Stacie took a seat at the table and started whistling nonchalantly, swinging her legs in circles purposefully trying to kick Beca. "Stop it," the shorter woman whispered. "You are acting like a child."

"Says she who is hiding beneath the table. So now what?"

"I don't know. I gotta get out of here without them seeing me. Distract them?"

Stacie started to get out of her seat a little too quickly. "Gladly. I thought you'd never ask."

Beca latched on to her friend's pants leg. "I take that back. Don't go over there. Please."

"I don't know Becs. They are both pretty sweet looking." Stacie had switched to her sing-songy voice reserved solely for teasing her friend. "I bet I can get some digits."

"Don't. You. Dare. UGH. Let me think let me think letmethink." Beca was quiet for a few moments. "Gawd it's gross down here."

"Wait!" Stacie's voice perked up. "They just motioned to the bartender to not take their drinks. I think they are going to do the girl thing and go to the restroom together." A few moments passed. "YES! They are gone… for now. Let's go."

Beca scrambled from beneath the table, tossed some money towards their bartender, and the friends headed out the door.

"Now where? Wanna try Zewks?" Stacie looked at her best friend.

The shorter woman shook her head emphatically. "Nope. They've never come here before. I'm now officially afraid they'll find us anywhere we go tonight. Let's go back to my house."

"This is a cute place Bree. I like it."

"Cute? It's a bar Chloe. You definitely need to get out more." The redhead took a deep breath, exhaled and took a sip of her drink. "Seriously and I say this as your best friend. Between classes, work, and church, you barely have time for yourself. What about you Chloe? Do you even have time to sleep?"

Chloe gave a dour look at her friend. "There's plenty of time to sleep when I'm dead." Aubrey gasped. "Not like that Bree. I just have things to do, and once those things are completed… I can move on to having a real life."

The tall blonde placed a comforting hand on top of her friend's. "There's nothing from keeping you from having a real life now."

Two more women came into the bar and slid into the opposite side of the booth. "Hey Jessica, hey Ashley. Good to see you guys."

"Chloe! What a pleasant surprise. I didn't know you were coming out with us tonight." Ashley clapped her hands excitedly. "Yay! Thursday nights with the church ladies."

As the redhead finished her drink, she stood up. "Actually I can't stay. I have a test tomorrow morning and need to study. But it was good to see you, all of you."

Aubrey grabbed her friend's hand to keep her from leaving. "Chloe, at least consider being open to meeting someone. You need a distraction."

The redhead threw her arms around her best pal and gave her a colossal hug. "Who said I don't already have a distraction?" She winked at Aubrey before turning to leave.

Beca handed the taller girl another beer as she leapt over the couch to settle next to her friend.

"Let me get this right Becs. The woman that cleans your office and who used to bring you coffee every night is the redhead with whom you are infatuated and is also your boss's best friend. Does that cover it?"

"Yup." The project manager nodded. "And I might have made some expensive bribes to Posen's boss to find out more about her." Beca told her about her conversation with Jessica and what Jessica had asked for in return for information.

The longer Beca talked, the more Stacie laughed. "Gee Becs, I want you to woo me. Please? Such a romantic."

"Shut up nerd. I am not."

Chloe's friends watched her leave the establishment before Ashley got a round for the table. When she returned, she raised her glass. "To Chloe. May all her hard work pay off." Her friends responded in kind. The women sat around a bit talking about how they couldn't wait until Chloe graduated in the spring.

"I know she wanted to attend university full time during the day so that she didn't stretch out school forever, but she seems to be working herself into the ground. She's always so busy." Aubrey was almost pouting as it was obvious she missed spending time with the redhead.

"What do you think she should give up Bree?" Ashley swirled the drink in her glass, tilting it, and poking the straw into the corner to slurp up the last of the liquid. "Church is only two nights a week, and I think that provides her the creative outlet she needs." Ashley smirked as she said, "we gotta quit calling it church."

"Well it is choir practice and it is in a church, right? Okay so what else can she give up? School? Work?" Jessica said, almost giggling. "You certainly don't want her to quit her job now do you?" Aubrey frowned at her secretary nee friend. "Besides, what were you saying to her when we walked up about her needing to be open to finding a 'distraction' I think you called it."

"What does that have to do with work? Besides, all Chlo could do was joke about it." Aubrey rolled her eyes.

"Mmmm I dunno boss. There may be someone on her radar. At least I know someone that has Chloe on her radar." Both women leaned towards Jessica expectantly waiting for the juicy details.

"So let me get this right, you are letting Mitchell bribe you for information about Chloe." Aubrey wasn't sure whether she should scold her employee or laugh at her friend.

"Come on, Aubrey. The whole interaction was actually kind of cute. I don't even have to break into your office to get the good stuff." Jessica smirked. Before her boss could explode, she said, "Now wait a minute Bree. We all know that your type A personality keeps files on all of your friends."

The stern boss frowned and replied, "how else can I keep track of everything?"

Ashley jumped up and gave Aubrey a hug. "And we love you all the more for it. So tell us more Jess."

After securing promises that what she was about to share would go no further than the four women at the table, the secretary shared her conversation with the tiny project manager. "I thought maybe with your information, Aubrey, and some enhancements from Ashley and me, we can set Chloe up pretty nice. Someone to do some nice things for her. I mean, you should have seen the bouquet of daisies Mitchell got her just because I said her favorite color was yellow. Aca-awesome."

"Wait," Aubrey stopped the conversation. "Why is Mitchell even asking about Chloe in the first place?"

"Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die…"

"The Charge of the Light Brigade? Seriously Jessica?" Aubrey rolled her eyes as she went to get everyone another round. When she came back to the table, Ashley had a pad of paper she had pulled from her purse and a pen poised, ready to write. "And you are going to write… what?"

"A list of Chloe's favorites…" The glint in Jessica's eye told Aubrey there was more to the story. "Before you ask why again, let me tell you the 'what's in it for me, well us'. Just for trying, I, errr, we get a pair of "La Bohème tickets, Grand Tier or better." Aubrey's mouth dropped open. Her secretary knew that was Posen's favorite opera. Aubrey narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. On final delivery, we get a pair of Knicks tickets, anywhere that's not in the nosebleeds."

Aubrey jumped up, almost knocking the table over. "That's so not fair Jess. You know that's my favorite opera. And do you know where Mitchell's season tickets are? Why should we help you? In fact, I'm hiding my file on Chloe first thing tomorrow." The blonde boss was definitely hot.

Jessica took advantage of the time to get a round of shots for the table. Aubrey didn't even wait for the other two before downing hers and slamming the empty glass on the table. She reached for her overcoat to leave when Ashley grabbed her by the elbow. "Posen, chill. Hear Jess out."

"The opera tickets are for you boss." Jessica's voice had softened. She hadn't expected Aubrey to get so bent out of shape, but with this news, Aubrey's eyes were tearing up. "The Knicks tickets… Ashley and I are going for her birthday."

"Yes!" Ashley gave a fist pump in excitement. "Goin' to the game for free!" After giving Jessica a hug, she positioned the pad of paper in front of her. "I say we get started on this list."

The next morning, Beca was a bit late getting into work because she had to go by her theater contact and trade away yet another pair of her Knicks season tickets. Five rows up from center court. While it was painful, she knew they were going to a good cause. And that cause was now deemed Project Chloe. As soon as she got into work, she went to see Jessica before even stopping by her office.

"Two La Bohème tickets, Parterre level, Saturday. As requested." Jessica opened the envelope from the MET that Beca had dropped on her desk and examined the tickets.

"Impressive work on such short notice Mitchell."

"Ugh, Mitchell? I play that game enough with her." Beca nodded towards Posen's door. "Can't it just be Beca?" The brunette flashed her cute smile trying to get into even better graces with the secretary. "Do you have anything for me?"

"After lunch, Beca," Jessica teased. The night before the women had decided to at least make Beca wait a bit.

"Don't wait too long." The project manager turned to walk towards her office. She made a show of tucking the Madison Square Garden envelope into her back pocket.

"Hey Beca." Jessica stopped her. As Beca turned back around, she smiled. "Chloe really liked her flowers. Good job." She had a change of heart as she motioned with her head for Beca to come back. When the project manager got back to the secretary's desk, Jessica slid an envelope over to her. When Beca went to open it, Jessica shook her head, held a finger to her lips indicating she should be quiet and shooed her away.

The small brunette kept a death grip on the envelope like a gust of tornado-strength wind was going to whisk it from her grasp and into the gray-blue skies. After unlocking her office, she placed the envelope in the center of the blotter on her desk and looked around. She smelled the fresh clean scent of the cleaning fluid only Chloe used in her office. She saw Jasmine and Ivy and Frank all thriving in her office. She smiled as she realized how much she had enjoyed the plants since her return from Guam.

And then… she saw the note propped up between the two frames of her family. There were tiny strawberries printed around the edge of the stiff paper. Unconsciously, Beca lifted the note to her nose and took a deep whiff. Sure enough, the fragrant scent of the red berries filled her nose. She was afraid to read the message in fear it would hold words she didn't want to see.

Hi Beca,

The flowers were cute as can be, just like you when you got all flustered because I was standing in front of you with nothing but my underwear on. Maybe I should be the one apologizing to you. #sorrynotsorry

Thank you for your kindness.

Chloe

P.S. I miss bringing you coffee. Can I say that?

After re-reading the note several times, Beca stared off into space trying to decipher what all Chloe meant with her words. Of course, the brunette never took things at face value and was trying to read into the meaning. Then again sometimes she was clueless. This time – she didn't know which she was doing – over-simplifying or dreaming big.

She grabbed her phone and texted Stacie.

To Legs: Jessica came through!
To Shorty: Sweet… ~dancing emoji~
To Shorty: What's next on your list?
To Legs: ~chocolate bar emoji~ Apparently she has a sweet tooth
To Shorty: What about Red? She leave you anything?

Beca took a quick picture of Chloe's note to send to Stacie along with a message.

To Legs: It even smells like ~strawberry emoji~
To Shorty: I can smell your brain frying over here. Don't over think it.
To Legs: Gotta run get some candy

Beca checked the time and knew she'd have to rush to get things ready before Chloe's shift. She'd Googled places to find the specific chocolate that Jessica had on the list. She scored when the Manhattan store was only two subway stops away and had not only the bars but also hot cocoa mix and chocolate covered coffee beans which were a double-plus.

At the store, the project manager carefully made her selections to make sure her picking the gifts to be obvious she hand-selected them – not that she had just gotten a pre-made basket. As she was checking out and about to wait for the clerk to wrap her assortment, she had an idea and asked the cashier to wait. Beca found some by-the-piece stationery and wrote her note to Chloe to be included inside the wrapping.

Chloe:

I miss you bringing me coffee. Can I say that? I enjoy watching you dance. (Shhhh you didn't hear that from me.) Someone with such a sweet disposition as yours surely likes chocolate.

Beca

Q: What is a monkey's favorite cookie?
A: Chocolate chimp.

Q: What did the M&M go to college?
A: Because he wanted to be a Smarty.

As a final thought, Beca got another piece of stationery and made a quick sketch. Even the clerk laughed when the brunette handed it over to be wrapped with her purchase. "If this doesn't get you a date, nothing will."

Chloe waited to clean Beca's office until the end of her day. Fridays were always the close of a long week, and the redhead wanted something to look forward to. While she didn't expect anything after the flowers she'd found on Thursday, she was still hopeful.

When she flipped on the light in the office to see a familiar box from her favorite chocolate store, Li-Lac Chocolates, sitting on Beca's desk, Chloe held her breath the box was for her. She was slightly disappointed when she saw the official in-store wrapped box as this wasn't the project manager's normal thoughtful picked-out-just-for-you present. Regardless she couldn't resist her favorite candy in all of the city and opened the packaging anyway to reward her week's work with a single piece of chocolate. When she saw the hot cocoa and chocolate covered coffee beans, Chloe let out a squeal of delight, knowing that Beca had indeed custom selected the items. And then, if any doubt remained, she saw the note.

Carefully pulling the message from amongst the items, Chloe's eyes started to water and she realized that Beca had written the note to have it wrapped with the things she'd gotten to make certain the redhead knew the things were just for her. She laughed at the corny jokes that had become their trademark back and forth volley and then shifted to the second page.

Once she saw the drawing, she laughed. And laughed and laughed. Someone, Beca presumably, had sketched a chocolate bar with spindly little stick arms shaking spindly little stick hands with a white milk carton. The caption said "Chocolate Milk Shake". The cartoon was priceless.

Chloe was able to finish out her evening of work with a smile on her face. Her vacuum cleaner had never quite had a dancing partner like it did this Friday night.

Despite the weather warming up, Chloe showed up to practice Saturday morning with a steaming cup of hot cocoa. She also had a smile as big as her home state of Georgia spread across her face. Jessica, Ashley, and Aubrey all mobbed her when she walked in. Aubrey took her travel mug and put her nose right next to the opening and took a deep whiff.

"Oh my god Chloe. Is this Li-Lac hot cocoa?" While she knew it was, smelling it actually made Aubrey jealous.

Jessica took the mug from her boss and acted like she was going to take a big gulp. "You know what they taught us in Kindergarten. Don't bring any if you don't bring enough for the whole class."

Chloe snatched the drink container before Jessica could get a drink. "Girls, girls, girls." She couldn't keep the smile off her face as she purposefully drained the rest of her hot chocolate in front of her friends. "Oh wait." The redhead dug in her bag and pulled her hand out, fist closed. "I brought you something." She then placed a single chocolate covered coffee bean in each of their hands.

Her friends burst out laughing. They didn't dare complain because they knew how good the Li-Lac coffee beans were and how much Chloe was sacrificing for giving even three of the beans to her fellow friends.

A man and woman took their places at the back of the church gym. "Okay ladies and gents. Take your places. We only have two weeks until it's competition time so we need to take advantage of every practice session we get."

"Becs, seriously, a chocolate milk shake? That's corny." Stacie playfully shoved her friend in the shoulder almost knocking her off the stool in the kitchen.

"That's the point Stace, don't you get it? Corny jokes and puns. That's what draws Chloe and me together." Beca scooped another large spoonful of Lucky Charms and shoved it into her mouth. "I'm gonna marry her someday. Mark my words."

Stacie laughed as she chewed on her buttered toast. "First you gotta get her number munkin. Ooooh and then reality strikes."

Beca thumped a soggy green clover that had fallen onto the breakfast bar over at her friend. "Be nice. I know where you live."

"Gross."

Beca pulled out the list given to her by Jessica. "So your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help me with Project Chloe. I really want to ask her out."

"So just sack up and ask her dude."

"It's not that easy Stacie. There has to be magic... like in these here Lucky Charms."

"Yes Beca, it is easy. Look here," she waved the paper in front of her friend's face. "You know her favorite food, her restaurant which strangely enough doesn't serve her favorite food, wine, hobbies, hang outs, everything. You know just about everything you need to woo this woman. Just ask her out."

"I know everything but the most important thing – if I ask, will she say yes?" Beca looked down into her bowl of pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars, and green clovers.

Stacie gave her friend a moment because she knew Beca held a deep-seeded fear of rejection. She softly said to her friend, "Becs, you can charm the dew off the honeysuckle." She knew her fake Southern accent always made her friend laugh. "She can't say no to you."

"I have one more semester Bree. One! Once I pass my boards, I can start to practice as a physical therapist." Chloe had taken a rare break Saturday after practice for lunch with her best friend.

Aubrey speared some lettuce onto her fork. "Are you going to get board certified? Doesn't that take like a residency, clinicals or something?"

"I'll make that decision next semester. But you were right the other night at the bar. I'm working so hard on building a future that I'm forgetting about my present. I know I have goals, but I think I'm losing sight of who I am. Who Chloe Beale is."

"Hmmmm." Aubrey's sound was non-committal as this was what she'd been trying to tell her friend for weeks. So she tried to steer her friend towards what she was really interested in finding more about – how Beca and Chloe were connected. "So let's find Chloe Beale again. How about you start by going on a date? I bet I can find someone nice for you to go out with." Aubrey knew she was probably pushing some of her friend's buttons, but she was curious as to Chloe's reaction.

Surprisingly, Chloe smiled. "No thanks Aubrey. I think I can find my own date." The initial smile turned into a blush as Chloe's thoughts expanded to include the short brunette whose office she cleaned four nights a week.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh kay. Is there something I should know?" Aubrey stared at her friend with a knowing look on her face. She knew Chloe had a hard time keeping secrets and looked like she was dying to share something.

The redhead took a deep breath. "Tell me everything you know about Beca Mitchell."