Chapter 19
"What was that about?"
That's the question that is thrown in Chloe's face as she enters her room, Tom following behind her. They've just arrived back at the Vanderbilt manor from the memorial ceremony dinner. Aubrey had given her a worried look, the one that has a lot of questions beneath it. Chloe doesn't blame her, the tension between her and Tom is hanging heavily in the air like some stench coming from the sewers. And to be honest, she's too tired to deal with whatever it is right now. Sleeping it off might be a much better step and Chloe prefers that rather than tackling it down head first like what Tom wants to do right at that very moment.
"I've already told you what it is about. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? We talked that's it," she replies in a tired tone as she takes off her jewelry, putting them all in her jewelry box lazily.
"How interesting is the topic that you have to lock yourselves up in a room for almost three hours? What is it? Beauty tips? Fashion?"
There's a bite in his words, the accusing tone as clear as day and Chloe's patience is wearing thin. Anger slowly bubbles up in her chest and if he doesn't stop things might go from bad to worse. Which sucks because she just had dream-less sleep for almost three hours and it gives a sense of peace to her weary soul until Tom starts talking. It is then the heaviness starts to return and Chloe desperately holds to the feeling security, of comfortable warmth and of drifting off into a very much needed sleep—even if it was just two and a half hours.
And yes, maybe when Beca woke her up—'Fifteen minutes, huh,', 'Sorry Becs, I… I fell asleep', 'Obviously,'—and both of them awkwardly stood apart each other it's like they were caught doing something they weren't supposed to be doing. But really, nothing happened.
"I never question any of your late night meetings," she retorts under her breath before she can even control herself as she sits, staring down at the floor where her high heels lay.
"What did you just say?" Tom asks in disbelief.
The question and the tone makes her mind go blank, boiling water spilling off the brim. Slowly, she turns her head towards him and for a second there he seemed to be taken a back.
"I said I don't question your fucking late night meetings so you don't have the right to question mine," she spats at him, eyes filled with anger.
"This isn't—"
"I'm not just for display, Tom. I am also capable of doing the same things you are doing!" she bursts out before realizing what is happening and tries to breathe in. The silence that follows is deadly and Chloe has a more than a million places she'd like to be right now. Anywhere but where she's at right now.
"I'm tired. I really want to sleep," she says in a much calmer tone before standing up to head to the bathroom, closing the door behind her harder than she had intended. Sitting down the bathroom floor with her head in her hands, she finally hears her bedroom door close just as hard as Tom walks away.
Taking in another deep breath, Chloe leans her head back against the bathroom's door as she stares up, tears welling up in the corner of her eyes. Closing them shut, she imagines drifting back into the happy bubble she was in earlier. It felt safe.
Chloe feels safe in it.
She wishes she could stay in it forever.
But it's hard to do that when she feels like everything is going wrong. So she unconsciously clutches on to her phone, her thumb swiping across it before it lights up. She scrolls through her contacts until she finds the number she desperately want to press.
And it's funny how something so simple could actually bring a small smile to her face.
Selene Laurent
That's the name Beca actually keyed her number in because 'Nobody's going to know that it's me, Chloe,'
She contemplates on the green telephone symbol for a while. Looking at it like a lighthouse on a dark bleak night.
"I'm here," comes the voice that washes over Chloe with relief. It actually surprised her that Beca did pick up the call, answering it on the second ring as if she had been waiting for it.
"Can't sleep," she exhales through the receiver before quickly adding, "But it's not because of the nightmares. There's something else bugging me,"
"Is this about kittens or food?" Beca asks monotonously and Chloe's smile widens.
"Neither,"
"So, we're back to unicorns,"
"Nope, not unicorns,"
"This better be worth my time. I'm already regretting this decision of giving you my number,"
"This is a legit question that I really am curious about," she answers in between soft chuckles as she hears Beca mumble about fire and the end of the world.
"And it's too late for you to regret. Do you know that you have a lovely telephone voice?"
"Get straight to the point, idiot," Beca cuts in as Chloe pauses for a bit to prepare her burning question.
"Do you sing? Like really sing?" she asks. "'Cause I've seen your guitar by your bed and the sound equipment in your room," she says with a bit of hesitation, letting the sentence hang in the air for a while as she waits for Beca to catch on.
Of course, she does.
"If the follow-up question to this is what I think it is, then no,"
"So you can sing!" she blurts out, the heaviness in her chest easily dissipating as their conversation lengthens.
"That's not what I said. I'm hanging up. Bye,"
"Don't! Please, I can't sleep Becs," she whines while the other line goes silent until Chloe hears a sigh.
"Fine. Ask," comes the resigned tone and the smile is back in Chloe's lips.
"Will you sing me to sleep?" she asks and Beca mutters about being queen, stupid puppies and idiot slaves.
There's another round of silence until the Du Pont finally speaks again.
"I'll go grab my guitar,"
In a minute, Chloe hears a distinct chord being strung followed by a pause then another one. She hears Beca clear her throat.
"Just so you know, you owe me blueberry pancakes after this," she mutters and Chloe lets out a light laugh, pressing the phone more against her ear as she listens intently.
Beca's voice softly flows through the receiver like gentle waves washing ashore and Chloe decides it's a lovely sound. Add in the relaxed strumming and it's already enough to soothe one's soul. Chloe immediately recognizes the song. It also happens to be one of her favourites, 'No One's Gonna' Love You' by Band of Horses.
And as Chloe's eyes start to grow heavy, it's a pleasant thought to know that somehow even in music they are connected.
It's as if even with those eight years of being separated by distance, something's still managed to bind them together and it bled through in a passion they both share.
Sleeping in the bathtub isn't comfortable. That's what Chloe learns when she wakes up with a stiff neck, her muscles complaining with her every move. At least she didn't have nightmares. Glancing down at her phone, she remembers drifting off to sleep amidst the soft strumming and the gentle voice singing to her.
It also hits her that Beca doesn't only play the guitar well, she's also a very good singer. It's even more adorable that the Du Pont doesn't seem to know that she is indeed a talented singer and Chloe is wondering if she ever considered a capella.
Maybe she can subtly try to suggest it later. Subtly.
Later
The thought of seeing Beca puts a genuine smile on her lips and a bounce to her step as she gets ready for her first class of the evening. It'll be a good night and that's what she hoped for until she opens her door.
Claire Vanderbilt.
The older Vanderbilt had her arms crossed as she leans by the side of the door, looking at her in a way that reminds Chloe of the time she had discovered of Chloe's secret. And now suddenly the hope of a perfect evening disappears like smoke.
"Tom and I have fights. It's normal," she answers without even waiting for her to speak. Claire may not be the nicest and easiest person to be with but when it comes to her brother, she's the sister you do not want to mess with. Being blood related can't even save you from that signature Vanderbilt icy glare.
"How about this? Do you call this normal?" she replies in an equally icy tone as she tosses a couple of photos over at Chloe's side table near the flower vase.
Stolen photos.
Photos that showed her and Beca coming out of the office last night. It wouldn't have been such a big deal if it didn't seem like they were coming from some secret romantic rendezvous with Beca's hand on her arm. Chloe remembers that moment.
They were heading back to the party when Beca suddenly held on to her arm, stopping her in her tracks to remind Chloe that if she ever needed anything, whatever it is, that she'd be there for her. It didn't take long after that for Chloe to wrap her arms around the Du Pont to whisper softly into Beca's ear.
"Thank you for coming back, Midnight,"
She remembers how good it felt to have Beca slowly bring up her own arms to hug her back. It was light and cautious but it was a start.
There was only one thing Chloe wished for at that moment and that is to stay longer in Beca's arms. She could just fall asleep in them and forget the world. With the scent of Beca's perfume lingering, at some point, it becomes a desperate wish.
Now as Chloe stares at those photos and it is funny how a part of her still finds humour in wondering if she could keep them. They are beautiful after all. Maybe she should compliment the quality of the photos out loud and talk about sticking them to the side of her vanity mirror. Claire's probably going to flip at that though. Probably throw one of her most precious high heels towards Chloe. But then she can dodge that one and throw it back at her. Straight at her irritating face.
Guess, Beca's sarcasm and dark humour is slowly rubbing off on her.
"Looks familiar, doesn't it?" Claire speaks, tilting her head to the side. "The only difference now is my brother's much more involved in this mess too. I've had to pay a huge amount of money for them not to publish those and maybe I added the fact that I can make them rot for centuries in a dungeon,"
Claire steps forward, foreboding and threatening yet Chloe doesn't even flinch. She's not 11 years old anymore. She's not weak or helpless. She's not afraid.
Not when it comes to protecting someone she cares deeply for.
"Nevertheless, I don't like what I'm seeing, Chloe. We've been through this before. My brother has set his eyes on you ever since then and the last thing I want is him getting hurt because you're too weak to resist getting lured in by that slut who doesn't even deserve to carry the crown! It's unbelievable how foolish they all are to bow down to her as she sputters all those lies when the truth is, she's been in the club all day doing everyone she can get her hands on and getting drunk," Claire presses on and despite trying hard not to, Chloe feels the sting in those last few words.
"What, so you are back to being 'buddies' again? That looks a little intimate for a friendly hug. Are you going to what, practice French kissing next? Or has she gotten what she wanted from you already? She's an expert deceiver and you're falling right in her dirty little trap,"
That was it.
"It really does take a slut to know one," she says lowly, throwing her own icy glare. It makes the older Vanderbilt in front of her shake in anger. And as Claire opens her lips to counter, Chloe beats her to it.
"You better think about it twice before you speak. She's not only a queen I serve, she's also my best friend. Oh, that's right, you don't even know what that means. You don't even have one and I really pity you for that. But if you dare say one more word against Beca, I will hurt you," she almost growls lowly as she takes a step forward and this time it's Claire who is backing away.
Chloe then moves to step around her, planning to leave as soon as possible but a hand quickly grips her by the wrist as Claire stops her, "Are you seriously threatening me?"
But Claire's words don't have any effect as Chloe harshly wrenches her hand free, fangs sliding down as she grits her teeth with anger, giving her cousin a look that nobody wants to mess with.
"I am and if you love life, you wouldn't want to put that to the test,"
She walks off, hating the fact that her evening is pretty much ruined before it even started. Her mood has drastically gone down the drain and honestly, she really doesn't feel like going to her classes.
Chloe had never missed a class on purpose. It's only either she is sick or in an important school related event like say, an a capella competition that she becomes absent. Her steps come to a stop before she reaches her classroom. Aubrey who was walking in front of her also stops as she feels Chloe's hesitation.
"What's wrong?" she asks and when Chloe doesn't answer immediately Aubrey worriedly looks at her. "Chlo?"
Finally finding her words, she looks back up at her cousin, "I'm not really feeling well. You go ahead, I'll just go… get some fresh air," she mumbles, throwing a confused Aubrey an apologetic look as she takes a few steps back before turning around to hurriedly walk in the opposite direction. Her feet taking her far before her mind could even catch up. When she becomes aware of the direction she is taking, she finds herself heading towards the main gate.
In order for a student to travel out of school grounds for whatever emergency reason, a request for a car is to be made and that actually takes quite a while. Chloe, however is an elite and elites have their own cars on stand-by but then her cousins would surely find out. She doesn't have time for a million questions and another round of stressful arguments.
She wanted to escape.
Sighing, she opts to sit down a nearby bench instead. At least it's quiet. Until she smells a familiar scent, hears the thumping of a heartbeat followed by the hypnotizing voice that had sung her to sleep last night. In a second, she looks up and around.
"Becs?" she murmurs before standing up and walking further towards the gate until she spots movement behind one of the trees. Beca's black Bugatti parked in its special spot as Beca herself leans against it, eyes focused on her phone as she types something in it.
"I think you're class just started 10 minutes ago," the Du Pont says without even looking up at her. And this gives Chloe the luxury of looking at her from head to toe—because damn, military jackets and black leather short shorts are always a sexy combination.
Averting her eyes when Beca finally looks up at her, Chloe instantly sputters a reply, "I'm skipping class,"
The look of shock in Beca's face is priceless. It quickly fades though and the Du Pont nods.
"Cool," the Du Pont says before stashing her phone away and putting on her sunglasses.
"You're skipping classes too?" Chloe asks, watching Beca's graceful movements.
"I never attend any of my classes and it's not going to change just because I'm queen," Beca smirks before opening the door of her car and moving to get in. But then she stops mid-enter, pausing for a while before moving back out again to face her.
"Just get in before I change my mind," she huffs and Chloe squeals in delight before excitedly running towards the other side of the car to sit next to her.
Eyeing the car's impressive audio system, she then turns to look at the Du Pont who is now choosing a song to play. "Where are we going?"
Damage by PARTYNEXTDOOR turns out to be the song choice as Beca reaches over to Chloe's side to grab on to the seatbelt, making Chloe's breath hitch at the close proximity. She locks it in place and Chloe mumbles a 'thanks' before she questions again, hoping to get an answer this time. "So, am I going to finally find out where you run off to all the time?"
She gets another smirk as they start slowly driving out of the campus, security personnel bowing down as they pass by and finally Beca gives her a reply.
"Maybe,"
Just as she says that, she steps on the gas and Chloe is holding on to dear life. Warping through space probably feels like this, it's slightly uncomfortable but on the other hand, it's like the kind of exhilarating fun you get in amusement parks. Chloe loves going to amusement parks. It's in her bucket list of things to do on a date. Sadly, she crossed that one out months ago since Tom hates crowded places.
Beca sharply turns at a curve and instinctively, Chloe's hand flies towards the Du Pont's, squeezing it tightly.
"Sorry," she mumbles, loosening her grip.
"Do you want me to slow down?" Beca asks and it makes Chloe's insides flutter.
"No, just keep going,"
And maybe Chloe would've released Beca's hand if she hadn't felt the light re-assuring squeeze. She ends up holding Beca's hand until they stop at their destination thirty minutes later.
Of course, this was where Beca goes to.
A club.
Specifically, Club Dusk. Chloe's certainly not dressed for a club but she isn't going to let that stop her from improvising. Pulling down her hair tie, she lets her hair cascade down her shoulders, running her hands through it. She then rolls her sleeves up to her elbows and adjusts her skirt as she steps out the car.
When Beca looks back at her just before they enter the VIP entrance she pauses and maybe it's all in her head but it did seem like the Du Pont's eyes had wandered down her outfit appreciatively. But again, it could all be in her head.
Still, the thought makes her blush.
They enter and Chloe bathes in the party atmosphere. Even though she's used to it, there's an obvious difference in being in a club without her usual group of friends and going with someone who makes your heart pitter-patter all over the place. She follows Beca as they start heading for the bar, manoeuvring carefully among bodies. In the midst of all that Beca's hand finds hers like she knew that Chloe was searching for hers.
She doesn't let go and Chloe doesn't plan on it either.
They reach the bar and the bartender whom Beca calls, Flo, gives Beca a look of surprise and an amused look towards her way before serving them their drink of choice. Chloe chooses a fruity cocktail and Beca unsurprisingly goes for something stronger.
"Five till show time!" Flo reminds Beca and Chloe looks at them in confusion until the Du Pont stands up and looks at her. That light touch behind Chloe's back doesn't go unnoticed and it doesn't even help when Beca leans over for her so Chloe can hear her. Those dark blues getting even more prominent as she moves closer towards her.
"Any song requests?" Beca asks and Chloe starts mentally choosing what song matches her mood.
In the end, she settles with, "Chocolate"
Beca tilts her head adorably as she racks her head for a song called 'Chocolate' and Chloe thinks maybe she should give vague answers often if that's the cute reaction she gets. Especially if their faces are only inches apart from each other.
"The 1975?" she asks and Chloe nods eagerly with a growing smile on her lips.
"'Cause I love the band, I love chocolate and most of all, it has your name in it!"
A look of clarity passes Beca's face as she looks up, a small 'oh' forming in her lips as she remembers the lyrics and the genuine smile painting her lips is gorgeous that Chloe wishes she'd smile like that more. Or perhaps smile only at her that way. "Right, anything else?"
"Nope, that's it. The DJ a friend of yours?" she asks but Beca doesn't say anything and gives her only a smirk as a reply. Before Chloe knows it, she's being pulled towards the front, at the side of the stage where Beca tells her is the best spot to dance in the club before throwing her a simple, "Be back in a moment,"
The Du Pont then steps up to the DJ's booth where she is greeted with a friendly handshake by the current DJ manning it. He then taps her on the back before bidding the crowd a wild night and stepping down and that's when Chloe realizes what's happening.
A wild night it is going to be.
Beca makes magic. It's how Chloe describes her music. Magic. It's hypnotizing, exhilarating and very beautiful. She loves how much passion Beca pours into her creations. It's almost like her oxygen and Chloe can relate to it because that's how it is for her too. But more importantly, Beca herself is art and Chloe can go on forever describing all her intricate details. Suddenly, Chloe finds that she begins to slowly understand more about the elusive Du Pont.
Her best friend may have grown up but some things still stay the same.
Chloe doesn't find it hard to dance to the beat and she's sweating by the time Beca announces her final song, a special request from a special person as she describes. And Chloe's heart seems to expand as she hears the familiar tune, underneath layers of mixed beats. Beca then sings for the first time into the mic, recording it and playing it on loop as she creates the remixed song on the spot. One that she made for her. She gazes down at Chloe and the wink she gives her should illegal. Beca Mitchell herself should be illegal because she's doing nothing good to Chloe's health, both physically and mentally.
"Hey," Beca starts as slides next to Chloe at the bar.
Smiling, Chloe swivels her chair so she face the Du Pont better, "So, anything else you want to tell me now? Do you also own the club?" she asks as Beca takes a sip of her drink before shaking her head.
"The owner is a friend of mine. Met her and her wife at their club in L.A., Club Bellisimo, and well, we had an easy conversation and I ended up with a job," Beca shrugs and takes another sip of her drink.
Chloe nods, staring down at her own drink as she says, "I loved your version of the song. It's going to be on my top favorites,"
She feels Beca look her way, lips starting to move as she begins to say, "I made it for—" but she gets cut off as a body comes in between them, creating a barrier in the middle which leaves Chloe feeling cold all of a sudden.
"Hey babe," the girl coos. There's a distinct familiarity in it as if they are close acquaintances and the rather intimate gestures prove it to be true. The woman's arm sliding around Beca's shoulders.
Chloe takes a sip from her drink and suddenly it tastes like water. She needed something else, maybe something stronger to cover the sudden weird pinch at the center of her chest.
"Chloe, my childhood best friend," Beca introduces her and Chloe throws the woman a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes followed by what sounds like a friendly greeting—or so she hopes it sounds. It's hard to be nice when she feels like she's about to break into pieces.
"She's lovely, Beca. I was hoping to have fun with you tonight but it seems like you already have company," the woman drawls, throwing Beca a knowing look before whispering something in her ear. Something that Chloe doesn't want to hear so she tunes it out, focusing on something else with her eyes down on her drink. Sometimes special vampire abilities are a curse.
Having intensely focusing on the loud beats surrounding the whole place, she doesn't hear Beca call her attention. It is only when the Du Pont places a hand on her arm that she whips her head towards Beca. Thus, the confused and puzzled look.
"Hey, sorry, I got to talk to someone. I'll be back real quick, okay?" Beca explains, giving her an apologetic look.
Nodding, Chloe immediately re-assures her that it's perfectly fine. The Du Pont lingers a little longer before lightly squeezing Chloe's arm. Like some sort of promise. And then she's gone off. With her sexy 'club buddy'. Who is holding her hand and pulling her away from Chloe.
It's irritating.
It's maddening.
It's infuriating.
It's none of her business.
Even if she wants nothing more than to stop her, pull her back and tell her to stay. To tell her to stop letting that woman run her hands around her skin. To never leave her side. Because she has no right to do so and she knows that, loud and clear.
She's just the 'childhood best friend' after all.
"One more Margarita?" Flo asks and somehow it looks like she knows. Being a bartender, she must've seen the look on Chloe's face more often than anyone else. They are most likely the first people one would look for in case of earth shattering feelings and end of the world matters.
Tapping her finger against the bar table, she remains quiet for a moment before finally, the tapping stops—and maybe she's acquired this anxious habit from Beca. She then looks up at the waiting bartender, right in the eye as she says, "Yeah, but without the lime, the triple sec and maybe even the salt as well?"
Flo smiles at her as she begins to pour her drink, "Okay," she says and Chloe is thankful that bartenders, like Flo, are good at catching on fast, being sensitive and are non-judgemental—at least the kind that doesn't show on their faces and makes you feel insecure.
In seconds, Chloe's drink is served in front of her, a glass of just pure tequila which she's quick to consume like it is water. The room instantly grows even warmer as she pushes the glass towards the bartender. "Delicious, can I have one more?"
Maybe getting drunk was really part of her 'things-to-do' tonight. She's just fortunate that she bumped into Beca who has unintentionally become her ticket to booze town.
Beca, right, Beca Mitchell, sarcastic but caring, aloof but sweet and rough around the edges but is capable of gentleness. A killer with a heart. Chloe hadn't even thought of putting those two words together in a sentence until she gotten more involved with the Du Pont. Anyone who'd probably hear her say it out loud would think that she's mental. But maybe she is because she's seriously slipping down towards that direction if this keeps up.
Speaking of slipping, she's seriously about to kiss the floor any second now with the amount of Tequila in her system. Well, better the floor than the guy who has been trying to flirt with her for the past few minutes. And honestly, even if she was sober and single, she still wouldn't. It's even annoying how persistent he is despite her countless rejections.
"Sorry, no," she says for the millionth time, waving her hand lazily at him while she downs another glass of Tequila. She's also had it in mind to break his nose if ever he touches her one more time.
Wanting to give as much distance as possible, she tries to hop on to the next seat only to miscalculate the distance of the floor from up the stool where she was sitting—and also the level of drunk she is currently in. She really is about to kiss the floor this time if it wasn't for secure arms catching her in time. Instinctively, she clings to the warm body that had broken her fall, inhaling the scent of coffee and blueberry.
"Becs Becs! You're back!" she delightedly says, swaying in Beca's arms as the Du Pont holds her steady.
"Right, sorry about that, there was this music producer who…" Beca's words trail off as she takes the state Chloe is in—smiling like an idiot with heavy lidded eyes and head nodding slowly.
"I love this song. It's groovy," she slurs as a slight frown starts to appear in Beca's face.
"Chloe," she hears Beca call out. "How much alcohol did you drink?" she asks as Chloe holds up two fingers.
"Two?" Beca prolongs the word, clearly skeptical as she tries to gauge out the exact answers by supplying suggestions, "Shots, glasses, bottles?" before murmuring, "God, please don't say bottles,"
Chloe giggles before answering, "Glasses,"
"So, just two?" Beca asks and there's that tone of scepticism again. This time, Chloe looks up, seemingly counting the number in her head.
"I think… it might be more than two," she says and Beca's eyes glance towards the side where Flo is wiping the table and also probably holding up her fingers to tell Beca the exact count number—which is definitely more than two.
"Uh huh," is all that leaves Beca's lips before looking back at her in something akin to concern. But before she could suggest taking her home, Chloe is already shaking her head.
"I'm fine! This is the best night of my life! Look, I can still say my name backwards, walk in a straight line and punch that annoying flirt who is trying to harass me," she says in the most confident tone a drunk person can muster as she jabs her thumb towards the direction of annoying flirt. She probably sounds similar to how those dumb people confidently declare that they can jump from the roof down the trampoline and into the pool without breaking their spine.
"Don't," Beca quickly dismisses before Chloe could go and prove all of it. The Du Pont's eyes flitting to the someone behind her and it suddenly reminds Chloe of the look she gives off when she's about to like, kill thirty rogue soldier vampires. But she's drunk and anything at this point is either real or a hallucination.
"Let's just go somewhere else," Beca finally says and Chloe pouts.
"Gut Chlo Chlo mont shwimmy," she whines in baby alien language, tugging at Beca's jacket. But I want to go dance.
"Later," Beca sighs. "We'll go swimmy later," she assures her as Beca begins to walk her, or more like guide her, towards the exit, an arm protectively wrapped around Chloe's waist. And if she gets to be this close to Beca when she's drunk then alcohol isn't so bad after all.
The Du Pont gives a grateful nod towards Flo before passing by annoying flirt. And as soon as they do, the guy suddenly gets thrown off from his seat and falls down painfully to the floor, his drink spilling all over him. Chloe doesn't know what exactly happened as everything looks like it's spinning but it definitely had to do with Beca.
"Sorry, didn't see you there," the Du Pont mutters before she 'accidentally' kicks him in his side. "Sorry, again. It's so dim in this place. Can't see," she apologizes as the guy groans in pain, clutching his ribs.
After wobbling and weaving through people, they finally make their way out and back to Beca's car. At this point, everything just seems funny and maybe even blurry to Chloe. Even the stop lights at the intersection look like colourful Christmas cookies to her and maybe that small curve Beca's lips make is an indication that she finds Chloe's drunken ramblings humorous.
"So, you're this kind of drunk, huh," she muses when Chloe goes on about the differences of the red, green and yellow cookies she'd like to eat right now.
However the amusement in Beca's eyes fades as they hear the roar of a car engine revving up again and again. It sounds taunting and as they look over at the vehicle next to them, a red sports car, two guys give them a look that is nowhere near decent.
"Look, here comes shit number 1 and shit number 2," Beca says under her breath with no enthusiasm at all. The Du Pont begins to roll up the windows until a comment makes her pause.
"Hey red, wanna' ride? I can assure you, it's far more satisfying in here,"
The windows roll back down as Beca fixes her eyes over the abominations.
"C'mon, fingers are never going to compare to what I have down here!" the guy with a cap next to the tattooed driver yells out mockingly, licking his lips before they both snicker.
"Becs," Chloe begins, her focus now more clear as she suddenly feels much sober than before. She turns to the clearly pissed off Du Pont. Hearing her voice however, Beca breaks off from throwing deadly glares at the laughing maniacs, her attention tuning back into her. They look at each other for a moment and questions are not needed. They're already in the same wavelength.
"Step on it," Chloe orders.
Beca doesn't need to be told twice, her car revving up angrily and this is probably a situation Chloe would never think she'd find herself in ever but she's too far gone to think rationally. Not when Beca looks like that, eyes dark and cold, and lips parting in intense concentration.
Chloe wonders if those very lips still taste of peppermint or do they taste like blueberries now.
The light goes green and all Chloe sees is the glow of city lights and the colour blue.
Dark stormy blue.
Adrenaline rushes into her system. The thrill of danger making her heart skip a beat before pumping fast. But she's not scared. Never near Beca. They make a drift at a curve. Beca's hair sways to the movement and Chloe thinks it's perhaps the most alluring thing she's ever seen. 'Dembow' by Danny Ocean blasts through the car's speakers and she's probably going to ask Beca to dance to it with her later.
And of course they win.
"You alright?" Beca asks her softly and Chloe smiles.
"I think I would've felt much better if you literally kicked them in the ass,"
The smile Beca makes is again, priceless.
An hour later they find themselves in a quiet spot overlooking the city, car parked just near the edge and loads of snacks scattered all around them. They've crashed, not literally, at a convenience store along the way where Chloe may have gone wild running around because of too much chocolate. She may have also introduced herself to the cashier as a clingy red panda and Beca the fuzzy otter she clings to, much to the Du Pont's annoyance.
"Otters love holding hands. Hold my hand, Becs. I'm cold,"
"She's not—I'm not—I don't know her,"
"You're hands are so warm and squishy,"
"We're leaving. Now!"
"I know you secretly love it,"
It's an hour after midnight. The chilly wind blows gently but Chloe doesn't feel any of it, not when she's next to the Du Pont who had just given her, her jacket. They are both now sitting on the hood of the car, shoulders brushing against each other and music still playing in the back as they look on at the amazing scenery.
The silence between them is comforting rather than awkward and Chloe finds that it's always been like that with Beca. She didn't have to play perfect or act a certain way at all. She can just be herself.
It must be so good to live like this all the time.
Being free.
A heavy feeling starts to consume her but a familiar tune plays and Chloe's eyes light up instantly.
"I know this song!" she happily says.
"I like this song," Beca says next to her and Chloe looks at her. The Du Pont turns to her as well and there's that look again, the one where she has seemed to decipher whatever Chloe is thinking. Admittedly, the mischievous look and grin are a dead giveaway though.
"You promised me we will," she reminds the Du Pont who sighs. "Just because I had tequila doesn't mean I didn't hear you say it," she adds.
Chloe stands up, turning to face the Du Pont, offering both her hands towards Beca who looks just about to protest. She doesn't though and takes both Chloe's hands instead. Chloe pulls her up to stand, taking a few feet back. Beca follows her and it's really hard to think about anything else when those stormy blues never leaves hers.
And maybe Chloe didn't think this through.
Beca takes a step closer to her, hands coming up to rest on Chloe's hips before sliding them towards the small of her back to pull her closer against her. It has Chloe unconsciously gulping as the gap is close to disappearing any moment now. Her own hands fly up over Beca's shoulder and around her neck instinctively. Resting her head lightly on the Du Pont's shoulder, they sway lightly to the beat. Their movements totally in-sync with each other as if they had been dancing together for years.
Beca smoothly takes her hand and spins her around, a smile on both their lips until Chloe's fades as she feels Beca's front flushed against her back. Arms, strong yet gentle wrap around her middle. She feels Beca's warm breath against her neck and it is such a huge contrast to that time in the old gym two years ago.
Chloe really didn't think this through.
They move and dance to the beat until they're back to where they first started. The dancing starting to dissolve into light swaying with Chloe's arms around Beca's neck, her chin now resting on Beca's shoulder and the side of her head leaning against Beca's. And this is the most intimate they've ever been in eight years. The Du Pont's hands are still resting at the small of her back and maybe Chloe doesn't want it to end just yet. So she hugs Beca tighter, mentally giving the excuse that there's still a certain amount of alcohol in her system.
So, she blames it on the alcohol.
"I like being with you," she says softly against Beca's ear.
It's a slip but it doesn't matter anyway. She's tumbling down hill with nothing to stop her.
It's too late.
She's already fallen so deep.
Into those deep dark blue eyes.
She could get lost in the galaxies hidden within them. Bringing up her hand, she gently touches Beca's cheek. Her eyes flutter down from Beca's eyes to her lips, now only inches from hers.
"I'm happy when I'm with you and… I want to be happy,"
She's tired of the pain and Chloe takes in the only cure to it.
It's blueberry and chocolate and alcohol and something addicting all perfectly mixed. Beca's lips, that's how they taste like. They taste like bliss and drugs and every delicious concoction out there. It's sinful and pleasurable.
She doesn't want to stop.
But her lungs begin to protest. She parts from her new addiction to gasp for air before drowning herself again for more. Only she doesn't get more.
The hands on her shoulders gently stop her and that's the exact moment where Chloe's world shatters and crumbles apart. The colours fading into black and white. The night growing suddenly colder than ever before.
"You're drunk. Let's get you home," Beca says softly and it's too calm in comparison to the loud erratic beating of Chloe's heart.
She could push, protest against it and correct her but she doesn't. For fear of receiving another fatal blow, she doesn't say a word. Beca had just rejected her in the gentlest way possible, sweet kind words, meaningful smile and all. Nothing can be more painful than that.
She wanted to cry but she can't. Not in front of Beca. At least, she still has hope that the friendship could be saved. But for now, she lets her heart crash down the ground. The sound deafening.
Beca takes her home and everything just feels painful. Chloe doesn't even know where to start. The Du Pont bids her good night before planting a tender kiss on her cheek and it feels like goodbye all over again.
Maybe it is. She doesn't know anymore.
The manor is unusually dim and Chloe prefers it that way. A sob breaks out of her lips and she slowly falls to her knees. Tears pouring down her cheeks as she covers her mouth with her hand to muffle the sobs.
Something brushes against her hand and it takes a minute before she notices a trail of rose petals. Wiping away her tears, she carefully stands up after a while before curiously following the trail. They lead her to the garden filled with small candles where Tom stands, a single rose and a small white box in hand.
Stunned, she didn't even take in all of the impressive romantic setting that must have took hours to set-up. She remains stunned as Tom walks over to her. Stunned as he takes her hand and utters the words that Chloe didn't think she'd hear tonight—or in a couple more years.
"I can be better. I'll do better. I want us to work," she hears him say. He wipes away her tears, probably mistaking them for tears of joy.
"I want you. I want you to be my queen, Chloe," he pours out before getting down on one knee and opening the small box in his hand.
A beautiful, very expensive, diamond ring sits perfectly in the center.
And only then does Chloe's mind catch up.
"Marry me, Chloe,"
And here we are again. Back to the start.
A/N:
Oh dear. We've come this far indeed. Remember don't forget to RSVP at least 3 weeks before the big day or as Beca says in her perfect french pronunciation Répondez s'il vous plaît.
And because we finally have a chapter released on Saturday we will celebrate with another poll!
Who do you think is going to sing on the big day?
a) The 1975
b) Sam Smith
c) Camila Cabello
d) Beyonce
e) Drake
f) Lorde
g) some K-Pop group (probably BTS)
Key in answers in the comments below. First one to get it right will be first in line at the wedding reception's buffet.
Thanks for following, adding MS to your favorites and commenting or reviewing. Always remember that you is kind, you is smart and you is important. So if they don't treat you right then dump them and adopt a cat or a dog.
Also, special shout out to the guest who has been here the whole time (like Jessica and Ashley) and finally commented. LOVE YOU TOO!
