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Chapter Text

Beca threw her bag on the floor and kicked the front door closed behind her. It's been few months since she and Jessie broke-up but it doesn't mean that it didn't hurt seeing him every day at the studio. Even tho they were friends now, her guilt was still there eating her from the inside. 

Jessie had been noticing Beca drifting away from him but even with Beca's self-reserved nature he knew that this was different. He sat her down one evening to talk, and to his surprise Beca didn't close off or didn't use any sarcastic remarks to get out of the conversation. Instead, Beca stared at her hands in her lap, tears rolling down her cheeks.  

That night she confessed to not feeling the same about him anymore and that it's been a while like that. But it wasn't Jessies fault. Not at all. Beca actually blamed herself. She blamed herself for not letting herself admit to her and Jessie that she was in fact, not attracted to him, or any men actually.  

She hated herself because she couldn't give Jessie what he deserved. Yes, she loved him, but not like she was supposed to, and that guilt has been killing her. Jessie was sweet, kind, attentive, funny and he gave Beca everything he could and Beca tried, she really did but she couldn't keep this from him.   

Jessie was always her friend before anything else, and so, that night he held Beca close on his couch as she cried in his arms mumbling an apology after another. He held her tight and told her that everything would be fine. “Well figure it out together.” he said. After that, Beca's breathing finally evened out as she slowly drifted asleep. 

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Beca huffed as she walked to the couch, throwing her small body face down into the pillows. The old cushion made a protesting  sound.  

“What's all that about?” asks a soft familiar voice from the kitchen. (Due to the small and open apartment, they are really less than six feet apart)  

In response, Beca groans even louder, sounds maffled by the soft fabric under her face. 

 This gains a small chuckle from the red head now standing above her with a kitchen towel in her hands. She leans over the couch “Looks like somebody had a rough day.”  

“Ughhhh, you dont even knowww” Beca sight, her words barely making it to Chloes ears through the bunch of pillows. She lifted her head, getting her hair out of her mouth and rambling.  

“This dude came in today. He was such a terrible singer, that even the ton of autotune I used couldn't fix it. And guess what.... He blamed it on me! like it was my! fault that he sucked!” Beca said and threw her hands in the air with her every word getting higher and higher with frustration. 

“He sounds like a jerk.” Chloe simply stated. 

“Yeah, that little piece of shi-” Beca started. 

“Yeah, okay,” Chloe interrupted, laughing at her best friend's antics. “C'mon Becs', dinner is ready.” She walked around the couch to the brunett's side. 

She tried to pull the woman up by her hand, but the younger girl just let her arm flop back onto the couch like non of her limbs were working. She tried again but with no luck. 

 Not wanting to get up, Beca just grunted “Nooo, ughh. Just let me die here from starvation so I don't have to go back tomorrow.”  

With a smirk on her face, Chloe starts to slowly walk away toward the kitchen. 

“Well that's a shame,” the older woman said with a teasing voice, her smirk spreading even more. “And I thought that I would share my mom's famous mac n' cheese with you” She said with a shrug, knowing well it's the girl's favorite food. 

And with that, Beca's head shot up. “You made mac n' cheese?”  

“I mean yeah, but I guess I'll have to eat it all by myself” Chloe said turning her back to Beca, continuing her walk to the kitchen. “All. By. My. Self.” Chloe sang. 

With that, Beca shot up and started sprinting toward the kitchen. But with a little miscalculation her legs tripped on the carpet and sent her whole body flying forward. She shut her eyes expecting pain to flood her full body but that didn't happen.  

She felt warm and steady hands around her small shoulders pulling her upright. When she opened her eyes, she saw stars everywhere from standing up too fast. (She made a mental note that she might have low iron, but that's beside the point right now.)  

She blinked few times. As her sight was clearing and her eyes came to focus, she saw her roommates face. 

Close. Very close. 

Their faces were in fact so close, that Beca could probably count all the freckles on the bridge of her best friend's nose. They spread along her eyes all the way to her temples, fading beautifly on her cheeks. Beca's gaze was roaming all around the taller girl's soft features. For the first time she noticed how her friend's eyebrows were perfectly shaped. How her eyelashes were long and softly curved up. The lines on her face from smiling so much every single day. The kind of smile that is just so obnoxiously infectious that it makes you want to do what ever it takes to keep it that way forever.  

And those eyes. Those crystal blue eyes that always see through any walls that Beca tries to put up. So blue that Beca feels chills run down her spine. And right now she could drown in them. She could get lost and never be found and she wouldn't even mind. 

“You alright there?” The redhead asked.  

Beca, coming back to earth from her very interesting train of thoughts, chokes out. 

“Y-yeah. I-I just got dizzy... I guess I stood up too fast.”  

That's when Beca noticed how close they were still standing. Chloe's hands were still firmly placed at Beca's shoulders, her thumbs unconsciously drawing circles on her bare skin.  

The brunette felt the thumping in her chest quicken with heat rising to her ears. Getting uncomfortable very fast, she cleared her throat.  

“I think I need some water” 

She left Chloe's embrace and walked the rest of the way to the kitchen. Once she turned away from the redhead she fanned her face with her hand. 

“What the hell was that” she cursed under her breath. She chugged her second glass of water down when Chloe entered the kitchen.  

From where she was standing, she could still see the deep shade of pink on the tips of Beca's ears. The older woman had to hold back a chuckle as an idea of teasing more the DJ seemed to be a fun way to spend the evening.  

Beca was now standing at the stove, spoon in hand, eating a mouthfull of mac n' cheese straight out of the pot. A little hum of appreciation left her.  

 Chloe on the other hand, made her priority a single thing. Tease Beca Mitchel and make her as uncomfortable as possible. Because there is nothing more adorable than a tiny little squirming DJ. She has never seen Beca go so red like she did few moments ago and it was the cutest thing ever.  

Okay, she might have seen the tiny brunette blush once or twice on a girl's night with the Bellas. There was this one time they all decided to play truth or dare. And Amy dared Staci to give Beca a lap dance. And of course Stacie's neckline was nowhere to be found showing pretty much everything, and when she started playing with the colar of Beca's shirt, Beca looked like she was about to explode and left saying she had some tracks she needed to finish.  

Or there was that one time when Chloe burst into her shower and demanded Beca to sing for her her lady jam. That's where Chloe noticed the girl's eyes trace up and down her body and linger at the redheads chest a little longer than necessary followed by that blush, the older woman liked so much. To be honest Beca isn't the only one blushing at just the thought of that incident. 

´Wait, ...could it be? Is it possible that...? No, Beca ...wait...´ Chloe thought. 

´Wait´ 

Chloe had feelings for Beca ever since they became co-captains, but she never dared to even think about doing anything about it. She pushed it deep down convincing herself it was just platonic. Their friendship was not worth ruining it because of some silly little feelings of the redhead.  

Beca never seemed to be into girls anyway despite how she always wore plaid flannels or her body language in general. It was throwing the redhead off. Especially when she learned that Beca was dating Jessie.  

But Beca did say that she broke up with Jessie because things changed for her.  

´Let's say I learned something new about myself ´ She remembers Beca saying. But after that she closed off and Chloe didn't want to push her to anything and later it was just never the right time. 

It could have meant anything. Maybe she just wasn't into him anymore.  Or she wasn't into him at all..... 

Could it be that Beca also liked girls? 

 Chloe wasn't sure. She was her best friend. Why didn't she tell her ? 

She could be wrong but she had to find out.  

Beca was still standing there. A full pot of her comfort food in one hand and a spoon on its way to her mouth in other. She didn't even bother taking out a bowl.  

Beca almost jumped out of her skin when she felt a hand wrap around her torso. The taller girl came from behind, leaning over her shoulder, taking an advantage of their height difference. Beca watched as Chloe leaned in really close. So close that she felt her breath on the corner of her mouth. Her soft pink lips were so close to Beca's. Beca froze. What was happening? 

Her whole body became suddenly very aware of how Chloe's hand was resting just below her rib cage and how the back of her arm was pressed up against Chloe's chest. Their hips were pressed together. Every single nerve in her body was highly aware of the position she was in. Her brain was screaming at her to run. But she couldn't move. 

She stood there frozen as her best friend inched closer and closer, slowly closing the distance between them. But at the very last moment, when Beca thought that their lips would touch, Chloe moved her head away to the side where she took into her mouth the full spoon Beca was still holding.  

Beca's mouth fell open.  

Maybe from the shock. Maybe because Chloe just took her food right before her mouth. Or because that was literally the hottest thing she ever witnessed. She was glad that she was still held by the redhead because her knees would definitely not hold her up. 

There were butterflies not just in her stomach but also in places she shouldn't feel butterflies in after watching her best friend eat her food from the spoon she was just about to put in her mouth.  

Yes, she certainly shouldn't feel her heart beating (or not beating at all, she has no idea) in her ears like she just ran a marathon. And surely she should not be disappointed that the thing that was about to happen didn't happen.  

Chloe. Her roommate. Her co-captain of the Bellas. Her best friend.  

That's right. Chloe is her best friend. She shouldn't feel any of these things in her presence. They used to share a pull-out bed for majority of college before Amy moved out. Even after that, Chloe was always invading Beca's personal space, breaking through all her walls she put up so carefully. So why now?  Why does this suddenly have this effect on her?  

Why can't she stop heat from rising to her face every time Chloe says something nice to her? Why does her strawberry and peach scent send Beca's head spinning every time. And why can't she stop staring? Does she have feelings for Chloe? No, that can't be right. This can't be happening.  

Beca has been aware of her sexuality only for about six months. And ever since then, she felt like a horny teenage boy with hormones jumping through the roof. Any time an attractive woman would walk by, she'd have a hard time keeping her gaze away from certain body parts. And changing in a room after practice with Bellas was always a very terrifying experience. What if they catch her staring, what if she makes somebody uncomfortable? She had a hard time accepting it. 

She knew that half of the girls were queer or didn't have nothing against it and knew that it wouldn't change anything. But for some reason she couldn't bring herself to tell any of them. Not even Chloe. Only one person knew. Jessie. And the least she could do was tell him the truth after everything. She owed him that.  

Chloe turned, grinning at Beca, her mouth still full with macaroni. Smug glint dancing behind her eyes.  

“H-Heyyy!” Beca managed to choke out. Her words sounding more breathless and shaky than shed like. She had to clear her throat “That was mine!”. 

Chloe put her hand in front of her mouth as she laughed. “Well some of us normal people don't eat straight from the pan. Theres this thing called plate and cutlery, ya'  know.” She placed a quick kiss on the brunettes cheeks and walked around to Beca's other side. The small kitchen didn't give them enough room to move around without coming in contact with eachother, and Beca was cursing the tiny apartment for it.  

The older woman opened the top cabinet and pulled down two plates. Hiding a smirk behind a innocent smile. The DJ recovered quickly. “I guess I'm just special then.”  

Chloe laughed at that, placing another kiss on the brunette's other cheek. “Yes, you are.” She left the kitchen to set the table. Beca froze at the second kiss. One was occasional even with Chloe, but two? What is this? She felt her blood warm her face again with the unusualy high level of affection today.  

She had enough for tonight. Maybe it was caused by the four redbulls and three coffees she consumed in the last 48hours. And the fact that she didn't have a good sleep for weeks because of her work at the studio, is probably not good news too.  

She needs a good long shower to wash off all of the things she's been feeling right now. She hopes it would all go away by morning and with that she heads for her room. “Actually Chloe, I think I might call it a night for today. I'm just gonna' shower and head to bed.” 

“Oh,” Chloe lifted her head. “Okay, good night then Becs'.”  

“Night, Chlo.”  

Beca undressed and stepped into the shower, hot water running down her skin, relaxing all her tense muscles. Something about it reminded her of Chloe's warm touch, her warm breath on her face, how close they were and how she almost... 

“Stop it Beca!” She said to herself. “Get it together. Jeez, thats freaking Chloe youre thinking about. Suck it up dude!” she huffed angrily. Reaching for the faucet, she turned it to cold. She let out a yelp as the freezing cold water hit her skin, cooling off any unwanted feelings. She stood under the cold stream for solid five minutes, knowing damn well that her little body could get hypothermia any minute, she reluctantly stepped out.  

Throwing on an oversized hoodie and a pair of sleeping shorts, Beca climbs into bed and stares at the ceiling replaying tonight's events in confusion as sleep crept on her.   

Chapter Text

Beca's alarm went off. She put it to sleep for the fifth time today. She really didn't want to meet with the asshole from yesterday. The only good thing was that she had to help him finish his single, and then she'll be free of him. Thank god he's not making a full album. The only motivation getting her out of bed right now, was the smell of coffee coming from the kitchen. She opened her door and walked down the hall following the delicious aroma.

"Good morning there, sleepyhead" Chloe said with bright smile on her face. Beca, with her messy hair and half opened eyes sat at the bar stool next to the counter. Once her eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room she poured herself a cup of coffee.

"How are you this happy in the morning?" Beca groaned, looking at her roommate. Taking in what she was wearing. She was standing opposite her cutting down some fresh apples, in just a sports bra and yoga pants. Her auburn hair was up on top of her head in a messy bun, few strands falling loose and framing her face.

Beca, not being able to stop her eyes from roaming, watched as Chloe cut fruit into her bowl. This woman had her morning run and grocery shopping done before Beca could even get out of bed. And her workout routine was definitely working. She was always energized (even thou that might just be because it's Chloe). And her body was in an amazing shape. Her tan skin and nicely shaped shoulders. Her back muscles worked with every move of her hands and it was just so hard not to watch. And the way her high wasted pants hugged all her curves perfectly was just unfair.

She has the body that would make anybody jealous. Bright blue eyes and the kindest personality. Her red curly hair with that smile and a white veterinary gown, helping take care of sick animals sure makes her look like an angel sent from heaven.

"Well some of us like to start our day before 9:30" Chloe said teasingly. Knowing well what the smaller woman's actions will be just in a second.

"Is it already 9:30?" Beca panicked. "9:32 to be exact." Chloe corrected. "Shit, I'm gonna be so late!" Beca cursed as she stumbled off of her stool and ran into her room. That made Chloe laugh. That deeper kind of laugh. That kind that spreads through your chest and leaves a warm feeling behind. She walked slowly to the front door with a paper bag and a 'to go' mug in her hand.

Not a minute later, Beca exited her room, still trying to put on her left shoe mid walk. Her laptop bag falling off of her shoulder as she searched the key bowl for her keys.

A tap on her shoulder turned her attention back to her roommate.

"Here." Chloe said proudly. Handing her her house keys along with the keys to Beca's Jeep. "And take this, you're gonna need it." She said with a wink and handed her the brown paper bag that contained her breakfast and her lunch along with the cup of plain black coffee, no sugar, no milk. Just like Beca liked it (for some unapparent reason).

"God, you're amazing!" She huffed. Letting Chloe steal a quick hug, she rushed out the door. She tried to ignore the fact that Chloe smelled like heaven with strawberries. She had to shake it off. It was messing with her head again, pulling her even closer to her, telling her not to let go. But she was running late, and.... who the hell smells this good after running?

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Later that day, Chloe was head deep in papers. She had to make the clinic's decisions and assign animals they treated to shelters with the right conditions. She was worried about a little orange kitten named Mr. Peper. The only shelter with the right conditions for his recovery was already full.

Her ringtone brought her back from her thoughts. She smiled at the name on the screen, picked up the phone and brought to her ear. “Hey Aubrey! Haven't heard from you in a while. What's up?” Chloe chirped with the kind of joy that only Chloe can.

“Hi! Nothing much. Actually, I was thinking, if you're free, we could catch up over lunch?”

“That would be aca-mazing. I have a thing I wanted to talk to you about. I'll meet you at our old place in an hour, see ya' soon!”

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The girls have been laughing and talking all afternoon. The lunch stretched from 12 o' clock to 4 p.m. as they got lost in sharing news and funny storis from the last month they haven't seen each other. They hopped on a call or videochat often and texted all the time, but it was not the same. Life got busy after college and there just wasn't as much time like there used to be. So Chloe held on to any chance she got, to spent time with her best friend any time she could. She missed having her in her life.

They ended up at Aubrey's house, sitting on her couch sipping wine and chatting.

“Yeah, you should've seen that!” Aubry choked out, hitting her leg repeatedly from laughter.

“Oh my god, I wish I did!” Chloe laughed so hard her stomach hurt.

They laughed and giggled some more until the atmosphere settled down a little.

“Hey, Bree, um.” Chloe started. “The thing I wanted to talk to you about...”

“Mhm.” The blond woman took another sip of her drink, waiting for her to continue.

“Um, so you know how I, uh-”

“Been in love with Beca Mitchel forever and never had the guts to tell her?” Aubrey finished with a knowing look.

“How did you even know what I was-”

“Oh, come on Chloe. I've known you like.... forever. And you have that look on your face again.”

“I do not!” Chloe places her hand on her chest, making a shocked and offended face while trying to bite back a laugh.

She told Aubrey pretty soon after she started to feel the pull toward the small brunette. She held Chloe the nights she cried on her shoulder. She let her let out all of the feelings and hurt from unrequited love. She's been the one person she could talk to about this.

“Oh, yes, you do!” Aubrey pointed a finger in her face. “You always had that when the topic came to her. So, what about her now? What did she do?” She said, her voice softer now.

“She didn't do anything. She just- I don't know.” She stared down at her hands, picking on a fingernail.

“She's been acting differently and I think I might be crazy but-” She lifted her head to look at her friend. Her eyes were full of unasked questions rimmed with red.

“Different how?” Aubrey asked gently.

“I don't know, like- like she wants me.” The words came out almost as a whisper. “And I know that sounds crazy, but she said that big things have changed for her, and now she's no longer with Jessie, and I can't help but wonder if there is any chance, that Beca might be at least a little bit into women.”

Chloe was just rambling at this point, tears streaming down her face.

“You know, and I fell like a total idiot for thinking, that even after all this time she might like me back. I'm such a fool Bree. Our friendship is everything to me. Why can't it just stop haunting me.”

She wrapped her friend in a warm hug, soothing her arm.

“If you're not sure, why don't we just ask her? Let's organize something. A get-together with Bellas. The girls are gonna get her loose and I'm sure Stacie will want to play some truth or dare.”

“Yeah, but even if she likes girls it doesn't mean that she's into me. What if I read something wrong and I'll do something and then she'll know and she won't ever look at me again.” Chloe said between quiet sobs.

“Then we'll deal with it.”

It hurt Aubrey to see her like this, but there was nothing she could do about it. All she could do for her was to offer her comfort and a bed to sleep tonight. It was like they were both back in college again. Letting her cry on her shoulder and trying not to let her friend fall apart.

Chapter Text

Soft lips were nibbing on the sensitive skin behind Beca's ear, her breathing becoming more ragged with every touch. Hands were roaming over her body, fingers slowly slipping their way under the hem of Beca's shirt, tracing patterns on her stomach. Red hair fell around her face, creating a curtain around them. Breathing each other's air, the brunette felt more than butterflies in the very center of her body. Lips were connected to the side of her neck, softly sucking on her pulse point.

A throaty moan escaped Beca's body “Chloe”

A different voice brought her back to reality. A loud gasp and then... “I KNEW IT!”

Beca's yes shot open. She must have fallen asleep in her studio while finishing her tracks. She set up straight in her chair and turned around.

“I knew it, I knew it, I.KNEW.IT !!!” Stacie exclaimed, pointing her well manicured finger at Beca.

“You totally have the hots for Chloe!”

“The wha- No, I don't. I do not have the-!”

“Yes, you do Mitchel. You literally moaned her name from a dream. You had a sex dream about Chloe.” She stretched out Chloe's name in a singing voice, enjoying the horror painted on her friend's face.

“You even drooled all over your sleeve, how cute!” She pointed at her arm not bothering to hide her ear-to-ear grin.

The DJ was speechless, opening and closing her mouth, with nothing coming out. She felt her face and neck heating up from embarrassment. Uncomfortable, she looked around for something to change the subject quickly.

“It's already 9 p.m.. Damn, I didn't really get much work done. Shit. I will have to finish it at home or I won't make the deadline. What are you doing here anyway?” She stood up and walked down the hall to the break room.

Stacie trailed right behind her. “Just checking if you're still breathing, you know. You weren't answering my calls. We were supposed to have a pizza night, remember?”

“Yeah, sorry about that. My phone died before 10 a.m.” Beca uttered. The small brunette bent down to a mini fridge and took out two sodas and offered one to the leggy woman. She was standing in the doorway still with that smirk and glossy lips. She wasn't going to let go of the previous topic so easily.

“Since when do you like women?” Stacie asked with teasing voice.

A shiver ran down Beca's spine. “No idea and non of your business.” She bit back. She tried to push past her friend with her head low, but Stacie blocked her way. Beca really didn't feel like having this conversation right now. It was already messy enough for her.

' oh ' Seeing Beca's expression, Stacie immediately sobered up. She could see in her eyes that something was really upsetting her friend. Something more than just annoyance from a stupid joke. Something behind her eyes told her it was hurt. Her friend was hurting.

“Hey, Beca, what's up ?” She asked, all of the playfulness gone from her voice. Stacie had turned to gentle and caring in a beat, wanting to spare her friend of what's bothering her.

“Nothing” She mumbled, slipping past Stacie. The taller woman had to be careful now to not let Becka shut her out. That's what she always did. Every time her friends tried to get her to open up, she'd block them out completely, not letting anyone in for days. If there was a storm going on inside her head, she would lock her self up in her room mixing tracks until it passed and then she'd move on. She would carry it all herself, by herself, without telling a single soul.

Stacie followed behind her back to the studio where Beca sat down on a sofa. She sat down next to her, not too close so she won't make her feel cornered, but not too far to let her know that she was there for her.

“Come on. You know you can talk to me Beca.” She said. Her voice soft and barely above whisper.

“I know. I just-” Beca's elbows were on her knees and her head was in her hands. Her fingers slightly pulling on her chestnut hair, trying to release some of the overwhelming frustration.

“It's just very hard for me.” She managed to say as her eyes started to burn with built up emotions she's been trying to shove deep down.

“It's okay, you can tell me.” Stacie offered, placing a hand on Beca's back and rubbing slow comforting circles.

“I-I feel so-” Beca searched for the right word. But the only one that came to mind was “broken.” Tears started streaming down her cheeks. Sobs rocking her body.

“Oh, honey. And why is that?”

“I-I tried so hard but I just couldn't. I couldn't love him. And he was everything I ever wanted but I couldn't love him. And I tried, I swear I tried but...” She was fully crying. Her hands were shaky and she felt like ripping her skin off, but she needed to finaly tell somebody. It was like someone placed a big pile of bricks on her chest and she couldn't breath anymore.

“And now I realized that I never really could've loved him like that. And I know that this is okay, that it's normal, but people usually have it figured out at like sixteen.” She scoffed. Stacie was getting more and more confused at what her friend was saying. She thought it was about Jessie but turns out that was not it.

“Beca, what are you telling me?” Stacie asked. Beca, let out a long sigh.

“I'm telling you that I, a grown-ass woman, just figured out that I like women. And one of them happens to be my best friend.” She buried her face in her hands, trying to hold back another sob that was threatening to escape. “And I can't help but feel like such a stupid, stupid idiot for not knowing sooner. I just want to feel normal”

“Hey, hey, hey. Come here.” Stacie pulled Beca into her arms, holding her small frame. “You are not stupid and you are not an idiot.” She said while brushing her hand over Beca's hair. “Okay, maybe just a little.” 'ouch!' That earned her a poke to the ribs from the brunette along with a weak laugh. She sat back up and looked at the taller woman with a sad smile.

“What do I do Stace?” Beca asked. “I feel like a horny teenager every time she comes near me.” She said. Bitter laugh escaping her lips. “And we literally live together. How can I stop this from happening? I tried but turns out that it's impossible not to like Chloe.”

“Yeah, it sure is. But is that really a bad thing?” Stacie cocked an eyebrow at Beca with a smirk.

“Of course it's a bad thing! It's Chloe we're talking about!” Beca threw her hands in the air. “My best friend! And now I have this stupid crushy feelings for her that just won't go away! So stupid.” She muttered the last part under her breath and let her body sink back into the sofa.

“Then why don't you do something about it?” Stacie simply asked.

“Um... And fuck up more than three years of friendship? Are you crazy? No thanks.”

“Beca, honey, I don't think anything like this could come between the two of you. You're Beca and Chloe. Together you're Bloe. And nothing is gonna change that. Trust me.” She said comfortingly.

They spent the drive home chatting like nothing has changed, like she hadn't just came out to her friend. It really wasn't as bad as Beca thought it would be. It made her feel lighter, like she wasn't alone. She now had someone to talk to about it. And that felt nice. A relieve that finally let her sleep easier after she snuck quietly into her and Chloe's apartment, somewhere after midnight.

Chapter Text

_______________________________

The Bellas groupchat:

Aubrey: “Attention pitches! Clear your calendars for this week's Friday night. Amy is flying back from Australia. CR will be back in town with her family. Jessica and Ashley will drop by too, so get ready for the Bellas reunion!

Amy: “Again guys, it's Fat Amy! Do ya'll twig bitches even listen?”

Emily: “O-M-aca-G!!!! I'm so excited!!!”

Flo: “Can't wait to see you girlssss!”

Chloe: “Yayyy!!! I'm so excited!”

Beca: “See you on Friday awesome nerds.”

Stacie: “I'll bring booze and my cleavage! *winky face*”

CR: “Let's party aca-bitches!”

Lily: “I'll be in the walls.”

______________________________

“Chloe come on, we are already late! The girls might as well be gone when we get there! And the drive is still like twenty minutes. Hurry up !” Beca groaned. She got ready under ten minutes.

She went with knee-high combat boots, black skinny jeans and (also black, because it's the only color that could be found in her wardrobe) shirt with few of the top buttons undone to leave her cleavage proudly on display.

“Chloe!” She yelled for her friend. When she didn't get a response, she huffed annoyed and walked over to knock on the woman's door. No response. She twisted the knob and stepped in.

“Come on dude, we-” Beca stopped.

“I'm- almost- done- I just need to- uhghhh-Can you give me a hand?” She tried to say between trying to reach behind her back.

Chloe was standing in front of her mirror, trying –-and struggling-- to reach the zipper of the dress she picked. It was a beautiful blue cocktail dress that barely reached her mid-thigh, leaving so much of her long legs for the show. The fabric clung to her hips like it was holding on for dear life, matching all of her curves and lines perfectly. The 'V' shaped neckline was going dangerously low, showing her chest off with all her glory. Her hair was up in a low messy bun, leaving few strands to fall around her face, brushing along her jawline, exposing her neck and shoulders leaving them bare naked.

Beca had to clear her throat to concentrate again. She walked over to Chloe, lifted her hands willing them not to shake and zipped up Chloe's dress, careful not to let her fingers brush her skin.

Beca knew it was wrong to feel this way about her friend. She was being pulled closer and closer every day and couldn't figure out a way out of it. She couldn't risk loosing the one good thing that she's had in her life. She'd rather die than damage what she and Chloe had for all these years. She would never forgive herself if something happened to them. She was not going to ruin something perfectly good.

“All done. Good to go now?”

“Yeah, thanks!” Chloe grinned from ear to ear, beaming with excitement. As she turned around, Beca couldn't stop her eyes roaming the full length of the body standing in front of her. Her eyes ran up and down her body once or twice (it was actually five times but who's counting?) before feeling heat rise up to her face.

“See something you like Mitchel?” Chloe teased her, adding a cocked eyebrow for the effect. Beca was stumbling over her words after being caught staring.

“I am- I- I mean you- you look great Chlo.” She choked out. “The dress goes with your eyes.” She said awkwardly. The taller woman started laughing at her now fully red friend. She loved when Beca squirmed. She always turned into a giddy mess trying to get away from Stacie's, or her's, unshameful stories about something really not inocent at movie their nights. It was always so adorable to see the DJ blush in all the shades of red. And this time Chloe's heart made a double flip at the sight.

Beca's eyes were everywhere but on her very attractive looking roommate.

“Ready to go?” Asked the redhead this time. As she walked by the still stunned brunette, she stopped and leaned to whisper in her ear. “You clean up pretty nicely yourself Beca. I'm gonna have a hard time keeping my eyes off of you, ya' know” she said in low flirtatious voice. Beca's breath hitched at the same time as she felt Chloe's tickle her ear. Shivers ran down her back, her whole body now burning. Chloe moved away and continued to make her way down the hall.

“Come on Becs, we're late!” She called innocently, like she didn't just make Beca want to climb through the window, down the fire escape, flee the country, change her identity and never come back.

'This is gonna be a long night' Beca thought as she took a steadying breath and walked toward the front door.

When they arrived, the club was already full to it's brim with people. Everyone was packed on the dance floor, bumping into everybody and spilling their drinks. The lights were dim, changing colors between blue, red and purple, making the whole scene intimate despite the shimmering crowd. The base was thumping low in Beca's ears, although the melody needed few adjustments, she found herself nodding her head to the beat, enjoying the song even.

As the both of them were pushing through the mass of people, Chloe, the taller woman, spotted their friends. They were on the other far end of the room, sitting in a booth having (certainly not first) round of shots, laughing and talking over each other.

“I see them!” Chloe yelled over the loud music.

“What?” Beca yelled back, not being able to hear even herself.

“Just hold on to me, okay?” She leaned down to the brunette's ear. “I don't want to loose you.” The redhead said and put out her hand for Beca to grab it. She intertwined their fingers and started pushing through the crowd. Beca did hear the last part and even though she knew the context, she couldn't stop the glowing feeling in her chest from growing warm. She trailed after Chloe, trying to avoid all the bodies bumping into them, squeezing their way towards the table.

When they reached the Bellas neither of them let go of their hands. Only when the other girls tore them away when they started squealing and embracing them in bone crushing hugs, their fingers detangled, leaving both of their hands feeling cold.

“BLOE'S HERE!!!” Amy yelled. “How have you been short-stack! Oh, my god, let's go do tequila shots!” The Australian shouted, already pushing the small DJ toward the bar.

Amy waved over the bartender to order a round for everyone. She was waving her hands in the air dramatically like something was on fire. It was obvious that she already had few drinks (or not, she's Amy, she is crazy with or without alcohol, so Beca can't really tell).

“Actually, can I just get soda?”

“Why saying no to fun DJ? Are we grumpy? What's going on?” Amy asked, watching the face of her friend very closely.

“No, I just don't really feel like drinking.” Beca shrugged. “Doesn't feel like that kind of night.” She didn't want to drink. She didn't want to do anything she might regret around someone here tonight. Specifically someone with red auburn hair and the most beautiful and contagious smile that makes her want to kiss those lips endlessly for so many weeks now. She's been thinking about it. She's been dreaming about it. And she can not figure out a way how to take her mind off of her best friend.

“Are you kidding me? It's totally that kind of night!” Amy argued. “It's not every day that I get to see y'all twig bitches, you know. I missed you all .” The blond says almost pouting which makes Beca feel a bit guilty. She really doesn't want to bring the mood down on what's supposed to be a fun night out with her friends (her family, really). She loves these girls more than she would ever admit to anyone. She would do anything for them but she also has a bad-ass reputation to maintain so she usually tries to play it cool.

“Is something up with the ginger?” She asked.

“No?” Beca answered but it came out more like a question. She cleared her throat. “Why would you think that?” The blond just studied her face silently.

“Have you told her yet?” she asked quietly.

“Huh? Tell what? Who?” Beca totally knew, but in order to keep the feelings for her roommate in check she had to pretend like nothing was wrong.

“Chloe and how you feel about her. Come on Beca, we both know how it is.” Amy said. Not teasing. She knew how her friends looked at each other but the both of them were holding back for some unknown stupid reason. Amy nudged Beca. Just a sign that she was there for her. A reassurance that she could talk.

“No. Me and Chloe are not a thing and we never will be. She's my friend. She doesn't even know that I'm-” Beca stops the sentence and stares at her hands in her lap. “I just can't.” She said in a low voice. Amy didn't want to push her friend more. It was all over her face, the sadness she carried and the weight of unsaid confessions. Amy just wanted to lift it all off of her.

“Okay Romeo, sounds like your juice box is on me.” This brought out a little sad laugh from Beca.

“Okay, one drink, but no tequila .” She drags the words out to get the point across, but Amy seemed to only pay attention to the first part.

“Ay there mister bartender!” The blond yelled to get the poor man's attention. “Four shots of tequila for me and my short friend here.” That earned her a death glare from the brunette, followed with the classic Beca Mitchel eyeroll.

“And yeah, don't worry pretty boy, I'll give you my number.” She said to the man behind the bar with a wink.

-------------------meanwhile at the table

All the girls were scattered through out the club. Beca and Amy were chatting at the bar, Chloe was having a great time at the dance floor along with Emily and Flo dancing their hearts out, and CR with Lily were browsing through the song collection in the jukebox. Only Aubrey and Stacie were left sitting at the table.

“Babe, what do you think about Beca and Chloe?” The blonde asked.

“What do you mean?” Stacie asked, playing dumb to know where her girlfriend's mind was wondering. She wanted to know what Aubrey knows but she also had to be careful not to reveal anything that was not her's to tell.

“I don't know.” She shrugged. She was little tipsy at this point making it easier to voice her thoughts. “I just think they would look good together.” She said, bringing her drink to her lips. She watched the ginger steal glances at the other woman for the whole night (she's been doing that for years, actually) and decided that there had to be something she could do. She wasn't stupid. She also saw how Beca looked at her too so she was gonna try to help her friend.

“Yeah,” Stacie agreed, thinking back to what Beca said to her. She watched her friend across the room, leaning against the bar glancing at a certain redhead in the crowd. Her eyes were sad, flickering between Chloe and the Australian she was having a conversation with. She looked like somebody had kicked her puppy and her.

“I think you're right. We should totally do something about it.”

“Yeah?” Aubrey asked brightly. She was so done watching her friend pining over Beca. It hurt her to see her so unhappy. She had to do something.

“Operation Bloe starting?”

“Operation Bloe starting.” They high-fived and begun planning. As they knew their friends, it was not going to be easy.

---------------------------------------------

Later when most of the Bellas headed home, it was just Beca, Chloe, Aubrey and Stacie sitting in their booth. Just a simple conversation, laughing and touching feet under the table.

“Hey Bree, how long are you two together now? Seems like a long time.” Chloe brightly asked her friend.

“Oh, um, officially, I think about 2 years now? Is that right?” She turned to her girlfriend.

“Yes babe, but unofficially it's longer. We've been casual for a really long time before we started dating.” The leggy brunette said with a wink, leaning in to kiss her partner.

“How cute!” Chloe squealed, finishing her drink. The one innocent kiss between the couple started heating up quickly. Hands started roaming and tongues got involved.

“Woah! Okay guys, get a room.” Beca stood up, uncomfortable from watching her friends make out. “Well, how about a re-fill? I need more to drink after seeing this.” She muttered. Chloe laughed at the color of Beca's face, enjoying every bit of it. She helped the brunette gather their glasses and stood up too.

“Let me help with that, they don't look like they are going to be done any time soon. I'm coming with you.” As they left their table to get more drinks, Aubrey grinned at Stacie.

“Well done babe,” The blond said.

“Yeah, well I'm not done here” She said, climbing even more into Aubrey's lap.

“Okay, you can have a lot of that later but right now we need to stick to our plan if you don't want to watch our friends pine over each other for another three years.”

“Ugh, yes boss,” Stacie groaned and climbed off her girlfriend with a pout. “But I'm taking you up on that offer of more making out later.”

“Of course you are.” Aubrey leaned to give her one more quick kiss on the cheek. “Okay, now go go go. You know what you're supposed to do.”

“How are you Becs?” Chloe asked.

“Um, good?” Beca was confused at the sudden small talk, especially coming from the redhead. “How about you?”

“Oh, I was just wondering how you were holding up after you and Jessie... uh, you know, you never really talked about it.” Chloe fiddled with her hands, worrying she might have overstepped when Beca didn't answer right away. The small brunette hopped on a bar stool and looked at her friend.

“Yeah um, I didn't really feel like talking about it.”

“Well, do I need to break his nose or something? 'Cause I will !” The redhead circled her fist in the air and it made the brunette laugh softly. She knew Chloe would kick Jessie's ass if she wanted to and the idea of her wanting to do that for her made the little feeling in her chest bloom even more.

“No. No, it's on me. He didn't do anything.” Beca took a sip of her drink as she looked away from the ginger.

“Then what happened Beca?” Chloe's voice was soft, worry dancing behind those crystal blue eyes that Beca got lost in so many times.

“I- I just, I don't know how to tell you Chloe. It's- complicated.” She hung her head low, feeling all the pressure return, fighting the urge to run.

“It's okay.” The redhead reassured her. She stepped closer to her, now standing between Beca's knees. Wrapping her arms around her small frame she whispered to her. “You don't have to explain to me anything, but I'm here for you. I always will be.” The brunette couldn't help but return the hug with a firm squeeze, shutting her eyes to prevent tears from forming. “Thank you Chlo”

“Always forever”

They brought their drinks back to the table where their friends were sitting –finally--not on top of each other. They went back to chatting and laughing, the drinks were flowing and nobody seemed to care what time it was. Chloe had her arm around Beca, drunk on alcohol, laughing so hard, and on the closeness of the two of them. They were sitting so close that there wasn't a room for a sheet of paper to slide through. Their thighs were touching all the way and Chloe's shoulder was pressing into Beca's.

Chloe's eyes were glued on the small woman's profile, scanning how brown waves were framing her beautiful features. The soft lines around her eyes when she smiled or how her eyebrows twitched when Aubrey said something that annoyed her. She was mesmerized by the DJ. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to let herself fully love this woman.

Beca on the other hand was terrified. Afraid to succumb to the growing feelings for the redhead with a heart so big, that anyone could fall in. She had her laugh stuck bouncing in her head every day and night. Every track she started mixing, every song she tried to write, it always ended up being about Chloe. There was no way of escaping it.

“Oh my God! Beca!” Chloe squealed when the first notes of Titanium by David Guetta started playing. She was grinning from ear to ear.

“Come on Beca, you have to dance with me!” Chloe said pulling Beca up with her.

“No, I don't really fell like-” Beca started, but got thrown off by big blue eyes looking at her, accompanied with pink pout-shaped lips. She groaned, “Ugh, FINE!” She let herself be dragged through the crowd of people to the dancefloor. When she looked back at Stacie, she just gave her a thumbs up with a toothy grin. Beca just flipped her off and trailed behind Chloe.

“Did you really just take me dancing to your lady jam?” The brunette asked.

“Come on Becs, it's literally our song.” Chloe said enthusiastically.

“Did barging into my shower and forcing me to sing it really make it our song?” She questioned.

The redhead stepped closer to her and placed her hands on the other woman's shoulders. Beca's hands automatically placed themselves on Chloe's waist.

“Yes.” She stated simply, moving their bodies to the beat.

Even though the song was more upbeat, their bodies were pressed together, gently swaying from one side to the other.

Beca felt the alcohol buzzing through her veins. It made it so much harder not to focus on what she was feeling in the pit of her stomach, or her hand on Chloe's hips and how she just wanted to run her fingers along the silky fabric that clung to a sculpted body. She couldn't tear her eyes away from her roommate. She was breathtaking. Her hair was no longer in the messy bun, it was let down. Soft auburn curls were freely floating slightly disheveled from dancing all night, but it was the most angelic sight Beca has ever witnessed.

As the song played they both joined in singing just loud enough for the two of them to hear. Their faces close, bodies pressed together, eyes barely open. Chloe rested her forehead on Beca's as the chorus came.

I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away

Beca felt just like the night in the shower, images of the event returning back to her.

Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away

Chloe remembered how mesmerized she was after hearing the brunette sing for the first time. She didn't think that something like busting somebody's shower could bring into her life someone so special.

You shoot me down, but I won't fall
I am titanium
You shoot me down, but I won't fall
I am titanium

“You are so important to me, you know.” Chloe said closing her eyes, not being able to look at the woman she loved without ruining everything. The pull toward the brunette she felt was almost impossible to resist. “You're an alto to my soprano.” She continued. “We are great together.” She meant it in more ways than one and she hoped that Beca knew. Somewhere deep down she hoped that Beca felt like that too.

“You're so weird.” She laughed but it was breathless. She was breathless. She couldn't explain why but Chloe had the power to take her breath away at any given moment and right now she really needed to breath. Maybe it was the alcohol but everything was blurry. Nothing around them mattered but the two of them.

“Thanks.” she responded.

The both of them moved like that. Feeling the tension of a magnetic pull was distracting enough to keep them from noticing that the song was over. Their bubble got burst only when somebody bumped into them with a mumbled apology. The song was different now, out of taste of both of the girls. Beca wanted to go back to the previous moment where she had Chloe all to herself but she took her hand and guided them back to the table instead. She didn't trust her brain to behave.

“Woah Chloe, you okay there?” Asked Aubrey as she watched the redhead stumble the last few steps in front of them.

“Yeah, totes!” She said. She was leaning on Beca for some balance she was obviously lacking at the moment. Seems like all her drinks of the night caught up to her and hit her like a truck.

“You look like you should be heading home sweetie.” The blond stated with affection in her voice.

“Gee thanks, Bree.” Aubrey shot her a look.

“You know what I mean Chlo, just don't forget to drink water.” She said caringly.

“Beca, you okay to take her home? Do you need help?” Stacie joined.

“Yeah of course, I'm fine. I'll call the cab for us.” The short brunette didn't have that much alcohol in her system like her friend. After the shots with Amy and another round of drinks from Stacie she was drinking just soda. She didn't want to get wasted and do something she'll regret in the morning. At least not today.

She took her stuff (and Chloe) and went outside. The chilly air of the late night surrounded them. The stars were hanging from a clear sky and the moon was shining brightly. Neon lights were hitting their profiles and the music could be still heard from the club, vibrating through the sidewalk. A cold breeze blew by and it made Chloe shiver.

“You cold?” Beca stepped closer.

“A little, but it's fine.” She shook her head but Beca was already pulling off her coat.

“No Becs, what about you? You'll catch a cold” Chloe protested. The brunette put the coat around Chloe's shoulders and brushed a stray strand of red hair off her face.

“I'll be okay.” She gave her a small smile of reassurance. Beca felt jealous of the way the blue lights touched the redhead's face, falling on her features. Brushing softly along her jaw, her nose and her lips. She wanted to touch her face. Trace her fingers over the lines by Chloe's eyes, brush those pink cheeks with her thumb, make sure those lips are never cold. But instead she just stuck her hands in her pockets to prevent herself from doing so.

“Thanks” She said quietly. She felt her heart warm, but it wasn't because she had another layer of clothing. Chloe knew that much.

They were sitting in the car that was taking them home. They were sitting in the back seat, the radio was playing on the lowest volume, the sound of the engine making it harder for Chloe not to fall asleep. Her head was on Beca's shoulder and their fingers were intertwined. She tried to think of something to talk about to keep herself awake.

“It doesn't.” She said. The brunette turned to look at her confused.

“What doesn't?” She tried to search in her mind, thinking it was related to something from their previous conversations of the night, but nothing came to mind.

The redhead continued. “The dress, my dress. You said it matched my eyes.”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Yeah, but it doesn't.” Chloe stated. The brunette was still a little bit confused and it showed on her face. Chloe explained further. “It's blue but not like my eyes. My eyes are lighter but this blue is deeper and darker. The kind of dark blue that looks like a deep ocean. Somewhere in the middle of nowhere where there could be dangerous sharks if you dived in, but you wouldn't know unless you jumped....like your eyes.”

The brunette's hand stopped rubbing circles, that she wasn't aware of doing before on Chloe's hand. 'Oh'. This was pretty poetic even for a drunk Chloe. Her words were little slurred together and she had a hard time keeping her head up but otherwise she seemed fine.

“So yeah, when I was buying that dress, the first thing that came to my mind was 'Oh, this matches Beca's eyes ' so I had to buy it.” Her stomach was doing the weird thing again and her heart seemed like it tripped over the words that had been said. Beca was sure her cheeks were totally pink and she was thankful that the redhead couldn't see. It was very dark and the only source of light were the streetlights passing the windows occasionally.

“I'm very flattered, Chlo.” She wanted to add a snarky remark but she came up empty handed, too stunned to use sarcasm. “Maybe next time let me know and I could also wear something matching.” Chloe's eyes immediately lit up with excitement.

“Aww, Beca Mitchel is willing to drop her bad-ass persona and wear matching outfits with me? Who are you and what did you do to my roommate!” Chloe giggled, the sound warming the inside of Beca's chest.

“Shut up Beale or you will never hear me say that again!” The small brunette warned. She knew that matching outfits were totally cliché (and not at all bad-ass), but she was pretty willing to do that for the redhead. She knew that if Chloe looked at her with those big blue eyes and a pout, she wouldn't be able to say no. She would do pretty much do anything Chloe asked her to do.

“Okay, okay. Forget I said anything.” Said the redhead laughing. Beca rolled her eyes but couldn't help but join the other woman. She loved her deeply as a friend but the things she was doing to her were crossing all the lines. She was scared to put their friendship on the line but maybe, just maybe, she could let herself love this girl in more than one way. But just maybe.

After their laugh died down Chloe leaned back on Beca and before dozing off, she said. “I think we match pretty well.”

Chapter Text

Chloe patted her feet walking from her bedroom and found Beca sitting at the kitchen table.

“Hey how are you feeling. You seemed pretty drunk yesterday.” Beca asked remembering how she had to practically drag the half sleeping redhead out of the car.

“Oh, you know just... sore feet from the dancing I guess.” Chloe stretched her arms out.

“Are you serious right now?” Beca stared at her roommate blankly. “You're telling me that you're not hung over... like... not even a little bit?” Chloe just shrugged. “Dude how is that even possible? I literally had to carry you here 'cause your legs weren't working.”

It was so unfair that the redhead didn't have the same after effects of a full night of drinking like everybody else did. She always woke up looking like sunshine while everyone was a wreck, like nothing happened and that was pretty much pissing off the short brunette. ' So unfair! ' she thought.

“Yeah, I remember.” She said, smiling to her self as she recalled the way the woman's hands were tightly wrapped around her waist, not letting her fall as they stumbled out of the elevator. Chloe was leaning on her the whole way to the apartment, her hand was hanging around her neck and she couldn't help but think about how easy it would be to just lean in and put her lips on Beca's.

She could've done it. If she was selfish enough she could've stolen one kiss and then blame it on the alcohol or claim to not remembering anything at all. But she didn't. Beca was her friend and that was enough for her, even if she never got to love her the way she wanted to. But it still left butterflies in her stomach just from thinking about how close they were the whole night. The looks and the touches all still lingering on her skin. She memorized them all to keep her warm at cold nights when she was feeling hopeless with her feelings for the girl.

“Beca Mitchel, my knight in shining armor.” Chloe put her hands up in the air like she was picturing it written on a big billboard across the street, giggling. “Thank you by the way for getting me home in one piece” She said, taking Beca's mug and bringing it to her lips, sipping from the cold coffee.

It was hard for Beca to even pretend to be annoyed with her when she was looking at her like that. Soft curls from the night before framing her face, and those piercing blue eyes that made her go weak in her knees, somehow looking even brighter in the soft morning light coming through the windows of their apartment making her skin glow in an angelic way. Beca felt a soft pain in her chest. Like a needle trying to poke a hole through her heart. She wasn't sure what it was but this feeling was getting more and more familiar around this woman.

When she helped her lay down on the bed and made sure she had water and Advil on her nightstand within her reach, she said good night and turned to leave. “Beca?” she heard.

“Yeah?”

“I don't want to be alone. Can you stay with me?” Chloe looked at her. Her eyes were barely open but her voice sounded too small for Beca to leave. It wrapped around her chest and pulled her back into the room. She climbed onto the mattress next to her, but apparently she left too much space between them, because Chloe closed the gap without a beat, placing her head in the crook of the brunette's neck and placing her hand over her stomach.

“Thank you.” The redhead whispered.

“Of course. Any time.”

It didn't take long for Chloe to fall asleep, but Beca was wide awake staring at the ceiling. She couldn't sleep. Not when Chloe's breath was tickling the skin over her collarbone and her hair smelled like strawberries. She couldn't take it. Her heart was beating hard, like it was trying to climb out of her body. Her mind was racing itself.

'A friend. A friend. That's your best friend damm it! ' she repeated to herself.

She snuck out from under Chloe, replacing herself with a pillow, around four in the morning. She knew there was no way she was gonna fall asleep so she did the one thing she always did when she was running. She brewed herself a cup of coffee and started mixing.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6: safe now

Beca Mitchel is rising. She has been covered in work from head to toe for weeks now. Working non-stop at the studio with a new found artist making his debut album. As a producer, she is going up the ladder with every passing client. Bigger fishes want to work with the DJ and she's trying to grab on to as much upward motion as she can. When she isn't spending the night on the studio couch, she goes home usually somewhere around one in the morning to shower and sleep, just to go back early in the morning.

On top of it all, between all the mixing, she writes her own music. She's been working on original songs, slowly building her own album. Since her new found inspiration wouldn't leave her mind, the melodies and lyrics won't stop bothering her until they are written down on a page. Every time she puts down the guitar a new idea for a catchy riff strikes. It was an endless circle.

“Okay Benson, that was good. We'll run it again later with the second verse. Let's take a break and then we'll continue.” Beca said into the microphone. The guy in the recording booth flashed a toothy grin with a thumbs up. He took down his headphones and it revealed the indent that was left behind in his curly chestnut hair. It wasn't a surprising thing to see, because they were working since six in the morning.

“Miss Mitchel, we'll be heading out for lunch. Wanna join us?” Benson asked, but Beca just gave him a death glare.

“Dude, stop calling me that! I'm literally just a few years older than you.”

“Yes ma'am.” He chuckled. Beca rolled her eyes and shooed him away.

“Go eat your lunch big boy and eat all your veggies! We still have few bangers to finish.”

“So will you not be joining us?”

“No, go enjoy your meal. I already ate.”

That was a total lie. Actually, Beca couldn't remember when was the last time she ate actual food, let alone a cooked meal. The only energy income in solid form were few old forgotten protein bars she found at the very bottom of her bag. She didn't have time to eat. Not when there was so much to do.

Again, the second everyone left for their lunchbreak, she grabbed her guitar and started scribbling onto a already half filled page.

Beca got lost in time, writing and re-writing words she didn't quite know where to place. She was humming quietly to herself when a paper bag was placed on the desk in front of her.

“Oh, you didn't have to bring me any-” Beca looked up to see a different pair of eyes looking at her than she was expecting. “Chloe?” The redhead beamed at her. “What are you doing here?” Beca asked in surprise. She hasn't seen the woman nearly over two weeks and she totally forgot how breathtaking she was. Her auburn hair was up in a high ponytail and her eyes were glowing in the old yellow light of the studio room. She was wearing one of Beca's old Barden hoodies which made it look like it's not oversized at all.

“Well, I figured that if you had nobody here to take care of you that I would stop by and check if you're still breathing. And I brought you noodles from that vietnamese place you like.” She reached into the paper bag and took out two white food containers. The smell hit Beca's nostrils and her stomach growled loudly.

“You know living just on redbull and caffeine will stop your heart eventually, right ? That is only if the lack off sleep won't get to you first.” Chloe said with a knowing look, eyeing the empty cans and paper cups in the trash.

“It's a good thing then that I have this awesome roommie looking after me.” The brunette said with already full mouth. A small humm of appreciation left her as she stuffed her face with food.

Chloe spent the rest of the recording sitting quietly in the back on the small studio couch. She observed and nodded her head to the songs playing. She liked watching Beca work. How her hands moved over the board, sliding and pressing buttons with the confidence of somebody with years of experience. It blew Chloe's mind every time she started talking music theory or producer language. The redhead didn't understand a thing but she was mesmerized by how the brunette could transform from a totally awkward and a dorky person to somebody who bossed and managed a whole room full of musicians and technics and knew what she was doing. Chloe missed the times when it was just the two of them in Beca's dorm. Back then it was only her who got to listen to the tracks Beca made. It was special. But now she's so proud of how far has Beca made it and is there to watch how far she'll come, because if Beca Mitchel doesn't have any fans, then Chloe is dead. Period.

“Hey Chlo, what do you think of this?” Beca turned in her chair, took of her headphones and handed them to her. Everyone had already left and it was just the two of them. Beca hit play and sounds of soft electric guitar and a piano surrounded the redhead.

“This is beautiful. What is this?” Chloe asked as the track ended.

“Just something I've been working on.” She shrugged. “It's an original but I have no idea what the lyrics are gonna be.”

“An original? That's amazing Becs! You're writing again?” Chloe beamed with excitement. She always loved when Beca used to make a little short songs on just her notebook back in collage. “Yeah, I'm feeling inspired lately so I'm working on an album.” There was a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks that Chloe totally missed.

“O-MY-GOD! A WHOLE ALBUM? CAN I HEAR IT? Pleaseeeeeee let me hear it! Will I get VIP tickets? I'll be pretty mad if they won't let you give me one. I'm literally your biggest fan.” Chloe went on and on and Beca had to tap her arm to bring her back to reality.

“Dude, chill ! It's not even done yet. And no, I won't play it to you until it's finished.”

“But-” she started but the brunette raised an eyebrow. “Okay, fine.” The woman said sinking back into the couch with a pout.

“When are we heading home?” Chloe asked after some time.

“Oh, I can't. I still have so much to do.” Beca wanted to get things done while she felt inspired. She planned to pull another all-nighter. She was going to spend every bit of her free time to work on this.

“What ever it is, it can wait until tomorrow. C'mon stand up. Do you even remember how the fresh air feels like?” Chloe walked over and pulled the brunette up from her chair.

“But Chlo...” It was Beca who was pouting this time. “Can I just-”

“No” Chloe cut her off lightly. She put her hands on her shoulders and walked her to the side, grabbed her bag and pushed her out the door.

Chloe insisted on taking a walk through the park on their way home. It was nice outside so Beca didn't complain as much as she normally would. They stopped by a lake nearby and walked on the jetty, the wooden planks squeaking under their feet.

Beca sat down on the edge with her feet hanging just few inches above the water. She closed her eyes and listened to the wind rustling the trees around. For the first time in a while she heard the birds sing a song she didn't feel like editing. She felt herself relax into that sound.

“This is nice.” She said. “Thanks for taking me out of there.” Chloe sat down beside her.

“Yeah, you looked like you needed a break.” The redhead smirked.

“Wow, gee thanks.” Beca said narrowing her eyes at the woman.

“Any time.” She smiled brightly, a giggle escaping her. It struck Beca right in the chest. She couldn't help but look at her friend, her eyes running all over her face.

'Beautiful' was the only word in her mind while she looked at Chloe.

The other woman looked into the dark blue eyes and watched them sparkle in the light. She felt the familiar pull again toward the brunette's lips. They were sitting close but not close enough for Chloe's liking. She wanted to reach out and move closer but she didn't want to break any boundaries. So all she did was lean and bump Beca's shoulder with hers. In return Beca did the same but didn't quite pull way.

There was this magnetic field keeping her from leaving. She didn't want to leave. And suddenly, everything became irrelevant in the moment. All of her fears and thoughts of what could happen were forgotten and all that mattered was the woman looking at her and the feelings she had for her.

She let herself lean a little closer, eyes glued on Chloe's parted lips. Chloe was using all her willpower not to close the distance. Her knuckles were white from holding on to the wood under her and her heart was beating fast.

Their faces were just inches apart when their bubble burst as suddenly as it started. A loud sound drew both of their attention toward the water. Weak scream was heard followed with hectic splashes. “Help!”

Before Chloe knew what was happening, Beca was already on her feet and jumping into the lake. There was a little boy waving his arms franticly. “Hel-pflp-I-can'tpflflbh” he hardly made the words out as his clothes were pulling him down. Beca swam to him, lifted him up from under water and wrapped one arm around him. She swam backwards using the other arm to get them back to the jetty. Chloe leaned over the edge, helping the child up. The boy was coughing and sobbing, holding on to the redhead. Water was dripping from his dark hair and falling on Chloe's sweater.

A middle-aged couple came running down to them. “Oh my god Robbie! What happened?” The woman knelt down and held her son's face in her hands, searching for any indication that he was in pain. “He must have fallen-” Chloe got to barely finish when the woman grabbed her arms squeezing. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” Before she could say anything else, the pair was hurrying to their car with the kid.

She turned around but was taken aback when she saw Beca climbing out of the water. She pulled herself up onto the pier in one swift motion. Chloe's world slowed down as she watched the clothes stick to her friend's body. Beca took off her flannel, leaving the redhead's jaw dropping when she noticed how very see-through was the wet t-shirt she was wearing underneath.

“Is he going to be okay?” Beca asked, squeezing the water out of as much of her clothes as she could.

“Who-?Oh yeah, he seems like he's going to be alright.” Chloe had a hard time focusing on answering with full sentence without messing up when the brunette was standing there, fabric clinging to her front, leaving very little to the imagination.

“He was so scared.” Beca said quietly as she looked in the direction of where the family left, wrapping her arms around her torso.

“Yeah, but he is okay now.” Chloe put her hand on her shoulder. There was something in her expression she assumed was worry, but she didn't notice how tightly were her fingers gripping her arms.

A breeze blew by and it made Beca shiver. “God, you must be freezing. Let's get you home.” Chloe said, realizing they still have to walk back to their apartment.

By the time they reached the door, Beca was shaking from the cold. She couldn't feel her fingers and her teeth were chattering. The moment Chloe opened the door she went into the bathroom turning on hot water, hurrying Beca in and stepping out. She went into the kitchen and started brewing some tea.

By the time the brunette got out she had already placed bunch of blankets and pillows on their couch. Beca walked out of her room in sweatpants and an oversized hoodie. Her damp hair was in a lazy bun on the top of her head and the remains of her eyeliner were still a little smudged around her eyes.

She dropped down next to Chloe and pulled a blanket around herself tightly.

“Feeling better?” The ginger asked handing her her tea.

“Yeah, still a little cold but at least not freezing to death.” She said with a sad smile blowing on the hot beverage.

They sat in odd silence for a while. Beca stared at her hands in her lap absently, picking on the skin around her nails. Chloe wasn't sure what was happening until she saw the brunette's small frame shake with a quiet sob, a single tear was rolling down her cheek.

“Oh my god, Beca.” Chloe whispered. She sprung forward, took the mug from Beca's hands and placed in on the small table in front of them.

“Honey, what's wrong.” She pulled the younger woman into her arms and held her close. Beca held back another sob that formed in her throat as she tried to calm her breathing. Once her tears dried a little she sat back up still looking down at her hands. Chloe was desperate to know what was causing her friend to hurt like that but she knew that she shouldn't push the girl. So instead, she didn't say a thing and just softly rubbed her hand on Beca's back in light circles.

After a minute, Beca finally found the strength in her to talk. “It happened to me too.” She said quietly. “It was a long time ago, back when we lived in Seattle. I was about eight or nine.” She was still looking in her lap but there was a faint sad smile on her face with the memory of her home.

“Me and the kids from my neighborhood, we always used to play around this lake few streets away from where I livved.” She looked up to meet Chloe's eyes for the first time since they got home. The dark blue circles were rimmed with red and the sight broke Chloe's heart in half with a loud crack.

Beca continued. “This one time in November, we played a little too close and I fell into the water but I didn't know how to swim back then. I had a winter jacket on and big leather boots.” The brunette looked back down at her hands playing with a loose thread from the blanket. “I fell in, I screamed, I splashed my hands around but none of my friends did anything. Nobody ran to get somebody, nobody tried to help. They were right there and they continued playing like nothing happened and then they left me there.”

This made Chloe's eyes burn with rage. She wanted to kick them all for leaving a little kid fighting for her life in freezing water. She would've jumped in. She would've saved her. She would've done anything for Beca. Chloe bit back the anger and pulled Beca close again.

“How did you make it out?” Chloe asked, willing her voice not to shake.

“I don't know. I just- I- somehow managed to get to the side. I remember how heavy my clothes were when I tried to crawl out of the water. And then when I got home, my parents scolded me for getting everything wet” Chloe clenched her jaw and tightened her arms around the brunette. She made a mental note to have a talk with Mr. Mitchell next time she sees him. “I'm sorry” She whispered, blinking away angry tears.

“So when I saw that boy today, I kinda saw myself. So terrified.” The last part came out so quiet that the redhead almost missed it. “I had to help him.”

“You did. You saved him. He is safe now. Thanks to you.” Chloe pressed a soft kiss on top of Beca's head. She shifted them so the brunette would lay her head on the pillow in Chloe's lap. Her finger combing through brown chestnut hair. She watched her eyes slowly flutter and close as she held her. She leaned down and whispered softly.

“You are safe here.” She held Beca as she fell asleep. She watched the pain slowly disappear from the soft features. Her eyebrows relaxing and her lips parting slightly. She looked so peaceful. Chloe would give anything in exchange for all of Beca's pain and the all the things she went through, to be lifted off of her and be forgotten forever.

“You are safe here, with me.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 7:  Taking care 

The next morning Beca woke up and felt like she got hit by a truck. Her limbs were heavy, her muscles didn't work and her whole body just hurt like hell. She had slept on this couch before but it never made her feel like a dead person. But maybe it's just the fact that she's slowly getting to the age of thirty. Yes. That could be it.  

But it's not. 

She was cold. Very cold, yet her body was sweating like she was in the oven, shaking. She got up to go to the kitchen with her blanket still wrapped around her.  

“Morning.” she grumbled. Chloe just stared at her. 

“Beca? Are you feeling okay?” She asked her roommate with worry on her face. 

“Yeah why wouldn't I?” 

“Because you look like a freaking ghost. You are even more pale than usually, which I didn't think was even possible.” She hopped of the bar stool she was sitting on and walked toward Beca. The redhead placed her hand on the girl's forehead. 

“Thank you Beale for the lovely greeting. I will proceed and take it as a compliment as I go and drink a gallon of hot dark brown beverage that shall give me enough energy to come up with a compliment as endearing as yours.” She deadpanned. She leaned a little bit into Chloe's touch (but if anybody asked, she would totally deny it). 

“O my god, Beca. You are totally burning up.” She pulled away her hand and Beca almost whined at the loss of contact, her head feeling too heavy to hold up on her own. 

“Did you just call me hot?” Beca snickered. Chloe turned to grab a small box from the kitchen cabinet. 

“Yes, the temperature of your skin is above average so yeah, I'm calling you hot.” She turned back with a smirk that left Beca standing there without movement, now not just her head feeling hot. Chloe took the thermometer out of the box and put it on Beca's forehead. With a little beep she turned it around to show the brunette. 

“Look, it's even scientifically proven. You're definitely hot.” She said with a wink. Beca took a closer look on the little monitor. It said 100.4 Fº. 

'Great' Beca thought. She groaned and walked into her room.  

Moments later Chloe walked in too with two cups of hot tea.  

“What do you think you're doing?” Chloe asked, eyebrows raised.  

“Um, packing? I'm going to be late for work.” She said while putting her laptop and some cables into her bag.  

“No, you're not.”  

“Uh, Yes! I am!” Beca argued. 

“Are you crazy? You haven't eaten properly in days, your sleep schedule is all over the place if not non existent, you literally have a fever and after yesterday your immunity is probably below zero. You're staying home.” 

“But-” Beca tried but Chloe just pushed her to sit on the bed, handing her one of the mugs. She huffed in defeat. Maybe Chloe was right. Her head was throbbing and it would be probably a pain in the ass having to deal with people if she went to work.  

“No buts! You need to rest.” the redhead warned. 

“UGH! Fine!” Beca huffed lying back on the bed.

Chloe went to the kitchen to grab something for Beca to eat. She took down a plate, and put bread in the toaster. After a soft 'ding ' she took the slices, put peanut butter on one and strawberry jelly on the other. She repeated this process one more time, put the plates on a tray with some orange juice and walked back to her roommate. 

To Chloe's surprise Beca was in bed fast asleep. She was covered with her blanket all the way up to her chin and hugging a pillow. Her hair was messily splayed across the mattress in brown fuzzy waves. Her cheeks were hot pink, probably from the fever, Chloe thought. The sight hit her heart as she watched Beca's body rise and fall in steady breaths. The brunette worked herself down to her core and the redhead was worried about her. But watching her finally sleep in her own bed and finally getting the rest she needed, brings her a sense of relief.  

She placed the tray on the nightstand next to the half drank tea and she closed the door softly behind her on her way out.  

Around eleven Chloe came back and gently shook Beca awake.  

“Hey sleepy head, you should drink something.” She whispered. She helped her friend sit up and handed her a bottle of water and pressed two little tablets into Beca's palm. “These should help you feel better.”  

Beca swallowed the pills and let her head fall back against the headboard, her body still feeling like it weighed a ton.  

“How are you feeling?” Chloe asked. 

“Still sucks.” 

Chloe put her hand on her forehead again. “You're still burning.”  

“Yeah, 'cause I'm hot as fuck. Especially in my sweaty pajamas.” She smirked when it brought out a giggle from the other woman. It was her favorite sound and it just made her being sick suck a whole lot less. 

Chloe stood up and left into the bathroom. She came back carrying a wet towel. She folded it neatly and placed it on Beca's forehead. The brunette hissed a little but after a moment she adjusted to it's temperature and relaxed into it. Chloe helped her to lay back down and fluffed her pillow for her and placed it under her. As she was turning to leave Beca caught her hand. 

“Hey Chlo, you know, you don't have to do all of this.”  

“I know. But I want to.” At this moment Chloe realized that it's exactly what she want's. She want's to take care of Beca. She wants to cook for her and make her dance with her in the kitchen. She wants to be there for every little milestone she achieves or any obstacle she faces. Day or night. She wants to fall asleep and wake up with her. To kiss her goodbye every morning when she leaves for work and hello when she comes back. When she looks around their apartment, the only home she sees is Beca. The talented musician with dark eyeliner who took her breath away the moment she stepped into her life. 

She loves her with her whole heart. Without a doubt.  

“Thanks Chlo.”  

“Of course. Any time.” 

She sat next to Beca until she fell asleep again, tracing small circles on the back of her hand with her thumb. When she was sure she was asleep, she leaned down and kissed her knuckles. She made sure the brunette had water within reach and was tucked in nicely before she went back into the kitchen.  

She occasionally came to check on Beca to check her temperature and change her towels but when she came back the last time, Beca wasn't in her bed.  

“Um, Beca? What do you think you're doing?”  

“I'm just finishing an email.”  

“What did I tell you? No working. Get back into bed. I get that you're a big star now but they can survive a day without you.” Chloe scolded. She walked to Beca's side and closed her laptop. This earned a glare from the short woman but she glared right back, using the skill she gained from the short brunette over the years.  

“Oh come on!” she whined. “It's just one email! I should literally be in the studio right now”  

“No, You should not. You've pushed your self hard enough. C'mon. Rest time.”  

Beca was acting like a teenager trying to convince her mother to let her go to a party. And Chloe was acting like a mother. The dynamics of the two women is always either co-captains of the Bellas, or an old bickering couple. Nothing else. But mostly the other one. 

 It was like they were meant to be. 

“I'm fine. I'm feeling better. And I've already slept enough.” She got more than ten hours of sleep, which was still not enough to make up for the past month, but she did feel better.  

Chloe stepped closer, lifting up Beca's chin with her hand. She searched her face for a beat, then she leaned down and pressed her lips to the middle of her forehead for three long seconds.  

“What was that for?” Beca asked, trying to keep the blood from showing up on her face. 

“Just checking your temperature.” She smiled softly. 

“You know you could use the thermometer again for that, right?” 

“Right. But then I wouldn't get to kiss you.” Chloe said with a wink. She watched the brunette's cheeks turn rosy pink with a smirk. She loved it so much when she blushed. 

Beca cleared her throat. “What's my diagnosis then, Miss Doctor Beale? Am I going to live?” 

“Not if you don't eat the soup I made you.” The redhead said with a chuckle, bringing a smile to the brunette's face. “And I guess your fever is gone, which I'm glad that that's the case, but your body still needs to recover. You really need to take it easy.” She said with so much care in her voice that it squeezed around Beca's heart, leaving only a feeling of being loved behind.  

“Can you do that for me?” her voice was soft. 

The brunette would do anything for her. Anything she asked. Anything for those blue eyes. 

“Yeah. I could do that.” 

They've spent the rest of the day lying around in bed talking and complaining about their jobs. Then Chloe decided they should watch a movie.  

“Chloe, I swear to god, if you make me watch The Notebook one more time I-”   

Chloe's face just transformed into a huge grin. 

They watched The Notebook. 

“I can't believe how you're still not sick of this movie” Beca sighed, sitting back down on the bed after her bathroom break. She watched Chloe's profile through out the whole movie. The redhead knew the script like the back of her hand and was mouthing every word perfectly the whole time. And that was something that Beca was happy to watch. 

“Yeah, well, it's a classic. Like all christmas movies. You don't really get tired of them.” Chloe said. 

“Except that you watch christmas movies on christmas. And the count of how many times you watched this, is probably higher then the number of both our ages combined. In a month.” Beca adds with an exaggerated eye roll .  

Chloe just squeals. “But I can't help it! The story is so beautiful and it makes me cry every time!” Beca couldn't help but look at the way her eyes sparkled with joy as she talked. 

“It's a story of beautiful summer love between two people, their ups and downs and their differences, how life tries to pull them apart.” Chloe beamed brightly. “And then at the end we learn that it's been him all along reading the story to her! It's so heartbreaking yet so beautiful!” 

Beca's eyes were glued to her face while she talked. She didn't understand how much love and passion could fit into one human body. It was magnetic. It seems like Chloe had her own gravity force and Beca was right in her orbit and couldn't get out. She didn't want to get out. She was getting closer and closer to the Sun, wondering when is everything going to explode, but not being able to stop any of it from happening. Her car was speeding down a dead end street with no breaks or parachute, so 'I might as well enjoy the ride before it all comes crushing down'. She thought to herself. 

When her eyes moved up from her lips to Chloe's eyes again, they were glossy. Just talking about the movie got her emotional. Beca quickly pushed few buttons on the notebook and laid back as the intro to 'High school musical' played. She knew Chloe liked musicals and the songs weren't that bad in this one. (Bonus points: she got to watch the redhead for a whole another hour and thirty-eight minutes) 

Chloe was surprised. 

Not because Beca put on another movie (she hates movies), a musical may she add.  

But because after twenty minutes into the movie, she moved closer to Chloe. She laid her head in the crook of her neck and draped one hand lazily over her torso. Beca was never one to initiate physical contact. Chloe was pretty sure that this was the first time any human had witnessed this.  

This made Chloe's heart race. The idea that Beca voluntarily cuddled up into her side made butterflies flutter in her stomach. She also felt Beca's breath tickle on her collarbone and her thumb was drawing lazy circles just below Chloe's ribcage.  

The redhead was very aware of how the brunette's front was pressed into her left side and how her leg was thrown over hers. She couldn't focus on the movie even if she wanted to. But she didn't want to. She had her arms around the only thing that really mattered to her.  

And so, she leaned into the feeling.  

Beca's eyes fluttered closed as she felt soft lips press to her forehead. This was slowly becoming something she would like to get used to.  

She inhaled the strawberry scent that was just so Chloe and it was slowly becoming the definition of home.  

She sighed, relaxing even more into the feeling and letting go of all previous doubts and fears.  

She let go. 

She was in love with this woman. And that was okay.  

They were going to be okay no matter what.  

She knew that.  

Chapter Text

The next day Chloe had to go to the clinic. It was Sunday but they needed help with sorting animals which were good to go to the shelters. Lately they've got a ton of stray cats and dogs that needed more attention, and the clinic was running low on space so they had to work fast to treat the animals and move them to a shelter where they can take further care of them.  

Chloe was skeptical about leaving Beca home alone (even though she was feeling great).  

“Go bless those poor animals with your magic Beale. I'm a grown-ass woman, I can take care of myself.” The brunette told her and assured her she was fine. She promised her not to run off to work even though she was behind schedule by two whole days now. 

“Okay, there's more soup in the fridge, but stay in bed, don't go anywhere!” Chloe warned with her finger and a stern look as she was leaving. 

“You can't ground me, I'm not a teenager!” Beca yelled as the door shut behind her. 

Beca spend the day walking around the apartment dusting shelves, wiping tables, cleaning the kitchen sink and staring at the ceiling of their living room. She was bored and had completely nothing to do because Chloe ,the ginger she adored so much, took her fucking notebook to make sure she wouldn't work. And that's just a fucking awesome. What a caring roommate! 

Later when she was laying on the couch upside-down and questioning her choice in friends, the doorbell rang. 'huh'. She didn't order any food or anything. She huffed and walked to the door and opened it. She was ready to tell some scout girls she wasn't interested in whatever they were selling but when she looked up, there was a familiar figure standing. Brown hair slicked back into a high ponytail and glossy lips framing a grin spread from ear to ear.  

“Hiiiiiii ! How's my favorite gremlin?” She walked past her heading straight for the kitchen with two grocery bags. 

“Stacie? What are you doing here?” Beca asked genuinely surprised, trailing behind her. 

“Oh, you know, Red told me you were sick so I decided to stop by and entertain you while she's at work.” The taller woman said and placed the bags on the counter. 

“Oh, of course she did.” Beca rolled her eyes. “She couldn't watch me so she sent a babysitter.” Beca groaned but deep down she felt genuinely happy that she was here. She was bored out of her mind and little lonely (even though she would never ever admit that). 

“The best on the market.” Stacie said with a grin. “Because” She stretched the word. “I bring SNACKS and the most awesome company you could ask for!” She said with a grin made for a magazine and started taking out many small packages of chips, pretzels, candy, gummy worms, cookies and many other types of junk food out of the bags.  

“Uuu, okay, I might have to ask Chloe to give you a tip at the end of the day.” Beca said snatching a pack of sour patch kids with a smile creeping onto her face. 

“Yeah, and you better leave a five star review.” Stacie winked. 

They sat on the couch playing videogames the whole afternoon, talking and munching on crackers. Then mid playing, out of nowhere, without even looking at her, Stacie asked.  

“How are your crushy-mushy feelings for Chloe?” It was enough to distract Beca to loose the round. She groaned and placed the controller on the coffee table. She took a sip from her can of coke and sighed. 

“I-” She paused trying to convert her thoughts into words that would make sense. “I just don't know what to do with it. She makes me feel so much and it's just so impossible to ignore. She's just so... CHLOE!” She thought about all the butterflies she felt with the woman. All the times she almost wanted to lean in. How they danced at the club or how Chloe looked at her by the lake. “Like... I want to be near her but when I am I just feel like running, but in a good way? And it's like my heart does a little flip every time she smiles or says something nice to me. It's ridiculous, really.” She laughed like she didn't believe what she was saying. “And I can't help but notice all the little things she does and just find her even more attractive. Like how she hums a melody only she knows in the kitchen while making coffee, or how she scrunches her nose when she thinks something is adorable, or how she puts a pen behind her ear while taking notes and color codes everything.” She let out a heavy sigh. “Sometimes I just can't help but wonder what it would be like to...” She trailed off.  

Stacie just looked at her knowingly. “Beca, are you falling for her?”  

Beca stared at her for a beat and then dropped her face into her hands. “Yeah, I think you might be right.” She looked back up at her friend sitting beside her, locked dark blue eyes with green. Her words spilling like a confession.“I think I'm falling for Chloe.” Her voice was small and a little hopeless. Maybe desperate. 

“Well then, what are you going to do about it?” 

“I don't know Stacie. What should I do?”  

Stacie just took a long sip from her soda, thinking. “We need a plan.” 

“A plan? Stacie I want to let her know how I feel, not kidnap her.” The short brunette dead paned.  

“Don't think too much of it. I've got a bet to win. I put a lot of money on you.” She said taking out a notebook from her bag. 

“Um, excuse me?! What did you bet on and with who exactly?” Beca's frustration was growing with how ridiculous this all was sounding. The other brunette just ignored her question and continued. 

“We need to figure out a way to make Chloe fall head over heels in love with you, that is, of course, only if she isn't already, and get you your happily ever after.”  

“What is that supposed to mean?” Beca's cheeks flushed a little. Maybe from the embarrassment from this whole situation or maybe from the thought of Chloe feeling the same. 

“Don't know, don't ask me. OKAY!” She clapped her hands firmly. Just like Aubrey used to do when she was the captain of the Bellas. She made a mental note to tell Stacie to spend little less time with the woman (even though she was her girlfriend).  

“What screams 'I have feelings for you' but also 'I wanna get into your pants'” 

“Stacie!” Beca squirmed, her whole face turning red again. “I don't wanna get into her pants!” She protested. Her little body had trouble handling this amount of embarrassment, flushing blood to the very tips of her ears. 

“Whatever you say Mitchell.” The leggy woman smirked. She made a thinking face tilting her head up and tapped her pen on her chin. “We should do something big. Something very romantic. Like...” 

“Like something from a lovey-dovey cliche movie?” Beca deadpanned, sarcasm rolling easily of her tongue in this situation she found herself in. 

“YES! Exactly!” 

“Ugh, I hate those movies.” The woman rolled her eyes.  

“That's right. But CHLOE doesn't! We should do flowers, dim lights, cande-”  

“Don't you think it's too much? I mean um, if you know, if she doesn't feel the same I don't want it to be too weird. Like ... I don't want to seem like a psycho who confessed their feelings out of nowhere.” She sighed. “Maybe I can just ask her to a normal coffee. But I need to be a hundred percent sure before anything.” 

“Lame.” Stacie said. “But sure, let me know when you need to borrow my sexy lingerie.” She winked. 

“You're impossible.” 

“You love it.” Beca just rolled her eyes. 

“But how do I know she likes me for sure. I mean, she's Chloe. Chloe, the one with no boundaries and no respect for personal space. How do I know she's not just being friendly. She's always touching everyone, not just me.” 

Stacie groaned internally. How can her friends be so stupidly in love with each other and be totally oblivious at the same time. She was so done watching them pine over each other.  She took a deep breath so she wouldn't try to smack some sense into the girl sitting in front of her. 

“Just go and jump her already! It's not that hard! Use your Beca effin' Mitchell charm or something.” 

“You're not helping Stacie! And also ...my WHAT?” Beca's face was switching many different expressions, like her face was glitching and it made the taller woman break into a laugh.  

“Just flirt with her. See how she responds. It's not like you guys don't do it all the time.” 

Beca snorted. “Um, I don't know if you ever noticed but I'm like... the most awkward person ever.” 

“Oh shut up. Just don't back down when she flirts back.” Stacie tells the small DJ. Finaly giving her something Beca can work with. 

“You can't let her break you.”