Prompt: "Beca's been in love with Chloe and can't stand to see her getting her heart broken anymore so she finds the courage (well, more like pushed by Aubrey and Jesse to "go get her girl") to serenade her with a song she wrote. Based on the Hunter Hayes song, 'Wanted'"
A/N 1 – So, although there are plenty of "Beca sings Chloe a song and they kiss" one-shots, I for one do not really see Beca singing to Chloe, ever. Like maybe she could do it discreetly during Bella practice or during a performance, but as far as serenading; I feel like Beca is cooler than that. Not that having someone sing to you can't be nice (I seriously wouldn't know though, so…), it's just not for everyone. Personally, I think it would be awkward, weird and uncomfortable for both the people involved and I think Beca would think that too, so no serenading here, sorry :(
And I'm sorry I basically just rambled my way through that explanation (and removed a big part of the prompt!) – hopefully what's written below will be a bit better…
Wanted
Beca was sat at her desk, tweaking a mix that had been saved unfinished for a while. Despite the idea that inspired her to spend some time on it earlier, she couldn't seem to focus on it now.
She was distracted.
After a poor attempt of trying to clear her mind, she pulled the headphones off her ears and closed her laptop with a sigh.
Chloe was on another date tonight.
And Beca couldn't think of anything else.
She had done her best friend duties for the past month or so; helping chose outfits, consulting on non-wordy text messages and excitedly clapping along whenever there was a reply.
Yes, Beca had done it all, with a forced smile and a crushing feeling of jealousy settling in the pit of her stomach whenever Chloe mentioned Tom. In the beginning, the DJ really tried to sell it, mustering all the convincing she possibly could, but now it was wearing thin and Beca wasn't even sure Chloe had noticed.
Truth be told, Tom was a dick.
Maybe Beca had a biased opinion, but even Aubrey and Jesse had agreed.
The six foot two, dark and handsome football player was arrogant, insensitive and completely unaware of how amazing Chloe Beale truly was.
It made Beca's blood boil and no amount of mixing was going to stop her mind wandering back to her best friend and that asshole on a date.
XXX
"Midnight snack?"
The unexpected loudness of the voice startled Beca, causing the milk she was currently pouring onto her cereal to jerk forward and leave a puddle on the kitchen work surface.
"Amy, what the fuck?"
Beca began mopping up the mess with some kitchen roll as she glared at the oblivious Bella in the doorway.
"Why are you downstairs?" Fat Amy asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Usually you're up this late when you're working on a mix, which means food such as cereal…" she pointed to the bowl Beca was now holding in her hands, "…is the last thing on your mind. So that means you actually can't sleep, perhaps because a certain someone is on a date" she dragged out with a knowing look.
Beca rolled her eyes, "Alright, Sherlock…", she craned her neck forward to look around the door frame, "…is Mr. Watson going to join us soon, or…?" she asked sarcastically.
"You're waiting up for her again, aren't you?" Fat Amy smirked watching as Beca dropped her spoon back in the bowl.
"And I would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for you meddling kids" Beca cried out with the shaking of her first.
Now it was the blonde's turn to roll her eyes. Fat Amy reached forward, snatching the dish from the other woman's hands and walked off with it, as Beca looked on in shock.
"Hey, that was…" her words trailed off as she furrowed her eyebrows together.
"Whatever, short stack. Stay up and get your girl!"
Beca leaned back on the counter and let out a deep sigh, was she really being this obvious and if she was had Chloe noticed?
Before Tom, Beca would be having an internal meltdown accompanied by a stroke at the thought of Chloe having even the slightest hint of Beca's true feelings but now she actually wished the redhead had noticed.
XXX
Many late nights turned into early mornings for Beca recently. Her time with Chloe was getting shorter and more distant, as she and Tom's relationship progressed, whilst her best friend sat patiently at the side lines hoping she wasn't fading into the background.
Beca's behavior was growing more daring and reckless than before; whenever Chloe turned from the mirror on her closet door and asked Beca how she looked, the brunette would smile and utter the word "perfect" with so much sincerity and conviction she was sure she'd never have the courage to say before. If Chloe asked for advice on a particularly elusive message from Tom, Beca would shake her head and advise her not to reply, "If he doesn't realise what he has, it's not worth your time, Chlo."
It was growing more and more difficult for Beca to stay quiet, especially when Chloe was returning back to the Bella house in the early hours of the morning with tears in her eyes and a list full of Tom's petty excuses. Beca had willingly taken a backseat in their relationship and instead wrapped an arm around Chloe's shoulders and resisted the urge to kiss her lips, as well as the three words that seemed to constantly sit on the tip of her tongue and threatened to spill out.
It had been five months since Tom became part of Chloe's life and Beca was starting to realise he was slowly chipping away at Chloe's optimism and removing parts of her best friend piece by piece.
"He just doesn't understand what I'm trying to say" Chloe sniffled out as Beca passed her a tissue from the bedside.
"I've heard this all before" Beca mumbled, almost bitterly.
"Tom isn't a bad guy, Becs" the redhead assured, swiping the tissue under her eyes, "He just has a tough time showing his emotions."
The brunette tried to hold back a scoff – she was tired of playing the indifferent best friend now.
"Chloe, telling you to leave a party because he wanted to spend time with his friends instead of you is hardly him having trouble articulating his feelings."
The redhead rested her chin on her knees, looking at her best friend in silence. Beca shuffled uncomfortably on her bed under the other woman's stare.
"You really don't like him, do you?"
"I want to like him because you like him but truth of the matter is he doesn't treat you right. I can't like somebody who constantly makes my best friend cry."
She leaned forward with a sad smile, softly running the pad of her thumb under Chloe's eye to wipe away another tear.
Chloe gave her a soft smile as she almost leaned into Beca's touch.
"He said he loves me, Beca. Nobody has ever said that to me before."
Beca was sure her heart broke in two the minute Chloe uttered that sentence. Suddenly the reason for Chloe's resilience and persistence to stay with him becoming clear.
"If only you knew."
The sound of her whisper was muffled by her own shoulder, as Beca shuffled closer.
"But sometimes, it's like he doesn't even want me" Chloe added quietly allowing her legs to straighten in front of her; the light thud rocking Beca on the bed.
"Leave him and stay with me" the brunette smiled, lunging forward and wrapping her best friend in a tight hug. She could feel Chloe's shoulders rock slightly and the sound of her laughter send shivers down Beca's spine. So she squeezed even tighter with a chuckle of her own.
"We could watch The Notebook with ice cream and never leave this room" Beca added with a grin.
Chloe laughed louder before pulling away slightly, "The Notebook?" she questioned with a raised eyebrow, "You wouldn't last five minutes" Chloe smirked, sinking back into her arms.
"You never know; I might surprise you."
The words had an underlining meaning but Beca still punctuated them with a laugh and soft kiss to Chloe's temple. She let out a long sigh, paying closer attention to the way the other woman's warmth radiating her chest. The fact that Chloe didn't pull away made Beca think perhaps she wanted the (Beca's) contact, so she settled further into the mattress, her grip loosening ever so slightly as she hoped in this moment the redhead felt want she had previously expressed.
Partly because she deserved it, but partly because Beca had wanted Chloe Beale for the best part of a year now and she wished more than anything she could communicate just how much with a hug.
XXX
Beca was absent-mindedly stirring the spoon in her coffee, thoughts of Chloe and the night before on loop in her head. She tried not to think too much into the fact that Chloe didn't return to her bed last night and instead stayed cuddled with Beca like she used to a couple of months ago. The whole thing was quickly turning bittersweet, as she wondered how long it would take for the redhead to run back Tom.
The whole day?
A couple more hours?
Or straight after the Bella practice currently under way.
And as if on cue, "Hey, Mitchell! Why are you not at practice?"
Aubrey's voice caught the attention of everyone in the coffee shop but Beca's, who instead decided to huddle further over her mug hoping Aubrey's booming voice was just a figment of her imagination.
The tap on her shoulder and the loud "Becaw!" made her think not.
Jesse and Aubrey were suddenly in her line of sight and making themselves comfortable in the two vacant chairs across from her.
"Well?" Aubrey asked expectantly.
"Chloe has got them doing some trust exercises or something" she looked at Jesse with a knowing smirk before adding, "And we know that is not my thing."
While Jesse laughed, Aubrey just glared.
"Just because I'm no longer a Bella doesn't mean I'm going to stop bossing you around" the blonde warned, reaching for a sachet of sugar.
Since graduating, Aubrey hadn't strayed too far from Barden. Her internship at a law firm she managed to maintain during her study had progressed in to a full time paid job - her relationship with Jesse and closeness with the Bella's being the main reasons she accepted it.
Jesse quickly interrupted the stare down that was occurring at the table.
"How is she?"
Beca's eyes fell to the contents of the cup in her hands as if it held answer, "I don't know, better, I think. They had another fight."
Aubrey sighed, before leaning over the table, "Look, Beca, we all know that Tom started out as a distraction, but it's time now."
Her voice held a sense of finality and a seemingly cryptic message only she and Jesse understood. When the DJ didn't reply, Aubrey was speaking again.
"You're aware of the expression, "The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else" right?"
Beca looked at Jesse with pleading eyes, trying her best to communicate "Help me, dude."
Aubrey shook her head in defeat.
"Tom was a distraction from you, Becs" Jesse added with a shrug.
Beca suddenly found herself shaking her head involuntarily. Her eyes scanning everyone in the coffee shop, as if every single one of their faces knew this revelation Beca had just uncovered.
"But I thought…" her brain seemed to draw a blank and could no longer form sentences.
"No, you didn't. Last year you were too wrapped up in everything to see what was right in front of you, but now you see it, right?"
Aubrey was back to communicating in riddles, thankfully Jesse was there.
"Go and get your girl, Beca!" he exclaimed, bringing his hand down on the table as an aid to snap her into action.
Thoughts were circling her brain in waves of equal confusion and realisation.
"But she keeps going back to him?" she mumbled out quietly, the words scratching against her now dry throat.
Aubrey scoffed loudly, "Because she has her need for you confused with her need for Tom. The time to tell her how you feel is right now, Beca."
There was a fraction of doubt clouding Beca's mind. Certain things were sliding into place and Chloe's little remarks and actions finally making perfect sense.
Then there was the whole thing with Tom, that did nothing but make her skull ache in confusion.
None of that made sense to her.
"Dude?"
Jesse's voice was bringing her out of her thoughts.
"What have you got to lose right now? Don't say friendship because I think we all know you've both temporarily lost a part of that since she started dating Tom - just go and tell her how you feel."
Before Beca had a second to analyse all that had recently come to light, she was on her feet in a now more crowded coffee shop with a determined expression etched into her face. She nodded a few times before walking with purpose.
Out of the door, down the graveled path and to the auditorium.
She paused once she got to the double doors, peeping through the window to see a hall full of Bella's currently wearing blind folds and stood in pairs. She shook her head with a smile, before walking away.
She'll come back once Chloe is alone, she thought.
Then she was turning back, a new wave of confidence washing over her and a gripping fear of losing her nerve.
Along with the blind folds and being wrapped up in their trust activity nobody heard Beca make her way over to Chloe sat down on one of the pull down seats.
Due to the odd number, Beca was stumped as to why the redhead was sat alone, wearing a Bella scarf over her eyes. The sight only made her smile more; a combination of excitement and nervousness swirling in her stomach.
She sat down, gently taking one of Chloe's hands in her own. Her hand reached for the blindfold but Beca stilled it with a reassuring, "Chlo, it's me."
The beaming smile on her face made the brunette feel more sure of her decision to rush over here and finally come clean. Chloe's hand settled back into her lap and searched for Beca's.
Beca squeezed it gently, moving closer, hoping the closeness would make their potentially public moment seem more private. She wet her lips to speak but decided against it and instead rested them on Chloe's. She felt the redhead's hands shaking out of her own and reaching for her shoulders.
The DJ was sure her moment was about to end. The kiss she had spent so many sleepless nights envisioning it and the rushing desire to know how Chloe's lips felt on hers and what they tasted like was finally happening.
Before Chloe could push her away, Beca was hungrily deepening the kiss, praying with every ounce of her body Chloe wanted this too.
It lasted a little longer; how much longer Beca wasn't sure, but when Chloe did pull away, Beca was sure she never wanted to stop.
Beca opened her eyes, surprised Chloe wasn't already pulling at the scarf obstructing her vision. There was something about not seeing into her eyes that made Beca speak, "I just want to wrap you up. Want to kiss your lips. I want to make you feel wanted and I want to call you mine. I'm sorry, but fuck Tom, Chloe. I love you so much more than he ever will."
She internally cringed at the song she just quoted. It was unintentional and clichéd, but for some strange reason the lyrics to Chloe's favorite song were the first words to spill from her lips. Beca was unable to see what Chloe was feeling right now, so she quickly lifted her hands and delicately removed the blind fold, Chloe's blue eyes starting back at her.
She thought they looked watery but before she could inspect them closer, Chloe's lips were firmly pressed on hers .
The kiss felt different to the first. It was less hesitant and this time Chloe was the one in control. Her hands were resting on Beca's neck and pulling the shorter woman closer and further to the edge of her own chair. Beca was unable to think of anything, completely consumed by everything that was Chloe Beale.
The wetness Beca felt on her cheek made her pull away slowly, her hands instinctively reaching up to the redhead's face and wiping away the tear. Chloe let out a shaky breath before she started to speak.
"If only you knew?" Chloe asked, her eyes fixed on Beca's.
The brunette looked back at her confused, "What?"
"Last night when I said nobody had ever told me they loved me before…" she paused for a second, "…You whispered if only you knew, didn't you?"
"Yeah."
"I always needed to know for sure, Becs."
Beca bit her lip nervously before replying, "Is that why you didn't go back to your room?"
Chloe nodded with a soft smile, "And because I love you."
XXX
Thank you for prompting and I hope I didn't ruin it too much without the singing and knowing the song, 'Wanted' very well
A/N 2: Please tell me someone got my Scooby-doo reference or else things might be awkward now.
A/N 3: So due to the recent increase in the guest reviews as of late I am leaving a long authors note – yes, please groan internally and skip it if you hate my never ending drivel.
For those that decided to read on, cheers. This is basically dedicated to all the guest reviewers because I hate the fact that when I reply to a review it classes my reply as a review and I think that would make my story look better on paper that it actually is – oh, and it would drive my OCD wild!
First order of business; guest reviewer from chapter 36 – no, I have not seen the Bechloe video to Rita Ora's song. I really wanted to answer that because I felt rude not addressing it in my update of chapter 37.
Guest reviewer number 2 on chapter 36 – no, I won't be doing a follow up to the story, sorry but I see you have a lot of theories as to where they could end up. I guess personally I think Beca and Chloe would enter back into the same kind of relationship that probably has a longer "honeymoon" period where Beca tries to be better and Chloe gets pulled back in again. I can't really see a happy ending for them in this scenario though, I think eventually they both just ruin the love they had until it just finally dissipates and they have no option but to both move on, you know?
Guest reviewer the prompt for chapter 35 – When you said they tried to revive her, my angst clearly kicked in high gear and jumped to conclusions. However, realistically, if the Bellas couldn't save her, then by the time help arrived, surely it would be too late? I'm sorry you weren't completely happy with it, but no hard feelings? D:
As for the two guest reviewers who requested multichapter fics for 'A ten" and "Chemistry":
I'm really enjoying one shots at the moment because it gives me the freedom to basically write whatever I want. There isn't much opportunity to get in a slump with a story because I can't make it too complex that I struggle with a plot, if that makes sense?
"A ten" – Thank you for taking the time to review, dude! I don't like writing part three's and I really bent my own rules for that one, aha. Although it does have the potential to go forward as an independent fic, I don't think it would run a long course, so everything that needs to be addressed will be in the third instalment.
"Chemistry" – Anne, (Can I call you Anne? Shit, I shouldn't have gotten so personal with it…) I genuinely have no idea how I would make it a full blown story. I really had fun when I wrote it but I don't really see where I could go with it other than they go on a date. But I do seriously appreciate your kind words, okight?
A big shout out to the guests following and reviewing this fic anonymously, even if that would have been so much easier to PM to you all individually, aha!