Beca dreaded the second she stepped out of her room. Tonight was Ashley and Jessica's turn to make dinner. The girls had a Bella rule to have dinner together 3 nights a week as part of their bonding or according to the aca Nazi, they'd fall apart.
Heading to the table Beca quickly scoped out the seat she always sat without fail. To her confusion, Chloe looked excited to see her while quickly waving her over. Bipolar Ginger Beca thought to herself as she sat down noting how the redhead was showing no sign of holding a grudge.
"I heard it's vegetarian tacos!" she said with a smile. Beca could only nod, still trying to figure out what game this girl was playing. Chloe noticed Beca's caution and gave her arm a reassuring squeeze, her expression looking apologetic. "I'm sorry," she said softly. If she were honest it only took a few minutes for her to calm down after she blew up at Beca not too long ago. She didn't normally get that heated unless it was over something she really cared about. Like music and in this case, Beca. She vowed she would come clean this week even if it killed her. Even with the possibility of Beca rejecting her and their friendship changing forever, she was willing to take that chance; If it meant Beca understanding the way she felt about her and why she did or said the things she did.
"Tacos!" The girls around them chanted as plates were served around before the plate of food was placed in the middle of the table. In the midst of satisfied servings and comfortable chatter, Cynthia Rose noticed Stacie's hair only being kept on one side. Everyone knew she loved to show off her locks, why confine it to one side.
"What you trynna hide girl, a hickey?" she asked with a chuckle only trying to make a joke.
Stacie looked caught off guard but only for a second. "Please, this side is my good side. I'm blessing you all right now," she said looking smug as she posed for an imaginary camera.
Fat Amy then included herself. "I wouldn't be surprised." Then without a hitch she swiftly lifted Stacie's hair out of the way revealing an indeed very real and non-hypothetical bruise on the side of her neck. It wasn't too obvious as it was hidden under a layer of makeup, but it was done in a rush and half assed. Licking her finger and wiping away the makeup Fat Amy exclaimed "Oomp there it is!"
"Damnn that's a good one," Cynthia Rose commented.
"Since when does Stacie hide stuff like that?"
Heads turned to Flo. She had a point. Accusatory eyes turned back to Stacie who was ignoring them the best they could while stuffing her face with tacos.
The girls were too interested to let this go, Cynthia Rose trying her best to put pieces together. "She must have her a nice side of discreet on the down low booty."
Beca wanted to pretend she didn't see Chloe glance in her direction when Stacie's hickey was revealed but she knew now that it was best not to have Chloe jealous. She subtly put a hand on the redhead's knee and quietly ushered an "it wasn't me" in her direction.
"Okay!" Aubrey said silencing everyone. "Can we just enjoy what the girls made and eat please?!" she asked clearly annoyed by how interested everyone was with Stacie's bruise. "Food's getting cold."
Just when Aubrey had thought she put a lid on the subject, Fat Amy piped up again. "Are we sure it wasn't Shawshank? We all saw the performance legs gave her at the bar." Beca put on her poker face as all the eyes in the room turned to her at the mention of her nickname.
"It wasn't me," she deadpanned. Her eyes landed on Stacie across from her using her eyes to plead for her to tell them that it wasn't her.
"Beca wouldn't be able to handle," Stacie gestured to her body before she continued, "all this." Earning an eyeroll from the DJ.
"I hate you all."
"Fuckin assholes" Beca muttered to herself as she let her body sink into a very overdue hot bubbly bath. She couldn't remember the last time she had one, but she needed to get away from the girls. Away from the attention that they kept throwing her. She only got to enjoy her alone time for ten minutes much to her dismay as a bubbly redhead suddenly barged in like there was a sign labeled 'free alcohol' on the door. "Oh my god Chlo" she said quickly covering herself up with either bubbles or her hands but Chloe didn't take the hint that maybe bathing was a private activity. The redhead slowly approached the bathtub removing her robe within a second and joining a stunned and speechless Beca in the bathtub sitting across from her. She was surprised there was enough room for the both of them but Beca was a small person.
"Are we okay?" She asked after letting Beca get over her initial shock from her unexpected arrival.
"H-huh?" Any normal person. Any normal person would wait outside the door. "I can't focus on anything you're saying right now until you cover your junk."
Chloe bit back the urge to scoff and continued staring at the flustered girl. She was trying to be serious but maybe she shouldn't have barged in like she did, knowing Beca wasn't as confident as she was with stuff like this. "You've seen it before," she replied.
The serious expression on Chloe's facial features gave Beca goosebumps despite being in hot water. She planned to question her words, not remembering seeing Chloe nude until her mind went back to when they first met and her words got caught in her throat. She was right, she had seen it before. "-I"
"I like you."
Beca couldn't do anything but nervously laugh. Why here, why now, she wasn't ready. Oh god is that my heart? Is this what a heart attack feels like? Finally looking back at Chloe, she found she was already looking at her, a subtle look of concern and worry on her face. "Are you okay Beca?"
Beca nodded frantically. Don't lie to this girl man. Just spill it before you die and she never knows how you feel. "I like you Chloe," she blurted, her eyes darting around the room until they settled back onto the redhead. "And I feel like I'm going to die so I wanted to tell you now so my soul isn't stuck here on this dumb earth with unfinished business."
Chloe wanted to let go of the breath she was subconsciously holding in relief, but the dying part had her worried. She admitted she felt a little faint herself, but it was clearly affecting Beca more and her confession was definitely not helping her. "Okay Becs I think we need to get you out of the water, okay?" she said deciding the water was too hot as she slowly stood up.
Beca only looked at her confused and out of it. "What, Chlo the water is fine." Truth be told she knew it was probably the water. She didn't normally have it this hot but she didn't want Chloe to know that she couldn't handle a little of her own bath water.
"If you don't get your ass up I'm going to get Stacie to help me," she threatened already out of the tub no doubt sending the said Bella a 911 text.
"If you're already doing it, why give me a choice?!" Beca complained. She made a move to stand up but her body felt too weak and she sighed. "It's not so bad anyway," she mumbled.
Just then Stacie popped her head in. "I'll get her arms, you get her legs."
"Wait what?! No, don't touch me," Beca said bringing her knees up to her chest.
Stacie huffed. "Now Is not the time to be shy Beca. You're dehydrated and what, you can't even get out yourself? No, give me your arms," she said walking over but Beca continued to be difficult. "You know what?" she said before she slipped out of the bathroom. Beca exchanged a glance with Chloe who only gave her a small yet smug shrug, an apologetic look on her face.
Stacie returned with buckets of ice. "I could've brought Fat Amy you know? She would've snatched you up in an instant," she threatened. "But I didn't so you owe me," she said wasting no time with pouring the ice into the bathtub despite Beca's frustrated complaints not to.
"I hate you both."
They'd managed to make the water too cold for Beca to stay in and despite her consistent stubbornness, helped her out of the tub and let her rest up in her room. Chloe wouldn't leave until she saw Beca down a glass of water. Now she lay in her own bed thinking about their confessions. She blew out a huff of air. Now what? She thought. It was late but she couldn't sleep. Feeling restless she went to go check on the dehydrated Bella again, bringing her another glass of water.
Beca sighed sitting up to accept the glass. She already knew not to put up a fight. With Beca drinking, Chloe watched. "Are we dating?" she suddenly asked bluntly.
Beca started to cough on her water. Shit this girl is actually trying to kill me by this point. After her coughing died down, Chloe smiled before crouching down to Beca's eye level. "Are you my girlfriend Becs?"
Beca stared into Chloe's eyes forgetting how to talk for a moment before she blinked and her eyes darted away. "I.. thought that was already implied," she mumbled softly.
"Becs, it happens when people talk about it."
Beca bit her lip in thought before her eyes squeezed shut in embarrassment. "Just be my girlfriend already," she blurted then patted the empty spot in her bed next to her. This caused Chloe to giggle and practically jump over Beca's body to crawl into the bed with her. "No more talking," Beca said still embarrassed. "Just sleep."
"Yes Ma'am" Chloe replied snuggling her head against Beca's back letting her eyes close.
"You better actually be going to sleep Beale."