Curiosity by whoselineisitanyway

Rated: M

"Everything that is new or uncommon raises a pleasure in the imagination, because it fills the soul with an agreeable surprise, gratifies its curiosity, and gives it an idea of which it was not before possessed." -Joseph Addison

"Is this okay?" The question was quick and breathy against Beca's lips.

'More than okay.'

'Do you think I'm attractive?'

'Are you crazy or just blind? Definitely not blind, I saw the way you were staring in the shower.'

'I'm not asking you to state the obvious. I want to know what you think of me.'

'You certainly have a high opinion of yourself already.'

'I told you Beca, I'm pretty confident. You should be too.'

'Who said I wasn't?'

'You are definitely a confident person, so badass.' She reassured with a wink. 'But you don't always seem certain of yourself, you like to be by yourself and when I see you with the other Bellas, you're happy but... anxious. You count backwards from 10, you do breathing exercises and you get lost in your head sometimes.'

There was a pause, Chloe wondered if she had overstepped and was pushing Beca where she definitely shouldn't.

'...That has nothing to do with how I look naked.'

To say she was relieved when Beca smiled sweetly at her, and brushed over her clear over-interest in the girl was an understatement. It was her own acknowledgement that she didn't mind sharing about her anxiety with the older girl, but now she just wanted to flirt with the girl.

'Which, just an FYI, is fucking fantastic but I don't have to tell you that.'

'Uh uh, you do not!' When Chloe thought about it, Beca gave in to her presence in the showers quite quickly and she eventually gave up hiding her body, enjoying their duet.

'So... what's your question?'

Chloe moved in close to where the girl was leaning casually against the counter of kitchen, her hand reaching out to lightly encircle the girls wrist. Beca could feel her pulse quicken underneath the girls touch, and her heart hammered against her chest when she realised Chloe felt it too and her eyebrow arched in questioning. Or was it boastful surprise?

'Do you find me attractive?'

Beca watched as Chloe came in close so that their breath was mingling between them, both sets of eyes darting between lips and each other. She tried to swallow but her throat had become incredibly tight.

'Chloe.' The low, and gravelly tone was unexpected.

Beca allowed herself to lean further into the girl, their noses brushing affectionately, she brought up her shaking hand to her neck. Her fingertips barely brushing against Chloe's skin before she got the courage to grasp her neck.

Beca's breath hiccuped lightly as she felt the goosebumps across her hips where Chloe's fingers brushed lightly against them. She didn't realise they were there, pressing her further into the counter so that her back was being pinched by the edge.

'You are beautiful.' Chloe let her eyes drop shut.

They slammed open when they heard the front door shaking on its hinges from where Aubrey stormed into the apartment, the rest of the Bellas in tow. Both Beca and Chloe pulled away from each other, leaning on opposite sides of the counter breathing heavily and staring at each other.

'I told you to put those bottles back! We have enough alcohol for everyone here!' Aubrey screeched.

'But Aubrey, it takes a lot to get me all fuzzy inside!' The Australian offered back.

'Don't worry Amy, Cynthia-Rose's and Lilly's brownies are sure to do that!' Stacie winked, dropping popcorn and chips onto the coffee table before collapsing onto the couch.

Lilly and Cynthia-Rose shared a knowing look. 'Hey, who said anything 'bout them being special?'

'I should hope not!' Aubrey commented, tight lipped.

Cynthia-Rose winked at her, 'We just added a little extra flavour.'

'I hope that isn't some sort of lesbian code?' Amy looked from Cynthia-Rose to Aubrey. 'Cos if this is a night all about experimentation then I'm out. Ever since my one night stand with Mila Kunis in the outback with some dingos watching I've decided it wasn't for me.'

'That's hot.' Stacie offered. 'But I'm also out.' Cynthia-Rose looked a little disappointed to hear this.

'Will everyone stop talking about lesbians?' She clapped her hands to get everyone's attention. 'Okay, Jessica, Denise and Ashley pick out a film to watch then push both the couches back so we can all fit in. Stacie there are some blankets and extra pillows in my closet - try to stay out of my underwear drawer! And Amy and CR, you can help me with the food.'

'Wait, where are Beca and Chloe?'

In the kitchen, both girls hadn't moved from their positions, reluctant to leave the moment they were sharing. They snapped out of it when they heard their names and wandered into the living space.

Chloe cleared her throat and spoke. 'You called?'

Aubrey frowned. 'Have you been in there the whole time? You were awfully quiet.'

Chloe ignored her question. 'What's this about special brownies?'

Beca lingered behind her, her nails looking suddenly interesting. She could feel Aubrey's piercing glare on her but chose to ignore it.

I don't even know when, how or why this started but I know that something definitely has. Ever since I met Chloe Beale everything in my life has been tipped onto it's head and I have no idea what's going on, ever. But everything in life is an experience right? You can learn something about yourself with everything interaction, I just don't know what I'm meant to be learning from knowing Chloe Beale.

I saw her first at the activities fair, she was handing out flyers with Aubrey and wearing those big baby blues. When she opened her mouth and her sweet voice flooded my ears I couldn't have prepared myself for the instant want for her to be in my life. I thought it was just a girl crush, that we could be friends but Aubrey's overbearing bitchiness had quickly made it difficult to act on these feelings, and acappella - really?

So I forgot about her, I didn't see her anywhere on campus but I guess that would require me to leave my dorm and attend classes, which I didn't. I was just focusing on getting through each day at this awful college; people complicate things and I was barely making it through each day with myself. I just wanted to get lost in my music, the one thing I could understand.

When she barged into my shower I was shocked, but as I pushed myself against the tiled walls of the cubicle I realised that I was excited. It was exciting to be in the shower, surprised by a beautiful redhead, naked. I thought it was the adrenaline and the shower water but the warmth that settled between my legs told me that maybe I was taking too much pleasure out of the situation. God, what was wrong with me?

Just because she was confident and friendly didn't mean I could be all... perverted about the situation, it was a totally uncomfortable feeling every time that I glanced down at her body whilst we were singing. I had to force myself to look away, she had to know that I wasn't weird and looking at her on purpose. I mean her body was right there!

Afterwards, I walked back to my dorm thinking about how lovely her voice was... how soft her skin looked, I wondered about what it would feel like and what it would look like in my bed. I walked into my dorm only to be glared at by Kimmy Jin. Did she know that I was having these intrusive thoughts about Chloe?

I convinced myself to go to auditions for the Bellas and got in! Chloe came to kidnap me the next evening to tell me of the new cult I'd been accepted into - it was more appropriate than joining the Deaf Jew Society just because of the abbreviation, even though she would have loved to have seen her dad's face when she told him.

I opened the door to calm the rabid knocks on the wood. I saw a flurry of red locks and a huge red bag coming towards my face, I quickly reached out to push the force away. She chuckled and told me told to fight as she came in close to ease the sack over my head. She told me that she was kidnapping me for initiation, it was tradition to wear the sack but I pulled it off as soon as I felt her move away.

'You're going to make this difficult aren't you?' She smiled at me and all I ever wanted to do after then was make her smile, and I felt myself wanting to flirt with her relentlessly.

'Only if that's how you like it.' She looked a surprised at my teasing tone, but in a good way, at least I hoped that the wide grin that was spreading across her face was a good sign. Or was I making her uncomfortable? Wait, did I enjoy teasing her?

I realised that she was still pressed close against me, my hands had somehow ended up in hers. My eyes automatically flickered down to her soft pink lips and I looked back up to see she had the same thought.

It was the movement of other students further down the corridor that made me jump to my senses; I noticed a guy curiously staring at our position. I gulped and pulled away from Chloe.

'We should go.' She nodded slowly, an unreadable expression on her face.

After the initiation ceremony, we were guided to the open space of the auditorium where all acapella groups and other students had gathered to party. It was weird that my life could be this different in just the space of months, I was back home in Portland, no significant others, or singing groups or irritating co-CD stackers and this place, this was so different and it was overwhelming.

Except Jesse, he was underwhelming. He was normal, and he was giving out all these cliches that I wished I could be interested in. The back and forth he and I had was easy in terms of talking but it seemed like I really had to try to enjoy his company.

Then when Chloe came up to me, all close, my hands pulled onto her waist I felt the my entire body heat up, my fingers unconsciously moving across her body and the flirting causing a flurry of activity throughout my stomach. I probably came across as a total freak, too excited about seeing each other naked.

I am absolutely all for everyone being able to love whomever they want, being open and equality. It's not exactly like I was the picturesque pretty girl that did had lots of friends, I was that weird alt-girl and now I was starting to believe that I wasn't normal. These feelings weren't normal. Chloe would think I was weird if she knew, if she found out that I had these dirty thoughts about her.

She must only flirt with me for fun, just some fun she likes to have. She couldn't be gay? Wait gay? What did it matter if she was gay? I'm not, this is just... a college thing. There was never anyone that I could talk to like Chloe, we hung out after practice and I just wanted to be with her all the time.

I've never had close girl friends like this before, this was exciting because she's my first real best friend. And... I guess there's nothing wrong with friends experimenting in college, people do that all the time. Chloe was touchy feel-y, always complimenting the other Bellas, hugging her and kissing her on the cheek.

I still have no idea where this leaves me. But being close with Chloe doesn't scare me as much as these feelings do, her touch is so different to what I'm used to and I really didn't want it to stop.

I needed to stop over thinking this story and just upload it. Review!