Chapter 4
A/N: The writer's block hit me in full force. Struggling a bit with the beginning of this fic, so thanks for being patient while it takes me a little longer to post new chapters!
Beca pushed open the door to the studio, her messenger bag with her laptop clunking awkwardly against her thigh with each step. They'd just wrapped on recording her new album, and next week would begin the process of turning each track into a polished, finished product. She was excited for that, knowing that if it went well she could possibly transition into the producer role sooner than she'd ever imagined. Teddy had spoken to her before she started recording, just to touch base about how things were going. Beca had enjoyed talking to him, and was encouraged when he mentioned she might not have to put out another album of her own after the first two. It wasn't that Beca didn't like this side of the business, but she had no desire to be in the spotlight all the time, or be on tour for months at a time.
She yawned as she started to walk home, her new apartment only a little more than a mile away. Checking her watch, Beca saw that it was still early back in California, and pulled her phone out. Dialing her parents, she trudged along patiently while it rang.
"Hello?"
Beca grinned at Sheila's voice, instantly feeling a little homesick. "Hey stepmonster," she greeted.
"Hey kid! Hold on, let me get your dad."
Beca rolled her eyes as the line went silent for a minute, before her dad's voice sounded through the speaker.
"Becs! How are you? It's been awhile since you last called."
"Yeah, I know. Sorry about that. The label had me DJing a lot the past few months, and then Stacie was here to visit, and then the label screwed up with bookings so I had to jump in the studio the past few weeks to record my new album," she explained.
"You sound tired. Are they pushing you too hard?" Ben asked, his voice concerned.
Beca looked around before crossing the street, answering, "No, it's just been long days in the studio. But we got all the recording done, so that's good."
Sheila cut in, asking, "When is the release date? I can't wait to hear your new music!"
Beca hesitated. "I'm not sure, it depends on how long it takes to mix and master. Joey feels pretty good about it, though. I'm not sure if you guys will like this one as much...it's a little sadder."
"Bec, we know the past year was hard on you...with how you left things here," Ben's voice was the epitome of awkward, and Beca smiled, thankful that some things hadn't changed.
Sheila interrupted him again, asking, "How are you, really?"
"Uh, well that's actually what I wanted to talk to you guys about. I have a date tomorrow," Beca started, her eyes going wide at the excitement pouring through the small speaker from her stepmom.
Ben was a little more reserved, asking, "Who is it?"
There was a thump on the other end, and Beca remained silent, listening to a hushed conversation between her parents that was just quiet enough to keep her from hearing their words.
Sheila's voice spoke loudly again, saying, "Don't mind him, kid. He's just back in dad mode. Tell me about her!"
"So...funny story," Beca started, having no idea how to tell the story and deciding to just spit it out. "It's with Chloe."
Her words were met with silence, until Sheila clarified, "Chloe, as in, Chloe Beale? The one who cheated on you and broke your heart last year, Chloe?"
"Yep, that's the one," Beca replied, her voice equal parts cheerful and sarcastic. "Apparently, it was all a giant misunderstanding."
"And you believe that?" Ben's tone was incredulous, earning himself another swat from Sheila which Beca heard clearly, along with his yelp of pain.
"Yeah, I do," Beca said softly, scuffing her heels along the ground for a few steps. "Turns out, a lot of people in our lives worked really hard to give us this second chance. And I still love her. We never really had a chance to see what it would look like, to be a real couple."
"Okay, kid. Tell us what happened," Sheila said, her voice losing it's cool edge and taking on a curious quality.
Beca recounted the whole story, suddenly thankful for the longer walk home. "I've actually only seen her a couple of times since she's been here, because of Stacie's visit and work blowing up in my face. It's not like we're jumping right back in the way it was, but all the feelings are still there. I've missed her like crazy, and I'd be an idiot not to try and make it work."
Ben spoke first, surprising her as he said, "Becs, I just want you to be happy, and I know that despite all the good things that have happened over the past year, you haven't really been happy, not the way you were those few months with Chloe. I know I wasn't as supportive as I could have been, but I trust you to make the right decision for you. And if that means getting back together with Chloe, then that's what you should do."
Beca smiled, feeling happier than she had in awhile at her dad's words. It had bothered her a lot that he couldn't accept her relationship with Chloe, even if he had made much more of an effort the short time they were back together.
Sheila's voice broke the moment, and she was again surprised at the words coming through the speaker. "I'm not so convinced, kid. The whole thing just seems a little off to me. I hope I'm wrong, but be careful, okay?"
Beca frowned, but knew that Sheila had a point. Despite the way they got back together, Beca had already been hesitant of moving things along too quickly, and she knew that Sheila was only looking out for her.
"I know. We haven't been moving too fast," she said, turning the corner to see her building come into view, not ready for Sheila's retort.
"Oh, okay, so you two didn't rip each other's clothes off the first chance you got?"
"And that's my cue," Ben said immediately, and Beca heard a click signaling he had hung up, Sheila's chuckling still sounding in her ear.
"Spill, kid. I already know you did, so just fess up."
Beca felt heat flood her cheeks, but refused to indulge her stepmother. "I have no idea what you're talking about, stepmonster. I'm home now, and I gotta go see Zeus. This has been super fun. Love you!"
She hung up quickly as the approached the door, shoving the phone back into her pocket as it opened for her. There was a small rotation of doormen, and she'd learned them all as quickly as they learned her. All were former military and doubled as the security team for the building, contracted from a private company to keep the high profile residents safe.
"Miss Mitchell," the tall man said politely, giving her a wink as she passed by.
"Thanks, Omar," she said, giving the man a fist bump before making her way to the elevator.
Beca gripped the rope tightly with both hands, her feet planted firmly as she stared down her opponent. Zeus' eyes were bright with the challenge as his feet scrabbled for purchase on the hardwood floor, trying to pull back a few feet to find the living room rug.
"Oh no you don't, you devil," Beca muttered as the dog gave the rope an experimental tug, trying to jerk it out of her hands, knowing that he'd have the upper hand if he made it to stable footing.
She shook the rope from side to side, trying not to laugh at the way his head shook and ears flopped as he held on. Tug of war was one of Zeus' favorite games, and Beca was always the one to give in first, her arms feelings like jell-o by the time it was over. She knew Chloe would be arriving soon for their date, and decided to try and tire the dog out a little since they'd be gone for a while.
Knowing they were currently at a stalemate, she turned her voice serious and said, "Zeus, sit."
The dog immediately sat down and let the rope drop from his mouth, knowing full well how this worked by now. Beca flung the rope down the single hallway, grinning as Zeus took off like a shot after it, trotting proudly back past her with his prize to lay down on the rug and gnaw at one of the knots. Beca gave him the victory for a minute, before snatching the free end and starting the war all over again.
Zeus was on his feet instantly, growling playfully as he tried to free his toy. Beca rolled her eyes and growled back at him. She knew she shouldn't egg him on, but he rarely made any noise at all and she couldn't resist teasing him a bit. Beca gave up after a couple of minutes, letting Zeus have the rope for good and collapsing onto the couch. He stood still with the rope still dangling from his mouth, looking up at her as if to ask why they were done already.
"I have an important date tonight, bud. I can't be all tired and sweaty when she gets here," Beca said, reaching out to rub his head.
He dropped the rope and moved closer to her, pressing against her legs as she continued to scratch behind his ears. Beca loved these moments with the dog, the way he seemed to completely understand when she just needed a calming presence.
"Yeah, I'm a little nervous," she said out loud, chuckling as he nosed at her hand when she stopped petting him. "I just kinda love her, you know? And this is our first date, and I want it to go well."
Pausing for a moment, she looked hesitantly down at him and asked, "Am I too easy if I put out on the first date?"
Zeus stared at her, his brown eyes not blinking.
Beca huffed and shoved his face lightly to the side. "Yeah, okay, I get it. I don't need your judgement."
Feeling a little anxious, she grabbed his rope and dangled it in front of his face, letting the tassel on the end annoy him until he grabbed hold and started pulling. They'd been at it for a few minutes when a knock on the door almost caused her to let go.
"It's open," Beca called, refusing to lose the battle now when she was so close to winning. Zeus had managed to drag her onto the rug, and she grimaced at the damage his nails were inflicting.
"This looks like fun," Chloe's voice said from behind her.
Beca whipped the rope back and forth again, trying to dislodge Zeus' grip. "It's war," she answered, laughing at Zeus' growl and sharp tug of his own.
Chloe's arms slipped around her waist from behind, saying in her ear, "Looks like a stalemate to me."
Beca dropped the rope at her girlfriend's touch, shivering slightly at how close together they were. Straightening up, she turned about to face Chloe.
"I'll take the loss," she said, leaning in and giving the redhead a quick kiss.
Beca pulled away before it could get too heated, aided by Zeus who decided now was the appropriate time to greet Chloe. She smiled as her girlfriend crouched down to pet the dog, moving over to grab the tickets off the counter.
"Ready?" Beca asked, checking her watch looking back over at her girlfriend.
Chloe nodded, standing up as she asked, "Am I dressed okay?"
Beca let her eyes roam over the tight jeans and flowy blue top with the slight v-neck that showed a hint of cleavage, murmuring, "Mm hmm. You look stunning, as always."
Chloe blushed, stepping closer and replying, "You look pretty good yourself. You sure you don't just want to stay in?"
Beca struggled to focus as Chloe toyed with the hem of her plaid shirt. She quickly opened the door, stepping to the side and held it open, shaking her head. "I'm sure, Beale. I've been waiting two years to take you on a date, and you're not gonna distract me now."
Chloe laughed as she exited the apartment, Beca taking a deep breath to calm herself before following and locking the door.
"Now will you tell me where we're going? Is it far away?" Chloe asked curiously, glancing out the window at the buildings passing by.
"It's not far from my place," Beca answered, keeping her eyes on the redhead and grinning at her confused look.
"Then why did you have Isaac pick us up? Couldn't we have walked?"
Beca shrugged. "I suppose, but it would take a while and it's hot out. I kinda wanted to talk to you about something first." At Chloe's silence, she continued, "So, uh, I didn't want to assume anything between us. I know we're back together, but there are other things to consider now."
Chloe asked, "Like what? I'm not following you, Becs."
"Well, I'm uh...people care about what I do now, and what I say...and who I date," Beca said awkwardly, looking down at her hands.
Chloe frowned, her tone a little sharper when she replied, "And you don't want people to know about us?"
Beca's eyes widened, realizing she'd screwed this up already. "No! No, of course not, Chlo. Fuck, I suck at these talks. I meant that I want to leave it up to you. How public we are...I didn't know if you'd want your picture in the tabloids or people making shit up about you. I'm kinda used to it by now, but I wasn't just going to throw you into that world without a little warning. It'll probably happen regardless of what we say..." she trailed off, knowing the media didn't have a problem fabricating stories about her love life.
Chloe remained silent, thinking over what Beca had said. "And if I want to go completely public, and tell everyone we're dating?"
Beca couldn't help the grin that spread across her lips at the thought. "Then that's what we'll do. Is that what you want?"
"What would the alternative be?" Chloe asked, a little hesitant as she thought about what that would really mean.
Beca hummed for a moment, before replying, "I would say we were friends publicly. You wouldn't have to say anything, and then we would tell the people we trust about our relationship. It might get leaked eventually, but it would keep the heat off you for at least a little while. Less likely to be stalked by paparazzi, or get jealous hate tweets from all the people who want to marry me," she finished with a wink.
Chloe rolled her eyes at that, retorting, "Just how many people want to marry you, Mitchell?"
"I've gotten at least a hundred twitter marriage proposals," Beca answered, frowning at the thought. "I mostly leave my social media stuff to Scotty. The number of notifications scares me enough not to open the apps." Looking up at the shocked look on Chloe's face, she smirked and said, "What, Beale? I've got random stalkers all over the world who want to marry me."
"Only because they haven't met you," Chloe mumbled loudly enough for her to hear.
Beca's eyes widened in fake offense, her voice indignant as she said, "I'll have you know that I've gotten much nicer since we first met."
"Really?"
"No, but it sounded good," Beca snorted. "Anyways, I'll go with whatever you want to do, Chlo."
Chloe thought for a minute, before answering, "I'm done hiding our relationship, Becs. I'm in this with you, all the way. I don't care if the whole world knows...which apparently, it will."
Beca grinned happily, unable to resist leaning over and pressing her lips against Chloe's. It was what she'd been hoping Chloe would decide, but actually hearing the words was better than she could have imagined. She much preferred those words to the ones Chloe had spat at her a year ago, and pulled back to hear them once more.
"Say it again," Beca whispered against Chloe's lips, her hands cupping the redhead's cheeks.
Chloe leaned her forehead against Beca's, saying, "I want everyone to know you're mine. I love you, and I don't want to hide..."
Beca cut her off with another kiss, tugging against the seat belt to press closer to her girlfriend. "I love you, too," she murmured, finally pulling back and locking her fingers with Chloe's.
After a minute of comfortable silence, Chloe asked tentatively, "Now will you finally tell me where we're going?"
Beca chuckled, saying loudly, "Isaac!"
After pulling out his earbuds, he answered, "What's up, DJ?"
"We're ready," Beca said cryptically, watching as he nodded and made a quick turn. Facing Chloe again, she said, "There's this festival thing going on at Public Square Park called Taste of Music City. There will be food, drinks, and live music. I thought it might be fun to do together, plus it combines three of my favorite things."
Beca was sure Chloe's smile could brighten the entire world, as she said, "That sounds incredible!"
It wasn't more than another minute or two before Isaac pulled up to the curb. He exited the car and circled around to open the door. Beca slid out smoothly, giving him a fist bump as Chloe followed.
"Thanks, Isaac," Beca said, smiling as she felt Chloe's fingers tangle with her own. "You and your family all set?"
He nodded, answering, "Yeah, thanks again. The girls are really looking forward to it."
Beca replied, "Great. Enjoy! We can walk home from here. It's supposed to be a nice night."
They said goodbye and watched Isaac drive away, before Chloe asked, "What did you get him?"
"Backstage passes to some country concert for him and his two daughters," Beca answered with a shrug.
Chloe beamed at her, leaning close to whisper, "You can try to act all indifferent, but I already know you're a softy at heart. It was sweet of you to do that for him."
Beca rolled her eyes, mumbling, "Yeah, yeah, whatever, Beale. Isaac literally has my life in his hands all the time, so it's better to stay on his good side." Changing the subject, she finally took a look around at the park. "Anyways, this looks amazing. Ready to check it out?"
At Chloe's excited nod, they approached the entrance and Beca handed over the tickets. They both received wristbands, although Beca's was a different color since she wasn't old enough to drink. As they entered the park, which was really more of an open square area, they took in all the different tents popped showing off their culinary specialties. It really was a beautiful setting, with a large grassy area inside a paved circle that overlooked the river. The smells wafting from the tents was already starting to make Beca's mouth water as they comfortably strolled along, stopping first at the tent of a local brewery to get a drink.
"I keep forgetting you can't drink," Chloe commented after they'd moved away, sipping her beer and glancing at the bottle of water the brunette was holding.
Beca shrugged, seemingly unbothered by the fact. "I don't drink much, anyways. Why give the press more material to make up shit about me. I have some stuff at home, but drinking alone is kinda depressing."
Chloe asked, "Is it hard? Seeing the rumors and stories and knowing they aren't true?"
"Some are funny," Beca said with a laugh. "Like, they're so insane all I can do is laugh. Some piss me off, but I can't do much about it. I try to ignore them as much as possible, but it's getting harder and harder."
"Were any of them true?" Chloe's voice was hesitant, bordering on insecure.
Beca stopped walking, turning to look at her curiously as her lips curled into a familiar smirk. "Were you stalking me in gossip magazines, Beale?" she accused playfully.
Chloe's denial was immediate as she looked away from Beca's eyes at the closest tent. "No! Of course not. Maybe once," she finally admitted.
Beca chuckled at her, before shaking her head. "I don't think so. None of the dating ones, anyways. See, I was kinda hung up on my ex."
Chloe turned to face her, saying, "Sounds tough. How are you doing now?"
"Definitely still hung up on her," Beca replied, letting out an exaggerated sigh and looking down before reconnecting their eyes. "Lucky for me...she gave me a second chance."
"She sounds like a keeper," Chloe said, her mouth curling into a smile.
Beca couldn't resist leaning in and pressing a kiss to Chloe's lips, whispering, "I'd be crazy to let her go twice."
"I think she feels the same way..." Chloe trailed off, initiating another kiss.
Beca felt impossibly good at the feeling of the redhead's lips on her own, Chloe's free hand gripping her hip and creating a feeling of security that Beca had longed for, ever since they broke up. Not wanting to lose control in such a public place, Beca slowly pulled back again and laced her fingers with Chloe's.
"You probably know a lot of these places better than I do," Beca said, swiftly changing the subject. "Anything in particular I can't live without trying?"
Chloe glanced around at the different restaurant signs before spotting one of her favorite barbecue places. "How do you feel about pulled pork?" she asked, already tugging Beca in the direction of the tent.
"I'm feeling pretty positive about any food right about now," Beca grinned. "I've eaten a lot of catering and a lot of takeout since I've lived here. Either been out of town or too exhausted to cook much."
Chloe turned to her as they joined the line for pulled pork sliders, excitedly asking, "What was it like? I want to know all about the label and performing!"
Beca thought back to when she first arrived in Tennessee, remembering how tough those first few weeks were. It got easier, but the progress was slow. She'd been immeasurably grateful that work had kept her so busy she hadn't had a lot of time to be depressed over Chloe.
"It was hard," she said, figuring that was as good a place as any. "The label was super demanding with my time...as in all of it. I was sort of thrust into everything all at once, but it was good. I learned so much, and I got to start working with Joey almost immediately. I hammered out a single with my new songwriters and was in the booth recording after a couple weeks. After that caught on, I got the green light on the album. Working on that, combined with DJing commitments...I barely had time to think about anything but sleeping."
Beca glanced around, not wanting to draw attention to herself as she continued, "After the album dropped, things really got crazy. The label insisted I hire a permanent agent, and made a few other...suggestions." Her tone made it clear that they were more demands and less suggestions. "It was overwhelming for a while. You know me...it was an adjustment to learn how to handle all the attention. I'm still learning, but I'm getting better at being put on the spot."
The line moved quickly, and she broke off suddenly as they approached the table manned by a woman with a cheerful smile. She grabbed the two plates and offered them, her eyes widening as she made eye contact with Beca.
"Oh my God! Beca Mitchell! I love your music!" She exclaimed as she handed over the plates.
Beca returned the smile, glancing down at the slider and saying politely, "Thanks so much. This looks amazing."
Before they could turn and allow the next people to be served, the woman quickly asked, "Would you mind taking a quick photo! No one will ever believe me..."
Beca glanced at Chloe, who smiled and said, "Go ahead, it's fine."
"Oh, you too, sweetie! The more the merrier!" the woman exclaimed happily, motioning one of her coworkers to take a quick photo.
Beca smile was only a little bit forced as the woman thanked them again. She could tell the people in line were starting to wonder what the hold up was, and already recognized the looks of realization on the faces nearest the front. She led Chloe quickly away from the tent, stopping under a tree a short distance away.
"Hey, are you okay?" Chloe asked, coming to a stop beside her.
Beca nodded, her eyes darting around the park for a moment. "Yeah, I'm fine, I just...I miss being nobody sometimes," she admitted, leaning up against the tree. "Anyways, I'm super excited to try this slider. It smells incredible."
Chloe grinned, setting her drink down on the ground as she replied, "This place is one of my favorites. You'll love it."
Beca followed suit before biting off half of the small sandwich, closing her eyes at how good it was. Quickly popping the second half in her mouth, she chewed happily on the smokey pulled pork with red onions and a rich barbecue sauce.
"Mmmm, I could go for about ten more of those," she said, reaching down and picking her bottle of water up off the ground.
"Oh, I know. So good," Chloe replied, licking some extra sauce off her fingers.
Beca froze for a moment watching her, her mind wandering into inappropriate territory.
"What?" Chloe asked, a little nervous. "Do I have something on my face?"
Beca blushed and shook her head, mumbling, "No...it's nothing."
Realization dawned on Chloe's face and she grinned, taking a step closer. "You sure?" she asked, her voice dropping a little lower as she slipped her arm around Beca's waist.
Beca couldn't resist briefly dropping her gaze to Chloe's chest, before forcing herself to look back up into her girlfriend's eyes. "You're terrible," she said, sounding more frustrated than she intended.
Chloe leaned in and kissed her cheek, answering, "You started it."
"Ugh, I know," Beca retorted, spinning away and taking a long drink of water. "I can't help it. You're just so hot."
"I know," Chloe replied confidently, her smile teasing as Beca's eyes roamed once more.
Beca shook her head, declaring, "Enough! It's our first date, Beale. We're taking it slow."
Chloe laughed, grabbing her drink and moving back to Beca's side. "No problem. We can walk slowly back to your place tonight," she said with a wink.
Beca stayed silent as that produced a whole new round of images in her brain, lingering on the ones where Chloe was significantly less dressed than she was currently. Shaking her head at how quickly she transformed into a teenage boy around her girlfriend, she forced herself back into the moment where Chloe was dressed and they were in public.
"Come on, Beale. I'm still hungry," she changed the subject, grabbing their empty plates and tossing them into a nearby trash can.
As they walked towards another tent, Beca asked, "How are things back at Barden? Why'd you decide to come here for the summer?"
Chloe hesitated, looking around for a minute before starting to speak. "Barden is good. I had another great year there, and really enjoyed all my new students. It was nice not being the new teacher..." she trailed off.
Beca glanced over at her, noticing a sad look briefly crossing her girlfriend's face. "Chlo...it was hard for me. I know it was hard for you too. We don't have to dive all the way in right now, but you don't have to hide it from me either."
Chloe gave her a tight smile. "I struggled. There was a lot of guilt and regret and it was all my fault. I didn't have anyone to blame but myself. Jess kept telling me to get away and come back here for the summer. We could hang out and I could spend time with my family...and try to get over you."
Beca nodded, staying silent as she reached out and took Chloe's hand.
"I mean, the whole getting over you part isn't working out so well," Chloe joked, bringing a smile back to Beca's face. "But the spending time with Jess and my family part is going great."
"Can't say I'm too upset about that," Beca chuckled, spotting a tent advertising ribs and leading Chloe to the end of the line.
Chloe agreed, "Me either. It really has been great to be home. I missed my family more than I realized."
"That's awesome, Chlo. Have they all been around?" Beca asked curiously.
"No, but they will be for July fourth," Chloe answered excitedly. "My brothers and my dad always put on this crazy fireworks show out on a nearby lake. You should totes come! It's pretty legen-wait for it-dary."
Beca rolled her eyes, replying, "You think you can just use How I Met Your Mother references to distract me from the whole...meeting your family part?"
"Depends...did it work?"
"I mean...yes, but that's not the point," Beca said, her voice exasperated. "You can't go throwing around things like 'legendary fireworks shows' and expect me to just pass that up."
Chloe clapped her hands excitedly. "Yes, I can! So you'll come?"
Beca nodded, answering, "Yeah, of course. I can't think of a better way to spend the holiday than with you."
Chloe leaned in kissing her, taking her a little off guard, pulling away before she could respond. Beca could tell that it was the right answer, as Chloe pressed closer to her as they inched forward towards the serving table.
They made their way around to almost all of the food tables, having fun trying the bite-sized portions from the different restaurants. The band was pretty good, playing a lot of upbeat songs that kept the mood happy. Beca was thrilled to finally get to spend time with Chloe, keeping the conversation light as they strolled around the square. This was a new aspect of their relationship, one that they'd never experienced before, and Beca was determined to make the most of not having to hide anymore. It felt fucking amazing, and she couldn't get enough of the moments when Chloe would take her hand, or brush a kiss against her cheek, not caring if anyone saw them.
As the sun started to set, Beca led Chloe over towards the river, looking out over the peaceful water. They walked out on the bridge, finding a secluded spot to lean against the railing.
Before Beca could say anything, someone sidled up beside her, saying, "Well, if it isn't Beca Mitchell. Got time for a few questions?"
Beca frowned, turning to look at the man next to her who was looking out over the water. Recognizing him instantly, she let out an exaggerated sigh, ignoring his question and turned back to Chloe.
"These vultures never respect anyone's personal space. They just pop up all over the fucking place and never give you a moment's peace," she said, gesturing out over the water with a hand.
"Aw, Becs, don't be like that. I'm just trying to use your personal life to put the next meal on the table," the guy said, his tone light and only a shade sarcastic.
Beca laughed, shaking her head as she turned back to him. "Don't you ever wish you had something better to do, Ian?"
The man looked up at the sky thoughtfully, before shaking his head. "Nah, this is my life's dream. I spent four years majoring in journalism at Columbia so I could stalk celebrities. So please give me something to work with? Pretty please?"
"Three questions...only because I like you," Beca offered. "No photos," she added, pointing a finger at the camera that hung loosely around his neck.
"Five?" he asked hopefully, backing down when she narrowed her eyes at him. "Fine, fine, three it is. Who's your friend? She's gorgeous. Hi, I'm Ian. You're gorgeous," he introduced himself with a smile, holding out a hand to Chloe.
Beca pushed his hand away, replying, "Stop hitting on my girlfriend."
"Girlfriend?" he asked excitedly, producing a small notepad from his pocket and scribbling something down. "That's new," he commented, looking back up at her. "Too much to ask for a name, I'm guessing. That was rhetorical!" he added, cutting Beca off before she could respond.
"How's the new album coming along? Got a release date for me?"
Beca shook her head. "Sorry, dude. We just wrapped laying down the tracks, but have a lot of work left to do in the studio. Probably a few months out, at least."
Ian nodded, writing down a few more notes, before looking back at her, a gleam in his eye that Beca wasn't entirely comfortable with.
"Care to comment on rumors circulating that you'll be joining Rascal Flatts on tour next month?"
Beca's eyes widened in surprise, wondering how that bit of information had been leaked so quickly. She knew her silence had given away the truth behind the rumors, and realized she had to do some fast damage control. The label wasn't planning to announce the news until Monday.
"Now, Ian. I'd think if I was going on tour...I'd know about it. As of now, my summer plans are finishing my album and getting to spend some much needed down time with friends and family," she said diplomatically, glancing over and catching the curious look on Chloe's face.
"Uh huh...my ass," he mumbled, shooting her a knowing look. "One more?" he asked, his voice hopeful once again.
Beca shook her head no, answering, "A deal's a deal. Go write your story."
Ian held his hands up innocently, saying, "Can't blame me for trying. You two look great together. Sure you don't want to give me a name?" At Beca's glare, he laughed, saying, "Okay, okay, I'm going. It was fun, as always, Becs. Enjoy the rest of your evening."
Beca rolled her eyes at his retreating back, feeling Chloe's arm slip around her waist.
"That wasn't so bad," Chloe said, smiling as Beca turned to look at her.
"He's one of the few I tolerate. Probably because he's as sarcastic as I am," Beca laughed. "He's really respectful, just a little eager. Kind of like a persistent puppy. Good guy, though."
Chloe asked curiously, "What's he doing working for tabloids if he graduated from Columbia?"
Beca shrugged, glancing briefly in the direction he disappeared in. "No idea. You can ask him the next time he stalks us down."
"Maybe I will," Chloe responded, looking back towards the square. "Come on, I want to dance with you before the band calls it a night."
"You want me to dance in public? Are you trying to completely kill my image, Beale?" Beca groaned, only slightly resisting Chloe as the redhead tugged her back down the bridge toward the music. She checked her watch and knew that there was only about thirty minutes left before the event ended, deciding that a dance or two couldn't hurt. Especially if Chloe would be pressed close against her.
Chloe led her to the surprisingly large group of people dancing in front of the stage, capturing Beca's full attention when she started to move to the music. Admittedly, there were much worse things than dancing with Chloe, and Beca gave in and danced for a few songs. She'd gotten a lot better over the past year, as the people at BMR almost had a heart attack the first time they saw her dance. The result was immediately setting her up with a choreographer and lessons, knowing that she'd have to dance and perform on stage the minute her single dropped. She wasn't on Nick's level, by any means, but thankfully she could hold her own without making a complete fool out of herself.
Chloe noticed the change, leaning in close to her ear, saying, "You've been practicing. You were way more awkward than this when we used to dance in my apartment."
Beca grinned, replying, "Yeah, but those were my favorite dances. Now, I can do this in public, though..." she trailed off as she spun halfway around, pressing back against her girlfriend, feeling Chloe's hands drop immediately to her hips.
"True," Chloe murmured, her lips brushing Beca's neck. "But you probably shouldn't."
"You're probably right," Beca responded, but Chloe's grip tightened as she moved to step away. Turning her head to the side, she asked, "You ready?"
"Yeah, let's go," Chloe answered, lacing her fingers with Beca's and leading the way out of the park.
It was a beautiful night for a walk, but all Beca could focus on was the lingering glances that Chloe kept shooting her way, and the way Chloe's thumb was rubbing over the inside of her palm. She'd begun the night in the firm opinion that Chloe wouldn't spend the night, but her resolve was quickly crumbling with every brush of her girlfriend's thumb.
'Keep it in your pants, Mitchell,' she thought, not wanting to ruin their night by moving too quickly. Sure they had already slept together a few weeks ago, but Beca really wanted to do this right. She wanted their relationship to be about more than just sex, and wanted to show Chloe that she was ready for something serious. She also wanted the reassurance that Chloe was as invested in their relationship as she was, and that the redhead wasn't going to bail again.
As they approached her building, Beca looked hesitantly over at Chloe, asking, "Want to come up for a little bit? Have coffee or something and talk?"
Chloe smiled, answering, "Sounds perfect."
Beca nodded, leading the way up to the door and giving Omar a fist bump before entering the building. They got inside the elevator, and Beca swiped her keycard before pushing the button to her floor. She thought back to the last time they were inside this elevator together, biting gently on her lower lip at the memory and wondering briefly if Chloe was thinking the same thing.
As the elevator doors opened, Beca let out the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding in, pulling her keys out and unlocked the door. The familiar sound of Zeus making his way down the hall relaxed her, breaking into a wide grin as he came into view.
"Hey, big guy," Beca said affectionately, holding back a laugh at his slow, sleepy walk to greet her.
Zeus wiggled his way between the two women, demanding attention from both as he curiously nosed around their legs.
"There are probably some awesome smells on my jeans," Beca commented, chuckling when he took an extra long sniff around her thigh.
Beca finally straightened up, the smile still on her face as she looked at Chloe and couldn't quite place her expression. "Everything okay?" she asked, walking slowly into the kitchen. "Want something to drink? Coffee, or..." she trailed off as Chloe shook her head.
"I really missed you," Chloe said simply, her eyes shining, almost like she was overwhelmed by the feeling at that moment.
Beca heard the sincerity in Chloe's tone and saw it in her eyes, understanding exactly how she felt. God, she had missed the redhead more than she thought possible. Chloe's words confirmed that she understood exactly how lonely the last year had been, and the overpowering feeling of gratefulness that came with simply spending time together again.
"Like, really missed you, Becs," Chloe continued, walking over and wrapping her arms around the brunette in a tight hug. "I'm so glad we're working things out and trying again, because I missed you like crazy."
Beca hugged her back just a tightly, her heart beating rapidly at having Chloe back in her arms.
"Tonight was amazing," Chloe whispered, her breath lightly tickling Beca's ear.
"Thanks," Beca said breathlessly, more than a little distracted with the redhead pressed flush against her. "I mean, yeah, it was. I'm glad you liked it."
Beca shivered at the first touch of Chloe's lips to her neck, immediately gripping her hips tighter. Her brain was reminding her that they were supposed to be taking it slow, but the way Chloe was trailing kisses along her neck had her pulling the redhead closer.
After a moment, Chloe stopped, dropping her forehead to Beca's shoulder, murmuring, "Sorry...I know we're taking it slow, I just...I missed you."
Beca breathed in slowly, waiting until Chloe looked up at her to press a kiss to her lips, one that quickly grew heated. She pressed a thigh between Chloe's legs, backing her into the fridge as her girlfriend's hands flew to the buttons on her shirt. Beca shrugged out of the shirt, taking a deep breath as Chloe leaned back to pull off her own top. Before Beca could move, Chloe pressed forward, her hands sliding under Beca's thighs, lifting her onto the counter and reclaimed her lips.
Beca's last bit of resistance disappeared when the redhead's bra hit the floor. She never could resist Chloe, and decided it was pointless to try. They both made mistakes in the past, but right now they were together and Beca was going to take advantage of every second they had.
A/N: As always, thanks to my beta Ravenclawsome33!
Thanks to everyone who has favorited, followed, and reviewed!
I appreciate all your patience while I get past this writer's block. I'm getting these chapters out as fast as I can!
