It had been a year since Chloe had seen Beca. She could still remember that day vividly. It had broken her heart to pieces when they said their goodbyes. Beca and Jesse had moved to LA together right after graduation. Sure they kept in touch, but as the months passed their conversations got shorter and longer apart.
About a month ago, Beca had sent her a picture of her hand. An engagement ring. Chloe shouldn't have been so surprised to see it. Beca and Jesse had been together for four and a half years now. This was obviously the next step after moving in with someone. Seeing that picture had hit Chloe hard. This was actually happening. She would lose the girl to the guy forever. It would soon be final.
It's not that she doesn't like Jesse. He's actually a really good guy and he treats Beca like she should be treated. If Beca were to marry any guy, it should be him. That's what hurt even more. Knowing that Beca was actually with someone who could give her things that Chloe only dreamed about giving her.
Chloe knew she shouldn't be so selfish about this. She should be happy for her friend. This was a huge deal. So of course she would go to their engagement party. No matter how tough it would be to see them together. So, when she arrived at the hotel, she took a deep breath and walked in there with a smile on her face.
She did that pretty well. When Beca walked up to hug her she held on to her tightly. She breathed in that familiar scent she had missed so much not wanting the moment to end. Being in Beca's arms reminded her of the many times they had at the Bella house when they would snuggle together to watch a tv show. All too soon Chloe was forced back to reality and Beca was guiding her into one of the private rooms in the hotel where they held the party. The room was decorated nicely. There was a champagne fountain. Thank God. She knew how she would spend most of the night.
She caught sight of Aubrey and could already see the sympathy in her eyes. That was probably the worst part about all of this. Seeing those looks from everybody. Like she was a lost puppy someone had abandoned. She smiled back anyway hoping to at least appear to be kept together.
There was a DJ playing and some of the girls were already on the dance floor. They all seemed so care free, like this was something to celebrate. Which, obviously it was, to others anyway. No, this was more like a farewell party. Like it was some sort of funeral. Rest in piece absurd fantasy that gave Chloe her dream of ending up with Beca.
She glanced over at Beca. She watched as Jesse whispered something into her ear causing the girl to laugh. She wondered how it would feel like to be Jesse right now. Claiming the girl of his dreams. Of their dreams. And with that thought Chloe downed her second glass of champagne.
The champagne came in handy. It helped mask the pain she was feeling. It allowed her to talk and laugh with her friends. She had pulled Beca onto the dance floor. Her mind was fuzzy from the alcohol but the brunette felt so good dancing behind her as Chloe grinded into her seductively to a slow beat. Beca had whispered in her ear laughing that the guys were staring at them. Chloe hadn't even noticed. The only thing she knew right now was Beca.
The brunette spun Chloe around and the other Bellas joined in once 'No Diggity' started playing. It brought Chloe back to Beca's freshman year when the then reserved girl busted out rapping that song. Chloe knew at that moment that Beca was something special. A rare gem once you knocked down the layers of the wall that she held up so well. Chloe worked hard to knock it down and once she did it was something magical.
Getting Beca to open up had been a wonderful experience. She finally got to know the real girl hiding behind all of that eyeliner. She had seen Beca at her most vulnerable times. Those were her favorite moments. Something she would hold dear to her heart forever. Because Beca acted differently around Chloe. It was like there was a whole other side of her. The side where she was playful, sincere, joyful. Others would never had described Beca in those words, but Chloe could.
Unfortunately, there was someone else who was tearing down those walls as well. Jesse. He got to have not only the emotional side of Beca, but the sexual side of her as well. Something Chloe would never be able to obtain. No, that side of Beca would forever be Jesse's. Chloe wasn't the jealous type, but when Jesse cut in to dance with Beca that's all she could feel. She returned to the champagne fountain, watching the girl she loved dance with her fiancé. The Bellas surrounded her giving her emotional support. It did help some, but nothing would ever make her feel complete. Not without Beca.
As the night came to an end, Beca had come to Chloe asking her to be the maid of honor. She was somewhat shocked. She asked Beca why her? Beca just laughed telling her that she was still her best friend, even if the past year they had been a bit distant. Chloe smiled. Of course she would be if it made Beca happy. That's all she ever wanted was for her to be happy. Being the maid of honor did have its perks after all. She would be spending a lot of time with the bride to be planning all of the details to the wedding. Even though it wasn't their wedding, she would make sure her best friend would have the perfect one.