Pitch Perfect Chapter Story One: Fast Food Frenzy

by Bugmouthga

The first of my "chapter" stories, which take place over the four years Beca spends at Barden University, chronicling times spent at fast food restaurants with Chloe and the Bellas.

This story is the first in my "chapter stories" series, which each chapter often takes place over a different period of time. This particular story does follow basic canon for the films, and is spanned out over Beca's 4 years at Barden, from a freshman to a senior. They are funny little moments, mostly, but it fills in a lot of gaps during the years we didn't get to see with the Bellas. I hope you enjoy!

Fast Food Frenzy, Barden Bellas Style!

Chapter One: From the Food Files of a Freshman- Taco Bella!

It had been a really long and fruitless rehearsal. Aubrey worked the Bellas over mercilessly, but that's all they had come to expect from their leader, who demanded perfection. Most of the young women raced out of there as quickly as possible whenever a rehearsal had ended, lest Aubrey grab hold of one of them and ask them to stay late to go over her dancing, or clean up the hall.

Beca had to admit, as much as she'd wanted to hurry, she was exhausted and her butt was dragging. Thankfully, Aubrey seemed to have disappeared for a moment, probably heading for the restroom. Rolling her neck, working the kinks out, the young DJ put on her hoodie and started for the door, and freedom…

Before she could make it passed the chairs, she felt a familiar, gentle hand touch her shoulder. "Hey, Becs?" Of course, she knew it was Chloe before the woman had uttered a word. Her touch was, by now, already recognizable to her.

"Hey, Chlo," the tired freshman replied. She was truly exhausted and it showed. She just wanted to go back to her room and sleep for ten to twelve hours before her next class began in the morning. If it would have been anyone else, she already would have blown them off and been on her way. But this was Chloe. And she never wanted to be rude to the lovely Bella with the soft, red locks and the big, blue eyes she'd grown so accustomed to seeing on a regular basis. "What's up?"

The redhead in question currently seemed a bit flustered, hesitant. "Would you like to… I mean, if you're not too busy… I was wondering if you'd want to… um…"

"Chloe, what exactly are you asking me here?" Beca asked in confusion. She really wanted to get back to her dorm room and crash, but she had to admit, she was curious, seeing Chloe acting so… unChloelike.

"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?" Chloe managed to get out. "My treat?" she added hopefully.

Beca should have known she was about to ask her to do something with her. Chloe, while usually boisterous, outgoing, friendly, and full of confidence, she often became shy and almost timid when she wanted to ask her friend to spend time together away from the other Bellas. They had, thus far, done so only a handful of times. Not only were they both often busy with the Bellas, but Beca had school, the radio station, and her music… not to mention, Jesse, her co-volunteer at the station, who continuously pestered her for a date whenever he saw her.

"Oh, um…" the small Bella murmured awkwardly. On the one hand, she was tired and it wasn't as if she were the social butterfly of the group, or anything. On the other hand, she was hungry, she could get a free meal out of it, and there was the fact that Chloe would be her company… Chloe, sweet, tender, touchy-feely, beautiful, so-gorgeous-when-naked, Chloe… Shit! Why can't I ever just get that memory out of my mind? "Well, I…"

Before she could find a way to politely refuse- it was just too intense when she spent alone time with the woman she'd taken a shower with several months ago- Aubrey came out of the restroom and said, "Chloe! There you are. Did you finish sweeping? I think we should grab a bite to eat and discuss your choreography for the Turn the Beat Around number. It's a little…"

Beca's blood began to boil. She was happy to change her plans, and happy to interrupt the Queen bitch. "Actually, Aubrey, Chloe's going to dinner with me tonight, so you'll have to put her down another time." She smiled smugly at her.

"What?" Aubrey exclaimed, narrowing her green eyes at the little alt-girl, who had been a thorn in her side ever since she'd met her. "I never said-"

"Chloe's busy," Beca reiterated, angering Aubrey even further, and shocking Chloe into a panicky silence. The little freshman knew she would probably get hell for this, but she was tired of Aubrey taking advantage of Chloe, the sweetest person in the world; the woman who tried to take care of, and please everyone, including the impossible-to-please leader of the Bellas. Besides, Chloe's choreography wasn't the problem with the number. It was the damn, boring old music that was the problem! Aubrey was just too pig-headed to see it.

"Is that so?" Aubrey hissed at her, and giving Chloe the stink eye. "Chloe, you know we always have dinner after rehearsal, to go over everything we need to work on, or improve."

"Oh, that sounds like fun," Beca smirked.

"Aca-scuse me, runt?" Aubrey sputtered at her. "Listen Beca, you need to stay out of what doesn't concern you, both regarding the Bellas and Chloe! You're-"

"Jesus, Aubrey, you don't own her," Beca shot back at her. "You're on Chloe all damn day! Give her a break!"

"Why, you little-"

"I asked Beca to go to dinner with me, and she said yes," Chloe interrupted quietly, but firmly. "I want to be with her. I mean, tonight. I mean, for dinner…" Both other women stared at her in surprise. Chloe never really stood up to Aubrey like this. Nobody was more dedicated to the Bellas than Chloe, and she normally would have endured another dinner with Aubrey, taking verbal put downs and suggestions that sounded more like orders, but her desire to be with Beca was even stronger than her fear.

Usually when Chloe spoke of Beca in her presence, the freshman would blush and stammer, embarrassed beyond compare over the redhead's obvious girl crush on her, but this time, she grinned from ear to ear, proud that Chloe had asserted herself, and to Aubrey, at that!

"But Chloe," Aubrey was still trying to change her friend's mind. "We really need to-"

"One night off isn't going to hurt anything," Beca put in, taking Chloe by the hand and leading her away.

"Chloe!" the blond yelled, her tone a warning.

"Goodnight, Aubrey!" Beca called as she and Chloe exited the hall.

"Aca-bitch!" Aubrey spat, furiously, unsure of which Bella she was referring to at the moment.

PP PP PP

Outside, Amy stood talking with Stacie about something. It was most likely some sexual joke, Beca reasoned, as they were both laughing knowingly, and they seemed to have little common except for their love of all things sexual. They noticed Beca tugging Chloe out of the Bella hall right away.

"Ah, it's the Dynamic Duo!" Amy greeted them with a cheerful grin. She, as well as Stacie, noticed how pale and worried Chloe looked, clutching tightly to Beca's hand, a look of true fear in her large, blue eyes. "Hey, Red, what's up? Your nodes bothering you today?"

Before Chloe could say a word, Beca spoke up on her behalf, sounding quite proud of her red haired friend. "Chloe just stood up to Queen Bitch- eh, Queen Bee in there!" she stated, offering a rare Beca smile at her trembling friend.

"All right!" Amy exclaimed.

"Good for you, Chloe," Stacie congratulated her. "Somebody needed to. And it should be you!"

Chloe's eyes widened. "I- I didn't actually mean to do it," she admitted. "I just wanted to be with Beca…"

Amy and Stacie exchanged a knowing glance that was not lost on Beca. The brunette began to blush.

"We were just going to grab something to eat, when Aubrey demanded that Chloe drop everything to go have dinner with her, so she could criticize her choreography on the routine!" Beca glanced at Chloe, offering her a tender smile. "Your choreography rocks, by the way, Chlo. I mean it."

Chloe simply melted over the compliment from her favorite person ever. "Thanks, Becs."

Beca smiled awkwardly, averting her gaze from everyone for a moment. She only wished that sometimes Chloe would be a little less… well, Chloe, in front of the other girls. There was definitely something between them that went beyond common friendship. She herself could see that. But she hated getting ribbed about the redhead's obvious toner for her by the other Bellas. And now it had spread beyond their little a Capella group. Why, just the other day in philosophy class, a fellow student had asked Beca how her girlfriend, Chloe Beale, was doing. Beca had spluttered and denied the assumption in a desperate attempt to retain some semblance of heterosexual standing, instead of just being flattered that someone actually thought she was capable of bagging a babe as hot as Chloe.

"Yeah, you're doing your job just fine, girl," Stacie was assuring Chloe, when Beca blurted, "Hey, why don't we all go get something to eat?"

"Don't you and Chloe want to be alone, though?" Stacie asked, and before Chloe could say yes, Amy interrupted them.

"I could go for a nosh!" the Australian replied enthusiastically.

"I have a date tonight," Stacie said, trying to gauge how much time she had until then. "I mean, it's not so much as a date as it is a hook up, but I've got time for dinner."

"Yeah, I'm starving!" Amy reiterated. "That Aubrey worked us half to death!"

"Half to death?" Stacie repeated. "I feel like I've been ridden hard and left wet!"

"Geez," Beca groaned.

"So, where are we eating then?" Amy asked anxiously, rubbing her belly.

"Taco Bell!" Chloe said quickly. She had really wanted to be alone with Beca, and thought if she could deter them, she might still have a chance. She remembered Amy saying once that Mexican food gave her the shits.

To her disappointment, Amy said, "Cool! I have my lactaid tablets and TUMS! I'm good to go!"

Stacie smiled. "Sure! As long as you have your lactaids, I'm good, too. Thanks for inviting us, Chloe."

"Hey, I invited you," Beca reminded her.

"Yeah, but Chloe is allowing us to tag along," Stacie explained. "She's being sweet, but I know she'd rather have been alone with you tonight, Tiny." And she winked at Beca, who quickly averted her eyes.

"Oh, it's all good," Chloe assured them, all smiles and sweetness, even though it was true that she'd been hoping for some one-on-one Beca alone time. Still, she loved hanging out with the girls. Especially this new group of Bellas. They were a fun, friendly bunch.

The four young women headed out. None of them had a vehicle, but Taco Bell was just off campus and within walking distance. It was close to seven o'clock, so it was already dark. It was also chilly. Chloe, who'd been rushed out of the Bella rehearsal hall, had inadvertently left her sweater behind, and she had on was a thin blouse. She instinctively latched onto Beca, snuggling against her side as they walked together.

Just ahead of them, Amy glanced back at them and smirked, before whispering something to Stacie. Stacie turned back to look at the two Bellas, as well, chuckling affectionately.

"What?" Beca muttered defensively at her friends.

"Nothing," Stacie assured her. "It's just that you girls are so damn cute, cuddling up back there."

"Thank you," Chloe replied, gazing lovingly at her little favorite before smiling at Stacie.

Beca, on the other hand, scowled and said, "What the hell?! I am not cuddly!" She pulled out of Chloe's grasp and thrust her hands into her pockets, taking several steps away from the redhead, who suddenly looked like she was about to cry.

"Beca, you're a dick!" Amy muttered, glancing back sympathetically at Chloe, who began to sniffle.

"That was mean!" Stacie scolded the small DJ. "Chloe adores you, you know! And the poor thing is freezing! She had a sweater, and I bet you didn't even let her stop long enough to grab it, when you stormed out of the Bella hall, did you?"

"Oh, um… maybe," Beca admitted sheepishly. She stole a peep at Chloe, as well, saw her shivering, saw her big, blue eyes filling up with unshed tears. "Shit," she whispered. She had done the one thing she never wanted to do- hurt Chloe's feelings.

"Dick," Amy said again, and Stacie nodded.

"Well, it's just… I mean, of all people, why does she always have to latch onto me?" Beca sighed, knowing full well what the answer truly was.

"You're her pet," Amy joked, smirking at her.

"Fuck you, Hobart! I'm no one's pet!"

Stacie shook her head at the hot blooded little freshman. "Beca, you know damn well. No, you're not her pet, but you are Chloe's favorite, and she loves you the most."

Beca rolled her eyes and looked back at Chloe again, who had fallen behind quite a few paces. With purpose, and still feeling embarrassed and grumpy about it, she marched back to her, took her hand and pulled her close, wrapping an arm around the taller woman's shoulders. "It's cold, Chloe. You forgot your sweater. I… I'll keep you warm. Do you want my jacket?"

Chloe smiled gratefully at her. "No, Becs. I feel warm enough when I'm close to you."

"That's 'cause she's full of hot air," Amy cracked, and Stacie chuckled appreciatively at her.

The four Bellas walked along in silence a few more minutes. They kept hearing noises behind them, like the shuffling of feet, the rustling of clothes, and the whispery voice that drifted up to their ears.

All of them huddled close together. "Ladies, I think we're being followed," Beca said quietly.

"Oh, my God!" Amy nearly screamed, and all three of the others shushed her at once.

"Everybody, get your rape whistles out," Stacie instructed worriedly.

"Beca, what should we do?" Chloe asked, and it wasn't lost on anyone that the Bella senior respected and trusted the younger woman's opinions above all others.

The small freshman squeezed Chloe's hand for a moment, an act of gratitude over such confidence. "Okay," she whispered, "I say we turn around and confront the asshole. I mean, there's four of us and only one of him, right? We have the upper hand. We could take him."

"But what if there's more than one of them?" Chloe asked fretfully.

"What if he's really buff and strong?" Amy inquired.

"And what if he has a weapon?" Stacie said pointedly.

Beca sighed. "Okay… well, I'm out of ideas, then…"

Chloe looked sympathetically and lovingly at her defeated little favorite. "No, I say that Beca's plan is totes solid! And it's the only one we have. We have to do something, right? So… Stacie, get your rape whistle out and ready to blow."

"I'm sure she's a champ at blowing," Amy snickered, and Stacie smacked her arm.

"Really?" Beca asked, staring incredulously at her.

Amy shrugged, but shut up.

Chloe continued. "Amy, get your cell phone out. Dial 911, and be prepared to hit send!"

The Australian retrieved her phone and did as she was told. "Nailed it!"

"And I…" the redhead went on, sounding worried, even as she tried to put on an air of confidence, "I once took a year of Karate at the Y when I was 12 years old. I am prepared to defend our brave band of Bella babes!"

"That's a lot of B's," Amy chuckled.

Stacie laughed outright, looking at Chloe's slim form, and recalling her gentle nature and softness, she didn't look like she could blow over a feather, much less kick someone's ass. "Right, Chloe, you're going to beat the shit out of our stalker."

Chloe shrugged. "Well, if I have to." She glanced protectively over at Beca for a moment, who was currently trying to stifle a chuckle of her own, having as hard of time picturing the redhead beating up anyone.

But then she also realized that she had been summarily excluded from the great plan. "Hey, wait a minute. What am I supposed to be doing during all of this?" she demanded to know.

"Oh, well, you're… back up," Chloe told her diplomatically. "If things get to be too much for me, you can run and get help at the police station down the street."

Beca went immediately on the defense. "Now, just a minute, Chlo! No offense, but I am way tougher than you are!"

"Oh, I know that," Chloe assured her, "but I just… wouldn't want anyone to ever… hurt you…"

"Aww," Stacie sighed dreamily, and Amy realized that Chloe's feelings went far beyond the average toner here.

Beca glared at her friends, then crossed her arms, muttering grumpily, "I am more than capable of taking care of myself!"

"I know you can, Becs," Chloe assured her, gently touching the small brunette's arm, "but if anything ever happened to you, I'd… I…"

"Ah, geez, she just wants to protect you, Mitchell," Amy explained. "She loves you. Like, for real." This time, Beca and Chloe both blushed a little.

"I still say I could beat someone up better than you could," Beca sulked. "Chloe, you're too sweet, and gentle, and delicate!"

"But I want to protect you!" Chloe protested, equally stubborn.

"Well, maybe I want to protect you!" Beca admitted, starting to get pissy.

"Oh, Jesus," Stacie sighed. "Why don't you just protect each other?"

"Fine!" Beca said defiantly.

"Okay," Chloe easily agreed.

And at that exact moment, when an agreement had been begrudgingly made, someone snuck up behind the group of Bellas and pounced.

Chloe's plans went out the window, as all four young women lost all train of thought and screamed loudly. Amy turned around and was the first to see the culprit.

"Aw, shit! It's Lilly!"

The rest of the girls turned around to see the kooky freshman smile creepily at them. "Lilly!" they all exclaimed in annoyance.

"Hi," she whispered with a little wave.

"Damn, Lilly," Stacie muttered at her, "why did you sneak up on us like that?"

The strange young woman shrugged. "I want to go to Taco Bell."

Beca rolled her eyes "Were you following us this whole time?"

"Yes," Lilly whispered with a nod. "I was stalking you."

Chloe shuddered. "Well, uh, come on, then. I guess it's five for dinner now."

PP PP PP

Once at Taco Bell, the five women got in line, anxious for a quick, hot meal. Stacie ordered a soft taco and a bean burrito. Lilly was next. She ordered- very quietly, of course- a chicken quesadilla, but requested that it not have chicken, or sauce, or cheese…

"So… you want a tortilla, then?" the confused teenager behind the counter asked.

"Two, please," Lilly whispered with a nod.

Amy ordered a bunch of crunchy tacos. "Be prepared for some tooting tonight!" she declared proudly. A few customers looked at her in disgust. "Oh, like you never fart!"

When Chloe and Beca had their turn at the counter, the redhead told Beca she could order whatever she wanted, and she would treat, as she'd agreed to do so before. The little DJ frowned.

"Chloe, I am perfectly capable of paying for myself," she muttered, making Chloe look away in sadness, and inviting nasty looks from Amy and Stacie. She ignored them and faced the guy at the register, waiting to take her order. "I'll take two regular tacos, a small Pepsi, and some cinnamon crisps. And, uh… please add whatever this young lady is having to my bill. Chloe, go ahead and order. Tonight it's my treat!" She glanced back at her friends, who gave her an encouraging smile.

"Thanks, Beca," Chloe said gratefully, offering another caress to Beca's arm. She turned to the young man behind the counter, who smiled goofily at her, quite smitten. She proceeded to order a medium iced tea, and a taco salad, with all beans instead of ground beef.

When the Bellas all got their orders, they ventured to a booth, the biggest table available. It was round and had enough room for everybody to fit comfortably. Chloe slid in first, but before Beca could slide in next to her, Lilly beat her to it. The little freshman then went to the opposite side of the table, but Amy had already sat down on Chloe's other side.

Chloe said nothing, but looked more than disappointed. Beca felt the same, but she was more vocal about it.

"Hey," Beca grumbled, "I thought I was supposed to sit next to Chloe!" She was so perturbed, she even forgot to pretend that she didn't care who she sat by.

"Oh, for fuck's sake, I just sat my fat ass down!" Amy complained in annoyance over the little alt-girl's need to snuggle up next to the lovely ginger, especially when just ten minutes before, she was getting pissy about snuggling with her on the walk over. "I'm not moving, Mitchell!"

Everyone looked over at Lilly, who was currently sucking all the sauce out of those little hot sauce packets.

"Eh, Lilly…?" Chloe began, but then lost her train of thought, staring in horrified fascination at the weird young woman.

"Jesus!" Beca groaned, facing the weirdo with the fire sauce in her face. "Lilly, switch seats with me, please?"

Lilly looked up at her, sauce dribbling from her chin. "Okay," she whispered. "But you owe me your first born son."

Beca nodded, sure she had misheard what Lilly had said. "Uh… thanks."

The strange young woman swiftly slid back out of the seat, and pushed into Stacie on the other side of the table, who sighed and moved closer to Amy, who grunted in annoyance, nearly dropping her taco into Chloe's lap. During this time, Beca easily slid in close next to the redhead's other side. Warmth just instantly seemed to radiate between them.

Everyone then ate their meals, talking, laughing and relaxing. Chloe insisted Beca taste her vegetarian taco salad, made with all beans. Finally, after much cajoling and pleading, Beca relented. She said it was 'okay'.

"All beans?" Amy cracked. "Glad I don't share a room with you, Red!"

"Like you should talk," Stacie told her. "God, last weekend on the way home in the bus!"

All of the others nodded in agreement.

"Oh, yeah!" Amy laughed with a mouthful of food. "We had Italian food that time!"

Stacie rolled her eyes. "Wow, you talk about it as if you're proud!"

"What's not to be proud of?"

"So much…" Beca murmured innocently. She shared her cinnamon crisps with the beautiful redhead seated smack dab against her, who wrapped her arm around the younger woman's shoulders.

Soon, everyone had finished eating. They cleaned up their mess, and all walked back to campus together, going slow because they were tired and worn out from hours of rehearsal. Chloe insisted on everyone walking Beca back to her dorm, as it was so late, even though it was out of the way for the others. Chloe walked her up to her room, while the rest of the Bellas waited just outside. The redhead came back down five minutes later, grinning from ear to ear.

"What's with the cheesy grin, Beale?" Amy smirked at her. "Did you get to second base with Beca, or what?"

"No," Chloe giggled. "But I did get Beca to promise that she'd move into the Bella house next year."

"But why would you care, Chloe?" Stacie asked. "I mean, it's not as if you'll be around. You're graduating and won't be here."

"Oh, I know," Chloe replied, still thinking dreamily in her own little world. "But, I mean, she'll be safe with all of you guys."

"Right," Amy snickered. "You're just planning on coming back during homecoming and hooking up with her, aren't you?"

Chloe's mind was now in full on dream mode, and she ignored Amy entirely. "Come on, ladies."

The women headed back in the direction of the Bella house. All the while, the wheels of love were turning in Chloe's head, trying to figure out a way to overcome the obstacle of her impending graduation, in order to stay together with the little alt-girl of her dreams…

Chapter 2: Succulent Sophomore Sustenance- Mickey D's

It had been a long rehearsal. The Bellas were getting ready for the competition coming next month. Most of the women had vanished by now. It was spring time, and even though Bella rehearsals had become a lot less stressful and more fun since Beca and Chloe been appointed as co-captains, it was still a lot of work: singing, dancing, cardio… And the ladies did have other interests to attend to. There was studying for the upcoming end of school finals. Many were planning their spring break. (Beca didn't need to worry about that. She and Chloe were flying to Oregon to hang out with the Beale family, and hit the beach, weather permitted.) And some of the ladies also were planning epic parties, or going to epic parties, or hanging out with boyfriends… or girlfriends…

That night, after rehearsal, Jessica and Ashley had volunteered to stay behind and help Chloe clean up the Bella hall, while Beca was going over some final touches on the act with Cynthia Rose, who, while one of the best singers in the group, was having a hard time hitting a certain note. She always had lots of solos in Bella performances, on account of her stage presence and powerhouse voice. Beca was coaching her through her difficulties.

"All right, Cynthia Rose," Beca was instructing her, "you've got to hit that note just right, or it's going to fall flat. I think if you come up an octave, you're going to nail it. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah, I get you, Beca. I'm just not used to hitting that high of a note though. You know my vocal range usually sings at two octaves below that!"

"I know," Beca replied sympathetically. "But we all have to step out of our comfort zone now and again. That's usually where you'll find the glory! And if you practice just a little bit longer, I think you'll get it, for sure. And you will rock it!"

Cynthia Rose smiled affectionately at the small sophomore. Beca's method of instruction and inspiring were a far cry from last year, with Aubrey Posen barking orders at them and getting angry at them, when they couldn't get something down pat right away. The black beauty- as Amy sometimes referred to her- gave Beca a million watt smile and a high five.

"I'll work at it till I get it right, Becs!"

"Well, you're almost there, it's going to happen before you know it," the young leader replied, full of optimism. She glanced back at her BFF and co-captain. "Hey, Chlo! You almost ready to bust out of here, sweetie? As soon as Cynthia Rose gets it, we can go. I don't know about you, but I'm starving!"

"Almost, Becs," Chloe assured her, smiling lovingly at her. "Jessica and Ashley and I are just finishing up. Got the chairs done. Just a tiny bit of sweeping to do yet!" She gazed upon her beloved best friend with such open love, that Beca had to look away. It was sometimes just too intense.

Though Beca would never admit to it- even though Chloe always did- Beca LOVED spending time alone, removed from performing, and leading, and singing, with the delectable redhead. They spent nearly every moment away from school and performing together. And like tonight, they usually dined out together.

To Chloe, it was like a breath of fresh air. It was nothing like the meals she'd had to endure with Bellas past, including the year before, when she would sit with Aubrey, quietly chewing on a salad, or tofu, and listen to the former Bella leader criticize her choreography, over analyze past performances, or try to second guess future ones. With Beca, it was just fun, relaxing, often silly, and sometimes very flirty… okay, most times…

Having finished dusting some portraits of Bellas past on the far wall, Chloe wiped at her brow, then walked over to where Beca was, with Cynthia Rose, and stood beside her, throwing a casual arm around the small brunette's shoulders. Nobody said anything, or took any special notice of their physical closeness. Not anymore. Chloe was a rather touchy-feely sort of person, to begin with, but none more so than with her Beca. The two young women were closer than any two other Bellas had ever been before. And it reflected in their co-captain abilities. Their teamwork was impeccable.

Chloe listened carefully, along with Beca, to Cynthia Rose, who went over her solo several times, struggling to hit that high note. After a little perseverance, however, she got it, and repeated it several times before Beca, or she, was satisfied that she had it.

Cynthia Rose grinned, proud of herself, as well as with Beca's coaching. The young Bella leader complimented her singing, just as Chloe applauded appreciatively. It made the singer smile even harder. It was always a great feeling, knowing that you and your talents were acknowledged and valued, something that Aubrey Posen, and many Bella captains before her had never seemed to understand.

"That was brilliant, Cynthia Rose!" Chloe was gushing over her friend, and she turned to look at Beca, her own excitement taking over sound reasoning. "You know what, Becs? We should totes treat Cynthia Rose to dinner tonight for such a job well done!"

"Oh, um…" Beca stammered, trying to find a way out of it. She really preferred now to have her dinner time out with Chloe alone. She even refused to let her boyfriend Jesse come along, as he had asked to join them once, as well. Beca had told him that it was an old Bellas tradition, and only for group leaders. It wasn't exactly true, but he'd believed her, so Beca had stuck with that, getting out of having to bring Amy a bunch of times, too. She loved having Chloe all to herself. She went on, "Chloe, that's so sweet, but I'm sure that Cynthia Rose has better things to do than to hang out with us on a Friday night…" She looked pointedly at Cynthia Rose, silently willing her to take the hint.

But Cynthia Rose was either bad at taking hints, or she really wanted to have dinner with Beca and Chloe that night, because, instead, she said, "Actually, no. I don't have anything planned, and I am pretty hungry, so…"

"Oh, us, too!" Jessica and Ashley chimed in together, having just finished sweeping. They looked hopefully at their fair leaders.

"Well, then, I guess it's just the five of us for dinner…" Chloe said sheepishly. She saw the minutest hint of perturbation on Beca's face and she smiled apologetically at her best friend.

"All right," Beca sighed in resignation. "Let's go get some dinner."

"Great!" Cynthia Rose exclaimed, rubbing her hands together in anticipation. "So, where are we going?"

"To that new McDonald's they just opened a few blocks over," Chloe told her. "Now that we have a car, we can venture further out at night."

"Oh," Cynthia Rose murmured in disappointment. "I was kind of hoping for a steak, or something."

"What the hell?!" Beca shot back. "We're college students, not CEOs! McDonald's is the working class steakhouse. Of course, if you're not into chicken nuggets and French fries, Chloe and I can just…"

"Hey!" Jessica said, scowling.

"We still want to come!" Ashley told her.

"Nah, it's okay," Cynthia Rose agreed. "I'm not rich, either. Mickey D's is fine. Let's go!"

While leaving the hall, Beca took Chloe aside and whispered that they'd have to order a little cheaper than what they'd originally planned, seeing as how they were buying dinner for three extra people now. Chloe apologized profusely, her big, blue eyes sad and forlorn. Beca gave the redhead's hand a squeeze and told her not to worry about it, even if she had been wanting to have a super-size Big Mac meal. Chloe would probably have to give up her large salad, as well.

The five women met up at Beca and Chloe's car. It was a beige Volkswagen Beetle, a small but decent car that got good gas mileage and got them around town efficiently. Chloe's brother, Chris, had found it for them back in Oregon. One of his high school buddies had been selling it, and Chris, being a shrewd negotiator, had gotten a very good deal for them, which was the only way they could have afforded it.

Beca usually drove when the two of them went anywhere. She thought Chloe was a great driver, but Beca liked to feel she was in control of any situation, and driving added to that illusion. Besides, Chloe didn't mind. She loved and adored Beca, and she didn't mind not driving, if it kept her little friend happy.

"Here we are, ladies. Herbie, your chariot awaits!" Chloe proclaimed with dramatic flair.

The young DJ rolled her eyes at Chloe's description of their vehicle. "Chloe, how many times do we need to go over this? Just because it's a slug bug, doesn't make it a 'Herbie'. It's not even white!"

"Well, he's beige," Chloe reasoned. "That's white-ish."

"It's not Herbie!" Beca insisted. "This car is clearly female and her name is 'Outta Time'!"

Chloe giggled. "Becs, darling… Herbie is not a time machine, and he sure isn't a DeLorean."

"Don't say that," Beca whined at her. "She'll hear you!"

Jessica and Ashley watched the exchange in silent wonder. Being the quiet ones that nobody hardly noticed, had its advantages. People said the weirdest shit in front of them on a regular basis, without even realizing they were there. The two young women could seriously have written a book about every one of their Bella sisters.

Cynthia Rose, on the other hand… "You guys are serious weird-ass dorks! Who cares what it is? Wanna know? It's a damn car! Now, let us in!" She started to get in the front passenger seat.

"Wait!" Beca shouted, as Chloe gasped, scandalized. Cynthia Rose let go of the handle in fear.

"What is wrong?" the black beauty asked in confusion.

Beca looked sheepishly at her for overreacting. "It's just… well, that's Chloe's seat," she murmured quietly, and Cynthia Rose rolled her eyes at her.

"Damn, closeted bitches," the singer muttered under her breath, as she sucked in and squeezed herself into the back seat. She was further crunched when Jessica and Ashley piled in after her. "Jesus!" Cynthia Rose groaned loudly. "You know, this would be a lot easier if you stuck all the teeny tiny people back here!"

"You mean Beca?" Chloe asked innocently.

"Thanks a lot, Chlo!" Beca hissed at her. "You're not exactly a giant yourself, you know!"

"Well, I'm taller than you are, sweetie," Chloe replied, smiling ravishingly at her.

"Oh, bite me!"

"Don't tempt me, love," Chloe whispered, giving Beca's knee a squeeze, that made her jump in her seat a little bit.

"Anyways, Herbie- dammit, I mean, Outta Time is mine! Well, and Chloe's. Nobody else drives her but me… and Chloe."

"Not even Jesse?" Cynthia Rose asked in mock surprise. She was stuck in the back seat of a super small car, and squished in between two other women. She didn't mind ribbing Beca about what she considered to be a 'beard'.

"Who?" Beca asked distractedly. She had been arguing with Chloe about how far down to roll the windows.

"Uh, Jesse- you know, your boyfriend?" Cynthia Rose reminded her.

Chloe quieted down considerably. Any talk of Jesse always made her clam up. It wasn't as though she hated him, or anything. She actually liked Jesse as a person. She really did. But she loathed him as her true love's boyfriend. She really did.

Beca quieted down, as well, feeling for Chloe, feeling guilty, herself. It was odd, but as best friends, they never discussed dates, or guys. Whether it was the number of random men that asked Chloe out on a regular basis- which she always declined- or her ex-boyfriend, Tom, who she'd broken up with not long after meeting Beca, or Jesse, Beca's own boyfriend. Beca always felt Jesse was a great fit for her, because he was there when she needed him, and he didn't mind drifting to the background of her life, when she didn't. He understood her crazy a Capella schedule, as he had a similar one, working with the Trebles. And he also seemed oblivious to the fact that his girlfriend was secretly sweet on her own best friend.

"No," Beca answered sternly, eager to change the subject, and have Chloe smile at her again. She started the engine, and looked at Cynthia Rose through the rear view mirror. "Nobody drives this car, except for Chloe and me. Nobody!"

PP PP PP

When they arrived at McDonald's- after a silent drive- Beca and Chloe exited the car. The three in the back seat struggled to get out. Chloe basically had to grab them by the hand and pull them out, much to Beca's amusement.

They walked inside and Chloe's eyes lit up. She took Beca by the arm, and said, "Ooh, look, Becs! They have a play land!"

"No, Chloe, no!" Beca warned her. "The play land is not the park!"

"You guys play at the park?" Cynthia Rose laughed loudly.

"Aw!" Ashley chuckled.

"That is too precious," Jessica agreed.

"It's ridiculous!" Cynthia Rose guffawed.

Beca sighed. She had basically walked right into that one.

"Sometimes we go to the park," Chloe easily admitted. "Usually at night, though…" She paused, glancing at the look Beca was giving her. "I mean, usually… only… when no one else is there…"

The three other women laughed at her.

"I'm going to the bathroom," Beca said dully, anxious to get out of this situation for a moment or two. She was out of there like a flash.

"Let's go order," Cynthia Rose said eagerly, unable to ignore her grumbling stomach.

"What about Beca?" Jessica asked.

"I'll get her something," Chloe promised.

They went to the counter. Cynthia Rose got the Big Mac meal that Beca could no longer afford to get. Jessica and Ashley both got a salad that Chloe now would not be able to buy. Instead of just going for the value menu, the redhead opted for something a bit more whimsical and ordered she and Beca a Happy Meal. She ordered the cheeseburger meal, but with only the cheese and pickles on the bun- no burger.

"Aren't Happy Meals for the little ones?" Ashley whispered to Chloe.

"Don't worry. I'm ordering one for Beca, too." Chloe ordered her best friend a six piece chicken nugget meal. She also upgraded the Happy Meal drinks, so they could all have a large.

The four women looked for a table that would accommodate them, and they found that Beca was already seated at the big booth in the back. Chloe made a beeline for one side and slid in next to her, their bodies smack dab against each other. Cynthia Rose took a seat on Beca's other side. Jessica and Ashley volunteered to go fill up the sodas, and grab some ketchup and napkins.

"Well, I gotta say," Cynthia Rose remarked in surprise, "this is the cleanest McDonald's I've ever been in."

"It's only been open a month," Beca told her. "Give it time."

As Chloe laughed appreciatively at her best friend's clever repartee, a beautiful woman who dressed in a similar style to Beca, stopped and gave Cynthia Rose a flirty smile.

"Hi, there, stranger," she said in a breathy tone. "You with one of them?" And she gestured to Beca and Chloe.

Cynthia Rose glanced over at her table mates. Beca and Chloe currently had their heads together and were arguing about some silly thing, like an old married couple. They hadn't even noticed the woman standing in front of their table. "Oh, hell no!" she was quick to put the stranger at ease. "They're together. I'm on my own."

"You free for a quick chat?" the woman asked, smiling seductively.

"You better believe it," Cynthia Rose agreed wholeheartedly, and left the table to go talk to- and hopefully seduce- the strange beauty in the restaurant.

Jessica and Ashley returned shortly afterwards, each balancing two soda pops, ketchup in those little paper cups, and some napkins. "Hey, where's Cynthia Rose?" one of them asked.

Beca and Chloe looked up at them. "Huh?" Beca mumbled absently.

"Where's Cynthia Rose?" Chloe asked.

Their two friends looked up at each other and sighed.

Cynthia Rose returned moments later, just as an employee brought their food to the table on two trays.

"A Happy Meal?" Beca groaned, as Chloe set it before her. "But I wanted chicken nuggets!"

Chloe took the chicken nuggets out of the Happy Meal box and placed them before her little, grumpy companion. "Right here, honey."

"But what about the sweet and sour sau-" Beca started in again, but Chloe retrieved it, and set it in front of her beloved bestie before she could finish her sentence.

"I remembered, love," Chloe told her, smiling indulgently.

Beca reached into the box and pulled out small fries and some apple slices. She also grabbed the toy, and made a face. "Barbie toys?" she balked. "Didn't they at least have something coo-"

Without a word, Chloe took the Hot Wheels toy from her own box, and switched with Beca.

"Jesus, you're a baby!" Cynthia Rose groused.

"No, she's not!" Chloe defended her before Beca could utter a word in her own defense. "Beca's just… sensitive! She's an artist!"

Cynthia Rose rolled her eyes, then bit into her Big Mac. "You know, you're not helping her any," she said, pointing at Chloe. "You're going to spoil her."

Beca resented being talked about like she wasn't even there, and as though she were merely a petulant child. "Hey! I'm not spoiled! And Chloe is just being nice. Friends do that for each other, you know!"

The Bellas were quiet for a while, chowing down on the dinner, and trying to avoid their mercurial little leader, who became especially hangry [hungry + angry] when she went too long without eating. Afterwards, Beca and Cynthia Rose decided to get some dessert. Cynthia Rose opted for a McFlurry, and Beca decided on a hot fudge sundae. All the while, she argued with Chloe about getting a dessert, too.

"Chloe, I know what you're going to do," Beca sighed. "You refuse to get your own dessert, and then you spend the next fifteen minutes trying to eat mine!"

"What do you mean 'trying'?" Chloe giggled. "You always end up sharing with me."

"Well, not this time, Red. So order something, or go without!"

Chloe made a face at her, then left to go order for her friends.

"Way to put your foot down, Beca," Cynthia Rose complimented her. "You gotta show your bitch who's boss."

"Huh?" Beca asked, looking somewhat defensive. "Chloe's not a bitch, Cynthia Rose. And I'm not her boss. We're partners- eh, I mean co-captains."

Cynthia Rose shook her head in disbelief and amazement. "Beca, I don't know how it's possible, but you can be both the biggest smart ass, and the biggest dumb ass all at once!"

Before Beca could come up with a suitable retort, Chloe returned to the table with their desserts.

Just as Beca had predicted, within a minute of watching her eat her tempting ice cream sundae, Chloe started trying to get the spoon for a bite. Instead of refusing her, like she'd threatened to do a moment before, Beca took a bite of her sundae, then licked the spoon clean. But surprisingly, she dipped the spoon into the ice cream again, and offered it up to Chloe's eager mouth, who devoured it.

Cynthia Rose stared in amazement, and shared a knowing glance with Jessica and Ashley. They're so gay! They were all thinking it.

When it came time to leave, Cynthia Rose decided to stay and hang out with the pretty alt-girl she'd met from the next table. Well, what do you know? Chloe and me finally have something in common, she laughed to herself.

Beca drove the rest of them back to their Bella house. Chloe got out of the car, wondering why Beca hadn't turned the engine off, as she helped pull Jessica and Ashley out of the back seat. She looked expectantly at Beca.

"Get in," Beca told her.

"Why?"

"Just get in!"

With a smile, Chloe did so without further inquiry. Beca waited for her to buckle her seat belt, then tore back out of the driveway.

"Want a little late night adventure, Chlo?"

"Sure!"

"How about the park?" the young DJ suggested shyly. "I mean, if you want to."

"Becs," Chloe replied, resting that familiar gentle hand on the brunette's arm, "I always want to… with you."

Blushing, but smiling, Beca nodded, and she drove in the direction of the park.

Chapter 3: Jubilant Junior's Junk food Jamboree- Pizza Hut!

It was late on a Saturday night and the empty Pizza Hut closest to Barden University was set to close in an hour. The two employees working the late shift were grateful for the quiet. Both of them were Barden students that liked the night shift because there was never a manager around, and rarely any customers, so they could study in peace, or catch up on texts and tweets.

But on this night…

The door swung open with dramatic flair and Amy Hobart came marching in, followed closely by Cynthia Rose. The two employees looked up and sighed. So much for their quiet night of studying.

"Hey, pitches! They're still open! Come on, get in here!" Amy yelled out of the door.

Beca and a very sleepy Chloe, followed by Flo, came meandering in. Beca looked guilty, realizing how late it was. Chloe held on to her arm, looking like she was going to fall asleep on her feet. Flo glanced around in wide-eyed wonderment.

"Wow! This doesn't look like a hut at all! In my country, it could almost be considered a palace!" the young Guatemalan remarked, impressed.

Shaking her head, Beca whispered to her friends, "Hey, girls, they look like they're about to close up, so maybe we should just find somewhere else to go…" The two tired employees looked gratefully at her.

"Nah, they're open for another hour yet," Amy told her. "Come on, let's help these laze-abouts earn their paychecks!" The two young men glared at her.

"I think they can hear you, Ames," Beca whispered. "Anyway, it's late, they're going to close soon, and Chloe is basically asleep on her feet. I mean, look at her! She's leaning on my shoulder with her full weight!"

"Yeah, like you're bothered by that," Amy snickered.

"What is that supposed to mean, exactly?" the small Bella co-captain asked pointedly, staring at the boisterous Aussie.

"Oh, please," Cynthia Rose added. "You two are gayer than I am!" She and Amy laughed wholeheartedly.

Chloe lifted her head up and smiled sleepily at Beca. "I love you," she murmured, which caused Amy and Cynthia Rose to laugh even harder.

Beca blew out a breath, sweating a little under all of the scrutiny, which always seemed to be a big thing when it came to she and Chloe's relationship. "That's great, Chlo. Thanks."

"Are we there yet?" Chloe mumbled into her ear, her eyes closed.

"Chloe? Chloe! Open those baby blues and look at me!" It took a moment, but Chloe managed to open both eyes. "Chlo, you are standing next to me in a Pizza Hut. Are you really that tired?"

"I thought we were still at rehearsal," the redhead admitted in confusion.

"Jesus!" Amy muttered.

"You need some sleep, girl!" Cynthia Rose scolded her. Most everyone in the Bellas knew that Chloe was devoted to them all, and the group, as well as many side projects. They all felt that she sometimes stretched herself too thin. And she was thin enough as it was!

Beca looked at her, a little worried. She touched the redhead's cheek. "Honey, you really do need to get some sleep. I need my co-captain at full speed here, babe."

"Chloe has been working extra hard lately, running the Barden food drive for Christmas," Flo reminded them. "Plus, she's always doing stuff for the Bellas. And you know how hard she's working on her Russian Lit. class."

Three out of four Bellas laughed at Chloe's expense. Beca did not. She gave them all dirty looks, most especially Flo, who surprised her, since she rarely had a mean thing to say about anyone in the group, especially Chloe, who did more than her fair share. She did not care for anyone picking on her beloved BFF. "Hey, you guys suck! Leave Chlo alone! She does more for our organization than all the rest of us put together!"

Cynthia Rose and Amy glanced at each other. "Gay!" they both announced at once.

"Oh, knock it off," the tired DJ groaned. "You guys are being total dicks tonight!"

"What do you mean, tonight?" Flo said with a smirk.

"I wouldn't talk, Flo, with that crack about her school work," Beca warned her.

"Oh, man, you're on a roll tonight, Mitchell," Amy chuckled. "It's Defending Chloe 101, by Beca Mitchell! That's so pathetic!"

"You're pathetic," Beca shot back. "And I'm about this close to leaving all of you here to walk back to Barden, while Chloe and me get a nice ride."

The words had barely escaped her mouth, when she'd instantly regretted them. Cynthia Rose's eyes gleamed.

"You and Chloe do a lot of riding together, don't you?"

Before Beca could offer up a scathing retort, one of the two Pizza Hut employees cautiously approached the argumentative group. "Um, hi. May I help you?"

"That remains to be seen," the small Bella leader muttered, staring down her belligerent friends. She really just wanted to head home and find something in the kitchen, or stop off at a Circle K somewhere and score some donuts and coffee.

"Hey," the surfer-type waiter spoke up, looking curiously at the redhead drowsing on Beca's small shoulder, "isn't that… Chloe Beale?"

"Who wants to know?" Beca asked, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.

Amy shook her head. Beca was either being paranoid or jealous again. "Yeah, it's her," she said, much to Beca's chagrin. "And we'd like a table, please."

"Okay, sure," the young man went on politely. He led them to a table long enough to accommodate the five of them. "Oh, the all you can eat salad bar option is already closed for the evening," he informed them apologetically.

"That's okay," Cynthia Rose told him. "Could you give us a minute to decide?"

"Sure," he replied, trying to sound cordial, when he desperately wished they would just all leave… except maybe for Chloe. "Can I get you something to drink while you're deciding?"

"Just bring us two pitchers of Pepsi," Amy instructed him.

"And an iced tea," Beca piped up, and everyone stared at her. Beca never drank tea. "It's not for me. Chloe doesn't like Pepsi."

The young man's intense stare went from Chloe to the woman she had draped herself over. "Oh, hey!" He said brightly. "You must be Beca, right?"

"Who wants to know?" she asked again, feeling even more suspicious of this blond, green-eyed surfer boy than she had before.

"Yeah, she is," Amy, again offered up information that Beca would rather not have shared with the dreamy eyed stranger.

"How do you know who I am?" Beca demanded to know, glaring at the young man.

"Oh, well, Chloe and I are study buddies for our psych class," he quickly explained, growing rather nervous over Beca's murderous stare.

"And she's mentioned me?" Beca asked, for some reason, surprised by this revelation.

"Constantly," the young man chuckled. "Like, every day, all the time. Oh, by the way, I'm Dean, and I'll be your server tonight. I'll go and get those drinks for you." He trotted off.

"By the way, I'm Amy, and he's got a fine ass," Amy sighed, staring at his retreating form.

"Don't be crass," Flo scolded her. "In my country, you would be flogged for that!"

"Sounds kinky," the Australian said, nodding her head.

Beca ignored the inane chatter, and began the task of waking Sleeping Beauty, who was currently drooling on her shoulder. She ran her fingers gently across the redhead's smooth, creamy cheek. When this elicited no response, she booped her nose and muttered, "Come on, dude, wake up!"

"Well, look at that," Cynthia Rose joked, elbowing Amy in the ribs. "Chloe got Beca so wet."

Amy looked unimpressed. "She's gotten her way wetter than that before!"

"Seriously?" the tired Bella co-captain decried with a raised voice. "Would you guys just stop! Chloe and I aren't dating- or fucking! We're just…" she tried to find the words.

"Two women who cuddle," Flo said.

"And sleep together," Amy reminded her.

"And kiss," Flo added brightly. "I saw you guys under the mistletoe last night in the living room!"

"Oh, and don't forget," Cynthia Rose added her two cents, "how she does your laundry, cooks for you, spoils you on your birthday, and every other holiday. You two even share a car! You want me to go on…?"

Beca's face was turning bright red in embarrassment and anger. She really, truly wanted to just scoop Chloe up and leave the rest of them on their own, to fend for themselves, even in the night.

That's when Chloe decided to wake up and become cognizant. "Hey, love. What's wrong? Oh, I drooled on you, again. I'm sorry!"

Switching tactics, and channeling her anger towards the one she actually loved best and deserved this the least, Beca started in on her, her little face scowling most menacingly. "So, who the hell is this Dean kid, anyway, Chlo?"

"And here are your drinks," Dean said, returning just in time. He passed out cups with just ice, and set the two pitchers of Pepsi on the table. He placed the iced tea in front of Beca, who quickly moved it in front of Chloe. "Are we ready to order now?" he asked hopefully.

"Oh, Dean!" Chloe exclaimed in recognition, smiling sweetly. "How are you? I didn't know you worked here!"

Dean's whole face lit up, upon seeing Chloe awake. He smiled broadly at her, revealing his cute dimples. "Hi, Chloe! I'm doing all right. How about you?"

"I'm great!" she replied cheerfully, in true Chloe fashion. "Just wiped out, what with school, and the Bellas, and this food drive I'm working on."

"Oh, yeah. Hey, I'm bringing you in a bunch of canned goods on Monday, okay?"

"That's terrific, Dean! Thank you!"

Amy watched the exchange, with some interest. This youngster sure liked Chloe. With Chloe, it was harder to tell, because she was friendly to everyone. But Beca did not look well. Her face grew more and more angry and red at each passing second of this exchange. She decided to break things up a little, not necessarily for Beca's sake, but for her own amusement.

"Excuse me, young man, but how old are you?" she asked.

Dean glanced over at the smirking Aussie, careful to avoid making eye contact with Beca Mitchell. "Uh, I'm eighteen. And can I get your orders now, or did you all need more time?"

"Let's get two pizzas, a meat lover's and a meat special," Amy suggested.

"Eighteen?" Beca hissed, turning her glare from Dean to Chloe. "Seriously?"

"Your biggest order of hot wings!" Cynthia Rose added, and Dean wrote it down.

"That's what he said, Becs," Chloe replied, "so I guess he's serious. Why?"

"Are you still offering dinner salads?" Flo asked, and Dean nodded nervously, glancing over at the smoldering Beca. "Then I want one. Balsamic dressing, no croutons, please."

"But croutons are the best part!" Amy insisted.

"Are you dating him, Chlo?" Beca hissed, looking like she was about to cry… or murder someone. It could have gone either way.

"Beca, what on earth are you talking about?" Chloe asked innocently. "Oh, and did you want to share a small Veggie Lover's Pizza with me?"

"Fine!"

Dean quickly wrote that down. "Anything else?" he asked, anxious to leave the vicinity. "Bread sticks? Soup?"

"NO!" Beca shouted at him.

Dean's eyes grew wide in fear, and he nodded, then he scampered off.

"I can't believe you, Chloe!" Beca said, looking beyond pissed, and trying to hide her heartbreak. "How could you? You never even told me anything about him!"

"Beca, there's nothing to tell!" Chloe insisted, still feeling a little punch drunk from lack of sleep, but trying to stay lucid for her beloved best friend's sake. "I don't even know him that well."

Folding her arms, the little DJ glowered at the woman she secretly loved. The fact that she herself had a boyfriend seemed neither here nor there to her at this time, even though Amy had pointed that fact out too many times to count. "Well, he sure knows you! He even knows about me! Why does he know about me, Chlo? Why would you mention me to someone you hardly know?"

Chloe yawned in her face. Then she looked at Beca incredulously. "Are you kidding me? Beca, I tell everyone about you!"

The brunette averted her eyes from her friend's intense gaze. She was also feeling just a teensy bit ashamed of herself for overreacting. "But why?"

"Beca, I love you! You're my best friend, and favorite person in the whole world! I tell everyone about you, love!"

Now, Beca did feel ashamed. Ignoring the sniggering from the three other Bellas she had momentarily forgotten were there, she asked, "Are you sure that's all? I mean, it's just that he seemed so happy to see you…"

"Oh, my God! Beca, he's only eighteen! He's practically a child!"

"Well, I was only eighteen when we met, and that didn't stop you from hopping into the shower with me."

Amy, Cynthia Rose, and Flo just sat there, gasping loudly at this revelation, but otherwise kept quiet, not wanting to interrupt the drama unfolding before their eyes. This was all new information to them…

"Becs, that was so different, and you know it!" Chloe chastised her. "What we have between us is special… sacred! I could never feel that way about anyone else! Don't you know that?"

The younger Bella wouldn't look at her at all now, feeling embarrassed over flinging all of the jealousy and accusations at her. Trying not to tear up in a Pizza Hut at nine o'clock on a Friday night, Beca bowed her head, trying to close herself off from the rest of the world. But then she felt a tender hand take hold of her chin and gently lift it, forcing her to stare into Chloe's forgiving, blue eyes.

"Becs, you all right, honey?" Chloe smiled encouragingly at her.

Seeing the love emanating through those eyes and that smile, Beca smiled back. "Yeah, I'm okay. But, um… I'm sorry for being such a dick."

"You're not a dick," the redhead soothed, rubbing her hand up and down Beca's back. "But you're forgiven. We all get… jealous sometimes," she admitted, wistfully, and Beca realized that her friend was thinking about Jesse.

"Thanks, Chlo…"

The two young women embraced, and for a brief moment, nothing and no one else existed in their little world.

That illusion was broken when Amy said, "Aww!" rather loudly.

"They are so cute!" Flo agreed.

"You two make me sick!" Cynthia Rose chuckled.

Dean came back with the other employee and they set the Bellas' orders on the large table. Once it was all served, Dean lingered a little longer to give Chloe a flirtatious smile. Chloe smiled back. Beca decided that she didn't like him.

After they finished eating, Dean acted as cashier, and took their money, while the other employee started clearing the table. Chloe, generous person that she was, gave Dean a nice tip. He thanked her and gave her a nice hug, and Beca hated him even more.

"Hey, I'll see you on Monday, in class!" Chloe said, as the Bellas got up and left the table.

"Sure thing. So, uh, how long have you and Beca been together?" he asked shyly.

"Over two years," Chloe whispered, glancing over at the scowling little brunette, and smiling lovingly at her. Beca averted her eyes again, lest she give Dean the death stare.

"Wow, so for a while now," he commented, trying to hide his disappointment.

"Yeah," Chloe sighed dreamily, unable to take her eyes off of the woman she loved, even as she let out a little burp and tried to pick some cheese out of her teeth with her thumbnail. "Well, I'd better get going, Dean. I need to get her to bed… uh, I mean, it's been a long day. We're all tired."

Amy overheard Chloe talking to Dean. She shook her head. It was painfully obvious that she was head over heels in love with Beca. She honestly felt that Beca reciprocated those feelings to Chloe, but was either too scared to come out of the closet, deep in denial, or maybe a combination of them both.

"Come on, everyone," Beca announced to her group, but focused on Chloe, grabbing her by the hand and pulling her closer. "Let's get loaded into Herbie, and get home. It's late!"

"Oh, great! It's sardine time," Cynthia Rose muttered. She hated Beca and Chloe's little car. Not a great fit for her at all! Or for most any of them.

"Why can't you let me drive?" Amy reiterated the sentiment. "Bugs aren't exactly made for my fat ass!"

"Yeah, and I should ride shot gun," Cynthia Rose added.

Chloe wrapped her arm around Beca's shoulder. "What do you say, love? Just this once, we let someone else drive Herbie? Then, you and I can cuddle in the back seat."

"Well, I guess that would be okay… just this once," Beca agreed.

Flo looked a little nervous. "Eh, just remember that I'll be in the back seat with you guys, so don't do too much… cuddling."

On the drive home, Beca fell asleep, resting her head on Chloe's shoulder.

PP PP PP

Inside, Dean and his co-worker, a fellow Barden freshman named Rick, locked the doors and cleared up the Bellas' mess.

"Man, they were obnoxious!" Rick groaned. "Those are some of the Barden Bellas, aren't they? Good singers, sloppy eaters!"

Dean chuckled. "Yeah. I know one of them. Chloe Beale; she's in my psych class."

"Which one was Chloe?"

"The beautiful redhead," Dean sighed dreamily. "She's my study buddy in class and it's not easy hiding my boners for an hour every day."

Rick laughed. "Well, why not ask her out? See if you can ease some of that tension, bro?"

"No. I mean, first of all, she's quite a bit older than me."

"So?" Rick asked, not sensing the problem with that. "Older women rock! They're hot and they know what they like!"

"No, she's completely oblivious to me. All she ever talks about is her girlfriend, Beca."

"Girlfriend?" Rick stuttered in surprise. His eyebrows raised high above his eyes, as if trying to picture this new information.

"Yeah. She's another Bella. She was that cute, short girl who looked like she wanted to beat the shit out of me the whole time." He shuddered at the memory.

"Damn…" Rick sympathized. "Girlfriend, though… that's HOT!"

"Tell me about it!"

"Well, you could still ask her out, anyway, give it a try?" Rick suggested.

"Hell, no!" Dean declared. "I'm not a complete asshole! I have a cousin who's a lesbian. It's not like you can change their minds, or anything."

"Still, the idea of those two chicks together," his friend murmured, unable to hide his growing erection. "So HOT!"

Dean sighed, trying to ignore the evidence of such hotness now pushing against the front of Rick's pants. "Why do all the hot chicks around here prefer other hot chicks?"

Chapter Four: Senior Scrumptious Sensations! Burger King...

Even though the news that the Barden Bellas were off the touring circuit, and were now unable to compete in any official capacity in the United States, or defend their title on the collegiate level, had been quite devastating; even though they had seen DSM perform and knew that they were going to be a big pain-in-the-ass at the World's competition, the young women still tried to keep going with business as usual. They were learning new songs, new choreography, working together to redeem their good name and reputation in the eyes of the a Capella universe. But they knew they had to step up their game and as hard as they always worked before, they would have to work even harder now!

But, of course, with harder training, came bigger appetites. After one particularly arduous rehearsal, all of the girls decided to walk just off campus to the Burger King down the street for an easy dinner.

Beca walked with purpose, Chloe gripping her arm, as was custom by now. The rest of the Bellas surrounded them. On the way, they were met with the usual cat calling, and wolf whistles. This, unfortunately, they were used to. But this time, they were also being teased, jeered, and berated for their disastrous performance at the Kennedy Center two months earlier, by anyone who knew of the a Capella group.

"Hey, Fat Amy!" someone shouted at her in the cover of darkness. "Next time, cover up your fuckin' junk!"

"Oh, yeah?" Amy shot back. "Well, Legacy here thinks I have a lovely vagina!"

The young man shook his head and bewilderment, but said nothing more.

"What the hell?" Beca whispered in surprise, looking at Chloe. "Emily actually said that?"

"Yes, she did," Chloe confirmed. "It was the day she first came to the Bella house, and auditioned."

"Okay, that's… really… odd…" Beca mumbled, at a loss of what to say. She truly loved each and every one of her Bella sisters, but there was no denying it, they were a bunch of weirdos!

Chloe shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, I think you have a lovely-"

"Chloe, please! Just… stop!" Beca pleaded.

"Well, you do."

The small brunette blew out a breath. What could she even say to that? "Uh, thanks."

"Do you think that I…" Chloe started to ask.

Beca groaned Was she really having this conversation right now, in the dark, surrounded by Bellas, on the way to Burger King? "Yes, Chloe," she assured her best friend, "you have the prettiest little snatch I've ever seen. Not that I've seen very many… or any, really, except for yours…" Though it was dark, Beca just knew she was blushing furiously at her admission. Why did Chloe always make her feel so flustered? In fact, why'd she have to bring up genitalia at all?

"Thank you, love," the redhead whispered into her ear. "And by the way, I think you have the most beautiful boobs, too…"

Briefly closing her eyes, Beca endured the rest of the awkward walk, trying to ignore her adoring BFF, who was smiling lustfully at her. Now, the small brunette was unable to think about anything else, except Chloe's beautiful attributes, first seen on that fateful day, three years ago, in a shower.

Taking the lead, Amy, Stacie, and Cynthia Rose were warding off any smart mouth remarks that came at them through out the campus, with smart mouth comebacks. Flo, Emily, Jessica, and Ashley made up the middle. They were practicing some of their songs they had been learning. Beca and Chloe, who had now taken a hold of each other's hands, sauntered along quietly, observing their team with great affection, as well as some worry about being able to win at Worlds. And bringing up the rear, was Lilly, who kept looking around, as if she were expecting some sort of attack.

Beca glanced back at her, and noticed her strange friend acting, well, strangely. She chose to ignore it. Chloe, however….

"Lilly? What are you doing back there?" the redhead asked innocently.

"I am guarding the Hobbits," the young woman whispered, eerily.

"What?"

"Chloe," Beca sighed, "haven't you ever heard the expression, 'ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer'?"

PP PP PP

In spite of all of the insults and slurs being flung about by nasty passersby, and in spite of talk of vaginas, and guarding Hobbits, the group of Bellas made it to Burger King, generally unscathed. The group of hungry women took up two booths next to each other. It was an absolute circus, having ten boisterous women all trying to order. The poor girl behind the counter had a hard time keeping the orders right, as everyone was talking and laughing all at once.

Beca and Chloe were the last to order. Beca recalled, a couple of weeks before when Chloe had been so depressed, she had drunk herself into a stupor (not to mention, making drunken declarations of love to her flustered BFF, all in front of Amy), but the last few weeks, she had tried to remain focused and positive, tried to just work on a plan that could have them competing- and winning- the competition at Worlds, in beautiful Copenhagen. Chloe's sunny personality was holding the girls' morale together, maybe just by a thread, but the sensitive redhead was doing her best to keep everything in order. Beca, on the other hand, was highly distracted by her new internship, feeling guilty that she hadn't shared any of this information with Chloe, and… her feelings for her best friend were all over the place. She still had a boyfriend, Jesse, whom she cared for greatly, but Chloe was… someone she loved a lot, too. It was all so confusing.

So, after ordering herself a chicken sandwich and fries, Beca ordered Chloe her usual salad and onion rings, whether out of guilt for not sharing important parts of her life with her, or sorry that the Bellas' future was uncertain, or proud of her for keeping up a strong work ethic, she wasn't sure. Maybe it was a combination of it all. Either way, she felt compelled to spoil her best friend in little ways whenever she was able.

"Want to share a large iced tea?" Beca asked. She herself didn't like tea that much, but Chloe loved it.

"Yes, love, thanks," Chloe replied, smiling, and touching the smaller woman's arm.

Beca nodded and paid for everything.

"Becs, you didn't need to pay for my dinner."

"I wanted to," the little DJ said, and offered up a rare, genuine Beca Mitchell smile. It warmed Chloe's heart instantly.

Once their order was ready, they ventured back to the two tables where the rest of their friends had already begun eating.

"And there's our fair captains!" Amy declared, making room next to her for her favorite Bellas. "Oh, captains, our captains!" she said, saluting them both as they slid into the booth next to her.

Chloe noticed some of the cardboard Burger King crowns resting in the window sill by their booth. She reached for two of them, and quickly placed one on her head. "Captain schmaptin! I'm a fuckin' princess!" The girls all laughed at her silly antics, and her swearing. Chloe didn't swear very often. She could be rather childlike and innocent sometimes, so when she said a naughty word, it often caused the others to giggle.

Everyone ate hungrily. All that cardio took a lot out of a person. They talked and laughed and ate, and stole each other's French fries. Seeing as there were ten of them, their party was pretty loud. Some of the other customers were also Barden University students. A few scoffed at the shamed a Capella group. A few others cheered them on. Most people just tried to ignore them. The Bellas maintained their sense of humor through it all.

"Hey, Beca," Stacie said, who was sitting directly across from the small Bella co-captain, chuckled at her friend. "You've got ketchup on your face!"

Before Beca could grab a napkin, who else but Chloe was ready with one of her own, and she grinned lovingly at her favorite person in the world.

"Oh, can't take you anywhere," the redhead kidded the small woman seated beside her and proceeded to wipe away the ketchup.

"Chloe," Beca whined, halfheartedly trying to push her hand away. "Please! Not in front of people!"

"Who cares," Flo told her. "We all know how spoiled you are."

"Beca's not spoiled," Chloe defended her, only making things worse, to Beca's way of thinking. "I just love her, is all- I mean, I help her! I mean, I love to help her! She's my best friend, after all."

"So, is that what they call it now a days?" Cynthia Rose cracked, causing Amy and Stacie to chuckle.

"Dudes, give it a rest!" Beca sighed.

Emily Junk, who was over at the next table with Jessica, Ashley, and Lilly, watched the exchange between Beca and her fellow Bellas with curiosity. It was true, she was the 'newbie' and didn't really know any of them that well yet, but the youngster had always been sensitive to others, and good at reading people, even if she still didn't feel quite like she fit in with anyone else yet. After all, Amy had already called her stupid, Cynthia Rose thought she was a spaz, Chloe had scolded her (like a tired, frustrated aca-mom), and Beca never seemed to have the time to say more than two words to her. But even being low man on the totem pole, as it were, Emily could definitely sense the intense emotions churning between her two co-captains.

"Are they…?" she whispered quietly to the fellow Bellas seated at her table.

"Yes…" Jessica stated with certainty.

"Nah… well, maybe," Ashley offered up.

"They were both donkeys in a past life," Lilly surmised.

"Ah, I see," Emily replied, nodding, having learned absolutely nothing from any of them, except that in the past, they were jack asses.

Chloe finished cleaning Beca's face, then picked up the second crown she had snagged earlier, and stuck it on Beca's head, squealing in delight over the results.

"No, Chlo! No!" Beca told her in no uncertain terms. She reached up to pull the crown off of her head, but Chloe gently touched her hand, halting her in mid movement.

"Oh, but Becs! You're so adorbs!"

"Only to you, princess," Cynthia Rose reminded her, snickering at badass Beca Mitchell sitting in a Burger King, wearing a paper crown.

"I just want to take your picture, Becs," Chloe told her. "Then you can take the crown off. Okay?"

"Forget that shit!" Beca growled, grabbing the crown from her head and tossing it on the table.

"Please?" Chloe tried again.

"No!"

"I'll be in it, too," the redhead promised. "We can both wear the crowns."

"No!"

"But we're the co-princesses of the Bellas!"

"Chloe, I am not a princess!"

The elder Bella blew out a breath of defeat and looked sadly passed Amy out the window. If that wasn't enough to change Beca's mind, Amy said, loud enough for the entire group to hear, "Don't be such an aca-bitch, Mitchell! Just wear the damn crown for two seconds. Do you not remember Chloe's wish to the angel?"

"Angel?" Flo asked in confusion.

Beca's eyes went wide. The other night, when Chloe had gotten so drunk, she'd mistaken Amy's voice for an angel's- although how she could have ever confused Amy with an angel just attested to how drunk she actually was- and she had confided in a wish that she wanted to marry Beca. If Amy let that slip, neither she nor Chloe would ever live it down. It needed to stay under wraps.

"I… the voice of an angel…" Chloe murmured, as if her memory had been stirred.

"Fine!" Beca cried, shoving the hat back on her head. "Take your stupid picture, Chlo, but no social media! Okay?"

"Okay," Chloe promised eagerly.

"Well, what's the point of it, then?" Stacie asked in bewilderment.

"No, it's fine," Chloe explained. "It'll just be for me." She pulled Beca close and held up her phone in selfie mode. "Smile!" Beca did not smile. "Okay, one more," and Chloe snapped another one, this time kissing Beca on the cheek.

"Chloe!" Beca groaned in embarrassment, wiping Chloe's wet kiss from her cheek.

"In my country," Flo mentioned, "you're not wiping away the kiss, but rubbing it in."

Beca turned away.

"Oh, don't be such a dick about it," Cynthia Rose told her. "You guys are sharing a soda. You're already being taken over by Chloe's germs anyway."

"Great," the small DJ muttered.

"The whole world is being taken over by Chloe's germs," Lilly whispered from the other table. "We will all soon turn into gingers…"

"I don't think it works that way, Lilly," Chloe replied sweetly.

Everyone finished up with their meals and began cleaning up. Chloe had been doing her impersonation of the Commissar from DSM, German accent and all. It was actually incredibly accurate and funny, and it had everyone in stitches- even the normally stoic Beca, who howled with laughter, especially when Chloe caressed her cheek and said, "Oh, vut is you doink, tiny mouse? You vant me to kiss you, liebchen?"

This made Beca blush scarlet.

"Do it!" Stacie urged.

"Yeah," Cynthia Rose agreed.

"Kiss her!" Amy shouted, and soon all of the Bellas were chanting just that.

Chloe came close to Beca. "Does the German accent turn you on?" she whispered in her ear.

"Kiss her already!" Amy groaned.

Chloe took Beca's face into her gentle hands, then pressed her lips to the small Bella's, for just a few seconds, but it had all of the Bellas hooting and cheering, and a lot of the other restaurant patrons were staring.

As soon as Chloe pulled back, Beca felt the loss of the warm, moist kiss instantly. "Ich liebe dich," Chloe said, love in her big blue eyes.

Amy looked on in shocked amazement, surprised that Chloe had actually gone through with the kiss. She glance around and noticed that their table was currently the center of attention in the small restaurant. "Hey, we should probably get going," she whispered, gesturing to everyone watching, and the manager giving them the stink eye for creating a scene.

Stacie glanced at her and winked. Secretly to all but her and Amy, she had been recording everything on her phone. Hopefully, it all went well.

Beca quickly scooted out of the booth, Chloe close behind her. They deposited their trash in the receptacles, then pushed outside into the fairly warm night, Beca reaching instinctively for her co-captain's hand, which the redhead grasped without question.

The group of ten Bellas walked tiredly back to the Bella house onto campus. They were still laughing, talking, singing, and ignoring the occasional insult that people walking by threw at them.

Beca and Chloe brought up the rear of the group, still wearing their Burger King crowns and holding hands. Chloe pretended she didn't notice Beca was wearing it, and Beca pretended to forget she'd never taken it off.

"So, do you think we stand a real chance beating DSM at worlds?" Chloe asked quietly.

"I do," Beca replied thoughtfully, giving the warm hand in hers a quick squeeze. "We are going to kick some German ass!"

Chloe smiled sweetly at the woman she loved. "So, um… do you… really think der Commissar is hot?" she asked timidly.

"Er…" Beca stuttered, "well…"

"Oh, God. You really do!"

"Yeah, but it's only a strange, freakish physical attraction, I swear!" Beca vowed. "Otherwise, I find her to be completely nasty and repulsive!"

"For real?" Chloe asked hopefully.

Still feeling giddy from Chloe's kiss earlier, and daring to remain hopeful about their chances for the upcoming competition, Beca was adamant about putting Chloe's fears to rest. "Really, weirdo!"

The beautiful redhead giggled happily. "Good. I mean, I'm so relieved…"

"Hey, Chlo," Beca asked, after a moment. "You know what you said to me earlier, at Burger King, in German?"

"You mean, 'Ich liebe dich'?"

"Yeah. What does that mean?"

Chloe halted their pace and turned to face Beca, taking her other hand into hers. "It means, 'I love you', of course."

"Oh…" Beca murmured softly, and they started walking again. "Hey, Chlo?"

"Yes, Becs?"

"Ich liebe dich, too…"

Chloe had tears in her eyes. She gave Beca's hand a tight squeeze. They continued their walk home, oblivious to the continuing jeers of their detractors, and the inane chatter of the fellow Bellas, and instead, spoke softly to each other, making top notch, ass kicking plans to beat DSM and win the World's competition.

All the while, Lilly drifted in and out of the shadows behind them, holding a squirt gun at the ready, and looking for Big Foot…

The End

*The mention of Chloe thinking Amy was an angel and being drunk takes place in an earlier story I wrote entitled "I Wish That I Had Jesse's Girl", story one from my Pitch Perfect 2 stories.