This chapter marks a little more than the half-way point of this fic!

Chapter 15

"Psst."

Beca quickly glances away from where Mrs. Cooper is lecturing them on the end of the Napoleonic Wars, something that the brunette finds incredibly dull – especially when coming from her teacher's monotonous drone. Luckily, something – or, more specifically, someone – much more interesting is waiting for her attention. Chloe is leaning over her desk and is almost touching Beca's arm, flicking her eyes from Beca, back to the teacher. Beca lowers her voice to a whisper. "Yes?"

Chloe grins at her response. "I have to ask you something."

Beca raises an eyebrow at the redhead, trying to be as discreet as possible when she answers. "You couldn't have asked me when we were walking to class?" Mrs. Cooper is notorious for her ability to catch people that aren't paying attention to her. Beca really can't afford a visit to Mrs. Abernathy's office, or whoever they send students to for punishment.

"I just thought of it." That's a lie, which Beca doesn't need to know. Chloe has been trying to find the right time to ask her all day long, but she also didn't want to bring it up in front of Stacie and Aubrey. Things have been better between her three friends, but she doesn't want to rock the boat.

In fact, things have been relatively good in all aspects of Beca's life for the past week. She knows that Chloe told her friends about her current living situation, and, to her surprise, the only thing that was said about it was Stacie thanking her for trusting them. They haven't changed the way they treated her (if only in a positive way), and they also haven't asked her any questions.

While worrying about Aubrey and Stacie, Beca had also been nervous about her sister, as per usual. However, she was pleasantly surprised that Macy seemed to recover quickly, going back to the stage that she was in prior to the sleepover with Benji. Beca is almost certain that the boy is to thank – whenever she sees them together, they're always chatting it up and laughing at some joke shared between the two – but she also thinks her quick turn-around might have to do with the effervescent redhead sitting to Beca's left.

Since that afternoon at Fig's, Chloe has been spending more and more time with the Mitchell sisters. She's only been to Jack's one other time since the sleepover, but she's seen the girls before and after school, she's gone to the diner a few more times and has used just about every free opportunity that she has to spend with Macy and Beca. Beca loves her for it – she loves having a friend that she can trust and who understands her relationship with her sister (not to mention, one that is trying to get just as close to Macy as well). She also is consistently amazed at how Macy has slowly started to become comfortable around Chloe. They aren't best friends, and they aren't as close as her relationship is with CR, but for meeting her almost two months ago, it's pretty remarkable.

Beca flicks her eyes to the board once more, before turning back to Chloe. "Okay. What is it?"

Chloe raises her finger to her lips, playfully telling Beca to keep her voice down. "You and Macy should come over to my house for dinner on Saturday."

The color drains from Beca's face. Trying to buy time, she whispers, "That wasn't really a question."

The redhead rolls her eyes. "Whatever. So, will you come?" In all honesty, the dinner was her mother's idea. Lisa has become increasingly aware of how much time her daughter has been spending with her new friend. From her brief interaction with Beca, she seems like a good kid, but she would love to get to see what has made Chloe become so enamored with the Mitchell sisters.

Beca gulps, keeping her concentration on Mrs. Cooper. She knows that she's already met Chloe's mom, but seeing both her and Mr. Beale for a sit-down dinner seems a little much. She doesn't want to put herself in a compromising position, and she certainly doesn't want to do that to Macy, either. Being with Chloe in school and spending time with her on the weekends is one thing, but this adds a whole other layer of unknowns. "I don't know…"

"What?" Chloe's smile falters slightly. She has been so excited to ask her new friend; someone that she has quickly grown to love spending time with. "What do you mean?"

Beca tries not to let herself get upset at the obvious disappointment in Chloe's voice. "Why do you even want me to come over? Won't it be a little awkward? Your parents barely know me."

Chloe's voice raises slightly, but it still remains quiet enough that Mrs. Cooper doesn't notice. "What are you talking about? My parents know all about you!"

The brunette turns in her chair, her eyebrow quirked, and a slight indication of a smile starting to appear on her face. "You talk to your parents about me?"

"Of course! You're one of my best friends, silly."

Something flutters inside of Beca's chest in the same way that it always does when Chloe simply smiles, or brushes up against her shoulder, or says something like that to her. She tries to push the feeling away, shooting Chloe a wink, trying to lighten the mood. "Jeez, you must have pretty low standards if I made it onto that list."

Chloe rolls her eyes in feigned admonishment. "Knock it off." She freezes when Mrs. Cooper looks in their direction. Chloe waits until she knows for sure that they haven't been caught, before leaning into Beca once more. "Will you at least think about it?"

Beca makes the mistake of looking into Chloe's eyes, which have become wider as she practically pleads with the brunette to say yes. She sighs, leaning back in her chair in defeat. "Okay."

Saturday came much too quickly for Beca's liking. Before she knows it, Chloe is picking her and Macy up at Jack's, and transporting them – once more – across the city and back to the Beale's house.

Much to Beca's surprise – and pleasure – it didn't take much convincing to get Macy to agree to come to dinner. Whether or not Chloe had a hand in that, Beca still isn't sure (she spent most of the afternoons for the rest of the week at Fig's with the younger girl), but Beca is grateful that she was on board. She didn't want to let Chloe down.

Now, as Chloe pulls into her driveway and puts the car into park, a wave of regret – and fear – washes over Beca as she second-guesses her decision. She quickly glances at her sister in the rearview mirror, who is looking up at the house with wide eyes, before offering her a small smile. "You ready, Mace?"

Macy doesn't break her concentration. "Your house is so big."

Chloe laughs, blushing slightly. "It feels a lot smaller when all of my brothers are home, trust me." Not that Chloe is complaining; she can't wait to see all four of her brothers and their wives and families for Thanksgiving in a few weeks.

Macy doesn't make any move to unbuckle her seatbelt, continuing to stare in awe at the house in front of them. "How many brothers do you have again?"

"Four."

"Woah."

Beca smirks at the short interaction, continuing to be amazed by the ease at which Macy seems to be talking with Chloe. It almost makes her slightly less nervous about sitting with the redhead's parents for the entire night. Only slightly, though. She can't even imagine what kind of situation she is walking into.

"Are you guys ready to go inside?" Chloe poses the question softly, knowing just how nervous Beca is. She managed to get some answers out of the older brunette about her qualms for the night. Most of them stem from the fact that Beca doesn't like being in conversations with adults – it's not like she's had very many positive experiences with them. She also doesn't have complete control over the situation, which Chloe knows she hates. As much as Chloe reassured her that her parents aren't going to do anything to make them uncomfortable, she still knows that Beca is not completely on board with the idea, but it means a lot to the redhead to know that she is trying her best.

Beca nods, snapping her seatbelt off and exiting the car. She opens up Macy's door for her, smiling down at her sister as she climbs out of her seat, dressed in one of Beca's old sweaters. Neither one of them knew what to wear, but they both decided that it would be best to dress in a somewhat respectable manner. Macy takes her sister's hand as the pair of them follow Chloe into the garage.

"Chloe?"

The redhead turns to face the younger Mitchell sister. "Yeah?"

Macy comes to a stop a few feet in front of the door they were previously approaching. She isn't as nervous as she knows her sister is, and she trusts Chloe, but there are still a few concerns that are at the forefront of her mind. "Do your parents know that Beca and I are in foster care?"

A sympathetic smile appears on Chloe's face. Macy has quickly found a spot in the redhead's heart, and she loves that she feels comfortable enough to ask her these types of questions, instead of having to go through her sister. "They do. But they're not going to ask you guys any questions about it. I promise." She has made it very clear to both her mom and her dad that they are not to initiate any conversations that might make the girls uncomfortable. Chloe wants this to be an enjoyable night for everyone – not just for her and her parents.

Seemingly satisfied with the response, Macy nods. "Okay."

"Yay!" A wave of excitement washes over Chloe as she jumps slightly, clapping her hands together. "Alright, let's go!"

In the two times that Beca has been to the Beale house, she didn't get to see the majority of it. On both occasions, she saw the front entryway. When she came over to work on the project, she saw Chloe's bedroom and the little window seat by the stairs, and when she was there for the sleepover, she got the added bonus of seeing the bathroom and the basement. Other than that, she is just as much in the dark as Macy is in terms of what the rest of the house looks like. Which is why, after Chloe tells them to take their shoes off in the mudroom, their jaws drop open slightly at the sight of another part of the first floor.

The mudroom leads directly into the kitchen; a kitchen that is so perfect that it can definitely be in a magazine. The granite countertops are glistening in the hanging lights, the cabinets and drawers are all perfectly painted and adorned with silver handles. A man leans against the counter, his hair light brown hair speckled with gray, as Lisa stands at the stove, looking at something that is already inside the oven. Both of the adults look in the direction of their daughter, grinning at the sight of their dinner guests.

"You guys made it!" The man, who Beca is just going to assume is Chloe's father, pushes himself off the counter, and meets them halfway into the kitchen. "I'm Kevin, Chloe's dad. It's so nice to meet you."

Beca pushes her nerves down, stretching her hand out to shake Kevin's. She keeps her other one tight around her sister's. "It's nice to meet you, too. I'm Beca. This is my little sister, Macy."

Macy waves cautiously at the man, shaking his hand with a loose grip when he makes the same move to her. The small amount of confidence that she had prior to coming inside has completely disappeared, making her incredibly grateful for Beca's hand that's wrapped around hers.

"Beca! It's so nice to see you again!" Lisa comes over to the group, wiping her hands on a towel. After Beca offers her greeting, Chloe's mom looks down at her sister. "And you must be Macy. It is so nice to finally meet you; Chloe's told us a lot about you."

A small smile spreads on Macy's face, feeling a wave of calm wash over her as she takes in Lisa's appearance. Her eyes and the kind expression that she is wearing, are the same things that Macy has seen on Chloe's face countless of times. It's the same expression that makes Macy feel as though they can trust the Beale's. "Hi."

If Lisa is disappointed by Macy's quiet response, she doesn't say anything. In fact, she continues the conversation with the younger of the Mitchell sisters. "What do you think about baked ziti for dinner, Macy?"

Beca can't help but smirk at Macy's shocked expression. Chloe had asked her what Macy would be comfortable eating, and Beca had gone with the one meal that she knows Macy would be able to stomach, even in a slightly stressful situation. Pasta and cheese. Who can say no to that?

"Baked ziti is good, thank you."

"Of course, sweetheart." It takes everything in Lisa not to make some sort of comforting gesture to the little girl. She just looks so nervous standing there, tucked against her sister's side, that it makes Lisa's heart hurt. "Chlo, why don't you show the girls around and then get washed up? The ziti only has about ten minutes left."

Chloe nods, glad that her mom understands that both Beca and Macy can probably use a little time to get comfortable before sitting down for dinner. She already knows what she wants to do to pass the time, and her mom's idea for a tour is the perfect segue into it. "Sounds like a plan. Come on."

Beca and Macy hesitantly follow Chloe, whose excitement seems to grow as she leaves the kitchen. The redhead, fully aware of the nerves radiating off of the girls behind her, quickly shows them the living room, dining room, and back patio, before pausing outside of a closed door. She turns back around to face the sisters, trying not to get upset when she sees how tightly Macy is gripping onto her sister's hand. By this point, she knows not to take the girl's anxiety personally, but she doesn't like the fact that her house and her family are the ones putting her in this position.

Chloe lays her hand on the door handle, searching Macy's face for any sort of recognition. "Macy, this is my favorite room in the whole house."

The twelve-year-old quirks her head to the side. She's relieved that they don't have to stay in the kitchen while Kevin and Lisa are cooking. She's much more at peace with just her sister and Chloe. "Really?"

She nods, switching her gaze from Macy, to Beca (who is watching over them fondly), before turning back to Macy. She already knows the girl is going to love what's behind the door. "Yup. You wanna see why?"

Macy nods hesitantly, not exactly sure what she's walking into, before Chloe leads them into the room. Macy's breath gets caught in her throat as she sees what Chloe is talking about. The room that they have hesitantly walked into, has its far wall completely covered in bookshelves. Each one of the surfaces is filled with books – some to the point where they had to lay books down on top of the standing ones. Macy looks up at them in amazement, completely captivated by the sight.

She turns back to Beca and Chloe, a grin plastered on her face. "Can I go look at them?"

"Yes! Please do!" The official title of this room is her dad's study, but as the Beale kids have gotten older, it has slowly turned into a second living room of sorts for the family. Of course, Kevin Beale, who is a neurologist at the same hospital that Lisa works at, still does his work in here, perched at the desk that is in front of the bookshelves. But his sons and daughter have taken over the room as well. There's a cluster of reading chairs in one corner, and a larger table in another, perfect if they want a quiet space to do homework. The fireplace remains unlit most of the time, but there's still a studious ambiance that is present as soon as one walks into the room.

Beca is so content with watching Macy approach the bookshelves with the utmost curiosity, that she doesn't notice the upright piano pressed against the wall behind her.

Macy runs her hands over the covers of the various books, some of them medical and nonfiction related, but the vast majority of them looking like classics and other works of fiction. They're dusty, which saddens the girl, and she has to exert an extreme amount of self-control to not pull them all down off the shelf.

Chloe has been looking forward to this all week. Ever since Beca agreed to come over for dinner, she has been bursting at the seams with wanting to tell someone about the room that she knew would bring a smile to Macy's face. She can't be happier with her reaction.

Macy turns away from the shelves, her smile never once wavering, but her eyes widening even more when she sees what's behind her sister. The exclamation slips out before her brain has time to tell her to stop. "Bec, look! They have a piano!"

The older brunette turns around in such a manner that one might think there is a giant spider or something behind her, but in fact, it's just the large instrument, its sleek cherry-red wood matching the rest of the furniture. Beca's face pales as she sees the instrument, a familiar feeling of dread returning to her stomach.

Chloe, on the other hand, doesn't notice her friend's changing expression. All she can see is the excitement on Macy's face. She turns to Beca, "You play the piano?!"

Beca doesn't hesitate to shake her head, hoping and praying that Macy doesn't say any more. "No."

Chloe furrows her eyebrows in confusion. She guesses that Macy's excitement could've just been from the fact that they have a piano, but there seems to be a little more there. "Are you sure about that?"

Beca makes the mistake of meeting Chloe's gaze, any sort of lie or façade crumbling as soon as she looks into those piercing blue eyes. "I used to. A long time ago."

From behind them, Macy frowns. She was young the last time she heard Beca do anything musically – whether it be singing or playing the piano – and she misses it every day. Her sister is magical when it comes to that sort of stuff, and, although she would never admit it to Beca, she wishes that that part of her sister would return. Macy can vividly remember sitting beside her older sister on the piano bench, listening with all her attention as Beca practiced, or just played for enjoyment. It didn't matter what song she was playing or what lyrics she was singing; the sight and sound of her sister making music brought Macy an extreme sense of calm.

Chloe tries to hide her excitement, Beca once again being able to tuck away a part of herself that Chloe hasn't even thought to imagine its existence. "Do you think you would remember any of it?"

Again, Beca's answer comes without a second thought. "No."

"Maybe you should try, Beca." Macy's suggestion comes out quietly, almost as if she is only talking to Beca instead of having Chloe there as well.

Beca gives her sister a pointed look, perhaps the sternest expression that Chloe has ever seen Beca direct towards Macy. But the look says it all, the two Mitchell sisters silently having a conversation between them, before Macy's shoulders slouch in disappointment.

Not wanting the attention on her anymore, Beca addresses Chloe. "Do you play?"

Chloe scoffs, "Oh God no. I sing a little, but my older brother, Dom, was the one who played the piano. He was decent, but nothing ever came of it. He still messes around with it sometimes when he comes home, but I know he doesn't practice much anymore."

"You sing?" Macy's hopefulness returns with her question but instantly dissipates as she meets Beca's gaze. Her expression is easy enough to read. She doesn't want her to say anything.

A small smile appears on Chloe's face, completely missing the tension that has developed in her friend. "A little. Not much, and almost never for an audience."

Macy shrugs, taking over the brunt of the conversation as Beca seems to be tuning everyone else out. "I'm sure you're great."

It takes everything in Chloe not to wrap the girl up in her arms. The only people that have really heard her sing, are Aubrey and Stacie, and her family. She's never been one to want to perform in front of a crowd.

Before she gets a chance to respond, Lisa calls to them, letting the girls know that it's time for dinner. Macy slips her hand back into Beca's, who readily accepts it, all being forgiven, as Chloe leads them back into the dining room.

With the dishes already on the table, and Lisa and Kevin already in their respective seats, Chloe directs Beca and Macy into two seats across from where Chloe and her mom are sitting. Beca takes the chair next to Kevin and across the table from Chloe, with Macy sitting down next to her.

As soon as everyone has food on their plate and begins to eat, Chloe looks to Kevin. "I showed Beca and Macy the study, Dad. Macy loves to read."

"Is that so?" Kevin asks, still working on chewing the bite of ziti that is in his mouth. He smiles at the youngest Mitchell sister. "What's your favorite book, Macy?"

Macy takes a tentative sip of water, feeling a sense of calm when Beca lays her hand on her thigh, barely looking away from the plate. She knows the answer, but there's something about sitting down with Kevin and Lisa Beale, that makes her feel as though she has to say something that impresses them. Macy likes Chloe, and she likes spending time with her, but if her parents don't like them, will they make Chloe stop being friends with Beca? "If I had to pick just one, it'd be The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton."

Beca smiles down at her plate, already knowing what her sister was going to say. It was their father's favorite book, and it's one of the only paperbacks they've managed to keep with them since entering foster care. By this point, from all of the moves and all of the times Macy has read it, the book is practically falling apart. But it was their father's copy and is one of Macy's most prized possessions.

"Really?" Kevin nods his approval. "What do you like about the book?"

Macy shrugs, beginning to feel more comfortable in the dining room, especially with this topic. "I like the relationship that all of the Greasers have. Especially Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry. And I really like Hinton's writing."

Chloe vaguely remembers reading the same novel in her eighth grade English glass. She remembers the tagline for the book, just like every other person who is at least somewhat familiar with the story, but that's about it. "The Greasers are the gang, right?"

Macy nods, stabbing a few pieces of ziti on her plate. "Mhmm… they're all kind of brothers in a way, but Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry are the only ones that are related." When she first read it with her father, the fact about the Curtis boys' parents being dead was just a part of the plot. But, after her parents' accident, she took solace in that part of the story and felt closer to the characters because of it.

Lisa takes a bite of her salad, "I haven't read that book or seen the movie in forever… maybe it's time to bring it back into the rotation."

"Oh, I'm sure Beca and Macy haven't seen the movie." Chloe smirks in Beca's direction, her eyes already rolling at the joke. "Beca has come to the conclusion that movies are… what was it? Boring and predictable?"

A light laugh comes out of Beca's mouth, the brunette also starting to become more comfortable in the presence of the Beale family. "You're just upset that I figured out the ending to The Notebook before it was halfway over."

Lisa's jaw drops slightly open, enjoying the slight banter that is emerging from both sides of the table. "Oh boy, you went after The Notebook? I'm surprised Chloe's still willing to be friends with you."

Beca shrugs, "it must be because of my charm and good looks." The brunette's face pales as she realizes what has just slipped out of her mouth, mostly because those types of quips typically do not come out around other people, let alone two adults that she's trying to impress.

Chloe, on the other hand, grins at the wittiness that she has started noticing peek through Beca's personality over the last few weeks. She sees her embarrassment immediately, meeting Beca's gaze and shooting a brief wink in her direction. "Eh, don't get ahead of yourself."

The rest of dinner goes smoothly, with both Beca and Macy contributing to the conversation – including some light-hearted banter between the two senior girls – and each of them becoming more and more comfortable with not just Chloe, but Lisa and Kevin as well. By the time the meal is over, everyone at the table is full, and each one of them is completely content with how the evening went.

"Are you sure you don't want me to drive you home?" Chloe stands with her arms crossed, looking worriedly between the two Mitchell sisters. Beca had been adamant about not wanting to bother Chloe for a ride home, especially when the bus stop is only a few blocks away.

Beca nods, twisting her earring a few times before catching herself. "I'm sure. Thank you, though." She looks over Chloe's shoulder to where her parents are standing side by side, each of them slightly saddened to see the girls go. Not only did they get to see another side of Beca – both of Chloe's parents seeing why their daughter enjoys her presence so much – but they also got to see how much of a sweet girl Macy is. Both of them were great company. "Thank you so much for dinner. It was great."

Macy interjects from beside her sister, three novels tucked under her arm that Kevin is letting her borrow for the time being (he had said to take however many she wanted, but Beca had put her foot down at three). "Yes, thank you."

Lisa waves the girls off. "Of course. You two are welcome any time. It was lovely having you over."

After Kevin agrees, Beca finds herself grinning. She seems to have accomplished her goal of them not regretting their daughter's choice in friends. "Well, thank you. Again. We had a great time." Both of Chloe's parents offer her a small smile in acknowledgment before Beca turns to their redheaded daughter. "I'll see you at school on Monday?"

Standing in the mudroom, with her parents behind her and Beca in front of her, Chloe can't help but stare at the brunette. She has the same lopsided smirk that she always wears when she's actually relaxed, and her navy blue eyes are watching Chloe carefully. Her chestnut curls lay carelessly over her shoulders, but there's still something about her that looks so put together. She embodies the most strength, courage, and grace than anyone else Chloe knows, and she is constantly amazed by everything the brunette does. That same feeling that she felt looking at Beca for the first time in the guidance office, erupts in her chest as she takes in everything there is to take in about Beca Mitchell.

After what feels like an hour of staring and considering her options, Chloe pulls her into a hug.

Chloe loves to hug, and it's something that she does quite frequently with the ones she loves. But, she has yet to act on this part of her nature around both Beca and Macy because of how closed off the two Mitchell girls are. However, as soon as she wraps her arms around Beca, something feels different between the two of them. There's a slight moment of stiffness on Beca's part (mostly due to the surprise factor of Chloe's embrace), but afterward, both girls settle into each other's holds, their arms wrapping around each other's backs, with neither one of them wanting to let go.

When Beca sees Chloe going in for a hug – which is only a brief moment due to how split-second the redhead's decision was – a slight wave of panic washes over her. But, as soon as Chloe has her arms wrapped around Beca, and Beca wraps her arms around her, a sense of peace falls over the pair, like they are both exactly where they are supposed to be. Beca discreetly inhales the sweet smell of Chloe's perfume, feeling safer and more secure than she has in years, and she knows it's all because of this girl.

Reluctantly, Beca and Chloe pull apart, as a sort of unspoken agreement goes over them. Chloe smiles, fighting the blush that is threatening to rise to her cheeks as she senses all eyes are on her. "See you on Monday." She turns to Macy, struggling with to decide whether or not to give her a hug, too, before going for it. She squats down slightly, briefly wrapping her arms around the younger girl (which she, too, reciprocates) before pulling away in a matter of seconds. "Have a good rest of your weekend, Macy."

"You, too."

After bidding the Beales farewell one last time, Beca leads her little sister from the house, waiting until they are walking down the street to wrap her arm around Macy. "Did you have fun?"

Macy's answer comes after a few moments of silence, the girl lost in her own thoughts. "Mhmm."

Beca's eyebrows furrow slightly at her sister's answer. She seemed as though she was having a good time, and she knows that Macy enjoyed her literary discussions with Kevin. They hadn't asked any questions about foster care or their parents, and the conversation always remained light-hearted. Yet, Macy's reaction makes it seem as though she was bored the entire time. "You okay, munch?"

"Yeah, just tired."

Accepting the answer for its face value, Beca and Macy walk the rest of the way to the bus stop in silence, with Beca reflecting on her own time at the Beale's house. She had a good time. While it was a little touch-and-go at first, Beca found herself enjoying getting to know more about Lisa and Kevin and having an even better time exchanging witty banter with Chloe across the table. The redhead made her laugh more times in the past few hours than Beca has laughed in months. The first few times it happened, Beca struggled to push CR's accusations about Chloe (and her own qualms) out of her mind. But, as the night went on, Beca just enjoyed herself and ignored CR's voice in her head altogether.

When the city bus pulls up to the stop, Beca resists the urge to groan. There are far too many people on it for her liking – especially for it being eight o'clock on a Saturday night. She moves Macy so that the younger girl gets on ahead of her (who still hasn't said much) and scans her bus pass for the two of them, before sitting her little sister on a seat squeezed in between two people. Beca stands in front of Macy's seat, gripping the bar above her head.

Macy keeps her gaze focused on her hands; not just to avoid looking at the two people she's next to, but also to keep herself from making eye contact with her sister.

She saw how Beca and Chloe were acting at dinner tonight. At first, she thought it was just how they always act together – it's obvious that they're friends. But then, as she continued to observe as the night went on, she felt as though there was something more going on between the two of them. The jokes that they exchanged over the dinner table. The looks that they passed to each other. And then, at the end of the night with that hug that seemed to go on forever, her concerns were solidified.

"Beca?"

The older Mitchell sister looks down from where she was watching the trees turn into city buildings. "Hm?"

Macy wipes her hands on her jeans, swallowing her nerves. In her opinion, it's best to get this out in the open before something happens. "Can I ask you a question?"

Beca nods, meeting her sister's gaze. "What's up?"

"Is there anything going on between you and Chloe?"

The question is innocent enough, but Beca knows the full meaning behind it. "What do you mean?"

Macy rolls her eyes. "You know what I mean."

Of course, Beca knows what she means. Of course, she knows why she's asking and of course, she knows what her answer should be. She doesn't make it a habit of lying to Macy – if she does, it's usually to protect her – but right now, Beca can't even come up with a convincing lie.

No, there's nothing currently going on with her and Chloe. Does that mean that Beca hasn't questioned it before right this moment? Of course not. She's thought there was something special about Chloe the moment she saw her. But she knows she can't act on it, even if she doesn't know if there's something to act on.

Beca tries to give Macy her most convincing smile. It's hard enough that she hasn't had time to wrap her mind around her own feelings. Now, she's trying to convince Macy that there's nothing to be worried about. "No, kid. There's nothing going on. We're just friends."

"You promise?"

Beca ignores the burning in her throat that comes along with the fact that she's lying to herself and to her sister. She maintains eye contact with Macy. "I promise."

Macy nods, seemingly buying Beca's answer, and satisfied with its content. "Good."

At her blunt response that leaves little to no room for confusion about her feelings, Beca's heart shatters into about a million little pieces.

A few hours after Beca and Macy leave, Chloe excuses herself from where she'd been sitting with her parents and escapes to her bedroom. She hasn't been able to wipe the smile off her face since her friend left.

Tonight was more than anything she could have ever asked for. Beca and Macy got to meet her parents, her parents seemed to like them, and, most importantly, the Mitchell sisters looked as though they were having a good time. It made all of her worrying worth it.

She's still in a good mood when Lisa comes into her room to say goodnight.

The older woman greets her daughter with a smile, rubbing lotion into her hands as she approaches her bed. "Did you have fun tonight?"

Chloe pushes herself up further in her position on the mattress, nodding as Lisa joins her. "I did. Thank you for making it happen."

"Of course, sweetheart." She wraps her arms around her youngest child, bringing her fingers through her red curls. She's always been amazed by how vibrant they are. "They seemed like two very special girls."

Chloe grins, looking up at her mom. "You liked them?"

Lisa chuckles slightly. "Is that what you were so worried about?"

Chloe shrugs. "I guess a little bit… I know that's what Beca was worried about." Even if the brunette didn't say anything to her, Beca's apprehension about coming over had clear enough meanings.

"Well, you can assure both Beca and Macy that your father and I thoroughly enjoyed their company and that they are welcome over here anytime." Chloe snuggles contently into her mother's side. No matter how old she gets, she's always going to be looking for Lisa's approval, and she's glad that she has it for Beca. "I did want to ask you something, though."

Chloe mindlessly wraps her finger around the string of Lisa's sweatshirt. "Okay."

Lisa takes a deep breath. It's not that she's nervous about asking her daughter – they have a pretty open relationship – but she doesn't want to pressure Chloe into giving her an answer yet, either. "Is there anything going on with you and Beca? Maybe something a little more than just friends?"

Chloe's movement stops, freezing under the weight of her mother's question. Apparently, being in the same room with her and Beca for an extended period of time has made Chloe's feelings for the brunette blatantly obvious. She wasn't even trying to flirt with her. She was simply enjoying herself and having fun.

When she has composed her nerves, Chloe mumbles, "I don't know."

Lisa can't stop the smile from spreading across her face, mother's intuition winning once more. "You don't know?"

Chloe sighs. She doesn't know a lot of things. Including, most importantly, if her feelings are being shared by the other person in question. She doesn't even know if Beca likes girls. "There's just something special about her, Mom. I don't know what it is. I've never felt this way about anyone before."

Lisa continues her soothing movements, allowing her fingers to slowly make their way through Chloe's hair. "Have you talked to her about it?"

Her daughter's answer comes almost immediately, her voice dripping with panic. "No. No way. I still feel like she's nervous around me as it is; I don't want to scare her away with this sort of thing. Especially if she doesn't even like girls."

Another laugh escapes from Lisa's mouth. "Oh, honey, Beca didn't seem nervous around you at all. And I mean that in every sense of the word." Watching Beca and Chloe tonight reminded Lisa a lot of when she and Kevin first started dating. Although Beca was definitely concerned for her sister's wellbeing, it was very clear that, when Beca and Chloe were talking, they were the only ones in the room.

"Really?" Chloe looks up to her mom, "You think?"

Lisa presses a kiss into the top of her daughter's curls. "I'm not saying that I think you should jump into it, and you definitely know Beca better than I do, but just remember that life is short, love. Too short to not be honest with yourself about what you're feeling."

Not knowing what else there is to say, Chloe nuzzles deeper into her mother's side, her heart swelling at Lisa's advice.

Thanks for reading!