A/N: Hey guys, thanks for reading :) The show I mentioned is Rizzoli & Isles, I once loved it so much but it's gone downhill so badly. Derek's death in Grey's Anatomy was harsh as well but at least people cried and reacted. R&I had no reaction to a character of 6 years being killed off for no reason. I've never watched Vampire Diaries, sorry, but I did hear that the main actress wanted to leave.
Disclaimer: Still isn't mine. Neither is Bad Blood by Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar which I use in this chapter (hence the chapter title). Oh! I also don't own Gangsta's Paradise but you should definitely watch Brittany Snow rapping it on Ellen before reading this chapter. She is so darn entertaining.
Chloe groaned and dropped her head onto the table with a bang. Beca tried but couldn't hold back the laugh at the redhead's dramatics.
Chloe looked up, glaring at the brunette and trying to hide the smirk pulling at her lips. "Are you laughing at me?" She asked.
Beca nodded, still laughly lightly.
"I'm bored," Chloe pouted. "Entertain me."
Beca laughed again. "Chloe if you're so bored just go home. You have done the work now it's my turn. You don't need to be here." Beca was working on creating basic tracks to back Chloe's songs to be added to after hearing Chloe sing with it. It was really just the starting point but it was important and it took time.
"Sure I do," Chloe smiled, attaching herself to Beca's arm. "I'm your second opinion. Who else will tell you how much you rock?"
Beca laughed but made no effort to move out of Chloe's embrace. "I have no clue how I've gotten this far without my number one fan."
Chloe frowned, tightening her grip slightly. "I prefer cheerleader. You should see me in a mini skirt."
Beca's eyes bugged and her cheeks reddened. She quickly put some distance between her and Chloe and turned back to her laptop. "Either way, go home or stop complaining."
Chloe sighed and dropped her head again.
Beca took Chloe's silence as permission to start working again but soon Chloe was sitting back up and in her personal space again.
"You've been working forever. Time to take a break."
"Chloe," Beca sighed. The redhead was being nothing but adorable but she really needed to work. On the other hand, the longer this took the longer Chloe would be forced to stick around. "OK, you have 5 minutes, what do you want?"
Chloe beamed and bounced in her chair slightly. "What's your favourite colour?"
Beca raised a brow. "Really? Why?"
Chloe shrugged. "We're friends now, I need to know the basics."
Beca laughed, wondering when she became someone who actually laughed more than once a year let alone multiple times a day. "Fine. Black."
Chloe shook her head. "Nope. Black isn't a colour and even if it was I doubt it'd be your favourite."
"Are you seriously telling me that my favourite colour is wrong?"
"Yep. C'mon I get it: you're a badass with tattoos and sexy ear spikes. What's your real favourite colour? The one you are too ashamed to admit."
Beca did have a favourite colour. She'd had it since she first laid eyes on the girl in front of her.
"Tell me or I will tell everyone that it's pink," Chloe pushed.
"Red."
Chloe beamed. "See! Suits you." Chloe flipped her hair slightly, smirking at the fact that her hair was co-incidentally Beca's favourite colour. "Mine is pink."
Beca chuckled. "Of course it is."
Chloe smiled brightly, ignoring the teasing. "Next question." She tapped her chin for a second as she considered her options. "Oh! Favourite movie."
"I don't like movies," Beca responded easily, already knowing what would come next.
Chloe seemed to frown as she considered the answer, wondering if the girl was once again lying. Something in the dark blue eyes convinced her it was the truth though. "Why?"
Beca blinked. Normally people would jump all over her but Chloe just seemed curious. "They're boring."
Chloe shook her head again. "Nope, try again."
"Chloe you can't keep rejecting my answers because you don't like them."
"I'm rejecting them cause you're a big liar. Well… a little liar I guess," Chloe smirked, eyeing Beca's height.
Beca gasped. "You're just full of insults today aren't you. Alright fine, movies used to be a me and my dad thing so after he bailed I stopped watching them in protest." Beca stared at her hands, not wanting to see pity in Chloe's eyes. She had never told anyone the real reason she didn't like movies, not even Jesse who had pestered her about them since they became friends. Beca jumped as Chloe's hands came into view, holding her own. Beca looked up two bright blue eyes that held anger, not sympathy.
"I hate that someone who should have loved you caused you so much pain. I can't imagine the type of person that could leave you or Josh or Grace."
Beca could feel her heart racing at the intensity of Chloe's words.
"Besides, you really shouldn't let your dad stand between you and Channing Tatum," Chloe smiled, breaking the tension that was becoming slightly overwhelming to Beca.
Beca let out a breath, thankful in this moment that Chloe was able to read her so well so quickly. "Yeah, maybe if I had the chance to see him on screen I wouldn't have turned out gay."
Chloe raised a brow at the new information, filing it away. "Yes but then you would also be seeing Emma Stone on the screen and then you'd be gay for sure," Chloe joked.
Beca laughed, surprised at Chloe's humour. "Of course you'd pick a redhead."
Chloe shrugged. "I hear it's your favourite colour."
Before Beca could think of a reply to continue the delicious banter that they'd achieved the door opened, revealing Amy and Jesse. Beca frowned and unconsciously moved backwards, putting some space between the two women again.
"Guys? What are you doing here?"
"What? We always visit you at work," Jesse replied, eyes focused on the redhead instead of Beca.
"Never once have you done that," Beca responded.
Neither Jesse or Amy replied, completely focused on Chloe now. Chloe looked uncomfortable and glanced at Beca, wondering who these two people staring at her were.
"Becs?"
Beca smiled for a moment at the use of the nickname again before she stood to make introductions. "Chloe this is Fat Amy and Jesse. Guys, this is Chloe Beale."
"Fat Amy?" Chloe asked as she shook the blonde's hand.
"Yeah so twig bitches like you don't do it behind my back."
Chloe brightened as if it was the best idea she'd heard. "I love it. You can call me… Curvy Chloe," she smiled, doing a slight shimmy.
"More like Crazy Chloe," Beca joked, earning a pout from the redhead.
"And I'm still Jesse," Jesse joked, sticking out his hand when it seemed like Chloe had forgotten that he was there as well.
"I'm sorry. Nice to meet you Jesse," Chloe smiled easily, shaking the boy's hand quickly.
"So, you guys are here why?" Beca asked, not noticing that she had moved to stand so closely to Chloe that their sides were touching.
"Just wanted to meet the person who was working you so hard that you fall asleep the second you walk through the door," Jesse joked, enjoying the flush that covered Beca's face.
"Oh," Chloe gushed, pinching Beca's cheek lightly. "Am I tiring you out Becs?"
Beca pushed Chloe's hand away from her face and scowled at her ex-best friend. "You can leave now. We're busy."
Chloe smirked, the sight scaring Beca slightly. "Well, Becs is busy but I'm free as a bird. How's lunch sound? My shout if you can sustain me with embarrassing Beca stories?"
Beca's protest fell of deaf ears as the three left quickly, leaving Beca by herself. She sighed heavily and sat back down at her laptop, missing Chloe instantly.
Chloe wiped tears from her eyes as her laughter finally settled down. Amy and Jesse had spent the last two hours taking turns to tell Chloe stories about themselves, Beca and their friendship. Chloe loved how easily the two had let her in and how quickly she felt comfortable in their group, as if this was where she belonged.
"So ginger," Amy asked, serious for the first time since Chloe had met her. "What do you think of our dark friend?"
Chloe sobered instantly, feeling very much like this was the 'what are your intentions' talk. "I'm glad that I met her. We work so well together and I already know that I want to keep our friendship. She's like no one I've ever met."
"So, just friends then?" Jesse asked.
"Yeah. Just friends. I just got out of a really serious relationship that ended pretty publicly. I'm not looking for anything right now and I admire her too much to just be a rebound. Besides, she doesn't really seem like the relationship type."
Jesse nodded. "She's more the one night stand type. One day the right girl will come along and see her as worth it."
"It's not a movie," Amy commented, rolling her eyes.
Chloe's phone began to ring, ending the conversation. She smiled as she saw it was Beca calling, quickly answered it.
"Were your ears burning?" Chloe teased.
"Yeah for the last two hours," Beca joked back, hiding her discomfort about what Jesse and Amy could possibly be telling Chloe. "When are you coming back?"
Chloe raised a brow. "I thought you said you didn't need me or my opinion?"
"I lied, OK? So how much longer will you be?" Beca wasn't sure what had come over her. The second she had finished a track she had felt the need to have Chloe listen to it straight away.
"I'll be back soon, I just need to find that mini skirt."
Beca stuttered over the phone, her mind instantly imaging Chloe dressed as a cheerleader. Soon Chloe's laughter was coming through the phone, obviously enjoying Beca's reaction.
"I'll be there soon Becs, bye." Chloe hung up her phone, shaking her head at Beca's reaction as she did. "Sorry guys, Beca needs me back. This has been a tonne of fun though. You guys are great," Chloe said, actually disappointed that their time was being cut short. She quickly placed money on the table, enough to cover the entire bill plus a large tip.
"Chloe," Jesse spoke, stopping her from leaving. "You're a really great person. Make sure Beca knows it is just friendship, OK?"
Chloe smiled at the care Jesse had for his friend. She pulled Amy and Jesse into hugs and left.
Chloe bit her lip as she listened to Beca's music. Once it finished playing an uncomfortable silence filled the room.
"You hate it," Beca sulked, dropping into her chair disappointedly.
"No, I didn't say that," Chloe said, sitting next to the brunette and poking her in the side.
"You didn't need to. That uncomfortable silence between us spoke volumes."
Chloe sighed. "You big baby." Chloe fought her smile when Beca turned shocked eyes on her. "Do you act like this every time a client hesitates before pumping up your ego?"
Beca scowled at the redhead. "No."
"Then why do it to me?"
"You're special," Beca muttered, still sulking with her arms crossed.
Chloe leaned forward and forcefully pulled Beca's arms apart, holding both hands in her own. "Beca you're right, I don't love it. It's OK but I think the two of us can do better than OK."
Beca couldn't help the pout that found her face at Chloe's words. "What did I do wrong?"
"Beca," Chloe groaned. "Listen to me please. By any other standards this song would rock. Your music is perfect for my lyrics. There is emotion and it fits with the album."
"Then what's wrong with it?"
Chloe titled her head, eyes glazing over as she thought. Chloe grabbed the sheet of paper with the lyrics, looking intensely at each word. "Play it again."
"No," Beca frowned, not wanting Chloe to hear it again if it was bad.
Chloe sighed and leaned over Beca pressing play and glaring when the brunette tried to stop it. Chloe started signing along causing Beca to pull herself out of her slump and listen intently, trying to see what Chloe was talking about.
"I don't hate you but I hate to critique, overrate you, see!" Chloe yelled, quickly turning the music off. "There, that's the problem."
Beca nodded, wondering why she hadn't seen it before. "It slows down."
"Exactly!" Chloe nodded, excited that Beca could understand what was wrong. "The music is right, that's exactly how quick it should be building up to the chorus. It's the lyrics, they are too long which slows down the momentum and ruins the build. Trust me, I know about songs that build," Chloe winked.
Beca ignored Chloe's last comment and took the lyrics looking them over again. "But I love that line."
"Same."
"It happens later too, in this verse here," Beca pointed to the sheet showing Chloe.
Chloe sighed, agreeing with Beca. "Damn. It needs a rewrite."
Suddenly an idea entered Beca's head. "Unless it doesn't. The lyrics are great, perfect even, they just need to be sung faster."
"Faster? You mean like a rap?"
Beca nodded her head but quickly stopped when she saw Chloe shaking hers. "Why not? It'd work."
"I can't rap. Trust me. I have no gangster in me at all."
Beca raised a brow. "C'mon, of course you can rap."
Chloe smirked and grabbed Beca's laptop, opening ITunes and quickly searching her a particular song. She pressed play and Beca automatically recognised it. Of course she wasn't expecting Chloe to stand and start rapping, well, trying to rap, right in front of her.
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's nothin' left
'Cause I've been blasting and laughing so long,
That even my mama thinks that my mind is gone
Beca covered her mouth to keep her laughter in as Chloe moved her arms awkwardly.
But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it
Me be treated like a punk you know that's unheard of
You better watch how you're talking and where you're walking
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk
Beca couldn't contain her laughter anymore. At this point it Chloe was basically just talking, doing a great but accidental impression of an embarrassing parent.
I really hate to trip but I gotta loc
As they croak, I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool
I'm the kinda G the little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night saying prayers in the streetlight
"Oh my god stop," Beca chocked out, quickly pressing stop of her laptop. "Never do that again." Beca wiped the tears from her eyes as she calmed down, glad that Chloe wasn't offended by her reaction.
"And you didn't believe that I couldn't rap."
"I guess we finally found the one thing you're bad at," Beca joked, still laughing slightly.
"Yes, yes, I'm horrible. Now back to the song, what do we do?"
Beca sobered and looked over the sheet again. "I don't know."
"Should we see if we can bring someone in for the rap part?" Chloe suggested. "I'm pretty sure Kendrick Lamar would be-"
"Well before we jump to anything how about we see if it'll even work as a rap?" Beca offered.
Chloe held her hands up as if Beca had pointed a gun at her. "Not it."
"Chloe it's your song."
"So? There's only so many times that I can handle people laughing at me per day. You rap, I'll sing."
"Fine," Beca gave in, knowing that all Chloe had to do was pull out her puppy face to have her way and Beca wasn't ready to let the redhead know her power just yet. Besides Beca knew to pick her battles. She leaned forward, cueing the track but Chloe stopped her before she could press play. She was wearing her dangerous smirk again.
"No. We need to do it properly."
"What do you mean?"
Chloe nodded towards the booth, her smirk growing.
"No way."
"C'mon Bec. You've already agreed to rap, what's your problem with the microphone?"
Beca sighed. Chloe once again had a point. She grabbed a remote, set everything to record, and moved into the booth with Chloe.
"Ready?" she asked when Chloe looked at her.
"Yep. Now make sure to have fun with it, add your own lines if you want."
Beca rolled her eyes and pressed play, just wanting to get it over with.
Chloe started to sing while standing a bit too close for Beca's liking.
'Cause baby, now we got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love
So take a look what you've done
'Cause baby, now we got bad blood, hey!
Beca cut in, doing as Chloe asked and adding some lines to make it flow a bit better and make it sound more like a typical rap.
Hey! I can't take it back, look where I'm at!
We was on D like DOC, remember that? (Remember that)
My TLC was quite OD, ID my facts (ID my)
Now POV of you and me, similar Iraq
I don't hate you but I hate to critique, overrate you
These beats of a dark heart, use basslines to replace you
Take time and erase you, love don't hear no more
No I don't fear no more, better yet respect ain't quite sincere no more
Chloe cut back in quickly, her eyes shining as they bored into Beca's.
Oh, it's so sad to
Think about the good times
You and I
'Cause baby, now we got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love
So take a look what you've done
'Cause baby, now we've got bad blood, hey!
Now we got problems
And I don't think we can solve 'em
You made a really deep cut
And baby, now we got bad blood, hey!
Beca took over again, surprised she could focus on anything other than Chloe's eyes.
Hey! Remember when you tried to write me off?
Remember when you thought I'd take a loss?
Don't you remember? You thought that I would need yah
Follow procedure, remember? Oh wait you got amnesia?
It was my season for battle wounds, battle scars
Body bumped, bruised
Stabbed in the back; brimstone, fire jumping through
Still, all my life, I got money and power
And you gotta live with the bad blood now
Chloe took over again, beaming with how good Beca's rapping was.
Oh, it's so sad to
Think about the good times
You and I
'Cause baby, now we got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love
So take a look what you've done
'Cause baby, now we got bad blood, hey!
Now we got problems
And I don't think we can solve 'em
You made a really deep cut
And baby, now we got bad blood, hey!
Beca joined Chloe for the next verse, not entirely sure what took over her beyond a desire to hear her voice harmonizing with Chloe's.
Band-aids don't fix bullet holes
You say sorry just for show
If you live like that, you live with ghosts
(You forgive, you forget but you never let it go)
Band-aids don't fix bullet holes
You say sorry just for show
If you live like that you live with ghosts
If you love like that blood runs cold
Chloe held the note while Beca broke into the chorus, Chloe picking it up on the second line easily.
'Cause baby, now we got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love
So take a look what you've done
'Cause baby, now we got bad blood, hey!
Now we got problems
And I don't think we can solve 'em
(Think we can solve 'em!)
You made a really deep cut
And baby, now we got bad blood, hey!
Beca stopped singing, letting Chloe take over and pour all her energy into the final repeat of the chorus, only adding in a line under Chloe's singing.
'Cause baby, now we got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love
So take a look what you've done
(Look what you've done)
'Cause baby, now we got bad blood, hey!
Now we've got problems
And I don't think we can solve 'em
You made a really deep cut
And baby, now we got bad blood, hey!
The music faded out and Chloe's eyes stayed locked to Beca's. "That was amazing."
"Yeah," Beca said, her voice coming out breathy. She swallowed. "Definitely should be rapped. You should call-"
"No one. You're doing it."
Beca's eyes widened and she unconsciously took a step closer to Chloe. "Me?"
"Our voices, Beca, go together like they were made to. It's magic. Please do this for me?"
Chloe's eyes were full of an emotion Beca couldn't name. All she knew was that in this moment she would agree to anything that Chloe asked of her. "Sure."
Chloe beamed and pulled Beca into a tight hug, ending the intimate moment and causing Beca to frown in disappointment. She had never wanted to kiss someone so badly. Chloe pulled back and, grabbing the shorter woman's hand and pulling her back to their seats in the other room.
"Bec there's something I want to talk about," Chloe started.
"Oh," Beca joked, voice filled with nerves. "Those words are never good. Are you breaking up with me?"
Chloe eyes flooded with the same emotion as earlier but Beca still couldn't pinpoint it. "We had a moment, yesterday, and at your house the day before that. Please tell me I didn't imagine that."
"No you didn't," Beca spoke in a small voice.
Chloe sighed, pulling a hand through her hair. "We've only known each other for a few days but I feel closer to you than anyone, except maybe Aubrey. It shouldn't be possible. I mean, I barely know any actual facts about you but I still feel like I know you on some deeper level. And the way we can connect on a musical level, it's like, I don't know, you're my musical soul mate or something and music is something so important to me. I love that you have that same passion. But…"
Beca sucked in a breath; hating whatever was about to follow the most beautiful words she'd ever heard.
"I just got out of a relationship, a bad one. Right now I need friends more than anything."
Beca understood exactly what Chloe was saying and it filled her with complete admiration. Chloe felt the same things Beca was feeling but she wasn't ready. Neither was Beca if she was honest, but Chloe wanted to build a solid relationship of friendship. Chloe Beale was sitting in front of Beca, bravely admitting to feelings and asking for friendship. Beca didn't even know people like this existed.
"I would love to be your friend," she said honestly after a moment.
"Good." Chloe grabbed Beca's hands and pulled her in so their foreheads were touching. "We're gonna be fast friends," she winked.
Beca smiled and pulled Chloe into a hug, the first she had initiated in her entire life.
The next few days went by quickly. Beca worked hard on Chloe's songs and Chloe worked hard on trying to figure out how to end the album. Before they knew it it was Friday afternoon, the day before the party. Beca sighed happily as she flopped onto her bed, keen to sleep early and long so she'd have enough energy for the party. Not only would Josh, Grace, Jesse and Amy be in the same place as Chloe but Aubrey and Stacie would be there as well. Beca hadn't seen Stacie since their first meeting but Aubrey was constantly around with her bitchy attitude and snide remarks. Beca wasn't entirely sure what she'd done wrong in the first place but she couldn't help herself from taunting Aubrey whenever they saw each other.
Beca grumbled as she heard her phone ringing knowing that it would be at least another five minutes before she got some sleep. It was her mum. She rolled onto her back and answered the phone.
"Hey ma."
"Hey sweetie," Her mum seemed out of breath and stressed.
"Is everything OK?"
"It's fine. Is Chloe with you?"
Beca jolted up in bed. "No? Why?"
Grace sighed. "I've been calling her for the last hour and she hasn't answered. If you see her can you tell her to call?"
Beca was more than confused. "Why do you have Chloe's number and why are you trying to call her?"
"About the party tomorrow?" Now it was Grace's turn to be confused.
"What about it?" Beca pushed.
"Umm, she didn't tell you?" Grace spoke nervously, realizing that she had stepped into something she hadn't intended to.
"Tell me what? Ma what does Chloe have to do with the party tomorrow? And you still haven't explained why you have her number."
"She gave it to me. Listen sweetie maybe you should ask her. I have to go, bye."
"Ma!" It was too late. Grace had hung up. Beca felt her frustration build as she quickly dialed Chloe's number only to face the same problem as her mother when Chloe didn't reply. Beca frowned quickly dialing again straight away. No answer. Beca didn't even take a moment to think it through before dialing Aubrey's number.
"What do you want?" was Aubrey's quick and clipped greeting.
Beca didn't have time for her shit right now. "Is Chloe with you?"
"Why?"
"Aubrey just answer the fucking question," Beca snapped.
Aubrey gasped but answered. "She's in an appointment. I have her phone. It is you who has been calling her nonstop for the last hour? That's a bit much don't you think?"
"When does the appointment finish?"
"None of your business."
"Jesus Christ Aubrey just answer the question!"
Before Aubrey could reply their were voices in the background. Beca could make out Chloe's voice but she couldn't hear what was being said. "Aubrey let me talk to Chloe." Aubrey was silent. "Now!"
"Keep your pants on, seriously!" Aubrey yelled back down the phone. "It's the hobbit, seems vital." Beca could practically hear Aubrey's eye roll as the blonde made no attempt to block her words.
There was a slight shuffle before Chloe's voice sounded through the phone. "Beca? Is everything all right? I had a fitting-"
"Why is my mother trying to call you about Josh's party?" Beca interrupted, regretting for a moment how rude her voice sounded.
Chloe paused for a moment. "Are you home?"
Beca rolled her eyes. "Just tell me Chloe."
"In person. Text me your address."
Beca once again didn't have the chance to reply as she was once again hung up on. Beca grunted as she quickly texted Chloe her address before moving to the couch to wait for the redhead.
Beca kept her arms crossed and her face blank as she heard Chloe's footsteps approach her front door. She ignored the way her heart jumped when Chloe let herself in without knocking, as if she felt welcome in a home she'd never been to.
"Hey," Chloe almost whispered as she sat beside Beca on the couch.
Beca kept her eyes focused on the blank television, knowing that she would crack if she looked at Chloe's face and Chloe had a lot of explaining to do before that could happen.
"You're mad at me," Chloe pouted. "I get that I should have told you but I really wanted it to be a surprise."
Beca snorted. "I'm not mad cause you didn't tell me, I'm mad because someone I barely know decided to involve themselves in my personal family matters." Beca made the mistake of glancing at Chloe and watching her react to Beca's words like a slap in the face. Beca regretted them instantly but she refused to take them back. When her mother had rung to ask about Chloe so naturally, it had freaked her out. Not even Jesse had Grace's number but here Chloe was after five days pushing herself into Beca's family. Only… she was pushing herself, she just seemed to fit and that scared Beca. And a scared Beca equaled an angry and defensive Beca.
"I understand if you think I have overstepped but Beca don't try and pretend that I'm some stranger you just met when it isn't true just because you're angry or whatever this is."
Of course Chloe would once again see through her defenses. "Chloe explain to me what the hell you were thinking? What have you planned?"
Chloe sighed and leaned back into the couch making it look much more comfortable than it really was. "When you told me about how important the party was to Grace and how it hurt to not being able to give her kids the world I just got carried away. I have the means to help so I spoke to Grace and we sorted something out."
"So you pitied me and then gave my mum a handout," Beca growled, her angry words filled with venon.
Chloe remained calm. "No, not pity. You have a great family Beca and when you shared that with me I was jealous. I lost my family when I was fourteen. My mum died and my dad checked out. He didn't stay around like your mum did. I wasn't enough for him. So yeah, when you told me about Grace and how much she cared I wanted to help because she did what my dad couldn't. It wasn't about you Bec, not really. And it wasn't a handout. You're mum is still doing a simple backyard barbeque. I'm just the entertainment. We thought Josh would like that."
Beca's mind whirred. Chloe was right, Josh would love that. "I think you should leave." Beca was just as surprised as Chloe when the words came out of her mouth but she didn't regret them. This was too much, Chloe was too perfect. She had selflessly done this to help her mother, Beca had no right to be upset and that made her angry with Chloe, at this gorgeous redhead for just being so unattainable and for making Beca so attached that she knew how much it would hurt when Chloe did leave.
"What?" Chloe choked out, confused.
"I want you out! Can you hear nothing other than your own voice? Get out of my house and get out of my mother's house." Beca forced herself to watch the way Chloe's face broke. She forced herself to feel the pain of ruining this perfect person in front of her. She forced herself to watch Chloe turn and storm into her own bedroom, wait, what?
"Chloe?!" Beca yelled, confusion replacing anger in a second.
Beca's door slammed shut and clicked as it locked. Beca banged on the door. "Chloe? What the hell are you doing? I asked you to leave not to go to my bedroom!"
Chloe didn't reply so Beca just banged louder. "Chloe!"
Eventually Beca deflated, turning and sinking to the floor at her door. What kind of person locked themselves in someone else's room instead of leaving when asked to? Beca didn't have long to think it over before Jesse walked into the apartment.
"Beca?" he asked upon seeing Beca sitting on the floor outside of her room.
"A crazy redhead locked herself in my room when I yelled at her to leave."
Jesse chuckled lightly. "Your life isn't like normal people's." Jesse took a seat on the floor next to Beca. "So… what happened?"
"She hijacked my brother's birthday!" Beca yelled loud enough for Chloe to hear.
"With permission!" Chloe added from the other side of the door causing Jesse to laugh and Beca to glare.
"Hey Chloe," Jesse greeted.
"Hey Jesse," Chloe returned, her voice not as bubbly as usual.
"How are things Chloe?" Jesse asked.
"No!" Beca interrupted. "Don't you talk to her until she opens this door and leaves."
"How is he going to talk to me if I leave? That makes no sense," Chloe responded quickly.
"I'm not talking to you!" Beca snapped back.
"Yeah you are," Chloe responded.
"Argh!" Beca growled, throwing up her arms and shooting an incredulous look at Jesse. "See?"
Jesse laughed again. He didn't know how two people could be better suited for each other. He knew Beca well enough to know that she had probably overreacted about something and Chloe had made a decision to stay until she calmed enough to talk it out. Chloe was perfect for Beca's issues. "Let's tell Dr. Jesse what happened."
Beca glared but gave in. "She hijacked my brother's birthday," Beca began, "With permission," she added before Chloe could. "Apparently her and ma decided that Chloe is gonna be the entertainment at Josh's party tomorrow."
"So?" Jesse asked, not seeing the problem.
"Behind my back."
"Does you mum need to run every decision about Josh's party by you first?" Jesse asked.
"Well… no but…. It's Chloe."
"So Chloe needs to run everything she does by you?"
"Of course not."
"Then I don't get it."
"See Bec, he thinks you're the crazy one," Chloe yelled through the door.
Beca sighed. "OK fine. It's just weird I guess and it freaked me out."
Beca fell back suddenly as she door opened, reveling a redhead with tear tracks and red eyes. "Why did you freak?"
"Cause you fit with my family Chlo. You fit with me, so well. What am I gonna do when you go back to New York?"
Chloe bent down and pulled Beca up, wrapping her into a tight hug. "How many times do I have to tell you that I don't know when I'm going back to New York, if ever? You're getting upset about something that may never happen."
"Because, Chloe, it's been one week and I can't imagine my life without you in it and if I let my guard down, or what is left of my guard after you've spent the week plowing into it, and let you in, it'll crush me if you ever leave so I need to hold on to that last piece of me that knows you aren't here forever." Beca spoke quietly into Chloe's ear so only she could hear. It was one thing sharing this with Chloe but she refused to let anyone else know.
Chloe pulled back and looked into Beca's eyes, keeping her voice low as well. "This friendship is just as important to me Bec. Even if I do go back to New York I will be constantly visiting and I expect you to do the same. Hold onto that last defense as long as you need to but I promise if you ever drop it and let me all the way in, I will never do misuse that trust or do anything to hurt you. I'm not going anywhere."
"Promise?"
"I promise. Even if you go crazy and try to kick me out again, I'm not going anywhere."
Beca smiled and reached up a hand to wipe Chloe's face. She wasn't ready to let Chloe all the way in yet but she would be soon and she trusted Chloe. "I'm sorry for what I said."
Chloe shrugged, brushing it off. "It's forgotten. You have a really messy room by the way, do you never clean?" Chloe gestured over her shoulder to the clothes and food wrappers all over the floor.
Beca smirked and pulled Chloe out of the room and to the lounge room to watch some mindless TV until she was ready to let Chloe go, even if it was only for the night. Neither noticed Jesse sneak into his bedroom with a large grin on his face.
A/N: Thanks for reading and staying with me guys :) The infamous party is in the next chapter. There will be Bechloe and Staubrey and lots of other goodness. A lot of fluff. Peace.