After the meeting with David, Beca was restless and her suffering increased daily as nothing was happening. David had made the call as promised on the following Monday to initiate the discussions, but a meeting with New York kept getting delayed, as the required decision-makers were unavailable or not yet identified. She checked with David for updates several times during the week, and he was always still waiting for a call back from someone in New York.

The week dragged on. By Friday afternoon, Beca wasn't a single step closer to New York. And by that time she hadn't spoken to Chloe in almost two weeks. She had too easily established daily texts as her way to sustain her message of 'we're getting there'.

Beca M [19.12] : Sorry Chloe. I want us to be together too but it looks like it will take a little longer that I'd hoped. Just give me a little more time.

Beca M [18.05] : There are things that are out of my control - incredibly frustrating

Beca M [18.05] : I'm going to try to get it all resolved next week. We shouldn't have to wait much longer.

Chloe would understand. During the retreat, she had been so patient with Beca even though it was the antithesis of Chloe's personality. Chloe, despite preferring directness, doesn't pressure her. It was the same now - that's how Beca interpreted Chloe's bare responses to her texts.

Beca was focused on that eventual happy outcome, and she knew Chloe would love the surprise. She was a sucker for a grand gesture of love, and coming from a cynic like Beca, it couldn't fail.

oOoOo

Chloe spent the first few days of her second week back in New York trying to ignore the sick feeling inside, and the cause of it. But by the weekend she was starting to face it. It was looking likely that she was going to get her heart broken, and she should have known. She should have made better decisions two weeks earlier. Beca still had not called, nor had she said anything significant via text.

She met Ben as usual on Sunday, marking two weeks since the reunion ended. She was definitely still not loved-up or full of smiles. Before he could ask about Beca she jumped in to speak first.

"Ben, can we talk about overseas volunteer roles for me this summer?" The topic had never been mentioned since she'd returned from the reunion, until two days ago it had been low priority compared to her main focus.

"Really Chloe, now?" She anticipated Ben would be surprised by the request, but not this show of exasperation.

"It's too late anyway. It would take a few weeks to get the on-boarding done and there is a minimum three month commitment expected. You wouldn't have enough time before you would need to return to work. But more importantly, let's talk about you and Beca."

She wasn't trying to avoid the subject of Beca - with Ben that would be impossible anyway, and it was obviously the driver for the idea of volunteering now.

"I've been thinking about quitting for a while, even before the reunion. You've always been banging on about what a great career move this would be for me, so why not now?"

"I never suggested quitting your job, and your timing is pretty interesting Chloe."

"My timing is perfect Ben. You were right - I shouldn't wait around for her to make up her mind if she's in love with me too. It's been two weeks and all I get from her is texts asking me to wait. Beca wants more time so maybe if I'm gone for a few months that will be enough for her to figure it out."

"So you're testing her?"

Chloe didn't see it as testing Beca, she just had to measure how their relationship had expanded. Beca had said that she forgets about her feelings for Chloe when she's was not around, so Chloe needed to find out how much that had changed after what happened between them during the reunion. Or know that it hadn't changed at all.

"No that's not it Ben. I just can't spend the next six months checking my phone every day for some contact from her, and watch as she starts sending fewer and fewer messages and with her getting more and more distant. I can't do that again."

"I still don't get why you won't just call her. That's what I meant about not waiting."

"Because it's always me that calls her first, it's always me initiating the conversation. It's her turn to make the next move."

"And you're sure you're not testing her?"

"I would just really like it if she could make the effort this time. It doesn't have to be a grand gesture – a phone call would be enough right now."

"What I'm hearing is that you haven't completely given up - there is still a chance, right? All she has to do is call you." She had hoped for more support from him, that he would see it the same way she did, not that he would challenge her or force her to consider she might be making a mistake.

"Beca doesn't call when things are tricky, she texts. So actually a call from her this week could be considered a grand gesture. It's very unlikely."

"But there is still a chance, right?" He said smiling, still challenging her.

"If I say 'maybe' can we talk about the volunteering?" It annoyed her that he'd got her to admit to 'maybe' in under five minutes, and that he was being a bit smug about it.

"Ok, sure we can Chloe." He explained the details, locations and prerequisites for participating in the volunteer program as though she were any other candidate. He answered all her questions earnestly. He didn't mention Beca's name once during the quarter hour they spent working out which project would suit Chloe best.

As the discussion was wrapping up she asked, "One last question, would I have to stay here in New York until the on-boarding is complete?"

"I'm not sure. I'll check with the team tomorrow and call you."

She picked up the menu and ignored how he continued looking at her.

"So, are you going to tell Beca if you do this?" he asked.

"If she calls me I will. Otherwise no I'm not. If she wants to know what's going on in my life she should ask me.

"I wonder how long it will take before she even notices that I'm gone."

"Chloe, ..." he started to say. She wasn't interested in his pleading or the unwanted advice that was sure to follow. She was allowed to be a bit stubborn after what Beca had been putting her through for the past two weeks.

"Can we just order now, and change the subject please?"

oOoOo

The day of the initial conference call between Beca and all the relevant personnel at the collaborating studio in New York finally came around. Beca had anxiously counted the days that were passing since she had seen or talked to Chloe. This has already taken too long.

As soon as the meeting ended, Beca turned to David, "What happens next? And how long will it take?" she asked.

"They will call me to indicate if they are interested in proceeding further. And I think they probably will Beca. From there, we will work out the details of the contract."

"But once they say they are interested, that's a go, right? And when do you expect them to call you?" She didn't care that she wasn't able to control her agitation.

"Well, yes, in theory. But be aware that things can collapse at the negotiating stage, so if I were you I wouldn't go making any promises to your girlfriend until you see a contract."

She was surprised by his familiarity, not only for referring to her girlfriend but also his curiously appropriate advice about making promises. She didn't realise immediately how she was the one who had changed the dynamic between them. He dropped by her desk a few hours later to let her know they had already called back and although it was unofficial at this point, and details still had to be finalised, she would almost certainly be going to New York.

The second he walked away, she pulled out her phone and texted Chloe.

Beca M [17.12] : I am this close to some very big news! Finally! I promise I will call you in the next few days.

She wouldn't say more, though it was killing her. It would have to placate Chloe a little longer as she was sticking to David's advice to wait for a signed contract. She saw that her text message had been seen, but Chloe didn't reply.

She and David both called and pressed daily for a contract to be finalised. She signed it a few days later in the knowledge that initially she should be able to get to New York at least once a month for several days each time. When she also got a few days leave approved for the following week, she finally felt relieved, and then overwhelmed with happiness as she realised what this meant for her and Chloe's future together.

Beca was aware that the way they had communicated since the reunion had been odd. She couldn't ignore the fact that they hadn't talked at all, and Chloe hadn't replied to her recent messages. Overriding that though, was how excited she was about sharing this news with Chloe now that it was confirmed. And she had to be there to see Chloe's face when she tells her about her new contract and working in New York. And when she tells Chloe that she loves her.

After the last two weeks she had to go big to make it up to Chloe so she hooked onto the idea of a surprise visit to New York. For that, she was going to need some help.

All she knew about Ben was his first name and that he worked for an NGO in the field of education. It only took an hour of searching the internet for matching organisations based in New York, and eventually she found a profile for a Ben Graham on the website of one of the organisations. There was a picture which she recognised was definitely him, and a short text about his career, which Beca read in the vain hope that it would give her some insight into how to talk to him. Though unprepared, she dialled the number under his profile.

"Welcome to LFA International, my name is Andrea, how may I direct your call?" The receptionist asked robotically.

"Could I speak to Ben Graham, please?"

"Certainly, may I ask who is calling?" Her polite language didn't match her bored monotone.

Beca was suddenly anxious to give her name, given the nature of the call and her uncertainty about how he would react to it.

"Oh, he won't know me, I got his name from a friend, I wanted to talk about ... um ..."

"Just a name is fine." Andrea interrupted impatiently.

"Sorry. My name's Becky."

Andrea didn't reply. There was just a click on the line, followed by a pause of a few seconds.

"Ben Graham speaking."

"Hi. Ben. This is Beca Mitchell. We met at a wedding last year. You were there with Chloe Beale."

After a few seconds of silence he replied, "Yeah, I know who you are."

Beca was not deflated by his lack of enthusiasm, but it was going to be awkward talking about Chloe with him. She didn't know how much Chloe has shared with him, but he almost certainly knew a lot more about what had been going on in Chloe's head recently.

"Right. Well, I guess you know about me and Chloe and, all that."

"Yeah Beca, I know. Why are you calling me?"

"So I need your help with something."

"Really?" he replied. She ignored his dismissive tone. She would win him over, and then she would win Chloe over.

"I'm coming to New York this weekend and I want to make it a surprise for Chloe. Could you distract her and make sure she doesn't make other plans?" She continued.

"Where the hell have you been for the last few weeks, Beca?"

"I know, I know. It just took a little longer than I expected."

"And you assumed she would wait? She doesn't want to hear from you. No, I'm not getting involved in this."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing, just, you've left it too late Beca. Look I have to go."

"No listen, I have so much to tell her and I know we can work it out now," she said.

"You should have done something weeks ago." He didn't sound angry now, just jaded. Before ending the call, he finally said "I am sorry Beca."

Beca felt numb as she heard the dial tone of someone hanging up on her. She had not anticipated it going quite so badly. Why wouldn't he help her? She reassessed what she knew of Ben, trying to find an explanation. According to the story Chloe told, he hadn't dated since his divorce. But perhaps he had moved on, to Chloe. And now he had his opportunity to swoop in and pursue her while she was confused and vulnerable over Beca.

Beca was disasterising again and her theory just didn't make sense. Chloe said there was never anything else between them. And that he thought she and Beca made a good couple. Beca was jealous of Ben, but not because he was a rival for Chloe's love. She envied the friendship they had. He knew about Chloe's parting words in Atlanta, and that Beca hadn't yet fully acknowledged or reciprocated them. He must know about all of that. He would have been privy to exactly what Chloe thought about everything that happened at the reunion and everything since. Beca wanted to be included in that.

So accepting that there was truth in what he said, then Beca had been wearing blinders - Chloe hadn't been being patient or giving her time. Beca may have misjudged that, but once Chloe learned why Beca needed that time and the outcomes of her efforts, it would change her mind.

Beca had to discard the surprise visit idea. She needed to tell Chloe all of it right away. No more waiting. But calling Chloe's number felt so foreign now plus she didn't know if she could hold her nerve and convince Chloe to listen to her. After all those pleading texts, Chloe might not hear Beca out either, and cut her off just like Ben had. So Beca chose to put it all in writing, with more text messages.

As she started typing, the messaging app told her that ''Chloe Beale is offline". She could write everything without interruption, and then wait for Chloe to respond when she had absorbed it all.

Beca M [10:45] : Chloe, I want you to know what's been going on since we said goodbye in Atlanta

Beca M [10:47] : After I watched you drive away I typed 2 different messages to send you but I couldn't decide which to send. So I'm going to send you both now (Actually I wrote about 20, these were the final 2 options)

Beca M [10:50] : The 1st was - This week has been so special, I wish we could be together

Beca M [10:51] : And the 2nd was - I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.

Beca M [10:54] : I think you are probably a bit upset with me right now for leaving it so long. I am sorry. You know how I have to figure everything out on my own

Beca M [10:55] : The truth is my heart was breaking, being away from you. That week wasn't enough but I couldn't promise you anything more

Beca M [10:56] : So I've been trying to find a way for us

Beca M [10:56] : And I did!

Beca M [10:57] : I am coming to New York next weekend to see you. We have to talk about us while I'm there

Beca M [10:57] : And I will be coming to New York a lot in the future

Beca M [11:02] : Here's what took me so long - I was negotiating a new contract so that I can take on work regularly in New York too. It will probably be a once or twice a month for now, but I can renegotiate in the future

Beca M [11:03] : It's not a marriage proposal but it is a commitment

Beca M [11:03] : And one other thing, in case it wasn't clear...

Beca M [11:04] : I love you too Chloe Beale. I'm in love with you.