AN: I don't own Pitch Perfect or the characters. This is a planned multi-chap fic. It's gonna get angsty in here, but there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. I made an 8tracks playlist to accompany it, you can search for the same title name. Enjoy! Hopefully, there's enough interest and I'll post another chapter in the next few days. Cheers!

Chapter 1 - Vincent

It was a crisp, cool autumn day on the Barden campus. Beca wished she'd thought enough to grab a sweater or a jacket before setting off across the quad. Not being one to plan ahead and check the forecast, she grumbled under her breath and took her mind off the chill by crunching acorns along the sidewalk. Such a simple thrill-a remnant of childhood and an indulgence she could never let go of no matter how adult she tried to be.

Smirking as she destroyed tiny acorn villages, Beca found her mind drifting off toward another indulgence. Her mind had wandered to a night several weeks before; specifically, Beca found herself replaying a moment over and over again in her mind. Fiery red hair, attached to a fiery redhead, flying out her dorm room. The argument leading up to the dramatic exit had left Beca confused, feeling hurt and at a loss.

Somewhere between an essay for English literature and fifty pages of reading for Western Civilization, Beca had found herself at her laptop. She didn't have any projects in the works; rather, her attention had been focused on a particular folder of songs. Some songs were mixes and mashups of her creation, others were songs that reminded her of blue eyes, of a piercing smile. Losing track of time, her fog was cleared by the familiar ding of her cell phone.

Chloe: Hey, what are you doing?

Beca: oh...just pretending to be studying. You?

Chloe: How about a little company?

Beca: i don't know…i really should study.

Beca couldn't help the tiny laugh that escaped her mouth. She saw three floating dots appear, and then disappear in her text window. It was unfair, but easy and entertaining how easily she could tease her friend. Beca quickly ran to her dorm door and craned her neck into the hall.

"Hey, loser. Get in here."

Several doors down, Chloe turned around slowly and sighed.

"You think you are funny. You aren't, by the way. You're a jackass," Chloe replied as she made her way back to Beca's dorm room.

"So what's up? How was your day?" Beca asked as they settled into familiar positions: Beca at her computer and Chloe sitting cross-legged in the middle of her bed.

"Another exciting day in the life of a grad student. Today, I really felt like I'm taking steps toward changing the world," Chloe responded, rolling her eyes and taking her jacket off.

Beca clicked absentmindedly on her computer, attempting the keep her focus on the screen and not on the few inches of ivory skin being displayed before her. Sighing as quietly as she could, she opened a folder entitled "Us" and pressed play.

"Hey, you!" Beca snapped back to reality, realizing the redhead had continued to tell her the musings of her day.

"Sorry, just drifted off for a second!"

"That's okay, Becs. Why are you so far away, anyway? Come sit with me. I'll keep you focused on me!" Chloe moved from the center of the bed and patted the spot next to her. This would have been enough to convince Beca to surrender herself. The flip of red hair and wink were unnecessary weapons being used against her. Beca leaned back onto her head board and steadied herself, body and mind, for the next attack. Chloe smiled up at the brunette as she nestled into Beca's neck. The smell of coconut flooded Beca's senses. She felt her heart beating through her chest and prayed.

At once, Beca prayed that Chloe would and wouldn't notice. Were this moment to pass, Beca would remain safe, free from rejection and humiliation. But at the same time, the brunette couldn't help wishing Chloe would feel the love pouring out from her. Were Chloe to notice, were Chloe to ask, were Chloe to look Beca in the eyes in this moment and whisper, "Tell me. Tell me and I'm yours."

They remained like this for several minutes. Lying in each other's embrace. Beca thought perhaps they would fall asleep in this position. It wouldn't be the first such occasion. It wouldn't be the last. Over the last year, Beca had found herself in this same situation countless times: wrapped in the arms of this beautiful girl, bathing in the smell of coconut and lulled by the soft hum of her voice.

Beca felt herself drifting, her head had turned just slightly so her lips were grazing Chloe's forehead. She adjusted to bring more of her body in contact with Chloe's. She smiled as she felt light fingertips running along her arm. She mimicked this action, running her own fingertips along Chloe's thighs, drawing circles around the hem of her dress. Their eyes met and Beca thought she might die from the electricity circulating between them.

"Chloe…" Beca sighed.

"Becs…" Chloe sighed.

This familiar scene, this all too comfortable dance they'd been doing for months. Beca could no longer stand it. She ran her hand up Chloe's back, her fingers finally anchoring at the base of the redhead's neck. She stared into those bright blue eyes. She tried to maintain composure but couldn't resist the smile that crept upon her face. Chloe returned the look, slightly giggling as she rubbed the tip of her nose against Beca's. As Chloe moved to lay her head back down on the pillow, Beca pressed her lips softly against the redhead's.

Time didn't slow; time stopped. If either girl had the ability to view the happenings of the outside world, they would see a moment frozen. Cars stopped on the road, undergrads leaving study sessions paralyzed mid-step, even stars holding their shine rather than twinkling.

Beca wanted more. As she moved into the kiss, she felt Chloe open her mouth and grant her access. Their tongues danced together, fingers tangling in hair and their bodies moving as one. Beca wanted to stop and tell the redhead everything. She wanted to give her heart and her body and say, "I'm nothing without you. Whether you want me or not, I'm just so unfortunately yours."

Beca had made it to her Music Appreciation class. Luckily, she had a fairly firm grasp on the subject matter so her waxing and waning attention wouldn't be problematic. In the three weeks that had passed since the evening of her first kiss with Chloe, Beca found it difficult to maintain focus on anything other than that night. Before she knew it, class was over and she found herself on the quad again, cursing herself more loudly this time for her lack of planning as large drops of rain began falling.

"Beca!"

Beca turned to the sound of her name being called. She saw Stacie and Cynthia Rose waving her over to them, as they entered the campus cafe. As the ran toward them, deftly avoiding the newly formed puddles, she spotted Chloe and Aubrey making their way towards the same girls. Beca froze, not knowing what her next move should be. The two hadn't spoken since the fight that night. She and Chloe made eye contact and Beca tried to convey her every emotion in the fleeting glance. She wanted to say how sorry she was, she wanted to tell Chloe she was all she could think about, and that she would never want to lose their friendship over a kiss-even if that kiss had meant everything.

Her heart continued to break as she watched Aubrey grab Chloe's hand and lead her back toward the library. She knew the blonde was fiercely protective of her best friend and, in her mind, Beca was the enemy. It wasn't Beca's place to be hurt. It wasn't her place to beg for understanding. She picked her pace back up and joined her friends in the comfort of the coffee shop.

The trio ordered their drinks and settled into a cozy corner. Stacie and Cynthia Rose exchanged knowing looks and seemingly egged each other on to break the ice. Stacie spoke up first.

"Hey, Beca. Is everything okay? We don't mean to pry-" Stacie turned to Cynthia Rose for support.

"Yeah, short stuff...we're just worried about you and Red. Seems like something's a little off."

Beca sighed. She adjusted herself in her seat and looked out the window to the library. The three sat in quiet tension for a little while longer.

"Beca. Listen, I know what it's like to be in love with someone and it not be returned," Cynthia Rose leaned in and quietly spoke.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Beca retorted and sheepishly crouched down in her chair, realizing how loud she'd been.

Stacie reached across the small table and put her hand on Beca's knee, "Beca. It's okay. YOu two have this insane relationship. We all see it. And we are here to support you. So just tell us what happened."

Beca felt tears form in her eyes. She breathed in deeply a couple of times, trying to regain her composure. Looking across to her friends, she realized the jig was up. She had been found out. Beca-the island, the lone wolf, she who needed no one-had given away the one secret she never wanted known. She loved Chloe. Without ever having to utter the words, the world knew. She began to tell the girls about that night, the kiss, and the aftermath.

Their kiss seemed to last an eternity. When they finally pulled away, smiling sweet at each other, Beca waited a moment before finally speaking.

"Chloe, I wanted to-"

"Beca...listen. I...you know how much I care about you."

Beca immediately broke their contact. Her ears burned and a lump formed in her throat. Those words. The hesitation in Chloe's voice. She knew what was happening. She knew this was the letdown. She couldn't let herself be hurt.

"Yeah, of course. We're friends. I care about you...you care about me. Like I care about all the girls. Yeah."

Chloe paused. Beca's entire demeanor had changed. The brunette had stiffened. She looked away from Chloe and started to get up to go back to her computer.

"Becs, please just listen to me. I don't want to hurt you."

"Yeah I wouldn't want you to do that either," Beca feigned a laugh. "I know what you're doing, Chloe. And it's cool. We are just friends who maybe just made out a little. College, right? Experimentation, and all that…Anyway, I should get back to my studies."

"Your studies? Since when do you care about your 'studies,' Beca?"

"Chloe! I was perfectly happy working and you're the one who invited yourself over! Listen, things went too far and you're freaking out. I get it. Don't worry...I don't expect to be any different that any of your many other flings."

Beca heard the words coming out of her mouth. She heard the emphasis she had put on the word many. She couldn't stop herself. She was attacking Chloe before the redhead had a chance to hurt her. A wave of coconut washed over her as Chloe grabbed her jacket and bag and was out of the room like a shot. It was done. Beca had sabotaged herself perfectly and now, once again, she was alone.

Stacie and Cynthia Rose sat in silence as Beca finished her story. Both girls knew the feelings Beca had felt for Chloe. She was not particularly skilled at hiding those emotions, and all the Bellas had discussed the relationship between their friends. It was no secret Chloe could get anything she wanted from Beca. A kiss on the cheek, a deep sigh, a flip of her hair and a wink: Chloe had to do very little to get Beca's attention. The Bellas had all hoped the situation would correct itself, either with Beca and Chloe coming together naturally or with Beca's feelings being less serious and permanent than love. With the story of this fight, however, the friends realized that intervention was necessary.

The girls finished their coffee as the rain passed and mused about classes and competitions and other meaningless topics. When they finally said their goodbyes, Stacie and Cynthia Rose knew what they had to do.

Two weeks had passed and while nothing was mended, Beca and Chloe had found it possible to remain in the same room, if not hold a conversation beyond pleasantries. The Bellas had conspired to get the girls in a room together. Stacie had met with Aubrey to discuss what the other knew about the situation and decided the best course of action was a Bella dinner. It was something not out of the ordinary, something that would be easily manipulated.

Beca knocked on the door to Aubrey and Chloe's apartment and was greeted by the blonde hostess. The night unfurled as usual: dinner, wine and beer, great music and laughs shared by friends. The Bellas tried to create scenarios wherein Beca and Chloe would happen upon one another and be forced to talk, but nothing organic had happened. The looks, the stolen glances were palpable. Fat Amy turned to Stacie at one point and mumbled about the two needing to be locked in a room to get at it like dingoes. As the night dragged on, the Bellas were worrying that their chances were dashed. After dinner was finished, the girls all dispersed to different areas of the living room and patio. Beca had excused herself to the bathroom while Aubrey and Chloe were in the kitchen grabbing more wine. Stacie took the chance, snagging Aubrey by concocting a lie about the stereo not working. Chloe said she'd be in shortly with wine, but before she could make it out of the kitchen, there was Beca. The brunette had come into the kitchen to grab a beer and unknowingly cornered the redhead. It was now or never.

"Hey."

"Hey…"

"Becs, I-"

"No, Chloe. Please just let me talk. I have to say this and if I don't say it now, I don't know if I ever will. Please."

"Fine, Beca. Go on."

"Chloe. I've missed you so much. I haven't been able to function. My mind is just stuck on you. On that night. I never should have said those things to you. I was scared...scared of losing you as my friend. Scared of what might happen the next day. I wanted to hurt you before you hurt me. I'm so sorry. I've ruined everything. I don't expect you can forgive me."

Chloe sat her wine glass down and crossed the space between them. She wanted nothing more than to grab the brunette, pull her into her arms and hold her. She wanted to scream that she loved her, that she wanted to tell her that night. She stared deep into Beca's eyes. She was searching for something, some kind of sign that Beca was ready. She needed to know that Beca wasn't going to run. Beca broke their gaze, looking down to the floor and shuffling her feet.

Neither could be the one. One could argue if confessing their love made them stronger or weaker. Maybe it was different for each of them. But what remained true was that the girls were not ready for such confessions, for such absurd truths to be uttered.

Chloe cleared her throat, in an attempt to shake the thoughts from her mind.

"Becs, you're my best friend. More than anyone else, you know me. I'm sorry things have been so weird, but we can work on getting back to normal, right? I miss you too." Chloe finally ended the month-long standoff and pulled Beca in. She felt the brunette collapse into her arms and knew there was so much left unsaid in their embrace. There was still so much to work on, but this was a start.