Best Christmas Ever
Chapter 13
A Tale of Two Calls
As soon as Beca fired back, "you love it," Chloe wanted to immediately respond with, "I love you." A phrase not uncommon to utter between friends, especially in a banter-y kind of way, but Chloe knew better. She knew that the love she felt was well past the bit of friendly feelings now; she couldn't deny it anymore. Nor was this a new revelation, it had been for some time now. But the acknowledgment of those feelings at this moment with the physical presence of the woman responsible for those feelings lying directly beneath her was enough to momentarily short circuit Chloe's brain before she refocused her gaze deep into the storm blue eyes staring back at her.
Before she knew what she was doing, Chloe could feel her head lowering towards the young woman. The air between them grew heavy with every mingling breath as their faces drifted closer. Chloe couldn't help but allow her gaze to drop to the plush red lips she so badly ached to feel against her own. Subconsciously she licked her lips before shutting her eyes to allow herself the one thing she's been dreaming of for months now.
But then she felt the icy cold grip of life pull her backwards and sharply away from her desires. A freezing sensation shot through her body like a lightning bolt, eliciting a high pitched scream of fright that even she would be embarrassed about later.
Unaware of the intimate moment his sister was desperately wanting to share with their new houseguest, Chad had dumped a shovel full of snow on her back as the two young women had laid on the ground.
Not really paying attention to how the women were lying, just noticing his sister's vulnerability, Chad had jumped at the opportunity presented to him. With Chloe's attention diverted, and to enact revenge for his recent pelting, the tall redhead grabbed the shovel he had used to build the fort, and gathered up a huge shovel full of snow. He stealthily made his way quickly to his sister. Without hesitation, he lifted Chloe's jacket and sweater at her waist, and shoveled the snow up her back. He was more successful than he had hoped, because when he lifted Chloe's jacket he had bared her back, so the snow landed on bare skin. The older brother garnered the exact reaction he had been hoping for. Her screams of fright were music to his ears as he doubled over laughing.
As Chad laughed his ass off next to the two figures, Chloe spun off Beca and desperately tried to pull snow out front her jacket. She stood quickly as she hoped gravity would help her rid herself of the snow. As she managed to clear away most of the snow, she fumed as some melting snow slid into her underwear. At this point Chloe experienced multiple emotions and feelings flowing through her system… cold, shock, pain, anger, and the remainder of arousal being the most prominent… however, she settled on seething anger when her eyes landed on the now retreating figure in the snow. She thought about calling out to the petite brunette who was running for the house, but she was still in a complete state of shock and embarrassment and couldn't find the words. Instead of following, Chloe remained frozen, rooted to the ground, wondering how she could have possibly allowed herself to act on her impulses and nearly destroy her friendship with Beca.
What the Hell was that? What the fuck fucking FUCK! I almost kissed Beca! Am I out of my fucking mind?! Of course Beca would run!
Chloe's heart broke more as she watched Beca disappear into the house, then hardened as she heard Chad's laughter.
I'll kill him! I'll fucking KILL HIM!
With an anger Chloe had rarely felt Chloe took off in a full sprint towards the buffoon who had ruined everything.
"Chad you complete asshole!" She yelled at the top of her lungs. Chad recognized that there was no playful banter coming from his little sister, and the look of rage was enough to cause him to flee. He was too slow though and the furious redhead gained ground on the now fleeing man with each stride.
-~Merry Pitchm as 2021~-
For her part, Beca has a million thoughts fluttering through her mind right now. The biggest of which are complete surprise at the actions that just took place, and horrific, soul-crushing embarrassment she now felt after realizing she nearly kissed Chloe.
Then it dawned on her that other members of the Beale family may have witnessed what she almost did. Lifting herself off the snow and brushing herself off, Beca looked about like a cornered animal.
Not wanting to stick around to face that embarrassment, in addition to what she knew she would see when she looked into Chloe's eyes again, Beca ran off back to the house.
What was that, Mitchell? What the fuck was THAT! Are you out of your fucking mind?!
Racing past Catherine, who had been distracted by Colt, and missed everything, Beca muttered a quick excuse to Catherine about feeling tired and needing to go inside for a bit. She paused only a second at the door to glance back. She saw Chloe hadn't moved from the spot she had been standing when Beca ran.
She's so shocked by my behavior.
With deep regret, Beca ducked into the house and raced upstairs, wondering how she could have possibly allowed herself to nearly destroy her friendship with Chloe.
I have to go. I have to not be here right now.
Having allowed herself only a singular glance back towards the object of her current humiliation, she missed the redhead chasing then pummeling her older brother as she yelled at him.
Beca quickly made her way through the house and up the stairs, to Chloe's room and into the adjacent bathroom to lock herself away for the rest of her life.
-~Merry Pitchm as 2021~-
"You ass, why would you do that?!" Chloe yells angrily at her brother while smacking him in the shoulder repeatedly.
"Ow! What the Hell Chloe?!" Chad grunted as his sister was pummeling him.
"That was my moment! You Ass!"
"What? Stop hitting me!"
"We were just about to kiss," Chloe said, her voice losing its heat, being replaced by the sound of defeat. She stopped hitting her brother and just began to cry.
Realizing what he had done, he said, "Shit, I'm sorry Chlo, I had no idea, I swear!"
This just triggered his younger sister, and she started to punch him again. The older brother yelped against the renewed assault, he attempted to block his body from his sister's jabs.
"If I did, I definitely would have just let you guys make out in the snow like a couple of horny teens." He laughed apologetically.
Chloe's punches grew harder, and better aimed.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" Chad panted as he attempted to block the renewed assault.
"Chloe," Catherine called out; letting her daughter know she could see what was going on. With physical effort, Chloe stopped hitting her brother. She crawled off of him and knelt next to where Chad still lay.
"Uhg, I hate you sometimes." She smacked his shoulder once more for good measure before helping him up.
"No you don't, you love me. But don't worry, this is the most magical time of the year… or some lame crap like that that you always say, right?" He grinned, trying to lighten his sister's mood. "You two will probably have several opportunities to make out this week."
Chloe gave Chad a side glare, clearly not convinced by his words of encouragement.
"You don't know Beca like I do." The younger sister said in a worried tone as she scanned the backyard for the brunette, hoping she might have come back. Her heart dropped more when she could not see the alt-girl anywhere.
"Crap, I don't see her, Chad. She's probably completely freaking out right now. I've scared her off and now she'll probably want to leave and not be friends with me anymore. Oh my God, what have I done!" She turned to Chad with a look of panic in her eyes.
"Woah, woah, ChloBear, calm down, really it'll be okay." The older brother said, placing his hands firmly on his sister's shoulders in an attempt to ground her and calm her down. "Look at me, hey, it's fine. Maybe she just freaked out and left because she wanted to kiss you and doesn't think you wanted to kiss her. But that'd be a good thing right, cause she wants to kiss you?"
"I'm pretty sure that's not it at all. God, how could I be so stupid? I need to find her and apologize and tell her… I don't know, tell her something." Chloe sighed, unsure of what she'll possibly say to coax the brunette back out from wherever she ran off to. Chad simply gave her a sympathetic smile before leading them over to the patio where the rest of the family was starting to gather.
The snowball fight having been long over, the others had made their way towards the back of the house, clearing snow off their clothes as they chatted with one another. After shaking some snow out of the bottom of his pants, Charlie scooped up Colton and moved to open the back door for everyone just as Chloe and Chad finally reached the rest of the family. Wanting to resolve the awkwardness as soon as possible, Chloe spoke up to find out where the brunette had run off to.
"Anyone know where Beca went?"
-~Merry Pitchm as 2021~-
Upstairs in the bathroom adjacent to Chloe's bedroom, Beca was pacing in a frantic manner, flailing her right arm around as she held a phone to her ear with the other.
"Stacie," Beca all but shouted, the moment her call was answered. "Is now a good time? Can you talk?" Beca rushed out.
"Why hello to you too," Stacie answered.
"Hello," Beca practically spat. "Can you talk?"
"Sure short-stuff; I'll always make time for you," Stacie said in her most honey-sweet sultry voice.
Understanding that any conversation with Stacie was going to include flirting and sexual innuendo, Beca pressed on. "I really need to talk, Stace."
"So, what's up, my tiny lost lamb? Feel free to confide all your worries to me…" Stacie's exaggerated southern belle voice had completely pushed through Beca's panic, and allowed her to retell what had actually happened in the backyard; ending with the 'almost kiss'.
"But Stace, I almost kissed her!" She frantysaid, walking back and forth. "She's gonna hate me. I mean, I honestly don't even know how I'm going to face her now."
"Jesus Bec, what have we talked about? Breathe! Okay Chloe is not going to hate you," Stace answered through the phone.
"She is! I just know it. I don't even know why I'm still here. I should just go and…"
"Rebecca Penelope Mitchell, cool it!" Stacie yelled into the phone.
Beca immediately stopped her frantic rambling. "My middle name isn't Penelope," she said.
"I know," Stacie answered, "But I needed to get your attention."
"Fine," Beca grumbled.
"Fine, I won't. Now listen, Chloe is your…" Stacie scrunched her nose as she was about to say 'soulmate', as she truly believed Beca and Chloe were. Instead she used a safer and simpler description of "best friend."
Upon hearing a grunt from Beca, Stacie continued, "She's not going to freak on you, she's not going to hate you. I guarantee you the worst she'll do is call you a weirdo and hug you."
A small grin forms on Beca's lips at her tall friend's words, knowing Stacie's probably right and that she's likely overreacting on an epic scale.
The petite brunette half expects her fellow Bella to follow up with some flirty comment or inappropriate joke of some sort, but she doesn't. Instead Stacie's voice lowers into a more serious tone.
"Hey… are you okay?"
Beca froze for a moment, remembering what had been going through her mind before Stacie's temporary reprieve. "Ah… yeah, o-of course! There's no need for you to worry over me, dude."
There was a moment of silence from the other end of the line. Until Stacie replied, her tone still serious, "You didn't sound so good a little bit ago."
"It actually helped to just talk to you," Beca admitted. "I haven't had many friends that were girls."
"Awww." Stacie chuckled. "Beca Mitchell likes me."
"You know you're my only other best friend too, ya know," Beca mumbled.
"Yeah yeah, quit with the love fest shortstack, you're smothering me," Stacie teased.
Beca laughed, a reaction she didn't think she'd feel so quickly after the panic attack she'd suffered just a few moments ago. The brunette found herself extremely grateful, and appreciative of the taller woman's words of encouragement.
"Thanks Legs. For calming me down." Silence encompasses them for a moment before Beca continues. "And is it just my imagination, or did you call me Rebecca? What the fuck?"
"Sorry little dude, but you were spiraling, so I kinda just winged it. Heat of the moment, you know."
"Fine. But don't ever call me that again, or you will be sorry."
"You know, it's a lovely name, maybe it could be my special right as one of your two best friends, to call you Rebeccra," Stacie teased.
"Not happening," Beca deadpanned.
"Alright, but I'm not making any promises on what comes out of my mouth from now on. In fact, I'm gonna stock up my arsenal on some awesomely terrible options for your nickname. This is gonna be so good, I…"
And with an annoyed click, Beca disconnected the line between them, bringing the phone up to rest against her forehead. Not a moment later it was vibrating against her skin. With a sigh, Beca answered the call after three long buzzes.
"What?"
"Did you just hang up on me?!"
"You were being annoying. You know what happens when you're annoying."
"For that, you are letting me pick at least five pairs of new panties for you when we go shopping to upgrade your underwear collection," Stacie declared.
"What?! Not a chance!" Beca declared.
"Six pairs," Stacie countered.
"That's not how this works," Beca tried to explain.
"Seven," Stacie said simply.
"One pair," Beca countered, trying desperately to end this.
"Eight, and I get to see you model them," Stacie demanded.
"What?!" Beca spluttered. "That's not how this works!"
"Seems like it does," Stacie said as if she were bored. "Nine, with you modeling them."
"Eight!" Beca conceded, "but no modeling," Beca added as she heard Stacie begin to do a little cheer.
"Ahhh," Stacie said. "You're no fun."
"It's my final offer," Beca said defiantly.
"Fair enough," Stacie accepted. "We have a deal."
-~Merry Pitchm as 2021~-
Unbeknownst to Beca as she paced Chloe's bathroom speaking with Stacie, the redhead had ascended the stairs to find said brunette and make sure she was okay. Figuring she was holed up in her bedroom, Chloe had entered her bedroom.
"Becs?" She slowly opened the door to her room and tentatively entered. She didn't see Beca anywhere, but noticed the bathroom door was shut. Chloe made her way over to the door, fully intending on saying something, anything, to Beca that could explain what had just happened in the backyard. The redhead still wasn't completely sure what words she would use to fix this situation, but anything was better than nothing. She didn't want it to be weird between them.
As the redhead was about to tap on the door to alert herself to the brunette, she heard more clearly the phone conversation.
She called Stacie?
When she realized the conversation was about Beca's panties, she covered her mouth and her eyes widened. She knew there was more to the relationship than she had thought before; the embrace she had found them in yesterday told her as much.
Oh my god, of course she did, how could I be so stupid. I try to kiss someone who is clearly already taken.
She had hoped this wasn't true, she had hoped it was innocent, but it was looking less like that by the moment.
You're such an idiot, Chloe!
"Yeah, I know. I'll try. Thanks Stacie, you too. Yeah I'll talk to you later." Chloe overheard the young brunette say through the crack in the door.
What is wrong with you Beale!? She's calling her girlfriend to tell her what a creep you are. I'm such an idiot.
Chloe hung her head, feeling even more disappointed than she had in the first place. She quietly backed out of her bedroom and closed the door so as to not alert Beca of her presence. She dejectedly walked back towards the staircase and headed downstairs. She desperately needed to find a quiet place to be alone.
-~Merry Pitchm as 2021~-
Unaware that a certain redhead had been just outside the bedroom door, and was now fleeing, Beca had calmed down. She leaned against the bathroom counter, listening to Stacie on the other end of her line wrap up another cheerful pep talk to her.
"So you good?"
Beca exhaled loudly before she answered, "Yeah Legs, I'm good. I think."
"You think?"
"Yeah I am. I Promise. I was just being a bit crazy."
"What else is new?" Stacie laughed on the other end.
"Oh shut up," Beca snarked, though she did it with a smile.
"Aright Munchkin, I gotta get going. Mom needs some help in the kitchen. Just relax and breathe and try not to spaz out around Chloe. You'll be fine."
"Yeah, I know. I'll try."
"Enjoy your break and I'll talk to you later," the genius Bella advised.
"Thanks Gigantes, you too. Yeah I'll talk to you later." Beca hung up her phone and just stared at herself in the mirror.
"Quit being a spaz. Chloe is your best friend, she knows you're weird and awkward. And despite how much you like her and how much you think you just blew your entire friendship, things will be fine. Just act normal and things will be fine." Beca said to her reflection. Giving a quick and firm nod of her head, she heads out of the bathroom to join the Beale family downstairs, ready to face the redhead again.
-~Merry Pitchm as 2021~-
Walking downstairs quickly, Chloe avoided her family, and went to the front closet. She donned an old coat and grabbed a pair of gloves and hat. Before anyone might notice, Chloe slipped out the front door.
Walking down the driveway, Chloe decided to head up the road, towards the neighbors. She needed space and time to clear her head, but she also needed to vent. She pulled out her iPhone, to call the only person who might understand. She pulled up the contact in her favorites, and used her thumb to swiftly tap the call prompt on the screen. It instantly began to ring, and on the second ring, it was answered.
"Aubrey Posen."
"Hey Bree," Chloe said with a chuckle. No matter who was calling, Aubrey always answered exactly the same.
"Hey Chloe," Aubrey responded, then after a pause, asked, "What's wrong? Or rather, what did the Munchkin do?"
"Oh Bree," Chloe started, and for the next five minutes she vented to her best friend about the events of her day. She finished by explaining how she walked in on Beca's phone call.
"Wait! Are you saying Beca is hooked up with Stacie?" Aubrey cut in for the first time. Before this she had let Chloe just vent, knowing it was what her best friend needed.
"Yeah Bree," Chloe sighed. "They were talking about lingerie shopping and modeling it…"
"Stacie of the Bellas?!" Aubrey demanded.
The vehemence with which Aubrey asked that, struck Chloe as odd. "Uhh-yeah…"
"My Stacie-I mean…" Aubrey scrambled to figure out a way to fix what she had just said. "… our-our Alto, Stacie, that's who Beca was talking to?"
"Bree?" Chloe asked.
She was answered with silence on the other end of the phone.
"Bree, are you attracted to Stacie?" Chloe prodded gently.
There was more silence on the other end of the phone. Using a technique she had learned works best with her best friend, Chloe counted to thirty, then simply said, "Bree?"
"Ugh-fine-yes," Aubrey finally admitted. "Yes, I'm attracted to Stacie. What? She's absolutely brilliant…"
"And gorgeous," Chloe happily added. While Chloe and Aubrey weren't in the closet, neither were they advertising their sexuality to everyone. Chloe was a little more open then Aubrey, but between them there was no secret. Both were open and honest about their attractions.
"Yeah she is," Aubrey sighed. Chloe couldn't remember a time when she had heard her blonde best friend so wistful. "I've actually had a couple very vivid dreams featuring her."
"Bree," Chloe's voice took on a familiar teasing quality.
Realizing she's shared too much, Aubrey started, "Chloe…"
"It's okay Bree," Chloe assured her longtime friend. "I completely understand, and get it."
"Thank you, Chloe."
"Maybe we can work together and break them up," Chloe suggested as she started thinking about different ways they could come between the couple.
"Chloe," Aubrey sighed.
"Maybe we could run some more Bellas fundraisers, and I will pair with Beca, and you pair with Stacie…" Chloe started to suggest.
"Chloe," Aubrey said a bit louder.
"Or when we give room assignments, we make sure I'm rooming with Beca…" Chloe continued.
"CHLOE!" Aubrey shouted over the phone.
"Yes Bree," Chloe answered a bit chastised.
"You're not going to break up anybody," Aubrey said softly. "You know it, and I know it. You could never be that cold, and you would only want Beca's happiness…"
"But I want her to be happy with me," Chloe whispered. "Today was such an amazing day. We shared this incredible moment this morning after we found the tree. It was just so perfect. Then we sang together. God, Bree, why did I have to go and mess it up?"
"I don't think you have messed anything up," Aubrey assured her friend. "I've spoken to Stacie a number of times before and after practice, and the occasional coffee date…"
"Coffee date?"
"Not what's important right now, Chloe."
"I mean…" Chloe tried to say.
"No, the important thing was Stacie has made it clear that she isn't in any relationship…"
"They were talking about buying panties and modeling them," Chloe reminded her best friend.
"Well," Aubrey started, thought for a second, then said, "normally that would be incriminating, but this is Stacie, who is both more flirty and sexually liberated than you…"
"Bree," Chloe challenged.
"It's true Chloe, and you know it," Aubrey chided.
"Okay," Chloe admitted with a sigh.
"So, the whole panties buying could actually be innocent… well as innocent as can be with Stacie," Aubrey assured Chloe. The redhead then thought she heard Aubrey grumble, "It better be innocent."
Chloe stifled a giggle, but still couldn't shake the feeling there was more there. She sighed, "Now it's going to be so weird."
"It's not going to be weird," Aubrey assured her friend.
"If only Beca would see me as I see her," Chloe sighed.
"Do I need to fly up there, and beat some sense into the Munchkin?" Aubrey asked, sounding quite serious.
"Bree!" Chloe responded, though she knew what her blonde co-captain was doing. "That will not be necessary, but thank you." A small uptick of her mouth began to form. She was grateful for the loyalty and friendship Aubrey always has for her.
"I'm serious Chlo. Or," the blonde drug out, as she mulled over a plan in her mind, "I could just give Catherine a ring after we hang up. She's always great at…"
Chloe cuts her off in her tracks, "Nope! Absolutely not, Bree! Don't you dare get my mother involved in this."
Chloe could hear the laughter on the other end of the call. There was great mirth in Aubrey's voice as she said, "Come on, you know she'd be able to…"
"No." Chloe interrupted firmly, coming to a stop on the dark road. "And if you do, so help me, I will…"
It's the blonde's turn to interrupt her best friend. "What, Chlo? What will you do if I get Mama Bear Beale involved?" Aubrey challenged with a wry grin.
Chloe just stood there on the dark street holding her phone to her ear, mouth slightly agape at her best friend's audacious response. It took her a couple seconds to formulate a response, but then it hit her.
"Aubrey, if you tell my mother, I will let slip to a certain leggy brunette that you have had very particular types of dreams about her recently."
She couldn't help but smirk as she heard Aubrey's gasp on the other end of the line.
"Chloe Elizabeth Beale! You know these calls are sacrosanct; everything I told you was in the strictest of confidences!" Her co-captain whisper-shouted through the phone. Chloe could totally visualize the red tint beginning to highlight Aubrey's cheeks.
"Exactly Bree! And you then know how serious I am about not getting my meddlesome mother involved in this mess I've made with Beca."
"Fineee." Her blonde friend dragged out, conceding. "Fine, I'm sorry. I know how she can be. I was just trying to help."
"Trust me I know, and I'm already having to fend her off. And I know you mean well, and I love you for it, but I'll figure it out. At least Beca hasn't taken off yet, right? I've got that going for me," Chloe chuckled nervously.
"Yeah, you have that," Aubrey said gently.
The two women continued to talk and laugh as they carried on their conversation for another ten minutes while Chloe wandered the street.
-~Merry Pitchm as 2021~-
Having gathered her courage to face the Beale clan and especially their daughter, Beca made her way down the stairs. She heard a number of conversations in the family room, and someone moving about in the dining room. Hoping to find Chloe alone, Beca chose to head for the dining room.
Beca rounded the corner but was disappointed not to see the aforementioned redhead, but instead saw her mother setting the table for dinner. She was going to hopefully back out unnoticed, but luck was not on her side.
Without even looking up, Catherine said, "Hello Beca." She then looked up and smiled so warmly that Beca felt her trepidation melt away.
"Hey Mrs B."
Chloe's mother seemed to consider Beca for a moment and then chuckled, "You're not quite comfortable calling me Catherine, are you?"
"No, sorry," Beca awkwardly apologized.
"It's fine dear," Catherine assured the young girl. "You're still getting to know the family, and me. Don't you worry though, I know in time you'll feel right at home and part of the family."
"If I don't blow it," Beca mumbled under her breath. She said it without thinking, and prayed that Chloe's mother hadn't heard.
Catherine had heard, but could tell that to draw attention to it would only cause the girl distress. "Would you like to help me set the table?"
"Umm-yeah, I can do that," Beca answered. The idea of trying to keep her mind occupied by setting out everything on the dining table for dinner time sounded like the perfect distraction.
As she was setting out the cutlery, Beca couldn't help asking, "Umm-do you know where Chloe is?"
"Hmmm-I haven't seen my little wildcat since she gave her big brother a bit of a thumping," Catherine answered. "I probably should have stepped in, but really for my ChloBear to lay a smackdown, my holy terror that is Chad probably did something to deserve it." Catherine then leaned in and whispered, "Besides, how often do you see a five-foot two lass take down a man that has over a foot in height advantage, and at least a hundred pounds on her. If Chad couldn't defend himself, then it definitely was deserved."
Both women chuckled at the image of Chloe taking down her much larger brother.
"So you were in a bit of a rush to get inside earlier," Catherine commented on. When Beca paused while placing a knife and fork in the place setting, but did not respond, Catherine knew there was some mending to be done. "Everything okay dear?"
Again Beca answered with a moment of silence, which she quickly realized wouldn't work. She looked up at Chloe's mother, and tried to play it off. "Oh-umm-Yeah-I-mean," Beca rambled. Catherine for her part stayed quiet and just looked at Beca, with a thoughtful look that so much reminded Beca of her mother. She wasn't surprised that tears began to collect in her eyes. What did surprise Beca was what she did next. "No, it's not. I screwed up."
"Do you want to tell me about it?" Catherine gently prodded.
"No-I mean-maybe…" Beca whispered as she stared at the table. Chloe had her mother's eyes, and it was hard for her to meet them. She only registered that Catherine had moved when she felt the older woman gently pull her into an embrace. And for the second time Beca was surprised, when she let herself melt into the hug.
"It's okay dear, you're among family, you have nothing to apologize or feel sorry for," Catherine whispered softly to the shaken young woman.
"I tried to kiss your daughter," Beca's eyes widened as she word-vomited. She couldn't understand why Chloe's mother had this effect on her, but she found she just trusted her implicitly. Maybe it was because Catherine was so much like her own mother.
The older Beale pulled back a little as she asked, "Tried?"
Fear and embarrassment caused Beca to drop her eyes. She mumbled, "Yeah, before I could, Chad shoveled snow under Chloe's coat…"
Catherine cut Beca off with a laugh as she pulled Beca back into a hug. She held the girl gently as she chuckled, "Chloe's beat down of her older brother makes more sense."
"What?" Beca stammered.
"It's not for me to say, but I'm confident my daughter was in no way upset that you two almost kissed," Mama Beale assured the young woman she was still hugging.
"Then where is she?" Beca asked. "Why is she avoiding me?"
"Maybe she has the same insecurities that you have," Catherine suggested. "You did leave rather hastily."
"I panicked," Beca admitted.
"Which can happen," Catherine said as she patted the younger woman's back. She released the hug, so she could hold Beca at arm's length and look her in the eyes. "But that can easily be fixed with good old communication. Talk with her, and I think you will be happy with the results."
"You think?" Beca asked, as the beginnings of a smile began to form. At Catherine's knowing nod, the smile grew. Then it slipped as the brunette had a thought. "Mrs B, I think I screwed up though, and I want to make it up to Chloe. Could you help me organize an ice skating date for tomorrow afternoon?"
Beca didn't even notice that she used the word 'date', though Catherine did. "How about this dear, tomorrow you and Chloe go into the village for some last minute shopping. You can have lunch at this little cafe Chloe loves, and then you can surprise her with ice skating," suggested Catherine. "I can text you the address for the cafe, and the skating rink. I'll also make sure two passes and skate rentals are ready for you."
"You would do that?"
"Of course! Family supports family."
For the second time, Beca imitated a hug with Chloe's mother. She couldn't believe how sweet and loving this woman was. Then again, she is Chloe's mother.
The sound of the front door opening and closing caught Beca's attention. She moved away from Chloe's mother and headed to the front foyer. She came around the corner and saw Chloe hanging up her winter coat
"Oh, h-hey Becs." Chloe greeted her younger friend a little awkwardly, as she hung up her scarf. After eavesdropping on Beca's call to Stacie, Chloe had been dreading facing the brunette.
"Hey Chlo," Beca said tentatively. "You were outside?" Internally Beca smacked her forehead at such a dumb question.
"Oh-uh yeah," Chloe nodded. "I just needed to go on a walk… you know…"
"Oh-uhh-yeah… Good to clear your head," Beca offered as she scratched at the back of her head.
Chloe's anxieties about the petite woman being involved with the sexy brunette had been creeping back into her mind. Now that the young woman was in front of her, Chloe found she wasn't ready to look at her in her beautiful blue eyes. The redhead could feel tears filling her eyes, and she really didn't want to have to explain it to everyone.
"Yeah, to clear my head, yeah that's what I needed," Chloe said. The redhead had thought she was ready to come back in, but now with the younger Bella finally in front of her, she found she really wasn't. Now Chloe was uncomfortably shifting on her feet, avoiding making eye contact with the other woman before speaking.
"I, um, mom… she probably needs some of my help with dinner. So, I'm just gonna…" the redhead throws a thumb over her shoulder to indicate heading off in the direction before making the move to do so, turning on her heel and swiftly walking away from the brunette.
Caught completely by surprise, Beca, for her part, stood confused at Chloe's odd behavior, but internally fought with herself to listen to Stacie and Chloe's mother. She needed to believe that nothing was weird between her and Chloe.
She responded with a quiet "Uh-we're done, umm-okay…" She was quite certain the retreating redhead didn't hear her. She stood there for a bit, then with a shrug, made her way back to the dining room.
-~Merry Pitchm as 2021~-
Dinner was a pretty awkward affair, at least with how Beca's interactions went with the redhead that sat across from her. Unlike other meals, when everyone began to sit down at the table, Chloe had grabbed the last vacant seat on the opposite side of the table from Beca, rather than sit next to her petite friend.
The action had made Beca curious, but she decided to not dwell on it, convincing herself that the animated conversation Chloe had held with Chad most of the meal was the reasoning for her chair decision. It had nothing to do with Chloe possibly avoiding Beca, she reminded herself.
It wasn't until Lizzy had asked Beca how she was feeling after having gone inside so quickly this afternoon, when Beca noticed the lack of eye contact Chloe was making with her. In fact, the brunette was certain that Chloe was actively avoiding looking at her, choosing instead to watch her own fork push around some veggies on her plate.
Beca had responded with a brief, "Yeah I'm okay, thank you for asking," before keeping to herself for the rest of the meal, opting to listen to the conversations of others, and to steal occasional glances at the redhead directly across from her.
By the time the table was reaching the end of dessert, Beca had had enough of the silent treatment from her best friend. She was about to ask Chloe directly if everything was okay when her words were interrupted by a muffled ringing in her pocket. Beca reached into her back pocket and retrieved her mobile phone.
She glanced at the phone's Caller ID and was rather surprised to see 'Dad' appear on her phone's screen. She frowned, as she had no interest in speaking with the man, and doubly so in front of the Beale family. She probably needed to speak with him, though she really didn't want to.
With a sigh, she indicated her phone as she said, "I gotta take this." Beca motioned towards the upstairs to anyone at the dinner table paying attention to her. She excused herself from the table as she rose from her seat, and walked towards the stairs.
Chloe watched with a slightly more glum looking expression as the petite brunette left the table and headed up the stairs. She was concerned for her younger friend; especially knowing how Beca's last interaction with her father had gone.
-~Merry Pitchm as 2021~-
Notes:
Sorry, the angst portion of this story was supposed to be posted before Christmas. There will only be a little, so bare with me.
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.