A/N: Hello friends. Back again once more. I'm glad so many people of you already read the first chapter or at least looked at it, we've got over 500 views! YAY! I know some of you might be scared off by the fact that Chloe is together with Chicago, but believe me you all will be statisfied! Please leave some reviews, that would make me so happy! Co-written with selimausx3, who I adore but she hates me xx
When Chloe arrived at Barden, she was struck with an immediate sense of nostalgia. She paid for the cab and got out, her suitcase rolling behind her on the asphalt. Her eyes roamed the university grounds, the green grass with students scattered all around it, the dorms where she spent the first years of her college together with Aubrey, before they got into the Bellas house. Chloe continued walking until she stood in front of the big, cream coloured house with the blue B hammered on it. She closed her eyes as a rush of emotions flowed through her. She thought about knocking on the door, but she had no idea who the newest Bellas were or if they would even know who she was. She stood in the shades of the trees, looking at the beautiful house where so many amazing memories took place. A smile played at her lips, as she realised she was glad to be back.
Beca spent the plane ride sleeping. She figured it would just drive her crazy if she stayed up. So she swallowed some sleeping pills and slept soundlessly. When she arrived at the airport, she hailed a cab that brought her to the university she went to all those years ago. She chuckled. 11 years ago, a Beca Mitchell came to Barden that had a "Don't talk to me" and "I don't take anybody's shit" attitude. She wore way too much eyeliner back then. And 3 years later she left together with friends who she cared deeply for, that changed her for the better and made her loosen up more. She wondered what freshman Beca would've said or done if somebody told her that that would happen. She would've probably rolled her eyes and laughed. The cab came to a halt and Beca paid the driver. She got out, grabbing her suitcase. She looked around. The campus didn't look that much different. Beca smiled softly to herself. She went to the hotel that Amy had given them the address for and dropped off her bags.
Chloe had spent the last few hours sitting in the shade of the trees, studying the students walking from and into the student buildings. She hugged her knees as she sat down on the grass. She had put down her dark pink coat on the floor so her leather skirt wouldn't get dirty. She enjoyed the slight breeze playing with her hair, and the warm comfort of the red beanie that kept her hair in place. With a smile, she closed her eyes. It was nearing 6 pm and she had to leave to go to the bar soon. The sun was setting and the redhead smiled at the pretty colours in the sky. It felt good to be back here. Familiar. New York was a great city, but it was very busy and loud. She was enjoying the silence, reminiscing about the past. Luckily, she realised, most of the memories were good, happy and warm ones. They had so much fun together and laughed so much. Chloe let out a long sigh, closing her eyes, wishing she could go back to those days.
She was interrupted from her thoughts when she heard someone walking up to her. Her eyes flickered open and she saw a tall figure stand in front of her.
"What are you doing, weirdo?" A voice asked.
"Stacie!" The redhead screamed, getting to her feet and wrapping Stacie up in a tight hug.
The tall girl giggled in Chloe's ear. "Well, it seems that you've missed me. I mean, who wouldn't?"
Chloe laughed and pulled away. "I did miss you. It's so nice to see a familiar face. You've also changed your hair color back to brunette, I see. I have been watching the students, but I don't know any of them!" She said.
Stacie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, duh. We graduated almost 8 years ago. I bet you there's no one here who even remembers our names, except for Beca's, of course."
The redhead swallowed. "Right…" She said awkwardly.
"Were you sleeping under this tree?" Stacie asked, sensing the need to change the subject away from Beca.
Chloe smiled thankfully. "No, just reminiscing. I miss it here." She admitted.
Stacie nodded. "I know what you mean. When Bella is old enough, I'm definitely bringing her here. Show here where it all started."
As they sat down on the grass together, they talked about where they were in their lives, and Stacie showed Chloe pictures of Bella, who had grown up to be just as pretty as her mother.
"My god, she's so cute!" The redhead squealed.
Stacie smiled proudly, stashing her phone away. "She's the love of my life". She said and Chloe smiled back.
Suddenly, Stacie grabbed Chloe's hand. Her eyes widened at the small silver ring around her finger. "You're married!?" The brunette yelled, and Chloe shushed her.
"No, no, calm down. I'm engaged." She corrected, laughing.
Stacie squealed. "To who?" She asked, her eyes big with excitement.
The redhead smiled."To Chicago."
Stacie slapped Chloe's leg playfully. "Nice going, Chlo. Oh, I can't wait for you to have kids! It's all so exciting!" She said, chatting away.
Chloe blushed a little. Kids were definitely in her future plans, but for some reason she felt like Chicago and her were not ready for that at all. "Someday." She smiled and looked at Stacie a little apologetically. "How's your love life?" She asked.
Stacie grinned. "Ah, you know, I get by. Nothing stable though." The brunette added, with a pout. Chloe smiled at her encouragingly. "Someday." She repeated, and Stacie grinned.
They talked some more, catching up with all the things that happened over the past years. Stacie told the redhead that she had set up a dancing studio in Atlanta, raising Bella as a single working mother. Chloe was impressed by how well Stacie was doing, and praised the girl for her bravery.
Beca had gone to the campus cafe to kill some time. She ordered her college favorite and was pleased to find out that it still tasted as good as it did all those years ago. She made a mental note to leave a good tip.
"Uhm, excuse me? Are you Beca Mitchell?" A boy asked shyly.
"Yeah, I sure am! How are you?" She smiled and the boy turned red.
"Oh my god." He muttered. "Hi, I'm Trevor. I'm a huge fan of yours."
Beca grinned. Trevor reminded her a little of Benji. "Do you want to take a picture?" The brunette asked and the guy nodded. "Yes please." She chuckled as she got up, posing with him.
"Could you also sign my phone case?" He asked shyly and Beca grinned.
"Sure, hand me a pen." She left her signature and waved the boy goodbye. She knew word would spread fast, so she paid and left. It was getting close to 7 anyways, so Beca made her way to the bar.
Stacie and Chloe lost track of time, and before they knew it, it was nearing 7. "Oh, shoot! We have to go!" Chloe said, getting up and dusting off her skirt. She helped Stacie up as well, and they dropped their bags off at the address Amy had given them. It was a fancy hotel near the university, and Chloe wondered how much the rooms cost per night.
"Amy's super rich now, remember?" Stacie said, trying to make Chloe feel less bad.
The redhead shrugged. "Still, she shouldn't be wasting it on fancy hotel rooms for us."
They took a cab back to the karaoke bar, arriving perfectly at 7 pm. Chloe ignored the rumbling in her stomach, realising she had not eaten dinner. She pushed the feeling away as nerves hit her when they got out of the cab, walking towards the entrance of the club. She felt like her legs were made of jelly. The flannel she was wearing suddenly felt too tight on her body, and she breathed out nervously. Stacie walked in front of her, pushing open the door and holding it open for her.
"You coming?" She asked as Chloe stood frozen a few feet away.
The redhead swallowed and stepped forwards, deciding it was now or never. They entered the dark bar, their eyes needing to adjust to the light. Chloe saw Emily standing with her back to them, leaning against the bar and chatting with the guy behind it. She and Stacie snuck up to her, tickling her as they got close.
"Oh my god, hi!" The tall brunette said, enveloping them both in a hug. Chloe smiled, rubbing her back. "I missed you so much." Emily said, and Chloe saw tears brimming in her eyes.
"Oh no, don't cry, otherwise I'm going to cry!" The redhead warned her, grinning.
Emily wiped her eyes dramatically. "I'm so glad you two came!" She smiled and hugged them again.
Chloe swallowed nervously. "Is everyone here already?" She asked, looking around the room curiously.
"You're actually the first!" Emily replied, grabbing Stacie and Chloe by the wrist, pulling them along to a booth. Chloe sat down thankfully, her legs still feeling unsure. Emily ordered them drinks as they waited for the other Bellas to arrive, chatting away about the songs she wrote over the past years and recounting where she had been. The redhead tried to concentrate, but she kept looking at the door to see if Beca would walk through. She sipped her white wine absentmindedly and nearly jumped out of her seat as she heard the door open.
Cynthia Rose, Jessica and Ashley walked in and Chloe took a grateful breath, getting up to greet them. They joined their table, talking away. Jessica and Ashley showed them all a picture of their newborn twins, and Chloe felt happy. Everyone was doing well. They chatted away when the door opened again and Aubrey walked in.
Chloe squealed and got up, nearly spilling all of their drinks. She enveloped Aubrey in a very tight hug, squeezing her.
"Oh god, Chloe you're gonna squeeze the life out of me!" The blonde said, laughing.
"I missed you so so so much." The redhead said, kissing Aubrey's cheek repeatedly.
The blonde smiled. "I missed you to Chlo. You look amazing! New York has been treating you well, huh?" She noted, squeezing the redhead. They sat down after all the Bellas greeted their former leader, and Aubrey ordered another white wine for Chloe and herself.
Soon, everyone had arrived, except for Beca. Chloe studied the door while sipping her third wine. It was already 8 pm.
"Maybe she's not coming." Aubrey said carefully. "She's probably busy."
Chloe nodded shakily, feeling both relieved and disappointed. They toasted to the Bellas, laughing together and telling stories. Chloe stopped checking the door and participated in the conversation.
Cynthia Rose was in the middle of telling everyone about her marriage, which had supposedly been very romantic and big, when the door slammed opened and Beca walked in, headphones around her neck. The room fell silent as they all noticed the brunette, and Chloe's breath hitched when Beca's dark blue eyes met hers. The redhead's eyes immediately snapped down to her glass of wine, a blush creeping up her cheeks.
"Hey nerds! Sorry I'm late. I got spotted and had to get rid of literally a whole fucking COLLEGE." The brunette said, shaking her head with a laugh. Chloe felt like her whole body turned into stone as soon as she heard Beca's voice.
Amy was the first to get up. She enveloped Beca in a big hug, the tiny brunette nearly disappearing in her arms. "We should be mad at you for being late, but you're famous now so I guess that's normal for you." Amy sneered, laughing.
Beca smiled at the blonde. "That's right bitch, you better be glad that I showed up!" They all laughed, except for Chloe, who was still trying to figure out how to breathe again. Beca hugged all the other Bellas and smiled at them, before moving on to stand next to Chloe, leaning against the booth. "Hey Chlo." She said softly and the redhead's eyes snapped up.
"Hi." She said, barely audible. She cleared her throat. "How are you?" She asked Beca.
The brunette shrugged. "Ah, you know, business is good." She smirked.
Chloe nodded. "That's...good." She said quietly.
"And you?" Beca asked carefully.
"Fine." The redhead shrugged.
Beca smiled at her and turned around to order a drink. Chloe looked at Aubrey with scared eyes, mouthing 'Oh my god'. Aubrey giggled and patted the redhead's shoulder. Chloe grabbed her wine, downing it with a big gulp. "I need something stronger!" She announced as she moved out from the booth, standing next to Beca at the bar. The barman looked at her questioningly. "I'll have a whiskey." She said shakily. He handed her the glass and Chloe grabbed it, throwing it back immediately, breathing out as the alcohol burned her throat.
Beca looked at Chloe with a raised eyebrow and shook her head as she sipped her beer. "Didn't take you for a whiskey kind of gal." The brunette commented.
Beca knew she looked calm externally. Internally, she was screaming. Running in circles, destroying everything that was in her way, jumping out of millions of windows, trying not to let it show that she was in fact standing next to Chloe Beale, her former, yet still somehow there, crush, breathing the same air as she did after 5 years. It calmed her a little to know that Chloe was seemingly just as nervous as she was. And seeing that the redhead was ordering another whiskey, Beca knew her friend was trying to gulp down some feelings she had. What kind of feelings the brunette couldn't tell, but she knew she needed it too. So she ordered two shots for her and Chloe. She raised her glass before downing it. She ordered some whiskey and left the bar, deciding to join the Bellas to catch up with them. Standing next to the redhead, alone, for this long, didn't exactly make her comfortable. Yet, anyways.
A few hours later, Chloe stumbled into the bathroom. She didn't remember how much she drank, but her vision was not straight anymore and she wobbled slightly as she walked. "Gotta pee, gotta pee." She mumbled as she entered a stall, sitting down on the toilet. Tonight had been stressful. For some reason, Emily had chosen a booth that was not big enough for all of them, which meant they all had to sit very, very close together to allow them all to sit down. And for some reason, Beca had decided to sit next to Chloe, meaning that the brunette and redhead's hips were pressed flush against each other. Chloe blushed as she thought of the feeling of Beca's warm body against hers, shaking her head. "You're engaged, stupid." She said out loud in the bathroom. She pulled up her skirt and thights, and flushed. She opened the stall, wobbling to the sink to wash her hands. When she looked up again, she noticed Beca leaning against the doorframe behind her. She whirled around, almost falling over.
"Hey, careful." The brunette said, smiling. "You good?"
Chloe nodded, blushing.
"You haven't said much tonight. Cat got your tongue?" Beca said, pushing herself off from the doorframe.
Chloe cleared her throat. "Not much to say I guess." She said, smiling.
"Tell me about your life." The brunette pressed, looking at her friend expectantly.
"Well, I live in New York, and I work as a vet." The redhead started.
Beca smiled. "So you finished vet school without failing 3 times? That's good!" She commented.
Chloe rolled her eyes and scoffed. "It was difficult, but I did it."
They stood in silence for a while. Then, Beca cleared her throat. "You coming back? Aubrey thought you had locked yourself in the bathroom so I came to check on you."
Chloe nodded, and they walked back to the booth together. Chloe sat down and Amy immediately presented her with a new drink. When Beca sat down too, pressing her body against the redhead's, Chloe grabbed the glass, her fingers turning white.
"Sorry." Beca whispered, pushing Emily to the side a bit so the redhead could have more room. Chloe relaxed a little, sipping her drink. Aubrey tapped her shoulder and the redhead turned towards her with a questioning look.
"How's it all going?" The blonde whispered, motioning towards Beca who was deep in conversation with Emily.
Chloe shrugged. "I'm dying on the inside, but I'll survive." She said between gritted teeth. Aubrey gave her a thumbs up and resumed her chat with Stacie. Chloe sipped her drink, stealing looks at Beca.
Beca noticed Chloe stealing glances. She didn't comment on it however as she didn't want to interrupt Emily's rant about how frustrating songwriting can be. Internally, she wondered why Chloe kept doing it. There was no way she was feeling the same, was it? The brunette shook her head. That would be too good to be true. Chloe didn't see her that way and she would never do so.
Emily suddenly snapped her fingers. "Earth to Beca, you still there?"
The girl in question shook her head. "Huh? Yeah. Just… Work, you know?" She smiled apologetically.
"Ah, I see. This trip intends to reunite the Bellas though, so leave your work in L.A., will you?" The younger girl requested kindly.
"Yeah sure. Continue." The brunette smiled.
"Shots!" Stacie yelled after a while as she clutched a bottle of tequila close to her chest. Chloe laughed as the tall brunette hobbled over to the booth. The redhead grabbed a shot glass and Stacie filled it up. Beca did the same next to her. Chloe smirked at Beca, and they toasted before both knocking back the shot. The redhead felt the alcohol burn in her throat as she swallowed.
"Why don't we do body shots?" She asked suggestively.
Stacie cheered and the other Bellas laughed. Not much later, Chloe was laying down on the bar, and Stacie poured the cold liquid into her belly button. Chloe giggled as she felt Stacie's lips on her abs, drinking up the liquid. The other Bellas cheered her on and Stacie's head whipped up when she got all the tequila out, taking the lemon in her mouth. Chloe laughed, clutching her stomach.
"Beca, you're next!" Amy yelled, and pushed the tiny brunette forwards toward Chloe. The redhead giggled at Beca as the brunette clutched the tequila bottle shakily. She poured the liquid into Chloe's belly button, spilling it over the sides. It was cute to Chloe how Beca winced, trying to dab the spilled alcohol with a tissue. She stopped after a while, realizing that it was to no use because the redhead kept laughing, spilling even more tequila over her stomach, so she threw the tissue away.
"Screw it." She exhaled. Her gaze was focused on Chloe's belly button. "Okay, there I go." Beca mumbled, connecting her lips to Chloe's soft skin.
Chloe felt her skin burn where Beca's lips touched her stomach, and she blushed furiously. The brunette drank up the tequila, feeling Chloe's muscles clench underneath her lips. The alcohol got caught in her throat, and she choked, coughing. The other Bellas roared with laughter. Beca wiped her mouth, embarrassed. "Alright, that's enough from me."
Chloe giggled and stuck her hand out for Beca to take. The brunette lifted her up, helping her off the bar.
Beca casually leaned towards Stacie as she watched Chloe leave. "Say." She started. "That was intentional wasn't it?"
Stacie raised her hands defensively. "Don't know what you're talking about." She smiled innocently.
"Oh come on Stace. You were always making sure Chloe and I did body shots off of each other in college, and I feel like this time it's the same." Beca glared at her taller friend.
"Alright, you got me." The brunette sighed in defeat. "But only because there's this weird tension going on between you two and I wanted you to loosen up. Chloe acted really weird when I talked to her about you earlier."
Beca nodded, taking in the information. "Well, we just.. Didn't end the USO tour on a good foot. Still aren't on it… I think. I don't know." The brunette admitted softly.
"Well, maybe this night will help you reconnect." Stacie smiled supportively. "Also it looks like your ginger seems to have a plan." She said, nodding towards Chloe who made her way to the stage.
Chloe wobbled onto the stage, clutching the microphone in her sweaty hand. "Okay, hey guys!" She yelled into the microphone. "Beca and I are going to sing Titanium. But this time we're not naked in the shower together!" She exclaimed, giggling as Beca looked at her in shock.
"No, not happening!" The brunette replied.
"Oh come on Beca, just go." Stacie said, pushing her friend towards the stage.
"Yeah, don't be a party pooper!" Amy shouted and Beca rolled her eyes as she hopped onto the stage. Chloe's eyes wandered over the brunette's lips as the melody started, smiling. The brunette rolled her eyes and sighed before she opened her mouth and started singing, oblivious to Chloe's glance.
You shout it out
But I can't hear a word you say
I'm talking loud not saying much
I'm criticized but all your bullets ricochet
Chloe's heart beat fast as she heard Beca singing. She felt like she had just fallen into a field full of flowers and puppies, and wanted to cry and laugh at same time. She opened her mouth a little too late, joining with the melody.
You shoot me down, but I get up
I'm bulletproof nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
Beca's eyes had wandered over to the redhead, who was swaying along with the music, a deep blush apparent on her face and neck. She obviously had too much to drink, and Beca smirked internally. Chloe looked absolutely adorable, a little lost but so comfortable. When Chloe looked at Beca with her big blue eyes, the brunette smiled at her.
You shoot me down but I won't fall, I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium, I am titanium, I am titanium, I am titanium.
Chloe closed her eyes as she sang the next lines, making Beca's breath hitch.
Cut me down
But it's you who has further to fall
Ghost town, haunted love
Raise your voice, sticks and stones may break my bones
I'm talking loud not saying much
They joined together again, finishing the song.
I'm bulletproof nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium, I am titanium
Stone-hard, machine gun
Firing at the ones who run
Stone-hard, thus bulletproof glass
You shoot me down but I won't fall, I am titanium
Chloe smiled at Beca, their eyes locked together. The Bellas cheered and the two girls hugged. Chloe melted into Beca's embrace, feeling like herself again for the first time in five years. "I missed you." She choked out.
Beca smiled. "Missed you too, ya weirdo." She replied, melting a little more into the embrace. She had missed Chloe's hugs.
Beca couldn't remember how many shots she had downed at this point, but she knew she probably had to take it easy for a while, so she sipped a coke while looking around the room. Many of the Bellas were dancing, and Beca felt a smile tug at her lips. It was good to be back. In her current lifestyle, it was easy to take things for granted and get lost in the flow of how good life was to her. Being back here reminded her of how lucky she was and where she came from.
The brunette was interrupted from her thoughts when Chloe plopped down next to her. "Heeey!" She slurred. Beca laughed and greeted her with a salute.
"How are you doing? This is so much fun, right?" The redhead said, leaning against the table.
Beca smiled. "Yeah, it's definitely nice to have the gang back together. I'm glad I decided to come." She said sincerely.
Chloe nodded. "Me too! I was so scared at first but then Chicago was like, you can totally leave if it's awkward. I'm glad I came!" She smiled bright.
Beca visibly tensed when Chloe mentioned Chicago. Her eyes narrowed. "You're still together with him?" She asked, trying to hide the anger in her voice. Chloe nodded, showing off her ring. Beca's jaw clenched and she tried to smile. "I'm glad." She replied softly.
The redhead played with a beer cap, her face suddenly serious. "He's actually kind of an asshole lately." She whispered.
Beca raised her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
Chloe shrugged. "He's never home and when he is he just watches his stupid sports." The redhead pouted. Beca didn't really know what to say. "I'm sorry. I'm fine." Chloe said quickly, regretting she brought it up in the first place.
Beca shook her head. "No, it's fine. You can talk to me about anything." She admitted, smiling at the redhead. Chloe smiled back gratefully. She got a glass of some weird mixed drink from Amy a while ago, and she was sipping it with a disgusted look on her face. "This is really, really gross." She said and Beca giggled.
"What is it?" The brunette asked, taking it from Chloe's hand.
The redhead shrugged. "I don't know. Amy gave it to me."
Beca smelled the drink and her face screwed up. "Dude, this is super strong!" She commented, laughing at Chloe who had nearly finished half of it. She brought the glass to her lips and tasted it. "Jesus, this is like pure gasoline." She scrunched up her face, feeling the liquid burn all the way through her throat. "Though it is kinda nice." She admitted and drank some more.
The redhead smirked "You take it!"
Chloe had left for the bathroom and Beca was sitting in the booth, stirring the drink she had gotten from the redhead absentmindedly. The more time she spent here, the more she could feel herself calm down. Things weren't weird between her and Chloe. Sure, the elephant was still in the room, but she had accepted that they just ignore it and focus on enjoying each other's company.
"Alright folks, the karaoke bar is officially closed. Enjoy the rest of your time here dancing to the music of DJ Barden!" The bartender spoke into the mic and a man who looked like he was in his early twenties came up on the stage to put on some music. The Bellas cheered, loving the change and started partying harder than before. Beca shook her head at them, chuckling. She had truly found some weirdos.
Chloe returned from the bathroom, gasping as she saw that a DJ had arrived. "Becs, we need to dance!" She exclaimed. The redhead didn't leave the brunette a choice however. She pulled Beca onto her feet and joined the rest of the Bellas as she started dancing. The brunette grinned goofily as she began to move her hips to the beat.
Chloe felt sweat drip down her back as she swayed her hips, grinding into Beca with a smile. The beat was pumping in her heart and she felt more alive than she had in years. Her arms were wrapped around Beca's neck, and she swayed against the brunette, letting her head fall back. Beca had her hands on the redhead's hips, a blush creeping up her cheeks as she was not nearly as drunk as Chloe. She enjoyed the feeling of the redhead's warm body grinding up against her. She had wrapped the flannel she was wearing around her hips, now only wearing a revealing tank top and skirt. Beca was still wearing her leather jacket, but the way the redhead was moving against her made her whole body feel like it was on fire. Chloe leaned forward, her lips right next to the brunette's ear.
"You look really hot in that leather jacket." She whispered. Beca felt a rush of heat go through her abdomen. Chloe giggled and put her finger in front of her lips. "Shhh, it's a secret."
The brunette tried to look away from Chloe, but her eyes were captured by the redhead's sky blue ones. Chloe leaned forward and just in time, Beca realised her blue eyes were trained on the brunette's lips. She pushed Chloe away slowly, mumbling something about needing some air. Her heart was ramming in her chest and her legs felt like they would collapse at any moment. She swiftly went outside, leaving Chloe, who stood in the middle of the dance floor, tears welling up in her eyes.
She whimpered and felt Aubrey tug at her arm. "Come on, Chlo." She said, pulling her along towards the bathroom.
Beca let out a long breath as she blew the smoke out of her lungs. She put the cigarette to her lips, inhaling deeply. "You're such a fucking idiot." She whispered to herself. She couldn't believe Chloe had just tried to... She shook her head, getting rid of the thoughts. "She's just drunk". She closed her eyes, letting the soft wind cool her down as she blew out the smoke again. Her heart was still pounding in her chest. It still made her think. Chloe was with Chicago, yet she had just tried to kiss her. "No, stop overthinking!" She angrily exclaimed, smacking herself. This night had just taken a turn she didn't expect it to take.
Chloe cried softly as Aubrey handed her a paper towel. "What happened?" The blonde asked.
Chloe shook her head. "It was stupid. Oh god, I shouldn't have drank so much. I bet I made Beca super uncomfortable." She whimpered.
Aubrey hugged the redhead. "It's okay. I'll get you some water." She said softly and Chloe nodded.
She was sitting on the counter of the bathroom, like a lost little child. She had taken her heels off long ago and her bare feet were dirty. Aubrey returned with a glass of water and Chloe took it gratefully, taking a sip. She sniffled loudly.
"Do you want to… go home?" Aubrey offered, and the redhead shook her head.
"I don't want to go home. Home sucks." She huffed, and started crying again.
"Okay, okay. Then, do you want me to take you to the hotel?" The blonde asked, wiping away Chloe's tears.
The redhead nodded but then shook her head. "I just need to calm down, I'll be okay." She murmured, drinking up the glass of water. She filled it up again in the sink, and downed it. She plopped the glass down on the counter, jumping off of it and almost falling flat on her face. "Whoopsie." She giggled.
Aubrey just rolled her eyes and took her hand, leading her back to the Bellas.
They all cheered as Chloe came back, and Amy patted her on the back. "Good job, Chloe." She said, praising her strength.
Aubrey's eyes flashed angrily at Amy. "You're not going to give her anything more. Not one sip." She hissed, her voice filled with anger.
Amy's eyes widened and she held up her hands. "Fine, jeesh." She said, a smile playing at her lips.
Chloe ordered a coke and sipped it silently. She listened to the conversation, but didn't really hear any of it. After a while, realisation dawned on her. "Where's Beca?" She asked Amy.
The blonde shrugged and pointed outside. "She went outside."
Chloe got up, wobbling outside. Her bare feet touched the cold concrete and she peered outside into the darkness. Her eyes noticed Beca, huddled up against the wall with a cigarette between her lips. "Hey!" The redhead spoke up, way too loud.
Beca jumped, clutching her heart. "Jesus, you scared me. Go back inside. You're going to catch a cold." She said, looking at Chloe's bare feet.
Chloe shook her head. "I wanna be here with you." She pouted and crossed her arms. Beca inhaled and blew out the smoke, looking ahead of her. "Smoking is bad for you." Chloe said after a while.
"I know. It's just occasional. When I really need it. " The brunette retorted.
"Are you okay?" The redhead asked carefully while getting closer to Beca.
"Fine. Just got a little hot, that's all." Beca lied, her heartbeat getting faster as Chloe got closer.
"Are you mad at me?" The redhead spoke softly.
"No, why would I be?" The brunette closed her eyes and her breath hitched as Chloe leaned against the wall next to her, their shoulders almost touching. "Chloe, please go back inside." She said weakly.
Chloe shook her head. Beca felt her breathing quicken. "I liked dancing with you. I haven't felt that alive since...in forever." Chloe said, looking at the stars.
"That's nice." Beca said, struggling to breathe. Chloe's eyes studied the brunette's face carefully. "Could you please stop looking at me?" Beca said, barely above a whisper. She could feel herself falling apart more and more with every second she spent with the redhead.
"Why?" Chloe asked, completely oblivious. Beca's breathing came in labored, short puffs, and she felt herself get light headed. "Beca, are you okay?" Chloe asked, worry flashing across her face. She went to grab the brunette's shoulder, but Beca pushed her away.
"Don't fucking touch me!" She rasped.
Chloe's eyes widened in shock as realisation dawned on her. "Beca, you're hyperventilating!" Her drunk mind searched for the right way to act, but she couldn't remember. "I don't know what to do!" She yelled as Beca's face turned blue. Chloe saw her legs buckle and caught her, sinking down on the floor with Beca in her arms. "Help!" Chloe yelled, panic evident in her voice. "Beca, you need to breathe!" She felt tears sting in her eyes.
She heard the other Bellas stumble outside, Jessica immediately kneeling down next to Chloe. "Chloe, you have to let go of her. Beca, put your head between your legs and try to breathe. Someone get me a paper bag!" The blonde shoved Chloe out of the way, taking care of Beca.
Chloe vaguely remembered that Jessica was a nurse. Aubrey pulled Chloe into a hug as Amy ran inside and came back out with a paper bag, giving it to Jessica who put it over Beca's mouth and nose. "Breathe." Jessica said calmly, and Beca tried to exhale and inhale slowly. Her body felt extremely heavy and her lungs hurt. Chloe whimpered into Aubrey's shoulder and the blonde clutched her supportively.
When Beca's breathing slowed down, Chloe let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. The Bellas stood around the small brunette, worried looks on their faces.
"Woah, nerds, calm down. I'm good. Thanks Jess." Beca said weakly when she regained her voice, trying to smile. To be honest, she wasn't good. Her body felt like she was just hit by a truck. Her eyes looked for Chloe frantically, and she saw the redhead standing a little apart, her blue eyes wide and her face coated with tears. "Chlo, I'm sorry." The brunette apologized, knowing that she hurt Chloe's feelings by yelling at her like that and she had probably scared her too.
Chloe nodded and wiped her eyes. Beca leaned back against the wall tiredly and closed her eyes before clearing her throat. "Can you bring me to the hotel?" She asked, eyeing the redhead with pleading eyes.
Chloe nodded and cleared her throat. "I'll take you there." She said determined and walked over to the brunette. The other Bellas went back inside but Aubrey and Amy stayed behind. Amy gave them the details they needed to give to the hotel staff to get their room keys and Aubrey hugged Chloe tight.
They hailed a cab and Chloe wrapped her arm around Beca as they climbed into the car. "I'll text you when we get there." The redhead promised Aubrey as she closed the door. Aubrey nodded and waved, looking at the disappearing headlights with a sad smile.
Beca's body was so worn out, it felt like she had just run a marathon. She closed her eyes tiredly. Chloe was sitting upright in her seat, nervously staring at the road. The cab driver looked in his rearview mirror, smiling kindly at the redhead. "We will be there soon." He spoke up and Chloe nodded.
When they arrived, Chloe paid him and stumbled out of the car, walking around it to get Beca out. She tried to help the brunette up, but Beca gently pushed her away and got out on her own. "I'm fine, Chloe." She sighed.
Chloe backed off with a small nod and followed Beca who slowly walked inside. They arrived at the desk and Chloe gave the tired looking woman their information. She presented them with a fancy looking key. The redhead grabbed it eagerly, but Beca raised an eyebrow.
"Why is there just one key? I need a room too?" She asked suspiciously.
"Miss Hobart has arranged for all of you to share rooms. She told me that you and Miss Beale especially wanted to share a room, so we have arranged the presidential suite for you." The woman said, smiling kindly.
Beca gritted her teeth. "Of course she did."
They took the elevator to their room which was on the top floor. Beca leaned against the side of the elevator tiredly. "Well, that sucked." She spoke up, breaking the silence.
Chloe jumped when the brunette spoke. "What happened? Have you ever had something like this happen before?" She asked, curiously.
Beca let out a breath. "I think I had a panic attack." She shrugged, looking at the floor a little awkwardly. She realised that the panic attack was caused by the redhead standing in front of her, but she had no idea how to explain it to her.
Chloe nodded. "It seemed a lot like it. Are you really okay?" The redhead asked, putting her hand on Beca's arm worriedly.
Beca rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I think it was just the...warmth in the bar." She lied, wishing Chloe would remove her hand but at the same time hoping that she would never let go of her again.
The elevator arrived with a ding and they got out, walking towards their room in silence. "Please let there be two separate beds." Beca prayed as Chloe fumbled with the key, trying to put it in the lock.
The brunette sighed with a grin and grabbed the key from the redhead's hands, unlocking the door successfully.
Her jaw dropped as she saw the room in front of her. The view was amazing, two big windows allowing them to see the whole city. There was a big double bed in the middle of the room, with pearl white sheets and a lot of colorful pillows spread out all over it. There was a fluffy carpet on the wooden floor, and a fire crackled in the fireplace. Chloe walked in after her and the brunette heard a soft gasp escape the redhead's throat.
"Well….with all this room, they could've added in another bed." Beca mumbled angrily as Chloe whisked past her, crashing down on the bed.
"Oh my god, this is amazing!" The redhead squealed. She softly stroked the soft sheets and fluffed up one of the colorful pillows. She looked at Beca slyly and the brunette felt a heavy force tug on her heart. Chloe looked adorable sitting on the big bed, her hair a little ruffled and her makeup smudged.
"I'm gonna go get changed." The brunette said tiredly and opened her suitcase, letting it plop down on the floor with a heavy thud. She grabbed a big graphic tee and her toilet bag, shoving it under her arm, and made her way over to the bathroom. She flicked the light switch and her eyes widened as they fell upon a giant bath sitting in the middle of the room. She took off her leather jacket, folding it over a chair which was standing next to the bath. She made a mental promise to herself to use the bath at least once while she stayed here. She got undressed and slipped into her shirt, which was way too big for her, but she liked it that way. She removed what was left of her makeup and turned on the sink, splashing some cold water in her face. When she brushed her teeth, she let out a long sigh, thinking about how things turned out. She couldn't believe Chloe was in the other room, drunk out of her mind and that Beca would have to crawl into bed with her like nothing happened between them in the past 5 years. She thought about putting the duvet in the bath and crashing there, but just imagining it already made her back sore. She gathered her courage and pushed herself off from the sink, walking back into the hotel room.
Her eyes roamed across the room only to find that Chloe was lying on her back, draped across the bed with her tank top balled up in her fist, as she had obviously fallen asleep while in the process of taking it off. Beca felt a blush creep up her face at the sight of the redhead's pale exposed skin and her baby pink lace bra. The redhead whimpered slightly in her sleep and Beca groaned internally. She walked over to the bed, shaking Chloe's shoulder. "You need to at least take your clothes of, Chlo." She commented, tugging on her arm. It was like she was pulling on a sack of flour. "Chloe!" Beca shouted angrily.
The redhead's eyes shot open. "Whatthefu-" She started, but stopped herself, looking down at her exposed midriff. "Did you take my shirt off?" She asked Beca with a slurred voice.
Beca raised her hands defensively. "Nope, that was all you. But you should really brush your teeth and maybe...take a shower" She said, raising her eyebrows at the redhead's dirty feet. "Your feet are gross."
Chloe laughed and heaved herself up. "Fine, I'll shower. Will you help me?" She asked suggestively.
"Nope." Beca replied, popping the p. She shoved the redhead from the bed as she got in herself, pulling the duvet over her and letting out a content sigh. She heard Chloe grumble as she walked towards her suitcase, getting out a big flannel shirt and shutting the bathroom door behind her. She chuckled softly.
Chloe could not understand why Beca was being so mean to her. She grumbled as she took her skirt off, her nails creating a giant ladder in her tights in the process. "Shit!" She spat angrily and she pulled the tights off, throwing them to the side. She stood in her bra and underwear, looking around a little confusedly. "Right, shower. One showers naked." She said to herself, slipping out of her panties and throwing her bra over the chair next to the bath. She turned the shower on, letting the hot water hit her back. She had to hold onto the glass to keep herself steady and she laughed at herself a little. She looked at the dark water that formed at her feet, wrinkling her nose. "How did my feet get so dirty?" She wondered aloud, and when the water was clear again, she turned the shower off.
Grabbing one of the soft fluffy towels from the counter, she dried herself off, shivering slightly. She slipped her panties back on and put on the big flannel, which she had stolen from Chicago years ago and was now part of her bedroom attire. She fumbled with the buttons, taking about 10 minutes to close 3 of them and then giving up on the rest. Her makeup had completely smudged in the shower, but she did not have the energy to take it off. She brushed her teeth tiredly, making faces at herself in the mirror. She turned off the lights as left the bathroom, eager to get back to the bed. She noticed Beca had turned off the lights in the bedroom as well, and struggled with finding the bed.
At one point, she stubbed her toe on Beca's suitcase and whispered a swear. When her hand touched the side of the bed she sighed gratefully, slipping under the duvet. She felt Beca breathing beside her, but had no idea if she was asleep or not. "Beca?" She whispered, but the brunette didn't reply. Chloe turned her back to the brunette sadly, her hands folded to her chest as she closed her eyes. "Goodnight." She whispered and fell asleep not soon after.