Because apparently 30 k plus words is too long a chapter so here part 2. This is where the fun really begins.


You feel all the breath leave your lungs, your knees buckling over.

"I don't-What?" you all but gasp out.

"Jesse's not my boyfriend...he's not my fiancee...he isn't anything but a friend-or was a friend." Beca says deliberately, her eyes earnest, worried as she takes in your reaction.

You really do stumble, almost keel over, if not for Beca who quickly catches you, providing the much needed warm and steady support, who urges you to sit down.

"Breathe Chlo." She whispers as she gives you several moments to remember how to do so, her own breaths tickle your ear, her arms holding you securely, so that you're encaged in her steady embrace. She watches concerned lines heavy on her forehead, patiently waiting for you to recover from that bomb of a secret. "Breathe with me, cmon...inhale slowly, deeply. And then exhale. Good." she walks you through it, almost as if teaching your lungs how to function again. Slowly but surely the tightness leaves your chest, the fog slowly lifts.

"Are you okay?" she softly asks, her breath warming your now cold, clammy forehead. You can't trust yourself to speak, to open your mouth-you feel like something else might come out.

"I shouldn't have said it, sprung it on you like that.", she half mutters to herself, " but I really didn't know how else to, it doesn't sound any better no matter how I phrase it."

She hesitates when you don't answer, unsure how to proceed. You reach over and take her hand and squeeze it, urging her to continue. She dips her head to make eye contact, she moves a sweaty strand of hair away from your face. Blue eyes lock with yours gauging and questioning yet calm, patient even... loving?

She wants to make sure you're sure, that you're truly comfortable with it. "So I'll continue telling you, if you're okay with that." Beca waits for you to nod your confirmation before she continues.

You hear her recount everything almost in a daze.

"I met Jesse when we were both starting out, we became close and we tried dating but we didn't work out. He was my buddy, my constant through the mess that was trying to make it in Hollywood. As we grew older and our careers took off and we both started getting attention, there was a business deal struck between our management's…something they wanted to try out- us as a rising young power couple. Our fans had always liked us together. And since we were already good friends we didn't mind."

"We both needed the boost, we enthusiastically kept up the pretense. On paper we were all but perfect, almost made for the other. Both Broadway babies. The Best friends turned real-life couple. It was almost fun being a part of something, not having to rely on only me. We did tours, promotions everything ...together. We gave each other credibility, we were solid gold as a duo."

You can hardly believe your ears, you didn't expect any of it.

Jesse was or had once been a good guy? Jesse was the supportive best friend turned dust in people's eyes. A diversion.

He's her beard?

"After a while it was just more convenient. We were both tired of the whole dating game. He kept me off the market I liked it that way, saved time from being hit on by all the chauvinistic pigs left and right..."

"But this wasn't just a ploy, you were in it for the long haul. You guys are-were engaged." You say with disbelief, wondering at how ludicrous it all suddenly was.

Her eyes are empty, voice bland and emotionless. "We were practically sorta married anyway, and I was going to play along...like I do for everything." then her voice turns bitter, "No matter what I said about not letting anyone dictate my life, my actions. I couldn't escape it, I didn't realise until too late what I had signed up for, I had no choice other than to conform to that mold they set for me. I hated it but I accepted it. I never really saw a reason to fight it, to break it...until...until you."

You try to smother your blush at her words, you barely manage it, pushing past it too continue questioning her.

"So Jesse was just okay with you ending everything?" you had to ask though you already somehow knew the answer.

Her eyes turn cold but they carry a deeper sadness as well.

"We'd been dancing around it for a while, but I finally told him about why I wanted it over, and it was hell to pay…" her throat bobs as she swallows down, trying to keep her emotions at bay. "But he, he went too far- he made some threats, and so I promised him a war if he ever did anything so drastic."

She must have seen the worry in your face. She forces a reassuring smile.

"No worries, I have enough dirt on him and he isn't stupid to try crossing me, I just never thought it would come to this," she breaks off and let's out a tight dry sob, "-that I'd need to use anything against him. I never wanted things to get that way between me and him I thought-I don't know what I thought, I naively thought we could do this civilly, end in a good note. That was the deal."

Because he's in love with you, and you let him think it was okay...you let him get in too deep.

Her gaze is far away, she seems lost in her memories, "I stayed with him for as long as I did because in the end I felt I owed him for everything, for his unwavering loyalty all these years."

"I gave him an out years ago and he chose to stay with this illusion of a life. He stuck with me, he was there in everything…saw me through everything, my successes, my failures, when I lost my mom-" she wavers, throat bobbing up and down, breathing harshly as she tries to get a hold of herself, "And what did I give him in return, all I did was hurt him."

Her eyes swim, her shoulders tremble. "I thought he would understand, that he could be happy for me. But I guess there's always pain in exchange for my happiness. His pain, yours...I didn't deserve him, or you…" her jaw clenches and unclenches as she stares determinedly at the floor.

"I can't do this...I can't please everyone." she brings her fists and rubs harshly at her eyes, as if trying to force back any tears that threatened to spill out, "No matter my choice... it's inevitable...chaos and hurt follows. I don't deserve to be happy. I'm toxic, everything good I touch falls apart, falls to shit." she laughs, acidity and bitterness coating the otherwise joyful sound, it's only the crack in her voice giving her sorrow away.

"No Beca, you can't really believe that-" she shakes her head unwilling to hear anything you have to say that contests her. You reach out to gently pry her hands from her face.

She lets you. Her dark, ocean deep blue eyes are rimmed red, brimming with her pain; and you are pulled under the mass current of remorse, sadness, desperation.

She looks so fragile, so young, and so very tired.

"You have to know I kept you out of it for as long as I could, though he had his suspicions. I deliberately, desperately tried to take the focus away from you...to mislead him...but he just knew-" she cuts herself off, to take a calming breath.

"Knew what?" you prompt Beca.

"He knew that you were...special...that you were -are everything to me." she breathes harshly, her voice jagged and watery "And everything I've done- I did all I could trying to protect you. But I didn't realise along the way, that it was me you actually needed protecting from." her voice cracks and she's full on crying now, tears freely streaming without her trying to stop them.

"I know I hurt you when I pushed you away, when I let myself be weak, willingly choosing to bend to his wishes and because of that I let him-I allowed for him to hurt you. Ultimately, I ended up causing you pain just because I selfishly wanted to keep you both. I swore I'd content myself with just being your friend, but it only felt like I was fighting the inevitable. When I swore against everything I felt, when I lied through my own teeth that you didn't mean anything to me. That was the worst kind of denial... it was... sacrilege, telling you that you were nothing; hurting you and trying so hard to convince myself that the lie was the truth...so it'd be easier for me to stay away. I did all that...I sacrificed your feelings to spare mine. And I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Chloe."

She chokes up then and her tears take over.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry. I'm sorry." she apologises profusely, becoming, sounding more desperate each time.

The words you thought you hated and repelled she says over and over again like a mantra. And you find that you didn't hate them any longer, your heart ached each time you heard it now. Hearing Beca's own heart breaking behind it. She's crying so hard, trembling violently, shaking that you're afraid she'd tremble right out of her skin.

She somehow regains composure, rubbing roughly at her eyes "I can't lose you." her voice breaks,

"But I'd understand if you don't believe me or ever forgive me, or even hate me-you have every right too," she blubbers.

You let your hand briefly drift out to touch her twitching jaw muscles before you raise her face to look into your eyes, to see when you shake your head.

Her eyes are rimmed red, weak and defeated, "So you know exactly how much of a horrible person I am, you should get out while you can. You deserve so much better than what I can ever offer you." she says so pitifully you can't help your response, finally pulling her into your arms. You have no words of comfort, nothing to offer but your support, your understanding, your loyalty and your love.

Oh Beca.

I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I didn't know. Thank you for telling me. You try to convey all these with your mere touches; your arms encircled tightly around her as she breathes shaky and deep.

I'm here.

I'm not going anywhere. You press a hard kiss to her temple, she lets out a sigh that sounds both pained and relieved.

You bask in this moment of silence. Of her in your arms, surrendering her truths, giving you herself, showing you every part. You're finally viewing each and every jagged piece in all it's entirety.

She's giving you so much. Too much. Its everything alright. She's bared it all, laid it to rest upon your feet. It's an information overload. Your emotions, your senses are at an overload as well, torn between numerous reactions, feeling surprise, betrayal, sadness, regret, love.

Was there relief in all this? In knowing that there was one less barrier in the way.

You hurt for Beca for all she had lost. You watch her breaking in front of you not knowing if you had it in you to be strong for the both of you, not when it was all so fresh and unreal and fully disorienting.

Your brain in its disarray grasps to hold on to anything, to some semblance of order, trying in vain to make sense of the details.

"Wait. I need to get this straight, so if Jesse's just your cover up and it's all a lie….when you like girls…so you're really ga -"

She glances up harshly.

"I'm not gay…I'm not a lesbian. " she all but snarls out, eyes flashing. You flinch as she pulls away abruptly. You almost back down but you press forward. You can't let her put up those walls again.

"So what is this then... you wanting to be with me, a girl, sort of makes you one…" you explain,

"Well ...I don't do labels." she says dismissively, You don't let her get off that easy.

"Am I the first girl you've liked?"

"I hardly think that's important."

You almost cry out in frustration. You press a hand to your temple and start massaging. She was infuriating, you'd gotten this far only to be held up once again by Beca's refusal to acknowledge things.

You guess Beca wasn't ready to admit this about herself, but where did that leave you. She wasn't with Jesse, she claimed she wanted you, but she wasn't sure? Why was she so utterly confusing?

"I beg to differ-I need to know if I'm not the only one, if I sorta made you gay or if you're experimenting. Or if I'm some weird unfulfilled fantasy that you never got to live out. Wait this is completely messing with my head." you practically garble out, breathing too fast and yet not feeling enough air reaching your lungs. Just a moment ago you were at the verge of a panic attack that was somehow cut short, but now you're actually having one.

You close your eyes as you see spots. You let yourself lie on the grass trying to calm down, feeling the warm morning sun beating down on your face behind closed lids, you try slowing your breath, gasping around the scent of chlorine, grass and early morning air.

You feel her shift to lie down next to you. You refuse to open your eyes.

"Hey. Stop freaking out." She calmly says, like it's so easy. Like she hadn't come so close to that just a second ago. A disgruntled noise escapes from the back of your throat. The little minx still has it in her to be amused, lightly laughing. You open your eyes around a scowl. She's on her tummy staring down at you, her arms propping her up. "You have no reason to freak out. You just have to breathe." she says her voice making its way through your swimming head, you feel her hand gently hold your face, cupping your cheek, tilting it so your eyes could meet hers, "All you need to know Chloe, Chloe Beale-" her eyes shine down on you as she lowers her lips and places a soft kiss to your nose, she pulls back just slightly "is if there's one thing that's true it's that, you're the only one- period." she half-whispers, lips mere inches from your own.

You feel a different more pleasant dizziness overcome you, feeling your eyes closing, your heart thudding, loud in your ears. Your stomach twists pleasantly as your breaths mingle, you can practically taste her on your lips, yet somehow (you really don't know where you get the strength)you summon enough restraint to pull away.

"Yeah. I think you need to give me several more moments to process this." you half-slur, half stutter out,

If Beca is disappointed or even frustrated she doesn't show it, she merely smiles, her eyes and her easy smile conveying her understanding. She rolls to her back, tucking her arms, interlacing her hands behind her head.

"Take all the time you need. We can take a breather." She graciously offers, "You need water or anything." she says turning her head to face you.

You shake your head resolutely, "No. You don't need to stop. You just need to talk me through this. Tell me something-anything more."

Her eyes travel across your face, reading it.

"No, I've said too much...it should be enough for now. You look really pale. We need to get you some water, something to eat perhaps-"

You didn't want to be coddled at the moment. Beca had revealed something so big and unexpected, but you feel you had just barely scratched the surface...you do however accept the bottle of water Beca hands over, and you take a long sip just to stop Beca from fussing over you. You wave away the granola bar she offers you. She leaves it beside you just in case you change your mind

"I'm fine….it's fine. Continue. But wait there's this one detail that didn't quite add up earlier you were saying about Jesse, so if he wasn't in your room then how'd -what lead to him answering your phone at such an unforgivable hour?" you ask now, curiosity fully restored.

"Let me clarify what happened once and for all- after we had this meeting that ran late-he called together people to do some late night brainstorming and such in his room. We were there with a couple of other people but I wasn't feeling in the mood for anything well-I hadn't been feeling so much the inspired vibe that day-"she says wryly,

"I felt dead tired and thoroughly drained and so I went for a lie down-the next thing I know, I wake up it's late in the morning and I can't find my phone where I left it. Jess is acting all weird and suspicious-like and I finally see that he hid my phone."

You gasp at the sheer audacity of that man. "So all that Jesse said…" you muse aloud, already half-believing.

"What exactly did he say?" Her eyes curious, concerned.

"Well he implied that you were that you had been together like that-like a couple…" the pain you feel isn't nearly as overwhelming, muted somewhat.

"Well he lied-" her eyes flash dangerously, "and I only found out you called when I checked my phone and confronted him about it..he didn't think to delete the call log, he told me how he'd answered it and that you'd talked."

You can't resist pitching, "talked, more like accused me, told me that I was the pathetic one, that I was a pathetic little girl for interrupting your coupling time."

"I knew that he'd probably told you some bull story-" she mutters almost to herself.

"I knew he was hurt, I knew he needed time to accept things but what he did was unacceptable. I didn't stick to hear him or his excuses out. To put it simply I just upped and left. I had to explain things to you in person. It was easy since I had already packed my things in preparation-I'd already made up my mind to get on the plane earlier than planned-"

"And when did you decide that?" you all but murmur.

"The moment I first got on the plane leaving you, it took everything in me not to tell the pilot to just turn the plane around, and it got even more difficult when I actually arrived in London but what really convinced me was right after our talk-that kind of streamlined everything. I booked a flight before I cancelled all my other engagements…I didn't even stop to think of the consequences of what I was doing-if I was doing the right thing. Well I only became sure I did the right thing when I got here-when I finally saw you. I almost regretted why I'd left in the first place if not for the work."

You smile at the little confession but then groan upon remembering what you went through just before she showed up. Her scary, freaky surprises.

"Why the hell did you have to go all covert, undercover spy like? The others were scared and they only experienced the finale-I had to go through all of that-" you wave, motion vaguely "-the whole entire day…" you complain needing to let out some frustration from all of the ongoing confusion.

"I didn't meant to scare you-believe me that wasn't my intention at all…I just wanted to let you know that I was here without anyone spoiling it or the news breaking to the paparazzi. I couldn't think of any other way but leaving behind some clues. I actually thought it'd come off less stalker-y more romantic-" your eyebrows come together and you bite your lip around an apologetic smile, "I thought wrong." She all but sighs out.

She had caused quite the commotion, quite a scare for you in every corner. You weren't quite sure it was her, there wouldn't be a better time than now to cross check how it all went down from her end.

"So it really was all you…but how'd you do it-how'd you pull everything off and how were you everywhere at once like some sorta Santa Claus when did you find the time? How'd you know my schedule?"

"I have my ways." she says vaguely, You narrow your eyes and shake your head needing to hear the fine details.

"Everything remember?" you smirk.

"Can't we leave some air of mystery?" she grumbles out.

"Not today- so first the flower…" you prod.

"-was simple enough I ordered it beforehand-it was supposed to be a whole bouquet but that wouldn't quite fit the whole undercover picture."

"and it simply wouldn't fit under the windshield wipe."

"Good point. Thinking about it now, I could've had it placed somewhere else, inside the house…speaking of...The picture I had framed, I may have taken the poster snuck it out by tucking it into my pants leg when I was in your bedroom taking a call-right before I left-"

"I think I would've noticed-"

"Trust me, layers hide everything-Not that I've had to hide anything before…physically I mean, there was that one odd rumor about-"

"You being a hermaphrodite…" you say which sends her into a fit of laughter (she was completely gone, rolling around in the grass) You shake your head, trying to look unimpressed but failing. She was such a goofball.

"Because of the one comment you made while shutting up a reporter while they were catcalling you."

"Who knew they'd take 'no that's my dick' seriously..." she gasps out once she's recovered some, wiping away tears of laughter.

"Speaking of calls, how'd you know about my phone…and how'd you get into the house…I mean it was you who put the frame in right…I won't lie that's what got me freaking out the most…that someone had been in there the whole time while I was asleep. I guess I'll feel slightly less traumatized if I knew it was just you."

"How'd you like me to answer that?" She asks seriously,

"As truthful and concise as you can please don't omit anything."

"No I meant which question first…there were a bunch thrown in there." She smiles that teasing smile,

"You're the one who said you'd give me all the answers…" you singsong

"And I will-so would you like them to be answered in order, in quick succession or…"

"You're dawdling once again."

"Fine but I'll be garnering-adding up to my grand total Chloe stalker points," her mouth closes abruptly, her eyes widening, like she'd let that slip without meaning it to. She looks like she regrets saying too much but she pushes on. "I warn you-it's not all pretty."

You just give a half-dazed nod. Stalker points-she had stalker points when it came to you? You almost halt the questioning altogether at that one revelation. You will totally get into this later on.

"That's… fine. I mean- do go on."

"About the phone I was able to get it out of Jesse after I went crazy trying to contact you -I had to set things straight-especially after I heard the state you were in…how Jesse mentioned something about hearing a crash before the call disconnected…saying that you had been overreacting to what he was saying and that you had probably thrown your phone…and so I thought-I took the liberty of ordering a new one."

"But um-I can't take all the credit you mention Santa, well, I had a lot of help-from my little elves…my trusted team members…and some other people that I can't really state who they work for as that is top secret."

"You mean those heavy-set muscular guys?"

"Hank's um special old friends from when he was in the military/security-but it was all me um y'know sorta stalking you-following along from afar trying to find the opportunity to get you somewhere private…I was at your place for a bit, I was going to show myself…but you neighbors were all out and about for some reason…so I couldn't park the car I was using so I kinda camped around then I uh climbed through your window…and waited there... for ...a bit." she scratched at her nose, and after looked at her hands, unable to look you in the eye.

"Right-okay so for how long?" You ask like this was a completely casual topic of conversation.

"1 or 2 hours you came in and you went to sleep immediately I didn't have the heart to wake you up so I uh…just….stayed and..."

"You creeped on me-peeped on me. What are you also a seventeen year old vampire named Edward?"

"Uh...No?" she says dismissing or not quite catching the twilight reference, "I uh casually observed, oversaw the progress of your-" You feel yourself grinning like a fool "fine yes, I watched. You always look so peaceful, relaxed and happy…you make the cutest little noise..." she says a small smile and a faint blush showing across her features.

You simultaneously warm and cool.

Wait.

"Always?"

Beca stiffens, shakes her head, jerks almost like being awakened from a dream, a haze, she quickly rearranged her features, "Um-huh what…"

"You've watched me before-this isn't the first time you've-"

"I didn't say anything. Anyways-I almost fell asleep myself…" she continued without acknowledging you, her face slightly tinged "then I remembered that I had to get the frame back into place-I almost missed Hank's signal…"

"Okay and then you just left right after? How'd you sneak back out?"

"I could've stayed there all day but then I heard the door and I so wasn't in the mood for another Aubrey run-in so I bolted."

"Well it wasn't Aubrey who arrived it was the person delivering the phone. Which, thank you by the way, I promise I'll take extra care of this one cos this one's special-" you admit, feeling shy. Beca's corresponding smile and shiny eyes erases your slight unease, " though, just so you know I'm not usually that careless with my things." you add, to further reassure her that you don't usually make it a habit of wrecking your things in an emotional frenzy. "Though I do see how the history of all my actions these past few days and all the things you're replacing for me isn't really working in my favor."

She brushes away the beginnings of your nervous rambling with a thumb to your cheek, caressing it softly, " You don't need to excuse yourself, Chloe. You don't need to be held accountable for your actions-"

You shake your head, that wasn't fair-you recognised more than anyone that you also had shortcomings, that all that had happened over the last weeks had brought out the worse in you, much like it did for Beca.

"Well yeah, okay maybe you should-we both should, because we've done some pretty crazy, immature things trying to figure all of this out-"she looks to you with nothing but acceptance, her eyes laced not only with sadness but with a deeper understanding, "but the first step was admitting to it and if I know you, Chloe I know that you've internalised everything, kept it all bottled in until you couldn't any more. You never intended anything bad to happen. You shouldn't even be a part of this mess...because you're good." her eyes are alight, observing you with something close to devotion. It doesn't seem real. You feel so unworthy, undeserving of her thoughts and affections. "You're so pure, and you were pushed into this, you would never have reacted like that if you weren't provoked...and I-all my actions were what pushed you to your breaking point. Forgive me-" she says around a heavy gasp.

It's your turn to grasp her face in between your hands, leaning forward to rest your foreheads together.

"Hey-let's not get into that, we're already moving on our way past the dark stuff. But Beca, you're right, we both messed up." she had been. refusing to look at you until then, her eyes are strained, but you soften your words with a quick kiss to where her brows are furrowed. You pull back but and let your hands drift downwards, resting just by her shoulders, your fingers have the freedom to trace her slender neck. "We both went at everything all wrong. We've both recognised this and now we can take whatever it is we learned and try to do better, be better this time around."

She nods eagerly, smiling softly. "Absolutely. I completely agree with you." her own hands she interlaces around your neck, pulling you into her warmth, so that you're practically on her lap. You should've protested, would've been far more concerned that you were probably squishing her, if you didn't see Beca's contented smile, feel her adjusting to accommodate you more comfortably, seemingly completely at ease and at home with you just there.

"We may have hiccups along the way but who doesn't. Let's be adaptable. Let's be...like this, completely honest and open…"

"Let's be us-"

"But better." you add

"Bechloe 2.0." she says playfully, her voice deepening taking a movie trailer narrator quality and you chuckle. She quickly turns serious adding, "I must warn you I'll still have my closed off- emotionally constipated moments...but I'll talk, just give me space to do so, and I'll do so in my own time-I just need a little coaxing-" you snort, she rolls her eyes in retaliation; but the actions aren't angry like earlier it's actually teasing and lighthearted, "Fine, a lot of coaxing and only if you ask me nicely." she finishes smugly. You're almost overcome to wipe that look off her face, tempted to bite at the pink of her lips.

You only just manage to restrain yourself shaking your head a tiny bit and pulling back.

"And I'll probably still have paranoid, needy feeling neglected and frustrated moments when you do that- most probably when I'm PMS-ing-but I promise to not be overly scandalous or go about it publicly. I was irresponsible before, letting things get to me in the heat of the moment. I won't let it happen again. I'll do what I can to protect you. I know it takes as little as the wrong phrasing of a word to completely ruin someone's reputation and I don't want that, I don't want any of this to be tainted. I'm sorry that I've disrespected you and your position in the past, I'm sorry if it's like I took your friendship for granted...or even took advantage-"

"You didn't-" she begins but you silence her with a knowing look. Beca presses on," It's a sensitive situation that were in being in the public eye, on national television-no less. Made even more complicated with these things they call feelings."

"If only we couldn't have those-" you all but murmur.

"It'd be simpler but...I wouldn't have this, us, any other way. I'd take this over anything else... 'cause it's real, you know, it's something worth fighting for."

More than anything she's ever said, this last one's taking every ounce of your energy in not jumping her. You'd like to think you've got some chill, though. You settle for another quick kiss to her temple.

"I'll be more professional. Whatever problems we may have, we can keep outside the competition."

"As for your moments, how about I'll call you out of those by showering you with enough attention to make you want to place a restraining order on me?"

"That sounds like a pretty sweet deal. Speaking of sweet, what about all those donuts, were they from you?"

"Wait donuts-I got you the one donut from the coffee shop you frequent too." she says slowly, not understanding, "But like multiple… that wasn't me…I wouldn't want to load you up with too much sugar-you're usually hyper enough as it is…and it's unhealthy-not good for the body at all." She smiles still looking perplexed.

"Then who was it?" you ask, and Beca frowns whilst shrugging.

Who knew that you were having a bad day and knew you well enough to get your favorite type of donut. Of all your friends who was thoughtful enough to do something that sweet for you. You know it wasn't Aubrey so that would leave...Wait you think you know…

"Wait a second." you check your phone and see a message that you had surpassed,

Colleen: Hey sweetie! Hope you like my little treat, thought you deserved all the sweetness you could ever eat within the day.

"-Yup it was Colleen. She's such a sweetheart." You beam, you look up and just catch as a flitter of a shadow passes across Beca's face, she looks bothered if it's any indication by the deep frown on her forehead but just as quickly she clears her face. She shifts a bit under your weight and you think perhaps, her legs were starting to numb. You move off her lap, she squeezed your hips apologetically.

"Okay…so I wasn't the only one who knew to give you your sweet fix." she says around what sounds like a forced laugh before her mouth settles into a pout.

"Why the face?" you ask poking her cheek.

"What face?" she raises her brow, pout still in place.

"That face." you can't resist pinching her cheek, she swats your hand away.

"I don't know what you mean, it's my face."

"Sure. Ms. Grumpy Mcpouttyface." you poke fun at her. She pouts some more before realising what she was doing, she rolls her eyes and let's out a little frustrated huff, crossing her arms and rolling to one side.

You push yourself up to lay on your stomach to get a good look at her, she rolls again but faces the other side.

You'd almost be frustrated over her getting unreasonably upset if you weren't a little amused and distracted at how unreasonably cute while jealous she was being.

You move to hover over her, your arms on either side of her head, your legs on either side of her hips, trapping her. Your hair falling freely surrounding her, blocking any other sight, forcing her to look at you.

"Well everyone knows about that…well only three of you best friends of mine know the true extent of how much of a sweet tooth I am…" you lightly, casually say, dipping your head to find that smile of hers that seems to be evading you.

"but as much as I appreciated Colleen's overload of sweetness. I could've done with just the one, the first one."

She does finally, resignedly smile when you nudge her, "Happy?" you ask,

She shrugs like it wasn't such a big deal, still you're not content with her lack of an answer, not content with her quiet barely there smile.

You already miss her full mega watt grin, you want, need it back on her face stat. You need to make her smile again.

You're determined to do just that and more. You sport a secret little grin which makes Beca start to sit up looking cautious, suspicious, she doesn't move fast enough when you use your legs to keep her from moving, pinning her shoulders down and your hands move to tickle and lightly pinch her while asking over and over again,"You happy, you happy you happy?"

You both get jostled around as Beca tries to free herself from your hold, to get away from your tickling, (in the back of your mind you're thinking that you could get use to the feel of Beca moving underneath you, eyes bright, skin pink with exertion) you're both laughing freely, breathlessly till she finally calls uncle,

"Yes, you tickle-happy Nazi." she swats you away, you finally take pity on her and fall back and move to sit down.

"Yep, those two don't go together- tickling, Nazi's."

"I would've come up with something better if my brain wasn't so deprived of oxygen from some tickle-happy redhead making me laugh so hard." Beca says, following your lead and sitting up as well. Her voice held that bite she sometimes used for insults whenever she was annoyed, but her smile betrays her.

Your stomach gives a pleasant swoop. She looks beautiful. Definitely happy. Happy suits her, wears her well, transforms her beauty into something beyond this world. Even with her face still pleasantly flushed-blotchy and a bit sweaty, and her hair in a tangled grassy mess. She was messy but still beautiful.

She was yours, your beautiful mess.

It's heavy the emotions you feel and yet you feel lighter than air.

"Better," you say, reaching out to remove the grassy bits that had gotten into her hair-you're happy she lets you, warmth pooling in your chest as she nuzzles into your touch. It's like today was unreal, like something out of a dream. It seems like it's the first time you're both allowed to act how you really want to. It's both a scary and liberating thought.

"but what were you saying about donuts not being good for my body. Are you saying that you wouldn't like me if I say, put on some weight?" you say just to see her squirm some more. (You got a weird kick out of it, a frazzled Beca Mitchell was the cutest.)

And she doesn't disappoint, you feel yourself smirk as she rambles. "Huh-No that's not what-huh I didn't say that-I so did not say…"

"but you were implying that if i were to become fat…you wouldn't." you say testily,

"No way…you'd still be you..y'know with just more...of you…"

You raise your brows at her less than smooth comeback,

"More of me and then?" you prompt, interested in how she'd finish the sentence.

"Well... then...there'd be plenty more to go around, more of you to...love?" she tries, looking so embarrassed you can't help but giggle. She bites her lip in consternation before she joins in.

"Sorry I kinda lured you into that one."

"Yeah I know you did, you tend to fish for compliments. If it makes you feel special, then I don't mind giving it to you-I love giving it to you."

You can't stop the surprised laughter that you feel bubbling in your throat from escaping,

"You want to rethink your choice of words, babe?" you ask waiting for Beca to realise what she'd said.

She flushes. " You know what I mean." you laugh some more.

"We really need to work on this-" you say so moments afterwards, meaning it innocently but realising you hadn't cleared or finalised anything just yet and so you add, "If there is still something for us to work on…"

"Do you-Are you sure you want there to be?" she asks seriously, her head bent low, hands pulling at the grass, nervous.

You continue to ponder this, to watch her till she raises her eyes to yours. They're calm regarding you as she waits for your decision. You read understanding, acceptance for whatever you wanted, for whatever path you chose to take. They promise that she would follow you anywhere, she would come along, warm and willing.

You nod slowly first then firmly. "I do. I want to keep at it…at this..at us."

There's no huge visible change or reaction from Beca but you somehow feel her happiness expand; its in the little sigh she gives, the lightness in her body, her eyes a clearer brighter blue.

The picture of complete and utter ease, of relief. Peace.

"I'm sure or at least somewhere along the line it does get easier. I mean it should, right, or we really do have the worst luck…" she can't resist adding.

She sighs but it no longer sounds heavy, it sounds weightless and carefree.

"So…in the last two weeks we've gone from friends to….whatever we are…"

"I feel like whatever happens we're still friends…at least I hope so…" you interject,

"Of course-you're still my best friend." she smiles easily in agreement.

"And you're mine…" you say, liking how the word tasted on your lips, "disregarding everything else…and well this only makes it better…"

"So we're...we'll be okay?" Beca clarifies.

"We're getting there…I feel like we're more us, more ourselves than we have been in a long time. We're definitely still friends …" you repeat.

She nods agreeing, "Not even a question about it."

"Friends who've kissed-" you voice aloud.

"Friends who happen to have thoroughly enjoyed the act of kissing each other." she waggles her brows, eyes dancing, a ready smirk playing on her lips.

"Well-it wasn't too bad…" you try to tamper your smile,

"Okay…so it wasn't great for you. I've never really had complaints before…" Beca says, looking slightly put out.

"I'm kidding." you nudge her shoulder, "It was-well you were there. You know how it was. " she lets a smile peek out. "Wet and wetter." you tease.

She laughs. "You make it sound so horrible."

"I'm saying it like it was...there were tears, angst, and more tears. I don't know how but somehow you pulled it off."

"At least they were memorable." she says pouting shortly, before smiling.

"Its definitely burned into my memories." you fully agree. "So...that was it? Anything else you want to add?" you say airily, trying to sound aloof. Beca smiles widely.

"Okay...I just revealed that this whole thing between us is the real relationship and that's not enough of a twist for you?"

"I had some theories that will definitely blow your little cover-up secret out of the water."

"Pray do tell." she asks intrigued, her smile widens when you blush, remembering just how silly they sounded. It was something not really meant to be voiced aloud.

"Nevermind."

"I'm intrigued...seriously, I've heard it all."

"For some other time, maybe." You tease. She narrows her eyes before nodding, letting it pass.

"I'll definitely hold you to it. So we still have around an hour left till they arrive. As much as laying around here with you is fun and all that, is there something else that you want to try, that you want to do?" Beca poses the question innocently but her eyes paint another story, one that promises so much, that makes you feel warm inside.

Your eyes once again wander over to the tub, that's an idea.

"Why don't we get steamy and wet-" you color and so does she, you clear your throat, "I mean, in the hot tub?"

"Its midday, that can wait till it's late or something…or not," she cuts herself off when she sees your disappointed face, "I don't really mind, It's weird though." You can't help laughing delightedly. "Okay give me a second to get everything ready. You have a suit?"

You nod excitedly before the two of you split up; She heads up to her room to retrieve her swimsuit, while you go into one of the changing rooms. You're changed first out of the two of you. You're rearing and ready to go and you can't hold back for even a second longer when you see the steam temptingly calling towards you.

You sink into the hot tub sighing as the warmth encases your body, this, this is what you needed. You felt your whole body relax as the tension seemed to drift away along with the steam. You close your eyes as you lean your head back to submerge your face for a short moment under water. You push up again for air and barely make it-choking and sputtering-but not from the water. You feel yourself drowning, you only just barely recover at the sight before your eyes.

"How's the water?" the vision asks,

And you open your mouth and just nothing, nope. There are no actual words there anymore.

It's just that...Beca's in a bikini.

A bikini people!

You can't repeat it enough. It hasn't quite settled in. She's in a bikini, a bikini.

An itsy bitsy teeny weenie sexy drool-worthy bikini.

A bikini that left nothing to the imagination.

And she was definitely not a hermaphrodite- she was all woman.

Your brain had officially turned to mush. And you can't help it, you're uninhibitedly gaping, staring, leering, jaw slack. You think you feel actual drool trail down your mouth. You wonder why she's not running away from you just yet.

Man she wears that bikini well.

You don't know where to focus first. Her legs, her trim waist, her toned arms. Your face heats up more that it already has as you recall a very intense make out that you had, with that perfect body pressed into yours while your mouths moved hotly. You find those same lips curled into a smirk. And hello, there it is again, this heat, coursing reaching, distracting, growing in your stomach now travelling lower. That damned minx knowing full well her effect on you, tests your already shaky restraint further, she sexily bites at her bottom lip. You give yourself a firm shake, a strong mental slap.

You straighten up in the tub, rising deliberately slowly, feeling the water trail down your body, but the heat you feel is nothing compared to how intensely Beca is looking at you.

See. Two can play that game, Mitchell.

"Nothing I can't handle." You say confidently your own smirk making an appearance at your recovery.

Beca suddenly looks hesitant, shy almost, as she approaches, lowering herself down into the water. You tamper down your disappointment when she chooses to sit across from you.

"What about you, you think you can handle this?" you raise your eyebrow.

She scoffs but still maintains her distance, observing you intently."Is that doubt I here? I'll let you know Beca Mitchell can handle anything, Badass should've been my middle name."

"I don't know, you're the one who's referring to yourself in third person, and who's refusing to come closer, also Marie wouldn't appreciate that name change I'm sure." You laugh.

Beca laughs but her eyes doesn't reflect her amusement, it's heated, intense, almost predatory, It make you shiver involuntarily.

"You want to know why I'm not coming closer?" She says slowly, her voice dropping several octaves.

She doesn't let you answer, not that you could, all your blood is rushing downwards.

"The distance is the only thing keeping me from pouncing on you right now…"she answers so matter of factly, it makes your breath hitch, "if I were to go nearer who knows what could happen, that suit of yours isn't really helping my self restraint." you feel your entire body clench, your mouth get dry.

"Prove it." you whisper, emboldened. Her eyes flash at your challenge. She bites her lip before she ever so slowly closes the distance between the both of you.

You challenged her but you still feel yourself grow sweaty with nervousness at her approach.

And just like that she's there, within your reach looking so delectable. Her creamy pale skin's all flushed and red, water, the heat clinging to her skin, steam surrounding you (or was it just her presence)both making it hard to breathe.

Her arms go on either side of you, almost trapping you, but her proximity isn't scary it makes you feel warm of course, and somehow whole and safe. Her eyes are open, deep painted with millions of possibilities, holding a million promises, and her mouth is set in the biggest, happiest grin.

She bites her bottom lip as she leans in and you close your eyes-but she merely tucks her head into the crook of your neck, her arms going around your waist for a wet hug.

You're a bit thrown but you go along with it, you move your own arms to place around her.

Her breath hitches painfully.

"Hey are you okay?" you ask worriedly. You feel as she both nods and shakes her head.

You want to pull back to look into her eyes to get a read on her but she makes it impossible when she tightens her hold around you, it's almost suffocating- she shakes her head again once.

"Thank you." She breathes harshly, pulling you in impossibly tighter. She doesn't say anything else, she doesn't need to elaborate further, what she's thanking you for went unsaid.

Your body, though hyper aware of all the available exposed skin touching, isn't celebrating or getting caught up in that detail. You hold on securely to Beca, willing for her to understand, for you to effectively convey that you were there-that this was really happening. For a while the two of you just stand there tightly hugging, until she loosens her grip, as you begin to move back a little, Beca's arms pull you back in.

"I adore you." She whispers reverently into your neck.

You feel your heart give an extra hard thud at her words. You let out a shaky breath as she pressed an open mouthed kiss there as well.

She pulls back to check if it was okay, you can't help the helpless nod. Her eyes shine with that reminiscent childish excitement of earlier, and then she happily goes pressing another kiss to that spot where your neck met your shoulder, then to your jaw, then to your pulse point.

You can't help giggling at her enthusiasm, feeling tickled and happy, giddy almost.

She pulls back confused, "and what's so funny Miss Beale?"

"Nothing, you're just like an overeager puppy."

She pulls away looking almost affronted. It's your turn to pull her back and pin her to you.

"A very cute overeager puppy." you try to appease her. She merely grumbles.

"A very cute, but still badass, heartwarming, overeager puppy." you add, kissing the corner of her mouth when it twitches.

"A hot, very cute but badass, heartwarming, over eager pup-" her hand comes to muffle the next words.

"That's enough, we get it. Though, I should find it weird that you called a dog hot." you lick her hand and she yelps before removing it.

"Ew! You got saliva all over my hand."

"You like it sticky." you taunt and she blushes, which makes you laugh. " and yeah right, tell me you didn't find Tramp hot from Lady and the Tramp."

"I was more of a Simba type of girl, actually. He was a redhead too, you know. It seems like a have a type. "

You shake your head trying to contain the smile, hating that what she said made you like her all that much "You're saying animals are your type?"

"It depends…" she laughs, playing along with the weird flow of your conversation.

"If I bite?"

"Biting's good sometimes. It's the scary growling that worries me."

"Rawr." You try growling into her ear before nipping at her lobe. She giggles-like actually lets out the girliest giggle-that makes you pause all your actions and pull back to check that it was her, doubtful it actually happened.

She clears her throat, clearly embarrassed, trying to rearrange her face. You smirk.

"Shut up." Beca murmurs.

"Make me."

Her eyes get that heated look again, (not that it ever disappeared entirely) they glint with that steely edge, whenever she was challenged and that hungry determined gaze when she's decided to do something.

It makes you shiver deliciously.

She moves quickly, her hands go to your waist and flips you to pin you against the hard surface. She moves so her legs slip in between yours, and her mouth quickly goes to your collarbone, she wetly kisses it, scrapes her teeth again at it, it makes your entire body jolt, makes a little moan escape, that turns into a full fledged groan as she soothes it with her tongue. She presses more hot open mouthed kisses with some nipping thrown in there, over the expanse of your neck, then up your jaw. You feel your lids growing heavy then fully drifting shut. The rest of your senses are heightened. You feel everything, your whole body's abuzz. The only sounds are the sloshing water, Beca's cute little kissing noises, her humming, an occasional moan or many a moan from you. This is so past the point of being funny it isn't funny,

"Chloe." she murmurs,

You let your eyes open, her blown eyes meets yours as she removes her mouth from your neck and her lips move tantalizingly close to where you want it most at the moment. You wonder how her kisses will taste without everything hanging over the both of you. With her being free to show you how she really felt-

"It looks like things are getting steamy." you hear the unmistakable voice coming from behind. Beca and yourself both straighten up and turn, almost not wanting to believe that Stacie's there early with the girls (each sporting shit-eating grins on their faces)along with your best friend, Aubrey, who looks at you with blatant disappointment, and Beca with barely concealed dislike.

You feel embarrassed for a moment considering moving away from Beca's warmth but quickly you feel defiant, you weren't a child you could make your own decisions.

Beca pulls away slightly but squeezes your hip under the water to reassure you.

Plus Aubrey didn't know the whole story of what had happened, no one knew what Beca had openly revealed to you.

"So did we miss anything good?" Cynthia Rose asks amused.

"We were... catching up." Beca answers aloud easily.

"Oh yes catching up, I hear that's what they're calling it these days." She laughs disbelieving, "Too bad for me when people say they want to catch up they actually mean it exactly the way it's supposed to mean."

You all end up laughing. Cynthia Rose beckons to the two of you " Why don't you two get out of there so we can all be catching up with one another."

"We were just getting to the good part." you grumble to yourself -maybe a little too loudly, Beca gives you that little smirk of hers and winks as if in total agreement,

"Later-" she murmurs once she brushes past you; hot water sloshing around as she pulls herself out first then helps you, "I wasn't anywhere near done enjoying myself yet."

Aubrey continues to glare down at Beca the whole way she walks the few feet away to get the both of you towels and returns handing you the fluffy blue one.

"Bree." you try calling her, wanting to divert her attention, you don't have anything to say, you just wanted to take some heat away from Beca.

Aubrey spares a glance your way, there's an unspoken agreement between you when she rolls her eye upon meeting your beseeching one's, assuring you that she wasn't going to go crazy on Beca.

Beca's looking worriedly between the two of you observing your staredown, not certain what was going on, unsure whether to step in or not.

"Beca," Aubrey calls out getting her attention, "I just want to begin with, thanks for the invite I appreciate it and because of that and this being your house and all, I will try to be at my best behavior towards you." she says sounding like it was something they had to force out of her, but you admire her effort. Beca seems to as well letting a tentative smile peek out before responding.

"Thanks as always for being so…"she pauses,before smiling wider "so forthright, Bree.. I mean, Aubrey." the two girls flush at her slip of the tongue. You smile when Aubrey awkwardly replies,

"You can call me Bree, it's fine."

"So Bree and my girls, we're complete finally. We've come together for this momentous occasion. So let's commence with the fun times shall we?" Beca begins consciously, a bit too formally, and hyperaware.

You get her attention subtly waving your fingers as you point at the group. It's to remind her what you said about them already being her friends and that she didn't have to try so hard.

"So what to do first?" she poses the question aloud to the group. You smile, she remembered what you said that it was better to come up with activities as a group to end up with a general consensus.

"Since everything is already heated between the two of you, why don't you guys cool off?" Aubrey says, her eyebrow raised at you.

"Yeah join us for a normal cold swim in the pool." Fat Amy quickly offers, not so gently reminding. "I mean, that was the plan."

"Of course-"Beca says readily, "C'mon get changed in the bathrooms over there by the pool and meet us here."

The other girls leave to get ready, with Aubrey giving Beca the "I'm watching you" sign, putting both fingers to her eyes become pointing them Beca's way, before she walks away.

"Aubrey's giving me quite the stinkeye."

"Aw wittle Coach Beca can't handle a little stinkeye?"

"How many times do I have to tell you, I can handle all…" you feel the beginning of a laugh, a retort, "-especially if it's for you." she continues seriously, which quells anything from leaving your lips.

You turn to each other, lips a breath away, ready to continue from where you left off- when you both notice Amy standing there when you swear she wasn't there before. You jump apart.

"Amy, how long have you been standing there?" Beca asks her voice higher than usual.

"I never left, you'd know if your eyes weren't so glued to each other's mouths." Fat Amy answers in that honest, uncaring way she does. Beca clears her throat, flushing deeply while you try not to laugh

"Also I've been taking special sneaky ninja classes from that make up artist Lily. Asian bitch is legit." she says raising her hands in a rock on sign.

The three of you stand aimlessly, as much as you love Fat Amy to death, she was intruding on your alone time. Beca looks to you to remedy that.

"You're not changing to go swimming, Aims. Weren't you the one most excited to go?" you ask.

"Of course I still am…" she scoffs looking at you like you'd said the stupidest thing ever, "I'm not going to go change cos watch closely", Amy said pulling of her shirt and kicking away her shorts in one motion. "I'm already in my suit. I'm fully prepared."

"Damn." you murmur, fully impressed.

"You gotta teach me that." Beca seriously says.

"Can't. It's not something you just learn. So excuse me lovebirds, you better take cover while I-" she doesn't finish her sentence, only breaks into a run(Cardio you're so proud of her) before cannonballing into the water.

You don't move fast enough and you shriek as the cold water reaches you. You shiver, that wasn't nice after your warmth from earlier.

Beca laughs evilly from behind and you turn to see why-she had somehow gotten a pail and filled it, she throws the cold water on your already goose pimply body.

"You're gonna pay for that Mitchell!" you scream after you've recovered and chase after her. She runs all the way to the pool's deep end.

"Make me, Beale!" she says blowing a flying kiss, throws a flirty wink your way (you nearly forget your anger) before diving in,

You watch admiringly as she pierces through the water expertly, then swims skimming the bottom of the pool before emerging.

"Show off." Amy calls out.

"You'll have to follow me in here if you want to exact your revenge."

"No way! It's freezing."

"C'mon you big baby ginger! No soul remember, cold and dead inside. Cold water's like your natural element." comes Fat Amy's jeer.

"That doesn't even make sense, Amy." You fire back. She merely laughs, leisurely floating on her back.

Beca swims closer to the pool edge. You crouch to talk to her.

"C'mon, it's not that cold. I mean after a while you just get used to it. Your body will adjust." Beca wheedles, coaxes. She reaches out her hand. You back away wearily.

"I'm not falling for that, you won't get to pull me in. Besides that looks pretty deep, how deep is it?"

You weren't prepared to get an immediate answer to your question as you move to stand up, and you feel a push behind you. Its a sensory overload all at once; you fall, you're suspended feeling weightless for a moment then just as quickly, you feel the hard splash of cool water waiting, whipping through your body. You taste the bitter chlorine, feel the water enter your nose, see the clear blue and the rush of bubbles swirling, feel as your hearing's muffled momentarily.

You see and feel a familiar hand around your waist-Beca's, pulling you up.

You break through the surface gasping for air you sputter out the water.

You hear the chorus of laughter, "Who the hell?" you say voice hoarse from coughing, looking around.

You see Aubrey laughing with Stacie and Cynthia Rose clad in their swimsuits. "Couldn't resist, sorry Chlo."

You continue to cough so you just flip Aubrey the bird.

You swim to the ladder at the end then pull yourself up, Beca follows. You bend forward, placing your hands on your knees coughing still.

"Are you okay?" Beca asks worriedly, soft hands settling, drawing soothing circles on your back. Aubrey comes close too.

"Chlo...hey. I'm sorry, I know you hate being taken by surprise like that." your blonde best friend says.

"I'm fine." you say, your voice hoarse.

"Really? I can get her back for you." Beca offers.

Aubrey looks at Beca, " aca-excuse me."

"Yeah aca-excuse you, you pushed Chloe."

"Yeah. I know, I'm sorry, but don't go butting in, this is between us best friends."

"I'm Chloe's best friend too."

She laughs dryly, "You're not her best friend you're her- I don't know whatever it is your title is."

"What happened to being on your best behavior?" Beca asked Aubrey with a hint of annoyance despite her teasing grin.

Okay, you so didn't want to start another fight.

You look at the rest of the girls for help. Stacie mimes something, you smirk at the idea.

While the two continue to squabble the rest of them gather around but not too near, waiting for the right moment.

"Go ahead kick me out then!" Aubrey challenges Beca ferociously.

"Don't tempt me, Bree."

"Don't be an untrustworthy, lying, little bitch, Beca."

Woah

"I've had it with you."

Okay this was escalating way too quickly, getting completely outta hand. You need to intervene and quickly.

"I've had it with you both!" you scream (You wonder at the truthful ring, not entirely sure where it was coming from) which makes them jump in surprise

"It's the two of you who need to cool off!" you say as a signal to the other girls- the four of you quickly lift each girl up, (Fat Amy and you for Beca and Stacie and Cynthia Rose for Aubrey)then throw them into the pool.

You hope you didn't wait too long to diffuse the situation in your unconventional way. You could have two angry best friends at your hands. You wait with bated breath.

Beca emerges first laughing, "Good one, Chloe." she says.

Aubrey doesn't look as pleased but amends "I probably deserved that."

"Just probably?" Beca asks.

"I know I did. And if I can also ask to not get kicked out, I got carried away."

"You're not being literal are you? Because we actually were carried away." Beca says, with a conciliatory smile.

"I get it Beca." Aubrey rolls her eyes good humoredly.

"Truce."

"For the rest of the party."

"Seems fair."

They shake hands.

"Enough with the drama let the fun times commence!"

You spend most if not the entire afternoon swimming and occasionally taking food breaks (Amy mostly)

You play the usual games: Diving for knick knacks, coins specifically, Beca had mostly British currency on hand till they ran out(Fat Amy only dived for keeps). Playing who could hold their breath the longest(Stacie wins each time, she reveals an unfair advantage later, apparently, she did synchronized swimming. Beca's a close second she had lungs of steel that one-something Stacie couldn't help commenting on being useful tidbit for the future making your ears heat up) Swimming through each other's legs. (Cynthia Rose never seemed to get past Stacie's, too busy admiring them you suppose) All of you humored Aubrey through some vocal exercises and one run through of your group number(she reminded that practising whilst submerged in water helped strengthen or work out the lungs)

The whole time you try and almost succeed in keeping your hands to yourself, but Beca is also finding reasons to be touchy. When she swims by pinching your sides, you retaliate by grabbing her foot and tickling her heel. When everyone goes to the deeper part she clings to you even though, there's not much of a height difference between the two of you and Stacie would've been a better option.

You also get caught up in splashing, spitting and chasing each other around like little kids.

All the while you try to ignore the knowing smirks on your friends faces and the warning one on Aubrey's.


Everyone emerges from the pool to change into loose, comfortable house wear. Beca lends you a Lincoln center t-shirt and gym shorts.

When it starts to grow dark and it comes time for dinner, instead of heading back into the house as agreed upon, Beca leads everyone further down the lawn. You turn the corner where you're surprised to find our own mini bonfire and all the food set out in the tables across the lawn.

It seems like Beca still had a good number of surprises, some tricks up her sleeve.

You can't help looking impressed, Beca answers with a little wink.

"You haven't seen nothing yet." she promises.

Along with the huge array of pre-prepared food, there's also meats and such that you could cook for yourself. Beca tries a hand with the Bbq at the griller. After she burns a huge chunk of meat and almost starts another less anticipated fire, burning a hole in the pristine lawn, Aubrey and Cynthia Rose take over all grilling duties while Beca sits out, pouting adorably the whole time. You can't help yourself from leaning over when everyone's distracted to give her a short, sweet kiss to the cheek. Her pout is completely erased and replaced with a beaming smile after that.

Everyone opts to sit by the fire on some logs placed around it. Beca chooses to sit by your legs and sometime during dinner she comfortably leans back and you hardly notice but somehow your free hand ends up in her hair.

Aubrey observes but says nothing. You're a bit worried, this is the longest ever you'd seen Aubrey hold back from snapping, insulting or being overly controlling. You'd be proud if she didn't look like she was going to self implode at a moment's notice.

After dinner's done, each and everyone of you move your full bodies(it's difficult at first, you had to coax Fat Amy in with promises of dessert, Cynthia Rose with video games and Stacie with manicure, pedicure set that you'd now have to bring back out ) for the indoor activities. The girls take a look at the whole play area and exclaim delightedly.

"Can you adopt me?"Fat Amy seriously asks Beca.

You look to Beca who shakes her head before attempting to speak, you're assuming, to gently let her down.

Fat Amy gets her word in first. "Or wait, no that'd be weird. If have to call you Mom what would I call Chloe, Mom the second?"

"or maybe just Mommy or Momma?" Beca suggests. You look to Beca again trying to control your features; you're aiming to look stern and incredulous at her condoning the idea instead of giving away how secretly pleased you were, but Beca's eyebrows raise and a tiny smile plays on her lips, reading you so well.

"Well I'd settle for marriage, and I'm not a commitment person-" Stacie asks slipping an arm around Beca's waist, "So Beca how would you feel about me and you-"

You stiffen and you glance at Beca seeing her do the same, looking to you. Stacie laughs upon noticing.

"Relax, I wasn't done. Me and your house. I'm only interested in your house, if I could marry a house I'd marry yours. We'd be house owner in laws." Stacie adds.

You laugh at the silliness of your friends. Beca however is staring at Aubrey, the only one who has yet to fully relax or enjoy herself.

"Okay, enough with the chitchat. We need to settle things down seriously first. Aubrey you said you wanted to get back at me?" Beca asks, looking pointedly at Aubrey.

"Is that even a question?"

"I have a parlay or a little quid pro quo to our agreement from earlier, someway to at least get things off your chest. You choose a game, any game here, and if you beat me, you can say anything at all to me for the rest of the night."

Aubrey looks suspicious, "You'll just allow that?"

Beca sighs "Better than it eating away at you the whole night."

"Okay then…" she thinks then smiles, "Mario Kart." she says confidently, a little too smugly. She has every right to look it. It is her go to anti-stress game. She's especially vicious, the undefeated champ, there's no one that you know who would even consider stepping to her.

"It's on like Donkey Kong." Beca smirks.


You all end up trying each one of the games; they can't seem to settle anything as either Beca or Aubrey take turns winning in each of them, finding in each other a worthy adversary, trying everything from Mario Kart to all the games in Wii Sports Resort that Aubrey suggests, 'cos surprise surprise, she can't accept losing even once and Beca willingly plays on, humoring her.

It's a nail-biting affair watching the two resolute women compete. One's more into it than the other-Aubrey's determined to put Beca in her place. They try everything from table tennis, cycling, even canoeing and archery.

At least Rockband was less tense and more enjoyable; it was fun for the whole group. You played through all of the Beatles songs alternating instruments. Beca slayed in each of them.

"Why are you so good at everything?" Stacie asks frustrated after Beca gets the highest point for drumming this time.

The lot of you are sprawled across the room on bean bags and on the sofa bed with popcorn, candy, chips and feathers spreadth out on various surfaces. (Fat Amy took it upon herself to start the pillow fight in between playing breaks, Beca had tried to look uninterested, even going so far as repeating what she'd said earlier about setting things back several years. You see how her eyes light up excitedly, though, as the feathers go flying and the little crazed laughter that follows when she whacks you on the face and runs away after)

"Years and years of practice and mostly boredom. I like staying home when I can, and in my downtime, I do this. I usually get Marie to join in when she can, Hank too. She's surprisingly good at Assassin's creed and grand theft auto." Beca says smiling easily at Stacie before turning to you, and not for the first time the two of you find yourselves staring too hard at the other, flushes painting your cheeks, eyes twinkling happily.

"No more small talk, Mitchell. We need to settle this once and for all." Aubrey interrupts your moment. You dart a glance her way and you see her glaring- knowing full well what she was doing. You fight so hard not to roll your eyes.

"Fine, Bree."

"Please do take your time, not all of us have the time or patience like Chloe to wait for you to figure your shit out."

"Bree-" you hiss. Beca's jaw clenches and for the first time since the girls arrive her dark mood returns.

"Oh yeah. Sorry, I have to wait until after I have the alt girl's ass handed to her before I speak my mind."

"Okay. You wanna go, let's go then." Beca says sounding like she meant business when just a while ago she was happily trying to appease Aubrey, now she wanted to have her taken down a peg as well.

They play another round as a tiebreaker where Beca wins. You can't help running to embrace her along with the girls, Fat Amy going as far to pick her up and to twirl her around.

"Okay. So are we good, Aubrey?" she asks once she untangled herself from the numerous limbs surrounding her.

"Not at all, that was widely unfair of you, you challenged me when you knew full well that your skill set is higher than mine. You had an unfair advantage." Aubrey angrily says.

"We all had equal chances. But if that's how you feel then fine, even with me winning fair and square feel free to express yourself however you want to. Are we all in agreement?"

Several hands hit the air fast. Definitely wanting and needing this to be over and done with.

Beca smiles playing nice. Aubrey frowns then shakes her head.

"No. I won't accept your pity vote. One more game to decide the winner."

The four of you not included in this seemingly never ending lady-macho fest just expel one huge joined sigh.

Beca's eyes catches yours and you smile apologetically, she nods at you understanding gracing her features. She bites her lip thinking over something.

"Fine." Beca agrees and plays one last round of Mario Kart, thankfully Aubrey does win.

You almost want to hide away when Aubrey throws her hands up and does her secret victory dance that she did after winning a hard case (usually away from other people's eyes). And for good reason, Aubrey's sober moves were awkward and embarrassing as fuck. We're talking about shimmying, the water sprinkler, the traditional running man, she even tries the worm- dropping to the ground. There's a part where she grabs hold onto her but and shakes it.

"What kind of white girl shit is that?" you hear Cynthia Rose state looking almost offended

"Ooh...she's trying to twerk...I think." Stacie answers.

"Yes! Aca-believe it. Aca-suck on that!" Aubrey says jumping to her feet triumphantly, eyes crazy-wild as she points at Beca. "How'd you like me now? I won. I WIN."

"Okay, you win." Beca calmly says, you see unwilling amusement in her eyes.

"And we lose. I don't think I can't forget that dance, it's burned into my brain." Fat Amy mutters.

Aubrey seems to remember herself. She clears her throat.

"Sorry, I may have gotten carried away."

"Hold up!" Cynthia rose interrupts. "Lesbihonest here."

"Yeah. May have? Really Bree?" Stacie adds.

"Okay I let my obsession for winning and my negative feelings towards Beca get the best of me, and I'm sorry for my less than desirable behavior. As you can tell I have control issues still, that I'm currently working on... it stems from trying to meet people's strict expectations of me to be perfect all the time. Being controlling, bossy its kinda drilled into me. I have my dad to thank for that. I have my good days and bad days but I believe that admitting it and recognising our weaknesses for what it truly is gives us the power to eventually control it, so we can move forward. And that's what I want to do, change things for the better from here. " Aubrey finished her speech breathlessly.

"Womp there it is, Bree. You made this into another 12 step program meeting." Fat Amy teases half-serious.

"We-I understand where you're coming from though, so it's all forgiven, apology accepted-not that you were asking for one in particular nor do I have the right to give it, cos you don't think much of my word...but I'm just saying that I know what's it like to want to make things new, to want to start over, given the chance. I was lucky someone thought me worthy of giving me one last chance. So yeah. You deserve it, Bree. We all deserve better. We shouldn't hold ourselves back from true happiness. Because we aren't defined by our past actions, the past is gone it's what we make of today, what we make of everything from now on that will define us. The real quote by the way is... if at first your don't succeed, try, try again. And see, you won eventually. So your father was wrong."

Aubrey's stunned speechless. She almost looks like she may cry for a second there, but she pulls it together, stands up tall and offers a hand for Beca to shake-a hand that Beca doesn't hesitate to take.

"You're a formidable opponent Becs. You take losing with honor. You've earned my respect." Aubrey shakes her hand firmly then walks off pretending she needed to go to the bathroom-she'll emerge later on with bloodshot eyes and claim to be getting pinkeye.

Beca comes close and settles on the bean bag next to you.

"You're a winner in my books." you whisper to her,

"Huh respect earned through losing, who knew that's all I had to do to win Aubrey over. Maybe I should've done that earlier." Beca muses aloud.

"Are you saying you purposely lost to her?"

"You know nothing, Jon Snow." She says smiling imperceptibly before turning away.

"So what's next?" Cynthia asks eager to move forward, away from this.

"A movie maybe?", Amy suggests, chewing through a mouthful of popcorn but quickly remembers, stopping herself. "Oh yeah…Beca and her unreasonable movie hatred."

"Pity, you have such a kick ass sound system." Stacie comments.

"So Jess-ahem people tell me." Beca says her eyes shift anxiously to you at her slip but you hardly let yourself think of it. The thing with Jesse was something you needed to leave behind. The faster the better.

"What about karaoke and we can break out the drinks?" you suggest quickly the first thing that comes to mind. You realize it was the best idea, what with the silence that follows and the agreeable looks on everyone's faces.

"You are an absolute genius, you ginger you." Fay Amy comments.

"Okay so we get to the good part." Stacie laughs.

"The adult part." Aubrey can't resist sending a jab Beca's way.

Beca merely rolls her eyes

"Okay then you grown ass women- let's waste no time and get drunk karaokeing!"

The rest of the night passes by in a haze of drinking and singing and later as Beca predicted, drunk singing.

Aubrey sang 'I saw the sign' by Ace of base.

Cynthia Rose sang 'Lady Marmalade' backed up by Fat Amy and Stacie.

Stacie sang 'S&M' by Rihanna

Beca sang the hell out of 'No Diggidity'.She sang it like it was made for her, rapped and moved like she had spouted the verses herself, and you can't lie, watching her do her thing, smoothly, confidently it did things to you and she knew it. Her eyes never left yours and you strained to keep your reactions to a minimum. Tried not to melt into a puddle on the floor.

Midway through the song selections the girls decide to play 'Never have I ever' which seemed like something pretty innocent to agree too, until you figure out the aim of everyone there is to get you and Beca drunk with the array of questions they chose.

"C'mon. Never have I ever gotten a bug tattoo."

"Never have I ever gotten locked in a toilet." Aubrey adds with a knowing look in her eyes.

"Never have I ever kissed a girl." Cynthia Rose says failing to keep a straight face.

Everyone but Fat Amy takes a drink. (I never got to let loose my inner lesbian she reasons) Beca and the rest look to Aubrey with barely concealed surprise. Aubrey's trying too hard to look unaffected.

"College days. I was up for some experimentation."

"With who though?" Cynthia Rose asks

"A close college friend, a Bella."

"You mean-"Beca pales looking between the two of you.

"Not me." "Not Chloe." the two of you reassure Beca at the same time.

"Never have I ever fantasized about anyone here." Fat Amy asks. You, Beca, Cynthia Rose and Stacie drinks.

"We don't need to ask the three of you." Aubrey says disinterested, she looks at Stacie questioningly.

"I'll have you guys know that I've literally fantasized about everyone here atleast once." She says so unapologetically you guys just let it past. Cynthia however looks like she's heard the secret to life's happiness.

"Why you interested in some more experimentation Bree?" Fat Amy asks. Stacie winks as Aubrey blushes and you all howl with laughter as Stacie approaches Aubrey and sits on her lap.

"That's very flattering, Stace, but you're not my type." she mutters out, face a flaming red as the foxy brunette wraps her arms around your best friends neck.

"So they all say, till they actually get with me." she smirks confidently, then presses a playful peck to Aubrey's cheek before she gets off, releasing the poor girl. "But yep no biggie, I don't take offense Bree. It would be for the fun of it, if you're looking for something serious, I'm not it. I'm not one for heavy feelings. Speaking of-"

"Never have I ever had sticky, gooey, romantic, feelings for someone forbidden, say a five time Grammy award winning brunette female coach in a reality singing competition liking someone on her team and vice versa. Stacie continues the game.

You groan.

"That's very specific." you can't resist commenting, unamused, rolling your eyes before drinking. Beca follows.

"Don't think we don't know what it is you're all doing. " Beca says.

"What, Who us...we're angelic and pure, true in withholding our virtue " Fat Amy says pulling a mock innocent expression on which starts a whole round of laughs. Everyone well on their way to getting pleasantly buzzed.

You go through several rounds. Along the way you discover more about the rest of the group. From the mundane:

Who could speak different languages

Cynthia Rose spoke some French

Aubrey you know spoke Cantonese

Fat Amy said she spoke wallaby.

Stacie knew French and Spanish she explained that she had a memorable gap year in Europe learning their languages.

"Who had had major surgery?"

You and Beca drink the others wait for an explanation.

"Wait anyone else what's to join in?" Aubrey asks looking around.

Stacie scoffs, "These are natural." she says finding yet another reason to grab her goodies.

"Appendectomy." you explain

Beca drinks, "Wisdom teeth all at once." she explains

"Oh okay, then me too!" Aubrey drinks

"Me as well. I wasn't even under during the first tooth, they used a pygmy rhino to pull it out, but I passed out after so-" Fat Amy says, not one to be beaten.

But now you were at the mature part

You take a moment to regain focus, the alcohol already swimming through your system. Your mind's so hazy that you need someone to prompt you,

"Chloe, it's your turn."

"Never have I ever had sex in- " you begin, and already Stacie drinks.

"Wait I haven't finished yet." you half-slur, tongue thick and heavy.

"Name it, I've done it." Stacie challenges.

"Never have I ever had sex on a moving vehicle?" Beca tries.

She drinks… "Want to be more specific?"

"It seems best we summarise we don't want you completely wiped out." Aubrey says, grinning sloppily.

"But yes all forms of transport land, sea, air…" Stacie brags.

"Miles high member?" Beca asks smirking.

"Hundred times over. Its why I wanted to be a flight attendant."

"Never have I ever had a threesome?" Beca asks looking directly at Stacie, not expecting Amy to drink also.

"What look at me, it's not impossible to believe that I get a lot of mancandy…"

"Never have I ever gone to jail." Cynthia Rose says

You recall a really crazy drunken night with Coleen she'd talk you into it after you'd spent hours upon hours studying for a test only to fail it. You were all out depressed till she got you out of your funk making you laugh about it then convincing you to drink it off at one of the nearby frat parties. Several empty bottles later the two of you burst out of the party and walk back to your shared room, which is pretty uneventful until she dared you(you seemed susceptible to the dumbest ones when hammered )to pee on a car only to find out an off duty police officer owned it.

You drink and tell the short version of what happened.

"I may have upset a police officer."

"She drunk peed on his vehicle for a dare." Aubrey elaborates.

"Weren't you there, why didn't you stop her?" Beca asks, looking considerably more awake, though her eyes are heavy and she can't seem to stop smiling.

"I wasn't. I was there to bail her out afterwards. Coleen was there, the culprit, should've known she'd only encourage this one in her madness."

"She made it up to me." you shrug. Beca clears her throat looking put off.

"I'm sure ." she answers

"Or at least I got my revenge, She streaked across the main building. I'm wondering if we'll get to the extreme dares where someone will have to strip tonight. You guys up for it?" you say posing the question to the group but staring hard at Beca.

"I'm not nearly drunk enough." Aubrey says.

"Yeah nice try Beale but you won't be seeing these goodies anytime soon." Fat Amy says. "It'd be too much, I'm doing Beca a favor because once you see mine no one else's could compete...they'd all be inferior to mine."

"Oh really-" to everyone's surprise Beca whips off her shirt. "I don't know if you are out in the sun for too long and there were spots clouding your vision but let me remind you all how I look in a bikini."

Fat Amy does the same-and of course - Stacie follows and there's a full on lively debate about who has the best pair. But your brain only seems to register one thing Beca's in a bra. Her goodies are on full display. Which, thinking about it, was just like Beca in a bikini with the main difference of having more lace and cotton.

You'd been exposed to them all day but seeing them in her undergarments felt different, more intimate.

It sucks that it has to be around everyone else, though.

Beca gives you a soft, secret reassuring smile, worriedly asking with her eyes how you were doing. You return her smile a tad bit woozily, but she seems appeased.

Someone decides to do body shots and as you're pushed forward first and the salt is placed enticingly on Beca's abs, it take all of your control to lick soft and slow and to even stop at all. You shoot back the tequila, barely tasting it, feeling your parched throat protest, knowing that its not enough. It'll never be enough , you think as Beca's overblown eyes all but swallow your own-you'll be needing more than the fiery liquid to quench your thirst.

More shots go around. And there's more salt on skin, and tongue on skin, and just more drinking going on but none of it affects you as strongly as that first taste of Beca's skin, which was a completely different level of intoxication all together.

You're a blurry mess at the end of it and Beca's not too far behind either.

Fat Amy gets the idea to watch Apocalypse Now, and Beca, to no one's surprise, adamantly refuses. The girls argue relentlessly, keen to abolish her ruling.

It seems liked her refusal took or drained out the last of Beca's energy. She closes her eyes under the pretense of thinking about it some more and shortly, promptly passed out. Your body can't deny your wishes and flocks to her. You brush back her hair to uncover her face. You can't help almost tenderly petting at her.

"So the movie hater is asleep. Why don't we go ahead and pick out some movies?" Aubrey suggests.

"C'mon guys, we've agreed to respect Beca's wishes." you whisper

"Beca smeca." Stacie says.

"She's too out of it it to notice anyway." Aubrey reasons.

"So are you with us or against us, ginger?" Fat Amy asks, pointing a twizzler aggressively at you, brandishing it like a weapon.

"I'm reinstating her rules. It's her house, she gets the last say." you try to remain steadfast even as your world spins

"Nope, it's a majority vote. Beca amended to that ruling, plus she needs to speak for herself and she seems incapable at the moment so...we outvote you. So what have you got to say for yourself?" Aubrey ever so righteously says, that she can somehow still manage while completely drunk.

You don't know what's getting you worked up- it might just be the alcohol, a ton of it, already circulating through your bloodstream, "Movies suck. Out with the movies!" you end up hollering.

You get booed, and popcorn is thrown at you.

Beca stirs, "Chloe outside." she weakly groans.

"Fine. I'll get her out of here so when she fully comes to her senses she won't lose her shit on all of you."

"Need some help?" Stacie half offers.

"No I've got it." you say more out of annoyance and plain stubbornness than actual capability.

This was way harder than it looked.

She may be tiny but she weighed a ton

You half lead, half carry Beca all the way out of the room.

"Beca where to?" you prompt her and she responds with more unintelligible groaning. You think you distinguish the word bedroom ."Okay, bedroom it is. Hold on to me."

You hear an unmistakable whip sound from Fat Amy as you leave the sleepover area and before the movie starts up.

You have every intent to lead her up to her room, but you take a moment's pause, propping Beca against the wall midway up the stairs, your body's framing hers to keep her from falling sideways,

You breathe harshly, trying to get a better hold of yourself and Beca as well.

You lean into the hollow of her throat content to rest there, to breathe in her scent.

"Babe, I gotta love you...but this is hard. For the first time I wish I was a guy so I could just sweep you of your feet and carry to your room." that seems to snap Beca out of her haze, she's spinning to pin you to the wall.

"No need for that, you got me the moment you said out with movies." she says with an amused grin and sparkling eyes.

"You were- fully conscious!" You gasp, partly from indignation, mostly from the delicious feel of Beca pressed against you.

She manages a guilty grin. "I wanted them to have their movie fun."

You try not to find her unconventional ways endearing, you're annoyed with yourself when you fail. You settle on channeling being annoyed at her.

"You made me freaking carry you, which is not easy. Also, you could've helped a little more on the way out."

"It had to look convincing." she insists. You glare. "Okay I know dumb move number-"

"You have endless capability for dumb moves." you snap, annoyed at how worried, how concerned you'd been over her.

She backs away at that. You sigh a defeated, little guilty sigh before you reach out to pull her back

"It's lucky that you're cute." you whisper in her ear.

"What to do now that you've successfully gotten me alone? She asks.

"Well why don't we continue from where we left off?"you suggest

"I'm not dumb enough to contest that."

You laugh as her lips finally, finally press into yours, lightly, happily touching you.

The drunken night comes to an end fading in a cacophony of sounds and feelings.

You take the memory of Beca pressing to you- hips moving, breath hitching, hands softly cradling your cheeks as she smiles into each kiss. You're so in tune to Beca and her little kissing noises, her little moans, her whimpers. The throaty noise when you kiss her collarbone, each meaning, transmitting the same message.

I want you. Love me. Your answers are all the same, I do .

The rest of it-the girls giggling drunkenly as the two of you slip further away, the choruses of let's videotape this shit- is just white noise, static.


I can't take it

What am I waiting for?

I miss you even more

And I can't fake it

The way I could before

I hate you but I love you

I can't stop thinking of you

It's true

I'm stuck on you

You finish the song feeling lighter than when you started. The song had seemed longer and more elaborate than you remembered, or maybe it felt that way singing it and going through the whirlwind of an emotional journey these past few days. You felt everything; the pain, the hope-everything that you had endured to get to where you are now. You allow yourself to feel proud at getting through it at all.

Carson steps up to the stage reminding you where you were, the thundering applause and the lights are also effective in jolting you back to the present.

"Chloe Beale strikes again with that emotional performance. Let's head on to the judges to hear what they think about it, Usher?"

"That was gorgeous, Chloe. You gave us so much in those three minutes, you reeled as in and we were suspended there with you, it felt eternal. You made us believe what you were singing. Everything about it was just perfect, there's almost no words to cover just how much-it was everything ."

"Thanks you Coach Usher. On to you Blake Shelton." Carson moves the comments along.

"I'm stuck on you, Miss Beale. That was another perfect number, which should come as no surprise, it's something we've come to expect from you. I can't say anything more except...whoever it is you're stuck on is one lucky person." Blake says.

"Stop flirting with the girl!" Adam interrupts, "You already have a gorgeous lady on your arm!"

"Adam, there's no need to get jealous-" Blake replies, garnering laughter from the audience,

"Yeah, you're still his number one. Your bromance is held sacred above all other commitments. " Beca adds

"I love you, you country boy you." Adam calls out to Blake.

"And I love you-" Blake stands and proceeds to hug Adam.

"Hey you're forgetting you both told me you loved me-and our bromance holds up over even the both of yours." Usher says, looking deeply offended, getting in between the two regular coaches and trying to separate them but they're hugging too tightly-there's some light jostling that occurs.

Beca places her fingers to her lips and whistles, "Okay boys, behave."

"I was just about to step in," Carson adds, "Adam, do you want to add anything else?"

"Only that you are amazing. You can sing literally anything and slay it completely, it was a beautiful, heartfelt rendition. We're lucky you took us on that journey with you."

"And let's hear from her Coach, Beca."

She smiles. "What more can be said? Just-" she stands up and claps, the rest of the coaches and the crowd join in for a standing ovation.


"You did good." she tells you in private later

"Thanks. The standing ovation was too much though."

"Nonsense-you deserve thousands of those." she says voice shy and small, ducking her head and scuffing her foot on the ground when she speaks.

You let out a light laugh,

"About a while ago you were really laying it a bit thick for Benji, weren't you?"

"Well we can't afford to let anyone else know, can we?" Beca says, eyes warily looking around.

"You have a point there...so we're all for letting people think we don't get along or even hate each other now is the better alternative."

"For as long as we don't get carried away."

"Course not, I mean, as long as we know the truth, let's not let it get away from us. And really,who cares about everyone else." you say half-meaning it.

"Speaking of getting away from everybody...I was wondering, are you free?" Beca spewing out her words in a rush, face coloring prettily. You flush too, realising what this was but trying to play it cool, so as not to spook an already nervous Beca.

"As a bird...why do we have plans with the girls?"

"Well, I was hoping to hang out with a girl."

"Who's the lucky lady? Did you finally decide to reward Kimmy Jin for her exemplary assistant skills- Will you wine and dine her?" you try to play coy.

"Of course, nothing but the best for my girl, Kim. How did you figure it out?"

"My 'other woman' intuition, that is, me knowing about the other woman"

"And I thought I was so good at keeping it a secret."

"Why don't you go and ask her now, I'm sure she'll say yes."

"Why not?" Beca says, completely straight faced. You narrow your eyes willing for her to crack, you wonder how far she'd be able to keep it up.

You decide to play a little trick on her.

"I have her on speed dial... its dialing. Hello Kimmy Jin. Yeah, it's Chloe. Please don't hang up, it's important, I'll give the phone to Beca…she wants to ask you out. When do you think you're free tomorrow? Sure, and I'll tell her about the raise. Sure, you too. Do take care."

Beca's face is priceless going through a whole spectrum of emotions. At first she watched on bemused and unbelieving. But her eyes widened considerably as the conversation went on, completely buying it, now looking utterly terrified at the idea, almost as if fearing for her life.

"I'm kidding."

"Oh thank god. " she breathes out, fully relieved. "I was hoping you were. That image itself scared the shit out of me."

"So...if not Kimmy Jin then, is this you asking me out...like on a date?" you smirk as she flushes.

"Yeah. I mean if you don't want it to be...we could just hang out-but I want to take you somewhere special. But it's whatever you want." She shrugs, trying not to make a big deal out of it.

"Sounds like a date." you sing song, nudging her till she's smiling, still somewhat embarrassed, but smiling none the less. "If it is, then I suppose I don't really mind, I'm not completely put off by the idea." you play off your excitement, acting unperturbed.

"Wait. Is that a yes? Like an official yes. A no taking it back yes?" she laughs, nerves forgotten, looking happy and relieved, surprised even.

"Yes, you dork." you answer, barely able to control your own laughter when she's rushing to hug you tightly.


The lights are blinding. There's heavy anticipation for this performance. Beca's Girls group number with the coach herself.

You're standing on a seemingly endless empty stage, without any instruments or instrumentalists. Doing for the first time on The Voice stage a group acapella number.

It's Beca then you standing beside Fat Amy, she's next to Stacie and beside her is Cynthia Rose. Beca breaks the line and steps ahead then starts counting you off.

One.

You knew this number so well you could do this in your sleep. You faintly recall a drunken rendition at the girls night at Beca's a couple of days ago.

Two .

You share a knowing, amused glance with Fat Amy and you bite your lip trying to hold back a laugh.

Beca points at Stacie who starts in Aubrey's place.

Tut too roo tut tooroo tu roo toot

Fat Amy comes in adding humming

Then Cynthia Rose with the percussion cymbals

Then Beca looks at you and you start. You maintain eye contact with her when you sing.

Oh, her eyes, her eyes,
make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day

Beca starts her piece and the two of you sing together, each of your parts interlacing beautifully.

(I was thinking bout her, thin-kin bout me)
I know, I know
(Thin-kin bout us, what we gon' be)
when I compliment her she won't believe me
(Open my eyes yeah, it was only Just A Dream)
it's so, it's so, sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me do I look ok,
(It's only just a dream)
I say

She encourages for you girls to start up a beat, by stomping your feet and clapping.

There's this energy going through everyone, and it's all going smoothly. This was the best you'd all sounded together.

When I see your face
(So I travelled back, down that road
Will she come back, no one knows)
There's Not a thing that I would change
(I realize yeah, it was only Just A Dream)
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are
(it was only Just A Dream)

When I see your face
(So I travelled back, down that road
Will she come back, no one knows)
It's Not a thing that I would change
(I realize yeah, it was only Just A Dream)
Cause girl you're amazing, just the way you are
(it was only Just A Dream)

"That was beautiful. Let's cheer on our girl group."

Carson joins everyone on stage and continues his spiel.

"Yesterday Chloe performed a Stacie Orrico number. Will it be enough to bring her through to next week? Let's look at the results of your voting when we come back."

None of you leave the stage as it was only a quick commercial break. The rest of the artists and their coaches gather there as well.

You feel your heart pounding as you await the results. You clasp hands with the girls, the people who most matter to you right now. You're not ready for this to end just yet. Not ready to say goodbye to the competition or the girls.

"We're back-and we have our Top 10 standing together for one last time on stage. From team Beca we have Stacie, Cynthia Rose and Chloe. We have Team Blake's last woman standing Patricia aka Fat Amy. We have Usher and his boys, Luke, Donald and Bumper and team Adam with Kori, underdogs Denise and Ashley."

You feel yourself blanking out as they call off names one after the other, feeling your stomach squirm with nerves. There was no relief, no guarantee until you heard-

"Chloe Beale is safe."

You find yourself pulled into a tight group hug and you cherish the few seconds until they remind you that you have to walk offstage.

You stay at the wings unable to relax, alternating between crossing your fingers and praying to the high heavens, begging, needing for every one of your girls to make it.

The heaviness on your chest lessens when you hear Cynthia Rose's name called, then Amy's, but then you hear Kori's too. And also Bumper's. All the rest of the boys are already saved and part of the Top 8.

Stacie's name isn't called.

You feel tense, your stomach coiled tightly, blood pounding loudly in you ears.

You wait with baited breath for the final person to be chosen for the last spot in the Top 8. Stacie stands tall and proud beside two of Team Adam's girls-both sweet girls with killer voices; Ashley was a power belter and Denise a former opera singer.

"Who will make it into our Top 8? Who has the most public votes to keep her in the competition?"

Carson gives a deliberate pause just to build that tension up. You almost want to scream for him to get on with it. But you realise that, it could very well not be your friend's name that he next calls out, and you'd rather him not say anything at all, if he wasn't going to say Stacie's name.

"The one that completes our Top 8 is…."

The anticipation was killing you, you swear at any moment your heart was going to beat right out of your own chest.

"Stacie Conrad!"

At that you feel yourself able to breathe again, feeling a heavy weight lifted off your chest.

You watch as Beca gives Stacie a hug. The two exchange words before Beca heads back to her chair and Stacie disappears downstage.

"And that makes all three of Beca Mitchell's girls to make it to the next round and we have to say goodbye to two beautiful ladies from Team Adam. Adam any last words to your girls?"

"Just that... it's always a shame to say goodbye to such talented individuals-especially when it's part of such a cut-throat competition where you feel like everything goes by so quickly that there's never enough time for everyone to stand out, or get their moment. But despite that, these two where strong competitors throughout the entire season, they were underdogs going into it and they made it this far. Just know that it wasn't for nothing. Today wasn't your day but it doesn't mean you won't get there. There's always a new tomorrow...I have every confidence that the both of you will make your mark in this industry."

It was beautiful, it was hopeful. It was a beautiful message; Things could get better.

You have the sudden urge to look up, and catch yourself locking on to Beca 's eyes from across the stage, knowing even before you did that it was her, hyper aware of her whereabouts, always attuned to her gaze on you.

She nods at you, sends the briefest of smiles your way and you return it before she looks away. Face completely blank but with an obvious blush to her cheeks.

Today was a start. Tomorrow a new beginning. For the first time in a long while you're looking forward to it. You can hardly wait for what tomorrow would bring.