A/N: Nothing really special to say on this piece. Thanks to everyone who keeps reading the story, I appreciate it. Finally got notifications turned on so I can at least see reviews through e-mail. Don't know if I'm the only one having issues or not.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pitch Perfect or Pitch Perfect 2.
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Beca knocked on Aubrey's door as she was opening it. She wore a smile as she crossed the room and leaned around Aubrey, picking at the leftovers she was putting away. Aubrey smirked back at the smaller girl, "Do you want me to get you a plate?"
Beca laughed as she reached around her again, snagging another bite of food, "Nah, I had a late lunch. I'm just grabbing a little snack."
Aubrey playfully slapped her hand as she went in for a third piece, "Well using your hands is disgusting." But she took the bite out of her reprimand as she grabbed a piece of chicken from the dish and held it back over her shoulder for Beca. Beca leaned up and grabbed the bite with her teeth causing Aubrey to chuckle. She finished putting the food away, poking her head around the refrigerator door as she found places for the containers, "What has you in such a good mood?"
Beca shrugged, "Talk went well with Michael at the studio. He agreed to work with me. Had lunch with the receptionist after the meeting. So all in all, a good day."
Aubrey pulled her head back behind the door, a small frown on her face, thinking to herself, "Ok, is this good or bad? Is it too soon? Is she going to get hurt again? Think Posen, what do you do?" She put her smile back on and shut the refrigerator door, "So how did lunch go?"
Beca shrugged, "It went alright. I asked her if she knew if there were any new places around the studio that were any good and she hadn't had lunch yet so she offered to show me one. It was nice and everything, but I think she was a little star struck." She chuckled and shook her head, "Not that I'm really anybody to be star struck over."
Aubrey slipped her arm through Beca's as she walked by, turning the smaller girl, "Who's album went platinum?"
Beca shrugged, "Mine?"
Aubrey laughed as she let go of Beca's arm so Beca could plop down in her spot on the couch, "Exactly. So she had every right to be star struck."
Beca smirked, "Whatever you say Posen."
Aubrey smirked back, "Well you said it the other day, I'm always right."
Beca reached over and pushed her with her foot as she sat down, "I said no such thing. I said you were right once and this is what I get."
Aubrey laughed, "So you admit you said I was right."
Beca just playfully scowled at the blonde, "Shit. I'm not saying another word."
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That Saturday the two girls went into Atlanta as planned. Beca slid into the passenger seat and plugged in her iPod as Aubrey got behind the wheel. Beca smirked at the older girl, "Sorry Aubrey, no Ace of Base today. I refuse to put that shit on my iPod."
Aubrey gave an exaggerated huff, "Well fine, if there's no Ace of Base then you can't play any Blackstreet either."
Beca smiled, impressed that Aubrey remembered that, "Fine, but you're really missing out."
The drive went quickly with the two of them chatting or singing to the music. Beca wouldn't admit it out loud, but she really enjoyed listening to Aubrey sing. Aubrey's voice had a richness to it that Beca envied. When they got to Atlanta, they decided to hit some stores first and then grab something to eat.
They hit a couple of stores in Little Five Points. A little before 3 p.m., Aubrey led them back to the car. When they got to the car, Aubrey looked at Beca over the roof, her hand on the door handle, "Don't be mad at me."
Beca looked confused, "Why would I be mad at you?"
Aubrey looked a little sheepish, "Well, I made us an appointment at Le Dress Boutique."
Beca looked at the blonde with an exasperated look, "You did what?"
Aubrey whined a little, "I made us an appointment. Please. I don't get to shop with someone else that often and I'd like your opinion on some dresses. Besides, you'll need to find something to wear for the Grammy's this year."
Beca frowned at her, "Why would I need something for the Grammy's. It's not like I'll be going."
Aubrey smirked, "I'll bet you dinner at Bacchanalia's that you get nominated for at least Best New Artist."
Beca smirked right back at her, "You're on blondie, but I'm not buying a dress just yet. I will look with you though and I'll even pretend I'm enjoying myself."
Aubrey clapped her hands in front of her, "Thank you!"
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Beca would never admit it to Aubrey, but she kind of had fun at the boutique. She laughed as Aubrey tried on some outrageous dresses and complimented the blonde when she found a couple of dresses that looked amazing on her. She even found a dress that she liked, a little red number that she might be considering for a Grammy dress, not that Aubrey planted a little seed of hope or anything.
After almost two hours in the store, Beca finally cried, "Enough! Aubrey I'm dying of hunger here. Can we please go eat?"
Aubrey gave her a thinking pose, her lips pursed with her finger pressed to them. Finally she answered the brunette, "I suppose you've been patient enough." Then she laughed at the over the top pout on Beca's face, "Where would you like to go?"
Beca put her hands together in front of her, "Can we go back to that burger joint, umm, The Vortex I think, back in Little Five Points? Please…"
Aubrey walked up to her and bumped Beca with her hip, "That sounds good to me."
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Things settled into a nice routine for the two women. Aubrey worked at bossing people around all day and Beca would work on her music. It was tough for her at first, but Aubrey was right, writing about things did help and transferring the pain into the lyrics and music was producing some good songs. Not that she would ever, ever actually say out loud that Aubrey was right again, the one time was bad enough.
They continued their nightly routine, eating together and then spending time doing something (or nothing). They were sitting watching Orange is the New Black one evening, the girls on either end of the couch with their legs tucked under them. Beca groaned and stretched, shifting to stretch her legs out on the couch. After a few minutes, she whined that her feet were cold and kicked at the edge of the afghan Aubrey had over her lap. Aubrey smirked and spread the blanket over her feet without looking away from the t.v.
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They had decided to eat in Beca's suite that night. Beca broke from working on the melody line of her most recent song to start dinner. Aubrey came in a few minutes later and looked around the suite: empty cans on the coffee table, a couple of different open bags of chips around the room, papers strewn everywhere and various pieces of equipment haphazardly placed here and there. She looked at Beca and lost it, "What the hell Beca, can't you pick up at least a little bit? This place looks like a pig sty, how can you even live in this mess?"
Beca turned to look at her, "What the fuck Posen? Who put the stick up your ass and made you queen bee?" Then the smaller girl actually looked at Aubrey and saw her barely holding it together. It was a look she had seen too many times at Barden in the early days of her time with the Bellas. She pulled the pan off of the heat, turning the stove off. She walked over to the blonde, who wouldn't look her in the eye, and took Aubrey's hands in hers as she led her to the table. She sat the other girl down, still holding her hands, "Ok Aubrey, what's wrong?"
Aubrey looked up at Beca, "I'm screwed. I have two big groups coming in tomorrow and Brian just quit. No notice, nothing. So much for teamwork, huh?" She gave Beca a weak smile, to which she received a squeeze of her hands. She continued, "I've done all of the creative rearranging of schedules and staffing I can and I just can't quite make it work."
Beca sat down next to her, their hands still linked in an effort to keep the other girl grounded on something tangible, "Ok, what can I do to help?"
Aubrey looked at her in surprise, "Really?"
Beca nodded, "You've let me stay here for months now and haven't asked for anything in return, it's the least I can do. Besides, you need help and I'd be a shitty friend if I didn't help out. But I have no clue what I can actually do."
Aubrey pulled the brunette into a hug which Beca tentatively returned, "Oh thank you Beca, you're a life saver. Now, how can I work you into the schedule? Let me think about it while we eat."
Beca got up and nodded, going back to the kitchen to finish making dinner. Aubrey left for a minute to grab a planner from her suite. She came back and sat at the table flipping between a few pages while Beca cooked. They ate in silence for a few minutes before Aubrey started with her ideas, "How would you feel about talking about how your career has progressed? I mean start with your internship at Residual Heat, getting the job in L.A. and producing your own first album, the tour and now it going platinum. We include some leadership lectures and I think your story is a good one about how with hard work you can succeed."
Beca shrugged, "Sure I can talk about it, but why anyone would want to listen to my story…"
Aubrey took her hand and squeezed it, "Trust me, your story is a lot better than most leadership lectures that they've probably had to sit through. It's probably even better than what we would normally do. Ok, so that's one area, how about leading the team-building exercises on the water equipment? You've probably seen those the most, do you think you could handle those? Each group would be about an hour at that station."
Beca nodded with a contemplative look on her face, "I think I can handle that area, and you're right that would be the one I would be most comfortable with."
Aubrey smiled, looking relieved for the first time all night. After they finished eating and cleaning up the dishes Aubrey turned to Beca, "I'm sorry about taking it out on you earlier."
Beca rubbed her shoulder, "Eh, the place is kind of a mess."
Aubrey gave her a weak smile, "It is, but I shouldn't have done that." Beca shrugged. Aubrey got a look like she remembered something and then held up her finger, "I'll be right back, don't go anywhere."
Beca laughed and called after her as she ran out the door, "Where the hell would I go Posen?"
Aubrey came back about ten minutes later and found Beca curled up on the couch with her laptop. She smiled as she held out a pair of khakis and a pink polo with the retreat's logo on it, "I hope these are the right size. We don't have a lot of smaller sizes in the extras."
Beca just looked at the outfit, then whined to Aubrey, "Bree…do I really have to wear that? I can't wear pink, I break out."
Aubrey tossed her the uniform, "Yes, you have to wear the uniform. You'll look cute in it."
Beca pouted, "You've never seen me in pink for a reason Bree."
Aubrey shoo'd her with her hands towards the bedroom, "Go try it on so I know it fits."
Beca came back out after a few minutes, "See, I look like I listen to Justin Bieber or something."
Aubrey tried to hold back her smirk, "What's wrong with the Biebs?"
Beca gave her an incredulous look, "Seriously Posen?"
Aubrey couldn't hold back her laughter, "You look cute in it Beca."
Beca growled, "That's part of the problem, I'm not cute, I'm badass."
Aubrey shrugged, "How about you look like a cute badass?"
Beca sighed, deflated, "Fine."
Aubrey looked at the other girl again, locking eyes with her, "Seriously Beca, thank you."
Beca gave her a nod before heading to the bedroom to get into something less cute, like plaid everything.
