Chapter 3: Just A Drink...And 20 Questions

Beca sits on her bike outside the bar, waiting impatiently for Chloe to get there. She finally sees the redhead walking from across the street.

"Took you long enough, Beale."

"You should know about being late." Chloe lifted her key in the air to lock her car as she entered the bar.

"So what's your drink?" Beca slid into a stool next to Chloe at the bar.

"I don't have one. I don't drink much." Chloe looked around the bar, trying to size the place up.

"Hey, Stacie! Two amaretto sours." Beca called out to the tall brunette behind the bar.

"Beca!" Stacie finished pouring a drink for a customer before hurrying over to where Beca and Chloe were sitting. "Is this a date?" She pointed at Chloe.

"No!" Chloe stiffened and glared at Beca.

"New coworker." Beca stifled a laugh. "Put it on my tab?"

"Sure thing. You know, you're going to have to pay that sooner or later." Stacie shot her a friendly wink.

"Come here often?" Chloe asked, with the slightest hint of judgement in her tone.

"Its my regular bar, yeah. So tell me about yourself." Beca folded her arms on the table they sat at and leaned forward.

"What's to know?" Chloe stoically responded, passing judgement on just about everyone and everything in the bar.

"How about we play twenty questions? I think its important for partners to know each other."

"Okay...but I can pass on anything I'm not comfortable with." Chloe countered.

"Perfectly fair." Beca grinned as Stacie brought their drinks over. "Oh, hey could you bring a pitcher over maybe?"

"Of those? Your tabs going to break!" Stacie scoffed.

"Come on, you know I'll pay for it." Beca rolled her eyes. Stacie just laughed and headed back to the bar to make the pitcher.

"I thought it was just one drink." Chloe scowled.

"But if we're playing twenty questions, I'm going to need a little more liquid encouragement. And I sure as hell bet you do too." Beca raised her glass. "You first."

"Why'd you join the Agency?"

"They contacted me." Beca shrugged. "I couldn't pass it up. Have any pets?"

"No." Chloe shook her head. "Why do you ride a motorcycle instead of driving a car?"

"One word." Beca leaned in and held up one finger. "Fun." Chloe just rolled her eyes as she took another small sip.

"What do you do for fun?" Beca leaned back.

"Read. Cook. On vacation I might go to the beach."

"Wild!" Beca smirked sarcastically.

"How often do you come to this place?" Chloe ignored the insulting tone and looked around the bar in disgust.

"At least three times a week. Usually more though. Who's Agent Price?"

"Pass." Chloe glared into Beca's eyes and clenched her jaw, considering getting up and leaving right there.

"Okay, okay." Beca backed off. "How long have you been in the Agency?"

"Five years. Do you get drunk often?"

"Nope. Just tipsy. Gotta stay professional." Beca shot her a friendly wink. "Have any siblings?"

"No. Only child. What'd you do before the Agency?"

"I was in the military, special ops." Beca replied expecting to impress her.

"Special ops! Oh my God, training was nothing to you then." Chloe was irritated that that information had been withheld from her by her superiors.

"Eh, the workout was a little tiring though." Beca shrugged confidently. "What's your biggest fear with the job?" Chloe took a deep breath, considering passing again. But she decided to be honest.

"Being responsible for the death of any human being who doesn't deserve a bullet to the head."

"Damn." Beca nodded.

"Where'd you go to college?"

"Didn't. Joined the military right after I graduated high school. Nothing about college interested me. You?"

"I went for 2 years. I was studying criminal justice and my dad actually helped me get a spot with the agency when he realized I had talent. It bugs me that people think I got where I am just because of him and not my skills."

"Well, hey, that makes you work twice as hard. Makes you a better agent. You seem pretty skilled to me." Beca said sincerely with no smirk or wink attached.

"Thanks...so how old are you, Beca Mitchell?"

"24. I was one of the youngest at my position." Her cockiness started to come back. "How old are you, Chloe Beale?"

"27. Why did you leave the military?"

"Pass." Beca's eyes darkened and she sat straighter. She wasn't expecting the question to catch her off guard, but it did. Chloe just nodded respectfully.

"Do you date much?" Chloe changed the topic quickly.

"Hmm…" Beca returned to her relaxed self, pondering the question. "I try. But I stay a little too busy for it for my girlfriends to tolerate."

"You're gay?" Chloe asked, somewhat surprised. "Sorry, I didn't mean to sound...weird. I don't have a problem with that."

"No worries. But it's not your turn." Beca grinned. "Are you gay?"

"No." Chloe looked down at her glass hesitantly, she could see Beca's shoulders slump. "I'm...bisexual." Beca looked up, with an impressed grin.

"Nice. And yes to your question. I'm gay. Gets me some judgemental vibes from coworkers sometimes, but its better for me than it was for people ten years ago, I guess."

"Yeah." Chloe nodded knowingly. She was uncomfortable with how much she had already divulged to her new partner.

They finished the game asking less personal questions, and it finished with Beca asking what Chloe's favorite color was, which was green. The pitcher was pretty much empty and Chloe pulled out her wallet.

"No, no." Beca held up her hand. "I basically tricked you into this, and its my bar. I'll pay this time."

"Well...thanks." Chloe reluctantly put the wallet back in her purse. "I'll um see you tomorrow then." Before Beca could respond or walk her to the door, Chloe had left. Beca looked over her shoulder and smiled to herself. Chloe Beale. This is going to be fun.