A/N: Surprise! I'm continuing (and finishing) this. I'm so so so sorry for the wait. I was having massive writer's black in regards to this story. There's going to be one more chapter after this (which I have already written so it won't be four months until I update). I wanted to finish this and tie everything together before I leave for school in two weeks. This is about 95% fluff because—let's not kid ourselves—angst is not my strong suit.
Shoutout to everyone who has followed/favorited/reviewed, especially while this fic was dormant. High five.
Enjoy!
Someone knocks once, twice, three times on Beca's dorm room door. She quickly checks the time on her phone—5:34—and frowns, wondering who the patron is. She knows it's not Jesse—he's having some aca-initiation-night countdown party with his strange roommate (he's probably a nice guy, Beca thinks, but when she first met him he greeted her with "Greetings, Earthling!)—and Kimmy Jin has her own key. Shrugging, she tugs open the door.
And is met with one Aubrey Posen.
"Hello," Aubrey says with a crisp nod, as if she had been invited to room 304, Baker Hall.
"Um, hi." Beca arches an eyebrow and makes no move to let her visitor in.
"I would like to speak with you."
"That's what we're doing, if I'm not mistaken," Beca says, crossing her arms over her chest, feeling inexplicably defensive.
Aubrey takes a visibly deep breath, which she holds for a long three-count before releasing. "May I come in, please?"
Beca says nothing, but steps back to allow Aubrey entrance. The blond looks around the room for a moment before taking a seat on Beca's desk chair. Beca plops down onto her bed and tucks her legs underneath her.
"I need to talk to you about Chloe." Aubrey crosses her legs and folds her hands in her lap primly, but chews anxiously on her lip. Beca makes a sweeping gesture with her hand, as if to say "the floor is yours".
"I'm worried about Chloe," Aubrey says slowly, choosing her words carefully. "She hasn't been acting like herself lately. She's forgetful and irritable and sad. Ever since you two met, she's been like that." Beca opens her mouth to protest, but Aubrey holds up her hands. "No, just hear me out. Chloe was acting like nothing was wrong and every time I would bring it—you—" (Beca frowns) "—up, she would get mad. She won't tell me anything." Aubrey twists the fabric of her dress in her fingers. "And so I'm here."
Beca leans back against the shelves behind her bed. "What exactly are you asking me?"
"Chloe is mad at me. She won't talk to me," Aubrey confides, dropping her gaze to her lap. "I thought she was angry because I kept telling her you're causing her problems. That she was wrong. But I think now that I'm the one who's wrong."
Beca smiles to herself, feeling smug. "They do call me The Solution."
Aubrey looks at her. "They do not."
"You're right, I made that up. But they should."
"Fine, whatever," Aubrey says, rolling her eyes. "Chloe is fragile, Beca. She puts herself before others, and she's been hurt a lot. A casual relationship isn't going to work with her; you can't just hook up a few times and then change your mind later."
"I'm figuring that out," Beca tells her. "I like her, and I want to be with her, but I hardly know her. We've only been on one real date."
"And all the times you slept together," Aubrey mutters, appearing to be talking more to herself than to Beca.
Beca looks confused. "Did Chloe tell you that we slept together?"
"She didn't have to," Aubrey scoffs.
"Well, news flash, Cory Lyman, we haven't had sex." Beca shakes her head. "Not that it's any of your business. No wonder why Chloe's mad at you."
Aubrey's eyes widen. "Shit." Beca shakes her head exasperatedly. They sit in silence for a few moments, with Beca tapping her fingers against her jean-clad leg and Aubrey looking introspective.
Beca clears her throat. "Chloe told me about Haley."
"Oh," Aubrey says. "You look a lot like her, you know."
"Chloe would freak out every time we went to—you know—" Beca makes a vague gesture with her hands, blushing.
Aubrey holds up a hand. "Spare me the details, please." She pauses, looking thoughtful for a moment. "People—not just Haley—take advantage of Chloe because she's so giving. Hell, she'd probably give her arm to someone if they needed it."
"Good to know," Beca says, and Aubrey rolls her eyes.
"I think Chloe's so used to being used that she's developed some major trust issues." The blond's phone beeps, and she taps something out on the screen.
"I'm not looking to use her," Beca says, shaking her head for emphasis.
Aubrey looks up. "Then prove it to her." She slides off of the chair and grabs her bag. "I have to go. Don't be alarmed if someone busts in here and kidnaps you in the middle of the night."
"That's like the epitome of alarming!" Beca calls after Aubrey's retreating form as the door slams shut.
When Aubrey returns to her apartment, Chloe is sitting on the couch watching Dance Moms and nursing a bottle of Bud Lite. She stiffens visibly as Aubrey timidly approaches.
"Hi," Aubrey says cautiously, placing a package of Reese's peanut butter cups on the coffee table. "I got you these. As an, um, peace offering."
"Thanks," Chloe replies quietly, grabbing the remote and muting the TV. She looks up at Aubrey expectantly.
"I believe an apology is in order." Aubrey lowers herself down onto the couch next to Chloe, careful to still give the girl some space. "I was an enormous ass and I was wrong. I'm sorry."
Chloe simply nods and opens the candy.
A moment of silence.
"Okay then," Aubrey says, clapping her hands together once. "We need to decide whom we're admitting into the Bellas."
"Cynthia Rose, definitely." Chloe looks up at Aubrey, who nods, and scrawls the name onto a piece of paper.
Aubrey rifles through the information sheets from the audition. "Jessica, Ashley and... Denise. Yes?"
"Okay, what about Stacie?" Chloe chews on her bottom lip thoughtfully.
"The groping is a bit... much, but we can work with it," Aubrey agrees, giving her friend a small smile.
"Fat Amy?"
"Why not?" Aubrey reaches over and grabs a swig of Chloe's beer. "What about Lilly? Did she even sing?"
Chloe shrugs. "It doesn't matter whether she can sing. No one'll hear her either way."
"Good point."
After jotting down Lilly's name, Chloe puts down the pen but keeps her gaze trained on the paper. "Now all that's left is Beca," she says, curling her toes in an anxious tic.
"Sounds good," is all Aubrey says. Then she gives Chloe a smile. It's a little tight, but it's genuine.
Once Aubrey leaves the room, Chloe lets out an excited, high-pitched squeal.
Halfway down the hall, Aubrey smiles to herself.
Beca is sound asleep when Chloe breaks into her room to retrieve her for initiation. Chloe lingers for a moment, watching Beca's blissful, slumbering face. She's still dressed in the clothes she was wearing during the day, her boots discarded haphazardly by the bed.
"Beca," Chloe whispers, gently shaking her shoulders. "Wake up."
"No," Beca mutters, burrowing into her pillow. Adorable, Chloe thinks, nudging the girl harder.
Beca's eyes flutter open. "Chloe? How the hell did you get in here?"
Chloe's blush is masked by the darkness. "I picked the lock," she says sheepishly.
"You picked the lock?" Beca repeats in disbelief.
"It's not important. It's time for Bellas initiation." Beca reluctantly sits up and starts stuffing her feet into her boots, grumbling something about personal boundaries and career criminals.
As Chloe goes to ease the door back open, the lights suddenly snap on. She and Beca whirl around to see a disgruntled-looking Kimmy Jin with her hand on the lamp switch. "It's after midnight," she says flatly.
Beca makes a show of looking at her watch. "Oh, my bad. My watch must be wrong. Thanks!"
She grabs Chloe's hand and hauls her out the door and down the stairs as quickly as she can.
"So, that thing about the vocal chords being ripped out by wolves," Beca says to Chloe as they make their way from the Bellas practice space to the amphitheater, "how serious are you about that?"
"I thought you were gay?" Chloe asks slowly, looking at Beca strangely.
"Oh, I am," Beca says reassuringly. "Believe me. But there's always that chance for a margin of error..."
"I'll tell Aubrey to keep them on their leashes." Chloe winks flirtatiously at Beca. "I'm gonna get a drink. You want anything?"
"No, thanks. I'm good." Chloe gives Beca a pouty face, but the brunette just shakes her head again. "Go party. Have fun."
"Fine. This ginger needs her jiggle juice!" Chloe slaps herself on the ass and sashays away just as Jesse approaches.
"Damn," he says, raising his eyebrows. "Have you tapped that yet?"
Beca gives him a shove. "None of your business, perv."
Jesse gives her a once-over. "Do my eyes deceive me, or are you a Barden Bella?"
"I know, it's weird," Beca says, wrinkling her nose. "I feel like I just joined the Family. Of a capella."
"They made you an offer you couldn't refuse?" Jesse asks in a raspy voice. When Beca stares at him blankly, he just shakes his head, disappointed. "Nevermind."
"Where's Houdini?" Beca peers around Jesse in search of Benji.
Jesse shrugs. "He got cut, I guess."
"That's too bad—"
"Beca!"
Beca turns around to be greeted by a sufficiently tipsy Chloe. "Hi there."
Chloe tugs Beca closer by the hand and leans in to whisper in her ear: "Let's go back to my place."
Beca shivers, but gently pries her hand out of Chloe's. She turns to see Jesse watching them, wide-eyed. "Could you go... like, away?" she asks him, gesturing with her head. He gives Beca a two-finger salute in return and hops down the steps.
Chloe's hand starts drifting up her jacket and Beca grabs it, stopping it from traveling further north. "Chloe, maybe we should get you home."
Chloe places a line of kisses down her neck. "Sounds like a plan."
By the time the two reach Chloe's apartment, Beca is exhausted from trying to fend off Chloe's advances. For a few nerve-wracking minutes, she'd been sure Chloe was going to jump her against the brick wall of an alleyway. She fumbles with the key (confiscated from Chloe) in the lock for a moment before pushing the door open with a sigh of relief.
"Let's get you to bed," Beca says, blindly reaching for the light switch on the wall.
"That sounds like a good idea," Chloe breathes seductively into Beca's ear. She slides her hands into the shorter girl's back pockets.
Beca finally locates the switch and the hall floods with light. "No, actually go to bed. As in sleeping."
Chloe casts her a you can't be serious look. When Beca levels her gaze, she frowns. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Beca says, kicking off her shoes. She tugs at Chloe's hand, trying to lead her to the bedroom. "C'mon."
But Chloe pulls back. "What? Am I suddenly not good enough for you?" Her tone is venomous but her eyes soft and fearful.
"What? No! Of course not," Beca insists.
"Because you seemed good and ready to fuck me until you realized how messed up I am," Chloe spits.
For a moment, Beca freezes, unsure of what to do. She grasps Chloe's hands, and the other girl doesn't pull away. "I realized that I want more than just sex with you, Chloe. I like you and I want to get to know you."
Chloe stares at her, looking momentarily stunned. "Seriously?"
"Yes," Beca says earnestly. "And then maybe sex afterward."
One corner of Chloe's mouth turns up. She shakes her head and laughs lightly. "You're something else."
"I try. Now can we go to bed?" Beca asks, slipping an arm around Chloe's waist.
Chloe pretends to mull the thought over. "Depends. Can we cuddle?"
"Fine, but if you tell anyone I will break your thumbs."
"Sheesh," Chloe says, giving Beca a look. "Now who's the career criminal?"
Aubrey is wake, dressed, and eating breakfast when Beca wanders into the kitchen.
"Did you spend the night?" she asks, pushing aside her bowl of cereal.
"Food," is all Beca gives in response. She starts rummaging around in the refrigerator as Aubrey looks on with one eyebrow raised.
"By all means, make yourself at home..." she mutters.
"Aha!" Beca emerges triumphantly clutching a bagel in one hand and cream cheese in the other.
"I'm only allowing you to rampage my kitchen because you took Chloe home last night," Aubrey says as Beca retrieves a plate from a cabinet.
"Yeah, Chloe tried to get in my pants last night and kinda freaked when I said no," Beca tells the blond as she spreads cream cheese on the bagel.
Aubrey closes her eyes and shakes her head. "Nope, didn't want to know that."
"She thought that I was trying to dump her or something," Beca continues, mumbling around a mouthful of bagel. "Not that we're, like, in a relationship or anything."
Aubrey cocks her head to the side. "Do you want to be?"
Just as Beca opens her mouth to reply (and shove in more bagel), Chloe appears in the doorway. "Good morning," she yawns, holding her head in her hands. "Where's the Advil?"
"Top shelf." Aubrey points to a cabinet.
As Chloe walks across the kitchen to retrieve the bottle, she seems to notice Beca's presence for the first time. "Oh, you're still here." Beca glances at Chloe, looking unsure.
"Good," Chloe adds, pecking Beca on the cheek.
Beca blushes. Aubrey covers her eyes dramatically.
"Fuck cardio," Beca grumbles to herself as she kicks off her sneakers and falls full-force facedown on her bed. "Fuck a capella." She'd just come back after a grueling three-hour Bellas practice and her feet and back are seriously protesting.
"Can you not talk to yourself?" Kimmy Jin says from across the room. "It's annoying. Like you."
Beca lifts her face out of her pillow. "I'm dying."
Kimmy Jin frowns. "Everyone's dying," she says, then gathers her books and promptly leaves the room.
Fifteen minutes later, someone knocks at the door.
"Who is it?" Beca shouts, not willing to get up from her position.
"It's Chloe," comes the muffled reply.
"Come in."
The knob jiggles. "It's locked."
"Can't you just pick the lock?"
"Beca, please just let me in."
With great effort, Beca stands and opens the door. "What? You don't pick locks in broad daylight?"
Chloe whacks her lightly on the shoulder. "I don't have any bobby pins with me."
"Oh, silly me." Beca pretends to smack herself on the forehead. "What's up?"
"You left these at practice." Chloe reaches into her bag and withdraws Beca's headphones.
Beca's eyes widen as she accepts them. "Shit. Thank you so much."
"No problem. And about last night..." Chloe fidgets with the strap of her bag. "I'm sorry for acting like a psycho."
"It's okay." It's not your fault, she adds silently.
Chloe smiles. "See you tomorrow."
Just as she turns to leave, an idea hits Beca. She grabs Chloe's hand. "Wait."
There's a pause. "...Yes?" Chloe asks, eyebrows raised.
"I want to take you out." The words come out in a nervous rush, so it takes Chloe a moment to piece them together.
"Like, on a date?" (It's kind of cute seeing Beca squirm. So sue her.)
"No, like a hitman. Yes, like a date," Beca says, wringing her hands anxiously.
Chloe pretends to think for a moment. "Okay."
"Grool," Beca says. Then she winces. "I meant to say cool and then I started to say great."
"Sure you did," Chloe tells her, chuckling. "Tomorrow at eight?"
Beca nods, not trusting herself to speak.
"Grool." Chloe winks and saunters off down the hall.