A/N OK - so this was planned as a one-shot drabble at first. Something a bit different from the usual Bechloe Fluff, but I couldn't leave Chloe crying like that could I?
Chapter 2
Jessica stood on the landing, still stunned at the little brunette tornado that had just burst from Chloe's room. She looked towards the now-closed door to the attic room that Beca and Amy shared, and then back to Chloe's still-open door and through it at the sobbing redhead laying on the rumbled bed. She bit her lip in thought and then stepped softly into the room, closing the door behind her.
"Hey. Chloe?" the blonde softly spoke, approaching her friend and captain. When the other girl didn't respond, she gently sat on the bed next to her and with soft fingers, brushed red curls away from the redhead's face. Tears streaked from Chloe's eyes, black lines streaking down her cheeks. Her chest still shook as the last vestiges of her obvious sobbing dissipated.
Chloe's eyes flickered open as she became aware of the soothing presence. She looked up at the blonde with watery eyes – the bright pools of blue diluted a duller shade with a tinge of redness around the rims. She choked back another sob as she tried to speak, "Oh, Jess…"
"What happened, honey? Did you kiss her?"
Chloe's eyes widened in shock, "How? Wha..?"
Jessica smiled and gently laid her hand on the redhead's upper arm, stroking it affectionately. "Oh come on Chloe –we all know how you feel about Beca – the way you look at her, the way you're always finding a way to be with her, to be next to her." She continued smiling as she saw Chloe's brow furrow as if in thought, a smile starting to crease her eyes as she thought of Beca. Jessica continued, "You're always cuddled up together under the blanket on movie night – you try to brush your hand against hers when you walk together – as though you're desperate to hold her hand. We've all noticed these things. It's like I am with Ashley." The blonde stopped as Chloe looked up at her with questioning in her eyes, "Wait, what? You're with Ashley?" Jessica's brows creased in mock frustration as she flicked Chloe's nose.
"Stacie and I thought Beca felt the same way – I mean why wouldn't we? But I'm guessing from the little outburst, she doesn't?"
"You heard that?"
"Well kinda. I mean El Capitan doesn't swear at you. Like ever." Jessica looked deep into Chloe's eyes with absolute concern and love for her Bella sister. "Are you OK? Do you wanna talk about it?"
Chloe was quiet for a few seconds, tears starting to gather in her eyes and then nodded. "Am I really that obvious? I mean, about Beca?"
Jessica wiped the tears from her friend's eyes with the pad of her thumb, "Yeah, honey you are. You might as well be wearing a t shirt with 'I heart this chick' and an arrow pointing to your left."
Despite herself, Chloe offered a stifled giggle. "Oh Jess, I honestly thought she felt the same way. God, I've been in love with her since, well since the Activities Fair. Definitely since the auditions." She stopped to swallow. "It devastated me when she ran off to kiss Jesse after the first ICCAs, and when she got together with him, I respectfully took a back step, but I was always there for her. I knew we'd become fast friends, and we did. I thought when she broke up with him in Junior year that well, that maybe I had a chance again."
Jessica took Chloe's hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze. Chloe smiled at her. She really felt genuine love for all the Bellas, not just Beca, but all of them. They may be crazy and kooky in their own individual ways, but she loved them all, she'd really miss them all when they graduated. She'd miss them all so much. It filled her with so much emotion that Jess was here with her, giving her comfort and support. A tear came to her eye as she thought of all she was going to lose when she graduated. She wanted to live in the Bella house forever, with all of them.
The blonde girl could tell Chloe had zoned out and drifted away, so she smiled to herself and gave the redhead's hand another gentle squeeze. Chloe looked at her and smiled sadly.
"All this time, I've been in love with her, and I never realized how obvious I was to you guys. I've obviously not been obvious enough with Beca, but I really, really thought that maybe she might feel the same way about me. She's not been with anyone since she split with Jesse, and I've not had anyone since I split up with Tom. And that's three years ago Jess. Three years since someone other than myself gave me an orgasm." She glanced up at Jess. "T.M.I?" Jessica giggled.
"So, what happened tonight?" the blonde asked. "I'm guessing you made a move?"
Chloe nodded. "I hadn't planned to. We were studying, and you know how these things go, right? We ended up pillow fighting." Jessica took her lip in her mouth and quirked an eyebrow.
"Well, anyway, one thing led to another, and I ended up straddling her, in that cliché pinning her down, faces getting closer moment. I hadn't planned it – it just happened –I guess that's where the clichés come from. It felt right, I know I depsperately wanted to kiss her and I thought she did too." She paused, a look of infinite sadness pooling in her eyes. "I really, really thought she wanted to kiss me too. Oh my god, Jess. The look in her eyes when she pushed away from me. She hates me. I've lost my best friend."
The redhead's dam burst. Tears began to stream from her eyes as she started to sob. Jessica hopped onto the bed and wrapped her arms around her friend as Chloe snuggled into her, tears beginning to dampen the blonde's grey tank top. She held her friend tightly, resting her head atop the nest of fiery red curls, stroking her arm gently. She flinched slightly when she felt her pocket vibrate. It was probably Ashley looking for her. With a sigh, she chose to ignore it for the moment. This was a Bella emergency she couldn't walk away from.
"I've lost her, Jess."
A/N2 OK - so she's still crying - I'm sorry about that. But perhaps things will get better?
