Chapter 36

Chloe's POV

Aubrey had convinced me to walk around campus for some fresh air after one of my daily cry sessions... Believe me I was not proud of those. We got some coffee and talked about some random things as we were in our way to the on campus cafe to get some lunch, even thought I wasn't hungry.

I hadn't heard from Beca in a few days and I started to get worried. She didn't answer my texts, neither did she answer my calls. I got a sick feeling in my stomach just thinking about what could've happened to her which mostly ended up with me bawling my eyes out and Aubrey trying to comfort me. I had asked so much from her the past few weeks, past few months. She was there for me when I cried or got a panic attack after a nightmare. Those nightmares were always about Beca, well about Beca getting hurt or worse...

As we were walking around campus Aubrey suddenly stood still and grinned. I frowned as she looked past me.

"Look a new freshman." She pointed at a small brunette walking around with her bags.

"A freshman in the middle of the year?" Then the brunette looked familiar... The brunette looked into our way. Our eyes met and it was enough for me to see who it was and the same went for Aubrey as I heard her gasp. Without a word I walked away from Aubrey.

"Chloe, wait." I stood still without taking my eyes off the brunette. "You have to choose now Chloe... What if she hurts you again?" I couldn't tell Aubrey was worried, I could hear the concern in her voice. She wanted me to be safe, to be happy again, I knew that. A lot of thoughts ran through my mind. What if Aubrey was right? She had left me before... Maybe she didn't even want me back? My eyes started to fill up with tears at that thought, because I couldn't imagine a life without Beca. I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to move on if things ended between us. My heart had been broken too many times and I wasn't sure if it could handle another crack. Only Beca could heal the scars she had caused, only she could make the hurt go away.

"Please Chloe, I don't want to see you get hurt anymore... I know you love her but make the right decision..." I turned around and smiled. When I glanced at the brunette who stood a few feet away, frozen in her place, my mind was made up.

"Thank you Aubrey, but Beca is my decision. She has always been my decision," I said softly and I felt a weigh fall off my shoulders. Beca was the one I choose, even if it meant I had to go through the pain, I knew it would be worth it.

Aubrey nodded. "If that's your decision I would be the worst friend if I didn't support you." I smiled. "Now go! Go get your life back." I turned around and walked, well almost ran, into the brunette's way.

Beca's POV

I saw the redhead coming my way and everything around her seemed to disappear. I dropped my bags and quickly moved towards her, my heart pounding against my ribs. Our walking turned into running and before I knew it I finally had Chloe back in my arms again. She collapsed into my arms and gripping onto me as I held her tight burying my face in the dip of her neck. I smelled the strawberry scent of her shampoo she loved so much and felt the warmth of her skin on mine, which gave me chills all over my body. It felt so good to have her back in my arms, to hold her again. It felt like she brought all my broken pieces together and made me feel whole again just by holding me. Her warm, unsteady breath reached my skin and I could feel her heart race against her chest, matching mine.

I pulled back a little and cupped her cheek with my hand as I looked into her eyes. Those bright blue eyes that made me feel home again and reminded me that she was my safe haven.

"Please tell me I'm not dreaming..." Chloe begged with tears in her eyes. I shook my head caressing her cheek with my thumb and wiping away the tear that rolled down her cheek. Chloe closed her eyes and let out a wavering sigh as she leaned into my touch.

"Don't worry Chloe, it's me. It's really me and this is not a dream. But if it were a dream, I hope I would never wake up." I whispered as I kissed her lips briefly. Chloe kissed me back and wrapped her arms around my neck. A sting of pain shot through my shoulder and with a gasp I pulled back. That stupid shoulder!

"What's wrong?!" Chloe asked confused, concern troubling her blue eyes. I pushed away the jacket that was around my shoulders and showed Chloe the sling avoiding her eyes. "What happened?!" She asked with widened eyes immediately stepping away from me.

"I might got shot again..." I mumbled reaching out for her hand to not loose contact. She let me and I tugged at her hand to bring her closer again.

"You what?! Beca!"

"I know I know, but I did it for Hailey..."

"Really?" Chloe's face softened again. I nodded. I stepped a little closer to Chloe and laid my arm around her waist. I couldn't take my eyes off of her, trying to take in every detail I had missed so much. From her bright blue eyes, you couldn't really not see those, to the delicate freckles that covered her nose and cheeks. Beca's eyes darted to her lips for a second before kissing her again. The feeling of Chloe's lips on her own made her knees buckle and her head spin.

"I love you, Chloe," I said just above a whisper when I pulled back again," I shouldn't have ever left you like that... And I'm sorry for that. Please forgive me... I don't want a life without you... You're too special to me. I spent every night that I was away thinking about you, hoping that maybe I'd be lucky enough to see you in my dreams. I missed you like crazy and I hated myself for it because I knew I had no one to blame for it but myself. I tried to convince myself that It was better this way, but it wasn't. You are my world Chloe, please let me be yours again..." Chloe looked at the ground and the silence was killing me...

But then kissed me.

"I love you, too, Beca. Please don't ever let go again." She whispered as I felt her warm breath on my lips. She pulled me into a hug and I let out a breath I had been holding.

"I promise, I'll never let you go, Chloe."

She nodded weakly and kissed my shoulder. She didn't say it but the gesture was enough to tell me that she would let me be hers again.