As was usually customary after a Saturday game, most of the girls would head over to Chloe and Aubrey's apartment for the night. So, after getting back to campus around 8 the girls all headed back to their dorms to shower and change. That's how Beca found herself sitting in one of the chairs in the senior's apartment, idly sipping a beer. For the moment, Beca was enjoying watching the other girls laugh and have fun. But Beca had told herself that she would at least try and be a bit more social tonight. She liked most the girls on the team, and she wanted to develop some friendships with them as they would all be teammates for the next couple of years.
Just then another freshman, Jessica, sat down next to Beca on the couch. Jessica was one of the seven freshmen on the team. Her and Beca had struck up a friendship early on when they realized they were in two classes together. Beca had been the only freshman to start so far this season but Jessica had seen a lot of playing time as a substitute at forward. "Hey Beca, sitting with all your friends?" Jessica joked as she sat down. "Oh totally, people just seem to flock to me" Beca joked back. Beca had found that Jessica was an easy person to talk to and they often joked back and forth. As Jessica offered Beca another beer the two struck up a conversation about an upcoming test they were having in their Introduction to Psychology course, a class all freshman had to take.
Beca was so caught up in her tirade about how she didn't know how she was ever going to pass the course that she wouldn't have noticed that Chloe had joined them on the couch if not for the dip in the cushions and the sudden arm being flung around her shoulders. She didn't even have to turn around to know who the arm belonged to. "Come on ladies, don't you know there's no school work talk allowed on a Saturday night" Chloe informed the girls. Jessica quickly acquiesced to her captains request and instead stood up saying "Yeah, I can't blame you for making that a rule. I'm going to go grab another drink". Jessica's exit made it so that Beca and Chloe were alone together, with Chloe's arm still around Beca.
Beca suddenly felt nervous. Her close proximity to the redhead was sending a rush of emotions through her. She had been feeling these emotions more and more around Chloe. There were many things that she enjoyed about the senior. She enjoyed how easy it was to talk to Chloe and how Chloe always seemed to respect Beca and not push the conversation if Beca didn't want to talk about something. She loved the way that they interacted together at practice. They were both competitive and so Beca loved how Chloe never held back. And then of course, Beca enjoyed being in the redhead's company in general. She had told herself she wouldn't get involved with anyone, and she really wanted to stick to that but her resolve was slowly crumbling when it came to the senior.
Caught up in her thoughts about the girl sitting next to her, Beca almost missed Chloe's comment. "I know I said no school talk, but just so you know, I can help you out in psychology if you want. I'm getting my minor in it". Chloe wanted to help Beca in her classes for two reasons. She genuinely liked the younger girl and so she wanted to see her succeed. She also wanted to use it as an excuse to get closer to Beca. Chloe had never been one to get involved with teammates. She didn't want an off field relationship with a teammate to affect their on field one too. Lately, Chloe had been coming up with excuses as to why it might be different with Beca. She decided that her most logical reason was that this was her last season and so, no matter what happened between her and Beca, she wouldn't have to worry about it affecting their on field relationship past this season. And Chloe was starting to think more and more that she wanted an off field relationship with the freshman.
Beca thanked Chloe for the offer of help and found herself seriously considering taking Chloe up on that offer. Deciding that she was going to be more outgoing tonight, Beca offered to get her and Chloe another beer and so left the redhead alone on the couch for a minute. When Beca came back she frowned when she noticed some guy she didn't recognize sitting in her place. Chloe, for her part, was being friendly towards the guy but Beca also noticed that Chloe seemed like she was getting bored with her current company. Normally, Beca would have delivered the beer to Chloe and then moved on to find another place to sit. For some reason though Beca was feeling confident and so when she handed the senior her drink, she sat back down with Chloe between her and the unknown guy. Chloe seemed happy for both the drink and for the return of Beca. Turning away from the guy and towards Beca, Chloe said "Aww thanks, that was sweet of you". Beca could only blush. When Chloe didn't return her attention to the guy he decided to get up and leave.
This was how much of the evening continued. Some random guy would come over to talk to Chloe, she would be polite for a few minutes before giving her full attention back to Beca. Periodically, Beca would get up to retrieve the redhead another drink. Sometime throughout the night people stopped even trying to come say hello to Chloe and simply left the two girls alone. Eventually, Beca noticed that the number of people at the party had dwindled. She didn't want to overstay her welcome so she decided to call it a night.
"Well, I should probably get going. Thanks for the party" Beca said while getting up from the couch.
"I should be thanking you. You got me drinks all night and kept me company. Not to mention, it kept all those guys away. I hate when they try to hit on me. Like, hello! I'm gay!"
She didn't know why, but this revelation surprised Beca. She had thought that the senior might play on the same team as her, but hearing Chloe confirm it was different. Beca felt both happy and nervous about this confirmation. For one, it meant that there was a chance that Chloe could like her too. And for the other, it meant that there was a chance Chloe could like her too. When Beca didn't say anything in return, Chloe's demeanor turned sour and she started to regret what she said. Beca noticed the change in Chloe and didn't want to see her upset.
"Walk me to the door?" Beca found herself asking, hoping to wipe away the suddenly sad look in Chloe's eyes. That question seemed to do the trick. Beca was prepared for Chloe to link her arm through hers, as she normally did. Instead, Chloe grabbed her hand and walked her to the door. As the two reached the door Chloe gave Beca a hug. In both girls minds, it didn't last long enough as neither girl wanted to take things too far. When Beca pulled back she paused by Chloe's ear and whispered "Good night Chlo". Those three words sent off a surge of butterflies in her, and as Beca closed the door, Chloe stood rooted to her spot, the biggest grin on her face.