The Bellas had rented out an old building for a night for their victory party. It wasn't anything creepy, much to Lilly's disappointment. Amy and Aubrey had drinks and everyone was drinking, everyone besides Beca, that is. Truthfully the brunette had never been one to party, and that hadn't changed. Of course, she was glad they had won the championship, but that didn't alter who she was. Everything she'd learned over her lifetime told her to stay away from parties and other crowds of people
They were cruel, and though the brunette knew the Bellas weren't like everyone else it didn't mean she wasn't still on guard. She sat in a chair in the corner, listening to her mix blast through the speakers Stacie had brought. Everyone else was dancing, and though no one saw it, a small smile crossed over her lips. The girl crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her seat. After glancing at the clock she sighed, wondering why the party didn't really seem any fun.
Her thoughts turned back to her mixes, wondering what songs she would blend together next. The brunette's talent had been developed over the years, and she'd been very proud of it. Though, Beca never wanted to share it with anyone. Having her mixes play on the radio was one thing, but truly sharing her mixes with someone was something she'd never done before, and something she didn't intend to do anytime soon.
"Beca!" she heard the red head yell as she walked over, sitting beside her. In truth the girl didn't mind the company, but wasn't expecting her to be sober.
"Great party, right?" Chloe asked with a tilt of her head, and the younger Bella couldn't help the small smile.
"It's fine, I guess," when the red head put a hand on her arm Beca felt sparks from their contact. A small shiver traveled up her spine that made her shift in her seat.
"You okay?" Chloe's concern always seemed genuine, but she couldn't bring herself to believe it. No one had ever cared, and no one was ever going to care. At least, that was what she had told herself so many times to the point Beca believed it.
"Fine," the brunette replied with a small smile, but had a feeling the red head saw right through it.
She was about to say more, but the small rings of her phone that were barely audible to her began to sound. The girl stood and walked to a quieter part of the house, leaving the red head alone with her thoughts. The older Bella knew she should rejoin the party, have a drink or two, and enjoy herself. Yet, something about not seeing Beca had a good time made her want to help. What was it about that tiny brunette that could send her thoughts reeling?
Usually Beca tensed at contact, and yet she hadn't. In fact, it seemed like she welcomed it. Her cold exterior didn't seem quite as frigid, and the walls around her heart not quite as high. The woman knew Beca was trying to keep her out, not letting her real feelings be shown to anyone. All she could do was wonder why.
Why would a girl so amazing as Beca have to hide whom she really was? Could there really be something so awful, so horrifying about her that the brunette felt she had to be hidden from the world? Chloe had already seen her talents with music and singing, in fact, she herself had convinced the girl to join the Bellas. She'd seen a glimpse of Beca's joy, but it was nothing compared to what the woman wanted to see.
The girl returned, still using her crutch to help her walk. Though, Chloe noticed she was putting more pressure on her leg than the days before. The red head knew how Beca disliked seeming weak, but in her mind the tiny brunette could never look weak. With the way she dressed and her sarcastic attitude, the only one to think Beca was weak would have to be a very stupid or drunk person.
"I have to go to my mom's tomorrow," Beca said quickly, sitting down and turning her head away. The red head raised her eyebrow in confusion, trying to get a better look at the girl's face. She wouldn't turn, she wouldn't stir, and it definitely had Chloe concerned.
"Everything okay?" she tilted her head to the side, confusion and worry clear in her bright blue eyes. As Beca turned to look at her the red head smiled gently, trying to calm the panic in the girl's eyes.
After muttering something about being fine to Chloe, the brunette quickly made her way outside the house, avoiding the eyes of the rest of the Bellas. Luckily, no one else was sober enough to notice her leaving. She wiped her eyes, staring up at the moon as she leaned against a nearby street light. When she looked up, the girl sighed as the light flickered out.
She let herself smile as she stared up at the moon, admiring it's light. Though, not many stars were visible, Beca enjoyed the view. Of course, the girl would never admit it to anyone else. She'd always loved seeing the full moon and stars in the sky. Before the divorce, before everything turned wrong, she and her mother would sit outside on the porch and stare up at the stars. It was back before Beca's mother had changed, and before the first scar has grown onto her back.
Just thinking about it sent her into a panic. Going back to her mother's house, back to that place, was unbearable. Certainly she was going to return with yet another cut down her back. How would she hide it from Chloe and Aubrey? The brunette was already in enough pain without having another cut to worry about. She shook her head, walking up the street, clinging to her crutch so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her breathing quickened, and the girl put a hand to her chest, trying to calm her restless heart.
As Beca heard footsteps walking behind her she shut her eyes, taking comfort in the familiar darkness of her eyelids. She returned to her normal stance, ready to face the person behind her, but wasn't expecting them to wrap their arms around her waist. The brunette was pulled against them, much to her discomfort. Though, after a few minutes she found herself relaxing into the embrace. She opened her eyes to see a familiar head of red hair out of the corner of her eyes.
"What are you doing?" she whispered softly, tilting her head to look at Chloe.
"Making sure you're okay," Chloe said, moving to be in front of Beca. The woman took the younger Bella's hands in her own and frowned. "From what I saw you don't look okay."
"I'm fine."
"Beca," the girl sighed at her chiding, shaking her head at the woman's over protective nature. "You're not fine."
Why did she care so much? What was it about her personality that made Chloe come back? It wasn't as if her father had. He walked out on her, and since that day Beca expected nothing less from others. Through the years her theory had been proven correct. Everyone left, and there was no choice but to accept it.
"What're you thinking?" the brunette's eyes were forced back to Chloe's as the woman put a gentle finger under her chin.
"Nothing," the girl smiled lightly, but the lie was clear in her voice. She knew the red head could hear it, but didn't give up. Usually, the girl was fairly good at lying. After all, she'd done so all her life.
"You're a bad liar, Beca," Chloe smiled, curling her fingers through the belt loop of the girl's jeans.
"Seeing as you can read me like an open book I knew that was bound to come out of your mouth sometime," the brunette winked as Chloe giggled.
Silence surrounded both women as they simply stared into each other's eyes. The girl wondered how it was Chloe's eyes were such a light shade of blue. Though, she knew it suited the red head perfectly. With Chloe's bubbly and kind personality her eyes were bound to be a bright color from the day she was born. Her fiery curls framed her face perfectly, and the brunette couldn't help the way her eyes glanced down to her lips.
"Let's go home," Chloe whispered, carefully breaking the silence between them.
"You actually want to leave a party?" Beca's voice soft and her lips curled into a smirk as she stared at the red head through the darkness. "I thought you were one of the people who liked parties. Besides, you've got Aubrey and the others in there."
"I don't think they'll notice," the red head replied, her voice still soft as silk, but her lips were dangerously close to Beca's. Temptation buzzed in Beca's mind. How she wanted to kiss the red head there, but she couldn't. It would destroy every wall she'd worked so diligently to build around her heart. With each passing second, Beca could feel the heat in her cheeks rising. She saw the red head's smile as the red in her cheeks grew darker, but Beca turned her head away. Blushing had always been a weakness, a sign of feeling she never wanted anyone to see.
She couldn't feel embarrassed, especially not in front of others. Yet, as Chloe's laugh rang through the air Beca couldn't help the smile that crossed her lips. It was short, but full of pure joy, something the girl hadn't felt in years.
"So?" Chloe asked, pulling the short brunette from her thoughts as the red head's hand managed to crawl it's way to Beca's hand that was still in the sling. "Are you coming or what?"
Their faces were mere centimeters apart. The women's foreheads touching in affection, and their eyes constantly drifting to the other's lips. It was Beca who pulled away, much to Chloe's disappointment.
"Beca-"
Chloe's mind turned to a complete blank. All of the complaints and explanations she was about to say were erased. There was no recollection of anything she was about to say. The only thing Chloe's mind could focus on was the feeling of Beca's lips on hers.
Her eyes closed, and she wrapped her arms around the shorter girl's neck. Warmth radiated from every part of Beca's body, and as the red head pushed closer she was protected from the chill of the night. Chloe's fingers found their way into Beca's brown tresses, and their bodies finally flushed together.
When the brunette's lips finally pulled away, the red head watched Beca turn her head to the side. Luckily, they were close enough for Chloe to see the girl's face. A frown tugged her perfect lips, and her hazel eyes seemed so full of shame.
"We should just go home," Beca murmured softly, effectively keeping her eyes away from the red head's.
Chloe nodded, taking the girl's broken arm carefully and leading her towards the car. She made certain her pace wasn't too fast, seeing as the brunette was still on her crutch and would be until the following week. The drive back to their apartment was silent, and seemed to last an eternity. Her mind wouldn't leave the kiss.
After so many months of knowing the girl Chloe thought she would have been the one to initiate the kiss. For one of very few times, the ginger was very happy to be wrong. Beca refused the red head's help getting out of the car, but Chloe had already expected that. They walked side by side, a very uncomfortable silence between them. There were many words, many feelings the red head wanted so desperately to share. Yet, she couldn't risk pushing the brunette away.
"Beca," Chloe called as the brunette walked into the living room, standing beside the couch. "Can you slow down?"
"I'd rather not," just as Beca was about to walk away, the older Bella walked to be in front of her. After listening to the shorter girl's sigh, Chloe wrapped her arms around Beca's waist. She could feel the brunette's muscles tense under her touch, just as they always did. When blue eyes found hazel Beca's muscles relaxed, and they stood in comfortable silence.
"We have to talk about it," the red head whispered quietly, causing the brunette to sigh once again.
"Do we really?" Beca asked, a small smirk on her lips as she tried to convince the woman to let her off the hook, unfortunately she was greeted by a shake of Chloe's head.
"Yes, really. You kissed me, remember?" At Chloe's wink, Beca found her cheeks growing red, but she quickly ended her blushing. She pulled away from the red head's arms and sitting on the couch, resting her crutch against a nearby wall. As Chloe sat next to her the frown on her face returned, but she so desperately wanted to be smiling.
Her leg was twitching at an incredible speed, and only after Chloe's hand found its way to her knee did it finally calm down. "I'm sorry," the brunette muttered, "it shouldn't have happened."
"I'm glad it did," Chloe smiled, laughing softly at the look of confusion in Beca's beautiful hazel eyes.
"I- I don't do this sort of thing," the girl was certain her anxiety was obvious to the other woman, but she didn't understand how Chloe could continue smiling.
Beca could only sit still, and feel the pressure in her chest rise as Chloe moved closer to her. She could barely breathe, but it felt good. Her eyes glanced to the woman's lips, but the girl quickly averted her gaze to Chloe's eyes again.
"How do you know unless you try?" Chloe asked, silencing the start of Beca's protest by pressing their lips together in a kiss. It was full of passion, and a sign of promises to be made and kept. It might have even been better than their first kiss.