Howdy all! Cheers for all the follows and reviews! I just wanted to clarify that this is just a plain ol' Bechloe fic. Sorry if there was anyone keeping their fingers crossed for Triple Treble! This chapter came out of me unusually quickly so again, sorry if it feels rushed. I also apologise in advance if it takes a bit longer for the next chapters to hit cyber space.
Anyway, as always - hope you enjoy!
"You know that guy who's like, totally your boyfriend?" Chloe says as the two walk between classes one afternoon.
"Who?"
"That kid from the radio station. Joey?"
"You mean Jesse?"
"Right, Jesse. Anyway, just a word of warning, I wouldn't plan on bringing him over if you want to keep your face intact."
"Huh?"
"Aubrey will slaughter you if you bring a Treblemaker into the apartment." Chloe clarifies.
"Is this another crazy a capella thing…?" Beca drones.
"No, it's another Aubrey a capella thing. So actually, yes. Yes it is another crazy a capella thing." Chloe mutters. "Just don't do it if you want to live, kay?"
"Well firstly, that's stupid. She's not my mom. Secondly, Jesse is just my friend."
"Sure," Chloe winks, "friend." she makes rabbit ears with her fingers as she says the word, openly mocking Beca.
"No seriously. He's like the annoying little brother I never wanted. That and he has all the wrong… appendages."
"Appendages? Say what now?" Chloe asks with wide eyes. "Barbie, are you gay?"
"As Christmas."
"Oh man! How did I not pick up on that?"
"Because you were too busy getting all up in my space to notice, maybe?"
"Shut up. You love it." Chloe side bumps Beca with her hip for good measure.
"Don't love it."
"So, the illusive Beca Mitchell is into women." Chloe says as she rakes her eyes over Beca in an almost predatory fashion.
"This is not an invitation for girl talk." Beca says, trying desperately to ignore the way her mouth dries in response to the look in Chloe's eyes.
xxx
"Barbie, are you awake?" Chloe whispers into Beca's darkened room.
"I was sleeping." Beca says drowsily. "Can't you go bug Aubrey?"
"She's still at the library. And I can't sleep."
"Can't you just take a sleeping pill or something?"
"Hugs not drugs, Beca Mitchell. Can't I just hang out in here?"
"Did you not hear the part where I said I was sleeping?"
"I don't mean let's have a rave. I just want someone to sleep with."
"Excuse me?"
"Not like that."
"Right, so you're just asking to share my bed because you're lonely?"
"I guess, yeah."
"Man, you are so needy."
"I am so not needy!"
"You are too, needy." Beca sighs in defeat, lifting the quilt up at the corner to invite the redhead in. "Come on then." She shifts over to the other side of the bed as Chloe climbs in, but the other girl just crawls up and snuggles close to Beca's body.
"What have we said about personal space?" Beca mutters.
"That I have no idea what it is?"
"Ugh, exactly. There is plenty of room on that side of the bed."
"I know. But you're all warm and cuddly."
"No. I'm cold and spikey is what I am."
"Liar."
"Ugh. Go to sleep."
Beca feels the other body shift closer to her own again, pressing warmth against her back. She feels an arm drape closely around her midsection and instead of feeling discomfort and agitation, it actually calms her breath and puts her at ease.
"Night Barbie." Chloe whispers into her ear.
"Goodnight Chloe."
xxx
It's early one Thursday afternoon when Beca enters the apartment after a particularly gruelling psychology class. Knowing that Chloe and Aubrey would be at rehearsals for the later part of the day, Beca was looking forward to spending the afternoon alone, working on some mixes and possibly fitting in a nap. When she swings the door open and yanks her key out of the lock however, she isn't met with the silence she was hoping for. A muffled baseline is filtering through the hallway and Beca recognizes the pattern as she takes a few steps further into the apartment. A verse of David Guetta's Titanium is pounding in her ears, even through the closed door it is being emitted through.
As she takes herself further toward the sound of the track she finds herself face to face with Chloe's door, which being closed was an alarming factor in and of itself. In the three months that Beca had now been sharing the apartment with the two singers, she very rarely witnessed Chloe's door not being wide open.
"Chloe?" She calls out over the muffled music playing from the bedroom adjacent to her own. She goes to turn the knob of the door however is even more surprised when it remains stiffly in place. Not only was Chloe's door seldom closed, it was never locked. She's just about to poise her fist to slam it against the door when she hears a loud moan carry over the music. Beca presses her ear against the wood as her curiosity gets the better of her.
"Chloe, are you okay?" She calls out again.
She hears another groan penetrate through the sound from speakers and she starts getting concerned when she doesn't receive a verbal response. Beca hears the chorus building and along with it the moans from inside the room grow in pitch and regularity. She hears the other girl practically keening from the other side of the door and in that moment, realization hits Beca like an 18 wheeler. Then, amongst the pounding beats and soaring melody Beca swears she hears her own name in a muffled cry. Her face flushes so intensely, it nearly leaves her in a sweat. Not quite sure what to do with herself, she turns on her heal retreating into her own bedroom. She finds herself leaning back against her own door as she presses it closed, sure by now that she's heard something she definitely shouldn't have.
x
Later that evening, Chloe is fixing dinner and is stationed at the stove when Beca filters into the kitchen. The redhead is clad in obscenely tight yoga pants and an equally restrictive tank top that makes Beca's eyes linger inappropriately for the slightest of seconds.
"I hope you're hungry."
"Very." Beca says clearing her throat.
"Good, we're having Mexican."
"Homemade Mexican?"
"Hell yeah, Barbie. Just because you live off Taco Bell."
"Don't you go knocking Taco Bell. It is the meal of champions. I'd better have my socks blown off with this housewife Mexican attempt of yours."
"Oh don't worry, you will." Chloe adds with a wink. Beca leans against the counter facing the redhead and watches Chloe continue to cook.
"So, Titanium hey?" Beca says with an almost evil smirk.
"Excuse me?"
"I said Titanium. David Guetta? Sia? Good song, right?" Chloe pauses and it's the first time Beca has seen the other girl flush. She revels in the feeling of having the upper hand in their interaction for once.
"It's a great song." Beca continues, "I have a mix of it if you want to hear it." Chloe eyes her curiously with a sideways glance.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, I made it today."
"Today?" Chloe says a little hoarsely.
"Yeah, it was playing when I got home, and I felt… inspired."
"Inspired?"
"Yeah, inspired. Are you just going to repeat everything I say?"
"Sure. I mean, what?" Chloe says absently.
"You seem a bit distracted, Red. You okay?" Beca says inching a little closer to the older girl, holding her gaze for longer than necessary. She feels the other girl eying her lips dangerously, azure orbs darting back and forth between her mouth and eyes.
"I'm fine." She says, suddenly creating distance between the pair. "Dinner will be ready in 5 minutes."
"That's it?" Beca says, expecting more of a bite from the bait she is clearly dangling in front of Chloe. Chloe's one of the most open people Beca had ever met, and now all of a sudden the redhead was turning shy just as Beca was taking a huge leap of faith?
"What?"
"Nothing. I meant is that it, do I need to get salad or anything." She tries to cover, gesturing at the cooktop to the food. Chloe's eyes linger on Beca's for a moment, almost as if she's going to say something important.
"Nope, that's everything."