Chloe had been walking around in a daze for the rest of the afternoon. Had been sat at her desk during each class, staring blissfully out of the window. Her mind on only one thing: Beca Mitchell.
Normally the ever-attentive best friend, Chloe would listen intently to everything Aubrey said. Whether she'd be talking about her next planned boyfriend, or the recent argument she'd had with her father, and even the nail polish she might choose to paint her nails with. But today Chloe's mind had drifted away from reality all too many times while Aubrey had been talking to her.
Chloe refused to venture a thought that she might be in love with Beca. After all, who could be in love with someone they barely knew, and the little they did know about them was because they'd had sex..?
"Chloe! For serious what is wrong with you?" Aubrey asked the redhead sharply as they arrived at their lockers at the end of the school day.
"Sorry Bree I-I've just got a lot on my mind at the moment.." Chloe began as she opened her locker.
"Is it Drake?" Aubrey asked, but Chloe hadn't heard her. Instead her attention had been caught by a folded up piece of paper that hadn't been there when she'd closed her locker at the end of lunch break. She reached out with a curious smile, picked the paper up, and unfolded it. There, written in scratchy joined-up handwriting, were the words "Meet me at Stevens Way after school. B."
Chloe's heart began racing. Nobody had ever written her a secret note before. Certainly not someone who she was crushing on. And right now she was really crushing on that weird beautiful little alt-girl.
"CHLOE!" Aubrey's voice pierced through Chloe's train of thought and the redhead jumped, looking up at the blonde who was raising her eyebrows, evidently waiting for an answer, "Well? Is it?"
"Uh..yeah..yeah it is.." Chloe answered, not overly sure of what the question had been in the first place. But Aubrey's reaction made her think it had been the correct one. The blonde sighed as she delved into her own locker.
"It'll get easier Chloe..just give it time.."
Okay now Chloe definitely didn't know what Aubrey was on about. But she didn't care. Because right now she had to leave and get over to Stevens Way to meet Beca. And the redhead was so excited she felt her entire body tingling in anticipation.
–
Beca sat nervously in the driving seat of her parked car. She pushed her long brown hair back with her left hand, resting her head on it while she glanced over at the clock on her dashboard.
"Okay school was out thirty minutes ago…" she muttered under her breath to herself, "give the girl time to find my note…say goodbye to Posen.." Beca gripped the leather of her steering wheel, "…aaaaand decide not to meet me."
Beca let out a small groan, bringing her head down and resting her forehead on the steering wheel with a gentle thud, "What the fuck are you doing Mitchell?" she mumbled to herself with a sigh. She'd never done this before. Never left a note for anyone to ask them to meet her. But Chloe Beale? Well fuck…the girl had been on Beca's mind from the second she'd turned up at her bedroom door yesterday evening.
The brunette had been more distracted than usual in her classes today. Had even skipped her final class to get the confidence to write that note for Chloe and slip it into her locker before making her way over to Stevens Way - the one road she knew neither her friends or Posen ever walked down to go home. There was no chance they'd get caught together down here. But then..there was no chance of either of them getting caught if Chloe didn't turn up.
Suddenly Beca jumped as she heard a light tapping on the window of the passenger door of her car. She looked up from the steering wheel and her heart rose as Chloe Beale opened the door and slid into the passenger seat with an airy "Hey!"
"Hey" Beca said calmly, though her stomach had already knotted in excitement as Chloe closed the door behind her. The brunette took a deep intake of breath and felt tingles run over her body at the smell of Chloe's perfume. She was here! Chloe Beale was actually here!
"I got your note" Chloe said brightly, taking her bottom lip between her teeth, and Beca couldn't help the smile that spread across her face:
"So I see.."
The car fell silent and the two teens sat looking at one another, both equally excited to be together again and equally nervous about what this might mean for them. After all, they weren't friends just…mere acquaintances. Acquaintances who had had sex yesterday evening. Oh and a cheeky fumble in 'the secret bathroom' of the science block earlier that day. But other than that they didn't really know anything about each other. And this was why Beca had wanted Chloe to meet her after school. If they were going to keep finding excuses to make out with each other, then Beca kinda wanted to get to know the redhead a bit better.
Chloe watched in curiosity as Beca's soft smile grew into a broad grin, "Strap yourself in Beale, I'm taking you on a date." And as Beca started the car's engine, Chloe reached around and pulled her seat belt around her body.
A date. Chloe couldn't believe it. Beca Mitchell was taking her on a date! There were so many things that she was finding out about the brunette that surprised her, and this impromptu road trip was another one. Chloe found attention drawn solely to Beca as the younger teen drove. There was this way that Beca furrowed her brow slightly at each set of lights they drew up to that had Chloe's heart swell a little bigger each time. Because she felt sure she'd never seen someone look so beautiful when they concentrated.
Beca, meanwhile, had noticed out of the corner of her eye that the redhead hadn't stopped looking at her since they'd driven away, and Beca couldn't help the way her cheeks flushed a bit at the intense attention. She briefly glanced to her right and saw that Chloe's beaming smile had softened, but the other girl didn't turn away like Beca probably would have had she been caught staring. So instead Beca looked back at the road ahead as the lights turned green and she could drive forward once again.
"You'rw not one of those people who lures all girls into a false sense of security then drives them to the middle of nowhere to murder them right?" Chloe said out of the blue, and she couldn't help the small giggle that trickled out of her mouth when Beca's expression turned into a look of horror.
"Dude, no!" Beca quickly responded but Chloe reached out and squeezed the brunette's upper arm briefly.
"I'm joking, I'm joking!" She said amongst a giggle, bringing her hand back to her lap and looking out of the passenger window.
The car fell silent for another few moments. Then suddenly Beca cut it:
"Do I really make you feel secure?"
"Hmm?" Chloe asked, looking back at the brunette who was now looking curious, though still focussed on the road ahead as she drove.
"You asked if I lull all girls into a false sense of security…do…do you feel secure when you're with me?"
Chloe couldn't work out if Beca wasn't looking at her because she was too focussed on the road, or if it was because she didn't dare. But either way, the expression on the girl's face was cute, and it made Chloe feel safer in the presence of a non-family member than she ever had before.
"You know that's just the type of question a murderer would ask…" she risked replying with, wondering how Beca would react. To her delight the brunette's eyebrows rose.
"Oh God! No! Dude, if that's what you think this is then I'll turn the car around and we can just-"
"Beca! I'm joking. I know you're not a murderer." Chloe reassured with a smile. This girl was far too easy to wind up.
"Well would you quit with the joking around? I'm trying to be charming here!" Beca said in an exasperated tone and Chloe stopped her desire to giggle. She felt bad. Beca must be feeling as nervous as she was.
"Ok, honestly?" Chloe began, now twirling the necklace around her neck nervously between her fingers, "I've never felt more safe with someone than I do with you.."
Chloe's stomach knotted. She'd never been one to reveal such deep feelings and thoughts before. But there was something about Beca that made her feel safe enough that she could voice those thoughts and feelings without any judgement. Without terrifying her.
Beca nodded slightly, letting out a small smile, turning briefly to glance at Chloe. She wasn't one for affection or revealing feelings. She didn't talk about her thoughts. Heck she was also terrible at having to listen to other people's thoughts and feelings. But for some reason, hearing that coming from Chloe Beale of all people made Beca feel equally safe and secure in her company.
"I uh..yeah I feel the same way too.."
Chloe felt her heart skip a beat. There was no point in trying to rush things. In trying to tell Beca that actually she was thinking about her all the time and she was wondering if she was in fact in love with Beca. Because that would be one hell of a way to scare off the brunette. And Chloe really didn't want to scare her off.
The two teens smiled nervously at each other then looked out of the windscreen window.
"So do you like ice cream?" Beca asked. There was no way of finding out if Chloe did in any other way than just asking out right. And to her delight she heard the redhead's voice change in tone to a lighter one - as though ice cream truly was the greatest thing on the planet:
"Ooh I looooove ice cream! Do you?"
"Uhuh"
"What's your favourite flavour?"
"Cookie dough"
"Ooh I love cookie dough! But I'm more of a raspberry swirl kinda girl. With meringue? And those cute little wafers. Oh and strawberry sauce! I love strawberry sauce! And-"
And as Chloe continued to passionately talk about the time she and her family had gone to Italy and tasted "the greatest ever gelato" Beca sat happily in the drivers seat, listening intently, because there was something so wonderful about the way Chloe spoke about things. So full of wonder and excitement and in such great detail.
"-so in answer to your original question..yeah..yeah I like ice cream. Sorry." Chloe said in embarrassment, realising she'd been talking for a long time. But Beca hadn't minded in the slightest and furrowed her brow.
"What are you apologising for?"
"Because I've been talking so much about such a silly little thing."
"No you haven't! Ice cream is an important subject and you just rocked that conversation with cool facts about where ice cream was originated!" Beca replied, her eyebrows raised to show how serious she was.
Chloe swallowed loudly, her shoulders relaxing. Beca was SO kind. In the past she'd been out with guys who had all asked her to shut up at one time or another because she spoke to much, or she'd get ridiculously excited about something minor. But Beca? Chloe had a feeling she could talk to Beca about anything and everything and the brunette wouldn't once ever tell her to shut up. That was a nice thought.
"I don't want you ever apologising for being you, Chloe, okay?" Beca said seriously, and Chloe couldn't help the small smile that crept across her face.
"Okay.." she said quietly and the two fell silent once again, looking out of the front window of the car. Chloe couldn't believe how nice Beca was. Nobody other than her parents were ever patient enough to hear her talk. Even Aubrey would have moments when she would simply sigh and cut Chloe's sentence off. It had happened to her so often that the redhead had stopped noticing. She would just stop talking and listen to what Aubrey would have to say. So it was odd to be around someone actually seemed to want to hear her talk.
"So where have guys taken you out on dates before?" Beca asked curiously, as she saw their 'pit-stop' destination up ahead.
"Um the movies..the mall.." Chloe began, a little nervous to be having to talk to Beca about previous dates when she was technically on a date right now, "the park.." she continued, intrigued at the face Beca pulled at the thought of Chloe being taken to the park as a date location, "um..oh I once went to Georgia aquarium?"
"Now I can imagine you enjoyed a date there!" Beca exclaimed with a grin, and Chloe pulled an awkward expression.
"Uhh..ac-tually the guy stood me up.."
"What?!" Beca said, her mouth open in disbelief, "who the hell would EVER stand you up?!"
Chloe's awkward expression turned to a coy smile, "Beca, its okaaay.." she said softly, but the brunette shook her head, slowing the car as they approached the first location of the date she had planned for her and Chloe.
"No it's not! Dude he must've been CRAZY!" Chloe watched Beca with a bemused expression, touched by the brunette's reaction, "I mean you're beautiful, and kind, and you just make everything better…" Chloe felt her heart swell as Beca cleared her throat awkwardly, "..and..uh..yeah.."
The car fell silent as Beca pulled into an 'ice cream drive-through'. Chloe didn't really notice though, she was too busy smiling at Beca and as they waited in the queue of cars to place their order, Chloe brought her hand out and placed it on Beca's while it rested on the gearstick.
"Well who cares about all those other dates I've been on. Right now I'm here with you. And that's all that matters to me."
Beca turned to look at the girl beside her, and a soft smile grew on her face. She hadn't realised how angry she'd felt to hear about Chloe's previous dates. She knew boys were idiots. But to have the nerve to tell a girl to meet him at the aquarium then never turn up? That was a dick move. And for that girl to be Chloe Beale? That was the biggest dick move of all. Because Chloe deserved to be treated right.
The brunette found herself getting lost in those bright blue eyes of the girl beside her and she felt sure that if they were the last thing she ever saw she would die happy. Beca laced her fingers with Chloe's on the gearstick. This felt nice. Having someone's hand to hold while she sat in her car. It had never been in her nature before to hold hands with anyone. But somehow Chloe changed all that.
Suddenly Beca jumped at the sound of the car horn sounding behind them and she quickly realised it had become their turn to drive forward and give their order. Beca released Chloe's hand to begin driving up to the order box.
"So raspberry swirl ice cream with meringue pieces, strawberry sauce and…cute little wafers?" Beca checked with Chloe, giving her a relieved expression when the redhead let out an impressed "uhuh".
Chloe bit her bottom lip, watching as Beca ordered her ice cream sundae for her. She couldn't believe the girl had remembered just what she liked, and she'd said it ages ago. Chloe wasn't used to people listening to her. She wasn't used to people remembering what she'd said. But knowing that Beca Mitchell had done both of those things made Chloe feel very special indeed.
As they drove up to pay for their order, Chloe reached down to her bag to pull out her purse, but Beca was already frowning at her.
"Dude, I got it." And when Chloe opened her mouth to try to protest, Beca held her hand up, adding, "I'm not going to take you out on a date and insist you pay for things. Put the purse away, Beale."
Chloe did as she was told, then took hold of both sundae's as Beca passed them over to her. She wasn't sure why but any of the dates she'd previously been on she'd been expected to pay for herself. She knew it wasn't quintessentially the norm when on a first date, but she'd figured as the boys who she'd gone on a date with in the past didn't have jobs that they wouldn't be able to afford to pay for her. And it wasn't like they'd protested, or insisted she put her purse away. Not like Beca, who was now driving them away from the drive-through.
"So…where are we going?" Chloe asked curiously, holding the sundae's cautiously, hoping they didn't spill in the car.
"Some place nice." Beca said with a shrug, turning to the redhead as they sat in the car at some traffic lights, "I didn't want our first date to be in a drive-through…" and Chloe smiled softly as Beca began reaching out for one of the wafers in her cookie dough sundae. But for the second time that afternoon the car behind Beca's honked their horn and the brunette jumped, quickly driving on.
Chloe let out a giggle, strategically plucking out a wafer from her own sundae and holding it up to Beca's mouth, "Here" she said, and Beca took a large bite of it, smiling as she chewed. Chloe finished the wafer herself then looked out the front window as they began creeping up a hill. She'd never been to this end of town before. But she didn't care.
She was with Beca. She felt happy. She felt safe.