A/N: This is still in Chloe's POV.
Since finals are a-calling (even though I don't take exams anymore – yey!) I do have some tutoring duties to fulfill. To that end, I'll be focusing my attention to that for a while. Next chapters for 'Written in the Stars' will be posted on Wednesday (which may or may not be the first of my two-part riff-off chapters :D).
Good luck to those with finals! :D You all can do it! ;D (if you need study tips or anything – like an inspirational/motivational boost – feel free to drop a line :P)
I don't own pitch perfect.
The hall was amazing, set-up with the pale blue and white lights that gave the perfect winter wonderland vibe as Christmas was just around the corner.
Chloe had to admit, she was impressed that in a span of two weeks Alex managed to meet all of Adrianne's demands.
The hall was filled with so many guests already as she and Beca checked in their coats and made their way in. Soon Chloe found the table where the Bellas and Alice were, Jesse, Benji, and Bumper went to the bar to get the ladies their drinks.
Beca quickly kissed Chloe's cheek as soon as the redhead settled down. "You sure this is okay with you?"
"For crying out loud Beca, I already told you so many times that it's fine. This is a good chance for you to showcase your talent." Chloe replied.
"I know, it's just, Alex personally dropped by the apartment to invite all of us for this gala along with hiring me as the main DJ, and that thing with the games... then she kept on dropping by to make sure everything was okay for my set-list…"
"And I didn't scratch her eyes out, so I think you should trust that your girlfriend here has set aside her issues with your former… captor-slash-girlfriend, at least for now. Go set-up and show the current DJ a thing or two." Chloe said with a wink and Beca smirked before giving her another quick kiss on the cheek just as she left.
"Are you sure there's no ulterior motive, though, Chlo? I mean, there is that weird set-up of a game thing in the invitation that Beca was talking about." Aubrey then said as soon as Beca was gone. She was concerned that Alex von Albrecht would be up to something once again.
The truth though was that Alex was.
But Aubrey didn't know that Chloe was in on it too.
Her and Adrianne.
"It's fine Bree. I don't think Alex would pull off anything." Chloe replied. "And I'll be keeping an eye on her the whole time. She did reassure that she's not part of the whole games thing as she'll be hosting the night so, you know, I'm keeping her to her word. Beca's giving her a chance too."
"So who did you enter the contest Red? I tried getting Bumper and me into the whole thing, but apparently, no married couples allowed." Amy then said.
Because yeah, in the span of the last year the two of them got hitched.
Amy claims her faith in love and romance was just further ignited by Beca and Chloe finally getting their chance.
"Me." Chloe simply replied. "We thought it'd be the safest bet. I think the whole date bid is interesting though, Alex said she'll explain the mechanics of it later. How about you guys? Oh, and where's the missus CR?"
"She's visiting her parents, her pops is sick." CR replied. "And clearly, I didn't enter the thing."
"I did." Emily said when it was her turn. They were going around the table. "Benji reassured me he'll do his best to win that date with me."
"Ashley entered, but I might try to win her." Jessica replied.
"Yeah, it's for a good cause anyways. Besides, they kind of required couples who weren't engaged or married to join with the single ladies and guys. They really wanted us to either participate as a bidder or someone to be bid on." Ashley then added.
"Is this your way of admitting to something, you guys?" Stacie teased and the Bellas simply turned to look at the two who simply shrugged with a pair of coy smiles. "Anyways, Lilly here said she was going to bid and as for us, we thought the safest bet was to let Aubrey join and for me to bid on her." Stacie then added.
"Yeah, I wasn't taking my chances on going against every guy and girl here for you Stace." Aubrey then replied.
"You sure that was a smart idea?" Chloe then asked. "I was getting a feeling that Alaric von Albrecht had a thing for you."
"Oh no worries about that ladies." Alaric said, as if on cue, placing a hand on Chloe's shoulder before tipping his head towards the bar.
Chloe took that as her own cue and excused herself claiming that she was going to grab herself a drink. She passed by the three Trebles with her friends' drinks on her way to the bar, keeping an eye on them and checking to make sure that Alaric was doing his best to distract the Bellas – particularly Aubrey – while she was gone.
That and to make sure she was being followed.
Just as Chloe reached her destination at the bar, Beca took the reins over providing the music for the party. Chloe watched as her girlfriend did her thing, clearly impressing the crowd as the dance floor was quickly occupied. She saw a few famous people, particularly artists that Beca could definitely work with too.
She had to hand it to Adrianne for plotting all of this.
"She really is amazing. Wish I could do that too. Did you know that she started playing around with mixing when she was nine? She's always been that talented." Adrianne wistfully said, beaming as she watched Beca be in her element.
Chloe smiled before looking at Adrianne. "Well aren't you looking all dapper?" she noted – Adrianne wearing a black suit, fedora and all – as she casually leaned on the bar.
Adrianne took of the suit – she was wearing a black dress shirt with the top buttons open along with thin black suspenders – handing it over to Nate who was looking equally dapper himself. Next to Nate was Sara in a gorgeous white evening gown.
Adrianne then shrugged. "And you're looking equally impressive." she replied, noting the sexy black dress Chloe was wearing. "We're gonna' have a hard time fending off suitors for you."
"How about Sara? I thought you said you weren't planning to bring her tonight in case."
"I'm undercover with Nate." Sara said pointing on the fake wedding ring the two of them were wearing. "Besides, I need to see Beca myself." she excitedly said.
Chloe let out a bit of laughter – apparently Adrianne was the jealous type – before quickly glancing at her fully preoccupied friends and Beca who quickly shot her a glance just then.
There was a lingering stare at Adrianne for a while before Beca focused back on what she was doing.
Something that didn't escape both Chloe and Adrianne's attention. "I think she saw us talking. You don't think she recognized you, do you?" Chloe asked.
And Adrianne shook her head. "No, I think she's just curious as to who's chatting with her beloved muse. You should grab your drink and head back to your friends. We'll just be here. Best we not get her suspicious."
Chloe nodded and returned to her seat, Alaric taking that as his cue to mingle with the other guests.
Beca set the tone for the night, setting the dancefloor a blaze with her genius mixes and Chloe watched completely mesmerized.
She'll never get over how amazing her girlfriend was.
Every now and then she would sneak a glance at Adrianne who looked equally enthralled and proud of her big sis.
Soon though Alex got up on the stage and announced what the evening was about, first thanking an anonymous sponsor – aka Adrianne Sinclair, but no one else needed to know that – for making the night's festivities possible. As such, it was the deepest wishes of said sponsor to make the benefit even more fun by adding a few special twists in the night's events.
Donations were welcome from all guests that was for sure but as for the other fundraising events?
They were having a date auction.
The date would be sponsored by the same mysterious benefactor of said event.
And documented for fun.
Everyone seemed to be okay with this since it was a good way for couples to win a sponsored date if they won, and if not, it was a good way to possible network with other people.
Because yes, all guests, even couples for as long as they aren't married or engaged, were to register as a bidder or a participant for the event. To engage in the bidding and win a date with the participant, the guests needed to pay some sort of fee.
Apparently the rules of the games were different for the bachelor and bachelorette bids.
Because it wouldn't be fun if it were just straight up bidding.
The rule on the participation fee would be the same though.
Just like the rule that if one registers as a bidder then they can't be a participant that would be bid on.
If a registered bidder would want to bid on a guest, then they just need to bid on the starting amount.
Other bidders can participate by agreeing on the same starting bid as their participation fee or they can jack up the amount by bidding higher to discourage other bidders. Once no one else bids, then the contests starts. Everyone had to pay their bids, even if they didn't win – something that Adrianne was sure would be okay since most of the guests were wealthy enough to not really care.
And again, it was for a good cause.
For the guys, there would be a series of simple carnival games that the bidders need to compete against each other. It would be different for the ladies and Alex said that she'll explain the rules for that when the time comes.
So far all the bachelors were called and set up in different areas of the hall.
And the bidding was on.
As the games progressed Alex revealed that the guests can also bet on who they thought would win the date.
Yet another way to raise the funds for the cause.
At one point one of the guests in table next to the Bellas – a gentleman with a fascinating mustache – commented that the events were probably sponsored by that kid again, as the well-thought out fun design of the games to quickly raise the funds would fit her MO, which gained Aubrey's curiosity.
But before Aubrey could ask him about who he was talking about the Bellas started to get rowdy, cheering on Lilly as she was winning her game.
Some sort of shoot-out contest.
The Bellas erupted in cheers when Lilly won all while Stacie erupted in laughter. When Chloe looked up to see what it was all about, she too couldn't help but laugh. She chanced a quick side-glance at Beca who was setting the mood for the contests and saw her sniggering at the turn of events.
Something that Adrianne Sinclair had mimicked as Chloe quickly looked over where she was with Nate and Sara.
Apparently Lilly had won a date with none other than Alaric von Albrecht.
The night was just starting and things were already getting interesting.
And things were only getting started.