Chapter 10

"Beca, you're late!" Stacie fairly pulled Beca into the house, the moment Beca set foot on the porch.

"What do you mean late? Chill Stacie, it's only 6.30?"

"6.30! Chloe's been getting ready for hours!"

Beca smirked, biting her lower lip, "Really?"

"Yes, really. Oh my god Becs!"

"Come on, relax Stace – I've got half an hour – quick shower, scary eye make-up, best ear spikes – no problem." She started walking up the stairs, portraying a relaxed, confident exterior that her churning insides were close to betraying. Now she was home, full nervousness had kicked in. She left a flustered Stacie at the bottom, before turning back around. "I'm kidding. Come help me pick out a pair of jeans?" She didn't really need help in that department, she didn't usually make a conscious effort to impress, but…perhaps tonight? And besides – Stacie, y'know?

The taller brunette grinned and followed her up to her room, excitedly chattering about how earlier she'd picked out Chloe's outfit. "Wait. I'm sorry Beca. I'm not really thinking. I'm just so excited for you two." She stopped to take Beca's arm. "Are you OK with this? Just tell me if I'm being too much – it's just… Oh you took my advice and you called her! It's just so…"

Beca shook her head with a smile. "It's OK Stace. It's cool." She leant up to whisper in the taller brunette's ear, "Would it help you to know I'm a complete nervous wreck right now?"

Stacie smiled and took Beca's hand, pulling her up into the attic room. "Go! Shower while I attack your closet!"

Chloe sat on her bed, chewing her cheek whilst Jessica brushed her hair through. "Oh I wish you'd stop doing that Chloe – it's not very attractive!" The redhead looked at her through the mirror and pouted.

"I'm just so nervous, Jess."

"I know honey, but you don't need to be. Just try to act like you would normally around her."

"That's easy for you to say, but it's so much harder now knowing that we each DO have feelings for each other. It's going to be so hard not to grab her hand or…"

"Look just take it steady, Chlo. You've already held hands right? Maybe she'll want to hold hands. Right, let's have a look at you." The blonde stepped back and looked over her captain, tight blue jeans, a long white asymmetrical flowing shirt and blue heels. "Perfect. You look so cute, I'd kidnap you myself," she added with a wink. "Now, hair up or down?"

"I am NOT wearing a dress Stace."

"Oh come on Beca, you've got great legs!"

"Really? I know I said I was quick in the shower, but I haven't shaved in days. I'm not getting my legs out for anyone. Not tonight anyway", she added, smirking.

"OK, OK, so what about this?" She pulled out a pair of skinny black jeans – the pair without the missing knees, a tight teal tank and a black vest.

"Yeah, that would work. Cheers Stace," Beca said, dropping her towel without thinking. Stacie gaped…"Er, yeah, see what you mean about the legs, Becs."

Beca shrieked, grabbing the towel back up quickly "Do you mind?"

Stacie laughed, "Not that I really don't appreciate the view, which for the record, hairy legs or not, is damn fine indeed… you are the one that dropped the towel."

"Well I forgot you were there!"

"I was just talking to you!"

"Well, whatever, can I just get dressed please?" She grabbed the clothes and retreated back to the bathroom.

Chloe stood nervously at Beca's door, Jessica having gone downstairs and left her to it. There was no need to add to the nervousness by loitering. She composed herself, using the breaths that Aubrey had taught her and knocked on the door. She was somewhat surprised when Stacie answered the door. "Oh I'm sorry Captain, she's not ready yet… Still shaving her le… Ow!" She rubbed the back of her head where Beca had just hit her with her purse and the door opened fully as the smaller brunette stepped through, rolling her eyes.

Both girls stood looking at each other with obvious appreciation as Stacie smiled and sidled past them. "Have fun ladies."

Chloe stuck out her arm, "Ready?"

Beca smiled and took the offered arm. "Ready."

"I should warn you Beale, I'm going to kick your ass tonight."

"Oh don't bet on it Mitchell." Chloe glanced at Beca, before turning her attention back to the road. "You look great by the way." Beca smiled.

"Yeah, you look pretty hot yourself." She blushed as she realized what she'd said and Chloe's stomach filled with fluttering butterflies and she tried to suppress a grin.

The drive to the Bowling Alley was filled with easy silence punctuated with the odd little bit of small talk relating to their respective days.

Walking into the building, they booked a lane and then went to get their shoes changed. "You know, it doesn't matter how many times they deodorize these things," Chloe said sniffing her rental shoe, "They're still pretty gross."

"Well perhaps you ought to stop sticking your nose in them," Beca joked.

Chloe stuck her tongue out at the brunette and finished tying her laces.

"Want to get a couple of beers?"

Chloe was first up and knocked over 8 pins. "Woo! Yeah, Go team Chlo!"

"Seriously?" Beca couldn't help but smile, damn that redhead was cute.

"Oh pooh!" Chloe missed the split with her second bowl.

"Good start Chlo." Beca sized up the options and selected a ball from the rack, waiting for the pins to settle and bowled. All pins down – perfect strike. She turned round to face Chloe with a smirk on her face. The redhead was pouting, but with a twinkle in her eye.

"Oh it's on Mitchell!"

A few beers later, they were on the last frame and there were only 5 points in it, Beca being on a spare from the previous frame, just needed to make a single pin to win.

She lined up her roll and then, "You know your ass really does look sexy in those jeans."

The ball guttered as Beca turned around, her mouth agape. "Oh, you missed Becs…"

Chloe took another swig of her beer, her face a picture of innocence as Beca, eyes still goggling at the redhead, waited for her ball to return. She couldn't believe that Chloe had resorted to cheating. She was too flustered to make a comment and the tingling in her… well… the tingling was a distraction. She lined up her next bowl and …"Stop wiggling your ass at me Becs, it's distracting."

The ball hit the gutter again, and Beca turned round with her hands on her hips. Chloe was a giggling mess. Despite herself, the little brunette couldn't help but laugh. "You little cheat. I demand a rematch!" Chloe's eyes dazzled bright, anything to spend more time with this captivating woman. "It's not cheating Becs, I can't help it if those jeans should be made illegal." She knew she was close to the line with this overt flirting, but Beca seemed to be OK with it, maybe it was the beer, maybe she was letting her feelings for Chloe come to the surface properly, but they were laughing and relishing in each other's company.

The Bella house looked quiet as the taxi pulled up in front. A couple of windows upstairs glowed softly, as one or another of the girls inside was up reading or studying. The ground floor however, was dark – the Bellas having agreed amongst themselves after Stacie and Jessica had told them what was going on, that they would make themselves scarce for when their captains returned home.

Walking towards the door, their hands had become joined again, only breaking whilst Chloe searched for her key. It was as if their new-found connection needed to be kept unbroken. Beca was still a little tentative about it, but was finding more and more that she was enjoying the soft, warm contact of Chloe's hand.

"Well, it's late. I think we should go to bed," Chloe said as Beca blushed a deep shade of red with wide eyes. The redhead's hands instantly flew to her mouth as she gushed, "Oh no, I mean, to sleep. We should go to bed to sleep. In our own rooms. To sleep. Definitely sleeping."

Beca smiled and squeezed Chloe's hand tighter. She laughed lightly, the blush fading as she rolled her eyes. "Chlo, you're babbling. It's OK, Chlo. Yeah I'm tired too." After a pause, gazing into the older girl's eyes, who looked unsure of herself, she pulled gently, leading them up to the stairs to the first landing.

They stood at Chloe's door, facing each other, fingers still interlaced. Chloe lowered her eyelids and tentatively reached out for Beca's other hand, which the brunette gently took. The redhead beamed, albeit apprehensively and looked back into Beca's eyes, which were shyly looking back at her. Holding each other's hands gently they continued to stand there, the silence a little awkward until Beca broke the silence by giggling (Beca had never giggled, but here it was again – perhaps it was the beer)

"I had a great time tonight Chlo. Thank you." She stood on her tiptoes and gazing into the redhead's eyes, Beca lightly kissed her, brushing her lips against Chloe's. The spark was electric, but no sooner had their lips touched, than Beca was breaking the contact, letting go of Chloe's hand and turning for the stairs to her room. "Goodnight."

Chloe hadn't been quite aware that her eyes were closed, but she now opened them and brought a finger up to touch her lips, her face splitting into a wide trademark smile. "She kissed me," she whispered to herself, her eyes glistening as the spell broke and she returned a delayed, soft 'goodnight'.

Beca's face, hidden to Chloe as she walked up her stairs was one of shocked surprise, shifting slowly to a huge toothy smile.

"Oh my god. I kissed her."