AN/ OKAY, GUYS, I'M SO SORRY IT'S TAKEN ME SO LONG TO UPDATE, BUT I'VE HAD TWO WEEKS OF BACK TO BACK MOCK EXAMS AND I'VE BEEN EXHAUSTED. I HAD TO BE IN SCHOOL FOR 7:30 EACH MORNING, AND DIDN'T GET TO LEAVE UNTIL HALF FOUR EACH NIGHT. WITH HOMEWORK AND PERSONAL THINGS, I HAVEN'T HAD MUCH TIME TO WRITE, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING HALF HEARTEDLY WRITTEN WHEN I COULD WAIT A BIT LONGER TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING GOOD.

THANKFULLY, IT'S SPRING BREAK NOW, SO I HAVE TWO WEEKS WHERE I CAN WRITE BEFORE THE REAL EXAMS PICK UP IN SCHOOL NEXT HALF TERM. UPDATES ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE LESS FREQUENT FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WHILE I'M GETTING THROUGH THEM, BUT AS SOON AS I'VE DONE MY EXAMS, I'LL BE WRITING MORE, I PROMISE!

ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT, AND HERE'S THE NEXT CHAPTER. READ, ENJOY REVIEW…

"Put down your cigar and pick me up.

Play me your guitar, that song I love.

Thirsty for your love, fill up my cup.

I've got only good intentions, so give me your attention.

You're only brave in the moonlight, so why don't you stay 'til sunrise?

Your body's looking good tonight, I'm thinking we should cross the line,

Let's ruin the friendship, let's ruin the friendship.

Do all the things on our minds, what's taken us all this time,

Let's ruin the friendship, let's ruin the friendship…"

"So, Mitchell," Aubrey announced as she strutted into Lauren's lounge barely an hour later, "you really quit your job then?"

"No, Aubrey, I decided to conform to their bullshit agenda and let them treat me like crap forever."

"Aww, Beca, I'm so proud of you for standing on your own two feet!" She exclaimed, running over to Beca and smothering her in a hug.

"Personal space, Bree, but thanks – I'm glad I did it."

"So am I," Chloe said, as she wandered in from the kitchen with two glasses of wine in her hands. Handing one to Aubrey, and the other to Beca, she smiled at the pair as she sat down on one of the plush sofas.

"Chloe?" Aubrey said blankly, looking at the redhead. "What are you doing here?"

"Me and Beca had plans to do something this afternoon, but after her meeting, they went in a different direction."

"Rewind, Beale, you guys had plans to do something… together?"

"Well, yeah Bree."

"I thought you two were 'just friends'…"

"Please, Bree," Demi said as she walked out of the kitchen clutching a glass of orange juice, "did you actually buy that lie?"

"Wait… you knew Lovato?"

"Since approximately two hours ago, yes."

"And none of you thought to tell me?" Aubrey demanded, mock-glaring at the trio in the room with her. "Even you, Chloe?"

Chloe smiled lightly at the way Aubrey said that, knowing that she wasn't really angry.

"Well, to be honest, Posen," Demi began, "We were all waiting on your news."

"My news?" Aubrey answered in confusion, staring blankly at Demi. "But I have no news…"

"Oh, please!" Beca exclaimed, rolling her eyes at the blonde. "We all noticed how you and Legs were practically glued together at Disney."

"Legs…" She muttered, "Wait – Stacie?"

"Well, duh, Posen," Lauren said as she wandered in. "We were pretty certain you two were a thing."

"We aren't." Aubrey stammered, her cheeks burning a vicious shade of red.

"Are you sure, Bree?" Chloe mused, knowing that Aubrey never blushed.

"Quite sure."

"That's a pity then," Beca shrugged as she sat down on the sofa next to Chloe, allowing her girlfriend to wrap an arm around her waist. "You two would make a really cute couple."

"You guys would," Lauren agreed, her voice sounding slightly disappointed.

Aubrey nodded at the two instinctively, fully understanding what they meant. "I know."

"What was that?"

"Yeah, Bree, that sounds like you've thought about this already…"

"Well, I guess I kind of have," Aubrey replied dejectedly, shrugging her shoulders as she spoke, "But it doesn't make any difference if I have been thinking about it, does it? It's not like Stacie's into girls."

"Truthfully, I didn't think you were into girls, Posen," Beca deadpanned, smirking, adding, "at least, I didn't think it until I saw how you were quite clearly checking out Stacie's ass at Disney."

"Beca!" Chloe scolded, "Don't be rude."

"I was being honest. But, full disclosure, Aubrey, I think she really likes you too Posen."

"Beca, you were her best friend in college. Have you ever seen her with a girl?"

"No, but as her best friend, I can tell you this: she never looked at any of those guys she was with like she looked at you; not even Donald."

Aubrey gave a slight, thoughtful smile as she digested this nugget of information. Then, she had her lightbulb moment.

"I think Stacie might like me. It's crazy, and it's a long shot, but it's possible…"

"Stop being so dense, Posen," Demi said, not realising that Aubrey was genuinely having a moment of enlightenment, "it was obvious to everyone there – except you – that Legs likes you."

"No, we were talking to Fat Amy about you and Lauren-"

"Wait, what?" Lauren interrupted.

"Oh, just that we thought you were together – I saw it in the paper today, you two are a cute couple and I'm glad you guys are actually together."

Lauren and Demi looked at each other in dismay and both rolled their eyes at Aubrey.

"Anyway," Aubrey continued, "that's beside the point. Stacie was dead certain you were together, and pointed out something about your flannel shirt Demi, and Amy told her that she had one of the best gaydars around."

"And how does this link to Stacie liking you?" Beca asked, slightly exasperated because it was painfully obvious that Stacie was into Aubrey, and to Beca, all this conversation was unnecessary.

"Quit interrupting guys! So Stacie then says that her gaydar isn't good on everyone, and that it wasn't working on a certain blonde. She was looking at me as she said it, as if she was trying to figure something out."

Beca applauded sarcastically. "So it's only taken you what? Seven years to realise Stacie is into you?"

"Beca!" Chloe scolded once again, frustrated by how insensitive Beca was being.

"What? It's true, Chlo."

"What do you mean it's true?" Aubrey demanded, looking at Beca with an intensity Chloe hadn't seen since her first senior year at Barden. "Beca, what do you mean about it taking me seven years to realise?"

Uncharacteristically, Beca just sat in silence, knowing she'd overstepped the mark in her outburst. Demi and Lauren observed, completely stunned at the interaction they'd just witnessed. They'd never seen Beca at a loss for what to say, especially at moments like this.

"Beca," Aubrey said, softer this time. "What do you mean about it taking me seven years?"

Beca gulped, and spoke in a hollow voice. "I think you know exactly what I mean, Aubrey."

"Did she really like me for all that time?" Aubrey asked, her eyes darting from Beca, who stood squirming before her, to Chloe, who was sat on the sofa looking guilty. "She did, didn't she?"

Beca nodded silently, allowing Aubrey to try and absorb this information.

"Then why didn't she say something?" Aubrey asked hoarsely. "Or, seeing as you two clearly knew, why didn't you guys?"

"Stacie didn't think you were into girls, and, well, at first you were pretty mean to her. Then you graduated and opened Fallen Leaves, and the next thing we all knew was that you were going to law school. She always felt like she wasn't enough for you, and with you guys getting pretty close over the years, she never wanted to ruin that."

"Then why did she hook up with all of them guys?"

Seeing Beca mouth 'I can't say,' Chloe stood up and took over the conversation.

"She hooked up with them to try and get a reaction out of you. Not necessarily jealousy, but just something, to see if there was any way you liked her. Then, when it seemed as if she had no hope, she began hooking up with them as a distraction."

"Shit."

"Yeah, she kept it to herself for years, because she'd heard a conversation between you and your dad in freshman year about me and Beca, and how he didn't believe in homosexuality. She thought that you had the same ideals, and was pretty sure you were straight, so did everything she could to try and get over you…"

"But it never really worked," Aubrey concluded, "did it?"

Both girls just shook their heads solemnly, while Demi and Lauren gave Aubrey a comforting smile.

"How obvious was it?" She asked them, looking ashamed and hurt.

"Painfully so, everyone in the Bellas – except you – knew, Bree."

"So why didn't anyone say anything?"

"Stacie made them all swear to secrecy, but they still tried dropping hints here and there to you," Chloe replied guiltily.

"You were just too oblivious to pick them up, Posen," Beca said, taking a long drink from her wine glass.

"Does she still like me?"

"What do you think, Aubrey?" Beca asked, looking Aubrey straight in the eyes. "You never really stop liking anyone, do you?"

Aubrey nodded silently to acknowledge what Beca had just told her.

"So what happens now?" Lauren interjected, looking at each of the four girls in turn in search of an answer.

"I don't know," Aubrey answered honestly. "I really like her…"

"Then what are you waiting for Posen?" Demi asked, "Grow a pair and ask her out!"

"Thanks Lovato."

"Do it," Demi insisted, "nothing worth having comes easy; and you and Stacie are adorable together and totally meant to be, I promise."

Beca nodded in agreement. "Tell her how you feel, but let her tell you what we've told you just now."

"Yeah," Chloe agreed, "we never told you any of this."

"When do I tell her?" Aubrey asked nervously.

"Well," Lauren admitted, "I might have texted her before you came asking if she wanted to watch Riverdale with us…"

"And?"

In response there was the sound of a car pulling onto the driveway.

"And, she said she couldn't wait."

Demi smiled at the impeccable timing of Stacie's arrival. "You've got this, Posen. You go get the door, and we're gonna go sit out by the pool for a while," she said, gesturing at the others to go outside. "Offer Legs a drink, and tell her you've got something to say."

"I promise she'll listen," Beca said as she made her way out of the room.

Looking at the anxious expression on her best friend's face, Chloe walked over and gave Aubrey a quick hug, whispering into her ear, "You've got this Posen, I believe in you!" before walking out of the room, shutting the door softly behind her.

Less than a second later, there was a rhythmic knock on the front door.

Aubrey swallowed her fear, and got off of the sofa.

Standing nervously behind the door, she took a deep breath.

It was time to get real, even if it meant ruining the friendship…

Pouring a glass of wine expertly, Aubrey looked up at Stacie who had swung her long legs over one of the barstools in Lauren's kitchen.

"So, Posen, what are you wanting to talk about?" Stacie asked bluntly, because she was never one to beat about the bush under any circumstances.

"I- uh- I- well, erm, I…" Aubrey stammered, feeling her cheeks burning red. Taking a deep breath, she quickly rambled. "This is really awkward, and I don't know how to say it, and please don't be mad, but I kind of really like you, and want to be more than friends, but…"

Stacie's face lit up with a Cheshire Cat grin as Aubrey spoke, giving Aubrey more confidence. "But what?" the tall brunette asked calmly.

"But I get how weird this is, and I don't even know if you like girls, so I get it if you don't, it was just an idea, pretty stupid re-"

"Aubrey," Stacie interrupted, looking deep into the blonde's eyes. "Who said I didn't want to?"

Aubrey stopped in her tracks as Stacie said that, looking up at the brunette.

Soothingly, Stacie continued, "I'd love to be more than friends, especially with someone as cute as you."

Aubrey smiled at that compliment, blushing slightly. "You mean?"

"Aubrey Posen, would you consider being my girlfriend?"

"Yes!" Aubrey gushed, looking at Stacie like she had hung the stars in the sky.

Stacie leaned over the breakfast bar and placed a kiss onto Aubrey's lips. The kiss was soft and gentle at first, but quickly grew more passionate, as the pair put into action what their words failed to say.

Hearing the back door click open, the two were snapped out of their kiss to see Beca and Chloe stood in the doorway, Beca smirking, while Chloe's hands were clasped over her mouth, as if the redhead couldn't quite process what she was seeing.

"So I'm guessing Staubrey is a thing?" Beca asked, feeling her usual smirk morph into a genuine smile as both girls nodded. "Took you two long enough," she deadpanned, shaking her head.

"Aww, as if you two are together!" Chloe gushed, grinning at the pair as Demi and Lauren walked inside as well.

Seeing the pair, Aubrey grinned, and nodded in response to Demi's arched eyebrow.

"Good on you, Aubrey!" Demi mused, genuinely happy for the two.

"It's a real triple date now!" Lauren exclaimed, causing Stacie to look at her blankly.

"Who else is together, like?" Stacie asked, before the answers quickly dawned on her. "Ha!" she exclaimed, pulling just slightly away from Aubrey. "I knew it! I told you both pairs were together! And you didn't believe me! My gaydar was spot on!"

Collectively, all the girls rolled their eyes at Stacie, and let the leggy brunette's excitement and celebration play out.

"So," Beca deadpanned, "Cheryl – erm, Netflix is waiting for us, should we maybe put something on?"

"Those sofas do look pretty comfy…" Stacie added suggestively.

"Let's do it." Demi confirmed, looking at Lauren who nodded.

"Should we watch Mean Gir- No, Riverdale?" Lauren asked, seeing the glare Beca shot her way when she almost dared to suggest something different.

"Riverdale it is." Beca announced without missing a beat, "let's go. Let's go watch Cheryl – I mean Riverdale."

"Oh god," Demi laughed, rolling her eyes at Beca, "here we go again with her obsession with Cheryl Blossom…"

All of the girls laughed, including Stacie who then added, "Madelaine Petsch is a step up from Beca's old obsession in college, Demi…"

Freezing, Beca sent a mock-glare at Stacie.

"Who was it?" Demi asked, picking up on the way Beca was shaking her head frantically at Stacie, begging her not to speak.

Stacie completely ignored her. "Megan Fox."

"Why am I not surprised?" Demi asked, roaring with laughter.

"Can we stop making fun of my crushes and maybe go watch the show?" Beca asked, pointing towards the lounge.

"Oh, Beca, we haven't even started," Chloe replied menacingly, making Beca look a tiny bit scared.

"Don't worry, Mitchell," Aubrey relented. "We'll go watch Riverdale first."

"Hey," Demi said, making the group stop and look at her. "I've just noticed something."
"What?" Beca asked through gritted teeth.

"They're all ginger."

"Way to point out the obvious, Lovato." Aubrey replied.

"Yeah, that's old news," Stacie agreed.

Rolling her eyes, Beca looked impatiently at the group with the same look a kid gives on Christmas morning if their parents make them wait to open the presents. "Can we just go watch it?"

"Sure thing, Beca," Lauren said, and the group went into the lounge, curling up on the plush sofas in their respective couples.

They bingewatched on Riverdale episodes until gone 2AM, when all six of them were struggling to keep their eyes open. In no state to drive back to their own homes, all of the girls crashed on those sofas that night, each curled up close to their girlfriend.

Some friendships were there to be practically perfect like the one those six girls shared as a group. Others, especially the ones between two people, were there specifically for the lines to be blurred.

In that moment, in her sleepy state, Beca looked across the room, desperately fighting to stay awake for just a minute more. She saw Lauremi wrapped around each other, Aubrey sprawled out over Stacie, and looked down at the redheaded beauty snuggled next to her. She smiled at how much love there was in the room, and feeling sleep begin to take over, pulled Chloe closer to her, holding her tight.

All six of them were perfectly content for the first time in months. It had been a big day for all of them. Sure, they were all scared of what the future was going to hold for them, and worried about what was being said in the world outside, but they were all so content, it was all a distant concept to them.

In that moment, they were there, together, happy, and surrounded by the people they loved most.

As Beca woke up with the sun beaming on her face the next morning, she realised something, and it was a thought shared by every girl in the room.

Things might be moving fast, and everything might be scary, but right now: she wouldn't change a thing.

AN/ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING THIS, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT! DON'T FORGET, REVIEWS ARE LOVE, AND IF THIS GETS TEN REVIEWS, I'LL POST THE NEXT PART. HAPPY SPRING BREAK GUYS!