"Beca, help," Chloe whines through the house, down from the loft, drawing out the 'a' and 'p'. Just to get Beca's attention.
"What?" The brunette shouts back from the bottom of the stairs, and Chloe can just tell she has a mouth full of food, probably pizza.
"Can you come here, please?" There's no reply but she stays put, waiting on something. She knows Beca wouldn't just ignore her.
Sure enough, Beca comes around the corner of the second flight of stairs, pizza in hand, a minute later, pushing Chloe into their room and up the stairs. "Sorry, I would have come sooner but I had to fight Amy for MY piece of pizza." It's funny, Chloe thinks, that Beca doesn't even seem fazed that Chloe's stood there in just her bra and shorts.
"Okay, well I need your advice," Chloe turns back round to the closet, picking up a tight dress, holding it up to herself and turning back around. "Should I wear this or…" and back around again, this time returning with boyfriend jeans and a blue blouse, holding it up to herself again, "this one?"
Beca just stared at her dumbstruck.
"See something you like, Becs?" Chloe smirks, sending Beca a wink and whipping back around to face her closet again.
"Always Chlo," Beca eventually snaps out of her stare and jokily winks back.
"Beca," drawing out the 'a' once again, "help me, come on, this is a serious issue I have." It almost shocks Beca at how serious the redhead had turned in just a matter of seconds, she looked genuinely concerned.
"Well," Beca starts, joining Chloe in the closet, "it depends if you're hunting tonight or not, as Stacie would put it." Chloe's almost shocked at the words, giving Beca a side eye. "And if I were to do that, which would you suggest?" Beca has always loved Chloe's sarcastic side, because yes. the answer was so blatantly obviously but Chloe, being Chloe, just wants to hear the brunette say it. And Beca knows that.
"Okay, so here's the deal. If you want a one night stand with a jerk but look like a million bucks, then go with this one," and of course, she jumps in next to the dress and shows it off with her hands, "but, if you want to maybe flirt a little, have a dance and a few too many drinks all while looking super-hot, then go for this," and then Chloe's watching the little brunette do the same to the next outfit, amused expression set firmly on her face throughout Beca's little performance. But Chloe wasn't that easy. And Beca knows that.
"Okay, I see your point…but which one is going to make you more attracted to me than you already seem to be, Becs?"
"Hmm, that's a good question, Beale. I think I'd probably have to go with the jeans."
"Then it is that I shall go with," Chloe beams happily, jumping happily towards the outfit on display and mocking Beca's previous 'performance'.
"Ding ding ding, we have a winner!"
A few hours later, Chloe's changed in said outfit, pulling clothes from her and Beca's closet for the brunette who, as always, 'has nothing to wear'. So, as always, Beca sends the redhead to pick her out an outfit, fully trusting Chloe's sense of style and the fact that she knows what Beca likes, which in itself is a rare attribute.
Eventually, all the Bella's are ready, Beca being the last downstairs of course, and head over to the Trebles house.
And of course, Chloe's managed to get her hands on two drinks, handing one to Beca, barely a minute after travelling through the hedge to the Trebles backyard.
This is it. The first party of their final year. So, obviously, drinking's going to be involved.
Chloe's hands are tightly wrapped around Beca's as they dance, the crowd big enough to probably break several campus rules. Originally, Chloe had dragged, after begging, Beca to dance and she wasn't too sure if the brunette would fully get into it but here she was, dancing with Chloe like there's no tomorrow. And sure, Chloe can feel the other Bellas, maybe a few Trebles too, eyes on them because yes, they were maybe pushing the boundaries of friends right now but who cares? Not Chloe or Beca apparently. And no, neither of them were drunk enough to blame the actions on alcohol, at least Chloe wasn't, but Beca wasn't her usually uncontrollable, giggly, drunk self so neither was she. But there they are, dancing with each other as if no one was looking.
But, that was what they did.
And honestly, Chloe can't remember a single party since she's met the little brunette where they haven't done this. It was normal yet unusual and weird at the same time-but what wasn't? Everything they did would be considered weird to an outsider's eye, but the Bellas were used to the flirty friends, so much so that every 'weird' or 'unusual' thing they seemed to do was considered normal. They have lived together for years and everyone subconsciously picks up on everyone's schedules and habits. And that included how Chloe would volunteer to go shopping every Saturday, dragging Beca with her every week without fail, which was saying a lot considering both of them weren't morning people. Like at all. Or how there'd always be one night every week where the both of them would cook, refusing anyone's help, and sure it took twice as long with them messing around, but it was normal now. And it was great.
Somehow, another 20 minutes have passed and they both find themselves in a game of truth or dare, at which Beca rolled her eyes at, in a circle with several Bellas and of course, the Trebles. They're sat next to each other, but Beca's hand had been pulled to Chloe's lap where the redhead's own hand is holding it tightly. And sure, everyone knows that they have a close relationship, more than close really, but somehow, they're just that extra bit closer tonight. Beca tells herself it's the alcohol. She knows it's not.
The two manage to avoid several rounds as the bottle never lands on them, making them a victim, and they both sit and watch everything else unravel. First, it was Aubrey full on making out with Stacie, straddling and all, and then it was Lily streaking up and down the street. So. let's just say they were considering themselves lucky, even though, yes, both could guess the inevitable dare or truth one of them were to get.
And then it landed on Chloe….
"Ooo, I have one!" Aubrey shouts at Jess from across the circle, leaning over to whisper in her ear. Beca knows it's bad by the blonde's smirk.
"Aubrey! I can't-okay okay, fine…I dare you to spend 7 minutes in heaven with Beca." Jess looks almost guiltily at them as she says it. Almost.
Things take a turn then, Chloe rolls her eyes, as if she was expecting it-Beca's not all surprised-but confidently stands, helping Beca up and dragging her into the Trebles games room, declared the 'sex room'-as Amy had put it. And Beca's not at all shocked when Chloe throws a playful smirk and a wink over her shoulder at the rest of them as she closes the door. That's what Chloe does. And its for that reason that Beca only smiles good naturedly and hops up onto the pool table, swinging her legs from where they hang. Chloe's directly in front of her, leaning against the door, eyes tightly closed and looking like she's mentally preparing herself for something-but Beca's not entirely sure what. Chloe's own hand turns to lock the door while opening two blue orbs and staring into Beca's, still at her place by the door.
"So, what you want to do?" Beca finds herself saying, almost nervously-its not like they were going to do anything, right? Anything they were expected to be doing anyway.
"Well," two long strides are taken, "I was thinking that we could talk?" Chloe stand's in front of Beca by the end of the sentence, so close that her knee caps come into contact with the redhead's own thighs.
"You know I'm not amazing at that, but I'm sure I can try," she tries to shoo away the serious aura in the room, even giving Chloe a smirk, but she seemed set on talking to Beca about this. And, deep down, Beca knew what this is, what it implies. And yes, she was shit scared-but she was also somehow curious and excited?
"Okay…okay so I'm just going to be honest here, okay?"
"Okay…" Beca replies awkwardly. It somehow reminds Chloe of their first year together, a year filled with awkward shower encounters and police cars and movie nights (much to Beca's dismay) and teasing Aubrey in the apartment and then teasing Stacie and Aubrey in the apartment and Beca. Just…Beca. But all that could go to shit now.
"I would say you're my best friend," Chloe starts after a shaky breath, "but don't tell Aubrey that, I'd never hear the end of it…But, our friendship is a lot different than mine and Aubrey's and I don't know I guess there's a reason for that. I mean, there has to be." Chloe keeps her eyes on her hands resting just above Beca's knees and lets herself stare at the moving fingers on the denim. She can feel Beca looking at her, but she doesn't dare look up. "And every time we're sent off for the inevitable 7 minutes, like right now, I want to kiss you, like every time we've done this since your first year. And honestly, I'm surprised we haven't kissed yet considering how many times we've done this or even just as friends, especially since I've kissed Aubrey before. Or when the Bellas say we're like a married couple, I like to think about that. And that's not normal for best friends. I know there's something here, something that I'm pretty sure you feel too," she pauses, and then slowly lifts her head to meet Beca's eyes. "Do you feel it too?" It comes out as a whisper but Beca feels the weight behind her words.
She feels everything, every feeling, that's been there throughout their years together all at once. And yes, it's very overwhelming. Especially for someone like Beca. She's never been good with words, Chloe knows that, so Beca's not entirely sure what to say. A simple yes should and would satisfy Chloe, would be more than enough. But its not as easy as saying it out loud, is it? She needs to get this right because God…Chloe had been her dream girl since day one and she would never forgive herself if she fucked this up now. This whole romance thing. Beca's pretty sure Chloe would never stop being her friend, they were too attached for that, but after something like this, would they be the same? Beca honestly had no fucking clue.
But life was too short for 'what ifs'.
So, Beca keeps eye contact with the blue in front of her and slowly, ever so slowly, moves forward to Chloe's own face, leaving plenty of time for the redhead to move if this wasn't what she wanted. But then Chloe's moving towards Beca and both of their eyes are closed by the time their lips lightly brush against one another
It's just a brush at first, a simple, slight touch that barely exists but as their lips separate just an inch and crash back together, they let it happen, let emotions take over. It's still slow though, like their relationship, and meaningful of course.
In a mission to get closer, Chloe's belt loops get tugged, pulling her in between Beca's legs and against the pool table where the brunettes hands return to her hips and Chloe's own land on Beca's shoulders and intertwine at her neck. The kisses continue, barely separating every now and then to get a breath in, and honestly? They're both loving it. I mean, who wouldn't? And yes, Chloe's hand may make a pathway up through the brunette locks, probably gripping a little too hard and yes, Beca's hands may have strayed slightly to Chloe's thighs and around to her behind, but that's okay. Because this is what they both wanted and waited so long for. This moment right here.
"Hmm, not that I'm not loving this-because I, am-but you still didn't answer the question…I need to hear you say it Becs," Chloe's voice seems to lose volume from start to finish. They're still close, only an inch in between their faces and Beca's not sure if she's happy at that fact or not because yes, she loved Chloe, but when the redhead was this close Beca found herself unable to concentrate 99% of the time.
"I feel it," Beca mumbles out, lowering her head slightly so her eyes are on where their legs are touching, and her forehead gently hits Chloe's. "I've felt it since freshman year." Beca decides that's good, that's good right? Chloe doesn't reply, doesn't say anything, which slightly panics her but Beca knows she's there, and that's enough for now. She can feel the fingers on her neck, gently playing with the hair there, and then she can feel Chloe's own legs resting against hers, almost as if she was made to fit there. But Beca's always loved how her and Chloe fit together.
"I think the 7 minutes are up, we should probably go back out there so we don't get teased even more than we do already," Chloe chuckles slightly at her own words, and Beca's not sure if she's ever heard anything more beautiful. "But we'll talk later, okay? When we get back to the house? About the date I'm going to take my girlfriend on," Beca's just nodding throughout, until she hears the word 'date' and 'girlfriend' where her head automatically stops, and she stares at Chloe.
But then it goes to her head and she's smirking at Chloe, hopping off the table and pecking Chloe's own lips before going to unlock the door and walk out, hand in hand with her girlfriend.
It's an unspoken agreement that this, this whole thing, is being kept between them. For now, anyway. But that wasn't anything new, most things that happened between them had and will stay a secret, all the important things anyway. And this was definitely included. For now.
That was the plan anyway, but having a 'girlfriend', a hot girlfriend at that, dancing with you may be a bit too seductively and basically having permission to love and encourage it was hard to resist. And that was coming from both parties involved. So yes, both of them kinda held back on the alcohol after realising that this would be hard enough already but everyone else was drunk, so they figured so what if a hand wondered every now and then.
It was once everyone started doing body shots in the kitchen when Chloe gently tugged on Beca's arm and motioned her head to the back door. Beca's only response is slight nod and a step towards the redhead, so Chloe gently guides Beca outside to the patio. The only people that seem to be left outside is couples wanting to get out of the crowd and a few drunk people. And both were happy for that.
"Do you wanna go back to the house? I'm kinda done with the party," Chloe squeezes Beca's hand as she says it and Beca's so, so close to questioning the fact that Chloe wants to leave a party before 11 because yeah, that's kinda more of a Beca thing but she only nods along happily.
And then Chloe's wrapping herself around Beca's arm like she always does when she's cold and leads her down, through the hedge and back up to their own back door. And they both know that the other girls won't be returning for at least a couple of hours yet, probably more. Heck, last year a couple of them-Amy, Stacie and Lily- didn't return for another 2 days after the party. So, they definitely have the house to themselves.
Chloe goes in first, the brunette holding the door from the outside for her, only to close it, turn around and be pushed back against it. It's not hard, just enough pressure for Beca to stumble back and for Chloe's body to get as close as it can before latching her lips to the brunettes.
It isn't long before Beca feels Chloe lean back, looking into Beca's eyes. But what surprises Beca the most is that there's no sex filled desires in them, just pure love and intimacy-no sexual desires-and Beca kinda likes that.
"What do you say we go snuggle in bed with some tv and have a chat?" Chloe stays close, close enough so Beca can hear her whisper-they both want to keep the nice relaxed environment. So Beca gives a gentle, "sure" and then her hands being pulled by the redhead, up the two flights of stairs, through the door to the loft, up the final steps and through to the closet in their room. Where it finally let's go and leaves Beca in the middle of racks of clothes and dirty piles covering the corners of the small room.
Chloe's stripping as soon her body leaves Beca's, throwing her blouse over her head and onto the floor then unbuttoning her jeans as she picks up a top-Beca's sure its hers-putting her arms through first and then her head as her legs kick of the loose denim which pools at her feet. The brunette only watches, completely still, while Chloe steps out to reach the shelf with the shorts on-and yes, it's the shorts now ever since Chloe figured out they were the same size.
By the time Chloe turns to face her again, sporting a baggy tee and shorts, Beca's still completely still, just looking at the blue eyes as if they were the most beautiful thing ever. To Beca they were. And they stay looking there as the redhead's own hands gently come up to rest on her hips and under her shirt, ghosting over her ribs, lifting the shirt as she does. "Arms up," gets whispered and Beca slowly raises her arms, letting Chloe pull the shirt over her head and watches as it slips from thing fingers and pools at the floor. The thing is, some people may consider this weird, them undressing each other, but this isn't the first time it's happened. Chloe had in fact changed Beca before, more than once, when the brunette would come home so late from that fucking internship Chloe hated so much and was literally exhausted. Seriously, if the redhead didn't step in, Beca would just sleep in her clothes. But the other women had stopped that immediately. And Beca, well she had only changed Chloe when either the redhead was drunk or was totally out of it from anxiety or illness-unlike Chloe, the brunette only did it when necessary.
But now, this is the first time Chloe had done it and Beca be actually aware of it. And she'd be lying if she said she wasn't enjoying it.
It seemed over far too fast, as the next thing the brunette is aware of is Chloe pulling her against her side, head lightly resting on her shoulder and the low chat of a movie on at the end of the bed. When did that happen?
They don't talk for a while, simply basking in each other's presence. It's Chloe who finally breaks the silence between them.
"Are you okay? -you know, with all this?" She even squeezes Beca a little as if to point out the obvious.
"ye-Chloe, of course I'm okay with this. I'm great with this, are you okay with this?" The brunette tilts her head a little to get a better view of the other women, you know, so they could actually talk but neither of them loosens their hold on the other.
"I'm more than okay right now," she whispers back, giving her signature smirk.
"Good," Beca barely whispers into her shoulder before pecking her on the lips and returning to her previous comfortably position.
Chloe's amazed when Beca actually watches the movie-there wasn't a lot that could usually hold the brunette's attention when they did this-but now it's herself that can't pay attention. Typical. But Chloe was surprisingly okay with it, instead being content to massage the younger women's scalp and trace her fingers over the hand on her stomach.
It had been silent between for what Chloe guessed was the most part of an hour, that's if she was keeping track of the movie right, when Beca spoke again. "Are we going to tell the girls?"
"Personally, I think we should wait - just a little bit - but if you want to tell them then I'm okay with that too," Chloe seems so sure on her answer that Beca wonders just how long Chloe's been thinking this whole scenario through.
But the brunettes also surprised when Chloe doesn't seem to know her answer, she was Beca for gods sake, anyone should know her answer to one of those situations where you tell people things. So, naturally, Beca's turning her head and lifting it from the redhead's shoulder and giving her a look that says are you fucking kidding me? to which Chloe giggles slightly, her eyebrows up and that cheeky smirk Beca knows all too well. "What?" She's still lightly giggling when she says it so Beca's fully aware she knows what.
"You know what."
"Well, I had to give you an option, didn't I?!"
"Not when you know the answer!" There both laughing and getting way too into this when Beca playfully rolls her eyes and drops back on to her shoulder. And that's when she takes a moment. Just to remember that Bhloe, in the good nature of Amy, was an actual thing now. And it should feel different, but it doesn't, physically at least, because this was normal, they literally cuddled every night if they were both there. It had been that way from a week after they started sharing the room. Chloe's bed, the smaller of the two, had literally become a storage unit for bags and other crap they throw on there pretty much anytime they reach the room. So, physically, it didn't feel different. But everything other than that did. Just being together feels more intimate, maybe because of the new-found permission of actually being able to kiss and touch each other as more than friends. But both of them encouraged the change.
"Hey, you okay?" Beca has no idea how long has passed since she kinda blanked from the world but obviously long enough for Chloe to grow concerned.
"Yeah, I'm good," and really, she was. Who wouldn't be in this situation?
"I'm glad you're good," it's only after Chloe says it that Beca realises how quiet the room is – the tv's off now and if she kind of squints her eyes to concentrate, the low hum of the party next door can be heard. But neither of them has any interest in that.
"Do you think we should lock the door? So, you know, no one wonders in at 4am like everyone always seems to do," there's that giggle again that Beca loves, and of course it's at her being half asleep already.
"Probably, yeah," Chloe manages to whisper, starting to move to actually go and do said thing.
"I got it," gently pushing Chloe back down, the brunette manages to find her balance and make it to the door without falling down the stairs - a regular occurrence – and make it back up without incident. When she catches sight of the bed again, she's welcomed with the sight of Chloe cuddled up, facing her of course, looking just about ready to drift off. So, she climbs in, reaching over to touch the lamp, plunging the room into darkness and cuddling into her girlfriend.
