A/N: I've been trying to figure out how angsty to make it with Chloe...there's at least a little here, but how much more is still waiting for my fingers to decide :)
Disclaimer: Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2 are not mine.
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The two girls decided it was best to keep their date a secret from the other Bellas for the time being. It wasn't that they were ashamed or that they didn't think the other girls would be happy for them (although, while Becca could be a little clueless about Chloe, Stacie was a little worried about how the redhead would take it), they didn't want the added pressure of the girls' expectations adding to their growing relationship. The teasing was also something they figured they could do without, at least for a little while.
So they decided to keep with tradition and have their date on Thursday night. They followed their normal routine, right down to meeting in room 312 of the library. Stacie smiled when Beca finally arrived, well finally is an understatement as she actually showed up at 7:05 p.m. but Stacie was so excited she had shown up fifteen minutes earlier, so it seemed like it took forever. When Beca knocked on the door, Stacie opened it and let the smaller brunette in. Beca promptly pulled Stacie in for a soft kiss before asking her if she was ready. Stacie just nodded and took her hand as they walked back out the door.
As they walked back through the lobby of the library, hand in hand, Beca saw the librarian smiling at them. As they walked up to the front desk to turn the key in, Beca smiled back at the Olivia, "We still aren't fully 'officially' out yet, so…" Olivia put her fingers to her mouth and pantomimed locking her lips and throwing away the key. Beca winked at her, "Thank you." Stacie just looked between the two with a confused look on her face to which Beca just squeezed her hand, "I'll explain later."
The girls walked hand in hand a few blocks off campus to a small, family-owned Italian restaurant. The girls slipped into easy conversation, talking about their week so far and changes they should make to the set for their performance at Sectionals. Their food finally arrived and the girls stopped talking for a few minutes to enjoy their dishes. Stacie looked over at Beca's plate, she had ordered a four cheese manicotti, "Oh my God Beca, that looks like it could give me lactose intolerance just being in the same room as it."
Beca smirked as she shoveled another bite into her mouth, chewing it and swallowing before replying, "I know right, but it is soooo good. Wanna bite?"
Stacie leaned forward, opening her mouth for a bite. Beca cut a small piece off and carefully fed Stacie the bite. Stacie gave a small moan as she chewed, "God that is good."
Beca smiled, "I know right? So how is yours?"
Stacie held out a bite of her mostaccioli with meat sauce out for Beca, her hand cupped under it to keep it from dripping on the tablecloth. Beca leaned across the table to take the bite and tipped her head back moaning as she swallowed, "Oh that is so good. We need to come here more often."
Stacie gave a small smile and a "Mmmhmmm" as she was internally doing cartwheels, Beca was thinking of them beyond this first date.
The two girls sat arguing over the dessert menu. Beca thought tiramisu would be a better dessert choice while Stacie was arguing for cannoli. Stacie thought she would stack the cards for another date by suggesting, "Ok, this time why don't we get the tiramisu but the next time we come here on a date, we get the cannoli."
Beca smirked at the taller brunette, "Are you saying that you'd like to go on another date with me sometime?"
Stacie nodded, almost shyly, which took Beca by surprise because Stacie always seemed so confident about dating, "Well then I'll just have to make sure that I stay on your good side long enough for us to come back to this restaurant for another date."
After settling the check, the two girls decided to take the long way back to campus as it was an unseasonably warm evening for the beginning of December in Atlanta with the temperature still hovering around 60 degrees when they left the restaurant. The girls walked holding hands, talking about this and that. As they started to get close to campus, Beca stopped and turned to Stacie. She looked around to see the area was deserted before she smiled and took a step closer to the taller brunette, her hands sliding around her waist. She gave a small tug to pull the girl the rest of the way to her as she tipped her head up to catch Stacie's lips in a gentle kiss. Stacie's hands seemed to move on their own accord, one slipping around Beca's waist, the other snaking around her neck to pull the smaller girl deeper into the kiss. When they two girls finally broke the kiss, Beca pulled Stacie into a hug, her head resting on the taller girl's shoulder, "Mmm, that just keeps getting better and better. Can we do this again, soon?"
Stacie kissed the top of Beca's head, "Yes Beca, we can most definitely do this again. As soon as possible."
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The next few weeks flew by, with the end of the semester and finals, Bellas' rehearsals and the two girls' date nights. Granted, most of their date nights were as they had been all semester, the girls meeting in room 312 of the library to study. Beca still spent most of her time across the table from Stacie, because that girl really liked to spread out when she studied and she found that she couldn't keep herself from touching the other girl if she sat next to her. But the girls still found time to cuddle, hold hands, talk, and yes, kiss, during their study sessions, so it wasn't all bad.
The girls still found time to go out on actual dates. Sometimes it was just grabbing a quick burger before heading to the library. Other times it was more 'official' and they would actually go out for dinner and do something other than sing or study. Stacie's favorite date so far was when Beca took her to an indoor miniature golf course. They had a blast and Stacie really didn't mind feeling Beca's body pressed up against hers as the smaller girl tried to show her how to putt properly.
Keeping their budding relationship a secret from the Bellas was having a toll on them, however. While the two girls had been starting to spend more time together before they started dating, they spent even more time together after. One Bella in particular noticed that they were spending more time together and she wasn't too keen on it. Chloe was used to Beca spending all of their free time together and now Stacie was taking away some of her Beca time. That's what led to the first indication that there were issues with keeping things secret from the Bellas.
The girls were having their usual Saturday night Netflix binge. Beca was walking over to take the open spot next to Stacie when she was pulled down to sit next to Chloe. She looked over at Stacie sheepishly and shrugged as if to say, "What are you going to do, it's Chloe?" Stacie shrugged but there was a look of hurt in her eyes. That would have been the end of it, except as they were finishing their second episode of 'Orange is the New Black' of the night, Chloe pulled Beca into her lab and cuddled into her. Stacie suddenly got up, excusing herself because she wasn't feeling well. Nobody really paid much attention, giving the brunette some 'Feel better's and 'Sleep well's as she walked out of the room. Nobody except Beca that is. She saw the look of hurt in Stacie's eyes as she walked out of the room. She gave her a few minutes to get settled in her room before she slid out of Chloe's arms, "I'll be right back, I just want to check on Stacie quick."
Chloe just nodded with a "Mmmhmm," without looking away from the t.v.
Beca knocked softly on Stacie's door. The taller girl looked up with tears in her eyes as Beca asked, "Can I come in?" Stacie nodded and made room for the other girl on her bed. Beca sat down and pushed the hair back from Stacie's face, pushing a few stray strands behind the brunette's ear. Beca sighed, "You know that I had nothing to do with that, right?"
Stacie nodded but didn't look convincing as she responded, "I know, but I think she likes you. And it's Chloe, how do I stand a chance against Chloe?"
Beca stood up and closed the door, coming back to the bed to bring Stacie into a tight hug, "Baby, I'm with you, not Chloe. And it doesn't matter what Chloe does, I'll still choose you. You are the one I have feelings for, not Chloe." She pulled back from the other girl just a bit, using her thumb to wipe the tears off of her cheeks, "You don't have anything to worry about Stace, I'm not going anywhere. Face it, you're stuck with me."
Stacie smiled through her tears, pulling Beca into a soft kiss. As she laid her head on Beca's shoulder she whispered, "Good, 'cause I'm not going anywhere either."
The second indication that there were issues with keeping things a secret happened during a Bellas rehearsal. Cynthia Rose was just being Cynthia Rose, making small passes at Stacie. But when she got handsy with the leggy brunette, Beca snapped at Cynthia Rose, "If you can't keep your mind on the rehearsal, what are we even doing here? Maybe we should just let the two of you get a room." Cynthia Rose looked taken aback when her small captain snapped at her while Stacie just looked at Beca with a hurt expression. Cynthia Rose just stuttered, "Sorry Cap, I'll focus on rehearsing." Beca muttered, "Thank you," while turning and walking away.
Stacie cornered Beca after rehearsal. Looking around to make sure nobody would overhear, she harshly whispered, "What the hell Beca? You know I had nothing to do with that, right?"
Beca looked sheepish, "I know, but when I saw her hands on you I just kinda lost it."
Stacie smiled, "So you were jealous?" Beca just nodded. Stacie laughed, "Well at least you are kind of hot when you are jealous," as she pulled the smaller girl in for a deep kiss.
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With Christmas break coming up, the two girls had decided that they would try to get some time for just the two of them. Everyone except Beca was heading home for the holidays. Because Beca's dad lived right there in Atlanta, she was staying in the house to make sure nothing happened over the break. All of the girls were coming back either on the 30th or 31st so that they could all be together to celebrate New Year's Eve together. So Stacie decided she would come back on the 28th, that way she could spend a couple of days with just Beca, nobody else to bother them or for them to worry about.
Beca wanted to do something special for Stacie on the day before she left for break. She tried thinking of things to do with the woman who had wormed her way into Beca's heart. She went through a mental list: karaoke, no they sung all the time; a club, no too crowded; dinner and a movie or show, no too cliché. She was getting frustrated until she stopped to think, what would Stacie like that nobody else would think of? She got out her laptop and after a short search, she came up with the perfect way to spend their last day together before break.
Because Stacie wasn't the last one to leave for break, the girls still needed to be careful for their date. Luckily Ashley and Jessica were leaving early in the afternoon and only Lucy would be left in the house when they got home from their date. So they left the house about a half hour apart that Friday afternoon, meeting up outside the library. Stacie smiled as Beca bounded up to her, hugging her fiercely, "You know I'm really getting tired of sneaking around. We should tell the Bellas soon."
Stacie nodded, "We'll tell them right after New Year's. Let's let everyone get settled in after break and then we can drop this bomb on them." Beca just leaned in and kissed her girlfriend. Stacie took Beca's hand and started walking towards her car, "So, where are you taking me?"
Beca just smirked, "It's a surprise, you'll have to wait and see."
Stacie nudged the smaller girl with her shoulder as they walked, "Meanie."
Beca nudged her back, "Yup, that's me. Miss Meanie."
They got in the car and took off, Beca still giving no hint as to where they were going. About two blocks from their destination, Beca couldn't hide it anymore. The signs pointing the way were too obvious. Stacie just looked at Beca, her mouth agape, "You're taking me to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History?"
Beca got a little nervous with her response, not knowing how to take it, "Ummm, yah, that's ok, right?"
Stacie squealed, hugging the smaller girl causing her to swerve a little, "Oh my God, it's more than alright. It's perfect. I love it Beca, thank you so much!"
Beca sighed internally, "I hoped you'd like it. I wanted to do something that you would really like."
Stacie grinned from ear to ear, "I really like it Beca." Then her smile slipped a little, "But what about you, are you going to have fun?"
Beca took one hand off of the steering wheel to hold Stacie's hand, "I was kind of counting on your excited explanations of everything to make it fun for me."
Stacie squeezed Beca's hand, "Oh, I can handle that. Oh my God Beca, I've been wanting to come here for two and a half years. I've just never had the time."
The two girls spent the afternoon wandering through the museum, Stacie excitedly pointing things out and doing her best to explain some of the displays to Beca. Stacie hoped that the smile that never left Beca's face was an indication that she was actually having fun. Beca for the most part couldn't help but smile at how excited her girlfriend was over just about everything in the museum.
When they finished touring the museum, Beca drove them back to campus. Just before they reached campus proper, Beca parked the car. Stacie hadn't been paying attention to where they were going, instead focusing on the cute brunette sitting next to her. The one that had given her the best date, ever. She looked at Beca with a puzzled look as they stopped. Beca just nodded her head in the direction behind Stacie. Stacie turned around and saw that they had stopped outside the restaurant they had gone to for their first official date. She turned to Beca, smiling, "And I didn't think this date could get any better. I guess I was wrong."
Beca smirked at her, "Well I figured that I owed you those cannoli."
The two girls got out of the car and walked to the restaurant hand in hand. The girls had a wonderful meal. Beca had a cheese tortellini with a roasted red pepper sauce while Stacie chose the chicken parmigiana. They capped off their dinner with the cannoli Beca promised. The two girls slowly walked to the car, not wanting the evening to end but Stacie had to leave pretty early in the morning. When they got in the car, the two girls looked at each other and then slowly came together for a tender kiss. Beca broke away, a small sigh escaping her lips, "We should get back before Lily starts to worry about us and before I want to do more than just kiss you." Stacie nodded, her forehead pressed against Beca's. She leaned in and quickly kissed the smaller girl before scooting back over into her seat.
