A/N: The title is from the song Freak by Olivver the Kid.
Oh and starting here the chapters will mainly be short and simple. A question is asked and a question is answered (and maybe Aubrey and Stacie's take on things)
The stack of notecards is more intimidating than Beca expected. Her fingers run along the edges of the paper, as she tries not to focus on the tension in the room.
"You both know the drill," Emily glances at the two women sat in the middle of one of the library's private study rooms. "One asks a question, the other answers, and vice versa?"
When both women, who have awkwardly acknowledged one another with simple greetings, a small smile from Chloe and avoided eye contact from Beca, have nodded, Emily continues.
"Okay so I'll start it off easy but after that you both decide who goes and then it's all up to you guys, got it?"
Another nod of confirmation and then, "Why did you agree to this project?"
Beca's head whips toward Emily, her attention formerly on Aubrey and Stacie who sat at a table on the outside of their little study room, her expression indignant and annoyed.
"Why the fuck else, Emily? You said you needed help, so I'm here." Beca sneered. To which Emily simply shrugged, not moving from behind her tripod.
"That can't be the only reason Beca."
A moment or two pass in silence and Beca wonders how she'll make it through this. If she can't even answer Emily's question, how the fuck is she going to answer Chloe's.
It's only when the redhead herself breaks the silence that Beca is pulled from her thoughts.
"Honestly? For closure."
Beca turns to face Chloe, their chairs facing one another and nothing else to separate them.
It's intimidating as fuck.
It's also very telling. It's telling in the way Chloe sits with her hands neatly in her lap, her ankle tucked underneath the other. She looks older now, more mature, Beca would say. Then again, the last time Beca saw her, they were only kids. A mere 19 and 21, they were naive, fresh faced, and hopeful; but 22 and 24 are no adults either.
As her eyes rake over Chloe - this older Chloe - Beca can't help but wonder what's changed.
The redhead, having had enough of Beca's blank stare, clears her throat. The action successfully gains Beca's attention and for the first time since they'd shared the room's space, Beca's gaze meets Chloe's.
It's enough to make the older woman falter, for even a second.
"I wanted to know what this opportunity had to offer." Chloe smiled warily as she shrugged her shoulders. "I couldn't pass this up without regretting it later on."
Beca's jaw clenches at the way this Chloe carries herself.
Gone is the ever-present lilt in her tone. Gone is the way her smile reaches her eyes. Gone is the Chloe she knew.
The only semblance Beca has found so far, is that pleading look of hope in those blue eyes that even till now, Beca finds herself crumbling under.
Honesty is key. Honesty is key.
Beca tries to keep that in mind as she clears her throat. Having said enough for Emily's question, she picks up her first card.
"Do you think this is a good idea?"
Aubrey and Stacie had been sat quietly at a table just outside the library room. Both watching intently as their friends seemed to just stare at each other.
A few moments pass before Aubrey answers.
"If they both take this seriously and stay level headed, then yes I think so."
Stacie, who's been playing with the hands that's holding her own, scoffs. "Beca? Staying level headed? We can only hope." A second passes and Stacie thinks Aubrey is about to say something, when they both eye the pair in the room.
The couple watching intently as Beca picks up and reads the first card.
Stacie bites the inside of her cheek at the way Beca goes rigid once Chloe's answered.