Beca paid the guy before making her way over to the girls.
"Alright so here's the plan…" Beca starts and Stacie points at something behind Beca.
"Aubrey and I are going over there by the penguins to look for Charles! And then we'll meet you guys later by the dolphin pool!"
"Wait!" Beca tries to stop Stacie but Stacie had already dragged Aubrey half way to the penguins. Aubrey looked at Chloe apologetically. Chloe just shrugged, she was fine with Aubrey having fun with her new friend.
Beca sighs and looks back at Chloe who was standing up straight with one hand in a salute.
"What do you want me to do captain Beca?!" Beca chuckled. Chloe looks adorable and serious at the same time.
"Well we don't know what this Charles guy looks like…" They were going in blind and that was bad. Any guy they pass by might be Charles. They needed more information. "So…"
"CHARLES!" Beca's eyes widen at Chloe's sudden outburst. Beca tries to stop Chloe but fails. "ARE THERE ANYONE BY THE NAME OF CHARLES HERE?"
The few people in the aquarium looked over at them questioningly, Beca waved at a few of them trying not to look embarrassed, before going back to their business.
"I guess Charles isn't here yet. Maybe he'll come by later this afternoon" Chloe said.
"Um, excuse me?" a man by the age of thirty said getting Chloe's and Beca's attention.
"Are you Charles?" Chloe's eyes brightened.
"No" the man said and Chloe's shoulders falls dejectedly at her side. Beca placed a hand on the small of the back of Chloe as a comforting gesture. Chloe smiled at Beca appreciating the simple touch that made her feel better.
"How may we help you, sir" Beca asked. Chloe noticed the change in Beca's tone. Beca was using her military voice which was very different from her normal voice.
"I heard you were looking for Charles so I thought that you wanted an in to his party. I heard it's going to be sick! Wild animals, exotic dancers and food from around the world. It's the talk of the town. Charles is going to be handing out invitations here today at 3 pm. That's why no one is here because they're trying to look pretty and stuff. Only the hottest girls and guys can get in. He's bi."
Beca keeps her face void of any emotion before asking "Why are you telling us this?" There's got be a hidden agenda.
The man scratches the back of his neck. "I mean you're hot and will definitely get in" the man said looking at Chloe. Then his eyes drift to Beca who was glaring at the guy. "You're…. pretty... hot too."
"She's the hottest" Chloe said. Beca tries to control her blush.
The man nods not really agreeing with Chloe before continuing. "And I heard they were giving out Iphone 7s as party favors. And I was thinking that if I give some info that you'll get me one."
"Dea…" Chloe begins to say before Beca clamps a hand over Chloe's mouth, Beca breathes heavily at the feeling of Chloe's lips on her skin. Chloe unconsciously kisses Beca's palm, she's been having the urge to feel Beca's skin on her lips, before giving Beca a look.
"Let me handle this" Beca whispers into Chloe's ear. As soon as Chloe nods Beca releases Chloe's mouth. "We'll give it to you and we'll give you another one if you tell us more about this Charles guy."
"Yeah, yeah of course!"
"What's Charles full name? Are Charles and Clarke fin affiliated in any way and have you seen this guy with him?" Beca hands the guy a picture of Tom.
"Charles Williams and yes Charles and Mr. Fin are business partners. And yeah I saw the three of them playing golf together twice."
Beca stores everything in her head "One last question, do you know what type of business Clarke Fin runs?"
The man looks to his right then to his left before whispering "There's rumors about it being illegal, drugs, weapons trade, slaves, but no one really knows. Anyone who tries to investigates ends up dead."
Chloe gasped and clings onto Beca's right arm. The first thing that ran to her mind was that Tom tried to stop the illegal activity only to end up dead.
"Thank you and I'll make sure you get the Iphone 7s" Beca hands the guy her card.
"Thanks my daughter would love the new phone."
"Aww how old is your daughter?" Chloe asked.
"Three years old."
"Yes I'm sure she'll love it" Beca said sarcastically. A three-year-old does not need a phone. The man walks away with a smile on his face. Beca turns to Chloe who looks crestfallen. "Chloe?"
"Beca, be honest with me. Do you think Tom is dead?"
Beca sighed as she answers sincerely "Maybe but it's more likely that he is alive" Chloe's eyes light up with hope "But there's a chance that he is involved with the illegal shit Clarke Fin runs. Since he is a trusted business partner who plays golf with them."
Chloe's mood gets gloomier at the implication. Tom was either dead or she would have to make a difficult decision, turn the man she loves to the police if what Beca said was true.
"Hey" Beca placed a hand on Chloe's shoulder. "You never know Tom could still be alive and not be involved in anything illegal."
"We'll find out tomorrow won't we?" Chloe's voice was soft as if dreading the next day.
At that moment Beca felt what Chloe was feeling. There was no way Chloe could love her in more than a friendly way. She never had a chance, Beca fought back the tears threatening to spill before speaking again.
"Well since we have about fours until Charles arrive why don't we enjoy the aquarium?" If this might be the last time Beca will get to spend with Chloe, then she will cherish it.
Chloe perks up a little at the suggestion. Her mind still on Tom.
"Oh look it says here that they have a shark and ray touch tank" Beca reads off the pamphlet she got when she paid for the tickets. "Come on it'll be fun." Beca holds out her hand for Chloe to take. Chloe smile is small but Beca can tell it's genuine. In the few days they spent together it was rare to see Beca reach out to Chloe for once.
Once Chloe turned around to walk over to the touch tank Beca quickly placed the palm that Chloe kissed to her lips. Oh my god I'm pathetic!
Just like Beca said the touch tank was fun. Chloe was hesitant at touching the shark at first but once Beca placed her hand over Chloe's and lowered them to touch the shark, Chloe squealed like a little kid.
"See! It feels nice, huh?" Beca kept her hand over Chloe's as Chloe strokes the shark's skin.
"Yeah" The shark's skin was slippery but felt nice, Chloe didn't take in the fact that it might Beca's hand that felt nice. Chloe looked over to Beca her smile this time reached her eyes. "Thanks Beca. For everything."
Beca's response was to shrug and to lift her hand off of Chloe's to touch a shark near her. Chloe kept her eyes on the girl while she pulled her hand away from the shark to curl her fingers into her palm. Chloe's eyes then trailed over to her own hand. It feels empty, Chloe thinks it's because she misses her boyfriend's touch.
"Seriously Chloe? Do you need me to hold your hand while you touch the shark?" Chloe doesn't respond. "You're such a baby" Beca places her hand back on top of Chloe's.
Chloe furrows her brow Huh? It doesn't feel empty anymore, weird.
After spending quite some time at the touch tank the two continued to explore the aquarium. Their next destination were the fish tanks.
"Blow fish" Beca reads the card on the tank. "I bet guys would love this."
Chloe laughs hysterically. "Good one Beca."
After they left the touch tank Chloe's mind seems to drift to Tom again and his whereabouts. The only time she would forget was when she was touching Beca or listening to Beca talk. And now Chloe wanted to forget but she just can't reach out and hold Beca's hand after what happened that morning. And there was no more shark to touch so Chloe doesn't have any excuse for Beca to hold her hand.
So Chloe opted for the next best thing. She stood behind Beca's back, leaving a decent amount of space between their bodies, and place her chin on Beca's shoulder. Beca flinched at the contact at first but soon relaxed.
"Your head getting too heavy for your body?" Beca looked at the reflection of Chloe through the glass. She can feel the heat radiating off of Chloe's cheek. Their faces were that close to each other.
"Yeah a little" Chloe joked. "You don't mind don't you?" Beca shook her head and they continue to watch the fish swim. Chloe felt guilty for using Beca to ease her worry since the girl was already doing so much for her. But having the girl this close to her made her forget, made her feel secure and happy than ever before and that was what Chloe needed and wanted. There was also this pleasant feeling in her stomach whenever she was close to Beca.
On the other hand, Beca kept her hand buried in her pants as she tries to keep herself restrained from grabbing the back of Chloe's neck to turn her head and clash their lips together. Just cherish the moment, Mitchell.
That was their position as they continued to look at more tanks. While looking at the turtles Chloe learned that Beca had never watched Finding Nemo. Chloe was imitating Crush's voice when Beca asked "Why are you talking like that?"
Chloe also learned that Beca loves the Harry Potter books but was too afraid to watch the movie due to a fear of snakes.
"Well when I was a kid I was so into the book that I was willing to watch the movie. After the first movie came out I tried to speak to a snake like Harry did" Chloe gave Beca an incredulous look. "My friend had a garter snake and I released it from its cage. And I said what Harry said and it bit me three times on my hand."
"Oh my gosh. You were traumatized" Chloe hugged Beca and petted her hair. "Aww poor baby, Beca."
Beca rolled her eyes but cherished the moment that she is in Chloe's arms. "Yeah. I tried watching the second one but I was so scared to watch it alone. My parents were fighting a lot so I couldn't ask them to watch the movie with me. And I fear that Stacie and Jesse would play a prank on me if I watch it with them."
Chloe pulls away from the hug and looks Beca in the eyes. "How about this we watch Finding Nemo and I'll hold you while we watch all of the Harry Potter movies?"
"Sure" Beca shrugged but in the inside she was doing cartwheels.
After that they caught up with Aubrey and Stacie watching the sea lions doing a bunch of tricks with their trainers. Beca informed them about Charles and Stacie cupped her boobs and told them that she got this. As they kept exploring the aquarium it began to feel more like a double date than a group hangout. Beca and Chloe would always be next to each other touching in some way while Stacie was practically attached to Aubrey.
"Oh my gosh that was so much fun!" Chloe exclaimed and played with the dolphin stuff toy Beca bought her at the gift shop.
"I'm glad you had fun" Beca said.
"Yeah it was nice" Aubrey said smiling at Stacie. Stacie smiled back and hugged the penguin that Aubrey bought for her.
"I was talking to Chloe" Beca said.
"And I was talking to Stacie and Chloe" Aubrey said glaring at Beca.
"Okay enough you two" Chloe stood between Beca and Aubrey.
From out of nowhere a ton of screaming girls came rushing in, they were following a handsome young man, mid-twenties, that was way too cocky for Beca's liking. This guy had short dark brown hair, a five o'clock shadow and by the bulging biceps on his arms probably a rocking body underneath that tight polo shirt. And then it hits Beca like a ton of bricks.
"Charles!" Stacie, Aubrey and Chloe gasp in realization. They were having so much fun that they forgot that they were on a mission. "Okay quickly huddle up!" Beca orders and the girls formed a tight circle.
"Don't worry guys me and my babies got this. No one is going to say no to them." Stacie wiggled her chest into Aubrey's face who stared in awe. "Plus we're all hot and sexy there's no way we're not going to get an invite."
"So we just approach him?" Beca questions. She didn't take flirting 101 on college in fact she never went to college.
"No we sashay over to him" Stacie said. It seems like she had to teach these girls well except for Chloe who was already fluffing her hair and fixing her shirt so that the top of her cleavage were exposed. It was time to get her Tom back.
"It's all in the hips, Beca can you please pay attention and stop staring at Chloe?" Stacie snapped her fingers in front of Beca's face.
Beca snapped out of her Chloe induced state. How can Beca concentrate when Chloe is touching her boobs right in front of her face? "I was not staring" Beca said crossing her arms.
But Chloe did notice and she loved the way Beca was looking at her, it wasn't pervy in anyway. Chloe quirked a brow "So I guess you were staring at Aubrey then?"
"Eew Beca you perv!" Aubrey covered her already covered breast with her hands.
Beca rolled her eyes "There's nothing to look at." Chloe fought the urge to laugh.
Aubrey gasped clutching her chest tighter.
"I think it's the perfect size Aubrey but can we please focus! Like I said it's all in the hips, shoulder's and sultry eyes" Stacie and Chloe demonstrated by walking over to Charles who were handing out invitations left and right.
As soon as Stacie and Chloe came into view Charles whistled. "Of course you my ladies will get an invitation." Charles took each of their hand and gave the back of it a kiss. Both girls giggled and winked at Charles.
Meanwhile Beca was fake gagging while Aubrey might actually puke. Beca distanced herself just in case.
"Can we have two extras please" Chloe and Stacie both begged and pouted.
"And who may I ask are the extra invites for?" Charles asked loving the way the two girls casually ran their fingers along his arms.
Stacie pointed at Beca and Aubrey.
Charles quirked a brow "You're not pointing at the tiny porcupine and the nun right?"
Chloe and Stacie quickly got defensive, their arms crossed over their chest and glared at Charles. They spoke in unison.
"Her name is Beca."
"Her name is Aubrey."
"Excuse me?" Charles said standing tall.
"Uh…" Chloe and Stacie took a step back. "thanks for the invitation!" they both said before running back to Aubrey and Beca.
"What happened?" Beca questioned.
"We only got two invites and it's specially made for us" Stacie said.
"Fuck" Beca breathed out. No way in hell would Beca let Chloe and Stacie go alone in a party where illegal dealings might be going on.
"What do we do?" Aubrey asked Beca who was thinking.
Beca couldn't sneak into the party knowing that it will be heavily guarded. And it would be to her benefit if she weren't sneaking around. She needed to get an invitation no matter what.
"Makeover?"
Beca's head jerked up.
It was Stacie who suggested it and Chloe nods in agreement.
"I'm starting to hate those words" Beca said clutching the robe that she was wearing.
"I've always hated it. Change yourself to what the world think is pretty to please people who will never get to know the real you." Aubrey said also wearing a robe.
"Rough childhood?"
Aubrey nods "How are you and Chloe doing?"
"By the end of tomorrow she'll probably forget about me" Beca said sadly.
"Chloe never forgets and I think you're getting through to her by the way she looks at you."
"How about you and Stacie."
Aubrey blushes. "We're going on a date after this whole finding Tom thing ends."
"Good for you Posen. You ready?"
"I think I'm going to puke."
"I'm pretty sure Charles and Stacie won't find that attractive."
"Shut up. Let's get this over with."
They both shrug off their robes and step outside the employee locker room.
Chloe and Stacie's jaws drops at the sight of Beca and Aubrey in a bikini standing by the edge of the dolphin pool. It was part of their plan to seduce Charles. How in the world did Beca and Aubrey get their hand on a bikini? Well apparently Stacie had some stashed in her purse. Why? Because they were going to an aquarium where she can get wet. Stacie was weird in her own ways.
"1, 2, 3!" Beca whispers before she and Aubrey dives into the pool. As soon as they hit the water three dolphins swam next to them. Chloe paid the trainer to do it.
Beca and Aubrey looks magnificent swimming with the dolphins. Beca and Aubrey's backside was pure perfection in Chloe and Stacie's eyes.
Stacie and Chloe high fived each other because their plan was working. The two bikini clad babes had Charles full attention and he was drooling at the sight.
What a pig. Both Beca and Aubrey thought.
Once Beca and Aubrey reached the other side of the pool they sashayed their way up the stairs. Drops of water running all over their body. Stacie looked at Beca and gestured for her to whip her hair. It will add to the sexy effect they have going on. Beca rolls her eyes and whips her hair, smacking Aubrey right on her face. Aubrey closes her eyes at the impact.
"Aubrey I'm so sorry" Beca said sincerely.
"Ow! You bitch!" Aubrey gives Beca a hard push on her chest causing the brunette to fall into the pool un gracefully. Aubrey laughed but it soon stopped when she felt arms wrap around her thighs. Suddenly Aubrey was up in the air and then her back hits the water.
"Fuck Beca!" Aubrey yells as she resurfaces from the water.
"I told you it was unintentional!" Beca slaps some water at Aubrey.
"Yeah that was unintentional" Aubrey said slapping water at Beca.
"You know what I…" Beca didn't get to finish her sentence because Aubrey placed her hands on top of Beca's head and pushed her down the water.
Meanwhile Chloe and Stacie were torn between breaking the fight or enjoying the show. From their perspective the sight before them was hot. Stacie envied Beca for getting to touch Aubrey on places she haven't touched yet. While Chloe envied Aubrey from getting to play with Beca in the pool, she wanted to play with a wet Beca. Charles was also enjoying the sight and contemplates on joining them.
Beca struggles as Aubrey keeps her head under the water. Beca rolls her eyes, why was she losing again when she's the one with the military background? Beca grabs one of Aubrey's legs and drags her down the water before resurfacing for a breath of air. While Beca was trying to get more air in her lungs, Aubrey was already swimming to her. But before Aubrey can attack Beca a dolphin blocks her path.
Eeeeeep! The dolphin nods its head towards Aubrey and Beca.
Everyone in the room quirks a brow at the dolphin.
"What is it saying?" Aubrey asked not looking away from the dolphin in fear that it might attack her.
"I don't know. I don't speak dolphin" Beca said.
"I think it wants you to stop fighting?" the trainer said.
Eeep! Eeep!
Both girls look at each other and then Beca puts out her hand "Truce?"
Aubrey nods and shakes Beca's hand. There was a pregnant pause. "What are we doing again?" Aubrey asked tilting her head to the side.
Beca looks around and sees Chloe and Stacie pointing at Charles. "Oh!" Finally remembering what they were doing in the first place. Both Beca and Aubrey tries to look sexy in the water. Aubrey flips her wet hair with her hands only to find it stuck on every inch of her face. Beca tries to flip her hair but it just looked like Beca was having issues with her neck.
Chloe and Stacie both smack their foreheads with their hands. Beca and Aubrey were too adorkable to be sexy. To their surprise though Charles walked up to the pool and approached the two adorkable girls.
"Hi!" Aubrey and Beca both stop their failed attempts at being sexy to find Charles smiling down at them. "How would you ladies like to join me in my party?"
Aubrey was having a hard time taking hair out of her mouth so Beca answered "Sure."
"Cool. I'll see you two then." Charles winks and leaves the aquarium with a group of guys and girls following close behind.
Chloe and Stacie's jaw were hanging wide open. "Our plan worked!" Chloe yelled as she ran into the pool with Stacie following behind her.
They both jumped in and Chloe swam straight to Beca, wrapping herself around the girl and peppering her kisses on the cheeks. Beca laughs and tries to subtly pry the girl off her because this was too much skin contact. First of all, she was wearing a bikini and Chloe a dress which happens to now be bunched up high on Chloe's thigh. Then there was the barrage of kisses, the pool was not cold enough to stop her cheeks from reddening.
Beca's not sure what it is in pools that brings her and Chloe closer together.
Meanwhile when Stacie jumped in the water she swam to Aubrey and as she resurfaces from the water she lands a quick kiss on Aubrey's lips. Aubrey froze not anticipating the kiss, it was nice and left her body tingling. Stacie smiles warily, she's not sure if she should have done that but Aubrey was so tempting. Aubrey saw this and quickly grabbed one of Stacie's hand under the water. Stacie sighed in relief, they were okay.
Chloe pulls away from Beca smiling, still wrap around the girl. "Mission accomplish, Beca!" Chloe gave Beca one final kiss on the cheek.
"Yeah" Beca smiles then looks down at their position.
"Oh right" Chloe slowly pulls away from Beca, blushing.
"It's fine" Beca plays with the water around her. There was a pregnant pause as the two played idly with the water around them as they trade smiles with each other.
Then Beca feels a push on her back. Chloe also feels something pushing on her back causing her body to collide with Beca. The dolphins were pushing the two closer to each other until their chest were pressed against each other.
Chloe laughs while Beca tries to get away. Beca was going to explode if her body keeps on pressing up against Chloe's.
"Alright that's enough!" Beca yelled at the dolphins causing them to scurry away to the other couple.
"Beca?"
Beca turns to face Chloe to find a shit eating grin on Chloe's face. Beca furrows her brow "What?"
"We're swimming in dolphin piss" Chloe laughs when Beca's face contort to different levels of pain before shrieking like a cat.
"Fuck!" Beca made a dash out of the water and into the locker room to rid herself of dolphin urine.
Chloe continues to laugh until a dolphin nudges her at her arm. Chloe pets the dolphin "She's cute huh?"
The dolphin nods in response. Chloe continues to pet the dolphin as she watches her best friend and Stacie play with the dolphins. Even though Aubrey hasn't told Chloe what was going on between her and Stacie, Chloe could tell that there are definitely feelings involved. And Chloe supports it no matter what. Chloe's mind then drifts to Tom and she tries to imagine what it would be like if they were to play with the dolphins like Stacie and Aubrey.
Chloe gasped in surprise when instead of Tom she sees Beca instead. The two of them laughing, having a blast, trading touches and kis… Chloe quickly ducks her head under water to get rid of the image.
Why was she imagining Beca instead of her boyfriend? Why is Beca so tempting to her? Why was Beca making her feelings things she's supposed to feel for her boyfriend? And as much as she wants to keep telling herself that the reason for this was her missing Tom there's a part of her telling it's not.
She then screams while under the water "What the fuck is going on with me?"
Eeep!
Next Chapter's Title: The Calm before the storm.