DAY 24 - WHO ANSWERED CHLOE'S PHONE?

Author's Prompt: Beca was on tour and called her girlfriend Chloe to wish her a Merry Christmas. Only it wasn't Chloe who answered Chloe's phone.

A/N: This is one of those stories that have been sitting around in my brain, so I decided to center it around Christmas. I know this is a short but Day 25 is going to be longer.

Beca Mitchell was on top of the world. She was already getting recognition as a solo artist after her first album was released. She was embarking on a sold-out International tour. And a year go she finally, well accidentally, confessed her love to Chloe Beale who was now her girlfriend.

The confession came out of the blue for Beca. She hadn't planned to tell Chloe since it looked like Chloe had found her special someone in Captain Chicago Walp during their USO Tour especially after she saw the two kissing after her debut performance.

Beca remembered the feeling of annoyance when she saw them kissing. She wasn't annoyed at Chloe or even Chicago. He was a really nice guy and fit with Chloe's personality well. She was annoyed at herself for not having the guts to tell Chloe how she felt about her.

Beca thought back to that day.

"You okay?" Theo had asked as he watched Beca watching Chloe and Chicago kiss.

"I'm good," Beca said. "Chloe seems to be happy, which makes me happy for her."

"But?"

"But, what?"

"I sense there's more to that statement that you're letting on."

Beca sighed and started walking away. Theo followed and unbeknownst to Beca, so did Chloe.

They walked around a corner, and Theo stopped Beca.

"So," Theo said. "What are you not saying? You say you're happy for Chloe, but there's something more. What is it?"

Chloe knew she should have kept walking, but hearing Theo ask Beca about her she stopped just around the corner and listened.

"I am happy for her," Beca said. "I just-. I've been in love with her for so long but didn't have the courage to tell her how I felt. She's found someone who is perfect for her, and I only want her to be happy. So, I'm good."

Chloe couldn't stay where she was. She stepped around the corner and found herself about two feet behind Beca, with Theo looking over Beca's shoulder at her.

"You're in love with me?"

Beca's eyes widened when she heard those words spoken behind her. She swallowed and looked at Theo who was smiling at her.

"I think you might want to turn around," Theo said before he turned and walked away.

Beca looked down at the ground and let out a breath.

"Beca?"

Beca turned to find Chloe standing there with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Chloe," Beca whispered as tears stung her eyes. "I never meant for you to hear that."

"You were never going to tell me?" Chloe asked, an edge to her tone. "I've waited for seven fucking years for you to say you love me and I had to overhear it by accident because you were never going to tell me."

"I'm sorry," Beca said through her tears. "I never wanted to-. I couldn't lose what we have. And you looked so happy when you kissed Chicago. I only want you to be happy, Chloe."

Chloe moved, so she was standing right in front of Beca. Her tone is softer when she speaks. "I was telling Chicago goodbye. It started as a small kiss, and he got a little carried away." Chloe chuckled remembering how he 'dipped' her. "We both laughed when he let me back up. He apologized and said he wanted something to remember me by. I had told him earlier that I was in love with someone else and he was okay with it."

Chloe stepped closer and took Beca's face in her hands and smiled. "I told him I was in love with you."

Beca let out a small sob. "Really?"

"Really," Chloe said and leaned in to kiss Beca. Beca closed the distance and joined their lips.

Beca smiled at the memory. She and Chloe had decided to try the long-distance thing with her in L.A. and Chloe in New York. It's been almost a year since that night, and they've probably seen each other in person a handful of times, but they always made the most of those times.

Right after her solo performance, Beca flew to L.A. to immediately start working on her first album; it was released two months ago. Two songs on the album held the number one and number two spots on the charts just one month after the album release and were holding steady. Two other songs were in the top ten and moving up fast.

The tour had been planned before the album came out. Three days after the album's release, ticket sales increased, and she was going to be performing to sold-out crowds everywhere she went.

Beca made sure she left L.A. in time to stop in New York to spend Thanksgiving with Chloe before she flew to Europe to start her tour. They barely left Chloe's apartment the four days Beca was there. Beca and Chloe both cried when Beca had to leave.

Beca had been on tour for a month and was loving every minute of it. The adrenaline rush of performing before a live audience is something she's never experienced before.

The only downside to the tour was that she hasn't been able to see or talk to Chloe for most of that time. Beca texted Chloe every day, but with the time difference, the texts would go unanswered for several hours. She knew Chloe was busy with vet school, but her insecurities reared their ugly head whenever Beca received a response; they were becoming shorter and less enthusiastic.

It had only been a month, and Beca was worried that her being away and the lack of seeing and talking to Chloe for another two months was already taking its toll on Chloe and their relationship. Beca tried to call Chloe several times, but the time difference continued to mess with them speaking to each other. She was anywhere from six to nine hours ahead of Chloe's time, but their schedules never seemed to line up. Beca would leave voicemails and Chloe would leave voicemails, but Chloe's voice was becoming different with each message left. Beca could almost feel her pulling away from her, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Beca felt her heart skip a few beats each time Chloe left a new message. They were getting shorter and shorter. Beca made sure to always end her messages with an 'I love you.' Chloe would usually do the same, but Beca can't remember the last message where Chloe said she loved her, too, and it didn't sound like an afterthought.

Beca was in Paris and had two concerts scheduled before she was to have a few days off, flying to Madrid two days after Christmas. Those few days now included an added show on Christmas Eve.

Beca had wanted to fly to Tampa and surprise Chloe for Christmas, but the extra show wasn't going to allow that to happen. She felt a desperate need to physically see Chloe. Based on the latest round of texts and voicemail message, Beca felt like they were back to just being friends based on the lack of any romantic overtures from Chloe. And, as much she loved Chloe as a friend, she loved her more as a girlfriend, and she didn't want to go back.

Beca performed the Christmas Eve show and was back in her hotel room. She had texted Chloe before the show but had not received any response. She woke early and couldn't get back to sleep. It was almost six o'clock on Christmas morning in Paris and Beca decided to call Chloe. It was Midnight in Tampa and Beca wanted to be the first to wish Chloe a Merry Christmas.

Beca called Chloe's number and got no answer. Thinking Chloe must be asleep she hung up and tried again, hoping the constant ringing would wake her because she really wanted to hear Chloe's voice. This time the call was answered, but it wasn't Chloe's voice she heard.

"Hello?" A male voice came over the line.

"Um, hello?" Beca said and looked at her phone to make sure she actually called Chloe's number. "Is, uh, Chloe there?"

"She's not here," the guy said. "She was in a hurry to leave and must have left her phone behind."

Beca felt the tears stinging her eyes. She ended the call without saying anything.

Beca threw her phone onto the bed and put her head in her hands. She let the tears flow. Chloe had cheated on her. And from the sounds of it, it was with some random guy if she rushed off and left her phone.

Beca laid in her bed, letting the tears flow until she felt like she didn't have any tears left. She looked at the clock on the nightstand and watched as the clock changed to eight o'clock.

"It's been two hours since I called Chloe. I guess I know what she was doing for Christmas. Or rather, who she was doing." Beca couldn't shut her brain off or stop the thoughts that were running around inside her head.

Beca laid there for another few minutes thinking that even if Chloe hadn't done anything with that guy, she would still have to go back and retrieve her phone. Maybe she'd see the guy and realize she did want something to happen with him. And, then they would-.

"Stop it, Mitchell," Beca said louder than she had intended. Her voice sounded weird bouncing around the room back at her. She took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. She looked at the clock, and it was eight-ten. It had now been two hours and ten minutes since she had placed the call to Chloe's phone.

Beca wiped her hands down her face and got out of bed. She took a quick shower and decided to get dressed and go down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. She needed to be around other people to try and keep her mind off Chloe and her suspected betrayal.

As she exited her room, Theo was leaving his. "Hey, Beca!"

Theo calling her caused Beca to stop and look back at him.

"Good morning," Theo said as he caught up to her. "It's only a little past nine. What's got you up so early?"

"Couldn't really sleep," Beca said. "I'm going to breakfast downstairs. Care to join me?"

"Sure," Theo said. "I was heading down for breakfast as well."

The two made their way to the restaurant in silence, only speaking when asking the waitress for coffee.

"Are you okay?" Theo had a look of concern on his face as he studied Beca.

"I, uh, called Chloe to wish her a Merry Christmas this morning," Beca said the tears threatening to start again. "Only she didn't answer."

"Just try again later," Theo said. "I'm sure she'd love to hear from you."

"I don't think so," Beca said sadly and wiped the unshed tears from her eyes. "Chloe didn't answer, but some guy did. I think she was, uh, I think she cheated on me."

"Oh," Theo said.

"Yeah," Beca said. "We haven't really had a chance to talk at all since I started the tour. Before I left, we had the most amazing few days together. I thought-." Beca swallowed. "I thought we were good. I've been thinking about asking her to marry me."

"Beca, I'm sure it was not what you think," Theo said looking at his menu. He looked back up at Beca, and a big smiled spread across his face.

Beca saw his smile, and it made her angry. "I'm so glad my pain is a source of amusement for you."

Theo bit his lip, but the smile remained.

"What are you smiling at?" Beca was getting frustrated with him. "It's because of you and those extra shows that I can't be with Chloe, and now she's probably found someone else to be with. I love her so much, and I don't want to lose her."

"I have a question for you," Theo said. "Why is it every time we have a conversation about you and Chloe, the last thing I say to you before I walk away is I think you might want to turn around?" Theo stood and smiled at Beca. "Happy Christmas, Beca."

Beca furrowed her brows and watched as Theo walked away.

"What the hell does he mean I should turn around?" Beca asked herself.

"Merry Christmas, Beca," a voice said from behind Beca.

Beca looked down at the table and let out a breath, hoping beyond hope that her imagination wasn't playing tricks on her.

"Beca?"

Beca turned to find Chloe standing there with a big smile on her face. Beca let out a small yelp. It wasn't her imagination; Chloe was really here.

Beca jumped up from the table and grabbed Chloe, crashing their lips together. Chloe kissed her back. Chloe pulled out of the kiss, but Beca didn't want to let go. She leaned her forehead against Chloe's.

"What are you doing here?"

"My parents didn't like hearing me whine about missing you so much," Chloe whispered. "They also didn't like how sad I looked when I got off the plane in Tampa. They knew I had been saving up to try and buy a ticket to surprise you while you were on tour. They also knew I wasn't able to save enough, so they gave me a plane ticket to come to see you as my Christmas gift."

Beca pulled back and wiped a tear from Chloe's cheek. She looked at Chloe. "I, um, called you earlier this morning to wish you a Merry Christmas. Someone else answered the phone. It was, um, it was a guy."

"Beca," Chloe said realizing what Beca must have thought. "I know what you're thinking, and I would never cheat on you. You have to believe that. I don't want or need anyone else."

Beca just stared at Chloe. Chloe smiled and said, "I love you, and only you."

"I love you, too," Beca said. "But, we haven't really talked to each other in the past five weeks, and I started thinking that maybe you found someone else. Someone who lived in the same time zone. Someone you actually got to see every day. Someone better than me." Beca's voice was a whisper by the end.

"There is no one better for me than you," Chloe said and kissed Beca again.

"Then who answered your phone?"

Beca wasn't ready to let it go. She was still the insecure Beca she had always been and couldn't believe that Chloe would, or that anyone would, fly halfway around the world just to be with her.

"It was probably my sister's boyfriend Aidan," Chloe said and gently pushed some stray hairs behind Beca's ear. "I was in a hurry and forgot my phone at my parent's house. They gave me the ticket yesterday at lunch, and I didn't have much time to get my stuff together before I had to be at the airport to catch my flight."

Beca looked into Chloe's eyes and only saw truth and love. She hugged Chloe to her. "I'm sorry. I got inside my head and jumped to the wrong conclusion. I just love you so much, and I still can't believe that you love me, too."

"I will spend the rest of my life making you believe it," Chloe said and kissed Beca again.

Beca held Chloe tighter as they stood in the hotel restaurant. Chloe pulled out of the hug and kissed Beca.

"Merry Christmas, Becs," Chloe said.

"Merry Christmas, Chloe."

Beca pulled Chloe to her for another kiss. Chloe deepened the kiss before pulling back and smiling at Beca.

"As much as I would love to stand here kissing you forever, I've been on a plane for past thirteen hours. I need Christmas sex, a shower, and a nap in that order."

Beca let out a laugh. "By all means," Beca said taking Chloe's hand. "I have just the place where we can do all three."