Beca's decision wasn't a hard one.
Sure she acted as though she was reluctant to join the Bellas again, but really, from the moment Chloe showed up at her door during spring break, making the effort to get Beca back, the brunette knew what she was going to do.
She didn't regret it either.
Standing backstage getting ready to perform at the Finals with her best friends, Beca knew she'd made the right decision. Glancing around the circle they were huddled in, she let a genuinely happy smile grace her features.
"I love you, awesome nerds," she told them.
They all smiled as Fat Amy reiterated Beca's words in her own, special Amy way, finishing her short spiel with "Let's just smash this, okay?"
They nodded at one another, and Beca took a moment to look at her absolute best friend as the announcer started to introduce them. Chloe caught her eye, sending her a wink as she stepped closer to her, leaning away from Aubrey to whisper near Beca's ear.
"This is gonna be aca-awesome, and it's because of you."
Beca shook her head. "It's because of all of us, Chlo. I needed you guys as much as you insist you needed me."
Chloe smiled, a soft, sweet one that let her teeth just barely peek through her lips. "I love you," she sighed, her ocean eyes locked on to ones a shade of midnight she'd never seen before meeting Beca.
Beca wasn't used to those words being told to her so easily. Of course, her parents said it all the time, and the occasional family member at a gathering, but Beca had never truly felt the words deep in her soul like she did when Chloe uttered them at that moment. And she wanted to say something, but her heart had decided to take a vacation to her throat and she couldn't choke out a single sound. Chloe's face never changed though, like she didn't expect Beca to say anything in return, she just leaned in to press a kiss to the corner of Beca's mouth and then spun on her heels, getting ready to grace the stage and sing her heart out.
The performance was unlike any other. Beca felt more alive than ever. The feeling she had on that stage made the thrill of a roller coaster or the excitement she felt when getting her first pet - a hamster - seem boring in comparison. She could never put into words how satisfying it was to hear the crowd roar and feel the vibrations it sent through the stage under her feet. Being surrounded by her favourite people, doing something she didn't think she would remotely like but then ended up passionately caring about… it was happiness. It was family. It was love. Pure, unadulterated love.
Hugging Aubrey in the moments after they had just worked together to do something amazing was a feeling Beca is sure was a once in a lifetime feeling. She never thought that when she started at Barden she was going to make friends, and when she met the Bellas, she definitely didn't think Aubrey Posen was ever going to be someone she got along with. But with jealousy and attitudes out of the way, they formed a sense of understanding that couldn't be challenged, they clicked in a weird love-hate way.
The first step off the stage after their performance sent a wave of relief through Beca. At that moment it didn't matter if they were going to win or lose - although they all knew what was coming - all that mattered was the performance they had just put on for that audience. It made them proud, it made some of them cry, but most importantly, they all felt as though they belonged.
Beca was still in her bubble of bliss when she felt warm hands find her waist and spin her around. Her bubble of bliss didn't pop though when she saw Chloe's bright eyes and smiling face, it just grew to envelop her as well, putting them in a bubble of bliss together as one. Beca's arms lifted to drape over Chloe's shoulders as they moved together to wrap one another in a tight embrace. Hugging Aubrey was a feeling Beca didn't think she could understand but hugging Chloe? It was a feeling she knew she could never and would never get used to. It was warm, it was soft, it was strong, it was reassuring in a way that made Beca feel safe, but it ignited her bones in a way that made her worry she was going to explode if she stayed against Chloe for too long. She loved it, though.
Pulling away enough to see one another's face but stay in one another's arms, they stared at each other. Neither wanting to ruin the feeling of euphoria that had washed over them.
Eyes flitting over Beca's features, Chloe's voice came out softer than the brunette had ever heard it before. "We did it."
"That we did," Beca agreed, a simple nod of her head and wink of the eye being all she could give before Chloe was leaning in and her eyelids fluttered shut.
Kissing Chloe, really, fully and properly, kissing Chloe was fireworks. It was a rainbow after a storm. It was a baby's giggle. It was the smell of fresh bread in a quaint bakery. It was the sweetness of ice cream on a hot summer day. Kissing Chloe was hope and happiness and perfection. Kissing Chloe was easy and familiar and relaxing in a way that Beca felt like she was going to fall to the floor if Chloe's hands loosened their grip on her waist even a little.
And in that moment of kissing Chloe, Beca realized it was no surprise. She didn't have any idea how she didn't see it coming. It was obvious Chloe knew it was happening. Slowly but surely an unbreakable attachment was forming right before them and Beca was totally oblivious. She almost laughed at the fact that even the Bellas knew, which now can explain their little teasing comments all the time. It was inevitable really, and though Beca didn't know how she managed to miss the feelings between them, what she did know was that she wasn't going to ever give it up. That, she wanted to make clear. Chloe had already done it - though at the time Beca didn't realize exactly what she meant - and now it was her turn.
Pulling away, Beca opened her eyes to gaze into those of her new favourite colour and smiled.
She knew exactly what she had to say.
"I love you too."
