A/N: Here is the next installment of Read My Heart.
Thank you everyone for sticking with me as I fumble my way through this story. It means a lot to me. I've decided to add another player to this plot... I hope you don't mind.
If you've also been reading and/or following my other story, Catfished, I fully intend to stick by the words I wrote on that update. If you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, I suggest you check out the story so you can be in the know ;]
On to the more IMPORTANT stuff... like, the damn story.
The italics in this chapter describe Aubrey's thoughts. Consider yourselves warned!
Disclaimers, right!
I don't own the rights to Pitch Perfect though, I'd VERY much like to have dinner with Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, and Anna Kendrick. 'Cuz seriously? YES!
But enough about me...
Enjoy this next chapter!
Aubrey was trying REALLY hard not to march over to Beca's dorm and choke the very life from her lungs.
I mean, how thick can you BE?!
Chloe was so obvious about her attraction to that alt girl... it's mind-boggling how dense Beca was to the situation when all the other Bellas knew. Hell, Fat Amy even had a pool going to see how long it would take for the two to get it on.
And Chloe asking her about Stacie?! Well... first of all, there is nothing going on between them. Just because she enjoys getting mani/pedis with the taller brunette meant nothing. So what if they happened to go to lunch afterwards, or shopping, or maybe the movies... and just because they'd made out at the last Bellas' party didn't mean squat.
Great. Now I'm thinking about kissing her. Get your shit together, Posen. Now is NOT the time to ponder your roommate's delusional and overactive imagination. You are NOT into Stacie Conrad. She's just a good friend... that you like kissing... a lot.
ENOUGH!
Aubrey sighs heavily and starts to pace back and forth in her dorm room while trying to formulate a plan.
She needed to find a way to talk to Beca about the letter and help Chloe get her alone so they can talk about their super obvious toners for each other. Maybe then, she'd get some cooperation out of the sarcastic sophmore.
"It would be nice to get through a Bellas' rehearsal without having her constantly undermining my expertise. Ugh, and those ear monstrosities... have to go. Maybe, I can get Chloe to convince her to take them out," the blonde muses while continuing her pacing.
She spins around quickly at the sound of a knock from her doorway, gasping as she turns around, raising a hand to her throat in surprise.
Once she realizes it's only Stacie in the doorway, a full smirk in place while she watches Aubrey's reaction in amusement, she scowls slightly and drops her hands to her hips before addressing her friend. "Yes, Stacie. What can I help you with?"
"Well... from the way you were pacing and mumbling to yourself, I figured YOU were the one in need of help, Bree," the tall brunette says with a chuckle.
The blonde rolls her eyes and sighs, "Very funny, Conrad. Seriously though, did you need something? I was kind of busy."
Stacie walks into the room and steps into Aubrey's personal space in order to take one of the blonde's hands and brings it up between them before replying.
"I was gonna text you about going in for our usual mani/pedi but, I'm glad I decided to drop by to ask in person. What have you been doing to your nails? I thought you said you stopped biting them?" Her lips pouting slightly as she examined the hand she held.
Aubrey was trying to remember to act appropriately in regard to the tall brunette but, it was difficult to concentrate on her words when she was standing so close and smelling of an intoxicating mix of lavender and lilac.
God... she smells like Lavender and Lilac... knock it OFF, Posen. Get your head back in the game!
"Yes, well... I have an exam coming up and I guess I'm just concerned about my grade," she said while quickly removing her hand from the brunette's grasp and stepping back in order to clear her head a bit.
Stacie's eyebrow raised at Aubrey's response to her though, chose not to say anything about it right then.
"All the more reason to take better care of your nails. Nervous biting can do so much harm to your nails and cuticles... you know what? It's settled. Tomorrow, you and I are heading in for our usual session. Studying is all well and good but, the last thing you need to do is work yourself into a frenzy without a release for all your stress. I'm willing to help you out, Bree..." she states while stepping back into the blonde's personal space.
She leans into her ear, adding in a whisper, "So, let me help you release your stress, my Captain."
As she talks, her lips brush lightly against the blonde's ear and Aubrey has to stamp down on the urge to moan so, she steps back again and clears her throat instead, making an act of looking irritated by the other woman.
"Fine. If you insist on making a big deal of this, I'll go. Just... text me later with the time the appointment. Now, if you're done intruding on my personal space, would you PLEASE let me finish studying for my exam?" Aubrey's eyebrow is so far up on her forehead, it bordered her hairline.
Stacie chuckles while backing out of the room, fake saluting the blonde as she did so.
"You got it, Captain Posen. I'll let you get back to your pacing and mumbling. I'll text you later, boo," and with that, the tall brunette left.
Aubrey closed the door after her friend left and leaned her forehead against the frame.
"God damn it, Chloe. You owe me so BIG for this...," then went to sit at her desk so she could study for the exam that she ACTUALLY had the next day.
Chloe waited for Aubrey outside of her Psych class when she heard her name being called by a familiar voice.
"Hey Red, how goes it? Whatcha waitin' around for?" Stacie says as she sidles up to the red-head.
"Hey Stace, I'm just waiting for Aubrey to get out of class so we can hit up the library for a study sesh. How are you? I didn't know you had a class in this area..."
The tall brunette leans back against the wall as she replies to her friend, "I'm good. Actually, maybe YOU can help me with something."
Stacie taps the toe of her heel against the ground while biting her lip in nervousness.
Chloe's eyebrows raise slightly at her friend's uncharacteristically shy attitude.
"Me?"
The tall brunette looks up from the floor and nods her head. "Yeah. With Aubrey? Maybe?"
The red-head blinks momentarily, then grins brightly and jumps back, a bit, to point her finger in the other woman's face," I KNEW IT!"
Stacie says nothing but, her blush tells Chloe everything she needs to know and she leans in to tap the brunette on her nose.
At the taller woman's continued silence, she schools her facial expression and clears her throat before proceeding in a more sedate manner.
"I see... What help do you need from me that involves my best friend/roommate, Aubrey Posen?"
"Why are you saying my full name like that, Chloe? Oh. Hello, Conrad. Good to see you," the blonde says as she approaches the two women.
The red-head shakes her head in the negative when she notices Stacie pale slightly.
"Nothing. Just complaining about your tardiness. My class has been out for ten minutes, already. Where were you," she finishes with a tilt of her head.
The blonde rolls her eyes and gestures towards Stacie as if to say 'Do you want her... because she's, totally, for sale' look on her face before sighing at the brunette's giggle and turning back to her hyperactive friend.
"I told you I had an exam today, Chlo, so don't get on my case. Are you ready to go?"
The red-head nodded her head and nudged Stacie while shifting her weight to start walking away from her classroom door.
"Let's move 'em out, rawhide!"
"Why me," Aubrey gripes with another sigh while walking after her friend, Stacie tagging along while giggling some more.
"Are you joining us for a study session, Conrad?" Aubrey asks in a polite manner.
"As funny as it is to watch you two act like Laverne and Shirley, I have another class to get to. Oh! Right! Tomorrow afternoon at two, Aubrey. I'll come get you for our mani/pedis."
The blonde doesn't respond with words, just nods her head and 'hmms' to the tall brunette.
She looks ahead to make sure Chloe hadn't heard and was slightly pleased to see her chatting on her cell while walking towards the library doors.
She smirks to herself at the sight.
It's most likely Beca on the phone.
"I'll be ready to go, Stacie. Lunch afterwards," the blonde asked while thinking about Chloe's situation with Beca. She was so deep in her thoughts that she totally missed the tall brunette's eyes light up before she schools her face.
"Sure. See ya, later Captain," she says while fake saluting again, gaining the blonde's attention, before heading off to her next class.
Aubrey raises an eyebrow and shakes her head slightly at the tall brunette's antics so the taller woman doesn't see her small smile.
She's kinda cute when she does that...
Wait, what?!
Not cute. Stacie Conrad is NOT cute, Aubrey Posen.
FOCUS!
During the blonde's mini breakdown, her facial expressions changed in such an obvious way that Chloe notices when she turns to look at her friend.
"Hey Beca, I'll call you back. I think Bree is having a mental breakdown or something... That's not funny. Okay. I'll talk to you later," then hangs up as she steps over to her best friend.
"Aubrey? Why are you making weird faces? Are you alright?"
She slowly touches the blonde's shoulder, in order to keep from frightening her further, and tilts her head to the side.
"Hmm? Oh! I'm fine. Just... thinking," she says distractedly while gazing off in the direction she'd seen the tall brunette take.
"Okay," the red head says, elongating the 'o'. "Let's go get our study on, Bree!"
She puts one arm around her friend's shoulders and drags her off towards the library while tucking her phone into her back pocket with the other.
A sudden thought pops up into Aubrey's mind and she stops walking, gasping loudly.
Oh wow! THAT... could WORK.
Then, Chloe and I can BOTH get what we want...
"Aca-fanTASTIC! Chlo, I just had the BEST idea... I'll explain once we've finished studying," the blonde exclaims. She puts both her hands on the red-head's shoulders and shakes her a few time before taking off and dragging her bestie, by the hand, into the library.