A/N: Hello all! Wow the response to this was so much better than I could have anticipated. Thank you all so much! *Hugs* I hope I didn't leave you waiting too long.

A special, enormous thank you and shout out to hello-restless-us who allows me to ramble about the most mundane things and pushed me to keep this project going! This one's for you!

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Ch 2

Premiere night.

Beca hated premiers almost as much as she hated doing press. Occasionally, she could skip out on them but that was only if Angela had her scheduled to go to wherever the hell her next obligation was. However, like tonight, she was often dragged and forced to be put on display for a sea of flashing lights and nameless voices shouting directions at her.

Over here! Turn this way! Smile Beca! Who are you wearing? Beca! Beca! Beca!

When she was younger, when she still thought her mom was looking out for her each time she told her it was a dream come true, Beca would do whatever they said. She would put on the biggest smile she could manage and make herself dizzy trying to please everyone.

Sometimes she missed the naivety of those days. Now she knew better.

So, she kept her smiles from them; they didn't deserve them.

"Beca," her mother's voice brought her back to the present in the car. When she looked at the woman, she saw her focused on her phone screen as she spoke to her, "We're almost there. Let's remember to show how happy you are to be there this time."

"Of course," Beca replied.

"Good," she responded, "And none of this getting out on the wrong side of the car again. You need to cut that out. Your entrance should be a big moment, not pictures of you coming around the car like a confused moron."

"Wouldn't want that," she answered absently as the car pulled to a stop in front of the venue.

The door was opened and Angela accepted the hand of the valet to step out. Once she saw her mother half way out of the car, Beca opened her own door.

"Beca!" Angela hissed in annoyance, but her daughter ignored the protest and exited out onto the street instead.

As soon as she did, she heard an eruption of excited voices that had nothing to do with the waiting vultures aligned the red carpet. She looked over to the source of the noise and saw the excitable crowd behind the guard rail across the street. Fans.

Each time she came to one of these spectacles and saw them, a part of her wanted to rush across the street to them. She wanted to say she appreciated them but they were wasting their time idolizing her and this life. She wanted to say thank you, but she was no one special and what she did was not special.

She wanted to, but she never did.

Instead she gave them the 'rock on' hand gesture and stuck out her tongue, hearing an increase in the cheer when she did, and rounded the car to get this over with. She did the usual; stopping here and there for pictures, keeping the emotionless look on her fact that was pretty much a Beca Mitchell trademark for years.

After she finished that, her mother brought her over towards an interviewer with a tight hand on her forearm, still with the perfected fake smile plastered on her face the whole time.

"Would it kill you to wear a dress?" Beca didn't respond; she'd been surprised the woman hadn't said so during the ride over. She wouldn't indulge her with a reply; she refused. She liked her black suit. She compromised enough of herself for this world, she'd wear the damn suits if she wanted.

She answered the reporter's usual premier carpet questions with, what by now had to be, her expected disinterest. After a few questions, she heard a new wave of rushed voiced from down the way and saw the reason being the arrival of the 'leading man' Theo Burnett.

He seemed like a nice enough guy, though she didn't spend go out of her way to spend time with him outside of their scenes, and she certainly didn't enjoy having to kiss him for the movie. Regardless, his appearance gave her an out. In the middle of a new question, Beca interrupted the reporter.

"There you go, Theo's here," she told the reporter and gladly walked away without waiting for a response.

She entered the theatre, feeling her mother's critical eyes on her while she did. As usual, once inside, Beca continued through the building and out the back to the waiting car. She didn't bother waiting for Angela, she knew the woman preferred to watch the films, if for no other reason than to critique Beca for the final project.

As always, she sat back and allowed the driver to just cruise around for a couple hours until it was time for the after party, where she would make another appearance. She sighed heavily and helped herself to the small bar in the back of the luxury car. A few drinks beforehand would get her in the mood for the party.

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The music soared from the speakers, giving a soundtrack to the background of the after party. The room filled with all manner of celebrity from the premier as well as any of them that had just wanted to come by or random people that were able to get in to rub elbows.

Beca ignored them all and chose to spend her time by the DJ booth; drink in hand, number five or six since she'd arrived. She had stopped counting. Her eyes closed as she sat on the step beside the speaker and leaning back against the booth. She allowed her ears to be assaulted and the vibrations to rumble through her body. This was the only reason she actually came to these things. Allowing herself to be immersed in the music while the alcohol and whatever pills she'd gotten a few minutes ago to take her away.

At the bar, Aubrey noticed Chloe hadn't even realized their drinks had come. The blonde nudged her best client and best friend with her elbow to get her attention.

"Hey," Aubrey spoke, sliding Chloe's glass to her, "Here you go."

"Thank you," Chloe took a sip, before refocusing on her friend, "Did you like the movie?"

The blonde nodded as she drank.

"I did. It was a little more intense for my taste, but it came together nicely. Theo did a great job."

Chloe looked back over her shoulder once more, before running her finger around the lip of her glass.

"And Beca," she cleared her throat, "She was really good too, don't you think?"

Aubrey sense the tone the redhead used and sat up straighter on the stool to look over at the space the girl kept staring at. She had assumed she'd just been watching the DJ work, but now saw it might not have been the case at all.

She sighed.

"Jeez, Chloe."

"What?" she asked innocently.

"You've been staring at her this whole time," she criticized, "Do not even think about it."

"I'm just a fan, Aubrey," she defended, "I'm saying she did a good job. You have to admit she's talented, no matter what you think of her personally."

Aubrey took another drink.

"Yes, ok," she agreed, "Yes, she can act. But I'm telling, keep your distance from Beca Mitchell. Your career doesn't need it, and you definitely don't need it."

"Good thing we're working together next month then, isn't it?" Chloe remarked with a wink, "Guess I'll take that one up with my agent, huh?"

Aubrey rolled her eyes, "You were signed on first."

Chloe chuckled and the two were silent for a moment, taking in the party around them. Chloe waved at one of the women she'd worked with that year and Aubrey spoke up.

"Oh, Emily's here. Sorry I've got to talk to her real fast. I'll be back."

Chloe raised her glass in acknowledgement, allowing Aubrey to step away and talk to one of her other clients. Once the blonde was out of sight, Chloe looked back over to where Beca still sat in front of the booth.

She bit her lip in thought then called over the bartender and asked for a bottle like the one she saw the brunette had just placed on the ground beside her. When the cold bottle was placed in front of her, she debated for another moment before grabbing it as well as her own drink and walking over.

She stood in front of the seat young woman. With her presence not being noticed yet, Chloe had yet another opportunity to second guess herself.

As much as she shut Aubrey down when she brought it up, Beca did have quite the reputation. She came off as someone who was extremely antisocial who couldn't be bothered with any sort of exchange. Unless, of course, the rumors were to be believed. She wasn't blind to the random stories that popped up occasionally. Stories that were always told by "unnamed sources"; stories of her leaving a bar or a club with various women. Not to mention the buzz about her other habits. Apparently drinking wasn't Beca Mitchell's only vice.

But rumors were rumors. Unfortunately, in the business they were in, no one was safe from them. Even Chloe, in her short time in the spotlight, had had a few not so positive ones pop up about her. Nothing too terrible, mostly rumors on who she was dating and such. But just as she wished people did for her, she didn't give the stories any credit until she found out of herself.

So, she swallowed the uncertainty and tried to speak loud enough to be heard over the music playing right next to them.

"Hi."

A moment passed with no response. Assuming she must not have been heard, Chloe took a step closer and tried again with more volume.

"Hi!"

Beca heard a voice over the music. Normally she'd ignore it until they got the message and left her alone to continue lounging in her little bubble. However, something made her open her eyes this time.

When she did, she was greeted by the sight of a beautiful woman standing above her. She was in a black form fitting dress that hugged every inch perfectly. Her red hair was half back with the rest falling around her shoulders. To Beca, it looked as though she had a radiant light around her; though that very well could've been the drugs in her system.

"Wow," she breathed to herself. She'd been approached by all number of women, and happily indulged, she was certain it had never been one so breathtaking.

Chloe smiled brightly upon seeing she now had her attention.

"I don't want to bother you- "

"What?" Beca shouted, unable to hear what the other girl was saying.

She rose to her feet and stepped closer to Chloe to hear her.

"I saw you sitting here and wanted to say hi."

"Hi," Beca replied.

Chloe went to talk again, pausing when the song changed to one with an even heavier beat. She looked around and saw an empty room towards the back.

"You want to step over there where it's quieter?"

Beca poked her tongue out to wet her lips and nodded. She led the woman towards the back and the two stepped into the private room. Beca closed the door, muffling out the sounds of the party.

"That's better," Beca remarked and wiped a hand over her forehead to get her bearings. She looked back at the redhead, "Loud out there."

"Yeah, it quite the party," Chloe commented, her eyes then went down to the drinks still in her hand, "Here, I noticed what you were drinking."

"Thanks," Beca accepted the chilled bottle and took a large draw, "Hi."

Chloe smiled again, "Hi," she returned, "I'm sorry I bothered you. I just saw you and wanted to tell you how great you were in the movie."

"Oh," Beca thought she'd just come to the party, but apparently she'd been at the premier as well, "Uh thanks. You liked it, then."

"Totes! I don't want to seem like a fangirl, but I am. A-A fan, I mean."

"Cool," Beca replied and took a step closer.

"Yeah, I mean, you probably get told all the time how talented you are, but," Chloe gushed, "You're one of my favorites. Like an inspiration."

Beca smirked, taking another drink before setting her bottle down and taking Chloe's glass from her hands to do the same with hers.

"I have other talents, you know," she told her, "I mean, I'm pretty skilled, if I do say so."

"Oh, I bet! What do you do?" Chloe asked excited that Beca seemed to be indulging her with conversation, "I like to sing, myself."

"Yeah?" Beca questioned, taking yet another step closer; closing the space between them to just a few inches.

"Um, yeah," Chloe spoke as her nerves rattled. Beca's proximity was throwing her off, "I'm not, I'm not professional or trained or anything. Just," she cleared her throat, "Just something I enjoy."

"Mm," the brunette voiced, "I'd love to hear it."

"Really?"

"Oh yes," she let her eyes trail Chloe's figure, "In fact, give me a few minutes and I'll bet you'll be singing the roof off this place."

Chloe's brow furrowed, "What?"

Beca looked at her lips for a heartbeat before moving in. Just as she was close enough to feel Chloe's warm breath against her own lips, the redhead pulled back.

"What are you doing?" she questioned in surprise.

Beca opened her eyes and wrinkled her own brows in confusion.

"Huh? Oh, sorry. Did you want to go on the couch?"

Chloe narrowed her eyes, "Are you…Did you think I came back here to-to hook up with you?"

Now Beca stepped back, suddenly unsure of what was happening.

"Well…I mean…pretty girl buys me a drink, invites me to the private room…"

"To talk," Chloe snapped, "I'm a fan, like I said. I wanted to-to talk to you. You know, pick your brain; maybe get some insight about- "

"Oh no. No!" Beca interrupted; sounding angry, "No, what do you want? You want me to, what, help you find a foot in the door? Give you the Hollywood secret to breaking into the business? Forget it."

"Excuse me?" she asked feeling extremely offended, "I don't your help to break in to anything."

"Good!" Beca replied about to leave, halting and running a hand through her hair before looking back at Chloe, "Just in case, here's the big about Hollywood; stay away! It's a, it's a shit-pile wrapped in a shiny package to get pretty, hopeful people like you sucked in. Then once they have their greedy little hooks in you they start taking. They take and take and take; pieces and chunks of you over and over until there's nothing left!"

The venomous passion in her words had Chloe step back as if she'd been slapped. She stared at Beca with wide eyes for a moment as the other girl breathed heavily after the angry rant.

"What happened to you?" she asked quietly.

Beca shook her head. She hadn't meant to explode like that.

Her head was muddled. The alcohol and pills combined with the misunderstanding of the situation had her all mixed up. One moment she thought she was going to have sex with a gorgeous, willing woman and now she had blurted out more than she ever would to anyone; let alone a random girl in a club.

She shook her head.

"I've got to go."

"Wait – "

Beca ignored her and left the room, making sure to grab her drink on her way out.

Chloe remained in the room staring at the door and wondering what the just hell happened.

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A/N: Our first Bechloe interaction! That could've gone better huh? Please let me know what you guys think! For those who caught it: Yes, I borrowed Beca's 'getting out of the car on the wrong side' thing from Kendrick's book! I love the little rebellion of it.