Magnolias and Speyburn

by lespetitesmorts

Beca and Chloe have been best friends since childhood. Almost twenty years later, Chloe's getting married and Beca's having a hard time dealing with it. Angst warning, but it's also cute. Updates are small, but frequent. They occur during natural breaks in the story instead of via word counts. Recommended listening: "Marry Me" by Thomas Rhett. Also, "Happier" by Ed Sheeran.

11. Chapter 11

"Becs, scooch an inch. The bar is digging into my shoulder blade," Chloe said as she squirmed beside Beca. The two laid across the monkey bars, feet hanging off opposite ends, heads side by side in the middle atop a blanket. Beca scooched and Chloe sighed in relief. "Thanks."

"Whatever, nerd," Beca said, but the words held no heat. Honestly, this was one of Beca's favourite past-times. She lived for the nights, often in summer, where Chloe would climb the tree outside her house and knock on her bedroom window. Sometimes they'd go straight to the diner, but more often than not, they'd walk to the playground a few blocks away, set up on the monkey bars and gaze up at the stars.

She learned the most about Chloe during those nights. Like how she was scared to go to college, how she didn't really want to date anyone at their school, how she thinks about whether she and everyone else are real or if this is heaven or if something like The Matrix is what's going on.

How Grandpa Beale's minor stroke had scared the shit out of her. How she didn't want Beca to push aside her dreams just so Chloe wouldn't be lonely at college. Beca didn't point out that Chloe could never be lonely, and she didn't point out that Chloe was her dream. Beca didn't point out a lot of things.

"I read something the other day," Chloe said.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. It was about the stars. Well, how we're made of stars."

"We're not made of stars."

"Becs! It was saying that iron can only form thanks to stars. It's kind of like stardust. Our blood contains iron, hence, we're made of stardust."

"Chloe, that's not true."

Chloe turned onto her side, ready to argue. "Yes, it is!"

Beca turned over, too. "Hang on, Chlo, just wait a sec. I have no doubt that you're made of stardust, okay? You couldn't possibly exist if you weren't. I just don't know that it's true of everyone. Maybe some other big space explosion formed the iron in other people, like me, and that's why we don't shine anywhere near as bright as you."

"Becs…" Chloe smiled softly. "That's so sweet."

"Whatever," Beca said, and rolled onto her back again.

"Except you're wrong," Chloe settled back with her head beside Beca's. "There's no way you're not made of stars, Becs, because you're going to be one."