Beca wrapped her arms carefully around her girlfriend, hugging her close as rough shutters rocked through the girl's body. She had never been this upset- tears streaking down her cheeks and dribbling off her chin as snot began to rush against the base of her nose.
The smaller woman rested her head on her girlfriend's, arms snaked around her waist as the two sat uncomfortably on the pantry floor. The room dark and desolate aside for some month-old chocolate chips and uncooked bags of popcorn. It gave the room an odd scent- one that accompanied the slight sliver of golden light that worked its way under the door.
Beca was never good at the confronting thing, always swallowing down her feelings like it was bile threatening to rise past her lips instead of a normal human emotion. She would shut herself away and keep from letting secrets exposed. It made her seem cold. Hell, she was cold. Cold with anyone other than Chloe. The Bella with the mane of fiery hair had made her soft, but she didn't mind.
Chloe had fallen into a puddle as soon as she passed the threshold of the door. The poor girl probably thinking she could escape through the frame into a garage or a bathroom. Maybe even a basement, but instead she was met with a wall of food. It was her birthday. This was supposed to be a happy day, one full of friendship and love- but instead, she was curled up in Beca's lap, clenching onto her girlfriend's chest.
"Shh," Beca cooed, trying to calm the woman down as she rubbed small circles on the nave of Chloe's back. She opted not to talk, knowing that Chloe had received the dark phone call that her busy father couldn't make it to the party tonight. He was a surgeon- head of surgery really. It didn't surprise the brunette, but Chloe still held onto childish hope that he would put her above his career.
"He was supposed to be here." She spat into Beca's chest, digging her nails deeper into her collarbone. Her eyes were clenched. "He promised. And he… he just bailed like he does on everything else."
She swallowed thickly before continuing.
"He didn't go to the performance at the Kennedy Center. Or, or graduation… Beca, he hasn't been to a birthday party since I was four years old. Four." Her voice teetered out to a low whisper. "I hate my birthday. The stupid candles, and god that song. The song is so incessant. Who came up with that song?"
"I don't know, baby." Was all Beca could muster, squeezing Chloe's shoulder with utmost precision. She didn't know. She didn't know why Richard Beale was such a terrible father, or why people opted to put so many candles on cakes and sing that god- awful tune. But she did know her girlfriend. Her girlfriend who was shaking with fear and rage.
Beca started to hum, a soft tune that her own mother would use to lull her to sleep. It was melodic and melancholy, something that had gotten her into mixing music in the first place. It instantly moved against her throat as Chloe stiffened in her grasp for a second before melting into the girls hold.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine," Beca began, her words a soft murmur as she held Chloe flush against her, the girl struggling past a clogged nose and scratchy throat. "You make me happy when skies are grey."
Chloe's breath was evening out, steadying.
"You'll never know dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away." Beca moved back into humming the rest of the tune, not completely faithful in her knowledge of the lyrics as Chloe finally released her death grip on Beca's chest, still clenching a bit of fabric between her fingers.
Beca never knew much about that song, but she knew it reminded her of the girl in her arms. And besides, it was way better than Happy Birthday.
