A\N: Hey there lovely readers. Sorry it has taken so long for an update. I kind of started this story right before a planned hiatus. In retrospect I should have probably started posting it now but nevertheless the second chapter is ready. I do hope you'll enjoy this. As always your feedback is much appreciated. Leave a comment here or a message on Tumblr (shesamarshmallow). People's thoughts on the story always help with the progress and evolving as a writer so thanks in advance.
Beca rubbed the sleep from her eyes as the bright sun shone through the tiny window of her room on the ship. She blinked a few times looking around the room curiously. It is always odd to wake up somewhere other than your own room, even if you know in advance that you are going to wake up there. The brunette was surprised by how quiet it was and how peaceful her sleep had been. She figured on a ship this large and with so many people that she would hear something that would disturb her in the night. The only sound Beca could hear now though was the deep breathing of someone still asleep. She watched quietly, smiling softly at the sight. Contrary to what Jesse may believe it wasn't often that Beca woke up next to another person in bed. In fact Beca couldn't remember the last time she woke up next to someone else. She played with the strands of hair blocking her view and glanced over at the alarm clock. It was then that there was movement from the other side of the small bed.
"Good morning beautiful," Beca said, loud enough for the other woman to hear but not too loud as to startle her.
Chloe blinked, the bright light from the window now shining directly in her eyes.
"Good morning indeed," the red head agreed, her smile growing wider as she caught the other woman's gaze.
"I take it you slept well?" Beca smirked knowingly. Chloe was fast asleep before Beca had finished wishing her a good night.
Chloe just made an approving noise and continued to smile. She had slept well but that wasn't what had her so gleeful on this particular morning.
"I was thinking that it's a good morning because it was such a good night and I'm still here with you."
Beca couldn't help but smile, as long as it had been since she woke up next to another person in bed it had been longer since someone was happy that she was still there in the morning.
The brunette nodded in agreement, adding, "we are on the same page then."
The two women had spent the night drinking and dancing, laughing and talking among other things into the wee hours of the morning. Chloe felt at ease talking to Beca. They could talk about anything and Chloe never got bored. She distinctly recalled a conversation last night about the pros and cons of folding your pizza before eating it. Chloe found the idea abhorrent and always ate the crust first but Beca was just as passionate about her viewpoint. She had argued that folding the pizza made it more like a sandwich and who doesn't love a sandwich; Chloe couldn't argue with that.
Beca reached a hand out to brush the flaming locks out of Chloe's eyes, sneaking a peck on the lips after her work was done. They laid there for a few more minutes in silence, just soaking in the sun and each other's company. As much as Chloe enjoyed talking to Beca she was also content just to lay with her. The silence was comfortable rather than awkward; like they could lay there forever if they never had reason to move and everything would be okay.
"So," Chloe finally spoke up, "what do you want to do today?"
"Eat breakfast?" Beca offered, smiling adorably.
"We can start with that," Chloe agreed, "after that though? I know this ship has tons of things to do."
"How about we talk about it over breakfast?" the brunette suggested, stealing another quick kiss.
Chloe just nodded leaning over to steal a kiss of her own or three.
The walk along the deck to the breakfast buffet was lovely. It was a beautiful day, the sun shining, the birds were singing and it was every bit the fairytale morning. Chloe felt like a teenager walking alongside Beca. Her hand dangled awkwardly next to her body, fingers gently grazing the brunette's also dangling hand. They went along for a few minutes like this before Beca finally took the initiative to link their fingers together. Holding hands felt comfortable albeit strange. They walked this way in comfortable silence the rest of the way to the restaurant.
When they arrived Beca could see the perky blonde that Chloe had said was her friend waving at them from a table. The table was set for 5; this impressed Beca as Chloe could have only had a few minutes with the woman to mention that she was on the cruise with two friends.
"You can text your friends and tell them to meet us for breakfast, I told the waiter it was for 5."
"Thanks, I'll text Jesse now," Beca said, releasing Chloe's hand to get her phone out.
As Beca looked down at her phone Chloe took a seat in the chair next to Aubrey. She knew her friend was just dying to ask her about last night but was holding back. Chloe watched as Beca finished her text and moved on to checking something else on her phone. When she was sure that Beca was engrossed in whatever she was looking at the red head leaned over to whisper in her friend's ear.
"It was amazing."
Aubrey just smiled. Normally she would be more judgmental about her friend ditching her to go off and sleep with a random person she just met but she was holding back this time. She knew as well as anyone that Chloe needed this vacation and needed to have a good time. If that meant enjoying the company of a stranger for a few days than Aubrey could bite her tongue and see how it played out. After all she had begged Chloe to take her up on her offer and it was a birthday present for the red head.
"I'm glad," Aubrey said aloud, smiling at her friend again.
As they waited for Jesse and Stacie to arrive the three women made small talk. Aubrey was a pro at small talk. She told Beca all about her job and asked the brunette about what she did. Chloe already knew that Beca and Jesse were business partners but she had no idea how large their company actually was. From the way Beca told it Chloe thought they sounded like tycoons and she was sure the woman wasn't just exaggerating for Aubrey's sake. The brunette struck her as a very genuine person, not one to bullshit for appearances.
When her friends finally arrived Beca introduced them to her new acquaintances.
"This is Jesse, my closest friend and confidant and also the aforementioned business partner and this is his wife Stacie who you may have seen on the E! Network if you've ever watched it."
Aubrey nodded, smiling; she had never actually watched the E! Network but she figured she could at least pretend to vaguely recognize the woman.
"Nice to meet you," Chloe said sweetly reaching out a hand to shake Jesse's, "I'm Chloe and this is my closet friend and confidant Aubrey."
"Oh," Beca spoke up, slightly embarrassed that she hadn't introduced them herself.
"And this is Chloe and Aubrey. I uh…met Chloe outside before we boarded the ship."
"And now she's totally smitten," the red head interjected, which only caused Beca to blush more.
"I guess you could say that," the brunette agreed.
Jesse laughed, "your cheeks match the colour of the tomatoes in Stacie's garden Beca, you are totally smitten."
Beca kicked her friend under the table giving him the classic you are not helping look.
Chloe smiled across the table at the brunette. She hadn't known her very long but she had been up until now the picture of confidence. To see her blushing and a little unsure of herself was cute, endearing even.
"No need to be embarrassed Beca, I am pretty awesome."
It was Chloe's words the eased the tension and Beca's cheeks returned to their normal colour. The five newly acquainted friends dined on a breakfast buffet of the usual, eggs, tons of bacon, French toast and enough pancakes and syrup to feed a small army. Beca had been on a few all inclusive cruise packages before and she always came away with the feeling that the best perk was all the food. She wasn't the best cook so to get so many "home" cooked meals in a week was delightful.
"So, what was everyone thinking of doing after breakfast?" Jesse piped up when he could tell that everyone had had his or her fill of the delicious breakfast offerings.
"We weren't too sure," Chloe answered, "I heard there is a movie screening tonight of something that is still in theatres."
Beca let out an audible groan and Jesse just chuckled at the red head's curious look.
"Is something wrong?" Chloe asked, pouting slightly.
Stacie jumped in to help the obviously confused woman. "Beca hates movies," Stacie explained, "always has, probably always will. She's an odd duck that way."
"What? How can you hate movies?" Chloe started the inquisition.
"They're predictable," Jesse offered, mimicking what Beca had told him when he asked her that very same question years ago.
"They are," Beca defended, "the guy gets the girl and that kid sees dead people. Life is unpredictable and movies just don't reflect that."
"Maybe life is predictable," Chloe said very seriously, "maybe you're just not the one predicting it."
Beca wasn't sure it made sense but she smiled anyway. She liked the way the red head's brain worked. Everything she said was made more interesting by the fact that Beca had no idea she was going to say it.
"Now that my hatred of movies has been analyzed can we talk about the plan for the day?"
"Sure, but will you come to the movie later anyway?" Chloe asked making the puppy dog eyes that Beca normally hated when other people did them.
She feigned thought for a few moments before relenting, "sure, as long as I don't actually have to watch the movie."
The wink the brunette gave her assured Chloe they were in for another amazing night.
"Enough of that," Aubrey piped up, cringing slightly at the thought of whatever Chloe and Beca were going to do instead of watching the movie.
"There is a beautiful pool on board I thought we could go for a dip and then maybe hit the casino afterward. Maybe we'll get lucky and hit the jackpot," Aubrey continued, eschewing any further thoughts of Chloe and Beca's private activities.
"Sounds good, we'll just go back to our rooms and get our swim gear and meet you two at the pool?"
"Perfect, see you there," Aubrey confirmed.
As Chloe walked away from the table with Aubrey she looked back briefly to Beca. To her surprise Beca was looking back too. Chloe took the opportunity to wink in the brunette's direction.
"She's smitten?" Aubrey questioned, breaking the red head's concentration. "I'd certainly say you are."
"She's just so much fun to be around Bree, she's interesting to talk to, she's confident and gorgeous and I have a great time when I'm with her. She is the perfect cruise buddy."
Aubrey feigned offence, "I thought I was your cruise buddy?"
"Sorry Bree, of course you are."
"I'm kidding doofus. I'm happy for you. It's been a long time since you met someone who makes you feel as good as Beca obviously does. I know you just met and I'm normally the more reasonable type but you two are good together. I think she would be good for you."
"Hey now, don't get ahead of yourself there. I said I'm having a good time with Beca on the cruise. I didn't say I wanted to run off into the sunset and marry the woman."
There was the attitude Aubrey expected of her friend; closed off and distant, unwilling to even talk about the idea of a relationship. She should have known when Chloe told her last night that she was going back to Beca's room that it didn't mean anything more to Chloe than a chance to have a good time.
"You know Chloe, it is okay to think about the future once and a while," Aubrey said, choosing her words carefully. She didn't want to risk scaring Chloe off and stopping the conversation completely.
Chloe's response though told her that it was already too late for that.
"Don't start that with me Aubrey, you know I only agreed to come on this cruise to have a good time. I don't want to fight and I don't want to talk about things you know I can't."
Aubrey just rolled her eyes. This was typical Chloe. Her friend was all bubbly and excited about everything until you mentioned the slightest possibility of a serious relationship. She hadn't been in a relationship of any kind for almost 6 years and it was starting to worry Aubrey, but she knew Chloe had her reasons. She just didn't think they were good enough anymore and she wished Chloe would reconsider, especially now that a twist of fate had brought her Beca.
"Fine, let's just get out our bathing suits and go meet Beca, Jesse and Stacie," Aubrey huffed.
"Perfect, I can wear my new bikini. Beca will love it."
"Everyone will love it," Aubrey teased, "I'm actually surprised you bought such a skimpy one."
"It's got polka dots," Chloe defended.
"And a gaping hole where your cleavage will be."
"Like yours is any better Bree, I've seen the black one you have with the little flowers."
"I didn't bring that one Chloe, Greg isn't here."
It was Chloe's turn to roll her eyes now. Of course Aubrey didn't bring her bikini with her because her boyfriend isn't with them. It's not that Greg is the over protective or jealous sort, Aubrey's just that committed. Chloe had already seen her rebuff multiple attempts at flirting by men at the bar last night. She wouldn't even accept a free drink from a stranger, which Chloe thought was a waste. Aubrey just didn't think it was right to lead anyone on. Nothing is going to happen so why pretend like it can, that's what Aubrey always said.
"Let's just get down to the pool. Don't want to keep our new acquaintances waiting."
The two women walked out of the room and towards the pool. This silence was much more awkward and uncomfortable than the one between herself and Beca earlier this morning. There was a lot that had been left unsaid. Aubrey was her best friend but they still had these moments between them; like a standstill where no one is willing to budge. Aubrey wants to talk about something and Chloe doesn't. The reverse has been true in the past but more often than not it's Chloe who won't talk. She has her reasons though and she knows that her friend knows it.
The awkward silence is eventually broken by Beca who runs towards them smiling brightly. She can't help but smile when she sees Chloe in her blue bikini. It is like a neon colour with polka dots but it somehow manages to match her gorgeous blue eyes.
"You look amazing," Beca offers, her jaw slightly agape.
"I thought you'd like it," Chloe says with a smirk.
With that it is as if their friends and the rest of the people in the pool area aren't even there. Beca tugs at the red head's hand dragging her towards the pool.
"The water is nice actually, temperature regulated. Very classy; I tested it before you arrived."
"Excellent," Chloe said before running towards the other side of the pool.
Beca was confused at first but understood when she saw the locks of flaming red hair bouncing up and down on the diving board. Beca followed her over and watched as she jumped off the springy board like a pro. She hesitated for a second but swallowed her fear when she saw Chloe smiling at her from the pool.
"Who wants to play water volleyball?" Jesse shouted, knocking Beca out of her daze.
The 5 of them gathered in the centre of the pool and were surprised yet happy to see others in the vicinity were happy to join in.
"Sweet," Jesse said, "we've got enough people for two teams."
Chloe felt something on her shoulder and turned around to see just in time for Beca to plant a kiss square on her lips.
"I'm on Chloe's team," Beca yelled, arms still wrapped around the red head's neck.
"Obviously," Stacie said smirking at her friend.
As Chloe looked around the pool she smiled. She was glad she had decided to come on the cruise after all and most of all she was glad to have met Beca. She hadn't had this much fun in a while and it was a much needed break from real life.
"I hope you're good Beca," Aubrey yelled across the pool, "red over there hates to lose. Be careful."
Beca chuckled. She had a feeling she would be needing that advice more than once when it came to Chloe.
"No need to worry," Beca assured her, "I was a pro volleyball player in a past life."
With that Aubrey served the ball and they day's fun had started. Aubrey wasn't sure what would happen from this point on but for the moment she was happy to watch her friend smile and have some fun for once.
