Wow, I admit I'm completely overwhelmed. This fandom sure is nice! I'm glad everyone is enjoying this little venture, and thanks to everyone who's left a comment, liked, favorited, followed, etc. You guys are great!
This chapter has a little bit of everything, a little bit of the Bellas, a little bit of Jesse, and even an interesting scene with Aubrey and Beca. And, of course, it wouldn't be fun without some Beca/Chloe flirting. I just hope you're not all throwing things at my head by the end of the chapter (I mean that in a good way…kind of)
And so, here you guys go! Enjoy!
CHAPTER 4
I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence and
So the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
If Beca had learned one thing while she was in the music business, it was the importance of change. Even in the span of months, let alone years, music and its industry was a constantly developing entity. There were always new trends inserting themselves into the mainstream, changing the face of music for its contemporaries.
Beca had found the ones willing to adapt, the ones willing to evolve with the music while keeping the things that were intrinsically unique about themselves, were the ones that proved to have long, fortuitous careers. Music was a constantly changing beast, but as long as one evolved within the music business, changing with the times and the trends, there would always be room for one more artist.
xxx-xxx-xxx
"Wow."
Chloe gazed in awe at the makeshift studio set up in the second bedroom of Beca's apartment, one she hadn't seen the last time she had visited. Keyboards, mixers, beat pads, speakers, and more were strategically placed around a massive iMac desktop computer.
Beca chuckled. "It wasn't easy, but I managed to take my work with me."
"Is this the bare necessities?" Chloe asked, running a finger over the keyboard.
Beca shook her head. "The bare necessities would be my laptop and some headphones." She smirked wryly. "I'm a minimalist."
Chloe grinned. "So I see."
Beca gestured her over to the computer, rolling another seat over so the redhead to sit.
Chloe spun around in the rotating chair, grinning widely. "Enlighten me to the knowledge of the universe, All-Knowing One."
Beca chuckled indulgently. "You're such a goof."
Chloe giggled, still amusing herself by spinning in the chair. "It's part of my charm."
"Okay, look." Beca typed in her password, waiting for the computer to boot up, shifting the monitor so that Chloe could see the screen. She manipulated the pointer to one of the many files on the desktop. "Do you remember the mash-up album Linkin Park and Jay-Z did a couple of years ago?"
Chloe nodded. "Yeah, there were about six songs that mashed together from some of both of their biggest hits. I actually liked that album a lot."
"So did I," Beca agreed. "It was definitely something on par with Aerosmith and Run DMC collaborating on 'Walk This Way'."
Her fingers flew across the keyboard, bringing up sound-bytes for two songs. "So, basically, if you look at the album, the reason each song sounds so good is that the pairings match well together from a construction standpoint."
Chloe cocked her head. "What do you mean?"
"Well, check out the tempo for 'Big Pimpin'' and 'Papercut'." Beca's finger dragged across the sound strip, following the peaks and valleys. "It's actually very similar and the chorus for each of the songs has the same rhythm, almost the same pattern in the cadence of how the words were delivered." Beca leaned back. "That's kind of the basis of how you go about a good mix."
Chloe digested that, nodding thoughtfully. "Okay, but when you mix, how do you know if one song is going to work well with another?"
Beca shrugged. "Basically, it's a matter of finding the right chord progressions. If a song has a similar transition or a similar breakdown, it's usually a good lead in to the next song."
Again, Chloe's head bobbed, her eyes tracking the peaks and valleys of the song.
"But even when songs don't necessarily go together, there are still ways to manipulate the track to lessen the difference," Beca added. She rotated her chair back to the computer, tapping on the keyboard. "This is one mash-up I normally use when I'm spinning."
A couple of clicks, and Dev's "Bass Down Low" exploded from the speakers with flavors of Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" blended in. Chloe's eyebrows shot skyward when strands of U2's "With or Without You" melded into the track, echoing just beneath the other two songs.
"This is amazing," Chloe enthused. "It's like I'm getting a peek into how your mind works when you're making music."
Beca nodded. "It's definitely a matter of knowing what songs can go together and how to make them as seamless as possible."
"Okay," Chloe frowned. "But how would we do that with our current set list?"
Beca chuckled. "Well, the knee-jerk reaction would be that we can't because our setlist is so boring not even my innate musical genius would be able to salvage it."
Chloe bit her lip, hesitant to agree. "Well, yeah, but say that was a caveat," she edified. "Say we could do whatever we wanted, but we absolutely had to use the Bella setlist."
Beca thought about that for a moment. "Well, one thing you have going for you is that some people do recognize the songs, and you can never underestimate the power of nostalgia."
"What do you mean?"
"It's like when I'm spinning," Beca clarified. "Normally, people want up-tempo music they can dance to, something that they're familiar with because it's the hottest track on the radio right now." Beca pulled up a song, and Chloe perked up as Montell Jordan's "This Is How We Do It" started to play.
"Ohmigod, I love this song!"
Beca smiled as Chloe started to belt out the words.
This is how we do it, it's Friday night and I feel all right
The party is here on the West side
So I reach for my 40 and I turn it up
Designated driver take the keys to my truck
Hit the shore 'cause I'm faded
Honeys in the street say, "Monty, yo we made it"
It feels so good in my hood tonight
The summertime skirts and my guys in Kani
All the gang bangers forgot about the drive-by
You gotta get your groove on before you go get paid
So tip up your cup and throw your hands up
And let me hear the party say
"But, as you so aptly demonstrated, nothing gets the crowds going better than a good old-school track everyone knows and can't help but sing along with. That's something that you guys can play on as something familiar with the crowd."
Chloe leaned back in her chair. Her brows drew together as she contemplated what Beca just said.
"Okay," Chloe began slowly, "so say we do this. What would be the benefit? What would we try to accomplish in changing everything?"
Beca shrugged. "From what I've understood, your set list has been the same since the Bellas were started. It's no wonder that you haven't won Nationals. The judges already know what you're going to sing. Even worse, the audience already knows what you're gonna sing, so they can't get into it because it's something they've already seen before."
"Yeah, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing," Chloe pointed out. "Knowing what our setlist will be is like a trademark of the Bellas and it's something the judges recognize."
"Sure," Beca conceded, "but the problem is, our performances are forgettable. Your objective is to make your performance so memorable that, even when another group is on stage, the judges are still fixated on what they just saw from you. It's the same sort of concept with me in my DJ-ing or when I produce."
"What do you mean?"
Beca grinned. "If you really think about it, there are millions upon millions of DJs out there. It's my job to separate myself from the rest of them so that places like the Lava Lounge want me to spin for them rather than DJ-Joe Schmoe. Same thing with the producing part of what I do. I'm up against people like Dr. Dre, or Babyface, or Scott Storch. I have to prove to the artists that want to work with me that I can give them something different."
"And this will be something that will help us win?" Chloe asked.
"Definitely," Beca assured her. "Part of it is shock value. You've built your reputation on traditionalism. Nothing will catch the judges' attention more than doing something so radically different from the norm."
"Would you be able to use a song in our catalogue and build a mix around it?"
Beca smirked, cocking an eyebrow. "It's not a question of if I would," she drawled with a wink.
Chloe narrowed her eyes. "Now you're just being difficult."
Beca laughed. "No, I'm not!" she defended. "Look, Chloe, the fact that you're coming to me is a good start. It means you're willing to change, but," Beca leveled a meaningful gaze at the redhead, "at the core, you're still using the same song. Putting in a couple of effects isn't going to change that."
Chloe sighed. "I'm aware of that," she mumbled. "But I feel like if you can use something from our current setlist, I don't know…" Chloe waved her hands, clearly stumbling for the right terminology. "It might let me ease Aubrey into it…at least the idea, or something." Chloe huffed ruefully.
"That is…given that her head doesn't explode the moment I even hint at the idea of change…"
Beca held up her hands in surrender. "Okay, fair enough."
Chloe smiled, nudging the other woman. "Thanks for doing this though."
Beca shrugged. "It's the least I can do since I'm not competing with you guys."
"Well, because you've been so patient, let me take you out for food." Chloe stood, tugging on Beca's hand. "Come on, I know a great place."
Beca cocked her head. "I don't know if that's fair," she remarked. "I only spent a couple of dollars on your coffee. You're gonna spend much more on dinner."
Chloe beamed as she opened the door, ushering Beca out. "Well, I guess that means we're gonna have do something some other time so you can make up the difference."
Beca grinned, conceding the point. "I guess so."
xxx-xxx-xxx
At Chloe's insistence, the redhead ushered Beca into her SUV (a BMW X5, thank you very much). A short drive took the pair to Fitz's, a popular burger joint just outside of campus named, like most institutions, after Barden's founder Fitzgerald Cromwell Barden. As they slid into the comfy booth, perusing the menu, Chloe took a sip of her water, sending a glance to Beca.
"Can I ask you something?"
Beca nodded. "Sure."
"So, I get that you're just starting college and all, but what brings you to Barden?" Chloe ventured. "I mean, you're…DJ Lady B. I'm sure you could have easily gone somewhere in LA."
It seemed to be the wrong question as Beca's face fell, shadowed by a dour, displeased expression. Just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, reverting back to Beca's normal casual, blasé indifference.
"My dad is a tenured professor here," she revealed, absently swirling a French fry in ketchup. "I didn't really have much choice."
The conversation halted as the waitress came to take their orders, and Chloe thought about what Beca had just revealed. Her brow furrowed as she went over the courses she had taken her past four years and the professors that taught them.
"Your last name is Mitchell, right?"
Beca nodded, and she could see the wheels turning in Chloe's head.
"Oh! So your dad is Dr. Mitchell? The English professor?"
Again, Beca nodded.
"Huh," Chloe's head bobbed thoughtfully. "I could see it."
Beca glowered. "I'm gonna assume that's a compliment because I'm disinclined to ever hold any sort of comparison to my father."
Chloe cocked an eyebrow. "I take it you're not close."
"He's not the best father figure, no," Beca muttered. "He tends to pick and choose when he wants to parent me, and it's always at his convenience, not when I actually need him."
"So that's why you're here?" Chloe asked. "Because he works here?"
Beca pulled a face. "He wanted to keep an eye on me," she intoned with a touch of apathy. "Make sure I actually attempt to complete this degree."
"I'm sorry," Chloe sympathized. "Parents can be tough."
"That's my experience," Beca agreed flippantly.
"It doesn't sound like you think too highly of him."
Beca blew out a deep breath, taking a sip of her soda. "He was never around when I was a kid," she divulged. "He gave so much of his heart and soul into his work that it didn't leave much to give to me and my mom. They started arguing a lot, and he started taking longer and longer hours. My mom got fed up, and finally, he walked out on us when I was ten. Turns out he was having an affair with another faculty member at the college he taught at."
Chloe's eyes widened. "Wow…"
"He took the job with Barden after he left, and my mom and I moved to Brooklyn soon after."
"Whatever happened after that?"
"He ended up marrying her," Beca mumbled. "They have a kid. He's like eleven. I think she teaches here, too."
Chloe's heart went out to Beca. She couldn't fathom how much being here hurt with the shadow of her father and his indiscretions hanging over her subconscious. "What's her name?"
"Sheila Gardner." Beca scowled. "Also known as the step-monster."
"Dr. Gardner?" Chloe wrinkled her nose. "I had her sophomore year. I took her class with Aubrey so I could fill my Arts and Humanities GenEd."
Beca shook her head. "I can only imagine how she is as a teacher if her personality is any indication."
"Not a good experience," Chloe divulged. "I'm honestly surprised she's still on staff. I know so many people have given her bad evaluations at the end of the year."
"What does she teach?"
"Political Science," Chloe answered. "She's like a crazy genius and super smart. There's no question she knows her stuff." Chloe shook her head. "Unfortunately that doesn't automatically translate into being the best teacher."
"I honestly don't know why I'm still so tweaked over it," Beca admitted, tracing over the headphones inked into her left wrist. "I mean, we're all better off. My mom married my stepdad Art when I was twelve, and he's been more of a father to me than my dad ever was."
"Doesn't mean it doesn't still hurt," Chloe sympathized, reaching over to place a hand over Beca's. "No one likes to think they're not worth it."
"Yeah." Beca shrugged it off. "I mean, it is what it is. I'm mostly over it…mostly." She shook herself from her self-deprecation, forcing out a smile. "So what about you?" she asked. "I don't want to bring the mood down with my family's dysfunctions."
Chloe shrugged. "I can't really complain," she remarked. "My parents worked a lot, but they made time for all of us kids."
Beca grinned. "You came from a big family, huh?"
Chloe nodded. "I'm the baby. Four older brothers. My oldest brother Calvin is thirty. He and his wife live in Athens with their kids. My next oldest brother, Cameron, is twenty-eight. He's in the Navy, stationed out in San Diego."
"Is he a SEAL?"
"Yeah," Chloe chuckled ruefully. "Dad was so proud, but I don't think I've ever seen my mom cry so much when he told them he wanted to do it."
"Is the rest of your family as intense?"
Chloe laughed. "No, not really. My next brother Collin is twenty-five, and he works with my dad in the finance world. My youngest brother Carson is twenty-four. He's the little rebel of the family. He's not sure what he wants to do with his life, so he took a couple of years off after graduation. He's out 'finding himself' in Europe."
"And your parents are cool with that?"
Chloe laughed. "As cool as they can be, I guess. Mom just isn't comfortable with him being so far. He wanted to go to law school, but he got burned out a bit in college. Dad's letting him travel through Europe for a bit to get his head on straight."
"Is he still going to law school?"
Chloe nodded. "Yeah. I actually just talked to him last week. He says he's having fun being a bohemian for a while, but being a lawyer has always been a dream of his."
"Sounds like the holidays are fun," Beca remarked ruefully.
"They are when we can get everyone together. It's looking good so far. Cam is always the one we have trouble with, but this year might be our year." Chloe brightened. "Speaking of, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?"
Beca shrugged. "My stepdad Art is coming up to spend it with me, but we're not sure what we're gonna do."
"You can come spend it with me and my family," Chloe offered. "We'd love to have you both."
Beca smiled. She couldn't help but be endeared at Chloe's enthusiasm. "That's really cool of you. I'll run it by Art."
Chloe beamed. "We're gonna have so much fun! I can't wait to introduce you to everyone!"
"Geeze, Chlo," Beca teased. "Isn't it a little early in the relationship to meet the parents?"
"Well, you know what they say about lesbians and second dates," Chloe remarked with a good-natured wink.
Beca shook her head. "I feel so cheated," she sighed. "I'm getting all the aspects of a relationship without any of the perks."
Chloe's expression darkened as she leaned closer to Beca, one hand snaking out, her fingers dancing over the back of Beca's palm in a subtle, sultry caress. "Well, you know, the perks are pretty amazing. Work hard enough, you just might see how amazing they could be…"
Beca grinned. "You're a dangerous woman, Chloe Beale."
"What up, aca-bitches?"
Beca and Chloe glanced up to find the Bellas, minus Aubrey, clustered around their booth, grinning down at them.
Amy gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Did we interrupt your date?"
Beca tossed a balled-up napkin at the blonde. "Get outta here."
"No, it's totally cool," Amy assured them, squishing into the booth. "Nothing better than spreading the lady love. I just feel sorry for Cynthia."
The girl in question scowled, glaring over at Amy. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Honey, because you are the pepper to my salt, I'm gonna lay down some salty knowledge for your peppery goodness." Amy paused, taking in a breath. "Lesbihonest…you need to embrace the Skittles and taste the rainbow…"
Nods swept knowingly through the group, and it became obvious that Cynthia Rose really had no response. Lilly's mouth moved, and they all assumed she had spoken. What, no one knew exactly. A communal shrug, and the rest of the Bellas piled into the booth.
"Oooh, fries." Amy swiped a couple from the plate, dipping them liberally in ketchup. She chewed thoughtfully. "Not bad. Definitely not up to par with Tasmanian fries, but there's a conspiracy theory that the French stole the recipe from a Tasmanian sous-chef when he was distracted by a grease fire."
"Can I ask you something?" Denise spoke up, craning her head to Amy. "What made you come here?"
Amy shrugged. "Wanted to see what the big deal was about America. Besides, Tasmania gets boring when you've reached the level of infamy I have. It gets tiring juggling boyfriends and a hefty social schedule."
"I call bullshit," Cynthia Rose piped up. "Bet your ass is wanted all over Tasmania."
"Don't be silly," Stacie chastised. "It's not a bad thing to be wanted. Believe me, I would know."
The quip drew a wave of chuckles throughout the group. Beca looked around at their group of seven smushed into the relatively small space of the booth. A startling thought skated through her mind, and she smiled reflexively.
She liked these girls…
Huh.
xxx-xxx-xxx
As Chloe dropped Beca off at her apartment, the brunette could already feel the itching of another track embedding itself in her consciousness. She already had a sense of the foundation of the song, an upbeat sort of track.
She sat down in front of her equipment, taking comfort in the pieces in front of her. There were a lot of elements in what was flowing through her mind, a lot of different flavors. The concept she was pondering shouldn't have worked together, but as she laid the track down, working the effects, twiddling with levers and dials, it all came together in an unorthodox of sound and rhythm.
Beca pushed away from the computer, satisfied with what she had accomplished. It was still a rough take, a lot could be tweaked here and there, but she had her base, her foundation. Clicking on the file, she labeled it and dragged it over to the appropriate folder on her desktop.
Beca's head popped up as a knock sounded through her apartment. She moved to the living room and opened the door to find Jesse on the other side. He held up a stack of DVDs and a box of microwaveable popcorn. Beca shook her head frantically in the negative.
"Dude, no."
Jesse grinned, stepping over the threshold, nodding in time with Beca. "Dude, yes."
xxx-xxx-xxx
"I still don't get what's so great about this movie," Beca grumbled, huddled on her couch as she stared at her big television, Jesse beside her. On the screen, The Breakfast Club played.
"How could you not?" Jesse looked completely incredulous. "This is latent social commentary at its finest, John Hughes at his best! This is the epitome of what was epic about the '80s."
"Yeah, not too big with teenage apathy," Beca drawled.
"Oh, but you're perfectly fine with your mid-twenties apathy," Jesse shot back.
"Of course," Beca argued. "By definition, everything is infinitely more annoying when attributed to the teenage years. Everything during this age span is only mildly exasperating."
Jesse's head wavered back and forth slowly, his mouth twisted into a sardonic grimace. "Your logic astounds me."
Beca shrugged nonchalantly. "Get on my level, J."
Jesse snorted. "Whatever. I'll get on your level when you drop your balls and ask Chloe out."
Beca mirrored his snort. "You're imagining things."
"Like hell," Jesse refuted. "You're not the type of girl who is friends with girls, Beca, yet you and Chloe are constantly together." He turned his head towards her. "The last time you were like this was Marissa Carrington, and we all remember how that ended up." Jesse's eyebrows shot skyward as he leveled a meaningful gaze to his companion.
"Face it, Beca, you're into her."
Beca's head lolled against the couch cushion. "Is it really that obvious?"
"If you had a dick, you'd be at full attention," Jesse affirmed.
Beca's nose wrinkled. "Geeze, dude."
"Why are you fighting it so hard?" Jesse posed. "What's so bad about being into Chloe?"
Beca sighed. "I'm not a relationship-type person, J. I've never had a real relationship with someone. I'm not really sure I know how to conduct myself in a relationship. Chloe deserves better than that. She deserves the person who will remember the birthdays and anniversaries, the person who knows how to do this kind of stuff."
"You want to know what I think about it?"
Beca snorted. "Not particularly."
"Well, I'm going to tell you anyway because you're my friend, and it's my duty to give you a kick in the ass every once in a while." Jesse took a deep breath. "You don't need to know how to do that stuff. I think when it comes to love, you gotta find the person who makes you willing to do the things you swore you'd never do. For you, I think that person's Chloe."
"Okay, say you're right," Beca still felt compelled to argue. "But that doesn't change the fact that I might screw this up, Jesse."
Jesse shrugged. "If you really think the person's worth it, you try your damn best not to. I guess you've got to ask yourself if Chloe's worth it."
"Of course she is," Beca muttered. "She's freakin' Chloe Beale. I swear when she farts, it's pure sunshine."
Jesse rolled his eyes. "Cute, dude. I suggest never, ever saying that to her." He slung an arm around Beca. "Look, Bee Sting, you've got a lot going for you! And it's not like Chloe likes you just because you're DJ Lady B. She likes you for you; plain ole Beca Mitchell; screwed up, closed-off, slightly cynical Beca Mitchell."
Astonishingly enough, Jesse's words actually provided her with some form of comfort. Beca relaxed, leaning against him. "Thanks, J."
"No problem." Jesse shoveled a handful of popcorn in his mouth. "I accept payment in the form of future connections and wingman duties."
Beca shook her head. "Whatever." She turned her attention back to the movie. She considered something as the characters moved across the screen. "I have a question."
Jesse flicked an eyebrow upward. "Okay…"
"What does Judd Nelson eat for breakfast?"
Jesse frowned, thinking about his answer for a moment before responding. "Well, like all misunderstood rebels, he feeds on hypocrisy."
"Right."
"And black coffee to help with his morning dumps."
Beca let out a bark of laughter. "Seriously, dude. You are an idiot."
Jesse scoffed. "Whatever, I'm full of fun facts."
"You should probably let someone else tell you they're fun," Beca remarked with a smirk.
"You're kind of more biting than you were at ten," Jesse commented, a playfully disgruntled look on his face.
Beca grinned. "There is a reason you call me Bee Sting, Jesse," she reminded him.
Jesse laughed. "Man, I haven't thought about that in a long time…"
Beca shook her head. "I remember it like it was yesterday."
Beca opened the door to find her next door neighbor standing at the threshold, his curly hair almost out of control. He waved frantically.
"Hey, Beca."
"Hey, Jesse."
"Bee, who's at the door?" Beca heard her mom call from the inside.
"Jesse," she hollered back. "We're gonna go down to the park."
At her mother's permission, she slipped on her sneakers, making sure she had her keys. As she hopped down the driveway, the other boy, just a couple of years younger bouncing right behind her, he drew even with her strides.
"So your mom calls you 'Bee'?" he asked.
"Yup," Beca kicked at a rock, watching it skitter down the sidewalk. "It's short for Bumblebee," she explained. "When I was a kid, I was like super-hyper. She said I had way too much energy that I buzzed around like a bee."
"Bumblebee. That's, like, too cutesy for you," he commented.
Beca laughed. "What do you mean?"
Jesse stopped, rotating to the other girl. "Last Tuesday, you reduced Bobby Sherman into a blubbering mess with your words. You made him cry. Gary Klingman couldn't do that, and he's punched Bobby."
Beca grinned, and it was almost a scary sight. She looked way too pleased with herself reducing the schoolyard bully to a whimpering baby. "Okay, genius, do you think I should be called then?" Beca asked.
"Well…" Jesse thought about it for a moment. "It's not really the bee that people really are scared of, it's the stinger. You're kind of like that. You're chill until someone ticks you off, then you cut them down with your words. So you're not like the bumblebee, you're like the bee's sting." Jesse brightened. "Bee Sting. That's what I'll call you."
"Bee Sting…" Beca turned that over in her mind. "I like it."
Jesse grinned, holding out a fist that Beca tapped with a matching grin. "Awesome."
Jesse cocked his head. "Whatever happened to Bobby Sherman?"
Beca shrugged. "Dunno. Something tells me he never finished the third grade."
Jesse returned the shrug. "Wouldn't surprise me."
Inwardly, Beca laughed as they turned their attention back to Judd Nelson and company – well, Jesse did. She drew back into her thoughts. It never ceased to amaze her how some things really didn't change. She was still that prickly girl who often used cutting words and scathing quips to put others in their place. And Jesse Evans was still that goofy, dorky guy who lost himself in the wonders of movie magic.
xxx-xxx-xxx
"Chloe…"
Beca was whining. She didn't care. Beca bared her teeth at the back of the wavy red hair bobbing with the cadence of Chloe's gait as the senior tugged her along. "Why are you dragging me to the library?"
"Because you're the one that wanted to do work," Chloe reasoned, her grip secure on Beca's wrist. Beca half-heartedly squirmed, the displeasure clear on her face. "I'm trying to facilitate that desire."
"We could have studied in my apartment," Beca argued, seriously considering digging her heels in to slow Chloe's persistent momentum. "It's much more comfortable, and there are things like snacks and drinks and music…"
Chloe shook her head, still heading doggedly to the campus library. "No. There are distractions at your apartment. The last time we studied there, you stopped after fifteen minutes to work on a track."
Beca shrugged. "I can't help it when inspiration hits," she pointed out. "Besides, we are talking about my livelihood."
"Yes, but you are enrolled as a student at Barden University," Chloe countered, "which means your classes also deserve some of your time. You are supposed to be working towards graduation, you know."
"D equals diploma!" Beca declared cheekily, echoing the common adage utilized in reference to the minimum GPA required to graduate. Her mischievous grin faded as Chloe stopped in her tracks, whirling around so quickly Beca was sure Chloe would be suffering from whiplash in the near future.
"You are not going to graduate with a D-average," Chloe demanded fiercely.
Beca's eyes widened. "I was just joking."
Chloe stopped and rounded on the smaller girl, eyes sparkling with indignation, and a finger extended authoritatively, hovering beneath Beca's nose. "As hard as you try to portray otherwise, you are not stupid, Beca Mitchell, and I am not going let you half-ass your way through this year because of some vendetta against your dad." She poked her finger insistently into Beca's breastbone. "You're worth more than that."
Beca's mouth sagged open as she tried to formulate words. Finally, she closed her mouth and swallowed hard. Her eyes plummeted to the ground, and her voice grew as small as Chloe has ever heard from the other woman. "I don't think anyone's ever said something like that to me."
"Well, I'm telling you that right now." Chloe ducked her head to bring Beca's eyes to her. "You always talk about 'being different' and 'standing out'. You get a chance to be more than just that really successful DJ. You get to be a smart and educated, really successful DJ."
Beca could only stare as Chloe straightened, placing her fist on her hips, nodding resolutely, as though her word set in stone would guarantee everything she had just said.
"You're more than just 'DJ Lady B'," Chloe declared strongly. "Don't shortchange yourself."
Beca blinked, her jaw hinging open in awe. "I think I'm kind of in love with you right now."
"Duh." Chloe flipped her hair, taking Beca's wrist and continuing their jaunt, pulling the brunette to the library. "I'm awesome, simple as that."
xxx-xxx-xxx
For the second time in her life, Beca stepped across the threshold of the Fitzgerald C. Barden University Library – albeit a bit reluctantly as a rather insistent redhead had a vice grip on her wrist and wasn't deigned on letting go any time soon.
"See, now you've set foot in a library twice in your lifetime," Chloe cheerily as she navigated them to Chloe's regular spot. "Look at you expanding your horizons."
"You know, when I mentioned that the first time, you weren't supposed to take it as a challenge," Beca grumped, plopping her bag onto the table and slumping into the seat. "Like I said before, I could have gone through life wholly satisfied without the experience."
"Think of it as my civilizing you," Chloe corrected.
"The last time civilization was forced on a group of people, it ended up in genocide," Beca deadpanned.
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Seriously, the amount of knowledge in your brain is amazing. I have no idea why you choose not use it." She shrugged. "Alright, fine. Think of it as me helping you develop better study habits."
"I don't wanna develop better study habits," Beca mumbled petulantly as she unpacked her laptop. "I'm fine wallowing in my unsystematic ignorance."
Chloe merely laughed, setting up across from Beca, her side of the table already occupied with various textbooks, notebooks, and her laptop. "If you get good grades, this semester, I'll put your report card on the fridge."
Beca's nose wrinkled. "You suck at this motivational stuff."
She knew she was in trouble when Chloe's eyes twinkled. "Oh, Beca, you haven't been good enough to experience my motivational methods…"
Beca's mouth sagged open. "So hot," she mumbled, turning her attention to her laptop. The visual would not disappear. "So freakin' hot…"
xxx-xxx-xxx
Beca had to admit Chloe had something with this studying in the library stuff. She actually finished her assignments for her classes, had even read ahead, and was actually getting work done on her philosophy term paper. It was only one more sentence, but it was much further than she had gotten in their last few study sessions.
Now, Beca was battling with the screen of her laptop, her fists planted on either side of the keyboard, her dark blue eyes glaring at the scant words as though the intensity of her stare would generate a sentence on the laptop screen. Her head bobbed up as a soft giggle sounded from across the table.
"What?" Beca grumbled.
"Sorry," Chloe apologized. "You just look so frustrated. It's kind of cute."
Beca's nose wrinkled in protest. "I'm not cute."
"You're tiny," Chloe pointed out. "It's obligatory that you're described as cute."
Beca shook her head. "I don't understand why size is an automatic designation to cute."
Chloe laughed. "I'm sorry. Did I offend your badass DJ sensibilities?"
"No," Beca mumbled, her voice just shy of petulant. She huffed out a sigh, letting her head fall forward onto the table. "I'm sorry, I'm just frustrated."
"With what?"
"This stupid term paper." Beca waved a hand to her laptop. "Who gives a one-word prompt?! Honestly…"
"Oh!" Chloe nodded knowingly. "You must be talking about the term paper for Dr. Graham's Intro class."
"Yeah, actually." Beca glanced up at Chloe. "Have you taken it?"
"No, but I know a lot of people who have." Chloe tapped her pen on her notebook. "Apparently, however you choose to answer the prompt is supposed to tell you a lot about yourself."
Beca snorted. "So what's my indecision telling me about me?"
Chloe shrugged. "Maybe that there's more to you than you think?" She set aside her books and notes.
"Let's take a break," she suggested. "Rest your brain."
Beca shoved her laptop away. "Gladly." She leaned back in her chair. "I've got a question."
"Shoot," Chloe encouraged.
"What the hell is this Riff-Off everyone's talking about?"
"Ah…" Chloe nodded knowingly. "Did Jesse mention it?"
"Yeah." Beca ran a hand through her hair. "He made it seem like it was something huge."
"It kinda is," Chloe divulged. "Besides ICCA's, this is kind of the big inter-group competition," she explained. "Justin and Tommy are the organizers, so it's something you can participate in. It's really more for a pride standpoint."
"Okay, so it's all the groups competing against each other?"
Chloe nodded. "It's kind of like a game show. Basically, the groups sing songs within a category, and you can jump in with another song as long as you match a word in a lyric. The point is to be the last group singing, essentially."
"We don't normally do too well with it," Chloe admitted.
"Is it a big deal?"
Chloe chuckled at Beca's ignorance. "Oh, you have no idea."
xxx-xxx-xxx
As the evening of the Riff-Off drew upon them, Beca conceded that yes, she really had no idea just how big of a deal the Riff-Off was to the Barden a cappella community.
Beca's head swiveled as she took in the scope of this event. Beyond the other Barden a cappella groups, there was a surprising hoard of Barden students gathered around the empty pool, the drinks flowing freely. Justin made his way to the center of the pool, arms spread wide as he welcomed them all to the Riff-Off to the roaring cheers from the groups and the surrounding onlookers. He pointed what looked like a remote control towards the pool wall, projecting what looked like a game show wheel onto the stone surface. A press of his thumb, and the wheel spun for a few seconds, the pointer landing on "Ladies of the '80s".
Aubrey's face lit up, and she ran forward, only to be intercepted as Bumper dashed forward, Donald, Unicycle, Jesse, behind him. Toni Basil's "Mickey" tumbled from his mouth seconds before Aubrey offered up whatever song she had ready.
Oh, Mickey, you're so fine!
You're so fine, you blow my mind
Hey, Mickey!
Hey, hey, hey, Mickey!
Oh, Mickey, you're so –
Beca cocked an eyebrow in amusement as Barb jumped in, the rest of the Harmonics following. To absolutely no one's surprise, Madonna's '80s classic resonating through the empty pool.
You're so fine and you're mine
I'll be yours 'till the end of time
'Cause you made me feel
Yeah, you made me feel
So shiny and new
Like a virgin
Touched for the very first time
Like a virgin
Aubrey slid in, cutting the Harmonics off, Fat Amy providing backup – and a rather convincing air guitar solo. The rest of the Bellas fell in line with their trademark sound.
Like the one in me
That's okay
Let's see how you do it
Put up your dukes
Let's get down to it
Hit me with your best shot
Why don't you hit me with your best shot
Hit me with your best shot
Fire away
As Beca kept watching, she a sense of what the Riff-Off was. She had to admit this was definitely an interesting event. She grinned as the High Notes were disqualified or "Cut off!" in Riff-Off lingo. This was rather entertaining, and it was clear to see why this event drew so many people. Justin whipped out his remote-thingy, pointing it again to the wall. This time – apparently, much to Aubrey's chagrin – "Songs About Sex" was the next category.
Cynthia Rose pushed forward just ahead of Donald, Stacie strutting in behind her.
Na na na
Come on
Na na na na na
Come on
Come on
Come on
'Cause I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it
Sex in the air, I don't care, I love the smell of it
Sticks and stones may break my bones
But chains and whips excite me
'Cause I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it
Sex –
Unable to stand idly, Donald cut the girls off, the challenge clear in his posture as he faced down the busty brunette. Aubrey stepped forward, pulling Stacie away.
Sex, baby
Let's talk about you and me
Let's talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be
Let's talk about sex
Let's talk about sex, baby –
Unwilling to be deterred, Stacie jumped back in with a surprising Boyz II Men melody. Beca grinned. It was almost rapid-fire the way the groups were jumping in and out of the category. One definitely had to have a vast knowledge of songs for this to work, and the rest of the group had to pick it up quickly for the melody to reach its full potential.
Baby, all through the night
I'll make love to you
Like you want me to
And I –
Jesse stepped forward, halting Stacie's unexpectedly mellow ballad as he channeled Lou Gramm and Foreigner at its finest.
And I guess it's just the woman in you
That brings out the man in me
Jesse leveled a finger at Beca, the challenge clear in his narrowed eyes and slightly tilted head. She returned the gesture, arms crossed, not willing to play into his game. He spread his arms, daring her almost encyclopedic knowledge of music, goading her to try and cut him off with her own offering.
I know I can't help myself
You're all in the world to me
Beca merely chuckled, blowing him a sardonic kiss. Jesse grinned, getting into the song, the rest of the group harmonizing behind him.
It feels like the first time
Feels like the very first time
It feels like the first time
It feels like the very first time
It –
Unable to help herself any longer, Beca scurried forward, planting herself in front of the Trebles, spitting out her best imitation of Dr. Dre. The quickly-delivered vocals shocked the boys into silence.
It's going down, fade to Blackstreet
The homies got RB, collab' creations
Bump like acne, no doubt
I put it down, never slouch
As long as my credit can vouch
A dog couldn't catch me ass out
Beca could freely admit she wasn't the best rapper – there were hundreds of other people who possessed more flow than she did – but she felt emboldened by the element of surprise that came with the first verse of "No Diggity", courtesy of Dr. Dre, flowing from her mouth.
Jesse and the Treblemakers looked absolutely stunned and retreated almost reflexively when she brushed them back with a flick of her wrists.
Tell me who can stop when Dre making moves
Attracting honeys like a magnet
Giving 'em eargasms with my mellow accent
Still moving this flavor
With the homies Blackstreet and Teddy
The original rump shakers
Beca rotated back to the rest of the Bellas. It seemed as though she had even stumped her own group as a mass of mystified face greeted her. Beca stood in the center of the pool, arms extended, waiting for someone to help her out. When she received nothing but blank stares – Aubrey comically mouthing 'Rump shakers?' with an utterly baffled look on her face – Beca huffed, her arms dropping to her sides.
Raising her voice, the disgruntled expression reflected in her posture, Beca sang the first verse of the chorus, hoping to jog someone's memory.
Shorty get down, good Lord
Baby got 'em up open all over town
Much to her immense relief, Fat Amy was the first one to recognize the song, jumping in to lend her voice to Beca's. As Amy joined her, Beca could see Chloe in the back, organizing a quick arrangement, and soon enough, more voices followed.
Strictly biz, she don't play around
Cover much ground, got game by the pound
Getting paid is a forte
Each and every day, true player way
I can't get her out of my mind
I think about the girl all the time
The rest of the Bellas flocked around her, harmonizing effortlessly, their arrangement tight and precise despite its spontaneous creation. Beca couldn't help but feel proud at the spark she lit beneath her group. They brought a different energy with this song, playing into every guilty pleasure any music lover ever harbored, loose and relaxed in a way that never manifested itself in their strict Bellas performances.
I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up
Hey-yo, hey-yo, hey-yo, hey-yo
More voices swelled from the perimeter of the pool, joining together and chiming in with the hook from the bridge. Beca rotated around the pool, egging on the spectators with a wave of her arms. Even the other a cappella groups added their voices, first the Harmonics, then the High Notes, the masses causing the volume to swell around the empty pool.
I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up
Beca brought the Bellas together in one last round of the chorus before throwing the knockout punch definitively.
We out.
Roars of approval flew from the students orbiting the pool, voicing their opinion to the winners of this year's Riff-Off. The Bellas whooped and cheered, reveling in their triumph. Never before had they invigorated the crowd to this extent, never before had their performances prompted this amount of applause, this level of approval. Whatever joy they felt was immediately quashed, however, as Justin ruled that Beca's incorrect matching of 'it' with 'it's' disqualified the Bellas, leaving the Treblemakers in possession of the coveted Hoobastank microphone.
As the Trebles celebrated their win by technicality, Beca surged forward, the outrage radiating from her posture.
"Bullshit!" she declared, lunging towards Justin. Chloe pursued right behind her, just in case. Beca looked mad enough to throw out a few haymakers. She looked so miniscule compared to the other boy, it was almost comical if not for the fierce look of indignation adorning Beca's features.
"'It's' is a contraction of 'it is'," she argued. "Like hell I didn't match the word! 'It's' wouldn't exist without 'it'! "
"Beca, let it go." Chloe urged her away, even as the brunette continued to shout abuse to Justin, even going so far as to wave a tiny fist to the emcee. "Easy there, killer, it's not gonna count against us for anything."
"It's still bullshit," Beca grumbled, shooting another dirty glare to the emcee. "This thing is fixed!" she hollered out as a parting shot.
"If he is even thinking of entering the music business, I swear to whatever higher power he believes in, I'm blacklisting him from any job his pea brain could even think of wanting," Beca mumbled under her breath.
They joined the rest of the Bellas, huddled around Aubrey, casting dirty glances over to the celebrating Trebles.
"Guys, that was amazing," Beca enthused. "We sounded awesome! Did you hear that crowd?"
"We lost," Aubrey reminded her.
"Yeah, but we learned something," Beca countered. "Think about how awesome we sounded with modern music and in a spontaneous setting. If our setlist–"
"Okay, enough." Aubrey looked to the rest of the girls. "We have a lot to work on. I'll see you all at the next rehearsal." She stuck her hand out. "'Aaah!' on three."
"On three or after three?" Stacie interjected.
"On three," Cynthia Rose clarified.
"After…after three," came another opinion. "One, two, three…"
"That's not how we do it," Aubrey refuted.
"Why can't we figure this out?" Stacie groaned.
As the rest of the Bellas debated exactly when the "Aaah" should commence, Beca caught Chloe's eye. A glance passed between the two, and it was clear the message was very well received.
xxx-xxx-xxx
The events of the Riff-Off stayed in Beca's head for a couple of days after. Not so much the outcome, but what the Bellas were able to do in such a spontaneous, uninhibited setting. It only fueled her belief that there was tons of untapped potential in that group, just waiting to be released. There was a lot she could work with…if only Aubrey would allow it…
As Beca descended down to the basement of the student union to grab some food, she scanned the tables for a seat. Grabbing her burger and fries, she noticed a familiar blonde head at a table in the corner.
Beca debated with herself for a long moment before rotating and approaching Aubrey. She pasted on a friendly smile, gesturing down to the empty seat.
"Mind if I join you?"
Aubrey surveyed her for a moment before shrugging. "Suit yourself."
Beca plopped down, spreading her lunch across the table. "Whatcha working on?" she mumbled around the burger.
Aubrey's eyes flicked up to her before they settled back down on her notebook, the blonde's elegant hand scrawling a sentence on the paper. "A case summary of Miranda v. Arizona," she mumbled.
Beca nodded. "That's case that led to the requirement that the police inform an arrested person of his rights under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments. Sweet."
Aubrey's head snapped up, her jaw dropping in surprise. "How do you know that?"
Beca shrugged. "Something I picked up somewhere. Besides, everyone's heard someone being Mirandized on TV." She gestured to the heavy book Aubrey's eyes kept scanning over. "So…constitutional law." Beca cocked an eyebrow. "Not exactly light bedtime reading, is it?"
"No way," Aubrey shook her head. "I'm pretty sure I've seen encyclopedia volumes thinner than this textbook."
Beca let out a bark of laughter at the unexpectedly funny quip coming from the normally stringent blonde. "So she has a sense of humor…" she teased. Beca gestured to the textbook. "Do you like it?"
Aubrey shrugged. "I get through it."
"That's not a ringing endorsement," Beca remarked.
Aubrey scoffed, placing her pen down, leveling a pointed look at Beca. "I'm a Posen," she explained. "Essentially, I am relegated to two options of study: law or business. Leland J. Posen's daughter cannot settle for less." Aubrey shrugged, leaning back in her seat. "I picked law."
"Because you don't get to argue in business?" Beca ventured.
Aubrey smirked wryly. "More because I'm horrible at math."
"So why join the Bellas?" Beca couldn't help but ask. "I mean, this doesn't seem like it would be something your dad would find worthwhile."
Aubrey's face softened, and Beca couldn't help but marvel at the change. She really was pretty, slightly manic disposition aside.
"It wasn't," Aubrey admitted. "Until he heard there was a competitive aspect to it, a chance for national recognition." She snorted. "Just another way for the Posen name to demonstrate its excellence."
Beca's eyebrows creeped skyward. "Sounds rough."
Aubrey shrugged nonchalantly, but Beca could see the melancholy reflected in the jade green eyes. "It is what it is. He can think whatever he wants, the Bellas make me happy either way."
"My dad's the same," Beca offered. "He thinks DJ-ing is a hobby, not a career. Doesn't matter how I see it."
Aubrey cocked her head in genuine curiosity. "Has that stopped you?"
Beca snorted. "Yeah, right. To hell with him. He wasn't around, he doesn't get to have a say what I do with my life."
Aubrey sighed ruefully. "It's not that easy for me."
Beca surveyed the blonde, noticed the way her hands fidgeted with her pen. She wasn't sure what compelled her to do so, but she offered out a word of comfort. "Maybe one day it will be."
Aubrey smiled morosely. "Maybe." She glanced down at her watch, noting the time. "I have to get to class." Gathering her things, she stood. "See you at rehearsals."
"Bye."
As Aubrey walked away, Beca had a distinct feeling she had just understood a little bit more about the Bella captain.
xxx-xxx-xxx
"Hi!"
Coming out of her last class of the day, Beca jumped as Chloe materialized out of nowhere latched onto her arm. "Geeze!" She glared playfully at the redhead. "Do I need to put a bell on you or something?"
"Kinky."
Beca rolled her eyes. "Hey, Chloe."
"Whatcha doin?"
Beca threw out her lopsided grin, noting that the redhead was especially bouncy. "Nothin'," she played along. "Done for the day, just looking to chill, maybe work on some tracks…"
Chloe turned towards her but didn't say anything, merely beamed brightly.
Beca's grin twisted wryly. "I'm gonna take a stab in the dark and fathom you would like to join me in whatever I end up doing."
Chloe nodded eagerly. "Please? I like hanging out with you," she declared, practically skipping as she tugged Beca along. Chloe stopped suddenly, causing Beca to crash into her back.
The smaller girl grunted. "Seriously, Chlo, you need to come with warning lights."
"You know what," Chloe whirled, a big smile on her face. "Let's go to mine."
"Is Aubrey going to be there?" Beca deadpanned.
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Just come on."
"I'm determined to figure out how to say no to you," Beca commented absently as Chloe towed her along once again.
"How's that going for you?"
"Current circumstances indicate a miserable fail," Beca responded ruefully. "I'm inclined to agree."
xxx-xxx-xxx
"Make yourself at home," Chloe offered, hanging up her coat. "I know it's not quite what you're used to."
"You mean you don't have your own butler and maid service?" Beca threw her head back with a loud groan. "I'm so disappointed, Chloe."
Chloe stuck her tongue out at the other woman, reaching out to poke Beca in the side. The brunette wriggled away with a squeak as Chloe found her ticklish spot.
"Hey! No damaging the merchandise."
Chloe giggled, shaking her head. "You are so losing badass points the more I hang around with you."
Beca tossed her head playfully. "You can't change something innate," she informed the redhead, plopping down on the couch with a grin. She craned her head up at Chloe.
"So what do you want to do?"
"I want to know about you," Chloe answered honestly, descending down on the couch beside Beca. "Not the stuff that you say in interviews or stuff the public knows through your Wikipedia page. I want to know about Beca Mitchell, the woman."
Beca grinned, glancing sideways at her companion. "I dunno," she hedged playfully. "You might not be ready for the real Beca Mitchell."
Chloe pouted. "Please?"
"Honestly?" Beca shrugged. "There's not that much to me."
"That's not true," Chloe argued, turning to face Beca. "I refuse to believe that's all there is to you. Take music. How did you grow to love music?"
Beca's face softened into a nostalgic smile as the memories filtered into her conscious mind. "My mom loved music," she murmured. "She and I always used to cuddle up in the armchair in our den and just listen to old records."
"What kind of records?" Chloe asked.
Beca shrugged. "Everything. From The Temptations to Dizzy Gillespie to Beethoven to Ravi Shankar." Beca sobered, her smile turning more melancholy. "Before she died, she made me promise to finish college."
"Is that why you're here?"
Beca nodded. "Yup. I got four years to chase my dream in LA before I had to do four years finishing a college degree."
"That's why you said your word is why you're here," Chloe recalled from one of their first conversations.
"Yup."
Chloe's brow furrowed as she thought about what else she wanted to know about the slightly enigmatic DJ. "Okay…what about your nickname?"
Beca cocked her head. "What are you talking about?"
"When Jesse sees you, he always calls you 'Bee Sting'," Chloe clarified. "Where did that come from?"
"Ah…" Beca's face relaxed into an indulgent smile tinged with nostalgia. "Well, again, it all starts with my mom. When I was a kid, I was kind of off-the-wall, always full of energy, definitely not the type to sit still. She said that I was always buzzing around, like a bumblebee."
"That's cute. I can totally see that."
Beca nodded. "Yeah. So my mom always called me Bumblebee. Jesse was my next door neighbor, and when he first heard that, he said that it didn't fit me. He said that it's not really the bee that people really are scared of, it's the bee's stinger."
"He sure was philosophical as a kid," Chloe commented.
"Well, Jesse was always kind of like that," Beca divulged. "Anyway, he said I was like that. He said I was mellow until someone pissed me off, then I'm like the angry bee with the stinger ready to strike. That's where Bee Sting comes from."
"See?" Chloe poked at Beca. "You have such great stories behind everything in your life. You're extraordinary," Chloe asserted. "And what makes it even better is that someone would never know you're famous; you're so low-key."
"You sure think highly of me," Beca commented.
"Why not?" Chloe posed. "I don't see why I shouldn't. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt until you prove me wrong."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Beca asked. "I mean, people could really hurt you that way."
"Maybe," Chloe acknowledged, "But, you know what they say, 'Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.'"
"And there never is a twice, is there?"
"Nope." Chloe shook her head. "It's hard to earn my trust back after you've lost it."
Beca nodded. "Noted."
She really was amazing, Beca decided. Chloe practically radiated optimism in all facets of her life, and it was so infectious, even to someone like Beca. She served as Chloe's stark contrast in that regard. If Beca Mitchell was optimistic in any manner, it was only in the inevitable existence of pessimism. From their very first meeting, Chloe had never ceased to amaze her, but the eternal pessimist in Beca couldn't help but wonder when the other shoe was going to drop. Where was the chink in the armor of this amazing, alluring being?
Still, as she thought back to that first meeting and the subsequent later interactions, Beca chuckled, and Chloe grinned.
"What?"
"I was thinking about when we met and what happened after," Beca divulged. Her chuckles turned to a full-blown laugh. "I still can't believe you told me 'Titanium' was your lady jam."
Chloe giggled. "What? It was supposed to loosen you up so that you could be more comfortable with me."
"By admitting you masturbated to that song?" Beca shook her head incredulously. "Believe me, Chlo, that did the complete opposite."
Chloe's mouth dropped open. "Beca Mitchell, did you visualize me lady-jamming?"
"What did you expect?" Beca defended. "You put it out there! You've got to know that's exactly where my mind went."
Chloe couldn't stop the belly laugh from bursting out of her. "You're such a perv!"
"Says the one who busted into my shower," Beca shot back.
"You're gonna hold that over me forever, aren't you?" Chloe shook her head, her face bright red from her laughter. "I can't believe you pictured me doing that."
Beca grinned wolfishly. "Pretty awesome visual, if you ask me. Wasn't the only place my mind went."
Chloe's eyes narrowed. "Please tell me you didn't visualize us having sex."
"Why not? We were naked! In a shower! And you know I think you're hot."
Chloe blushed. "Yeah, you've mentioned it. But that wasn't my intention when I busted in. I wanted to recruit you," Chloe reminded her. "I insisted you sing with me."
"Yeah," Beca conceded, "But that doesn't mean my mind didn't automatically go there. Normally when I'm naked in a shower with another woman, there's a different type of harmony involved."
"I'm starting to think this isn't the first time a naked woman busted into your shower," Chloe remarked.
Beca shook her head. "I'm so pleading the fifth on that one."
"Okay," Chloe surrendered the point. "But you have to have a song like that. You know, a song that gets you in the mood."
"Well, it's not my 'lady jam' but it is close." Beca moved to Chloe's speakers, taking out her phone and plugging it into the system.
"What is it for?"
Beca scrolled for a bit before finding the right track, tapping her finger against the screen. "Lady lovin…"
Chloe's eyebrows shot skyward as a mellow, sensual melody began to play. Beca grinned, pulling the redhead to her feet.
Lay your head on my pillow
Lay your head on my pillow
Lay it down
Lay it down
Lay it down
Oh lay it down
Lay your head on my pillow, yeah
Beca pulled Chloe to her, her mellow voice wrapping around the lyrics to the song. She rotated around the redhead, palms framing Chloe's hips as they swayed to the beat. Chloe drew in a sharp intake of breath as Beca's voice floated through her ear, her lips practically caressing the skin of her lobe.
I ain't Casanova
Me and Romeo ain't never been friends
But tonight, girl I'ma show you how much I love you
Let the party begin
I'ma do something I never did to you, girl
I'ma turn you out, I'll show you a new you, girl
Tell your friends you ain't coming out tonight
Wrap your hair girl, tie it up tonight
They moved together, the curve of Chloe's ass pressed snugly into the cradle of Beca's thighs. The heat from the point of contact between them resonated outward. Hips rolled together, grinding sensually to the beat, Beca's smooth, sensual voice lending itself to the atmosphere.
Chloe could feel everything between them, the press of Beca's body against her back, the slight clenching of her fingers on Chloe's hips, the hot breath against her ear. Everything Beca was doing sent a shockwave of fire surging through each pore of her body, centered around that singing voice that had drawn her in from the beginning.
Oh lay, oh lay, oh lay
Oh lay, oh lay, oh lay
Oh lay, oh lay, oh lay, ooh ooh
Oh lay, oh lay, oh lay, ooh ooh
Your head down girl
Inwardly, Beca battled with herself, urging herself to stay respectable around the magnetic redhead. Everything about Chloe was so hypnotic, so attractive, it was hard to stay away, so hard not to give in to her more carnal urges. As they moved in their sexy rhythm, Chloe's shirt rode up, and the pads of Beca's fingertips came into contact with soft, golden skin.
Chloe whirled around in her arms, placing them front to front, hips still moving as they swayed. Beca nearly groaned as a different set of curves pressed into her, her thigh slipping between Chloe's, her palms sliding around to cup Chloe's ass. Beca's head tilted up as Chloe's tilted down, their nose brushing one another, practically sharing a breath. Chloe's big blue eyes bore into hers, searching and sparkling with desire. It would be so easy to breach that gap between them, to capture those bow-shaped lips in hers. God, she would bet her turntables Chloe was an amazing kisser.
It would be so easy just to…
"Chloe! I'm home!"
The two jumped apart just as Aubrey entered the apartment. She stopped short as she noticed the other occupant of the room.
"Oh, Beca. Hi. I didn't know you were here." The blonde's eyes narrowed as she observed her two companions, taking in their flushed appearances, the final strands of the song fading into silence.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing," Beca grinned innocently. "Just talking music."
Aubrey's eyes reflected potent suspicion as they flicked from Chloe to Beca. The redhead had yet to fully compose herself, her breath still coming in ragged gasps, her cheeks still tinged with red.
"Right."
Whatever goodwill Beca had accrued concerning Aubrey vanished right then and there.
Okay, okay…I admit that one was a little mean…I'm sorry. Next chapter, we bring in Art, Beca's stepdad, and it's time for a little bit of celebration with Thanksgiving and Beca's birthday coming up. And, of course, the Bellas hit Regionals…but as this is an AU, things are a bit different.
Hope you enjoyed this one! The songs used that you might not recognize outside of the Riff-Off are "Changes" by David Bowie, "This is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan, and "Lay It Down" by Lloyd, written by Ester Dean. As usual, thanks to CJ (CJersey82), the other half of the team. I look forward to hearing what you all think of this one! Let me know here on FFN, Tumblr, or Twitter, whichever you prefer. Until the next installment…
*ISP
