Weeks passed after Beca's admittance into the hospital, and the red head seemed to visit her almost every day. At first the brunette found it strange, but quickly welcomed her company. The only occasion where she did not want to see the red head was when she brought the day of schoolwork with her, and even then Beca loved the visit.
Nothing pleased the brunette more than to listen to the doctor telling her she was able to return to Barden. As much as she would have thought going back to where Aubrey was would've been awful, Beca was too ecstatic about leaving the hospital to even care about it. She put her leg to the ground, putting little weight on it as she took hold of the crutch left at the side of her bed. Luckily her right leg was the one broken, that way she could hold the crutch with her arm that was not broken.
Though the pain had diminished, it was not completely gone, and the slightest pressure reminded her as a small wave of agony washed over her leg. A sigh escaped her as Beca shook her head, wondering when her pain would finally end. The brunette scoffed as she realized she had no clothes to leave the hospital with, but a voice brought her away from her anger.
"Look who's up and about," the girl turned to see the red head standing behind her, and her smile widened to see the pile of clothes in Chloe's hands.
"Do you know how much of a life saver you are?" Beca asked, walking over to her, making sure to use the crutch to steady her leg. Seeing the worried expression in Chloe's blue eyes, Beca smiled lightly. "I'm fine. Stop worrying."
"I can't," the older Bella replied, moving closer to her, "It's my job. Besides, if your leg starts hurting again someone has to be around to carry you."
"A skinny twig like you could carry me?" Beca asked teasingly, winking at her. She watched Chloe shake her head, shrugging her shoulders.
Her walls had come up again, and her sarcastic demeanor had returned with them. Beca felt strong, and yet she felt weak. In her world things were falling apart, and anxiety filled her mind. She could never tell the red head what she was worried about, no matter how much she wanted to. Staring into the distance as she thought, the brunette could only wonder about possibilities of the future.
The other Bellas hadn't been to visit her in the hospital, and according to Chloe their victory celebration had been postponed until Beca could get out of the hospital. She'd told the red head it was unnecessary, but she wouldn't hear it. Though, the girl thought it was incredibly nice of them, and she knew no one had ever done anything like that for her, nor would anyone do it again.
"You're going to need help changing, you know?" Chloe said, bringing the brunette out of her thoughts. Her eyes narrowed at the red head, who only had a smirk on her face and a flirtatious glimmer in her eyes.
"No, I won't," Beca replied, shrugging her shoulders and taking the clothes from the red head's grasp. "Shut the curtain."
Watching the red head carefully, the girl smiled as the older Bella did as she was asked, however there was a small twist. Rather than going on the opposite side of the curtain, Chloe stood where she was, her back to the brunette.
"When you need help just let me know, okay?" her teasing attitude almost had Beca arguing she wouldn't need her help, but knowing Chloe, she was bound to be right.
"All right, I need help," the red head could hear the defeat in Beca's voice, more importantly she could hear her frustration.
She turned, smiling at the fact that the brunette had somehow managed to get her underwear on and almost clip her bra. Of course Chloe knew Beca was stubborn, but to know her stubbornness knew no bounds was very amusing. The red head walked over, her footsteps making little sound. When she finally reached the brunette's back she slowly trailed her hands up the girl's back, letting her fingers draw the paths of the scars along her spine.
"What are these?" Chloe asked softly, feeling Beca tense under her touch, and the shudder up the brunette's spine certainly didn't go unnoticed.
"They're nothing," the older Bella raised her eyebrow, hearing the girl let out a harsh breath. "I was clumsy when I was younger."
"Beca-"
"Just help me get dressed," Chloe knew not to push further, hearing as the brunette sounded fearful and frustrated. Before moving to her front, the red head allowed her fingers to drift on the tattoo on Beca's shoulder. "I like it."
Without any other talking from Beca, Chloe managed to put on the brunette's jeans and a button up shirt. Looking into her brown eyes, the woman sighed. Those beautiful brown hues were staring at the ground, and she seemed to be lost in her own world. It was a way she had never seen the girl before, so focused, but so incredibly frustrated. Her eyebrows narrowed in an adorable way the red head had never seen before.
"Beca," she said quietly, trying to get her attention. Yet, when the girl was unresponsive, Chloe knew she had to take drastic measures.
She coiled her fingers into the belt loops of Beca's jeans and pulled her closer, staring into her amazing brown eyes. Immediately the girl was pulled out of her trance, and a faint blush crept to her cheeks. A very large grin erupted on Chloe's lips.
"You're cute when you're frustrated," she paused, tilting her head to the side. "And when you blush."
"How would you know? I'm not blushing," the girl asked, letting a small smirk sneak to her lips. Her eyes remained locked with Chloe's, and she took time to notice each and every shade of blue in them. They were so beautiful; Chloe was beautiful.
The brunette gasped quietly as Chloe's lips touched her cheek, her chest tightening with the strangest and most delightful pressure. She was pulled closer, and when the red head pulled away a grin had completely spread across her lips.
"You are now," Chloe said with a grin as the brunette felt her cheeks grow to a darker shade of red.
Beca turned her head away from the woman, smiling ridiculously. Seeing Chloe from the corner of her eyes, she quickly placed her walls up again. The blush quickly faded from her cheeks and the girl stared at Chloe with an arched brow. Strangely, the red head's smile still persisted. How could she be so joyful? With a shrug, Beca turned and grabbed her crutch, using it to help her walk out of her hospital.
"Need any help?" the brunette turned her head and saw how Chloe specifically slowed her pace in order to stay beside her. She smiled in appreciation, walking out of the hospital doors with an enormous grin on her face.
"Not at all," the girl replied, closing her eyes and allowing herself to fully feel the sunlight. The warmth was almost overwhelming, considering how cold it had been in the hospital ever since she had gotten there, the heat was welcomed whole heartedly.
"Enjoying the heat?" a familiar voice came from in front of her, but even with her eyes closed she could recognize that voice. As she opened her eyes, the former leader of the Bellas stood in front of her, arms crossed over her chest.
"Enjoying freedom, actually," Beca replied, a smirk on her face, "If I didn't know any better I would say you chained me to that hospital bed, Aubrey."
"Maybe I should've," the blonde smiled as she walked over, pulling the younger girl into a light embrace. After pulling away, she put a hand on Beca's shoulder. "Don't expect any more of those."
"Noted," the brunette nodded, turning her head to Chloe. "I get enough from her, anyway."
It was Chloe's turn to blush as the brunette sent a very teasing wink her way. Beca was very proud of the way she could make Chloe blush, and started to wonder what was going on? Why did she care about what the red head thought about her so much? Was there something between them? No, that was impossible. No one ever cared about her that way. Jesse didn't count; he was more like a brother to her than anything, especially when he got on her last nerve.
Yet, as she looked into Chloe's eyes, the girl couldn't help but feel entranced. It was as if she could be lost forever in her blue eyes. They were like the ocean, swirling with her emotions as they came. However, Beca only wanted to see happiness on the red head's face. Joy suited the older Bella well, unlike herself. What suited her best was solitude, and the façade she had created so perfectly to mask the pain of loneliness within.
"Ready to go home?" Chloe asked, pulling her out of her thoughts. The brunette smiled, wondering how many times her own thoughts would be pushed aside for the beautiful woman.
"Absolutely," she replied, shrugging her shoulders. "I haven't worked on a mix in weeks, I need my laptop back."
"Well, before you plan your late night with your music you should know the celebration for our win is tonight," Aubrey said, interrupting as they walked to the blonde's car. "The others can't wait to see you."
That's why they didn't visit me in the hospital, Beca thought to herself, shaking her head slightly. She knew they cared, but her mind had been filled with doubts of people's devotion had been diminished over the years. The constant degrading and dejection had created the cynical whose only escape from the cruel worl around her was music. Bringing herself out of her thoughts, she nodded to Aubrey, letting her know she understood.
The girl stole a quick glance at Chloe, seeing the worried expression in her eyes. Beca's eyes remained firmly planted to the ground, not wanting to face the red head's questions. Which reminded her of a mistake she had made, but of course, many things caused her to remember her mistakes.
How could she have been so stupid as to let Chloe see the scars? Since the day she had received her first Beca vowed never to let anyone see them, never to tell anyone of what they were. There was nothing anyone could do. They were a burden she had to bear, and would continue to bear as long as she needed to. On occasion she would feel a small amount of pain from them, but after a while the pain became a normal part of her life.
Chloe took Beca's crutch and helped her sit in the backseat of Aubrey's car before following her and giving the crutch back. The brunette was, of course, grateful for the action, but found herself exhausted. As much as she wanted to talk to the other Bellas about how things were going, her eyes seemed to have a mind of their own. She managed to lean her forehead against the warm glass, relishing the heat before darkness overcame her.
The red head constantly looked over to the sleeping girl during the car ride. How she could be so tired after spending weeks bedridden in a hospital was completely lost upon her. Still, she couldn't deny how beautiful Beca looked when she slept, and how beautiful she was every second of every day. A moment's hesitation stopped her, but somehow she ended up pushing a strand of her brown hair behind the younger Bella's ear. The small smile crossing her lips was noticed by Aubrey.
"I can see your toner through your jeans, Chloe," she smirked, looking at her through the rear view mirror. "You've got it bad."
"Shut up!" the red head exclaimed quietly, hoping not to wake the girl beside her. "I do not."
"Oh really?" the blonde asked, raising her eyebrow playfully. "So, when are you planning on telling her?"
"Aubrey!"
"You can't hide it from me, Chlo," she laughed, shrugging her shoulders. "I know these things."
"I think Beca would disagree with you on that," the red head giggled at the roll of Aubrey's eyes.
"She probably would, but that's not the point. Stop changing the subject, Chlo."
"I don't know when I'm going to tell her, okay? Is that what you want to hear?" At the raise of her voice, she noticed Beca stir beside her. The girl turned over to be facing her, somewhat curling into the seat.
"Well, you should do it soon," Aubrey advised, smirking slightly. "Considering the way she could barely take her eyes off you at the hospital."
"She couldn't take her eyes off me?" Chloe asked in surprise, smiling goofily at the idea. Somehow the day had gotten even brighter, and looking at the clock in surprise she knew the surprise at Beca's dorm would be almost ready. Everything was falling into place, and eventually she would gather the courage to tell Beca how she felt.
It would have to wait until she woke up, of course.