Disclaimer: The characters you recognize don't belong to me. There are also going to be frequent references to the musical Bombshell, which doesn't actually exist but all the characters, songs and story lines from that musical are from the show Smash.

A/N: So I'm about as obsessed with Chloe and Aubrey as I am with Jesse and Beca and that's saying something. I love them so much and this story wouldn't leave me alone, so I decided to go ahead and write it. As always, it turned out to be longer than I expected. There's going to be two parts and an epilogue and I'll try not to keep you waiting. The title for this story comes from the song "Let Me Be Your Star," from the show Smash, which has a prominent part later on in the story. I confess, I've never seen the show before but I love Katharine McPhee, so I love listening to the music. If there are any fans out there who want to help with any mistakes I might have made in the next section, I'm more than happy for their help! I hope that everyone enjoys this story! Thanks!

"Flash Back to a Girl With a Song in Heart As She's Waiting to Start the Adventure."

So here's the story. It's not like she means to get arrested. I mean, honestly, who sets out to get arrested? All she was trying to do was save a few animals and show the city that there were still people out there who cared about the environment and the trees in the park that were going to be bulldozed to make room for a new parking structure. Who does that? Who gets rid of a perfectly good park to make room for more asphalt? The other members of her People for the Protection of the Environment group (yeah, it's not a very catchy title) assured her that they've done this stuff before and the cops can't actually arrest you for tying yourself to a tree trunk. Well, apparently they can. And that's how Chloe Beale finds herself in jail, along with a few angry ex-girlfriends, teens under the influence of alcohol and other substances, two hookers and the one other member of the PPE who didn't run when the cops showed up. Chloe thought that the whole thing was about solidarity for each other and for the trees. Her arresting officers had to forcibly pry her off the tree, which is something she's pretty proud of if she does say so herself. She can't say the same for the rest of the members.

Chloe goes through processing with all the dignity that she can muster (not that there's much dignity to be had when a surly female officer is groping her to make sure that she's not concealing any weapons) and when she's put in the holding cell with the rest of the other women she calls her sister on the singular pay phone. "Oh Chloe." Justine doesn't sound surprised when she accepts the charges from the county jail, as though she'd always expected this moment would come. "What did you do?"

"I was trying to stop people from bulldozing a bunch of trees." Chloe tells her sister. She gets a few amused look from her cell-mates. "They're trying to get rid of Wade Park."

Justine bails her out and Chloe decides that she's going to go talk to Richard, the head of the PPE the following morning to give him a piece of her mind. What type of message does it send when the majority of the group scatters at the first sign of trouble? But before Chloe can tell him off, Richard somehow convinces her not to leave because the group needs her and they're planning another demonstration. This demonstration proves to be a lot more illegal than the first and involves ruining the bulldozers that are being used to level the park. While she's sitting in the back of a police car on her way to jail for the second time, Chloe realizes that she probably should leave the PPE because Richard is pretty much shit when it comes to planning things out. Any idiot would have thought to memorize the security guard's schedule before planning something like this.

This time the construction company decides to press charges on Chloe and the rest of the members of the PPE that were arrested (which include Richard this time, which she finds small satisfaction in) so when Chloe calls Justine yet again, her sister tells her that she can't bail her out without a lawyer involved. Chloe figures this might be a little more serious than she'd been anticipating.

Justine promises to find her a lawyer who specializes in this kind of thing; apparently her husband knows someone who knows someone and she'll do her best to get her baby sister out of jail. Chloe is forced to change out of her clothes into a scratchy uniform provided by the county and is put into population and really the other girls aren't so bad. Chloe's always been glad for the part of her personality that lets her make friends with practically everyone.

The following morning one of the officers lets her know that her lawyer is waiting to talk to her and Chloe heads toward the visiting area with some of the other girls. To say she's shocked to find that Aubrey Posen is her lawyer is putting it lightly. Aubrey doesn't look surprised to see her, so Chloe figures that she knew who's case she was agreeing to take on. It's been four years since she's seen Aubrey but the blonde is every bit as striking and poised as Chloe remembers. Maybe even more so; her pantsuit and carefully manicured nails make her look businesslike and a little frightening.

"Oh my God! Aubrey!" Chloe goes in to hug her old friend but one of the guards clears his throat and so she has to stop short, dropping her arms. "I can't believe it!"

Aubrey gives her a tight smile. "I can't either. Your sister hired my father's firm to represent you and my father let me take your case." Aubrey's tone is professional, not at all like someone connecting with an old friend.

Chloe sits down across from Aubrey and has to fight down the urge to reach for her hands. "So you decided to go into law after all." She nods thoughtfully. "What happened to opening your own dance studio?"

"That was just a pipe dream." Aubrey says dismissively, like she's uttered those words several times before. "I was lucky that my father accepted me into his firm without any experience."

Chloe opens her mouth to argue but decides against it. It's been four years, she should probably keep her opinions to herself for the time being. "Well you look very…professional." She used to love Aubrey's style because it suited her so well. She was always so well put together without being stuffy. Now she just looks like a clone of the countless other suits-and-ties that Chloe has seen.

"Thank you. You look…" Aubrey's professional veneer cracks a little. "I can't believe you're in jail Chloe. Are you okay?"

Chloe shrugs and gives her a smile. "The food is shit but it's all right."

Aubrey scoffs, shaking her head slightly. "The ever-adaptable Chloe Beale everyone." She gives her old friend a little smile. "Well, I have good news. You're going to be able to get out on bail if you accept me as your lawyer and my father's firm will accept personal responsibility for you and ensure that you'll show up to your court dates. Sound good?"

"Yes, please." Chloe nods enthusiastically. "So I guess since you're my lawyer now, we're actually going to be seeing more of each other."

Aubrey's smile grows slightly. "Yes, I guess so." Aubrey looks like there's something more that she wants to say but thinks better of it and just gives Chloe a brisk nod. "I'll go fill out the paper work."

"Thanks." Chloe says to Aubrey's back as she leaves the room and she spends a second sitting at the newly vacated table, trying to process the bizarre turn of events. She never expected to have to spend the night in jail and she definitely never expected that she'd run into Aubrey again under these circumstances. Life can be funny that way.

Aubrey is waiting outside when Chloe is finally sprung from the clink and this time there's no guard standing around to tell Chloe to keep her distance. For a minute Aubrey seems surprised by the hug but she eventually puts her arms around her friend, giving Chloe a squeeze.

Chloe grabs her hand and gives Aubrey a smile. "Okay, we're going for coffee. And I am starving; we have to go to that diner around the corner."

Aubrey hesitates. "I should get back to the firm."

"Four years Aubrey. We haven't seen each other in four years. You can get some coffee." Chloe points out and this time Aubrey doesn't protest when Chloe starts dragging her down the street.

They get a table and Chloe takes a grateful sip of the coffee that their waitress pours. "Okay, now I'm starting to feel human again." She tells Aubrey as she puts down her mug. "I swear I hardly slept last night, the bed was so uncomfortable."

For a minute, Aubrey just looks at her before finally smiling and shaking her head. "I seriously do not understand you Chloe Beale." She says with another head shake. "You just spent the night in jail and your only complaints involve the mattress? I don't know how you do it. I would have been terrified."

Chloe shrugs. "It wasn't so bad. I knew I was going to be getting out soon. Though if I had known you were my lawyer I probably would have slept a little better." She remarks. "Though I never would have guessed that you were working at a law firm."

Aubrey looks a little self-conscious. "Well my dad-"

"I thought the plan was to avoid your dad at all costs." Chloe interrupts. "You used to talk about how you didn't want to be anything like him."

Aubrey won't meet her gaze. "That was a long time ago Chloe. Four years can change a lot about a person."

Before Chloe can comment, their waitress returns to take their orders and Chloe orders enough food to make up for the fact that Aubrey declines to get anything. "I used to wonder what you were up to. I never imagined you as a lawyer." Chloe remarks when the waitress has left once more.

"It's not like I'm a waitress or some sort of sales girl. Being a lawyer is a perfectly respectful job." Aubrey bristles, curling her fingers against the palms of her hands.

"No, I know." Chloe agrees quickly before Aubrey can get too worked up. She doesn't want to see whether the past four years have made Aubrey more adept at handling her stress. "That's not what I'm saying. I just…you seemed so set on the whole dance studio thing."

Aubrey purses her lips, wrinkling her nose a little. "Well, what have you been doing? Other than getting arrested, of course."

Chloe shrugs. She knows a change of subject when she hears one, but she's not going to press the matter anymore. For now. "Sort of hopping from job to job. I've been living with this really weird girl that I found online but I think she's going to kick me out because she wants to live with her boyfriend. I haven't really decided on what I want to do yet."

"So you're not going to make a career out of saving the environment?" Aubrey says in a slightly teasing tone. "Not going to go save the whales or throw blood on rich ladies' coats?"

Chloe smiles at her friend. "Maybe next week." She shrugs. "I'm not like some environmental nut, I just couldn't stand the thought of them bulldozing the park. Especially if it was just to put up a parking lot. My sister and I used to play there when we were kids."

Aubrey smiles faintly. "You always did seem to have a thing for lost causes." She mutters, almost to herself.

Chloe can tell by her tone of voice that she's lumping herself into that category. A computer had put them in the same room freshmen year and Aubrey had been so painfully shy that she'd spent the first week organizing and reorganizing everything in their small space. Including all of Chloe's things, which had been haphazardly arranged on her side of the room. Aubrey had eventually opened up about her military father, her perfectionist mother and the fact that she was disappointing both of them by being at Barden and participating in the Bellas instead of going to Harvard or Yale or some other Ivy League school. She'd seemed shocked when Chloe had suggested they room together during sophomore year and they'd kept in touch throughout the summer and Chloe eventually became the only person that Aubrey felt she could open up to about the pressures that her father put on her and her need to make him proud. Things had taken a turn for the worst the summer after junior year after word of Aubrey's performance at Nationals got back to her father and Aubrey had ended up coming to stay with Chloe for the last two months before school. She'd sworn several times that summer and throughout the school year that she was never going back home, that she was finally going to do something for herself, be the person she wanted to be. Chloe feels a pang in her chest to realize that that has somehow changed.

"It's good to see you, Bree." Chloe says, reaching across the table to take the girl's hand. "I've missed you."

Whatever Aubrey is about to say is silenced when the waitress returns with Chloe's food and the red-head lets herself be distracted by the eggs and toast and bacon and the heavenly smells of real food. She might have only been in jail over night, but she feels ravenous. "Aren't you hungry?" Chloe questions around a mouthful of scrambled eggs.

Aubrey looks amused. "Even if I was, I'd be afraid that if I even looked at your food you'd stab me with your fork. It looks like you haven't eaten in weeks." She points out.

"I need to refuel because I can save the world." Chloe remarks. She pushes the small plate of toast over to the blonde. "I guess I can spare some toast. Since you did bail me out of jail and all."

Aubrey hesitates for a minute before picking up a piece of the triangular bread and spreading on a little bit of jam. "Do you keep in touch with any of the Bellas?" She questions.

"Just Beca really." Chloe answers, finishing up her eggs and picking up a piece of bacon. "She and Jesse are in L.A."

Something that looks a little like jealousy crosses Aubrey's face but it's gone before Chloe can even be sure it was there at all. "Well. Good for her."

Chloe knows better than to try and press the issue when it comes to Beca. They eat in a companionable silence and Chloe feels happy in spite of the fact that she's just got of jail and still has criminal charges to deal with. Aubrey pays the check because she insists that the firm will reimburse her and they head back out into the bright morning sunshine.

"I really should get back." Aubrey says, slipping her hands into her jacket pockets. "I have some paperwork I need to handle."

"Yeah, I guess I should head home and shower. I probably smell like jail." Chloe says with a shrug.

Aubrey makes a face. "Well…I didn't say want to say anything…" She teases.

Chloe bumps Aubrey's hip with her own. "Oh whatever." She pulls her phone out of her purse. "Do you have a new number? I don't want the only time that we see each other to be when we're dealing with this bullshit court stuff. We still have a lot to catch up on."

Aubrey assures her that the number is still the same and she also promises that she'll call when she's done with work for the day so they can go out for drinks or something and when she flags down a cab to take her back to the office she has a wide smile on her face. She's relieved to find that Chloe hasn't changed one bit. It's nice to be around someone who she isn't constantly trying to prove herself to, someone who doesn't think that she's the world's biggest failure. She realizes that she never got the chance to tell Chloe that she missed her too; she's missed having Chloe in her life for the past four years, she's just never realized how much until this morning.


Chloe is relieved to find that her surly roommate is already gone for the day. She showers, puts on a pair of sweats and a tank top and falls into bed, pulling her pillow over her head and falling right to sleep. When she wakes up it's dark outside and she feels disoriented and confused, trying to figure out what time it is and if she's supposed to be doing anything. Chloe checks her phone and finds that it's just a little past eight o'clock. She's got two missed calls from Justine and a text from Aubrey asking if she's still interested in drinks. It's been a few hours since she sent the text but Chloe hopes the offer still stands. Sorry, just woke up, Chloe texts back, I'm always up for drinks.

Chloe goes into the living room to find her roommate, Spencer, passing a joint to her boyfriend. She exhales a stream of smoke as she gives Chloe the once over. "I didn't hear you come in last night." She remarks in a tone that lets Chloe know that she's prying for some juicy details.

Shrugging, Chloe goes into the kitchen and pours herself a glass of orange juice. "I was out." She wrinkles her nose. "Would you mind not smoking out here? It's bad for my vocal chords."

"Oh right, I forgot. You're still trying to do the whole singing thing." Spencer smirks. "I'm not sure if doing a community theatre show really counts though."

"Every little bit helps." Chloe shoots back with forced cheerfulness, taking her glass and returning to her bedroom. She slams the door shut for effect, even though she's sure Spencer and her boyfriend could care less. If the rent wasn't so cheap she'd try and find a new place. Seriously, living with someone she found online was not one of her better decisions.

There's a text from Aubrey waiting on her phone. I didn't hear from you, so I went ahead and ordered takeout. Sorry! You can come over if you want. I've got wine.

Chloe lets out a sigh of relief. She really doesn't want to be stuck here with Spencer and her toasted boyfriend all night. Sounds amazing, she texts back. I feel like I could drink a whole bottle.

Aubrey texts her the address and Chloe puts on a pair of jeans and a baby pink top, throwing her hair into a messy ponytail and slipping on the first pair of flats she can find. She doesn't bother to say goodbye to Spencer as she leaves, slamming the front door behind her.

Aubrey's place isn't far so Chloe walks, even though there's a bit of chill in the air. Aubrey buzzes her up; Chloe's never lived in a place that had actual security, let alone a fancy lobby and an elevator but she can't imagine Aubrey living with some girl that she met off the Internet or somewhere that has bars on the windows.

Aubrey's apartment looks like one of those show apartments that the complex decorates and uses to try and entice people into living there. The carpet is plush and white and the walls are painted a crisp cream color. There are a few framed pieces of art on the walls and everything matches. Like everything. Down to the little pillows on the couches and the placemats on the table. Chloe's trying to take everything in without making it look like she's openly staring but she's sure that she's not doing a very good job. Not that Aubrey should be surprised, seeing as she's always been the nosy type. The only personal touches outside of the bedroom (which Chloe can't see but assumes is a touch more Aubrey) are on the refrigerator; there's a picture of Aubrey in a graduation gown next to her older brother and another of her standing next to her father. Neither of them are smiling in the picture. There's also the phrase be happy and beautiful forever that looks like it was cut out of a magazine and for some reason it strikes Chloe as a little sad and she's not sure why.

"Here." Aubrey interrupts Chloe's thoughts by handing her a glass of wine. "You sounded like you could really use this."

Chloe gives her a grateful smile and takes a sip. "Oh my God yes." She lets out an exasperated sigh. "My roommate was making me crazy."

They go sit on Aubrey's couch and Chloe tucks her feet underneath her, angling so she can face Aubrey. Aubrey mirrors her posture and it reminds her of when they used to sit on one of their beds back at Barden and talk for hours about anything: classes, relationships, the Bellas. It didn't matter because they could keep a conversation going for hours.

"Didn't you say you met her online?" Aubrey questions, arching an eyebrow. Chloe shrugs. "She could have turned out to be some sort of crazy killer and murdered you in your sleep."

"She seemed normal at first." Chloe protests and Aubrey just rolls her eyes. "She's not a killer but she's definitely a bitch." She finishes her glass of wine in one swallow. "This has been a long day."

Aubrey brings over the wine bottle and keeps it on the coffee table because it seems like it's going to be one of those nights. They mostly reminisce about their four years at Barden and the year they lived together after graduation when they were trying to navigate the so-called real world. Aubrey doesn't think that she's laughed so much in years and it feels good to let go of the tension that constantly lives in her body, always forcing her to stand up straight, walk tall and mirror her father's fierce expression. She feels like the Aubrey that she was in Barden instead of the one that she's become since going to law school and working for her father.

When the takeout shows up they eat straight out of the cartons, even though Aubrey points out that she has perfectly good plates in the cabinets. "Who needs plates?" Chloe points out. "Pretend we're back at Barden." And, just like at Barden, she has to use a fork instead of chopsticks because she still hasn't mastered the art, in spite of Aubrey's attempts to show her how to position her fingers.

They drink too much wine and eat too much food and when Aubrey finally looks at the clock she winces. "Oh, God. I have to be up in five hours." She moans, pushing her hair out of her face. "I need to go to bed."

Chloe makes a face. "Boo. Take a sick day." She tops off their glasses, finishing up another bottle of wine.

"My dad would kill me." Aubrey shakes her head. "You know how he is. He'd show up here and when he found out I was playing hooky he'd just kill me." She drinks the wine that Chloe just poured anyway. "I hate working for him." She mumbles, looking down at the contents of her glass.

"So why do you?" Chloe questions, putting her hand on her friend's knee. They've been doing a good job of sidestepping any talk about Aubrey's dad or her job because Chloe had assumed that when Aubrey was ready to talk about it, she'd broach the subject. Just like their college days.

Aubrey gets to her feet, setting her glass on the coffee table. "I really need to go to bed." She says in a way that lets Chloe know that she's not going to talk about it any more.

Chloe teeters to her feet as well, her head spinning. She's going to be hung-over tomorrow but she's too lightheaded to care about that now. "We need to do this again." She tells Aubrey as she reaches for her jacket, squinting in an attempt to make the room stop spinning.

Aubrey smiles at her. "You okay there, Chlo?" Chloe gives her a thumbs-up. "You should just stay. So you don't have to walk back."

"Excellent idea." Chloe tosses her jacket onto the floor. "You were always full of those Bree."

Aubrey's queen-size bed is neatly made with little matching pillows that Chloe barely bothers to toss onto the floor as she flops face down on the bed, sighing at the unfair softness of the mattress and the pillows. She listens to Aubrey brushing her teeth and changing into her pajamas and she pretends to already be asleep when Aubrey tugs the comforter out from under her and tucks it around her shoulders. Aubrey gets into bed beside Chloe and smiles at her friend in the darkness. "I'm glad you're here." She says softly even though Chloe is already asleep and she falls asleep with a smile on her face.

When Chloe wakes up the following morning it's to the sounds of Aubrey throwing up in the bathroom. Her head is pounding and the taste in her mouth is horrible and it takes her a minute to remember what happened last night and why she's in an unfamiliar room still wearing the clothes she left the house in. She winces when she turns toward the bathroom, feeling a little like throwing up herself. She also still feels a little bit drunk. "Bree? Are you okay?"

Aubrey just moans in response and retches again. Chloe sits up and readjusts to the feeling of being upright. She stumbles into Aubrey's kitchen and gets her friend a glass of water, which she brings into the bathroom. Aubrey gets to her feet and takes a sip of the water. "Come back to bed." Chloe wants to do that herself.

Aubrey gives her an annoyed look. "I have to go to work. Remember?" She turns on the sink and starts furiously brushing her teeth.

"You're sick. Even your dad has to cut you some slack for that." Chloe points out.

"I'm not sick Chloe, I'm hung over." Aubrey snaps around her toothbrush. "If I didn't come to work and my dad found out why…it's weakness. You know how my dad feels about that."

Chloe sighs. "Your dad is an asshole."

Aubrey glares at her but doesn't say anything. She finishes brushing her teeth and pushes past Chloe and goes into her closet. She doesn't emerge again until she's wearing a pantsuit almost identical to the one that she was wearing yesterday. "You can stay." Her voice is a little less harsh now. "There's aspirin in the medicine cabinet and there's a spare key under the mat. Just lock the door when you leave."

"Bree-" Chloe starts to protest.

"I have to go, Chloe." Aubrey interrupts. "Just drop it, okay? Go back to sleep."

Aubrey leaves the apartment and Chloe sighs, getting back into bed because she can't think of anything else to do. She falls asleep wishing that Aubrey hadn't looked so unhappy and when she wakes up again it's the middle of the day and her head is pounding. She drinks some water and takes some of the aspirin Aubrey had mentioned and takes the opportunity to study Aubrey's room, something she hadn't thought to do last night. There's a bookshelf containing law textbooks and a few well-read novels and a handful of the chick-flicks and romantic foreign movies that Aubrey loved to watch when they were in college. Chloe studies the framed pictures that Aubrey has on her nightstand and smiles when she picks up one of them together during their senior year at Barden. In fact, most of the pictures are of them, which makes her both happy and a little sad at the same time. It's not hard to think about Aubrey failing to make any other close friends during her years at law school.

Chloe makes Aubrey's bed as best as she can, even though she's sure that she doesn't put all the decorative pillows back the way they should go but oh well. She cleans up the takeout from the night before and locks the door behind her and heads back to her tiny, shitty apartment with her shitty roommate.

Chloe spends the day applying for various jobs online and pursuing the Broadway forums that she likes to check on a daily basis to see if there's any new shows opening or any off-off Broadway production that would be willing to take a chance on a redheaded girl from Georgia. She has yet to let go of the idea that she can really be something someday, that her voice is going to save her from temp jobs and having to meet roommates online. Chloe tries not to let Spencer's words from the night before get to her; so what if she's only done a few community theatre shows since graduating Barden? Everyone has to start somewhere.

It's a little after six when her phone rings and Chloe puts down the Libba Bray novel she's been reading and smiles when she sees Aubrey's picture on the screen. "Hey Bree."

"I'm sorry I acted like such a bitch this morning." Aubrey apologizes without preamble. She's never been the type to apologize willingly, so whenever those dreaded words have to come out of her mouth she likes to get them over with as quickly as possible. "I was just sick and unhappy and I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. So I'm sorry."

Chloe smiles. "It's okay, I understand. I wish you hadn't had to go in."

"My dad took one look at me and could tell I was hung over." Aubrey sighs. "He didn't talk to me the whole day and had me filing papers."

Has Chloe mentioned that she really can't stand Aubrey's dad? Because she really can't. She's met him once and that was more than enough for her. "Sounds like a shitty day."

"You have no idea." Aubrey sighs again. "Do you want to come over and watch a movie or something? If you're not busy."

"Yeah, that sounds great." Chloe assures her friend.

Aubrey sounds almost relieved, like she was expecting Chloe to turn down her proposal. "Text me your address and I'll pick you up." She tells her friend. "I'm leaving the office now."

Chloe sends Aubrey the necessary text and then changes out of her laying around the house clothes and, after a split-second of debate, packs an overnight bag. Just in case. She doesn't say anything to Spencer as she leaves the apartment and Spencer doesn't try to engage her in conversation so all is right in the world.

On the short drive to Aubrey's apartment they sing along with Aubrey's Dixie Chicks CD and laugh when they get looks from the people in neighboring cars. "I needed this." Aubrey says as they walk through the parking garage and toward the residents' entrance. "This is exactly what I needed to make up for my shitty day."

Chloe gives Aubrey a side hug. "That's what friends are for Bree."


Their girls' nights become a weekly thing and soon Chloe is spending more time over at Aubrey's than at her own place, which is just fine with her. Some nights they cook dinner but most of the time they order out and have a few glasses of wine and watch the cheesy reality shows that Aubrey loves. They go out Friday nights to a little bar close enough to Aubrey's place that they don't have to worry about getting a cab or staying sober enough to drive. The place does karaoke on Fridays and they quickly become well known among the regulars for belting out old show tunes and female power ballads.

The next few months pass this way and even though Chloe can't find a job that she enjoys or a role that seems made for her, she's still happier than she's been in a while because she's got her best friend back and she can't help but think that tying herself to that tree or trying to destroy a bulldozer were the best decisions she's made in a long time.

Being around Aubrey has also brought up all those more than friendly feelings that Chloe had nearly forgotten she'd harbored for her friend during their college years. She's always been the type of person who felt like she had a lot of love to give and had found herself attracted more to the person than the gender, so it had never bothered her when she happened to make out with a girl at a party or have sex with a guy in the showers. The more she got to know Aubrey the more she started to love her, both as a trusted friend and maybe a little something more. She figured it was only natural, given the amount of time they spent together and their penchant for sharing a bed even though their dorm came equipped with two perfectly good twin mattresses. She and Aubrey even kissed once (or twice…or four times) but they'd never broached the subject after the fact and Chloe had just assumed that it was a little bit of college experimentation. But now that she's rekindled her friendship with Aubrey, she can't help but wonder.

Sometimes Chloe can't help but wonder if Aubrey's thoughts are similar to her own. Aubrey has a tendency to reach for Chloe in her sleep or take her hand when they're walking to the bar. Sometimes her touches will linger, feather light on Chloe's back or hip and she'll give Chloe this megawatt smile that makes her heart flutter.

One Friday night, they're at their usual table and Aubrey is complaining about how unhappy she's been at work and how much of a hard-ass her father is. "Just quit." Chloe interjects. "Why are you doing this to yourself?"

Aubrey looks at her like she's grown an extra head. "I can't just quit. I'd be unemployed. This is what I went to school to do."

"But why?" Chloe questions. "Because you wanted to? Or because your dad wanted you to go?" Aubrey doesn't answer. "Last I heard that was the last thing you wanted to do."

Aubrey purses her lips, her expression growing darker. "Yeah, well, it wasn't exactly like we kept in touch."

Chloe holds up a hand. "Whoa. Don't make it sound like that was my fault. You stopped talking to me. You stopped returning my calls when you moved out. Remember? You can't put that on me."

"Well I really didn't want to deal with your attitude when I told you I was going to law school." Aubrey snaps back. "I thought maybe four years would have changed your tune but I should have known better. Chloe Beale always has to have an opinion."

Chloe rolls her eyes. "You've just never liked any opinion that wasn't your own." She mutters. "Unless it's your dad's, of course."

Aubrey narrows her eyes. "You don't know me." Even as she says the words, they sound like a lie.

"I know you well enough to know that you're miserable. I know that you hate your job and you hate your dad and you should be doing something else." Chloe fires back. "You want to be his perfect little daughter, even if it's killing you."

Aubrey stands up suddenly, bumping into the table and knocking over her drink. "I'm not going to stay here and listen to this." She snaps. She slides out of the booth and stalks toward the door, ignoring the curious looks from the people at neighboring tables.

Chloe hesitates for a brief moment before getting up as well and hurrying after her. She finds Aubrey leaning against the wall, her hand pressed to her mouth, trying to regain her composure. "Aubrey-"

Aubrey turns away from her. "Leave me alone." She snaps. "I think you've said enough."

"Don't be like this." Chloe comes to stand in front of Aubrey. "Don't be stubborn and don't shut me out."

"What else is there to say? You're right. You're always right. I hate my job! Okay? Is that what you want to hear? I don't want to be a lawyer! I don't-" But she stops short, that all too familiar look crossing her face and Chloe knows what's going to happen next if she doesn't calm down.

"Okay, Bree, take a breath." Chloe rubs her friend's back and Aubrey presses her hand over her mouth again. "Breathe. You're okay."

Aubrey starts crying and puts her arms around Chloe. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I stopped talking to you. I just…I don't know why I still need his approval. I thought if I came to him with a plan and got a loan from the bank for the studio that he'd see I wasn't such a fuck-up. But he wasn't going to support me unless I was doing exactly what he wanted." She continues to cry into Chloe's shoulder, holding tightly to the red-head. "I couldn't talk to you because I couldn't bring myself to tell you that I was letting my dad dictate my life. I knew you would be disappointed in me."

Chloe holds her friend tightly. "Shh Bree." She strokes her hair. "I could never be disappointed in you. I just want you to be happy." That seems to only make Aubrey cry even harder and she clings to Chloe like she's in danger of drowning. "Shh, don't cry. Please don't cry."

Aubrey pulls away slightly, sniffing and taking a few deep breathes in an attempt to regain her composure. She wipes at the tears on her cheeks. "I'm so-sorry." She hiccups. "I'm such a mess. Just look at me."

So Chloe does. Sure Aubrey's eyes are puffy and her makeup is streaked and her nose is red and she knows that her friend has had better moments but it's a little hard to remember them because all Chloe can see is how truly beautiful Aubrey is. So she leans in and kisses her, putting her hands on Aubrey's hips so she can pull the blonde in closer.

For once, Aubrey doesn't think. She doesn't overanalyze and she doesn't wonder what will happen next. She just does what she wants to do and what she wants to do is let Chloe keep kissing her. She figures this is probably what CPR feels like, because it's like she can suddenly breathe again, like the world is rushing back to her with a sudden clarity.

Someone wolf-whistles behind them and Aubrey pulls away, her face flushing with heat. Chloe smirks, hooking her fingers through Aubrey's belt loops. "Well." She can't think of how to follow that statement with anything other than I want to keep kissing you so she decides to let that single word stand alone.

Aubrey swallows and looks at Chloe. "I think I'm done drinking for tonight. We should go back to the apartment."

"Best idea I've heard in a while, Posen." Chloe agrees. She loves how Aubrey says 'the apartment' instead of 'my apartment' because it really is starting to feel like their place together. It feels much more like home than her apartment with Spencer.

They get back to the apartment and Chloe gets Aubrey a glass of water because she still seems a little emotional from her crying fit outside of the bar. "You'll feel better if you get into something more comfortable." Chloe suggests as she leans against the kitchen counter.

Aubrey arches an eyebrow. "That sounds like a proposition."

Chloe can't help but grin. "Well, I didn't mean it like that. But, I mean, if that's the way you want to look at it…"

They go into the bedroom and Aubrey feels like all her inhibitions are completely gone. She pulls Chloe to her for another kiss, pushing her hands through her red hair and pressing them closer together. They eventually fall into bed in a tangle of limbs and half-shed clothes and Aubrey thinks that it's really, really nice to just stop thinking.

In the morning Aubrey wakes up before Chloe and finds that, even though they've drifted apart slightly during the night, their hands are still interlocked and she can't help but smile. She's never felt perfect in her entire life; her parents certainly never made her feel that way and she never felt like she measured up to their expectations. But she feels a little bit perfect now and it's nice not to have to work so hard or change who she is to get someone to think of her that way. She could get used to it.


For a while, things are good. Better than good; perfect even. Chloe spends about as much time at Aubrey's as she used to, though they usually don't see the end of Aubrey's stupid reality shows because they get distracted doing other things and Aubrey finds it hard to leave in the mornings not because she hates her job and wants to do something else but because she finds it nearly impossible to uncurl herself from Chloe and face the big bad world outside the front door. For the time being, Chloe lets the subject of Aubrey's profession drop, even though she's secretly hoping that her friend (girlfriend?) will tell her dad to fuck off and finally open the dance studio she's been talking about since sophomore year. When Chloe's doing temp work as a secretary or some other job that requires her to sit behind a desk or file things all day she lets her mind wander to a future where Aubrey teaches dance to adorably uncoordinated little kids and she has the lead in a musical that people actually want to come see. Maybe they'll move to New York or L.A. or anywhere. She can act and sing anywhere and Aubrey can teach anywhere. She's not picky in her fantasies. Chloe devotes any time she's not working or with Aubrey to keeping up with the different shows that are holding auditions and sends out her headshots and, in some cases, videos of herself singing. So far she hasn't gotten any responses, but she's feeling hopeful.

"Your court date is coming up." Aubrey tells Chloe one night over wine and pizza. "You're going to need to come into the office to get prepped."

Chloe makes a face. "Ugh, why can't they just leave it alone? I mean they've already bulldozed the park, who cares if I tried to blow up a piece of their equipment?" She takes a bit of pizza, but she still feels too dejected to really enjoy it. "Is your dad going to be there?"

"Well, it is his practice so, yes, I think so." Aubrey remarks. "It won't be that bad, okay? I'm your lawyer, remember? It's my job to take care of you."

Chloe smiles at her. "I know." She runs her thumb along the ridge of Aubrey's knuckles. "You should let someone take care of you once and a while too, Bree."

Aubrey's face flushes and she drops her gaze for a minute before looking back at Chloe. "You're doing a pretty good job." She admits, like it's some big secret that she should be ashamed of or something. Like she shouldn't let people take care of her.

Two days later, Chloe finds herself in the waiting room of Posen and Associates, fidgeting uncomfortably in her slacks and blouse, her skull prickly and itchy because Aubrey told her that she should put her hair up in an attempt to tame her curls. She doesn't know how Aubrey can stand to dress like this everyday; she already wants to kill herself.

Finally the secretary tells Chloe that they're ready for her in the boardroom and shows her to a stuffy room with a huge mahogany table and a dozen chairs, most of which are empty. The whole right side of the room is made up of floor-to-ceiling windows but it doesn't make the room seem any less imposing. At the head of the table is Aubrey's father, Marc, and Aubrey is sitting to his right, looking stiff and businesslike, a female clone of her father.

"Let's get this over with." Marc says gruffly when Chloe takes a seat across from Aubrey. He flips open the thin folder in front of him. "Okay, so this is a basic destruction of property thing." He skims the top paper.

"Yes, sir." Aubrey opens her own, identical folder. "Our best bet in this case-"

"We'll shoot straight for community service." Marc continues like Aubrey hasn't spoken at all. Aubrey shuts her mouth, cowed. "It seems unlikely that this group will want to go for a jail sentence but we should be prepared in the event that they do try and make this into a bigger mess."

Aubrey clears her throat. "Yes, I've already drawn up a plan on the off chance that-"

"If they try and go for a jail sentence, you're going to want to see if they'll just accept a fine and community service." Marc is looking at Chloe like Aubrey isn't even there at all. "Are you prepared to pay a fine?"

Chloe wants to say hell no, I'm working as a temp and I think I have five dollars in my wallet. But what comes out is, "I thought Aubrey was my lawyer."

Marc frowns. "Yes, well. My daughter did accept your case without consulting with me, but I can assure you that you're in capable hands because I'll be handling your case. I prefer not to deal with another Tillerman fiasco."

Chloe looks over at Aubrey but her eyes are trained downward. Chloe can still see that Aubrey's cheeks are red and her breathing is growing more rapid. Unfortunately this is something that her father notices as well. "Aubrey, don't you dare start with this again. I will not have a partner at my firm who can't compose herself during a simple briefing."

Aubrey gives a quick nod but she doesn't say anything for fear of not being able to keep herself from getting sick. She feels thirteen years old again and so ashamed because of her father's scolding that she can't keep from rushing to the bathroom and throwing up. Of course that only made things worse and further cemented her father's beliefs that she was nothing but weak.

Chloe's brow knits. "Mr. Posen, with all due respect-"

"It's fine Chloe." Aubrey snaps, her head jerking up. "Leave it." She hisses.

Marc looks at his daughter with a haughty expression. "We've talked about your professionalism several times before. It's not a conversation I want to have again."

Aubrey swallows. "Yes, sir."

"So, as I said, agreeing to community service and paying a fine will be your best bet to avoid any additional jail time." Marc continues as though the previous few minutes had never happened. "We can argue for time already served."

Chloe looks over at Aubrey. "What do you believe is the best way to proceed?" She questions with an overly formal professional tone, pointedly avoiding eye contact with Marc.

Aubrey's eyes slide over toward her father before returning to Chloe. "I think agreeing to pay the fine should be a last ditch effort. Community service and time already served should be our opening hand."

Chloe nods. "Okay. That's what we'll do."

Marc makes a note on one of the papers in his folder before snapping it shut. "Your court date is set for next Monday. Be there at seven AM sharp." He gets to his feet and Aubrey practically trips over herself to stand as well. "See you Monday, Miss Beale. My office, Aubrey."

Aubrey doesn't look at Chloe as she follows her father out of the boardroom and Chloe is left staring out the floor to ceiling windows and trying to figure out what the hell just happened. She wants to go in Marc's office and really give him a piece of her mind, to leave with Aubrey and never look back. But she just leaves and hates herself a little bit for it.

Chloe hates to admit that she's waiting pretty much all day to hear from Aubrey but that's how it happens so there's really no point in denying it. She can't focus on anything that she's supposed to be doing because she's too busy replaying the events of the morning in her mind and it makes her sick to think about how Marc treated Aubrey and how Aubrey just sat there and took it. Chloe ends up scorching the pot she's using to make mac and cheese because she's too distracted to remember to add water and Spencer just glares at her from the living room like she's the anti-Christ or something. Chloe spends the rest of the day in her room after that.

Chloe can usually count on Aubrey to call her as soon as she leaves the office but her phone remains silent. She gives the blonde a little leeway because maybe she got caught up with paperwork or maybe she needs to charge her phone or maybe her dad just got tired of having such a disappointment for a daughter and killed her and threw her down the elevator shaft. Okay, that probably didn't happen but now Chloe's brain is working on overdrive so she finally calls Aubrey, who answers after the fourth ring in a terse and clipped tone.

"Uh, hey." Chloe tries not to read too much into Aubrey's tone. "I…uh…you didn't call so I was just checking…on you."

"I wasn't aware that I was supposed to check in with you at a specific time." Aubrey says. "You don't have to check on me. I'm a grown woman."

Chloe feels a little foolish and bit like she overreacted and she knows that she should have given Aubrey her space and avoided the confrontation that's obviously about the happen. "Bree, what's the matter?" She questions, even though she knows it's a little like poking the bear.

"What's the matter?" Aubrey repeats. "Well, let's see. I spent the entire day being yelled at and then ignored by my father because he thinks that I'm not being professional. That I'm letting my personal history with our clients affect my ability to do my job. Not that he believes I can do that anyway, which he made no secret about. You shouldn't have said anything to him, Chloe. You should have just let him talk and treat me like I wasn't there. This whole thing could have been avoided if you'd just kept your mouth shut."

"I'm sorry that I couldn't just sit there and let him treat you like shit Bree." Chloe retorts. "You shouldn't let him talk to you like that either. That's bullshit and you know it. You are so much better than he gives you credit for."

Aubrey scoffs. "That's just your opinion, Chloe." She points out snidely.

"Why is my opinion the one that doesn't matter?!" Chloe can't keep herself from shouting. "Why is his opinion the only one you listen to?"

"He's my father, Chloe." Aubrey says this like it's common sense and Chloe is simple for not realizing this. "He obviously knows what he's talking about."

Chloe barks out a laugh. "Oh my God are you serious? That's bullshit Aubrey! And if you really believe that then you're delusional."

"Are you sure about that? Because you're starting to sound a little bit like him." Aubrey snaps. Chloe starts to protest but Aubrey doesn't give her the chance. "I'm done talking about this Chloe. I think we both need a little space tonight." She says this in a tone that leaves no room for argument.

"Fine." Chloe snaps. "Sounds great." She hangs up the phone and tosses it onto her bed to avoid throwing it into the wall. It really doesn't sound great at all. It sounds horrible in fact but she feels angry and stubborn and hurt all at once. If Aubrey wants to push her away, fine. If Aubrey would prefer to kill herself trying to make her father happy, fine. She's done. She's done getting yelled at and she's done being put down for trying to be nice. If that's the way Aubrey wants it, then fine.

Chloe passes the next several hours stewing in her own anger and finally forces herself to go to bed just to give herself a little bit of relief. But she can't get comfortable and she can't turn her mind off and she keeps waking up and wondering why she's here in this shitty apartment instead of cuddled against Aubrey. And when she remembers their conversation it makes her mad and upset all over again.

When she wakes up yet again she feels like it was more than just her rambling thoughts that pulled her out of her restless sleep. Chloe stares up at the ceiling for a minute, trying to orient herself and it takes her a second longer to realize that there's someone knocking on the front door. A glance at the clock tells her that it's after one in the morning and she feels like the only people who would be knocking on the door at this hour are the types of people she really doesn't want to let into the apartment.

But the knocking continues to Chloe tosses back the blankets and heads into the living room. She glances over at Spencer's closed door but there's no indication that her roommate notices or cares about the knocking.

When Chloe opens the door, she's shocked to see Aubrey standing on the other side. Aubrey looks nervous and uncertain and it reminds Chloe of the Aubrey that she'd first met freshman year. "I'm sorry it's late." Aubrey says. "Can I come in?"

Chloe nods and quickly directs Aubrey to her bedroom. She's glad that it's dark so the blonde can't see the state of the living room, which is like a messier extension of Spencer's bedroom, or the kitchen, which definitely needs some TLC. Chloe shuts her bedroom door and switches on the bedside lamp. "It's…uh…I need to straighten up." She mutters, as she glances around her small room, trying to see it as Aubrey might. The space is pretty much the polar opposite of Aubrey's homey and tidy apartment and she doesn't know why she's suddenly embarrassed.

But Aubrey barely spares the space a second glance. "I'm sorry. For everything I said earlier. And I'm sorry that I'm always like this. I wouldn't blame you if you just got sick of my shit and never wanted to see me again because it's not fair that I keep yelling at you when I really want to be yelling at my father. But I really hope that doesn't happen because I don't know what I'd do if you…if I didn't have you." Aubrey's voice is thick and Chloe can tell that she's trying to get through whatever she has to say without crying. "I can be better."

Chloe shakes her head. "Bree, you don't have to be better. I just want you to be yourself." She says softly.

Aubrey's eyes fill with tears. "Why? I'm horrible. I'm bitchy and controlling and I'm mean to the only person that I love." She shakes her head. "I don't know why I'm like this." She says softly.

"Well, your dad is kind of an asshole." Chloe points out. "It's not like he's ever been easy on you."

"I know, I know." Aubrey wipes at her eyes. "But if I keep acting like this…he's still winning. I don't want him to take you from me too."

Chloe puts her arms around Aubrey and holds her close. "That's never going to happen, Bree." She kisses the blonde's temple. "I promise."

Aubrey holds onto her like she's afraid of what will happen if she lets go. "I love you. I'm sorry."

Chloe pulls away just enough to ensure that they're face to face. "You love me?" She questions, a slow smile spreading across her face.

"Of course, you idiot." Aubrey rolls her eyes but she's smiling a little too and she slips her hand around the curve of Chloe's neck. "What's not to love?"

Chloe shrugs. "You're right, I am pretty amazing."

"And so modest." Aubrey smirks as she leans into to kiss Chloe. "I'm sorry." She says softly against her lips.

"Shh." Chloe tucks a stray blonde lock behind Aubrey's ear. "I love you too." Their lips meet and Aubrey breathes the faintest sigh of relief.

Spencer wakes them up a few hours later by throwing Chloe's bedroom door open and standing in the doorway, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring daggers. Chloe lifts her head off Aubrey's shoulder, trying to figure out what the hell is going on and if Spencer really is some sort of crazy killer.

"I don't appreciate being woken up in the middle of the night Chloe." Spencer informs her acidly. "If your girlfriend," she sneers, "is going to show up in the middle of the night for a booty call can she at least have the decency not to pound on the door? I need my sleep."

Spencer slams the door shut without another word and then goes into the living room and cranks the volume on the TV way up so Chloe feels like she's actually watching whatever trashy daytime talk show is on. Aubrey groans and pulls the covers over her head. "Your roommate seems like a real peach."

"That was Spencer on a good day." Chloe remarks, snuggling under the covers with Aubrey. "Don't you have to go to work?"

Aubrey smiles softly. "I'm taking a personal day." She tells her. "My dad is going to have to find someone else to make his coffee."

Chloe drapes her arm over Aubrey's waist, trailing her fingers lightly down the small of her back. "Good idea." She scoots forward to kiss her. "I like it here."

They can hear Spencer banging pots and pans around in the kitchen and slamming cabinets. Aubrey winces. "Maybe we should stay at my place tonight."

TBC