Prompt: "I'm your lock screen?!" "You weren't supposed to see that."

For this one, I did an alternate version of the "Confession Scene" following the fight for the pitch pipe in PP1. Enjoy!

Beca Mitchell was not to be messed with. Or at least, that was the image she always liked to project. The freshman gave off a distinctly badass, do-not-disturb-or-I'll-cut-you vibe. The numerous ear piercings, thick eyeliner, and dark clothing, combined with her "fuck off" facial expressions, made Beca intimidating and off-putting to most people.

Chloe thought she was absolutely adorable.

Well. Adorable and really, insanely hot.

Beca's people-hating image was what first snared Chloe's attention at the Activities Fair. Beyond that, there was just something about that "alternative" brunette that Chloe was drawn to. Maybe it was that Chloe had always been curious about the "bad" types – her first boyfriend had definitely had a goth phase. Maybe it was Beca's quiet confidence and slight awkwardness. Maybe it was the gut feeling Chloe had – that this short girl would somehow become incredibly important to her. Or maybe it was just Beca's good looks.

Whatever it was, Beca drew Chloe in like a magnet before they even had their first conversation.

And as the more she got to know Beca, the more Chloe's captivation grew. She could tell that Beca's hardened exterior hid a total softie underneath. She adored Beca's singing voice. She was intrigued by Beca's talent with music. But above all, Chloe was enthralled by Beca's bravery.

Like when Beca met her eyes and sang "Titanium" in a shower, even though Chloe had basically assaulted her (looking back, Chloe is just grateful she was screamed at or slapped).

Or when Beca dumped out a plastic cup full of pens to make her own beat instead of just singing Kelly Clarkson like everyone else.

Or when she started to rap in front of every a cappella group on campus.

Or every time she questioned Aubrey, trying to make the Bellas even better. (Because Chloe knew that's what Beca was really trying to do, even if she acted like she didn't care.)

Or when Beca punched a grown man in the face to defend her friends.

And, more recently, when Beca sang the lyrics to Bulletproof over the Bella's set at semifinals. That was the second most courageous thing Chloe had ever seen (the first being Aubrey's ability to get back up on stage following Puke-gate).

Beca was all kinds of brave that Chloe wished she could be. Chloe knew she wasn't nearly as brave as Beca; if she was, she'd have run after Beca following the semis. She'd have stood up to Aubrey sooner. She'd have gotten her nodes removed right away.

She'd have told Beca that she had feelings for her.

It was regret and shame, spiky and hot, that spurred Chloe to action following the disastrous semis performance. After watching Beca walk away from her and feeling every footstep like a punch to the gut, Chloe told herself she would be more brave.

So, she decided to get her nodes removed. (She could have lost her singing voice forever.)

So, she chose to text Beca when the Bellas were allowed in the finals. (Beca had every right to reject and ignore her, finally and completely.)

So, she chose to stand up to Aubrey, because, damn it, they really could have been champions. (She could have been kicked out of the Bellas by her own best friend.)

She didn't lose her voice, but instead gained a new octave.

Beca didn't reject her, but instead reappeared at rehearsal.

Aubrey didn't kick her out of the Bellas, and they were still friends after their fight (and after Aubrey projectile-vomited all over the auditorium).

Chloe gained even more than she had ever imagined by being brave. But she still hadn't told Beca how she felt about her. That would require a different kind of bravery, a greater courage than she'd ever shown before.

Chloe almost laughed when Beca – of all people, Beca, the girl who pretended not to care – suggested that they all play a game to get to know each other better once the smoke cleared following the fight over the Pitch Pipe. It really was a very good idea; Chloe realized with a pang that she barely knew any of the other girls, almost like they were minor characters in a story about Aubrey, Beca, herself, and that Jesse guy. Which would be lame, because why on earth would Jesse matter more than any of the Bellas?

Unfortunately, Beca didn't actually know any get-to-know-you games, so the task was left to the rest of them. Amy had suggested Never Have I Ever, which Beca shot down immediately. CR knew a good one apparently involving a hat and slips of paper, but seeing as no one had either of those things, that one was a bust. Lilly whispered something that made Beca scoot away from her looking frightened. Eventually, Stacie suggested they go around the circle and guess what everyone had as their phone lock screen.

Chloe had loved the idea, as had most everyone else – it was simple, fun, and easily played sitting in their circle in the auditorium. It wasn't until everyone else had agreed to the game that Chloe noticed that Beca had suddenly gone silent and stony-faced.

If Chloe was as brave as Beca, she'd have suggested they play something else. But she wasn't, so she didn't.

They began with Amy, who withdrew her phone from a pocket and held it aloft with pride. "Okay, you aca-bitches, you're never gonna get mine."

"Is it Bumper?" Beca asked immediately, looking at Amy with narrowed eyes. Chloe felt Aubrey shift in her chair and held out a hand to stop her from saying anything.

"Well, looks like Aubrey is next!" Amy said loudly, ignoring Beca's suggestion. "I'm guessing… a group photo of the Bellas?"

"Nope," said Aubrey bracingly. "Guess again."

"A ruler?" CR asked, making Aubrey roll her eyes.

"Definitely not."

There was a pause as the Bellas scrunched their faces in thought. Chloe bit her lip; she didn't think it would be fair of her to guess, since she already knew.

After a minute of silence, Aubrey tutted and said imperiously, "Well, if you guys aren't going to guess –"

"Wait, no!" exclaimed Stacie suddenly, sitting up straight and pointing an accusing finger at Aubrey. "Is it the manufacturing default lock screen?"

Aubrey remained silent. Chloe tried to hide her own smile.

Stacie gasped, "It is, isn't it?!"

Aubrey closed her eyes briefly and sighed. "Yes. It is."

Everyone laughed at that; Chloe saw even Beca crack a smile despite her opposition to their game.

Chloe was next in line, so she prepared herself to shoot down some ridiculous suggestions. However –

"You definitely have the Bella group photo," said CR dismissively, waving a hand. Chloe slumped back in her seat, defeated; she was right.

"Okay, you're never gonna get mine," Stacie said, raising her phone.

"Is it a butt?" Amy asked immediately.

Stacie shook her head no, her nose wrinkled.

"Is it the Hunter?" CR suggested, looking hopeful.

"Meh," said Stacie, "I thought about it, but nah."

"Something related to dance?" asked Aubrey, only for Stacie to shake her head again.

"You guys aren't going to get it. Here," and she held out her phone to reveal the NASA logo. "I want to go into aerospace engineering and work for NASA! Didn't any of you know that?"

She was met with silence and a lot of blinking. She shrugged, looking smug as she put her phone away.

Next was Cynthia-Rose, who pulled out her phone with a sigh.

Amy shot her hand into the air. "Is it a softball team?"

CR only frowned at her, annoyed. Chloe, going out on a limb, asked, "Is it a cat?" (Amy immediately muttered something to Aubrey, making Aubrey's face turn bright red.)

Another head shake, and Ashely (Jessica?) called out, "A friend?"

CR sighed again, then lifted her phone.

"No, it's the Ace of Hearts," she said. When they all stared blankly at her, she grimaced and said, "Well, I've had a gambling problem since I broke up with my girlfriend."

"Whoomph, there it is!" Amy stage whispered. It was a tense moment until CR put her phone away and reclined in her chair. Everyone turned to look at Lilly, who was next in line.

Silence. No one seemed to want to guess what her screen was. Stacie muttered, "A knife?" sarcastically.

Lilly shook her head and whispered, "It's my unborn twin's ultrasound photo."

There was a beat of horrified silence, broken only by the creaking of Beca's chair as she leaned away from Lilly for the second time. Unfortunately, the noise shifted everyone's attention to Beca, who was next in the game.

"You're up, Shawshank," Amy said loudly.

"Um, no, I'd rather not –" Beca started, looking mildly alarmed.

Her protests were cut off when CR guessed first. "Is it your mixing equipment?"

Beca shook her head once, her eyes fixed on the ground in the middle of the circle of Bellas.

"Something mash-up related?" Aubrey suggested, making Beca sink a little lower.

"Wait, is it Jesse?" Amy cut in, a little too eagerly in Chloe's opinion.

Beca shook her head violently, her a splotch of red rising in her neck. Chloe shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

"Oh, come on, it is him," Amy insisted, making Aubrey snort and nod in agreement.

Beca grimaced and shook her head no again. Chloe tried desperately to think of something else to say – anything – but came up completely blank. It didn't help that she was as curious as the rest of them were.

"Liar, it is Jesse!" Amy exclaimed, lunging across the circle for Beca's phone. Beca shrieked and tried to escape, but Amy was on her in an instant, trying to drag her phone from her grasp. Beside her, Ashley, Jessica, and Denise half-rose from their chairs as if to join the scuffle.

At that moment, Beca made one more desperate lunge for freedom, twisting in Amy's hold; Chloe watched as if in slow motion as Beca's phone fell from her grasp and bounced twice on the auditorium floor (thank god it was in a case) to land directly at Chloe's feet. Everyone froze, even Amy (who had Beca in a headlock) and watched as Chloe automatically reached to pick up the phone.

She knew she shouldn't. It wasn't right. But she couldn't help but accidentally-on-purpose pressing Beca's home button, causing the phone to flare to life and the lock screen to appear.

She stared at the screen for an instant in shock, then glanced up at Beca, still in the headlock and getting redder by the second, the panic and desperation clear in her expression.

Time turned watery; Chloe angled the phone so that the other Bellas couldn't see. She thought she felt Aubrey stiffen next to her as if in response to what was on the screen, so she turned it into her chest even further.

Chloe shifted her gaze from Beca's panicked face down to the phone. She stared uncomprehendingly at the screen, not understanding why her own eyes were looking back at her.

Chloe's heart thudded once, twice, in the time it took her to fully register that Beca's lock screen was a picture of her.

It was a selfie she'd taken; that part wasn't surprising. Chloe knew she had a bad selfie habit. It was also not surprising that in the photo, she was standing in her duck onesie, getting ready for a casual night in with Aubrey. Chloe even remembered taking the selfie and sending it to the Bella group chat. Because yes, as many issues as they'd had as a group, they had started the year with a group chat.

What was surprising, though, was that Beca had very obviously – painfully obviously – saved the selfie and had set it as her phone's lock screen. Beca Mitchell did this. Beca. The freshman that hated everyone and everything on this earth. Beca. Who wore dark eyeliner all the time to hide behind. Beca, who shoved everyone away for reasons unknown to Chloe. Beca, who had left the group chat immediately after semis.

She'd have thought if anyone would be the lock screen, it would be that Treble guy, Jesse. But no, Beca hadn't been lying – she just hadn't wanted to tell the truth. It seemed that for the first time since Chloe had met Beca, Beca's bravery had failed her.

Getting over the confusion, Chloe's chest filled with a wave of excitement. Beca considered her a friend. Maybe… more than a friend? To have this photo as her lock screen? She didn't have a photo of the Bellas, she had a photo of Chloe. One that she'd saved from the group chat. Could it mean…. Beca's phone screen timed out and it went dark.

Chloe looked up, a huge smile on her face, expecting Beca to be grinning back at her shyly. Amy had released Beca from the headlock and everyone was staring at Chloe. But Chloe had eyes only for Beca. Beca, whose hands were balled into fists at her side and whose back was ramrod straight, her shoulders stiff. Her jaw was clenched, her lips thin, her nostrils flared, her eyes wide, and her face somehow both blotchy and pale at the same time.

The smile slid from Chloe's face, her stomach falling along with it. Beca looked utterly terrified and not at all like someone who was about to tell their crush how they felt. Chloe wanted to punch herself; she'd been wrong. Beca's straight, and into that Jesse guy. This photo was nothing. Beca probably thought she was the creep for smiling like an idiot at the lock screen.

"I'm – I'm sorry," Chloe breathed, her own face warming as she held the phone out to Beca, who snatched it up immediately and looked away.

"What was the photo?" Amy asked eagerly.

Beca's eyes latched back onto Chloe's pleadingly.

"Uh, it was just of… her and her dad," Chloe mumbled, inventing wildly.

Beca's stance relaxed immediately, though her expression turned confused. Play along, Chloe wanted to yell at her.

"Oh, so she does have feelings!" Stacie exclaimed, her voice full of mirth.

Finally, Beca spoke, her voice sounding surprisingly normal, "Yep, that's me and that's super lame. Ashley's turn!"

Beca only had to suffer a little more teasing from the other Bellas before they moved on to guessing Ashley's lock screen (which turned out to be a picture of her dog), but Chloe was done playing. She watched Beca carefully, wanting to somehow silently tell her that what she'd seen was okay, but Beca refused to meet her eyes. Rather than rejoining the guessing game, Beca sat silently, turning her phone over and over in her hands. As Chloe watched, Beca unlocked the phone and started tapping away at it.

A thrill of unease ran down Chloe's spine. What if she was changing the lock screen? What if, because Chloe had seen the photo, she'd scared Beca away? In the span of the five seconds between picking Beca's phone up from the floor and handing it back to her, Chloe's world had suddenly become very fragile.

It was utter torture, but Chloe forced herself to wait until the Bellas decided to go instead to the empty pool to talk to Beca. As they all stood up, Chloe moved to Beca's side immediately, resting a hand on an arm.

"Wait, please," she whispered. She felt Beca stiffen, but she didn't move from Chloe's side as the others started filing past, caught up in conversations with one another. Aubrey sent her a suspicious look as she left, one that Chloe ignored.

She and Beca started following the Bellas out the door, lagging behind so they could talk alone.

Beca took a deep breath and said, "Dude, look –"

"I'm your lock screen?!" Chloe asked incredulously, making sure her voice didn't carry ahead to the others.

Beca flushed lightly and looked down at the ground in front of them as they walked. "You weren't supposed to see that," she said quietly.

"It's okay, I don't mind," Chloe insisted, squeezing Beca's arm gently. "I thought it was really nice."

Beca shook her head, looking like she hadn't heard a word of what Chloe had said. "I already changed it. I don't want to make you uncomfortable," she muttered, tugging her arm away.

Chloe drew back her hand, stung. Beca had already changed the photo, just because she'd seen it. She whispered, "It didn't make me uncomfortable. You didn't have to change it… I – I liked it."

Not acknowledging that Chloe had even spoken, Beca walked faster to catch up with the other Bellas, immediately putting space between herself and Chloe. Chloe stared after her, crestfallen. Had she really blown things between them already?

Aubrey slowed to walk beside her. Chloe looked up defiantly, expecting questions about the photo, but instead Aubrey smiled at her crookedly and rested a hand on her back.

"Let's go to the pool," Aubrey said softly. "I wouldn't worry so much if I were you."

Chloe bit her lip and nodded, though privately she disagreed. She couldn't help but think that Beca was going to treat her differently following that disaster.

It seemed that Chloe didn't have to worry, however. By the time they all gathered at the empty pool to find their sound, Beca was acting her usual self. Chloe was relieved but confused; was Beca still embarrassed by the whole lock screen thing?

When Beca asked her to take the lead on Bruno Mars' "Just the Way You Are," Chloe let herself think they might still be okay. When Beca joined in on the singing, she knew they would be.

And then, just as the song was ending, Beca's phone screen (clearly visible from a front pocket) lit up with a text notification. Chloe's eyes were drawn to it as blatantly as she was drawn to all of Beca. She almost stopped singing in surprise when she saw a familiar selfie still adorning the screen, proudly on display in a way it had never been before.

Butterflies erupted in Chloe's stomach and she almost laughed in the middle of their song. In that instant, she knew she was falling completely in love with Beca Mitchell.

She just hoped that one day, she'd be brave enough to tell Beca.

(Spoiler: she would be.)

(And Beca would say it back.)