Chloe move downward toward her neck, covering it in more than just the sticky color of Pink Posies.

She gets lost in the feeling of pleasure, hands tangled in hair and bent into the cotton sheets surrounding her. The smell and taste of Chloe on her tongue and the sounds Chloe makes on top and under her or whether the heart beating loudly is her own. The warmth and bliss overtake her so many times she knows waking up will be a challenge, but the ache in her bones is worth it.

Chloe huffs, sweaty with ragged breaths against the shell of her ear and a finger curving at just the right angle that it brings her to her peak for the last time, she isn’t sure that she hadn’t died in those few moments. Beca whimpers at the aftermath and Chloe holds her through it all.

All words become useless as their lips are put to better use, the sharing of secrets done in better ways.

“Does this count as my gift?” Chloe asks, mumbled against her sternum.

“It can be, but you saw my gift earlier. You took it out of my hand.”

“So there is more, in the morning?” Chloe asks, excitement in her voice and Beca laughs.

“Yes, there is definitely more in the morning.” She smiles, placing a kiss on Chloe's forehead.

Beca wakes up next to the gorgeous redhead, cuddled cozy into the her side while the sun pours into the room through flimsy blinds. Time is unexplainable because moving is far too difficult but it couldn’t be earlier than seven in the morning. The overgrowing headache looms over her like a raincloud adding to the need to stay in bed. She groans against Chloe's side, rubbing her eyes gently.

Beca flips herself over, repositioning Chloe’s arms around her and Chloe pulls her closer when she does. She settles into the sheets, eyes fluttering closed to fall back to sleep when she feels her blood run cold at the sound of the front door click. Any thoughts about locking it disappear from her memory and she begins to sweat at the thought of an intruder in the house.

She whines internally, regrettably getting up from her position as slow as possible. Chloe turns at the movement, taking in a deep breath and Beca freezes until she can tell Chloe is still fast asleep. She grabs the first shirt, and first pair of pants on the floor.

There are no weapons surrounding her that could hurt someone, beside a pair of scissors which she grabs — just in case — before peaking through the door.

Long brunette hair falls over the back of their couch, and a show is playing on their TV— Oh.

Stacie turns her head around, an amused look on her face. “Well, good morning to you,”

Beca raises her hand stiffly to wave, dropping the arm with the scissors. “Uh, hi. I forgot you were going to be here.”

“Did you think I was some murder or house break in?” Stacie pauses, taking in her state and deadpans. “You did, didn't you?”

Beca shrugs sheepishly, looking back toward the kitchen to see bacon cooking and the smell of sweet something lingering in the air. “Are you baking? You have your own apartment don't you?”

“Duh? It’s Chloe’s actual birthday today, so I came to make bacon and pan-cakes she can wake up to,” She points toward the island. “There’s water and Tylenol, because you look like shit.”

Beca frowns, “Thanks.” she mumbles throwing back the capsule and water.

“How was last night? Did you take my advice.” Stacie smirks.

“Maybe.” Beca replies. She really hadn’t planned on actually using what Stacie said, and in the heat of the moment it never came to mind. But maybe she somehow internalized it, or she just wanted to do it regardless.

“Looks like it.” She singsongs, giddy. “You really are lovebirds. You just better not hurt her I swear to god.”

“I wont.”

“Won’t what?”

Stacie squeals. “Birthday girl!” Beca feels arms wrap around her waist pulling into a hug from behind and a kiss on the cheek. It happens as fast as it ends, and then Chloe moves to kiss Stacie's cheek which she takes then wipes off. ‘I don't know where your mouth has been,’ getting her a slap across the chest.

“Kidding, not. Your food should be ready soon, and that cup is clean like you asked.” Stacie smiles.

Chloe grins, scampering around toward the sink. Beca looks over the counter at the sink, seeing Chloe’s frog mug still dirty. “The mug is still dirty?”

Chloe tuts. “Not mine.” She holds her hands behind her back, a grin widening on her face. “Close your eyes.”

Beca purses her lips to stare at her, and hesitantly closes them.

“Put our your hand.”

Beca reaches out her hands, feeling cold heavy ceramic hit them and she holds it tightly.

“Open your eyes!”

Beca opens her eyes to see the beautiful mug she had found at the farmers market that made her queasy because of the price. It was the same as the day she saw it, purple with darker purple stripes. She gasps, “Chloe.”

“Just because you didn’t tell me when your birthday was and wouldn't let me celebrate it, doesn’t mean I won’t months later.” Chloe’s smile is so wide it reflects her own, and she swears that the stinging in her eyes is from dirt or dust.

“You didn’t need to do this. It’s your birthday.” Becas voice comes out wobbly, embarrassingly so and she rubs at her eyes hoping the water stops.

Chloe smile turns gentler, and she pulls the shaking brunette into her embrace. “But I don’t mind sharing it with someone I love,”

It takes everything in Beca to hold back her reaction to that, instead she nods into crook of Chloe’s neck and let herself be comforted. She sniffles, finally composing herself enough to step out of the hug and grab her own gift for Chloe.

“Beca! No way, this is way to much.” Chloe pours everything out of the bag, sorting through it all. Stacie immediately grabs the magazine, flipping through it and showing pages to Chloe. “Taylor! Oh my god!!”

Beca shrugs, sheepish.

The three sit in the kitchen, talking and laughing over the gimmicks in Chloe birthday bags, and sharing the food Stacie had made. The multiple candles stack high, and the enormous pack of dental dams someone had gifted had Stacie fall over laughing.

“This is so odd.” Beca mumbles, staring questioningly at the pancake that was cooked in the oven in a cake tin.

“No. It isn’t.” Chloe bites back, taking a bite of the pan-cake on her plate. “You’re so dramatic.”

Beca denies that and chews on it slowly, eyeing both the brunette and redhead on either side of her before declaring it, “decent.”

“It’s the same batter as pancakes, you’re just picky.” Stacie adds, and Chloe laughs.

Beca helps with clean up and finally changes out of Chloe’s old clothes to get in a warm shower. She falls back into their usual Sunday routine which is Sex and the city and couch time. Leaning fully into Chloe, falling asleep against her shoulder as the redhead chats with Stacie. It’s warm and comforting as just where she wants to be.