As soon as Chloe hung up the phone with Beca Aubrey turned around from where she was pouring herself a bowl of cereal and grinned widely at the red head.
"That was Beca?" Aubrey asked innocently. Chloe narrowed her eyes suspiciously and nodded.
"Aubrey what…"
"Beca called me last night, Chlo" said Aubrey, crossing her arms and leaning against the counter. Chloe raised in eyebrow.
"Okay… I don't-" she started.
"She called me, thinking I was you. Our names are probably right next to each other in her phone. She was quite drunk" Aubrey said smirking.
Chloe's eyes widened as she began to laugh. "Beca drunk called you last night, but she meant to call me?!" Aubrey laughed and nodded.
"She said something along the lines 'Chloeeeeee you are so hot, seriously, like seriously so hot" said Aubrey said in a poor imitation of Beca's voice.
Chloe almost choked on the bite of toast she had just taken and as she started to cough she couldn't help but grin. She felt the blush reach her cheeks and her heart thudded at the thought of Beca saying that about her.
"Think she remembers any of it?" Chloe asked, still laughing. Aubrey shook her head with a grin.
"She was so gone when she called. She told me she fell off the seat of her limo right before she hung up on me" said Aubrey.
"You're never going to let her live that down are you?" asked Chloe.
"Of course not" said Aubrey with a smirk. "Now how are the plans for tonight going?"
"Everything is all set!" said Chloe excitedly. "Beca should be back here around 6, we'll give her an hour to get ready and then take her to the bar! I just have to pick up her present later" said Chloe said as she got up to bring her plate to the sink.
Chloe could barely contain her excitement. She was also nervous, however, to see Beca's reaction. Chloe just wanted Beca to have a good time.
As Chloe slowly washed her breakfast plate in the sink she smiled softly. Beca thought she was hot. Her heart rate sped up and her smile turned into a grin. She felt the blush on her cheeks and she was really glad that Aubrey couldn't see her face. Chloe took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a few seconds. She really shouldn't be feeling this way, but she just couldn't help it.
XXXXXXXX
Beca slept almost the entire way home. As soon as the plane had turned off the seatbelt sign her headphones were on and she was drifting way. She forced herself to stay awake and eat something at the airport but as soon as she got in the car to head back to Barden she had fallen asleep again.
"Beca we're almost at your apartment" called Diane from the front seat. Beca jumped awake, she had been having the strangest dream where Fat Amy had been wresting a dingo and a crocodile simultaneously.
Beca slid her headphones off with a sigh as she realized her iPod had been dead for a while now. She pulled her jacket tighter around her and closed the window that was open by her seat in the back. Even in North Carolina it got colder in November. She smiled to herself as they drove slowly through the nearly empty campus. It was about 6pm on a Saturday so most people were at their dorms getting ready to go out. Beca missed her roommates and the Bellas, and she was, surprisingly, excited to be back on campus.
She only hoped Chloe's surprise for her wasn't too extreme. Surprises tended to make Beca nervous, but she trusted Chloe, her hangover was gone, and she was eager to see what the redhead had planned for her.
"Welcome back!" called her driver, James, as he pulled into a parking spot near the apartment door. Beca quickly hopped out of the back seat and swung open the trunk. She grabbed the handle of her brand new guitar case with a grin. It had been an impulse buy, a way to wish herself happy birthday while in L.A. She had seen the beautiful instrument in the window of a shop and just couldn't stop herself. She needed it. Beca hadn't really played since high school but she was sure she would be able to pick it up again.
She reached for her laptop case when she heard a yell.
"Beca!" She turned to see Aubrey hurrying towards her; the blonde had clearly been on her way back to the apartment. Beca grinned as Aubrey pulled her into a hug.
"Hey! How was your break?" asked Beca as she released her taller friend. She grabbed her laptop in her free hand and Aubrey grabbed the bigger suitcase out of the trunk to help.
"It was good! Yours?" she asked as the two made their way into the apartment.
"Typical" Beca answered with a shrug.
"Well, as much as I hate to admit it…Chloe and I actually kind of missed having you here. It's very quiet without your music blasting" said Aubrey as she put Beca's suitcase outside her bedroom door and headed to the kitchen. Beca smirked at her and Aubrey rolled her eyes.
"Yeah yeah, Mitchell, we got used to having you around. Don't let your massive ego inflate even more" said Aubrey, shoving her lightly.
Beca laughed and headed back outside to say good bye to Diane and James.
"I'll see you guys soon. Thanks" said, Beca when Diane rolled down her window.
"I'll call in a few days to check up on you. Happy Birthday, Beca" Said Diane, before James put the car in reverse and left campus with a wave. Beca sighed, she was happy to be back.
She headed back into the apartment and threw herself down on the couch, pulling her guitar towards here.
"Where's Chloe?" she asked innocently. Beca really wanted to see her.
"She's getting ready for tonight, she should be back soon. Speaking of your birthday!" Aubrey said suddenly as if she had forgotten. "This is from me! Happy Birthday!" she said as she reached over the back of the couch and dropped a perfectly wrapped present in Beca's lap.
Beca smiled and sat up as she grabbed the present. It was small and rectangular and slightly heavy for how small it was.
"Aubrey you didn't have to-" started Beca.
"Oh stop, all the Bellas got you something. It's not much, just open it" said Aubrey with an eye roll.
"Well, alright then" obliged Beca with a smirk. She tore off the red bow before ripping open the white paper to reveal a small picture frame. She flipped over the ornate metal frame and grinned when she saw the picture. It was all of the Bellas right after their practice Riff-Off, outside the three girls' apartment. Beca remembered Stacie demanding they all get a picture together once everyone had arrived and then Aubrey handing her camera to someone who happened to be walking by.
Beca scanned everyone's face. It was a miracle that everyone was looking at the camera with a semi-normal expression on their face. Beca smiled softly as she looked at her and Chloe on the end. Beca had been reluctant to take a picture when she felt half her life was spent avoiding them. Yet, Chloe had gripped her around the waist casually with her arm and whispered in her ear to smile. Beca bit her lip remembering the shivers she felt with Chloe so close to her.
She turned suddenly and grinned at Aubrey. "I love it, thank you" said Beca honestly. Aubrey smiled at her and nodded once.
"I'm glad, Happy 21st" she said. Beca put the picture on the coffee table and looked at it a second longer before picking up her guitar again.
"Since when do you play?" asked Aubrey, opening up the fridge and pulling out a bottle of water.
"It's been a while but I'm hoping to start up again" said Beca, strumming the guitar cautiously. She grinned at the familiar feeling in her fingertips.
"Well Chloe should be back soon, I know she's excited to see you. And I forgot to tell you that you have about an hour to be ready for tonight. All the Bellas worked hard to pull this off so you better enjoy it" said Aubrey with a stern glance.
Beca shrugged. "I'm sure it will be great. How do I dress? Where are we going?"
Aubrey was shaking her head. "I can't tell you where were taking you! That would ruin the surprise. But dress casual, like you're going to a fun party" said Aubrey before she headed into her room. Beca sighed and pulled herself off the couch. Grabbing her suitcase with guitar in hand, she headed into her room.
She couldn't be bothered to unpack her suitcase so she just grabbed her things that she needed to shower and headed to the bathroom. Within ten minutes she was back in her room, deciding what to wear. She finally decided on black skinny jeans with a loose, light blue button up shirt and a fitted leather jacket over it. She pulled a pair of black heels out of her closet and tossed them by the door for later before settling on her bed again with her guitar.
She strummed a few strings as she worked on tuning it and after a few minutes it sounded perfect. The guitar felt familiar in her hands, as if she had never stopped playing. It only took her a few minutes before she was able to actually strum a recognizable song.
She grinned as she strummed the beginning to one of her favorite songs.
Now I'm in town, break it down, thinking of making a new sound
Playing a different show every night in front of a new crowd
That's you now, hello, ciao, seems that life is great now
See me lose focus, as I sing to you loud
And I can't, no, I won't hush
I'll say the words that make you blush
I'm gonna sing this now
She began to sing along to the upbeat song only messing up a few times either on the lyrics or the notes. She couldn't stop smiling at how great it felt to play again after such a long time. She was almost mad at herself for stopping.
I sing and write my own tune and I write my own verse
Hell, don't need another word-smith to make my tune sell?
Call yourself a singer-writer - you're just bluffing
Your name's on the credits and you didn't write nothing
I sing fast, I know that all my shit's cool
I will blast and I didn't go to Brit School
I came fast with the way I act, right
I can't last if I'm smoking on a crack pipe
"Are you playing Ed Sheeran?"
Beca immediately stopped singing and looked widely at the redhead in her doorway. Beca watched a grin spread across Chloe's face. Beca quickly put her guitar aside and stood up. Chloe opened her arms and in a very un-Beca-like way, Beca threw her arms around Chloe's waist with a grin. The two girls stood there for a moment just hugging. Chloe was holding her tightly and Beca seriously didn't want to let go.
"Wow, someone missed me" said Chloe with a laugh as the two girls split apart. Beca smirked at her, hitting her lightly.
"Oh stop" said Beca, throwing herself back on her bed. Chloe just smiled at her and took a seat at her desk.
"Well I missed you too." She said, tilting her head to the side slightly. "And I know you missed me" said Chloe in a way that made Beca suspicious.
She narrowed her eyes at the redhead. "What do you-"
"I mean, you did try to call me last night" said Chloe innocently. Beca looked at Chloe who was looked like she was struggling not to laugh.
Beca slowly pulled out her phone and checked her recent calls. The only one from last night was the one to Aubrey but…
"Oh my god. I did try to call you last night" remembered Beca, her eyes wide. Chloe laughed.
"Apparently I am just sooooo hot you just had to tell me. Too bad you called Aubrey instead" said Chloe with a wink.
Beca covered her face in her hands in embarrassment but peeked through her fingers when she felt Chloe sit down next to her on the bed, both their feet dangling over the edge. Chloe pried her hands off her face with a wide smile to show Beca that she was only teasing her.
Beca was mortified but she figured there was nothing else she could do about it. Then she noticed what Chloe was wearing.
The red head was dressed in a short black skirt that rode up even farther on her thighs when she sat next to Beca and a red V-neck shirt that gave Beca quite a view if she moved her head only slightly.
"You know I wouldn't be making drunken calls to Aubrey telling her how hot you are if you didn't wear things like that" said Beca appreciatively. Beca bit her bottom lip and tilted her head slightly as she watched Chloe blush.
"Well you're just going to have to resist all this" said Chloe, gesturing down her body with a wave.
Beca laughed at Chloe's obvious discomfort and pulled her guitar back to her.
"I was playing Ed Sheeran by the way, I met him yesterday" said Beca, casually, to change the subject. Chloe's jaw dropped.
"Seriously?! I'm a huge fan. He's so talented, and a fellow red head" she said proudly. "What's he like?"
"Yeah he is seriously talented. And since I met him about 10 minutes before I called Aubrey, I have no idea what he's like because I'm lucky to even remember meeting him" said Beca with a smirk.
Chloe rolled her eyes and snatched the guitar from Beca and stood up.
"We're leaving in five" she said when Beca tried to protest. Beca stood up as well and held out her hand until Chloe passed her the guitar back. Beca placed it lovingly in its case and grabbed her shoes as Chloe went to finish her make up.
Beca quickly checked her appearance in the mirror before heading out to the living room where Aubrey and Chloe waited.
XXXXXX
"Guys, where are we?" asked Beca cautiously.
"Just hold on a second, Beca. Jesus" she heard Aubrey mutter. As soon as they had gotten near where Aubrey was driving to Chloe had ordered Beca to close her eyes. When they had stepped out of the car Chloe had immediately come up behind her and placed her hands over Beca's eyes.
"Geez sorry, I just don't want to fall" said Beca with an eye roll that the blonde wouldn't be able to see.
"I won't let you fall" Chloe said quietly in her ear. Beca resisted the urge to shudder. Chloe was pressed up as close as possible into Beca's back as she covered her eyes and Beca really didn't mind at all.
"That's very reassuring, Chloe" said Beca, sort of half sarcastically. She heard Chloe laugh quietly.
"Alright take a small step through the door way, Beca" said Aubrey. Beca did as she was told and then suddenly her ears were greeted with several loud shrieks. Chloe took her hands off Beca's eyes but didn't step back, much to Beca's enjoyment.
"Happy Birthday!" she heard before someone slammed into her and wrapped their arms around her. Then all of the Bellas were there, yelling and hugging her. Beca grinned.
"Thanks guys! What is this place?" she asked as everyone finally stepped back and led her over to a big table in the back of the small bar.
"It's a karaoke bar!" said Jessica, her excitement evident in her voice. Beca turned and raised an eyebrow at Chloe who was biting her bottom lip.
"I figured since you know Miley Cyrus songs you can't be as much of a bad ass as you think you are, so I figured you'd also like something like karaoke" said Chloe quickly.
"Well, unfortunately, you're right. I do enjoy karaoke, and drinking. So this is perfect" she said with a smile.
Chloe beamed at her and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her to her side and pressing her lips to Beca's cheek quickly. She let go of Beca immediately and the moment passed like it was nothing for Chloe. But Beca's face was on fire where Chloe's lips had touched her and she found herself having to turn away from people as she tried to relax. She had probably enjoyed that too much.
Beca looked quickly around the small run-down karaoke bar. There were only a few other patrons there (the Bellas took up most of the space) but everyone seemed to be having a good time. A guy was playing music up on the small stage, no doubt preparing for karaoke, and two bartenders served drinks behind the bar.
"Alright guys!" yelled Beca. "First rounds on me!" she called and everyone cheered.
"I knew there was a reason I liked you" said Fat Amy, slapping her hard on the back. Beca smirked with amusement at the Australian as she snatched a beer out of the waiter's hands.
Chloe made Beca sit at the head of the table so everyone could see her, but Beca didn't really mind being the center of attention when Chloe took the seat immediately to her right.
The girls are talked and laughed for a while, everyone drinking and eating the fries that Aubrey had ordered for the table. Then the karaoke started.
"Alright ladies and gentleman! Tonight we have a very special group with us…Barden University's own Barden Bellas! A winning Acapella group!" the man on the stage yelled, gesturing to the table where they sat.
They guy continued speaking but Beca tuned him out to listen to Aubrey and Chloe talking.
"Aubrey you have to sing with me" said Chloe earnestly.
"Chloe your nodes-"
"My nodes are fine! I haven't sung in over a week! I can make it through one night!" said Chloe, giving Aubrey puppy dog eyes. Aubrey rolled her eyes.
"Fine Chlo. But don't you dare hurt yourself" Aubrey warned. Chloe grinned and shrugged off Aubrey's warning. "Which song?" the blonde asked.
Chloe gave her best friend a look and suddenly Aubrey was nodding, a smile on her face.
"Definitely." She said. Beca shook her head incredulously. The two girls could convey a certain song without even speaking.
"Now who wants to be the first one up?!" the guy on stage called. Chloe immediately shot up, quickly followed by Aubrey, and made her way to the stage. She whispered something in the guy's ear and he headed back to his laptop to pull up the song. Chloe and Aubrey each grabbed a microphone and grinned at each other.
"You take Liz's part" Beca heard Chloe mutter. "I don't think I can hit the notes" she said. Aubrey nodded confidently.
Beca frowned when the music started and she couldn't immediately recognize the song. Only Jessica's gasp of surprise and "Oh my god they're singing Take A Hint from Victorious" did Beca realize that they were singing something from the TV show.
Chloe:
Why am I always hit on by the boys I never like
I can always see 'em comin' from the left and from the right
Aubrey:
I don't wanna be a priss
I'm just tryin' be polite
But it always seems to bite me in the
Both:
Ask me for my number
Yeah you put me on the spot
You think that we should hook up
But I think that we should not
Chloe:
You had me at hello then you opened up your mouth
And that is when it started going south
Both girls hopped off the stage then as they continued to sing. The patrons in the bar all seemed to be enjoying it and Beca couldn't stop smiling.
Both:
Oh!
Get your hands off my hips
Before I punch you in the lips
Stop your staring at my
Hey!
Beca blushed when Chloe sent a wink at her before quickly turning around again.
Take a hint
Take a hint
No you can't buy me a drink
Let me tell you what I think
I think you could use a mint
Take a hint
Take a hint
Just take a hint
Take a hint
Chloe:
I guess you still don't get it
So let's take it from the top
Aubrey:
You asked me what my sign is and I told you it was stop
Chloe grinned when Aubrey held up her hand in imitation of the lyrics before singing her next line. Both girls were dancing around the bar and playfully flirting with different customers much to everyone's enjoyment.
Chloe:
And if I had a dime for every name that you just dropped
Both:
You'd be here and I'd be on a yacht
Oh!
Get your hands off my hips
Gonna punch you in the lips
Stop your starin' at my
Hey!
Take a hint
Take a hint
No you can't buy me a drink
Let me tell you what I think
I think you could use a mint
Take a hint
Take a hint
Take a hint
Take a hint
Take a hint
What about no don't you get
So go and tell your friends
I'm not really interested
Chloe:
It's about time that your leavin'
Aubrey:
I'm gonna count to three and
Open my eyes and
Both:
You'll be gone
Aubrey:
One
Chloe:
Get your hands off my...
Aubrey:
Two
Chloe:
Or I'll punch you in the...
Aubrey:
Three
Chloe:
Stop your staring at my...
Both:
Hey!
Take a hint
Take a hint
I am not your missing link
Let me tell you what I think
I think you could use a mint
Take a hint
Take a hint
Take a hint
Take a hint
Beca's eyes widened as Chloe stalked over to her, never breaking eye contact. The redhead grinned suspiciously as she continued to sing with Aubrey who was on the other side of the bar. She circled seductively around Beca's seat and the younger fidgeted slightly as she tried not to stare at the girl dancing playfully around her. Chloe winked at her again before she and Aubrey both headed back up to the stage for the last part of the song.
Get your hands off my hips
Or I'll punch you in the lips
Stop your staring at my
Hey!
Take a hint
Take a hint
Take a hint
Take a hint
Chloe and Aubrey handed the microphones back to the stage manager and stepped off the stage with grins on their faces as the entire bar applauded them.
Beca hit Chloe lightly on the arm as she sat back down.
"That was awesome!" she said honestly. Chloe smiled sweetly at her.
"Aubrey and I love that song. We first heard it in freshman year and we always sing it in the car" Chloe said with a laugh. Beca chuckled lightly and watched as a couple who had been sitting quietly at a table stepped up to sing the next song. My Heart Will Go On started playing Beca resisted the urge to groan, this couldn't end well.
Chloe laughed at Beca's expression but found herself struggling to tune out the off key voices of the two on stage.
"So are you going to sing? Actually, I don't think I'm going to give you an option. What are you going to sing?" Chloe asked with a look.
Beca raised an eyebrow at her. "Well I guess you'll just have to wait and see, Beale" she said, taking a sip of her drink. Chloe smirked and did the same, leaning back in her chair.
After the couple had stepped down and then Fat Amy had performed a rap of her own creation Beca stood up quietly and headed to the stage. The Bellas all cheered and Beca shot them a smile as she scrolled through the songs on the stage manager's computer. She smirked when she saw what she was looking for and motioned for the guy to play it. He nodded when she told him she didn't need the lyrics on the screen, just the background music. She already knew all the lyrics.
Beca winked at Chloe as the red heads jaw dropped as soon as Swagger Jagger by Cher Lloyd started up.
Stacie and Denise both grinned as the song started and hurried to the stage to join her. Beca grinned at them and the three continued to sing. The crowd seemed to love it and Beca couldn't have wiped the smile off her face if she tried. Sure this party wasn't a rager in L.A., at the hottest club around, and she wasn't surrounded by celebrities; but she was surrounded by friends, in a tacky yet awesome karaoke bar, and she had to admit to herself that this was the best birthday party she had ever had. She hadn't had this much fun in a while.
As the song finished her eyes shot to the door when a loud yell rang through the bar.
"Becaw!"
She frowned slightly but smiled when she realized it was Jesse. The only problem was that he was surrounded by the rest of the Trebles, much to Aubrey's dismay.
Jesse and the Trebles made their way over to Beca as she stepped off the stage with Denise and Stacie. Within seconds the rest of the Bellas were at her side and the two groups stood across from each other, the Trebles amused, the Bellas angry. Jesse pulled Beca into a warm hug with a grin.
"Happy Birthday!" he said as he released her.
"Uh-" she started but Aubrey cut her off quickly.
"What the hell are you doing here, Bumper?" she asked, stepping forward to stand next to Beca.
"Relax, Pukey. We're here for our boy here. He just wants to surprise his girl for her birthday" he said, crossing his arms over her chest.
Beca's eyes widened.
"I'm not, he's not, we're not-" Beca stuttered out, looking wildly around at her teammates. Chloe gave her an unreadable look but luckily Aubrey spoke up again.
"Yes well he can do that another time, this is a Bellas event" she said.
"Aw come on, Aubrey! Let us stay!" pleaded Jesse, his eyes wide. Beca was torn. She did like Jesse as a friend, but him calling her his girl was kind of weird and she wasn't sure she wanted that. But maybe she had been leading him on by hanging out with him a few times.
"Beca?" asked Chloe. Aubrey, Chloe, and the rest of the Bellas were all waiting for her to make a decision on the Trebles presence.
"I, well, you shouldn't have just shown up here, Jesse" she said quietly. He looked dejected but instantly grinned when she kept going. "But I guess since you're here you can stay. It is a party after all." He put his arm around her and squeezed.
Beca met Chloe's gaze, but the redhead turned away quickly. Aubrey was mad at her, it was obvious. But the rest of the Bellas seemed fine, as did the Trebles, so Beca hoped it would be okay.
Jesse kept his arm around Beca the whole night unfortunately. Beca had tried to shrug it off a few times because she felt very hot but he just left it there uncomfortably. Chloe had moved to the opposite side of the table and hadn't talked to Beca since the Trebles had arrived. Beca decided the only solution to her situation was to drink, a lot.
Two hours later Chloe and Aubrey were practically dragging a very drunk Beca into the apartment.
"Thank you guys for everything tonight" Beca slurred out as they tossed her onto the couch. Aubrey didn't say anything but simply huffed and stalked into the kitchen. Chloe sat down next to her though.
"Sorry about the Trebles, Chloe. I wanted you to sit with me tonight. They shouldn't have shown up" Beca wasn't even sure what she was saying but Chloe was looking at her with those bright blue eyes and she looked kind of sad and Beca just wanted her to smile.
The corner of Chloe's mouth twitched up softly.
"You're drunk, Beca" she said quietly. "Do you always get drunk at parties?"
Beca shook her head quickly at the redhead who smiled for a second at how ridiculous she looked.
"Only when I feel uncomfortable. I told you I wanted you with me tonight" she said, before she threw her head back with a sigh because Chloe wasn't seeming to get it.
"Alright, Beca. You're forgiven. Good night" said Chloe, standing up. Beca's eyes went wide.
"Wait!" she hissed loudly, grabbing Chloe's hand and pulling her face towards hers. Their faces were inches apart and Chloe could have sworn that her heart stopped for a brief second.
"You're really great" Beca said, grinning at her with her head tilted to the side. Chloe smiled. Drunk Beca was actually adorable. Then she suddenly blushed as Beca pressed her lips to the tip of her nose and nodded like this kiss solidified the fact that Chloe was great.
"Night" said Beca, releasing her hand and flopping back onto the couch. She was asleep within seconds and most likely would not remember anything after the point when the Trebles showed up. But Chloe would never forget it.
The red head looked down at the sleeping girl for a second, trying to control her heart rate to no avail. She grabbed her present for Beca off her bed where she had forgotten to bring it to the bar and placed it on the coffee table for Beca when she woke up.
A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long to upload! It's quite long, my longest yet actually! Thank you all for reviewing I love reading them and I love hearing honest opinions on the story! I'll try to get the next chapter out soon.