A/N: Sorry please bear with me-I just can't believe I've reached eleven chaps already-which may not seem like much...but it's an accomplishment for someone like me who never thought anyone would want to read let alone tune in to/stick with my stories. You guys make me so happy-with all the favorites, follows and reviews...I just can't...deal...I wish I could bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat and be happy...and poop out happy rainbows and unicorns-and stuff...okay so I totally wish I came up with that line...well the last part's mine so anyways I hope you get what I mean...:))

I'm forming a Fat Amy-sized heart that I send out to everyone.

Also D]don't fret Bechloe=meant to be. So though I might probably throw some "things" drama and whatnot in the subsequent chaps...you know ultimately how it's gonna end, though I hope to keep you guys guessing along the way.

To my awesome Beta Natalie, you're a trooper...thanks for keeping up with crazy, pushy, impatient me trying to post everything all at once.

And also the amazing Saweeet98-don't think that I don't appreciate your reviewing each chapter cos I do! Also ChocolatMoosePi, ballpointmf, lauwer, loveannakendrick and the many others who's name constantly show up thanks for your passion and enthusiasm and awesome reviews :)

So yes I need to get off the stage, I know this isn't the Oscars. So uh Shall we? We shall! Story time!


Chapter 11

As you climb up the steps to your apartment, you're trying to remember if you left anything incriminating, or downright embarrassing out for normal people, never mind Beca, to find.

"Er uh can you give me a five minute headstart? I need to make the place uh presentable."

"Dude it's no problem, I want to see you in your natural habitat."

"Ah yes, you could say it is sorta a jungle in there...Ah stay here five minutes, okay...While I create a semblance of order up there."

"Okay-" You don't hear the rest of her sentence as you race up the flights of stairs, unlocking your door and start throwing this and that into your closet. She'll never see your fan collection-your posters, her DVD's. You leave it in the drawer under your bed that contains your more private items. You are closing the drawer when;

"Is that the poster from my Broadway days?" The voice comes behind you, standing at the doorway. In your haste you had failed to close it properly. You want to slam the door, but that just wouldn't be polite. Beca strides into you apartment without your permission, finding the framed poster that you'd left on the wall, lifting it off.

"Uh...No, Yes...I didn't know I had that," you say, trying to snatch it out of her hands, which she evades quite well.

"I though they sold out. There were three in circulation and one went to some museum, I have another and they said a fan bought the final one... You aren't the crazy obsessed fan are you?"

"No, not me...no siree, No...And what are you doing up here? I said five minutes, can't you count?"

"Okay I totally believe you..What were you doing? Hiding what you don't want me to see? Hey I remember this. It's from that video game movie I starred in," Beca says, picking up the movies signed script. "My, my you have quite the collection. How did you get this stuff?" She's freely striding across the living room, while you settle on your comfy couch feeling your knees give way. This was worse than the times that you were caught doing embarrassing things by your relatives and trust me, there were many an occasion; the whole making out with the television wasn't even the worse that can come to mind...

"Ebay...Amongst other places."

She's still grinning widely to herself, staring you down...Yeah this situation was soo funny.

"Okay fine! I'm freaking obsesed with you. Are you sufficiently weirded out now?"

"No, I'm actually extremely flattered... It's kinda cool being friends with an actual die-hard fan...You carry yourself around me pretty well."

"You mean I'm not salivating at your mere presence? I know you're an actual person. I wanted to treat you like one. I didn't just want you to be a face on a screen."

"You wanted us to be friends? Well you got what you wanted, man you are resolute... I didn't really make it easy for you, for anyone really, to get close."

"Well you're worth it..."

"I'm happy you seem to think so. I suck at letting people in. You may not believe it, but I've always had trust issues to begin with. And being in this business for as long as I have, you learn a few things about people. There are two kinds, not just here but in life, the genuine ones and the ones only in it for themselves. And sometimes the good kind, they don't last that long either."

"For as long as I can remember, people have always wanted something from me; my managers, my fans, everyone I have come across."

"Of course people want you." I want you.

"People want something from me, but they don't want me. If they knew me, no one would."

"But I want to know you for you…"

"Why? I don't get you Chloe. What can you possibly find so appealing about me? I'm pretty sure I have more emotional baggage than anyone you know. I'm the exact opposite of you, I keep people at arm's length, I don't like change - I never have -and maybe I'm a bit pushy because I'm a perfectionist with my craft, with music. It's all I've ever known...It's what I'm good at. And with it, I'm in control. I can produce things exactly the way I want them. I know what's right, but with any thing else I'm a mess, Chloe. I like to test people-I make people work for it...I know it's mean and wrong, but I need to see the ones who really want to stick around..."

"That's why I stick with people that I've known long enough to generate trust. Jesse and mine's relationship has been tried and tested throughout this time-he was there for me when I lost my mom-he's always been around and I can't see a life without him in it.

"That's why it's so new-what I feel when i'm with you Chloe. I've never had to depend on another person, let alone trust someone completely and in such a short amount of time. I don't know what it is about you, you're different. Our friendship is one of the most completley unselfish relationships I've ever had...You don't want anything from me, you aren't forcing me to give you something I can't give, trying to mould me to something I'm not... It's nice."

Yeah for sure, you aren't any different from the millions of people who'd like to get to know her, but maybe you're a little bit lucky?

A while back you'd be happy with her proclaiming, even acknowledging, the whole firendship aloud. Sure you feel great, but you don't like where she is placing you. You swore to god you'd never get trapped in the whole friendzone, something you missed narrowly and thankfully with Aubrey.

She seems to recover from her rant, as she settles back into her usual breezy, unaffected self.

"Man see that's why I avoid discussing these kinds of things. I believe I've put a damper to the evening... Let's pick another activity something less depressing... Something warm and delicious and that feels good," she says, getting closer to you.

"Like what?" you gulp, afraid to blink. This is the closest you've been to her face where she wasn't behind a screen or unconscious. Looks like she doesn't have a problem pressing up to you, your faces mere inches apart. You let your eyes drift.

Don't stare at her lips, don't stare, wait. Oh you're staring...

"Like... Drinking coffee?" she says, stopping. She's trying not to laugh when she starts pulling back.

"Coffee?" you say your mind's still blank. Just a mere second ago all you had to do was move your head a fraction of an inch and your lips would've touched...

That was mean, she knows of your little crush and she's making fun of you.

"I do recall that's why you invited me up here, unless you had other ideas." She's waggling her eyebrows, you think this is revenge for making her squirm a while ago. You move away to hide your blush. You head into the kitchen, preparing your coffee maker. Baca's laughing as she follows you.

"Can I help?" She hovers around, looking at you expectantly, unacustomed to not doing anything while you move around in the kitchen... While you move for the sake of moving; unloading the dishwasher, sorting through cabinets- as you can't really look at her right now.

"You can get some Krispy Creme donuts out of the refrigerator and heat them." Your voice is clipped.

"Righto. Yay it's the Origional glazed, my fave. There are three, so do we get one each and split the last?" she asks as she loads the donuts into the microwave oven set for a few seconds.

"Sure."

Beca Mitchell is in your kitchen and no matter how hard you try not to look at her, it can't be helped. It's quite distracting, the two of you are preparing something to eat, seamlessly moving around. It feels so domestic.

"Thank God you have food, I'm a terrible cook. I annihalate eggs like completely when I try to cook them."

"That's just sad," you say curtly, when you once again turn to check on the coffee.

"Are you mad or something?" You twitch in irritation not bothering to give an actual reply.

"Seriously dude, you can't be mad. Must we always fight, can't we just go ahead to the kiss and make-up part?" She once again tries to get into your space.

"Dude? I want my personal space back."

"You of all people are saying that…" she says shaking her head.

"What are you saying?

"Oh C'mon tell me you ever do that for other people."

But she backs away when you both hear the microwave go off. She's quick to attend to it, and in her haste she grabs for the donuts and burns herself on the metal of the grill.

"Shit!"

You quickly grab her hand and put it under the cool running water in the sink. You gingerly hold her hand, letting the water run for a while. Then, you place it atop a towel and run to get your first aid kit.

"You happy I got hurt?" she says soft and childlike-making you feel a little guilty.

"Of course not..." you say trying to remain crisp, but it's no use the petty fight's far from your mind now.

"Sorry," you both say at the same time, as you grab a chair for her.

"About the burn..?" " Beca, it's okay. "

"I don't think it's that bad. It doesn't hurt." she says, backing away from you-refusing to sit still. You have no choice but to not-so-gently hold her in place.

"I'll tell you whether it's bad or not," you say, absorbed in covering the burn with dry bandage and clean dressing, making sure to wrap it securely, not putting too much pressure on it.

"This will prevent any air from seeping in as well as protect the blister. Take an ibuprofen."

"As do most bandages..." she says, wincing lightly,

"Sorry." you say, cringing inwardly for every involuntary movement, every sigh of pain Beca gives. You never ever wanted to be the cause of her pain, you resolve to keep yourself from doing so in the future.

"Say, you're pretty good at this," Beca says, looking mightily relieved as you neatly tape the gauze down, finishing with a flourish.

"My Mom's a nurse, so I know basic first aid. Also, I actually considered taking up medicine but SPED called to me."

"Wow, see now that's a job to be proud of. Better than being a producer, making music that will be forgotten, replaced easily." you look up, " No for real, you're actually making a difference in other people's lives. You are a truly, good person-I admire you a lot Chloe."

"Oh C'mon" you say flushed, overwhelmed and unacustomed to such exhuberant praise, "We all have our callings. We all do our part to help others and your music...you… Whatever you think, your music, it made a difference in my life. I'm sure it has made an impact on many others too..."

"Thanks," she says, looking pensive all of a sudden. She seems to make up her mind and in a quick movement you are caught unaware by her leaning over to plant a soft kiss on your cheek.

"The coffee's ready I think..." you murmur, once again transfixed by her breathing in, wallowing in her proximity as neither of you move away this time.

Suddenly, you are startled by the front door swinging wide open.

"Chloe, honey I'm home! I have our favorite dinner to celebrate you getting past the battle rounds!" She moves into the kitchen oblivious of Beca's presence. "Can I get a woot, woot?"

She seems really happy. Did she just win a case? Get lucky perhaps? Probably the latter, she did have a date with her on again, off again boyfriend, Skylar.

"Aubrey..."

"Why aren't you jumping off the wall? This is your dream come true! You are in Beca's team girl, by the way what did you two get up to? Last you texted, you said you were going to have a word with your dream coach."

"Aubrey..."

"What?" she says, finally turning around after she puts your plates on the dining table. She freezes when she finally sees Beca, who waves weakly from the couch.

"She decided to come over..." you say.

"Hi!" Beca says,standing up and offering her hand. Aubrey's throwing a quick subtle glare your way, but you don't miss the curiosity behind it as she stares at the two of you.

"Hi." She gives Beca a good firm handshake and you don't miss her sizing Beca up.

You see the conflict between the two. Does she do the threatening thing, the whole interrogation to weigh out Beca's intentions for you. Or, does she act polite, even fangirl for a little while. She knows who Beca is, no matter how indifferent she may claim to be to her awesomeness.

"Uh...join us." Aubrey says, finally making up her mind, not quite letting go of Beca's hand.

"I was just stopping for a quick dessert...I really have to be going." You are torn with wanting to get Beca safely away and wanting her to stay.

"Nonsense, the two of you were just getting cozy," Aubrey says pulling Beca to sit back down.

"I do have a business meeting I can't miss. And uh, the coffee was uh good, Chloe. I'll let myself out," she says pulling at her hand, and manages to yank it-she rubs it.

Dude manhandling, Beca could toatally sue Aubrey for assault or something.

"But you've barely touched anything, I insist." What are you doing? you mouth to Aurey behind Beca's back.

You are wondering who will budge, but these are the two of the most resolute people you've ever met. Beca blinks, "Okay...I'll just call my assistant up to change my plans then...Excuse me. Is there a place I can take a call?" she asks, looking around the living room. You have no choice but to show her into your room.

You close the door gently, trying to give her privacy.

What is happening? The only bonus part is that you do finally get Beca Mitchell into your bedroom.

"You can thank me later," Aubrey says in a sing-song voice, looking so self-satisfied when she winks at you.

Aubrey and Beca, two very important girls in your life would be spending time together, presumably bonding and getting to know each other. You have a feeling that this is is going to be interesting...


Up Next: Aubrey VS Beca, also Knockout Rounds preparations, practices, performances. lemme know what you think Also You guys can help- maybe recommend songs for the contestants to sing, for group numbers, knock out rounds, coach performances...I'm all ears. I'll put it in if I really like it :)